The L85/SA80, the 5.56 service rifle of the United Kingdom’s armed forces, is perhaps the most ill-fated service weapon in history. Built upon the excellent AR-18/180’s operating system, engineers managed to take everything that worked about that rifle and make it… well… not.
H&K managed to debug the rifle into a working condition, but it still remains a far more awkward system than most of its NATO competition. Even the AK holds ergonomic superiority I believe. It is a rifle that can be made to work, not one that works smoothly with its operator.
But is the rifle truly awful or is just the worst of a working group? I lean towards the latter opinion when it comes to the L85, especially the A2 and A3 formats. It is the worst, but it does now actually work and can serve in its role reliably if not optimally. The new AIW, the L403A1, is leap forward in optimizations.
Many claim it further heralds the demise of the bullpup. That is an opinion I do not share, the bullpup configuration still has significant strengths and can be designed with few detriments. The dominance of the AR-15/18 in the West is a product of commonality as well as functionality.
If it isn’t broken do not fix it. It is easier to take on a moderately customized but fully built system than it is to design one that does the same thing from the ground up. The M27/M38, HK416F, HK416A7/A8 are all excellent examples of taking a well proven system like the HK416 and simply making the desired feature set updates.
The past success of the AR designs largely fortifies its future success so long as a few things do not happen. First, a catastrophic failing of the design in a scenario where it needed to perform. Second, a technological leap so great that the design cannot be cost effectively adapted to meet it. Third, an adversary with a threat profile that requires a radical shift in small arms to meet.
These are also true of other service rifle designs and I suspect we will continue to see adaption more than adoption in the case of radical design changes. Even the US Army’s choice of the SIG SPEAR as the XM7 is the most radical recent change, but that is still a mix of adaption and adoption as the XM7 is an AR-10/16 derivative meant to be familiar to AR-15 users.
Anyway, good video and worth your entertainment time.
A myth based on real events that has been around for centuries is the [object] stops bullet and saves someone’s life. This has happened several times in several conflicts, from personal ones to all out war, where a flask, a Bible, a medallion, a wallet, a phone stops a shot and saves the wearer’s life.
Widener’s puts the latest variant (cell phone) in front of a high speed camera for science and entertainment.
Here’s the schtick, cell phones are pretty tough items and made to take some punishment and flex in the day-to-day. They will and do take certain impacts and that can produce a stop on a bullet. But make no mistake, these are not designed to take a bullet impact. Armored plates are designed to take a bullet impact. Phones are designed to be small portable computers with which you internet and occasionally make calls. But a phone might be able to take a bullet impact and stop a lethal injury or energy transfer if the stars align and luck is with you.
I would rather be lucky than good any day of the week because luck will do things skill never could. But luck cannot be relied upon, so we are left with skill. So I will be skilled, be prepared, and if luck is in the mix too and does something for me, go me.
CZ has a long history of releasing great guns that are often a bit underrated. For every Shadow 2, you have an underappreciated gun like the SP-01. One of the most underappreciated series of firearms from CZ was the P series. The P07 and the P09 specifically. The CZ P09 is one of my all-time favorite handguns, and it really doesn’t get the love it deserves.
The New Series
The CZ P or duty series was CZ’s attempt to enter the modern market. While the CZ75 was popular around the world and with sport shooters, it was beginning to show its age. The world embraced polymer, and so did CZ. The P series, which assuredly stands for polymer, wasn’t CZ’s first foray into the world of polymer, but it was a little more successful than the CZ-100.
CZ has always been mostly known for the CZ 75 series, and that has led to some interesting branding. The first of the P series was the compact model, a.k .a. the P07. These were originally known as the CZ 75 P07 Duty. Thankfully, CZ recognized that and dropped the CZ 75 moniker. It became the P07 Duty. A bit later, CZ released the P09, a full-sized model of the P07.
CZ kept to their famed DA/SA design with these weapons. This makes it one of the few DA/SA polymer frame pistols out there. The P09 series has a 4.54-inch barrel and an overall length of 8.1 inches. The gun weighs 31 ounces and is a comfortable 1.46 inches wide. That width isn’t the grip but the widest part of the gun, and that’s where the slide lock sits.
The gun came in both 9mm and 40 S&W. I have the 9mm variant, and the magazine holds 19 rounds and fits flush. The gun came with two +2 magazine extensions, bringing the capacity to 21 rounds. One of the more interesting features of the gun is the ability to choose between a manual ambidextrous safety and an ambidextrous decocker. The user can swap with ease for their preferred option.
The CZ P09 Ergonomics
CZ has always excelled in the ergonomics department, and the P09 is no different. As someone with big hands, the P09 just fits me. My thumbs don’t pin down the slide lock, and the safety or decocker is huge. I use the decocker personally. Everything about the gun is huge and easy to use. If you’re going to be duty gun size, why make anything small?
The controls are all very easy to reach. The magazine release is one of my favorites. It’s just a quick swipe of the thumb downward and a press inward. You can press the magazine release without ever even coming close to breaking your firing grip. Plus, the slide lock can be used as a slide release due to its size, which makes it easy to reload on the fly.
The gun comes with three different backstraps, and the medium fits fine as far as I’m concerned. The grips are designed to allow for a nice high grip on the gun, which improves control and comfort. Overall, it’s a gun that’s not afraid to be big and easy to use.
At the Range With the P09
One of the first things you’ll realize is how little recoil and muzzle rise the P09 exhibits. The slide of the gun is quite small, and much like the original CZ-75, the slide rails are inside the frame. This lowers the bore axis, but more importantly, it reduces the slide weight, which reduces the weight of the slide slamming rearward. This reduces recoil and keeps recoil down when shooting.
Low recoil means fast shooting, and fast shooting is fun. Plus, it tends to be necessary for tactical shooting, competition shooting, and any shooting that requires speed and accuracy. Speaking of, the long-sight radius of the gun makes it easy to hit your target. The single-action trigger helps, as does the cold hammer forged barrel.
The double action is a pretty standard double-action design. It’s not super light, but it is smooth and to the point. The reset is somewhat long for the single action, and the Cajun Gun Works trigger kit really cleaned up my trigger. Still, even the stock trigger is absolutely fantastic. It makes shooting targets out to 25 yards plenty easy, and even beyond, with a steady hand, you can hit IPSC and USPSA targets.
Sadly, they never made an optics-ready variant. I might still get mine sent off to Cajun Gun Works to get the slide milled. With an optic, this thing would be unstoppable. Speaking of unstoppable, the P09 series are super reliable and extremely capable guns. They can eat the crappiest ammo you got to the nicest JHPs without complaint.
Getting One Now
I don’t see many CZ P09s these days, but when I do, they are almost always a bargain. I only paid 450 for my FDE with the Night Sights model. The P10 series has largely overshadowed the P09, but if you want a DA/SA pistol without spending a fortune, then it’s tough to beat the P09 series of handguns. It’s a full-sized gun that’s not afraid to be full-sized, and there is something to be said about that.
I am pleasantly surprised. This 7 minute overview of the new L403A1 carbine with the British Royal Marines goes over the rifle and accessories in very digestible terms while maintaining exceptional accuracy in the information conveyance.
My friends over at Reptilia are partnered with Vortex and Aimpoint to provide the visible spectrum optic suite, only available (for the moment) through a special Daniel Defense limited release. The short bodied Vortex 1-10x LPVO AMG and the Aimpoint ACRO P2 ride in the Reptilia AUS and ROF-90 to give the operator a fast and effective combination of shot options at any range.
The L403A1 Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) is entering UK service in a manner similar to how the M27 IAR entered service with the United States Marines, it will not be outright replacing the H&K produced L85A3’s overnight but the services will likely be evaluating troop feedback on both systems and making their procurement decisions from that data.
The Knight’s KS-1 that is the foundation of the new weapon represents both the modern pinnacle standard of the AR-15 and a look at current service rifle standards across most of NATO. The HK416, SCAR MK2, Bren 2, MSBS Grot, and M4A1 URG-I are all the current leading edge of 5.56 service rifle tech.
Interestingly, at least at this point, the new XM7 and 6.8x51mm is not propagating across NATO the way 7.62 and 5.56 did. Most nations are sticking to 5.56. We are seeing the XM7 and XM250 start to enter mass evaluation with US Forces but the option still remains to return to 5.56. We could potentially see another shoe in service carbine in the form of a MCX SPEAR-LT, already in service, if the 6.8×51 gets shelved. I would still be interested in seeing what hybrid case tech can do to 5.56 as far as increasing safe operating pressures. If we can get 75-77gr EPR type rounds at 3000fps out of rifles the size and weight profile of the M4 or M27 that would be a very viable system.
My speculation on service carbines aside, the next decade of small arms development is going to be interesting. Optics are starting to plateau in a few ways with LPVO/Dot as the optimum visible and clip-on alternative spectrum systems are getting lighter. What the next great advancement will be is unknown but onboard power systems seem to be a priority.
The revolver reload conundrum has been dominated by Speed Strips and Speed Loaders. The value of a speedy reload in defense was highlighted by the Newhall Massacre, where four California Highway Patrol Officers were outgunned by two heavily armed criminals. This led to the traditional speed loads from HKS and Safariland, as well as the Speed Strips that started with Bianchi and continues to this day. Not much has changed until recently, and that change comes from a company called Zeta6 in the form of the J-Pak.
Speed strips are typically the choice of most concealed carriers because of how convenient they are to carry. They are a fair bit slower than the standard speed loader but quicker than dumping loose rounds into the gun. Additionally, speed loaders and J-frame revolvers can be awfully tricky. The tightness of the cylinder to the frame and the grip dimensions can make it hard to fit a speed loader in the weapon. This typically limits you your choices.
The J-Pak from Zeta6 is a different kind of speed loader. The J stands for J-frame, and there is also a K-frame model and a model specifically designed for the Ruger LCR. The J-Pak’s main goal is to keep the convenience of the Speed Strip, making it faster to reload while remaining convenient to carry.
Breaking Down the J-Pak
The J-Pak has six slots for 38 Special or 357 Magnum rounds. Unlike a speed strip, the rounds are not placed directly in a straight line. These rounds sit in a staggered position that stacks three rounds at one end and two rounds at the opposite. The intention is to use five of the slots and leave one open for a better grip on the J-Pak. The device is designed to be loaded differently depending on which hand you plan to reload with.
An R and L on the J-Pak gives you a clue on which side to load. With the proper reload hand-selected, you’ll load three rounds up front, skip a slot, and load two rounds at the back. The skipped slot gives your pointer finger a place to sit, improving your grip and allowing you to handle the J-Pak easily.
The J-Paks are made from a softish polyurethane material, and you get two per package for the low cost of 14 bucks.
Do they work? Well, with a S&W Bodyguard and a heart full of hope, I went to the range and practiced.
How the J-Pak works
The J-Pak’s staggered round design is purposeful. Not only does it make the length of the speed strip shorter, but it positions the rounds for a faster reload. With a standard Speed Strip, you can load maybe two rounds at a time. With the J-Pak, you can load three rounds at a time due to the speed loader configuration.
You peel off the first three rounds into the cylinder and then rotate to the opposite side and drop the final two rounds into the cylinder. It’s quicker and more intuitive than any normal speed strip. At the same time, you can still top off your gun if you just need to load a couple of rounds or a single round. That’s unlikely to occur, but it’s still nice to have the option.
During my practice, the first few reloads were a little sticky. The rounds didn’t want to break away with ease at first. However, after a few reloads, the J-Pak loosened just slightly and became quicker and easier to reload with. The sockets need a little work and break-in. In a real pinch, I could dump the empties, reload the three rounds, and get the gun into the fight with at least three rounds.
I can load those three emergency rounds nearly as fast as I can use a proper speed loader. Sure, I’m only getting three rounds, but if people are shooting at me, three is better than throwing the gun at them. The Bodyguard is a very lightweight revolver; it wouldn’t even hurt that badly!
Reloading On the Fly
The Zeta6 J-Pak has the downside of being a bit thicker than most speed strips. They won’t fit into your standard speed strip pouch. The J-Pak fits into a pocket quite easily and is easy to retrieve. However, a dedicated pouch would be great. Hint, hint Zeta6.
If the Zeta6 J-Pak appeals to you, go check it out here.
Gun control has in the past, is currently, and will always have only one logically consistent conclusion that can be reached: the total prohibition on privately held firearms. Then on privately held arms or near arms at all. Colion Noir discusses the current UK nonsense in his video above.
Even if we end up in that legal end state it will not erase firearms from the public, especially from anyone disinclined to acquiesce to the force of law backed request. It will not remove violence as a means of solving or influencing socioeconomic issues.
False Conclusions
Most of the ‘logic’ gun control proponents use to justify their antics, I cannot in good faith call it reasoning, is false equivalence along the lines of what gun proponents use when we see silly shit like, “Just working the action on a pump shotgun will scare away a bad guy.” There is only the barest thread of actual causative logic in the chain but they will confidently state the conclusion as gospel.
“If we get rid of high capacity magazines casualties will be limited in mass shootings.”
A ‘mass shooting’ starts at 4 total casualties
Every firearm capable of holding 4 or more shots is capable of causing a mass shooting
Magazine bans list 10 as the most common capacity limit, many go higher for handguns
The first successful 6 shot double action revolver was produced in 1877 by Colt
The first commercially successful repeating rifle held 16 shots and was produced in 1860 by Henry/New Haven Arms Company
Only 3 of 40 mass killings in 2023 could theoretically and under controlled circumstances have lower casualty counts
Easily accounted for variables make this claim of efficacy on lowering casualties highly suspect
Only 4 mass killings had casualty counts (dead and injured) higher than 10
The highest casualty event, 36 total with 4 dead, had 6 suspects involved in the shooting. 7 handguns were reportedly used, meaning even if they were single magazine and capacity limited they had 70 shots available. The reported number of rounds fired was 89, no effective change can be assumed through capacity limitation as 70 rounds is more than capable of causing the casualty amount or two other handguns could easily have been obtained and used.
Hundreds of millions of magazines in common circulation
“We don’t want to ban normal guns, just assault weapons.”
“Assault Weapon” definitions are dubious and ineffective at separating “normal” and “assault” firearms
Most of these definitions focus on meaningless features like pistol grips and threaded muzzles and banning by make/model
Most have an equivalent non-banned peer that is only more annoying to own, not less effective if used
Most definitions cannot outright say semi-automatic, but that is what they want to ban
Semi-automatics are by far the most common firearm action type, followed by double action and repeater types.
All of these actions are capable of a ‘dangerous’ rate of fire
All of the firearms with these action types are capable of being used in a mass shooting/mass killing
Commonality and cost are still the principle factors that drive firearm selection, not lethality
“We need to do something.”
Yes, but that doesn’t mean do anything just because it makes the part of your brain where the Ralph Wiggum memes lives happy.
Universal background checks? The worst mass shooting in Czech history just happened when a licensed, background checked, tested, doctor signed off 24 year old shot up his campus.
The only logical conclusion
As any and every one of the partial-ban/non-confiscative will not result in a filter that will screen killers from commoners the only place to go next on efforts for those who believe some or all firearms in some manner are the problem is total prohibition, eventually total confiscative prohibition where ‘grandfathering’ is not allowed.
This is the conclusion we seeing being tried and failing in the UK, and with plenty of fear mongering propaganda to help it along.
Any gun controller who supports any of the popular half measures and is ‘willing to stop’ at those is either an idiot, or lying. None of the ‘common sense’ measures puts any meaningfully empowered prohibition in place to spot a determined enough killer, they only inconvenience the commoner.
We have no inverse legal filter that can catch killers but not inconvenience the regular citizen. That is an impossible task. But it is one we keep being sold by gun control proponents. So they again are either stupid, or lying. Possibly both.
The founder of the world’s most successful semi-automatic handgun, and horse breeding entrepreneur, Gaston Glock passed away today at 94 years of age.
The Glock handgun line is in its 5th (technically 6th if you want to get pedantic with it) generation and is unarguably the most successful international handgun brand. It is to service handguns what the AK rifle is to service rifles in many ways, but in many others the Glock brand always maintained its western duty aesthetic and was considered a pistol of the elite professional.
Always copied, never conquered, the Glock sidearm family will likely have a legacy as long or longer as those of Samuel Colt and Benjamin Tyler Henry who are both approaching their second century of market relevance.
In a case the reiterates that not everyone can be wrong all the time, Vox has an interesting piece up about crime rates that could neatly tie up why, despite violent crime starting a decline from the COVID-Riot spike, fear of it is up.
Clearance rates.
In 2020, after the police-involved killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, millions of Americans took to the streets for months to demand police reform. Almost three and a half years later, a report of national crime data, compiled and published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, indicates that police departments nationwide have changed — for the worse. The data says cops are solving fewer crimes today than they did then. –Vox
Violent crime jumped sharply in the summer of 2020 and went higher in the next two years. At the same time the clearance rate on crimes plummeted. More crime were happening and less of them were being solved. If more crimes were happening but they were being solved at an equal or greater rate, the perception of crime would likely be different.
The social attitudes that generated this change are complex. The “Defund” and other police reform movements have not landed for the better.
Murder clearance dropped 15% from about a 60% clearance rate to only 52%, that along with being able to count a crime from any year as a solve against the current year crimes pads the stats in an interesting way depending upon how the data is presented. Violent crime clearance as a whole dropped 20% while occurrences are still up 1.6% from 2019. That is down from the initial spike in 2020 of 5.9%, but with that clearance rate drop far more of those crimes are going unsolved.
Property crimes, already a low clearance rate, dropped an astonishing 30% in clearance rate going from 17% to only 12%. So even as we get to a point where violent crime ‘rates’ are back to declining, the number of crimes being “solved” is not confidence inspiring and confidence in the catch and release justice system impression is very high right now. This remains true even for egregious crimes like homicide.
“You think this juvenile [expletive] is gonna do some [expletive]? I’ll be out in 30 days, I’ll bet you.”
To put it in simple mathematical terms, if you have a community that saw 100 murders in a year (so like a six times more peaceful than Chicago) it saw 106, 105, and 102 the following years but went from having 60 of those 100 solved to only 52 or 53. The “felt” rate of homicides is much more like a 10 to 12% increase. To look at Chicago specifically their homicide rate jumped 52% in 2020, it remained 41% elevated in 2022 and is still on pace for 22% above for 2023. Combine that with a clearance rate drop and that is not a recipe for confidence in your criminal deterence.
So why are Americans more afraid of violent crime? it might be just as much resolutions than rates related.
The 1986 Miami Shootout ranks up there with the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral for fame, or at least it does in the gun world. Shootouts like the 86 Miami gunfight, the Newhall Slaughter, and the North Hollywood shootout changed law enforcement and tactics. With that in mind, one of the most notable changes within the FBI was the adoption of the 10mm round and the S&W 1006 handgun. That effectively cemented the cartridge’s legacy and is the most talked about takeaway.
However, if the FBI agents involved in the 1986 Miami Shootout were armed with 10mm handguns, would it have really made a difference?
The 86 Miami Shootout
The FBI was hunting a pair of violent stickup artists. These thugs robbed banks and armored cars and weren’t afraid to kill. They were heavily armed, and both were veterans of the United States Army and served as MPs. They weren’t going to go down easy. The FBI had multiple teams out looking for those guys, and eventually, eight agents cornered them, and the shootout began.
While the 86 Miami shootout is often explained as an eight versus two streetfight, it was really more of an eight versus one. One of the robbers was knocked unconscious for most of the Gunfight and only fired a single ineffective shot from his shotgun. Platt, a man armed with a Mini 14, shot it out with the FBI, killing two agents tragically and wounding five more. Only one agent escaped physically unharmed.
(Miami Dade PD)
The FBI was armed with a mix of weapons. Three of the agents carried the 9mm S&W 459 with 15-round magazines. The rest carried revolvers, and one agent had a Remington 870. It’s worth mentioning there were six other FBI cars roaming around which carried MP5s, shotguns, and M16s, but they didn’t make it to the fight.
The FBI and Platt slugged it out. Eventually, the second robber came to, and while they tried to escape, Ed Mireles heroically gunned both of them down with his S&W 686. The fight was over in minutes but had a lasting legacy. Part of that legacy is the adoption of the 10mm pistol, but there is nothing I’ve read that makes it seem like a 10mm handgun would have made a difference.
Why The 10mm Didn’t Really Matter
The FBI agents were armed with a mix of .38 Special, 9mm, and .357 Magnum handguns. It does seem like the men carrying .357 Magnums loaded their revolvers with .38 specials. Of the eight agents, only three had semi-automatics. The best thing about the swap to 1006 was the fact the FBI got rid of their wheel guns for semi-autos.
Other than that, I don’t believe the 10mm would have made a difference. The men armed with the 9mm handguns admittedly fired the most rounds. Agent Jerry Dove, who was murdered in the fight, landed three shots on Platt. These three shots included one to his lungs. A shot to the lungs, heart, or brain can’t tell the difference between a mm in bullet size. The energy argument is bunk, and the 9mm rounds were capable of penetrating deep enough to count.
Courtesy TTAG
Agent Dove’s shots on target likely slowed Platt enough to save additional lives and ultimately kill him. An autopsy revealed Platt’s lung had collapsed, and his chest cavity had 1.3 liters of blood in him. All of the men who stood and fought are courageous and arguably heroes, so sometimes it’s tough to be constructive because criticism can be taken as an insult.
However, we can’t ignore that two of the eight agents lost their guns before the Gunfight started because they removed them from their holsters and sat them in their seats. We can’t ignore the fact they had eight agents fighting for several minutes to subdue and kill two men. The FBI agents had the courage and the resolve to get the fight done, but the FBI had seemingly failed to train them to a standard to end that fight more quickly.
The Bigger Difference
One of the main pushes to the 10mm came from the fact that Dove’s shot that landed in Platt’s lung stopped short three to four inches from his heart. Would the 10mm have penetrated deeper and killed him? Maybe it would have, but then again, maybe the additional recoil of the 10mm would have made landing additional shots difficult. A lot was made of a single bullet impact and we know now that those are difficult to replicate. A second 9mm hit in the same area might have penetrated to the heart and a head shot might’ve terminated the CNS. But none of that happened live.
(FBI)
When we look at the 86 Miami gunfight, one thing is very obvious. Platt being armed with a long gun made a huge difference. Agent Mireles had a shotgun, but he was also wounded in the arm and was using it with one hand. Have you ever used a pump action 12 gauge with one hand? It’s tough, and the cajones on Mireles to fire five shots with it with one hand is admirable.
Platt and his low-recoiling rifle gave him a significant advantage in this Gunfight. While the 10mm was the most famous difference made by the FBI, they made other changes. They also assigned an MP5 and a shotgun to each car. Since Agents traveled in pairs, each one had a long gun at their disposal. While the MP5 is not a proper rifle, it is much better than any handgun.
(FBI)
Additionally, the FBI revamped its training. According to Mireles, it opened a floodgate to more modern training. Things like body armor became standard. The FBI went back to the drawing board and recognized this wasn’t just a hardware problem. Their software needed a critical upgrade.
Looking Back
I like the 10mm round. I like it a lot. However, when you examine all the things the FBI did after the ‘86 Miami shoot, the adoption of the 10mm pistol was by far the silliest. If I had to nitpick, it seems like M16s in every car would have been a better option than MP5s. Although this was still the age of the SMG for police work.
Mass issuing the S&W 459 would have been a better option, but as the Dude says, “That’s just like, my opinion, man.”
California’s SB2 was another example of legislatures and governors mansions working to try and ban-in-all-but-name a constitutional right. SB2 wiped the slate of viable concealed carry locations for legal permit holders in the state of California in what Newsom is defending as a “data-backed gun safety effort.”
No comment on this data however. California has a the dubious distinction of leading the nation in certain high profile types of gun violence and manages to eek out a below average overall violence rate based on their population absorbing it. But if you stack their metrics next to Texas, a very different legal landscape but with similar population size, they are rather comparable. Almost as if nation sized states with both rural and urban spaces have certain problems not tied to their laws regarding firearms.
Last Wednesday SB2 was blocked in court. It must appeal and justify itself to the court and likely all the way to the Supreme Court if they do appeal. Newsom and his crew are likely to fight this fight as gun policy is one of the items Newsom built his political identity upon. His tough on guns image is crucial for a bid at the Presidency under the Democrat ticket.
The injunction is a temporary measure as the case proceeds, however with the legal momentum after Bruen it is likely that egregious restrictions on carry will fall in court.
One of the big pitfalls that a lot of us run into is the fact that we surround ourselves with like-minded people. This normalizes things that are decidedly ABnormal to society. Have you given any thought to how this knowledge could be used against you, either intentionally or unintentionally? Best case scenario, something comes to light that can make a social situation unnecessarily awkward. Worst case you’re getting called into HR, or being volunteered to solve a problem that you were otherwise uninvolved in. Have you given any thought to if the people in your social circles are assets or liabilities? Let me know what you think!
The world of pistol red dots has slowly become dominated by the enclosed emitter mini red dot. The Aimpoint Acro started a trend that has taken over. The market. Holosun leapt on it, and Trijicon even released a new red dot. Even budget-friendly brands are getting into the enclosed red dot world. One affordable option comes from Swampfox in the form of the Kraken.
That’s right, let’s do all your Release the Kraken jokes now before we get too deep into it. I can’t exactly think of why it’s called the Kraken. Maybe because it’s an enclosed emitter optic and enclosed emitter optics can resist water? Or maybe it’s just a memorable name in a world where model numbers and acronyms seemingly rule to roost.
The Kraken – Specs and Features
The Kraken uses a proprietary footprint and comes with an RMR footprint or a Glock MOS plate. Different plates and mounts exist, including a riser mount for long guns and beyond. The Kraken’s enclosed emitter design ensures nothing gets between the reticle and the screen. The Kraken is IPX7 waterproof. It can be submerged to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.
The Kraken only weighs 2.5 ounces, but it still has the tactical toaster look that almost all enclosed emitter optics have. The optic runs on a single CR2032 battery and can last up to two years. Helping the battery life is a very aggressive shake awake. After three minutes and 45 seconds, the optic will automatically shut off.
The Dot
The Kraken comes with a 3 MOA red dot reticle. The reticle is surprisingly crisp and clear. It stands out against a slight light blue notch filter. It’s easy to see and has ten different brightness settings. The bottom two are night vision compatible for all your aiming needs. There is also a green option if you prefer that route. The view through the lenses is nice and clear, which is critical for an enclosed emitter optic.
At the Range
With the Swampfox Kraken installed on an Arex Delta, I hit the range. After a quick zero, I was ready to send it. Zeroing was easy, and the .5 MOA adjustments were fairly precise. It makes it easy to get real exact if you decide to toss the optic on a rifle or shotgun. On a handgun, it can get a little pesky, but it is not difficult to work with by any means.
The first thing I look for is the refresh rate. Does the dot lag noticeably as I track the dot? Does the dot lag when I quickly run the gun from target to target? I haven’t noticed it if so. The lag isn’t perceptible when used. It’s not bad for a budget optic by any means.
I also took the optic through various lighting conditions. This includes light from the front, the rear, and the sides. Other than having to naturally squint, I never had issues finding the dot and seeing it vividly. The big buttons on the side are slightly recessed and protected. This keeps the button from being accidentally pressed. The buttons are tactile and quite responsive.
Finding the dot and zapping a target proved plenty easy. Like most enclosed emitter optics, it sits high on the gun, but the dot is still easy to find and see. The Kraken proved to be plenty easy to hit targets, anywhere from five to 25 yards. If I stepped beyond 25 yards, things weren’t as easy, but I could hit targets as far as 50 yards with regularity.
Off the Handgun
The Kraken works well on a handgun, but I do still dislike stacking plates and optics. When tolerances get stacked, it’s always a hassle. This is a problem with most enclosed emitter optics outside of the Holosun EPS. It’s rarely a problem, but it’s worth noting. The Swampfox Kraken would be a great option on a handgun as well as off a handgun.
If you want a minimalist optic for a PDW-type weapon or even a shotgun, the Kraken will work quite well. It’s super light, super small, and works quite well. You get all the benefits of an enclosed emitter optic at a lower price point. While it might not take the level of abuse as an Acro or RCR, it’s still a rugged optic. Rugged enough for home defense, competition, and even concealed carry.
Check it out here, and keep an eye on Swampfox. They are always doing something interesting and affordable.
Cover Photo: 3 of the guns on this list during their first range session. Scroll down to see the other two.
I took the time to compile a list about five different pistols that left an impression on me in 2023. In no particular order, these guns are the Glock 22, Taurus 856, CZ Shadow 2, Walther PDP and Staccato-P. Besides their original review, I also spent additional range time shooting these guns, often times at matches or training sessions. I named these guns in my list because either I really enjoyed shooting them, or I think they have something to offer to the industry (or both). My average round count across this list is approximately 500 rounds. With exception to the Taurus or Glock, the other three guns spent much time on my match belt this year.
Glock 22 Gen 5
Loaded with 180-grain HSTs, I’ve been carrying this pistol in stock configuration for most of the late summer and early autumn with my time on the highways.
Back in the spring, I stumbled onto some .40 S&W trade-in ammo deals. One thing led to another, and I impulse bought a like-new fifth generation Glock 22 also for a deal. While I’m intimately familiar with full-size 9mm Glock models, I had very little experience with .40-caliber Glocks other than shooting a Gen3 version at an indoor range some 15 years ago. Even though I was brand new to shooting then, I still recall that particular Glock 22 being snappy and unpleasant to shoot. It turned me off from .40 S&W completely. Years of seeing memes making fun of this cartridge and its shooters didn’t help either. Being in the firearms space, I’m well aware of the historic issues that Glock had with its earlier G22 variants and the .40 S&W. That’s why the first time I took out my new Gen5 Glock 22, I did so with no expectations. Had it not been for those deals on that trade-in ammo and my designs of potentially shooting Limited Major on the cheap, I’d probably never care about .40 S&W at all. After my first 100 rounds, I was very pleasantly surprised with this “improved” Glock 22; I found it to be quite accurate and controllable. What sealed the deal was nailing impacts dead on at 25-yd with 180-grain Federal HSTs at 25 yards. Certainly, some of this new Glock’s magic can be attributed to the suite of fifth-generation upgrades found on all current production guns. Shooting the new Glock 22 was a night and day difference between the one I shot fifteen years ago; those older guns were basically Glock 17s adapted to chamber a larger cartridge as an afterthought. The new fifth-generation model was deliberately built with respect to the .40 S&W and it really shows. Slides are a little bit thicker and heavier (and rightly so). Training with it last week under the pressure of a shot-timer, I hardly noticed the extra recoil or anything like that.
I won’t deny that part of the fun and enjoyment in shooting the fifth-generation Glock 22 comes from it being something other than a 9mm or .45 ACP. The .40 S&W cartridge gets a bad rap, but looking at the caliber’s own numbers, I don’t think there is anything to trivialize about it. It’s true that from a whiz-kid bean counter perspective the 9mm Luger still edges it out, but that doesn’t take into account surplus trade-in deals or the value of keeping a spare handgun in an alternative chambering. Besides that, it’s hard to feel undergunned when carrying an accurate pistol with a 16 round capacity chambered in a major caliber. That older Glocks or other makes and models weren’t fully optimized to handle the .40 S&W properly isn’t the cartridge’s fault either. It’s no different than trying to sprint with ill fitting shoes. And the .40 is alright. I can’t wait to have some fun shooting Limited Major with it when the chance comes up.
Taurus 856
My 2-inch Taurus 856 snub. Note the eye-catching XS Sights front sight. It really makes a difference when shooting this revolver critically.
While Taurus makes revolvers in all sizes and calibers, the .38-caliber Taurus 856 is a standout; their frames are only slightly larger than those of classic Smith & Wesson J-Frames while also holding an additional round in their cylinders. The Taurus 856’s overall size is probably the most relevant frame size for today’s revolver shooters because this size lends itself well to personal defense and carry. The Taurus 856 can be had with either 2 or 3-inch barrels and frames made from carbon steel, stainless steel or aluminum (Ultra-Light models). The 856 also holds the distinction of being the first carry revolver to ship optics ready from the factory with TORO models. Most importantly, these guns have a very affordable price and it’s my opinion that between their cost and quality, they’re helping to keep the revolver relevant today.
I own two different Taurus 856 revolvers, a 2-inch snub and a 3-inch carry gun that I purchased locally at a big box outdoor store. I bought them specifically because of my gun-writing, and my matte black snub 856 has been featured in several pieces throughout 2023. 80% of my revolver-centric live and dry-fire has been subjected on that black snubbie, and I honestly haven’t been very kind to it. This is the revolver I carry in my Dark Star Gear Apollo and the revolver I outfitted with the XS Sights Dot front sight. I treat it like a Glock. I carry it, sweat on it and shoot-and-dry-fire the crap out of it. And honestly? This revolver is holding up quite well. In fact, its trigger seems to smoothen out and improve with more use. Admittedly, part of the reason I’m hard on it is because it’s affordable. The irony of this is that I wouldn’t “mistreat” a more expensive gun this way. But how else is one supposed to find out if their gear actually holds up? After shooting the majority of my .38 Special cartridges through these Brazilian revolvers in 2023, I’m very satisfied for their cost to performance ratio.
*Don’t actually treat your revolvers like a Glock. All of them do need extra attention and babying and more cleaning in between rounds fired compared to your typical contemporary 9mm pistol. But it’s true that I don’t baby my 856.
The CZ Shadow 2 is the the undisputed king of sport pistols for action-shooting pistol games. The Shadow 2 isn’t a new pistol by any means, and its original launch date is soon coming up on ten years. At the aggregate level, the Shadow 2 is basically a plain old CZ-75 with “running shoes” so to speak. Many can argue that the true king of sport pistols is the 2011, and they’d probably make some good points. However, I’m of the opinion that the real king is the Shadow 2 because it offers excellent accuracy, tracks very flatly, has a heavy recoil absorbing steel frame and can be tuned for cutting edge performance. But most importantly, the Shadow 2 is more affordable and accessible than most competition grade 2011s, and that counts for something. For every SVI I see, I see ten Shadow 2s at a match. In fact, their standard retail prices even came down by a few hundred bucks this year. These CZs also enjoy an extremely robust aftermarket full of accessories, improvements and other go-fast parts. People aslo love to mill them out for USPSA Carry-Optics and now CZ offers an optics-ready SKU. Out of the box, the Shadow 2 can be shot in either Production, Limited, Standard (IPSC), Carry Optics (OR/milled versions) and Limited Optics (OR/milled versions). In other words, this 9mm competition pistol is competitive by default in damn near everything except Open division. I doubt it’s going away any time soon.
Ironically, I had never fired or handled a CZ Shadow 2 until April of this year. These guns are incredibly popular at my local USPSA club and after seeing so many Shadow 2s in so many holsters, I started asking my friends at the club if I could dry-fire their guns at the safe table. Eventually I got to shoot one too, and then I bought my own; used, with my tax return money. Mine is a standard “blue” Shadow 2 that was made in 2018 and was barely broken in with a few hundred rounds. Using Federal 124-gr Syntech 9mm, I’ve shot some of the best iron sighted 25-yard B8 freestyle groups of my life with it. I also remember my first match with this pistol, where I was competing under Limited Minor. My club is extremely competitive and I didn’t win, but I specifically remember how flat the Shadow 2’s slide tracked and how that made me more confident in my match shooting. Initially, I recall calling shots that I thought were charlies snd deltas that ended up being alphas, so I started pushing more and becoming more aggressive with this pistol. The Shadow 2 became an instant favorite.
Walther PDP
I’ll fess up to my soft-spot for the Walther PDP because I’ve also done some of my best-ever shooting with mine this year. It’s also the gun that helped me get used to shooting with dots more than any other pistol. This polymer frame striker fired 9mm handgun is the storied German gun company’s flagship model, and it’s also what I’d consider an extremely modern pistol because it was built from the ground up to be symbiotic with mounted optics. I predict that this trend will become more common as other brand new handgun models make their way into the industry for the first time simply because the popularity of mounted pistol dots is exploding exponentially. All PDP variants are optics-ready by default and include a fairly deep slide cut so that mounted optics can sit lower than is customary. The standard Walther PDP can be had with different barrel lengths (4″, 4.5″ and 5″) and frame sizes (full-size and compact). Because they all use the same working parts, all frames and slides are interchangeable. In addition to being optics-ready, these guns have remarkably good stock triggers with a very crisp and precise break. Like its grandfather, the Walther P99, the PDP is also thoughtfully ergonomic and has an oval-shaped profile that fills the shooting hand rather well. As I describe in my full review, the PDP’s grip is smartly tapered allowing the shooter to better use their support hand during shooting, especially when driving a red dot.
The combination of its ergonomics, low sitting dot and easy trigger make this gun extremely easy to shoot. My gun, which is pictured above, has been wonderfully reliable with both factory and handloads. I’ve taken it to several USPSA matches, the only handgun training class I took this year, and its also the gun I use to work all of my dry-fire. The PDP’s recoil impulse always gets brought up as being “different”, whatever that means. This isn’t any other gun anyway, it is its own thing. In my experience when trying to shoot competitively or with performance in mind, the recoil impulse is never an issue. I’ve also come to appreciate how the slide tracks and returns to zero. In short, I really like this gun because it’s so easy to shoot well and hardly needs anything out of the box (other than more ammo). One thing that’s hard to deny about Walther’s pistols is how much thought they put into them. Look back at the P99 for example, which was a design ahead of its time. Similarly, that same spirit will make you appreciate all the inputs into the PDP line.
Staccato-P
The Staccato-P. It has its share or lovers and haters, but damn it if doesn’t just shoot round after round accurately.
It goes without saying that double-stack 1911 or 2011s are very in these days, especially in the tactical and defensive world that lies beyond traditional realm of sport pistols. Formerly known as STI, Staccato is partially responsible as a trendsetter. Performance 2011s (also known as raceguns) can offer shooters an Icarian level of ability, but like literal race cars, these guns are impractical outside of their “tracks.” Getting that close to the metaphorical sun calls for certain trade-offs, after all. In the mid 2010s, Georgetown, Texas based STI began to morph into Staccato; instead of solely catering to competitive shooters, Staccato shifted into a company that caters to tactical/high performance duty grade shooters and concealed carriers. With this shift, Staccato also revamped their quintessential competition focused 2011 models and tweaked them into hard-use “street” guns. The end result was a distillation of the best aspects of the 2011, such as its single action trigger and incredible accuracy, but without the fickleness of its magazine or other reliability and sensitivity issues that plague match guns. 2011 magazines can be a weak point in reliability for these guns, and improving them is something Staccato has spent great efforts on. Besides a duty-appropriate single action trigger weight and reliable magazines, these guns also have other subtle adjustments that increase reliability. Finally, Staccato-Ps have a native optics footprint that’s compatible with the Leupold Delta-Point Pro, but both Staccato and aftermarket companies offer many optics mounting solutions for the Staccato-P.
This year, I had the chance to put an aluminum frame 9mm Staccato-P through its paces. There’s hardly any difference between this model and the regular steel frame model, just the 5 ounce delta in weight. My experience with the Staccato-P included several USPSA matches where I ran it as hard as I could. I cycled all manner of both factory 9mm cartridges in addition to different batches of my own reloads, and the gun swallowed everything. While it’s true that the Staccato-P gets a lot of hype, I did see for myself how reliable and how well-made these handguns are. The world of double-stack 2011s gets quite expensive in a hurry, and while the Staccato-P isn’t a “cheap” gun, it makes an excellent entry level 2011 considering what it brings to the table.
That’s all folks! Go and get fed and see family and friends, love your life and the good folks within it. Give your pets something fun. Go sledding (geographically able) and let’s begin the exodus of 2023 with an interesting 2024 on the Horizon.
Oh and don’t you think I’m not cackling at our legal early Christmas gift as Newsom the nuisance in California got hit concealed carry restrictions shoved in the dumpster where they belong.
Sucks to suck, Gav. Better luck never. I hope you run for President in 2028 and get absolutely rekt, my friend. Never stop being a clown. Or do. That would actually be character development and show growth as a person and you are allowed to do that instead of pander to every wild fancy the coastal California minds can come up with to burn money.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from GAT! See you Tuesday!
When the Judge came out, I was a young Marine barely old enough to purchase a handgun. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. It’s a handheld shotgun! In reality, I was a bit disappointed with the .410 firing prowess, so it became a .45 Colt gun, but that was pretty pricey to feed. Now, more than a decade later, the Taurus Judge Home Defender has made its premiere. Taurus took the Judge and stretched it out. The 3-inch barrel is now 13 inches, and the gun comes standard with a 3-inch cylinder. Up front, the gun has a big beefy handguard.
We get something that does seem more akin to a home defense gun. The question we are asking today revolves around answering a simple question. Is the Judge Home Defender a capable home defense weapon? This isn’t a full review of the gun, but with the experience of a couple hundred rounds, I wanted to answer at least this one question. We’ll start from front to rear and inside out to answer it.
The Judge Home Defender – Sights and Lights
Up front, we have a big handguard to support the 13-inch barrel and to protect your hands from a potentially hot barrel. It’s also a great place to rest your hand to deal with the front-heavy weight of the weapon. At the end of that handguard sits an integrated Picatinny rail that allows you to mount a nice-sized weapon light. A weapon light is critical for a home defense weapon.
At the end of the barrel, you’ll notice a distinct lack of a front sight, which is fine because there isn’t a rear sight either. Instead, we have a nice long rail across the top of the gun. Mounting a red dot is your sighting solution. You aren’t limited in size when it comes to red dots. Since it’s a revolver, you can mount an Eotech XPS3 if you want to. I went smaller with a Vortex Defender-CCW.
The Judge Home Defender is modern enough to accommodate lights and red dots. Lights are necessary for home defense, and red dots can be handy for the task. The presence of optics and lights is certainly nice for a modern home defense weapon to have, the perhaps hardest and scariest moment of your life made easier.
Caliber Questions
I don’t think it’s controversial to say that .45 Colt is a proven ‘man-stopper’, as the term goes. It’s been around for well over a hundred years and has raised hell ever since its creation. However, is five rounds of .45 Colt a better option than 17 rounds of 9mm? I don’t think so. The main benefit of this gun would come from firing .410. Specifically, buckshot loads.
When a single trigger pull can launch multiple projectiles, then you get a significant change in what trigger pull does to a target. Multiple projectiles mean multiple wound tracts and a better chance of disabling an attacker with a single shot or fewer shots. You still need to aim a Home Defender, and shotguns in general, but if you flinch or maybe throw your shot a hair, that sin is covered by the spread of a shotshell.
With that in mind, how does .410 buckshot perform in the gun? Sadly, it’s tough to find .410 buckshot. I guess hunting season ate it up. Remington makes a great 3-inch load, but I couldn’t get my hands on it. I tried Winchester Super X in 2.5 and 3-inch varieties. The rounds patterned wide, but at 15 yards they all remained well within the Q of an FBI Q target. These loads will penetrate deep enough to matter.
Next, I tried the Hornady Triple Defense. It paks a .41 caliber slug and two .35 caliber buckshot balls. This was the best patterning load. In the past, this round has suffered from poor penetration from a standard Judge with a three-inch barrel. However, the 13-inch barrel allows it to reach proper velocities and dig into with more than adequate penetration.
With .45 Colt, I produced a fifty-cent-sized group at 25 yards, so for a longer range, it’s an option. I will still defer to the preference of buckshot.
Yay or Neigh For Home Defense
Is the Judge Home Defender capable of being a useful home defense tool? Yes. It will stop a threat firing effective HD rounds. What does it offer compared to all the other options? Well, it is very small and very easy to control. It can be fired one-handed if necessary but also fires buckshot versus a single pistol round. It’s a bit more akin to a scaled down Shockwave than a pistol. You don’t have to pump it like a Bantam/Youth 500 in the same chambering.
It’s a niche tool, but even a niche tool can be an effective tool. If you want something that can handle like a handgun than shotgun but launch multiple projectiles per trigger pull, the Judge Home Defender might be for you. Plus, admittedly, it’s a lot of fun to shoot!
