I’ve been moderately aware of Outdoor Element for a while, but hadn’t really checked out their product line. Recently, one of the company founders asked me to try out a couple of their products. A few days later, a package arrived with their Scout Feather knife and Fiber Light fire starter. So far, color me impressed.
Scout Feather
The Scout Feather is one of Outdoor Element’s most popular knives. It’s small enough to qualify as an EDC option, but large enough to do actual work. It’s 6.58 inches long with a 2.65-inch blade. The handle is slim and contoured, so it really locks into your grip. The full tang construction is VG10 steel and features a ¼-inch hex driver at the end of the handle. An attached lanyard has a small signal whistle, which is a nice touch.
Outdoor Element didn’t skimp on the sheath. It is a hard plastic construction, and the knife locks in tight, with no wiggle at all. A steel clip will keep the sheath in place wherever you carry it. There is a small V-notch sharpener to touch up the blade in the field. Along the other side of the sheath is an attached ferrocerium rod.
The Scout Feather’s spine is sharp enough to scrape sparks from that ferro rod, and it does so incredibly well. I took a few quick swipes at the rod to remove paint, then it started spraying sparks in earnest.
Fiber Light
Fiber Light is Outdoor Element’s all-natural fire starter. It consists of finely ground wood fiber and wax. The round tin I received is about 3.25 inches across and an inch deep. It comes with a ranger band covering the seam, keeping the contents secure and dry, even when submerged in water.
To use, you simply pull out a pinch or two, fluff it up a bit, and then light it. While flicking a Bic will certainly get the job done, it seems more appropriate to use that whiz-bang awesome ferro rod on the Scout Feather sheath. The Outdoor Element Fiber Light ignites with even the smallest spark. Burn time is dependent upon the amount of material used, but is enough to cover a quarter burned for a few minutes.
What’s nice is that while it is very easy to light, this isn’t a flash-type tinder. It burns slow and steady, giving it time to ignite kindling. The wax content is sufficient to essentially waterproof the wood. I took a pinch of the Fiber Light and held it under a running faucet for several seconds, then squeezed out the excess water. It lit right up at the first spark and burned steadily. It’s pretty cool stuff.
Outdoor Element
Mike Mojica is one of the founders of Outdoor Element. He’s a proud member of the Pueblo Nation, Laguna Tribe. His native American name is Bodaway, which means Fire Maker. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that a fair number of Outdoor Element products are fire-centric. In addition to the Scout Feather and Fiber Light, they offer all sorts of gear designed to get your fire going fast.
One of the reasons I love writing for GAT Daily is that they let me explore tiny niches of information that I and about a dozen other people find interesting. For example, which is the better mouse gun revolver round, the .32 H&R Magnum or the .380 ACP? Today, I want to dig into these two calibers and discuss which is better for your small revolver and why.
Why Compare .32 H&R Magnum and .380 ACP?
In the world of revolvers, these are both niche cartridges. The .32 H&R Magnum has been around since the 1980s, offering shooters a lower-recoil alternative to the .38 Special. While it didn’t receive a ton of popularity at release, it’s making a major comeback—or well, a major comeback as far as obscurish revolver calibers go.
The .380 ACP was never intended for revolver use—the A in ACP stands for Automatic. However, Charter Arms released a gun called the Coyote, a five-shot, snub-nose .380 ACP revolver that’s gained a fair bit of steam in the micro revolver world.
Both cartridges offer a lower recoil alternative to the .38 Special. They are soft shooters, and both offer a lightweight, easy-to-carry firearm that’s easy to shoot. With two options out there, we have to ask, is one better than the other?
.32 H&R Magnum vs. .380 ACP – Performance Differences
It’s all about performance, right? Which cartridge hits harder, penetrates deeper, and expands more? Which offers more capacity, and which is more affordable? That all matters for the end user, and it’s something we plan to explore today. You’ve come to the right place for a low-recoil revolver platform.
Penetration and Expansion
The .32 H&R Magnum takes a quick lead here. The .32 H&R Magnum can move a 90-grain projectile at 1,200 feet per second. The .380 ACP can move a 90-grain projectile at about 1,000 feet per second. We can talk about energy and foot-pounds, but with these two calibers, that doesn’t really matter.
The reason velocity and bullet weight matter is that they affect penetration. Handgun calibers only wound through direct contact. They don’t have secondary wounding mechanisms. With that in mind, the round must penetrate deep enough to reach the vitals. We typically measure that by penetration through properly calibrated ballistic gel.
Both the .380 ACP and .32 H&R Magnum can reach those depths. When fired from a revolver’s two-inch barrel, the .380 ACP has a harder time penetrating and expanding. The .32 H&R Magnum can both penetrate and expand from a short-barrel revolver. An FMJ from a .380 ACP with a short barrel is typically wise.
A .32 H&R Magnum can use a JHP or similar defensive round and penetrate and expand deep enough to matter. This gives the .32 H&R Magnum a slight benefit.
What About Recoil?
The .380 ACP leads the way when it comes to less recoil. When fired side by side through similar revolvers, the .380 ACP has less recoil than a .32 H&R Magnum. The difference is noticeable but not extreme. Both rounds handle much better than a .38 Special.
The lighter recoil of the .380 ACP makes the gun easier and faster to shoot, especially if we start talking about one-handed shooting. It makes a significant difference and should be noted as an advantage to a .380 ACP revolver.
Capacity
The .380 ACP uses a larger bullet than the .32 H&R Magnum and, much like the .38 Special, creates a five-shot small-frame revolver. The .32 H&R Magnum and its slimmer and trimmer bullet mean you get one extra round. Your typical five-shot snubby is now a six-shot snubby. One extra round isn’t much, but it’s an advantage worth mentioning.
Cost
Oh boy, let’s talk money. The .380 ACP is the way to go if you’re trying to save money. It’s cheaper and much easier to find. The .380 ACP round is very common, and multiple loadings exist. You can find various practice and defensive loads from all major manufacturers. They’ll be considerably cheaper than .32 H&R Magnum. Even when it comes to guns, the .380 Coyote is an affordable firearm.
So, Which is Better?
It depends on what you prioritize. I carry the .32 H&R Magnum. I like the additional round, the additional penetration, and the expansion. However, I can see the .380 ACP as the better option due to its price and availability for many people. You can spend less and train more, which can be a major advantage to the end user. Hopefully, we’ve given you the information to make the best decision.
Tindår Wick Kit and Tindår Tipi worked in tandem to secure a fire in the humid jungle of the Philippines.
Here are three unconventional manufactured tinder options when you need fire now! These aren’t your typical vaseline cotton balls. Instead, they are out-of-the-box ideas that work!
Natural and Manufactured Tinder
Natural Tinder consists of materials derived from organic sources, like dry grass, bark, or wood shavings, which ignite easily and burn quickly. In contrast, people create Manufactured Tinder from synthetic substances or processed materials, such as cotton balls soaked in chemicals or specially designed fire starters, which engineers design to catch fire more reliably and burn longer.
Uberleben Tindår Wick & Bellow
The Tindår Wick combines a cotton-rolled wick and brass sleeve, functioning like a giant matchstick and ready-made tinder. Made of KeroDry™ paraffin wax-infused hemp, the 2-inch aluminum sleeve is an oxygen sub-tractor and a bellow. Although it claims a burn time of one hour, I didn’t want to waste it to find out.
After using it for a few weeks, I stored it outdoors for three months in the rain. When I finally tested it, the Wick had swelled, making it hard to use. I flattened it with my hatchet, exposed about 1/2-inch of the wick, and utilized the Hexå Ferro rod to ignite it. Surprisingly, it caught fire easily even after months of exposure, and the aluminum sleeve remained cool to the touch. This Wick remains one of my most-used of the three unconventional manufactured tinder types.
The Tindår Wick excels at igniting fires in tight spaces, like wood-burning stoves and fireplaces. It’s perfect for reaching under logs during fire-lays, helping to create a more even burn. Weighing just one ounce, it’s a practical and reliable option for bushcraft and survival situations, offering a dependable alternative to a regular lighter while honing essential skills.
Unconventional Manufactured Tindår Tipi
The Uberleben Tindår Tipi resembles an Egyptian pyramid. Made from 4-panel Baltic birch, this kindling structure promotes optimal airflow and combustion for a robust fire. Standing 3.4 inches tall and weighing just 0.3 ounces, Uberleben designed it for easy assembly.
Putting the Tindår Tipi together felt like playing with grown-up Legos. It’s integrated fire dangler connects the panels and simplifies lighting. When I needed to start a fire, I paired it with the Tindår Wick, essential for tackling a jungle fire.
The Tindår Tipi worked flawlessly for three minutes of burn time, enough to help ignite the damp kindling in the jungle.
Creating a fire in humid conditions poses challenges, especially with insects buzzing around. Reliable tinder and kindling are crucial in the jungle. When the rain subsides, I quickly gather my materials and set up the tipi on a wooden base among rocks. Using a Ferro rod, I lit the Tindår Wick, effectively igniting the fire dangler. As the structure burned, I placed small to medium-sized kindling on top. The tipi burned for the claimed 3 minutes, resulting in a successful fire!
The Tindår Tipi is the least used of these three unconventional manufactured tinder options because it’s a specialty item of tinder.
Pyro Putty Fireballs
Fireballs are a type of fire-starting material designed for easy ignition and sustained flames, making them ideal for outdoor and emergency use. Pyro Putty engineered these compact balls from combustible materials, including wax, oils, and other safe-to-handle ingredients that ignite easily.
To use them, you simply expose the fireballs to a Ferro rod spark or open flame, such as from a lighter or matches. Once ignited, they produce a steady source of heat and flame for an extended period, making them perfect for campfires, barbecues, or emergency fires in cold conditions.
Their versatility allows them to perform well in various weather scenarios, making Pyro Putty Fire Balls a reliable option for campers, outdoor enthusiasts, and those needing an effective fire starter.
The author used a Pyro Putty Fireball in a hobo stove with damp sticks for a cookfire with great success!
This is the newest of the three unconventional manufactured tinder items. I’ll use it more often for a future recap!
Slightly Conventional Home Manufactured Tinder
Vasoline cottonballs have been a staple for decades. It’s a cheap and super effective tinder you can make at home, store in a waterproof container, and hit the trail. However, I have a twist for the backpacker or trail hiker who is weight and bulk-conscious.
Carmex is a multi-use life tool. It’s for lip protection, but you can use it for various applications. I prefer the plastic tube version for two reasons. One, you can take dry cottonballs, which pack down tighter than treated cottonballs. Make your Carmex cottonballs as you need them. The second reason I like the tube is that the tube gets smaller as you use the contents, resulting in less bulk.
Vaseline-soaked cotton balls and Carmex-soaked cotton balls make excellent, inexpensive homemade tinders.
Closing
Three unconventional manufactured tinder options give you flexibility. Take what you need to fit your trip and environment. Try them all and see what you prefer. More than anything, have fun doing it!
I’m wrong about a lot of things. In a world where admitting wrong can be tough, I think it’s important to remember that being wrong isn’t necessarily bad, especially if you’re willing to learn and change your views and opinions based on data. At least, that’s what I tell myself because I’m wrong a fair bit. Today, I’m going to highlight five things I was wrong about.
The Federal X-2 Shotgun Shells
I was not a fan when I first saw the Federal X2 shotgun shells. They made fishing sinkers into shotgun pellets. It seemed like the G2 Rip of shotgun shells. The promise was that the pellets would come apart when they hit a soft target, giving you 18 pellets. This creates 18 wound tracks.
I was skeptical of the pellets’ penetration and whether they would consistently break apart. Yet, testing in ballistic gel shows that the pellets offer adequate penetration and consistently break apart when they hit soft targets. The majority of pellets make the proper depth. I was wrong about the round’s performance.
The standard 2.75-inch shells work quite well, but the mini shells seem more suspect. If you want to double your pellet load, I’d stick to the full-sized X2.
Snub Nose Revolvers
My stance on snub-nose revolvers was one of pure ignorance. I saw them as a viable option, but an option people pick over guns like the P365 for a nostalgic purpose, or potentially a stylish option. I thought it was vanity, but after shooting a variety of snub-nose revolvers, I walked away, understanding why people chose the snub-nose revolver.
For one, they conceal exceptionally well. For deep carry, the curves and profile of a revolver seem less gun-like and print less altogether. I’ve found this to be extremely true for pocket-carrying a revolver. Speaking of, when pocket-carrying a revolver, the cylinder pushes the gun away from your body and allows you to easily grasp the grip.
Additionally, in a close-up fight, a revolver is a lot less likely to malfunction when you’re in a clinch. Additionally, the revolver is less susceptible to failures due to bullet weight and velocity, allowing for light recoiling loads. I find myself carrying a snub-nosed revolver often these days. It’s nice to be wrong and find something you like oh so much.
Pocket .380s (Kind Of)
There was a period when I completely hated pocket .380s. From 2014 to 2025, I thought it was the dumbest genre of pistols on the market. They had excessive recoil, crappy sights, and crappy triggers, and ballistically they weren’t worth the squeeze. While easy to carry, they sucked at everything else.
What changed my opinion of the pocket .380 was the S&W Bodyguard 2.0. It fixed everything that was wrong with the genre of pocket .380s. It had a great trigger and awesome sights, and the recoil was completely manageable. I was wrong about the genre of pocket .380s, but most pocket .380s still suck.
The S&W Bodyguard 2.0 led me to try the Ruger LCP Max, which also showed me that not all of them were terrible. Most were awful, but not all. The genre of pocket .380s seems to be changing fairly rapidly, fixing many of the problems I had with the older guns.
Shockwave Style Firearms
From the day they premiered at SHOT, I’ve been a big fan of the Shockwave series of firearms. There are tons now, with Mossberg, Remington, and a dozen other Turkish firms creating new models every year. With that in mind, for years, I saw them as nothing more than range toys. They weren’t serious-use firearms, but fun guns that gracefully skirted the NFA.
It wasn’t until guys like Rhett Neumayer put the time behind one that I realized they were more than range toys. They represented an ultra-compact but heavy-hitting option for personal defense. They take a lot of practice and skill to wield, and honestly, they aren’t for everyone. However, the ultra-small size still provides 12-gauge firepower.
They represent a PDW-type firearm in many ways. Sure, they might be the wrong option for recoil-sensitive shooters, but for those willing to learn, train, and be ammo picky, the Shockwave and similar-style firearms can be serious defensive firearms.
The Judge (Kind Of)
When I was young and dumb, I loved the idea of the Judge. A revolver shotgun pistol seemed so cool. Then I bought one and realized it was a terrible .410 and a pretty lame .45 Colt revolver. The patterns were terrible, and I would tell anyone who’d listen to avoid them. I’m still not wrong about the original Judge, but Taurus did prove they could make a viable revolver shotgun pistol.
I approached the Judge Home Defender with a lot of caution. I figured the rifled barrel would make it suck, just like the original Judge. Imagine my surprise when it didn’t suck. The patterns were consistent with most ammo types and capable of working like a shotgun. A very short and lightweight shotgun with the bonus ability to shoot a .45 Colt.
The Judge offers an alternative to the .410 Shockwave, and the double-action design offers a bit more capability than the Shockwave. It’s a capable .410 option. It changed my mind on the capability of rifled barrels.
Being Wrong
Yep, I’ve been wrong more than five times, but these are the five times I can remember most vividly. Being wrong is fine; just don’t get so stuck in your wrongness that you refuse to evolve and grow.
In the preparedness world, it can be easy to fall victim to analysis paralysis. This is when we fear making the wrong decision so much that we sort of freeze up. We’re afraid that we’re going to overlook a better solution, or that the option we’re leaning toward is simply incorrect. As a result, we don’t do anything at all.
This can happen when we’re researching a big purchase, like a generator or a home freeze dryer. It can also occur when we’re trying to make plans for how we’ll handle various scenarios, such as emergency evacuation.
Analysis Paralysis Symptoms
Here are a few signs to watch for that can indicate you’re falling into that trap.
Research can be important, but you have to recognize when enough is enough.
Endless research – you feel compelled to continue reading reviews and seek out more and more information, even if you’ve been at it for quite some time already.
Difficulty in letting it go – you can’t stop thinking about it, to the point of distraction.
If you find yourself getting anxious or upset, it might be time for a break.
Anxiety – you might feel very anxious. You get sweaty and your heart rate increases. You might feel agitated or maybe even a little short of breath.
Sleep loss – you find yourself staying up until all hours of the night, tossing and turning, and unable to relax.
Analysis Paralysis Solutions
There are several approaches you can take to break out of the paralysis. If the first one you try doesn’t seem to work, move on to another. Over time, you might find certain solutions seem to work for you more often than others. That’s normal, as we’re all wired a little bit differently.
Try flipping a coin. Not so much to let the coin make the decision, but you might find yourself hoping for one result over the other. I know it sounds silly, but this can really work in many situations.
Commit and move on. Sometimes, the best way to tackle it is head-on. Meaning, give yourself permission to just pick an option and live with the decision.
Understand that it’s okay to be wrong. For the vast majority of decisions we make, the world isn’t going to come to a screeching halt if we are mistaken. It might be inconvenient, sure, and maybe it’ll cost us a few bucks to fix the problem. But in the long run, the experience we gain is probably going to be worth it.
Set a hard deadline for yourself to make the decision and commit to it.
Set a deadline for yourself, and stick to it. Give yourself a very specific amount of time to research and mull over the decision. Once that time limit is reached, make your move and commit.
Break the decision down into segments or steps. Sometimes, the problem or decision is just too complex to tackle easily. If we can parse it out a bit and take it a little at a time, that can help alleviate analysis paralysis.
You can also try to depersonalize the issue. What I mean by that is to take yourself out of the equation entirely. Look at it objectively and think about how you might advise someone else to handle it. Imagine if a friend or coworker came to you with the same problem. What would you say to them? Then, follow your own advice.
Analysis paralysis can happen to anyone. It isn’t rare, though some people tend to be more susceptible to it than others. Recognize it when it happens and try different approaches to break free of it.
The Demko Rhino Hybrid combines a machete, knife, and pickaxe with titanium-coated D2 steel. The TOPS Bushcrafter Kukuri 7.0 offers great chopping power with its traditional design.
These two beefy, all-around survival knives are designed for demanding tasks while still excelling at slicing and feathering. TOPS and APOC Knives have created two-weight forward choppers designed for adventurers. These tools offer the power of a hatchet combined with the versatility of a knife to save weight.
Demko Rhino Hybrid All-arounder
The Demko Rhino Hybrid by APOC is a remarkable tool that ingeniously combines the functionalities of a machete, knife, cleaver, and axe, making it an indispensable companion for any outdoor enthusiast. Crafted from resilient titanium-coated D2 steel, its impressive 6-inch blade excels at cutting, hacking, batoning, and feathering with remarkable precision and ease. The robust full tang construction heightens its durability, while the ergonomically designed rounded G10 handle slabs provide a secure and comfortable grip, even during prolonged use.
Accompanying this masterpiece is a Kydex double-snap belt sheath, ensuring safe storage, convenient carry, and quick access whenever you need it. This versatile tool embodies the essence of a rugged all-around survival knife, ideally suited for challenging outdoor tasks and adventures. Whether you’re clearing a path, preparing a meal, or executing detailed woodwork, the Demko Rhino Hybrid decisively earns its place among the most formidable members of the beefy all-around survival knives club!
Working the Rhino
If a Japanese Nata Knife and a Rhino had a blade baby, this would be the Demko Rhino Hybrid. What looks like a billhook is not. It’s pretty much an unsharpened spike and hook.
The blade has an excellent forward position with a constant belly for slicing. The Rhino Spike adds weight for chopping and is an amazing brush grabber and dragger. This spike feature is excellent for yardwork and camp clearing.
Demko Rhino Hybrid has a remarkable spike, perfect for grabbing and dragging brush to help clear a camp.
Choking way back on the handle gives you way more power, similar to a Nata knife. A medium compact blade with a long handle is one of the more clever ideas the Japanese use. I’m a fan. The textured G10 handle adds security without needing an annoying birds beak on the handle’s end.
Beefy All-around Kukuri
The TOPS Knives Bushcrafter Kukuri 7.0 merges the traditional kukri design with modern bushcraft needs, offering impressive chopping power and versatility for outdoor tasks. Designed by Nicholas Fury III from L.V.I. Bushcraft and Survival, this Kukuri prioritizes strength, reliability, resilience, and adaptability.
Measuring 14 inches overall, it features a 7¾ inch recurved blade with a sturdy ¼ inch thickness, showcasing a black linen micarta handle and traction coating. Made from 1095 high-carbon steel, it holds a Rockwell hardness of 56-58. The durable MIL-SPEC Olive Drab nylon sheath includes secure closures and a small pocket.
With a deeper belly than traditional kukris, this knife excels in slicing and game processing. Its rich history dates back to the Nepalese Gurkha regiments, who used it for combat and utility. This blade is well-suited for the beefy all-around survival knives, as approved by Gurkhas.
Bushcrafting with the Kukuri
I picked up the knife at a knife convention in Georgia and took it into the backwoods the next morning. It felt right at home chopping through hard oak, dogwood, maple, and poplar. While the hardwoods of the Southeast typically suit a hatchet or axe, the knife’s compact size and inwardly curved blade provided a hatchet-like feel with added versatility.
The author shaves tinder from a section of poplar wood for a fire. The recurved section makes this task fun and easy to do.
After chopping some dead poplar wood, I propped it up and began shaving tinder. By gripping and pinching the blade’s spine, I created curly shavings, perfect for a tinder bundle. I made sure to keep those shavings from falling to the ground. After splitting the wood into finger-thick pieces, I stabbed the Bush Kukuri into a log and used it to make more shavings.
I then crafted a pot hook and tarp stakes easily with the blade. The weight-forward design allowed for precise control, making it simple to create notches. The Bushcrafter Kukuri proved versatile for chopping, splitting, and carving wood. Paired with a saw, it can handle any task in the woods! TOPS and Nicholas truly honored this time-tested design!
Beefy All-around Survival Knives Conclusion
These two, beefy all-around survival knives, did not disappoint in the chopping and versatility realm. Their heft and forward weight excelled when chopping and batoning. I’d recommend them to anyone looking for a tool that fits between a light hatchet and a beefy, bombproof knife!
The two beefy all-around survival knives tag-teamed and split wood for a bio stove.
Poland has finally retired its AK platform. For quite some time, it had one of the best, if not the best, AKs in 5.56. Hell, with an adapter, it even took STANAG magazines. With the retirement of the Beryl, the Polish military is moving to a more modern platform known as the FB MSBS Grot. I speak Polish as well as Portuguese. So, not at all. So I can’t pronounce this, but thank God I can write it: Modułowy System Broni Strzeleckiej.
That stands for Modular Firearm System. Grot was added to memorialize Polish General Stefan “Grot” Rowecki. The firearm was developed by FB Radom, which is in the Polish military arms industry. At its core, it’s a modern firearm system that can be easily modified to fit various mission sets. Like most modern rifles, the MSBS GROT uses a short-stroke gas piston system lifted from the AR-18.
Since Poland is a NATO member, the rifle predictably comes in 5.56 mm, but the Polish also produced a 7.62x39mm variant.
What Makes the MSBS Different?
You could take a cursory look at the MSBS system and think it’s a fairly plain rifle. There is nothing spectacular about it. It looks cool but has a modular feature that most guns would never dream of. As far as I can tell, the MSBS Grot is the only modern military rifle designed to be easily alternated between a standard and a bullpup format.
Much like the SCAR, the BREN, and various other AR-18-derived guns, the upper is the serialized portion. With the MSBS, the user can remove the upper and swap it for a bullpup lower to make it a bit more compact. The MSBS Grot C FB-M2 is the standard series assault rifle with a standard layout.
A user can easily remove the upper and drop it onto the MSBS Grot B, a bullpup or bezkolbowy format. From a military perspective, this design can be useful. Your normal infantry and general-purpose troops can use the standard-format rifle and all its benefits.
The bullpup format would be quite handy when we get to mechanized infantry, armor units, and even pilots. It’s largely the same rifle, but drastically different formats. It bears mentioning that I can’t find an example of the Polish Armed Forces doing that. The Polish sell the rifle, so it might be an option for export sales.
Speaking of which, the Poles have donated 10,000 rifles to Ukraine and sold them in Rwanda. According to one interview with an employee of FB Radom, the USSOCOM purchased an unknown quantity. They won’t say how many or why, but the Green Beret weapons sergeant course is probably fun.
Besides Bullpup
Besides being able to convert to and from a bullpup format, the MSBS Grot is a fairly standard modern assault rifle. It is a selective-fire design with a 700-900 rounds per minute rate of fire. The barrel lengths vary quite a bit, and models with barrels as long as 20 inches and as short as 10 inches are in production.
The MSBS uses fully ambidextrous controls. The standard model has a folding and collapsing stock. The gun has a SCAR-like cheek riser for optics. The handguard has a bevy of M-LOK slots for accessory mounting and a long optics rail across the top of the gun that’s part of the monolithic top rail.
The controls on the lower receiver are very AR-like, with a top-mounted charging handle. Overall, there is nothing truly new, but it’s a thoroughly modern rifle. This rifle series is a family of firearms that fulfill multiple roles.
The MSBS Family
The MSBS is a family of weapons. Let’s briefly dig into each of these guns.
Assault Rifle – The standard assault rifle with a 16-inch barrel that can carry an optional 40mm grenade launcher.
Carbine – The carbine variant doesn’t play games with keeping things short. It has a ten-inch barrel and can also be fitted with a 40mm grenade launcher.
DMR – A designated marksman rifle fit with a precision-oriented 16 or 20-inch barrel and two-stage trigger group.
Automatic Rifle – An automatic rifle variant is also designed for squad suppression capabilities. It has a heavier barrel and flash hider with the bayonet lug removed.
Sniper Rifle – The Grot 762N is a semi-auto-only sniper variant that chambers the 7.62 NATO cartridge. It has either a 16- or 20-inch barrel and a two-stage trigger.
The S – The S is a semi-auto only model designed for civilian sales of the rifle. Maybe one day we’ll see one in the United States.
The Polish Paper Puncher
The MSBS Grot is a seemingly awesome rifle series. It’s tough to say if it is as reliable and accurate as it should be, but if so, the Polish have a very modern and capable rifle. It’s replacing one of the most legendary systems out there, so it has a big expectation to live up to. I hope we get our hands on a variant of the MSBS Grot one day.
Back in December 2024, roughly a month prior to SHOT Show 2025, the gun-Internet and social media went haywire after Ruger and Magpul announced the 9mm RXM pistol. The RXM pistol is the result of a collaborative effort between Ruger and Magpul. Both of these industry titans worked together to develop a very high-quality clone of the classic third-generation Glock 19, one of the most popular polymer-frame striker-fired pistols in the world.
Sturm, Ruger & Co. worked on the “metal” bits while Magpul Industries predictably took care of the polymers. In fact, the very first thing I noticed about the RXM is that the frontstrap, backstrap, and both sides of the grip have the exact same texture that’s found on some of Magpul’s best-selling AR-15 pistol grips like the Magpul K2 (my personal favorite for over a decade).
Once the patent for third-generation Glock pistols expired, the industry as a whole immediately began taking advantage of this situation. It didn’t take long before clones at different price points and levels of sophistication began showing up on the market.
During my original draft of this review, this entire paragraph ended up becoming its own short article, which you might have read here on GAT Daily by now. If you haven’t, I suggest you do in order to contextualize what the Ruger RXM is really about.
Another Clone?
Sure, the Ruger RXM is a 100% American-made, feature-rich, high-quality Glock 19 clone with an extremely competitive real-world retail price of around $400.
But I think beyond being a mere amalgamation of metal and polymer that can reliably fire 9mm Luger cartridges, I do believe that the RXM is also a symbol of sorts. Sturm, Ruger & Co. is the largest American manufacturer of firearms by volume. The company is so large that it has multiple manufacturing facilities across the United States, along with one of the most extensive product catalogs offering a vast amount of rifles and handguns (and shotguns in the past).
Even though Magpul is just barely old enough to legally rent a car in most states, its creativity, innovation, and expertise in polymers and polymer manufacturing have leveraged the company into the top tier of the industry in a relatively short period of time.
I’m just a humble firearms writer who enjoys writing about guns and shooting them; I don’t have any insider access to either Ruger’s or Magpul’s business strategy. However, I do think that both companies’ decision to collaborate and bring another Glock clone into the already excruciatingly competitive and tough market that is polymer-framed striker guns is quite telling.
The Modular Fire Control Unit (FCU)
Something that sets the Ruger RXM apart from the rest of the Glock-clone market is that this handgun was developed with a modular fire control unit (FCU) in addition to the rest of its features. FCUs aren’t anything new, but they typically get associated primarily with SIG-Sauer’s handguns, like the original P250, the P320, and the P365.
Folding the FCU concept into the RXM means that its modularity can be boosted. In fact, by the time this part of my RXM review gets published, Magpul will have launched two additional grip modules for the RXM during NRAAM 2025 held in Atlanta.
The Third-Generation In Hindsight
First and foremost, I think the Ruger RXM is a damn good third-generation Glock clone. And with good reason. Third-generation Glocks have been on the market for over two decades. We’ve collectively learned everything there is to know about third-generation Glock pistols. So, there’s no doubt that this collective knowledge has made its way into the Ruger RXM.
Moreover, at this point in time, the “recipe” that makes up the blueprint for the third-generation Glock is all but impossible to mess up, especially when the production and manufacturing are left to two of the biggest players in the industry.
I’ve since sold off all of my personal third and fourth-generation Glocks and fully switched to a fleet of ambidextrous fifth-generation models. However, my old Gen3 Glock 19 was one of the first firearms I started carrying and training with seriously. I still remember it well, especially its trigger.
In fairness, those classic mushy and spongy feeling Glock triggers were never their strong suit. Nonetheless, they were reliable and got the job done. So the first thing I did when taking home my RXM was to dry fire and get a feel for its trigger. A fancy Walther PDP trigger it is not. But its rolling break is more than reasonable for a $400 optics-ready clone pistol. In addition, it also includes a solid pair of taller, red-dot-friendly metal night sights.
Did I mention that the RXM also perfectly fits in all of my old Glock holsters from my Gen3 days? I’ve even carried it in some in my original Raven Concealment Eidolon that I’ve had for about nine years at this point.
I chuckled to myself when I found the Band-Aid™ packed with the knife. But when I checked the edge on the Undertaker, I could see why they included it. This is one wicked sharp knife.
A couple of months ago, Finch Knife Company sent me a few knives to check out. I was passingly familiar with Finch, and I was eager to get my hands on some of their blades. The Undertaker caught my eye right away.
What’s In the Box?
In addition to the knife and the aforementioned Band-Aid, there were a couple of stickers, a warranty card, and a little piece of metal with a screw. That last one took me a bit to figure out. We’ll get to it in a minute.
The Undertaker is available in several different handle materials, including carbon fiber and micarta. The one I have is what they’re calling Sapphire micarta. The S35VN steel blade is 3.0 inches long, with a 2.75-inch cutting edge and a 1.0-inch maximum height.
The handle is 4.0 inches, giving the knife a total overall length of 7.0 inches. One of the reasons the Undertaker jumped out at me is the handle shape. It’s about an inch high at the tail end, tapering to 0.75-inch at the narrowest before ramping back up a bit.
The Undertaker has a very distinctive handle profile.
The Undertaker weighs 4.0 ounces. It’s not a ridiculously heavy knife, but there is a solidity to it, which I find appealing. It doesn’t feel flimsy or cheaply made. The pocket clip isn’t reversible, but it is removable.
That’s where that little bit of metal I mentioned earlier comes into play. It’s meant to cover the spot where the pocket clip attaches, giving the knife a smooth and finished look. I’ve not run across this before and felt it was a very nice touch.
If you remove the pocket clip, you can conceal the resulting cavity in the handle with this included metal cover.
This is a flipper-style knife. There is an integrated liner bolster lock to keep the blade in place once it’s been opened. When the lock is released, the blade easily swings closed.
How Does It Perform?
Let’s start with what I like about the Undertaker. It’s an incredible slicer. It has a thin blade, and the geometry is on point. Paper, fruit, boxes, everything parted cleanly and easily when the razor-sharp edge was applied. S35VN is a great steel for pocket knives.
The blade deploys very fast with the flipper. Once locked in place, there is no wiggle whatsoever. The balance point is right about where the bolster meets the micarta scales.
The Undertaker’s pocket clip keeps the knife secure without being awkward when you pull it free. And I really like that they included a cover for the handle if you decide you want to remove the clip.
But I found the handle to be a little difficult to work with. The tail-end corners tended to dig into my palm. Now, I wear a L/XL glove, so someone with smaller hands might not have that issue. But it definitely detracted from my experience with the Undertaker.
I also wish the liner lock would engage a little more of the blade. While I didn’t experience any failure with the lock, I’d feel more confident if there was just a bit more liner involved with that lock. That said, no knife lock should ever be completely trusted.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I like the Undertaker. It’s a gorgeous knife, especially in this Sapphire micarta. It was hair-splitting sharp right out of the box. The knife is great for quick jobs, but I’d not want to spend long periods of time working with it. I wish the handle were either a bit longer or that the end corners were rounded just a touch. Either of those would bump the grade from a B to an A+ in my book.
Sam Strong is a notable figure in survival television, known for his role in Naked and Afraid with his Waymaker blade.
What drives the stars of survival television? We’re diving deep with Sam Strong from Naked and Afraid, a respected authority in the field, to uncover the secrets behind their motivations. Join us as we explore survivalists’ intriguing world and discover what fuels their adventurous spirits!
Meet Sam Strong
Sam Strong is a notable figure in the survival television genre, recognized for participating in the reality show “Naked and Afraid.” His journey into the survival industry stems from a passion for testing his skills and personal growth. Strong’s experience on the show showcased his resilience and ingenuity in challenging situations.
One standout achievement on “Naked and Afraid” was his ability to survive in harsh environments while relying solely on bare essentials. This highlighted his skills in adaptation, critical thinking, and real-time survival techniques.
Beyond the show, Sam founded RAW Mental Health — Recovery Through Athletics and Wilderness, a program aimed at helping men regain physical and mental strength through outdoor challenges, fostering brotherhood and self-reliance.
Overall, Sam is celebrated for his adventures on “Naked and Afraid” and his commitment to promoting mental health through survival skills and outdoor experiences, making him a respected figure in the survival community.
GAT Daily caught up with Sam in Georgia, and here’s the skinny!
What got you into the survival industry?
I watched survival television shows and felt challenged to test my skill set. That initial spark of curiosity turned into a personal mission. I wanted to see what I was truly capable of. Through that challenge, I found myself diving headfirst into the survival industry. It became more than just a hobby… it became a lifestyle and a path toward greater resilience, self-reliance, and purpose.
Sam Strong on Naked and Afraid?
By pursuing skill testing and trying to get on the television show Alone, I got on the radar of Metal Flowers Casting. They scouted me and asked if I was interested in trying my hand at what many consider the most challenging survival experience on the planet. I leaped, opening the door to a new level of exposure, growth, and testing my limits in the wild.
Share a time you were lost and what you did to correct it.
While I was on Naked and Afraid, Sarah and I got lost during a three-hour hike from our shelter. We relied on the basics, keeping the sun on the opposite shoulder for our return. Using game trails as natural guides, we followed them toward flowing water, which eventually helped us reorient and find our way back. It was a reminder of how quickly things can turn and the importance of staying calm and thinking clearly.
What are your favorite wilderness survival movies?
Hands down, Into the Wild. That movie was highly inspirational for me. Chris McCandless’ story is tragic, but it walks the line between madness and bravery in a way that stuck with me. It made me reflect deeply on what it means to truly disconnect and face nature with nothing but your conviction and a pack on your back.
One tool or Tool Set?
If I had to choose just one tool, it would always be a knife—no question about it. A knife is the most valuable and versatile gear you can carry… from building shelter to processing food, fire prep, and protection. It’s the foundation of any solid survival kit.
Sam created RAW Mental Health — Recovery Through Athletics and Wilderness, a program for men aiming to regain their physical and mental strength.
If you could pick one person you consider a mentor or significant influence, who would it be?
Without any hesitation, my friend and brother Joe Maynard. I deeply respect him and consider him a significant influence in my life. I’ve never met a more classy, driven, brave, and giving man. His integrity and commitment to living with purpose have had a lasting impact on me, both personally and professionally.
Describe your most memorable camping trip or survival situation.
My most memorable camping trip was as a kid with my father and my uncles, Steve and Al. It was our only all-guys trip, which made it special. We cooked a squirrel, crossed a river, and truly enjoyed our time together. That experience sparked my lifelong love for the outdoors and left a lasting impression.
Tell us about your mental health business and who it’s for.
I founded RAW Mental Health — Recovery Through Athletics and Wilderness. It’s a program built for men who want to get strong again, both physically and mentally. I use my passion for fitness, survival, and the outdoors to guide guys back to a more rugged, gritty way of living… something closer to how pioneers or cowboys used to live. It’s for men ready to break away from comfort, reclaim their strength, and find brotherhood.
Sam Strong on which historical person he’d like to go on a camping trip with?
Teddy Roosevelt, without a doubt. He was the most hardcore outdoorsman, president, and adventurer in history. His love for nature, grit, and willingness to push himself in extreme conditions make him the ideal campfire companion. And let’s be honest… the mustache alone seals the deal.
Sam Strong collaborated with Malcolm on his signature Edition Hidden Woodsman Day Ruck.
Explain what the PNW Games are and how Sam Strong is preparing for them.
The PNW Games, or Pacific Northwest Survival Games, test survivalists of all levels. Participants adapt to unpredictable challenges, showcasing grit and teamwork while competing for cash prizes. I stay disciplined in the gym and experiment with survival techniques to stay sharp and ready for anything.
What knife, gear, books, or designs are you proud of, and where can they be found?
I’m particularly proud of the Waymaker blade I’m launching with Bear Forest Knives — it’s a tool that represents everything I believe in regarding survival and craftsmanship. I’m also proud of the Sam Strong Edition Hidden Woodsman Day Ruck, which was designed for both function and resilience in the field. Both featured on my website, rawmentalhealth.org, where they’re part of the larger mission to equip and empower men through the wilderness.
I’m a shotgun nerd, like a hardcore shotgun nerd. I like testing shotguns, training with shotguns, and exploring new concepts around shotguns. Unlike many other firearms, you can do some interesting ammo testing with shotguns. A round of buckshot from Federal shoots differently than a seemingly identical round of buckshot from Winchester. With that in mind, let’s look at the Herter’s Defensive Buckshot.
Herter’s Defensive Buckshot – What’s The Point
What drew me to this round was its affordability. It was $10 for 15 rounds of defensive buckshot, cheap enough to try even though I knew it wasn’t going to replace my Federal Flitecontrol. Beyond the prices, the specs looked good. It’s a 2.75-inch round that holds eight 00 pellets.
Eight is preferable to nine due to the 9th pellet flyer. This magical 9th pellet will often depart from the rest of the cluster and can create a major issue regarding pellet accountability. Eight pellets make a tighter pattern overall.
The Herter’s defensive buckshot is a low-recoil load. It’s throwing those eight pellets at 1,145 feet per second. Low recoil means you can shoot faster since you have less recoil, so we want a low-recoil round. However, low-recoil rounds also tend to pattern better than high-velocity buckshot.
Additionally, the round might have low recoil, but it has nice high brass, which can help with extraction with some guns. The price, features, and specs seem to make it a great defensive load. It’s clearly a well-thought-out load and not just a generic buckshot round.
Shooting The Herter’s Defensive Buckshot
Specs can be read, but how does the round perform? A defensive shotgun cartridge must be reliable, have low recoil, flash, and be consistent. It should feed, extract, and eject with ease. It also needs to be patterned well and consistently. Let’s talk about patterns.
Don’t expect anything all that fancy, but it patterns well, especially for the price. At seven yards, the pellets are very tight and very close to each other. They are nearly all touching. At twelve yards, all the pellets will stay within the eight rings of a B8 target, which is quite small for a target. Finally, at 15 yards, six of the eight pellets remained in the B8, with two landing low. That’s still an acceptable defensive pattern.
The Herter’s Defensive Buckshot had very low recoil and was soft-hitting on the shoulder. It fed easily and ejected with ease. The load functions in the Mossberg 940 and Benelli M4 without an issue. I’d assume it functions just fine in most modern semi-autos.
Worth the Cost?
The round performs on par with most defensive loads that lack a special wad to keep the patterns tighter. It’s priced to move and to train with. This type of load falls into the same space as rounds like the Fiocchi Defense Dynamics buckshot. It’s fine.
Fine is fine, but I prefer a specialized load with a tight patterning wad. However, that stuff can be pricey and hard to find. Herter’s is a Bass Pro/Cabela’s load, making it more available and easier to find. The Herter’s defensive buckshot load works and works well, but won’t blow your mind.
It’s not cheap enough to be training buckshot, but it’s not pricey enough to keep it out of your hands. A box of fifteen gives you enough for your gun and enough to pattern and test, which is just enough to get a bare-minimum home defense option.
Cordage is one of those things that many people tend to overlook when they put together a survival kit. They might toss a hank of paracord in there, but that’s about it. And who knows, that might turn out to be plenty. But many of the available options are so lightweight, it doesn’t hurt to pack a few others that might be useful.
This is the old standby. You’ll find this cordage listed in most survival manuals, at least those written in the last few decades. One of the reasons for its popularity is that it is so versatile. It consists of several inner strands that are covered by a shroud.
What this means is that in a pinch, you could separate one or more of those inner strands from a length of paracord. This thinner piece could serve well as fishing line or perhaps a snare. Overall, it’s very strong and easy to work with. If you cut a piece off, melt the ends by holding them near a flame for a few seconds to prevent unraveling.
I don’t use this a lot, but I know a few survival instructors swear by it. Look for Kevlar kite string when you’re shopping online. It’s very thin but ridiculously durable. In addition to lashing things together, such as for an expedient shelter, you can use it to saw through plastic pipe and some other materials.
If you have a very sharp knife and hold the string under tension, it isn’t too difficult to cut. Be careful with this stuff, though. A rope burn from Kevlar string isn’t anything you want to experience.
This cordage comes in a few different sizes or thicknesses. Basically, it’s nylon string that’s been covered in a thin coating of, wait for it, tar. While it sounds messy, it’s stickier than it is anything else. This works in your favor, as it holds knots amazingly well. The tar also makes it water- and weather-resistant, so it’s great for the outdoors.
Avoid adding monofilament fishing line to your kit. A better cordage option is braided fishing line. It doesn’t have the memory monofilament does, meaning it won’t be a looped mess when you unspool it. It’s a little more expensive, but it’s definitely worth the cost.
Okay, this might be blurring the definition of cordage just a touch, but duct tape is well-known for its usefulness. In addition to affixing things together and making quick repairs, it can be used as tinder to get a fire going. Be forewarned, you do not want to nudge it with a finger while it’s burning. It will stick to you, and it will hurt quite a lot as you try to unstick it.
A roll of duct tape is bulky and heavy. A better way to carry it is to wrap tape several times around an old gift card. This will keep it flat and ready to use. Incidentally, this is also a good way to pack other types of cordage.
Sometimes, you just want to feel like a cowboy. For some, that means some kind of lever-action rifle or single-action revolver. For me, it means I’m grabbing a street howitzer—aka a shotgun. Heritage, a long-time budget brand producing Cowboy awesomeness, has introduced the Badlander. In 2025, they are giving us a shiny option with a stainless finish.
There is some unexplainable X-Factor when it comes to a stainless steel double-barrel room broom with wood furniture. It scratches an itch I didn’t know I had. The Heritage Badlander is a traditional box lock shotgun with two barrels and two triggers, daring you to make its day.
The classic coach gun layout brings you back to the days of Wells Fargo or, in my case, Doc Holliday at the OK Corral. Opening the actions and seeing those two massive bores staring back at you never gets old.
The Badlander gives you short 18.5-inch barrels that make it easy to whip around and control. A gold bead draws the eye and allows you to see the sight while focusing on the target, which is exactly what you want to do with a shotgun.
Shooting the Badlander
I sent a sizable amount of birdshot downrange at our recent Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous. I peppered steel targets over and over and felt happy I was shooting OPA (Other people’s ammo). Recoil is stiff, as you’d expect, but manageable. The checkering on the stock and forend allows you to dig in and get a solid grip for a good push/pull.
Honestly, the checkering is already beyond budget-worthy. However, the wood finish is fantastic and complements the stainless finish. Overall, the gun has an excellent look and feel.
The Badlander has a simple cylinder bore design that you’d expect from a coach gun. It aims to arm the wannabe cowboy and seems to offer an affordable option for SASS. Like any shotgun, you could throw it in any role, and it would succeed well enough.
Keep an eye out; we hope to get one in for more long-term testing.
Hall of Famer Bill Ruple is busy in his shop, turning from peanut farmer to custom knife rockstar!
Guess who’s joining forces with W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery? The one and only Bill Ruple with his Axe Handle Folder! With over thirty years under his belt, Bill has earned a well-deserved spot in the Blade Show Cutlery Hall of Fame, and a trophy case packed with awards. Bill is a legend in the custom knife scene.
Two Titans
Bill and Case, two heavyweights in the slipjoint knife scene, got together for a brainstorming session and devised an awesome new lockback pattern for their first collaboration.
They’re also whipping up some limited-edition designs that pay tribute to the classics, all loaded with high-quality features. And the best part? The Ruple X Case Axe Handle is the first standout piece from this exciting partnership!
Bill Ruple Axe Handle
This sleek lockback knife has a comfy 4.4-inch frame and weighs a solid 4.2 ounces. The 3.46-inch Clip point blade is precision-cut from 154 CM stainless steel.
The author used the Case Axe Handle Lockback on limes, oranges, garlic, and onions for some simple southwest cooking.
With shiny satin-finished accents and a one-piece liner for smooth deployment, it’s designed to impress. I went with the Marbled Black Carbon Fiber scales, and the arrowhead-shaped shield on the handle symbolizes strength and precision. This knife is not just practical; it’s a stylish statement!
Axe Handle in the Field
After snagging my Axe Handle from Case Knives at Blade Show 2024, I couldn’t wait to try it out. I tested its sharpness by running it across my arm hair, and it passed with flying colors—just the beginning of the fun!
Every knife I get eventually makes its way to my cutting board, and since I was planning to whip up some carnitas, I got to work prepping limes, oranges, onions, and garlic. The Axe Handle sliced through everything effortlessly. I left it overnight without wiping it down, but when I checked it the next day, there was no corrosion or even a hint of a patina. That’s the beauty of American 154CM stainless steel!
Thin feather sticks are crucial for creating easily ignitable shavings with a knife. The Case Axe Handle worked exceptionally well.
Then, I faced a pile of packages from overseas, all wrapped in thick, heavy-duty nylon webbing that needed cutting. After tackling that, I broke down some heavy-duty cardboard, and once again, the Axe Handle performed flawlessly.
Getting Back to the Essentials
I took the Bill Ruple Axe Handle into the woods and pushed its limits beyond typical pocket knife tasks—no batoning or wood splitting, though!
The handle was great for my larger hands, especially with my leather work gloves on in the winter. I bent a young sapling using a snap cutting technique and easily carved some tarp and tent stakes.
Jute rope was no match for the sharp 154CM stainless steel edge on the Case Axe Handle.
I sliced rubber tubing for emergency fire starters and cut manila rope to test out fire-making materials. After much use, I was impressed with how sharp the blade stayed while feathering wood for a fire. Thanks to the effective Case grind, those thin shavings catch a spark from a Ferro rod.
Bill Ruple Axe Handle Folder Summary
In short, Bill Ruple’s collaboration with Case Cutlery has produced the impressive Axe Handle lockback knife, showcasing excellent craftsmanship. Bill shares his favorite Case patterns and practical knife uses from his farming days, adding a personal touch. With the Ruple X Case Axe Handle launch, they’re setting a high bar for future projects that knife enthusiasts will love!
For more information, please check out Case Knives!
Beretta has mastered branding. Its look immediately lets you know you’re looking at either a Beretta or a clone of a Beretta. The open-top slide is the number one giveaway. But the grip angle and general curves of a Beretta design are also noticeable. When I saw a Beretta Model 70S at a local gun store for a great price, I knew I had to add it to my collection.
The Beretta Model 70S is a curious little gun. It’s nowhere near as well-known as the 80 series, the 92, or even the various tip-ups. It’s almost forgotten, but not forgotten enough to get Ian drooling over it. Luckily, as a dollar-store gun historian, it’s just forgotten enough to get interested.
The Beretta Model 70S
I’m not using the plural of 70 to make 70S. Think of the S as a different designation. It’s the Beretta seventy S. The original Model 70, which adopted the Puma namesake for marketing, was only ever offered in .32 ACP. The Model 70 had a cross-bolt safety, and instead of a proper last-round bolt hold-open device, the slide held onto the magazine’s follower. If you removed the magazine, the slide slammed forward. It was a bit goofy.
Beretta released the 70S to modify and improve the Model 70. The 70S used a steel frame and is chambered in .22LR, .32 ACP, and .380 ACP. The 70S had a thumb-operated safety on the left side of the frame, and most had standard last-round slide hold opens, but not all. I own two Model 70S; one lock is open on the follower, and the other is open like a normal handgun.
These are single-action handguns. The magazine release is placed at the bottom of the left side grip. It’s rather odd, and magazines don’t drop out with ease. You have to pry it out by the pinky spur to remove it.
These are simple, straight blowback pistols. The point of the Model 70 and 70S was to replace the Beretta 34/35. The Beretta 34/35 was the compact handgun in their lineup and was also a fairly basic blowback-operated handgun. The series evolved into the 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, and 76. There are also the 100, 101, and 102 models.
These guns featured various barrel changes. Some came with two barrels, others with just a long barrel. The 76 was a dedicated target pistol. Ultimately, the 70 and 70S were the true successors to the 34/35’s intention.
Notable Users of the Beretta 70S
The most famous users of the Beretta 70S were the Israeli Sky Marshals, Mossad, and Sayeret Matkal. Specifically, these special groups used the .22LR variant and mounted a suppressor. The combination created a light recoiling and likely very quiet weapon. The direct blowback design is also very suppressor-friendly, and there is no need to worry about a booster device.
The Sky Marshals fielded the gun to prevent excess damage to the plane and likely overpenetration. It’s not going to cause explosive decompression, but planes are very crowded and small, so the potential for damage, ricochets, and similar incidents is high. Using a .22LR makes sense for a Sky Marshal with three weeks of training.
An Israeli Air Marshal famously took on four men armed with AKs and grenades, getting one to surrender, killing one with his Beretta Model 70S, and eventually choking another before Swiss police arrested the entire group.
Another famous use is German vigilante Marianna Bachmeier. She used a Model 70S to kill Klaus Bradowski, a serial child abuser who assaulted and killed her daughter. She snuck the gun into the courtroom and executed the man with the Model 70S in a move I completely understand.
The Iraqis created licensed variants such as the Tariq in the 1980s. The Italian police also adopted the pistol.
Shooting the Beast
My Model 70S comes in .380 ACP, which is the most powerful caliber you can get the gun in. It’s not a nice gun to shoot, to be honest. It’s got a thick rear strap with a pronounced beavertail. The thin nature, the blowback design, and the .380 ACP cartridges create some stinging recoil. It digs in and isn’t pleasant.
If you get past the recoil, you can see why the Model 70S was used as the basis for a target pistol. The trigger does what you want a single-action trigger to do. It’s light and crisp with a short reset. The barrel doesn’t move or tip like a short recoil design, and maybe that’s why it’s so darn accurate. I was impressed with what the little sights could do and what I could do with the gun.
At 25 yards, I was hitting 6-inch gongs. I couldn’t even see the gongs cause of the front sight, but I could hit it! At 15 yards, I could punch rounds into a thumb-length group over and over. It’s remarkably consistent. The trigger and the barrel help, but so does the nice grip that fills your hand and makes it easy to handle.
Blowback operation ensures good reliability, and I didn’t have any problems with either of my Beretta Model 70S. They are fairly nice old guns that don’t command a premium. They can often be found for around 350 dollars, and that makes them fun bargain bin collectibles from one of the world’s oldest arms companies.
