Russia’s Latest SMG – The PPK-20

By

-

April 18, 2023

Listen, I know Russia isn’t exactly popular right now. They’ve kinda been giant D-bags, but that doesn’t mean I have to stop appreciating Russian weaponry and reporting on it, right? Well, I hope not because, as an SMG fan, I recently stumbled across a new submachine gun from The Russian Kalashnikov Group. The PP-19 and now PP-20 seem to be your options for a Russian SMG, but according to the Kalashnikov Group website, they now have a PPK-20.

The PPK-20 looks to have been revealed in early 2020. According to TASS.com, a Russian News Agency, it was in state testing, but there wasn’t much information revealed afterward. Now, on the Kalashnikov Group Russian website, the PPK-20 has its own page, and it seems to be for sale to military and police forces worldwide. Now, we haven’t seen much good come out of Russian weaponry in Ukraine, but at least the AKs work, right?

What is the PPK-20

The PPK-20 is an evolution of the PP-19 series. This submachine gun family started back in the 1990s and began with the famed Bizon and its helical magazine in 9mm Makarov. It became the PP-19 Vityaz in 9×19. This gun used much simpler, cheaper, and likely more reliable box magazines. The PP-19 evolved into the PP-19-01. From that gun, we got the very modern and chic PPK-20.

The PP-19 series has always been and continues to be a standard straight blowback submachine gun. It uses an AK-style design but ditches the long-stroke gas piston system. Simple blowback is fairly standard for SMGs, and the downsides revolve around the higher-than-expected recoil and excessive weight. However, it makes a simple and cheap gun.

The AK series is basically a brand for Russia and the Kalashnikov Group. While they could and have made better and more ergonomically included SMGs, they stuck to their calling card for the PPK-20. There are benefits, which include lower training requirements for troops used to the AK series. One of the reasons the AR platform and ergonomics remain in military use is because it works, and we are used to it.

The downside is that AK ergonomics are basically that of a submachine gun made in the 1940s. The world has moved on from the age of the AK.

What’s New With the PPK-20

There is a thing with submachine guns and the initial K. Whenever someone makes a super short version of an SMG. It gains the K initial. As far as I can tell, this goes back to two German guns, the Walther MPK and the HK MP5K. The Walther came first with the MPL and MPK. The MPK was the same gun as the MPL, with a shorter overall barrel. The MP5K was an MP5, also with a short barrel.

K stands for kurz, which is German for short. If you’ve ever purchased imported .380 ACP ammo, it might be marked 9mm, Kurz. That K designation has made its way to the entire world of SMGs, including the Czech Scorpion, the SIG MPX, and beyond. It’s also found a foothold in Russia, apparently.

The PPK-20 follows the SMG tradition of using the K designation to bring us a short SMG. Well shortish. The PP-19 has a 9.35-inch barrel, and the PPK-20 works with a 7.14-inch barrel. That’s not the only difference.

The gun uses a stock that both collapses and folds instead of the triangle stock of the PP-19. The handguard features an M-LOK design with some short sections of Picatinny rail. They also pushed the rear sight all the way back to the end of the dust cover. This greatly increases the sight radius, which will make the gun easier to shoot accurately.

They also added a selector to the left side of the gun that’s much more modern than the classic AK safety, although, to be clear, that safety is still there. It’s also designed to function primarily with the armor piercing, ass-kicking, 7N21 armor piercing round but can use standard 9mm rounds as well.

All That and a Bag Of Chips

The PPK-20 is a big improvement on the PP-19, but it might be too little too late. The gun hasn’t been adopted, or at least if it has, it hasn’t been reported. The PPK-20 suffers from the same problems as any SMg, and that’s the fact it’s an SMG. Short carbines exist, and rifle rounds pack a lot more punch than pistol rounds. Who needs an SMG when you can pick up an M4 or even one of the AK-200 variants?

Retro CCW – The Muff Pistol

By

Travis Pike

-

April 17, 2023

Try not to laugh and have your mind in the gutter. When I say muff pistol, I’m referring to a device often carried by women to warm their hands. Even in the 16th century, women didn’t get the benefits of pockets and the warmth they offered. Muff pistols were designed to be ultra-small and easily concealable firearms aimed at women. Not literally, but as a marketing tool. The Muff pistol became the concealed carry choice for women as the pistols were easy to carry in their hand-warming muffs.

The Orignal Muff Pistol

Tracking who made the first muff pistol is likely impossible. They came to be in the 1700s. At this point, the Queen Anne pistol was quite popular, and these guns were simple breechloading, flintlock pistols. The barrel had to be removed to load, and as you’d expect, they were single-shot firearms. They were somewhat small for the era, akin to the Glock 19. Like the Glock 19, they were used for various tasks and carried for duty and self-defense.

However, they were still somewhat large for most people, especially women and the fashion of their era. This led to the muff pistol, a smaller variant of the Queen Anne pistol. Think of this as the Glock 43 of the era. Its small size made it easy to carry, and it was easily hidden in the muffs that were popular with women of the era.

The most common manufacturer of Muff pistols was Bunny of London, or well, they are the easiest to find these days. Muff pistols were quite ahead of their time. They were carried ready and concealed, and a flintlock pistol wasn’t exactly the safest of firearms.

Knowing these would be carried ready to fire in a muff or pocket, they incorporated a safety device that would block the frizzen from opening, so if the hammer did fall, it didn’t really matter. Other designs often had drop-down triggers to prevent snagging and similar devices.

The ball rounds were often large and were anywhere from .390 patched balls to .490 balls. The barrels were rifled but short, and sights weren’t a consideration. Just point at close range and pull the trigger.

The Evolution of the Muff Pistol

Muff pistols, and pocket pistols in general, stuck around as gun technology evolved. This includes the realm of percussion and cartridge firearms. I got my own Muff pistol that came from the late 1800s. It’s apparently a .22 Short, but without any markings, and due to the age, I’m hesitant to fire it.

The design is interesting, and by the time they got to cartridge firearms, the barrels were no longer removable. Instead, they opened at the rear, and you could individually load a round into the barrel. These were single-action, hammer-fired guns. They were no custom Glock. The designs were quite interesting and invoked a manual ejector and rotating breech block.

Muff Pistols Today

You can easily find an antique muff pistol if you look at historical auctions. They don’t fetch much money, especially the cartridge variants, which were made fairly cheaply. They aren’t flying off the shelves with collectors unless they are sold in pairs or with a fancy display and loading case.

If you want one, it won’t be tough to find. It’s an interesting example of a concealed carry weapon in the early days.

Ammunition Testing

By

V. Caldwell

-

April 17, 2023

ammo2 — Hornady 9mm XTP- 115, 124 and 147 grain XTP

Testing ammunition munitions and cartridges is complicated by any standard. Research and development begin in the ballistics lab and continue into field experience after the loads have been fired into gelatin for personal defense testing. The combination of science is demanding. The load must operate at a safe pressure for the given cartridge while providing maximum performance. This means careful powder and primer selection. A full powder burn and good accuracy are desirable.

Wound ballistics are at a high level of reliability. Over the previous century, tests have been conducted using dry cadavers, pine boards, European glue, wax, water, wet newspaper, and most recently ballistic gelatin. Gelatin is the closet media we have to flesh and blood and human and animal tissue, yet it really isn’t close at all.

Gelatin is useful for comparing one load to the other but not necessarily for comparing how the loads will actually perform in a living target. The results are close enough for government work! Ammunition companies, military and police agencies and institutions use gelatin for ammunition testing. Gelatin alone of the viable test media gives a permanent representation of the wound channel. As an example, I often use water for comparing one load to the other. It is repeatable, as well as reliable, and water results are consistent. On the downside, there is no record of the effect, and of course, water isn’t as data rich as gelatin. Water is more practical for most of us. We like to test our own ammunition and choose a load that fits our needs. Reliability may be tested by firing the load in our personal firearms.

Water testing is ok when comparing one load to the other.

Recoil, control in the individual handgun, a clean powder burn, good bullet pull, limited muzzle blast and flash, and reasonable accuracy are important. A loading with a balance of expansion and penetration is desirable for personal defense. Preparing gelatin for testing is a demanding procedure. The gelatin must be properly mixed, and it is tested for consistency, so the results will be valid and repeatable. It is expensive to scrap a 40-pound block of gelatin that isn’t mixed properly. Consistency is vital. Agencies across the world must be able to compare ballistics results obtained in the United States. The term repeatable and verifiable are heard often.

Gelatin and ballistic testing are valid. There are pop culture so called studies with zero validity. So called street results have little value compared to lab testing, just because X caliber produced ‘a stop’ doesn’t mean X caliber is reliable in all or most circumstances. Some so-called studies claim to have confidential reports and secret sources. Their validity is zero. Science doesn’t ask you to believe, science presents the facts. As an example, a few years ago some writers actually convinced a gullible minority that secret testing—involving shooting alpine goats—had been conducted! The technical is seldom as exciting as fiction, but it is reliable. Don’t get caught up in a hoax. The results obtained in scientific testing are useful in comparing one load to the other. I do not wish to discourage anyone from mixing their own gelatin as there are many careful people capable of doing this work; it is simply a chore that most would not care to perform. There is a considerable investment in time and material. You have to know how to read a wound cavity for the results to be worthwhile.

The Hornady XTP is a reliable expanding bullet. This is performance at different velocity.

In water testing, penetration and expansion are tested. The bullet is found in the skin of a water jug, in the jug, or between jugs. The bullet is captured by the gelatin block. The wound cavity is represented in the block. Most jacketed hollow point bullets expand in an 18-inch block and stop. The gelatin block expands a bit and often snaps back to shape. You look over the entire cavity and determine the results.You will observe how quickly the bullet expanded past the initial caliber-size hole. Some penetrate the same length but begin expanding at different points. How deep and wide is the cavity, that is the question. This makes for a measurable complete wound volume. Two wound cavities with the same depth of penetration may have different characteristics. The FBI measures the total wound volume. The FBI also demands a minimum of 12 inches of penetration with 18 inches being desirable. This is reasonable considering the fact that the felons arms may be extended as he is firing at you—demanding penetration through the arm bones.

Heavy clothing or light cover may be part of the problem. Or, you may be dealing with a heavy and thickly muscled individual. Another consideration is the length of the beginning of the wound channel, sometimes referred to as the neck. If the neck is relatively short, then the bullet has begun expanding early. If the neck is long, expansion began later. This isn’t a trait that may be measured with other media. A rapidly expanding bullet may be desirable in home defense. An average-sized individual with light clothing will be addressed well by such a loading. On the other hand, the larger the opponent and the more heavily clad—as in a winter scenario—the bullet that begins expansion later might be the better choice. The choice, which depends upon an individual scenario, is common wisdom. However, some cannot afford the luxury of the individual scenario, and wisely plan for the worst-case scenario. In this case penetration is favored.

The final arbiter of effectiveness is shot placement. A shot to the arterial region that produces blood loss through damage is most desirable. The lungs are not particularly difficult to penetrate. The body has both hollow and solid organs. A hit to one of the solid organs often produces more shock and more bullet expansion. Bullets that expand well are often stopped by the heavy skin of the back. This layer or hide is more resistant to damage than commonly realized. Flesh, blood, bones, and solid organs are a mix in the body that cannot be easily duplicated.

Accuracy testing is the simplest and easiest to verify.

A pistol bullet may not expand at all. If the bullet nose strikes bone and the nose closes, then there will be no expansion. Gelatin is useful for testing because it homogenous. This simply means it is the same in detail through the gelatin block and does not differ. There have been attempts to modify gelatin for greater realism, such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police testing of gelatin with bones interspersed in the mix. While interesting, such experiments simply give a rough idea of bullet performance in human beings, although the testing is valuable and valid. The RCMP also tested at 50 yards, reasonable in light of the ranges of climate and the real estate patrolled by the RCMP. A few individuals with little qualification to comment have argued against the FBI’s minimum penetration standard. This isn’t wise. The FBI has more resources than any gun writer and most ammunition factories. There is good reason I cannot recommend small calibers. The baseline of .38 Special and 9mm Luger for minimal personal defense is valid. These loads offer a high degree of protection for those that practice. And, in the end, that is what matters—practice, shot placement, and marksmanship.

Necessities for comparing ammunition

Chronograph

Ammunition media- water or gelatin

Magnifying glass to check for unburned powder

Solid shooting rest to check for accuracy

Gunday Brunch 96: Alex Sansone of the Suited Shootist

By

David Reeder

-

April 16, 2023

Today we’re joined by Alex Sansone of @TheSuitedShootist who shares some real life tips and tricks with Caleb on how to dress like an adult and carry a gun.

SIG M400 Rifle

By

V. Caldwell

-

April 15, 2023

Fast handling and reliable this is a great all around rifle.

My philosophy concerning rifles is to own but a few and master these rifles as thoroughly as possible. A primary rifle and a spare are good to have. The rifle should be light enough for constant carry, reliable, accurate enough for the task at hand, and simple enough for easy maintenance. I am not an operator and I have not been on the front line in institutional service in some time. I owned very good rifles when I was in service and teaching carbine classes. One of my abstracts on a federal level has been extensively used in training and to convince city fathers to approve carbine deployment. The rifles I own today are better than anything in the past. As for an all around personal defense rifle the SIG M400 is as good as it gets for the price. There are cheaper rifles. They may be ok for recreational use but I have seen quite a few failures in the economy class. I can live without a lot of cheap rifles.

SIG’s M400 TREAD is simple enough- a very good AR 15. The rifle features a reliable trigger an M LOK forend and a ell designed grip. The gas block is properly attached and the carrier keys are staked in place as they should be. TREAD as the M400 is also called simply means don’t tread on me as American an expression as there is. Since the rifle is manufactured in New Hampshire the M400 TREAD is well named. The barrel is a stainless steel light contour 16 inch tube with a 1 in 8 barrel twist. A three prong flash hider is attached. The weight of the barrel sets the weight of the rifle and the light contour keeps the piece light. The gas system is mid length. The chamber is 5.56mm NATO well suited to any commercial ammunition. The TREAD features a 15 inch aluminum handguard housing the free floating barrel. If desired you have plenty of area for mounting lights or lasers. The stock is the usual six point adjustable length type. Unloaded the rifle tips the scales at six pounds eleven ounces.

The things that make the AR run correctly have been attended to. The gas block and carrier keys are properly set up. The trigger system is reliable and properly fitted. The upper and lower receiver fit well together with minimal play. The rifle features an ambidextrous safety and magazine release. The single state trigger was operated in dry fire a few dozen repetitions before range work. Trigger compression is a clean six pounds and fourteen ounces. The rifle is provided with one magazine. The M400 worked reliably with a mix of Colt, OK, Brownells and PMAG magazines.

For optics I chose the SIG Romeo 5XDR. This red dot sight isn’t the most expensive but it offers good clarity and works well in fast reactive drills. The Romeo 5XDR was easily sight in. With a long lived battery life of 50,000 hours guaranteed I still change the battery on my birthday. The dot I 1 MOA with total adjustment of 100 MOA. The Romeo red dot weighs only 5.6 ounces.

Initially I sighted the rifle for 25 yards, getting preliminary zero out of the way. Sighting for 50 and then 100 yard was simple enough using the MTM K zone shooting rest. I used some of the last o a long hoarded supply of Black hills ammunition 55 grain FMJ loads. As I near the last few boxes of this loading ammunition availability is much better in both price and quantity. I enjoyed firing tis combination off hand from barricade and prone behind cover. At fifty yards firing three shot groups for accuracy were fired using the excellent Black Hills Ammunition 52 grain MATCH and the famous and much respected 77 grain SMK. 50 yards isn’t a challenge for these loads and the SIG M400 with three shots falling into .7 to 1.0 inch. Trudging to the 100 yard line I posted a target. At this range the SIG M400 Romeo Red and Black Hill Ammunition 77 grain open tip combination but three bullet holes in 1.5 inch. The Black Hills 52 grain MATCH went 2.0 inches and the 55 grain FMJ 1.6 inch. This is a fine shooter for the price and a rifle that has proven reliable and fast handling.

All told the M400 has a good array of features.

SIG TREAD M400 SpecsCaliber: 5.56 NATO

Weight: 6 lbs. 9 oz
Overall length: 32.5 in. (stock collapsed); 35.75 in. (stock fully extended)
Receiver: Forged aluminum
Barrel: 16″ stainless steel, mid length gas system, 1/8″ twist
Muzzle Device: SIG 3-prong flash hider
Stock: Magpul SL-K
Pistol Grip: SIG
Forend: SIG 15-inch M-LOK
Trigger: 7.0 pounds specified, lighter as tested
Sights: None delivered
Accessories: One 30-round magazine

The Problem With Mag Fed Shotguns

By

Travis Pike

-

April 14, 2023

Most shotguns use a very simple magazine system. It’s a fixed, tubular magazine that sits beneath the barrel. It’s the choice of police, military, and most shotgun shooters. Alongside the standard tube-fed design, we’ve seen the rise of mag-fed shotguns. Heck, just a couple of years ago, both Remington and Mossberg released mag fed shotguns to take advantage of the new style.

The classic and likely most widely accepted of these shotguns has been AK series guns that started with the Saiga and have exploded into an entire genre of shotguns. I don’t hate mag fed shotguns, but they do have some problems that don’t seem to get addressed often. After scrolling past my 10th bullpup, mag fed shotgun on a Defensive Shotgun page. I decided its time to talk about the problems with these guns.

The Obvious Advantages

Shotguns that use box magazines have some distinctive advantages. The first being they can be quick to reload. At least quicker to reload than a tube fed when going from empty to fully loaded. These guns do make carrying spare ammo easier, and while you can’t do a slug select drill, you can drop a buckshot mag for a slug mag pretty quickly.

You also aren’t limited to the length of your barrel for ammunition capacity. Some can get pretty nuts in terms of size. The VR series 19-round magazines, for example, are pretty nuts. Drums exist and make toting a box of shotgun shells pretty easy. There are some very clear advantages, but there are problems too.

The Downsides To Mag Fed Shotguns

The first downside that’s universal to these mag fed shotguns is shotgun shells. They are primarily made of plastic. Sure, some brass and even paper shells exist, but plastic shells are the dominant option. When left loaded in a magazine, the pressure put upon them by the spring, follower, and other shells begins to deform that plastic. This makes it, so the shells eventually won’t feed and will create plenty of jams and problems for you to deal with.

That’s the biggest problem. The second is that the magazines tend to be bulky and get a little unruly. Good luck finding a good mag pouch for your weapon. The large size and weight make them a bit tougher to accessorize with. Most shotgun gear is built around tube-fed designs.

Mag fed shotguns also have an odd quality curve. Most are complete crap, but there are some diamonds in the rough. The reason the majority are crap is the fact most are cheap Turkish designs. The guns and magazines are just poorly made and will either be unreliable from the start or just break to pieces along the way.

Guns from Iron Horse and Genesis-12 are absolutely outstanding, as are the Fostech Origin and Dissident Arms guns. Mossberg’s 590M series are good guns and represent one of the better, more affordable options on the market. For every one of these solid guns, there are piles of mass-imported Turkish crap.

Going Mag Fed

I have a few mag fed shotguns in my arsenal, and I enjoy them. They can be handy, but they are a tough sell for a home defense shotgun. The chance of shells deforming and failing is too much risk for me. I can see the benefits, but until shotgun ammo changes, you have to really weigh the downsides.

Leather EDC Belts

By

The Suited Shootist

-

April 14, 2023

If there is one thing that the EDC crowd obsesses over it’s belts, right after gun brand, caliber, sight type, carry position, shooting style, holster type, holster brand…point is we like geeking out over gear. We’re always looking for that thing that’s going to give us that little edge (as long as it isn’t dry fire practice or working with a shot timer).

There’s already tons of videos and articles out there about the best belt for XYZ, or the new hotness, so why would such a niche page like mine want to wade into such an overly saturated pool? Simple really. Dress belts are generally too delicate to effectively support a gun, and most of the purpose built gun belts out there, while wonderfully effective, can be so robust as to look out of place through the belt loops of dress slacks or a suit. Case in point, the Mean Gene Shooter’s belt is advertised at “just over 1/4 inch thick”. Well, when you’re going for a sleek, streamlined silhouette, that’s a lot of hide to have hanging off your hips.

When it comes to any inside the waistband carry, but especially appendix, most of the conventional wisdom on belts is actually counter productive. Super rigid belts make it harder to conform to the contours of your body. This means that the belt can actually be pulling the gun away from you, increasing printing.

With traditional belts with holes, usually most people find that one hole is uncomfortably tight, but the next one down is too loose to where the gun flops around. Before these ratcheting belts came on the market, the only options we had for micro-adjustability were either web belts or the Wilderness style, neither of which is really appropriate in a suit. Now there are options that give us the functionality we need along with a more approrpriate aesthetic, and at almost half the thickness of a leather gun belt, these ratchet belts are definitely worth considering.

KORE ESSENTIALS:

I was first introduced to Kore Essentials by one of YouTube’s gun personalities. It seemed like a pretty great solution: a dress-looking belt that was purpose built for carrying a gun! What more could you ask for? So I ordered up a couple. Now this was about the time that I was also experimenting with appendix carry so, not knowing any better, I opted for the more rigid kydex-reinforced belt that they offered at the time. For those unfamiliar, these belts are cut-to-size, so you trim it down yourself and then attach the buckle. The micro-adjustability of the ratcheting system was not only convenient, but it also made appendix carrying much more comfortable. I even ran the belt through ECQC, and it didn’t fail. The leather was a little worse for wear, but that’s to be expected when you’re rolling around in the gravely dirt of Austin.

After wearing these belts daily for a few months, I did notice a problem. The release latch on the buckle was so pronounced that it was wearing a hole into the front of my pants. This was especially problematic with lighter fabrics like on my slacks and suits. My immediate solution was to not tighten the belt down as much, but that of course made the holster less stable. I’ve been told that Kore has subsequently updated the buckle design, but I cannot confirm if that redesign fixed this issue. ~~I have no reason to doubt that it has~~. Update: After looking at the website, the buckle design still seems to have the same configuration. This leads me to believe it would have the same issue.

That bass-clef looking knob wore through 3 pairs of jeans and 2 sets of chinos in 6 months

The second thing that I’m not super fond of is that the leather started to de-laminate from the kydex and bubble up. It’s pretty unsightly, and so now the belt is all but unusable unless my shirt is untucked, or if I’m wearing a jacket all day. I’ve made do, but I found myself wanting a better solution. I tried a couple of their non-kydex reinforced fashion belts, but still ran into some of the same concerns.

SLIDEBELTS:

I’ll be honest, I ignored Slidebelts for a while because I saw their ads for the “Survival Belt” with the integrated blade and fire steel, and pretty much wrote them off. It struck me as a ridiculous concept. I randomly decided to give them another look, and was encouraged that they specifically identified different quality tiers of their belts on the website (top grain vs. full grain). I ordered a set of their top grain belts, a black, a brown, and a walnut, and I was pleasantly surprised by what I got:

Firstly, the buckle design on the Slidebelt is far superior in my mind. It’s sleeker, and there are no protrusions to wear into your clothing. Also there’s a much wider selection of buckle options, which is nice. The next thing that struck me was that their belts come with a slightly more pebbled texture to them than the Kore ones, which I happen to like. Also, the smooth face of the Kore belts caused dimples and separation to be much more apparent, causing the belt to show its age much faster.

Now I’m not crazy that the inside face of the Slidebelt isn’t finished. Aside from the fact that it makes the measurements harder to read when you’re sizing the belt, it just feels a little sloppy. And for a product that’s ~25% more expensive (MSRP) than the Kore belts that do have a finished inside, it does feel like they cut a corner there.

CONCLUSION:

Overall, they’re both perfectly serviceable choices. I can’t speak to how well the Slidebelt will hold up over time, but based solely on how they felt coming out of the box and the buckle design, they’ve unseated Kore for my everyday dress belt option when I’m carrying a gun. The construction is solid, and they’re a little more upfront about the materials they use. Kore does list the type of leather in the product descriptions, but you have to dig for it. I DO know some folks that are having belts made out of shell cordovan, and commissioning them from bridle/saddle shops, but at that point you’re essentially going bespoke, and that’s a little outside the realm of most of my audience.

Now will these products survive the rigors of a plain clothed executive protection detail? Something where you’re having to run rifle mags, a radio, and who knows what else on your beltline? No, probably not. They will however support my standard loadout until such time as I can get one of those snazzy custom cordovan numbers…which is probably going to be a while.

I have been playing with Anson Belt & Buckle lately as another option, and so far have been pleasantly surprised. I’m going to give it a little more time before I make my ruling on them though.

DON’T SHOOT!

By

The Suited Shootist

-

April 13, 2023

Do you ever practice not shooting?

That’s kind of a weird concept, right? It’s virtually impossible to practice not doing an action.

Why would we need to do that anyways?

In the training space, there’s been a heavy focus over the past few years on pushing the boundaries of human performance in terms of both draw times and splits (the time between shots).

There is always merit to holding oneself to a higher standard, never accepting the status quo, and trying to constantly improve, however this focus on pushing performance isn’t always tempered with the context of application in the context of the civilian defender.

This can pose some challenges.

Like it or not, we live in a society where public opinion can influence the course of the aftermath of a defensive encounter.

If you’re regularly banging out 2-second Bill Drills, that type of shooting can result in an attacker getting shot “excessively” or “in the back”. CAN these things be articulated, and a jury be educated as to why they can fall within the realm of reasonableness? Absolutely. But are you hoping that your attorney and expert witnesses able to sway the opinion of a retired school teacher who spent decades espousing “we solve problems with our words, not our hands?” Also yes.

There’s 3 different branches to this “not shooting people” angle:

#1: They Don’t Need Shot Yet

This is where scenario-based training such as Force-on-Force or Hardwired Tactical Shooting’s Counter-Robbery curriculum comes into play. Situations that put you under a cognitive load, and you have to determine if and when it’s appropriate to produce or apply a weapon.

#2: They Don’t Need Shot Anymore

Darryl Bolke likes to drive the point home that every round fired is its own individual use of force decision, requiring independent justification. Going back to the Bill Drill example, just because dude needed shot on round 1 doesn’t necessarily mean you’re cleared hot for all 6.

Whether the target drops their weapon, stops advancing, or whatever else, at some point they’re no longer presenting a reasonable threat to you. If you continue putting rounds into them after that point, it’s entirely possible that you’re at the very least complicating your defense and, worst case scenario, have surpassed the window of justifiable homicide entirely.

A glaring example of this was the Houston taqueria shooting, and a less clear-cut example was the officer involved shooting of Toni McBride, the LAPD officer who also shot competition. Despite the fact that her shots were by all accounts very measured controlled pairs, and she suffered no criminal charges, her department did find her in violation of policy with her last two rounds.

The Force Science Institute has done a ton of research on human reaction time and how it applies to defensive uses of force. I highly suggest people familiarize themselves with that data, and pursue some training that puts them in a position where they can make an inappropriate shooting decision.

#3: The Target Moved

People move when you shoot at them. Either because the initial round(s) had the desired effect, or because they’re trying to get out of the line of fire. Either way, there are examples from both Force-on-Force and real world encounters where the shooter sent rounds where the target was/should have been, but the target was no longer there. In the most recent FOF iterations I observed, this resulted in errant rounds being sent out into public, and landing on someone in the circle of spectators. Jared Reston also shares one of his experiences that could have ended a LOT worse than it did.

I’ll close out by saying that I’m not trying to claim shooting performance doesn’t matter. My point is simply that it’s the easiest component to focus on since it’s so quantifiable. All you need to work on your shooting performance is some ammo, a timer, and a time & accuracy standard. Working on the cognitive aspects of the defensive problem require more people, more time, and less measurable performance. But I’d argue that the skills are equally, if not more important.

To the critics who claim “I’ll slow down/make the right choice when it counts” I’ll just say that at last year’s Rangemaster Tactical conference, one of the attendees that made the top 16 man-on-man shoot-off found himself a little overwhelmed and bound up when it was his turn in the scenario based training. Yes, having automaticity in your shooting skills frees up RAM to focus on problem solving, but if that problem overwhelms your processing ability, you’re less likely to initiate the automated programs appropriately.

Thoughts on the Guns of Last Of Us

By

Travis Pike

-

April 13, 2023

I’m just annoying enough to overanalyze TV shows and movies. I keep it to myself, but I notice when things make sense with guns and when they don’t. HBO’s The Last of Us just ended, and I watched it weekly. I enjoyed the game immensely, and I enjoyed the show. I think the game was better, just for the record. The Last of Us game and TV show are not gun-heavy games like Ghost Recon or The Division. Yet, after watching the show, I was pleasantly surprised by 95% of the Last of Us when it came to firearms. Just so you know, there will be some light spoilers, so deal with it or click Back.

The Setting and Timeline of the Last of Us

The game takes place in 2023, but the world ‘ended’ in 2003, as far as the story goes. The guns and gear are locked into the world of 2003, and I think it’s important we realize 2003 was a very different time for gun owners. Gun culture was much smaller and much different. The Assault Weapon Ban was still in effect, and the world of firearms was AR-centric.

Heck, it wasn’t necessarily Glock-centric. Glock was big, but not like they are today. Hell, PMAGs didn’t exist at the time! I think this is wisely reflected by the guns used in the show. People like the survivalist we know as Bill isn’t carrying an AR or AK. He’s a bit of a fudd who seems to prefer his pump action 870 and his 1911.

When we do see soldiers and freedom fighters, they carry M4A1s, AKs, and even the Mini 14. The Mini 14, in particular, is a smart choice as it was quite popular in this era. The M4A1s are adorned with period-correct optics like the ACOG, but most are just using carry handle sights. The guns and gear all may sense.

The Weapons of the Last of Us

We know the bad guys carry assault rifles, which are period correct. The aforementioned M4A1 and AK pop up, as do the M16A4. Rarely do they have accessories, but some have KAC grips and Surefire lights. I’m not enough of a light nerd to know if they are, period correct. There are Knight’s quad rails, and no M-LOK or keymod makes an appearance. There is also a healthy amount of wear and tear on the guns to look realistic.

Finishes are beaten to hell, and we see things like duct tape helping keep parts together. It’s neat to see, and it’s a smart move from the armorer. There is also a scene where Joel breaks his dominant hand, beating a man to death, and can’t shoot worth a damn. It’s a smart and realistic way to disable our hero and explain the mistakes he makes.

Throughout the Last of Us, Joel carries a revolver which is a Taurus Model 66. Funny enough, that’s the same revolver he carries in the game. He also seems to prefer bolt action rifles, and there is some good reasoning why when you apply some critical thought.

It’s been 20 years since the world ended and 20 years since the last factory round of ammo was loaded. Ammo is old, or likely some reloaded. Who knows the quality of the ammo of the era? Semi-autos require a certain degree of quality ammo to correctly cycle and function.

It makes sense that revolvers and bolt action rifles would be the weapons of choice if you are forced to scavenge ammunition. You can manually cycle the weapon easily, and revolvers can be underloaded and still function easily.

What It Gets Wrong

As I said, it gets 95% of it right. There is some really dumb stuff. First, Joel gets an M4 that clearly functions fine. Later he ditches it. His reasoning is that it’s tough to find ammo to use with it. That’s just wrong, but let’s say only FEDRA has the right ammo, and he’s not planning to fight FEDRA. Okay, fine, but he still has ammo for the gun and doesn’t have a better option anyway.

A much better excuse would be to explain that it would make them a target, and FEDRA soldiers they encounter might rightfully assume they killed a FEDRA soldier to take it.

Thats how I look at a classic Beretta too

Another scene has Bill getting shot while fighting raiders because he’s just standing in the middle of a street fighting. He isn’t taking cover, and there is plenty of cover to take. Later on, Joel is using a Mini 14 and kills a man with an M4. He takes an M4 mag to reload his Mini 14, but we all know that’s not how that works.

While Last of Us isn’t perfect, it gets a few things right, and I appreciate that it seems like the show was made with love and appreciation. You can always tell when people care, and it’s clear that the creators of The Last of Us cared, even when it came to the guns.

How do you ‘flag’ this?

By

Keith Finch

-

April 12, 2023

b54f5b34-5665-4b03-8121-2ff6b9e3366c — Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel, the interim chief of the Louisville police department, speaks during a press conference on Monday in Louisville. (WAVE) via CNN

We’ve already seen repeated calls for gun control in regards to yesterday’s shooting at Old National Bank in Louisville KY. It is the same tired refrain we’ve heard before, and we will hear again, when a person with no known flaggable background attacks people after a triggering event. Disgruntled employee or former employee is one of the highest risks any location has for workplace violence.

So surely gun control? Right? We should have red flagged this man.

Former classmate of Louisville shooting suspect says no “red flag or signal that this could ever happen”

That is, how we say, a slippery slope.

All indications we have are that the shooter was intelligent, polite, no prior history with police, was educated (bachelor and master programs simultaneously) and was otherwise a very normal person with normal struggles working his way into modern society. I work with half a dozen of these young college educated men and women.

So how do we reduce the likelihood of a repeat event?

No, don’t give me ban ‘assault weapons’ again. It’s a childish argument from an emotional source.

I and numerous others have gone on ad nauseum about how that won’t work, it is a waste of efforts, has significant secondary negative impacts, and is a violation of everyone’s rights to try. We aren’t going to vanish tens of millions of semi-auto rifles (and not even touch handguns which are 77% of crime guns) by passing a law. Even if we could, we can’t, but if we could vanish them upon signing a law, doing so wouldn’t shift the available method of injury index enough to matter.

Termination of employment, expulsion, or disciplinary action is a known triggering event and workplace/school safety policies for management tend to mention it, at least in passing, when an employee or student is let go. Most retaliatory actions, when there are any, tend to take the form of negative reviews or vandalism of some manner and not escalate to lethal violence. But there are many documented instances

So how does one go about filtering the mass shooters out from the *f*ck this place, it sucks!* online review leaver types, especially in a circumstance like this one where the attacker didn’t give off any pre-violence indicators and was not in any way a prohibited person. Prior to this act of retaliation for his termination he was a model citizen.

Red Flag?

The most obvious answer to this vexing question is a troublesome one, you flag everyone who gets fired. Everybody who is ever terminated from their job gets flagged. You add a question onto 4473s that asks, “Have you been terminated involuntarily from your job in the last 30, 60, 90 days?” You notify local police of terminations and they schedule a house visit to take temporary custody of firearms for those 30, 60, or 90 days.

If all this sounds like a nightmare that could never possibly work, that violates the rights of those recently terminated from employment for non-criminal reasons, and that would add additional stress and increase the likelihood of a triggering event occuring by harassing the terminated employees… well, you’d be right. All of those are significant negative downsides to ‘red flagging’ an exiting employee to try and lower the chances one comes back for retribution. The solution actively exacerbates the problem.

Even if employers could file a specific report, which they already can if there is any evidence the employee is a risk, all of that takes processing time, resources, and does nothing to truly inhibit (merely inconvenience) a motivated person from attacking their former school or job. This is further complicated by a lack of notable pre-assault indicators, all the screens can fail and they are most likely to fail for those most motivated to circumvent them. The most likely to circumvent them are the highest risk group.

We don’t have pre-crime. There is no accurate way to pluck future killers who have done nothing wrong from the general population who have done nothing wrong.

So an assault weapon ban is out, probably illegal and truly impractical. Red Flag laws aren’t going to be of any more help or any quicker about it than they already are. Additionally, the first instance a ERPO is used and someone it is used against ends up injured or dead for not being able to protect themselves there is going to be a new series of referendums that eat up more law hours on the constitutionality of the ERPO and the limits on them.

What to do

First, we stop pretending there is a law we can pass that will make these already illegal and immoral acts just enough more illegal and immoral that they won’t happen anymore. Gun control is one of the greatest Utopian delusions of our time, that we can prevent the most extreme examples of retributive human behavior by making it slightly less convenient.

The harder and more effective path remains shifting the social conscious of the nation, more specifically the various factions of society who feel threatened, into a more content and peaceable status quo. This is hardest, and most effective, because it cannot happen quickly and is easy to lose progress on. One of the key components, one that is sorely lacking, is trust. Especially trust in our political rivals, those whom we disagree with but would in better circumstance still be trusted to hold the offices and execute the duties of the office with diligence. We lack that. We lack that and we lack the ability outside our political circles too. Political broad stroking as part of how we construct our social circles and social interactions has infected most ways of how we interact with each other. There is nothing easy about this, but it will result in the most appreciable long term gains in safety and societal contentment while leaving people largely to their own cognisance.

Canik SFx Rival-S Has Entered The Chat

By

P.E. Fitch

-

April 12, 2023

The Canik SFx Rival-S is a striker-fired, all-steel competition 9mm pistol that debuted a few months ago at the 2023 SHOT Show. It’s manufactured in Turkey and imported by Century Arms. Given the surging trend and variety of all-steel competition pistols, Canik adapted their original polymer framed Rival into this metallic monolith of a pistol. I’ve never fired or handled any Canik firearms prior to this one. But this is not a full review, rather this is just a preview. At the time of this writing, I’ve only fired a little more than two boxes of ammunition through the Rival-S. I have yet to even take it to a match, much less shoot it off a rest to evaluate its accuracy. But I’m quite pleased with the first 120 rounds and the accuracy results.

The First 50 Rounds

I fired a 50-round box of 9mm American Eagle 124-grain FMJ (AE9AP) at a 5 yard Dot Torture target. Dot Torture isn’t difficult at all, but it requires focus for every shot to be successful. Doing well means focusing on aiming and handling the gun. I scored a 49/50 at 5 yards, which is OK. I had a flier (the 8th shot on #7) which was my mistake. If you look at #1, you’ll see one shot dead at 6 o’clock on the line. That was the very first shot I took. The other four rounds center punched the middle of that circle, not bad for a first 5 rounds. Also helping the Canik Rival-S’ case is how easy it was to shoot circles #5 and #8. Arguably, these are the most difficult circles on the Dot Torture drill as they are fired with a single hand only. This all-steel competition pistol’s weight and light striker trigger really helped with one handed shooting. The first shot I took on #5 ended up stovepiping, but I think that was my fault due to the way I was holding the pistol. I tightened my grip and had no other issues with any single handed shooting for the duration of this exercise. This is also a match-grade all-steel competition pistol being fired for the first time. Maybe it needs to break-in some? I’m not worried about it either way.

B8s And The Next 70 Rounds

The real fun began after finishing the Dot Torture drill. I set up some B8 repair centers and fired the Canik Rival-S at seven different ten-round strings using various factory 9mm loads. These included the above mentioned American Eagle 124-grain FMJ (AE9AP), the Federal Syntech 124/150-grain FP (AE9SJ2)/(AE9SJAP1), American Eagle 147-grain FP (AE9FP), and CCI Blazer Brass 115-grain (5200). I am a modest shooter and still have much to learn, but I am more than pleased with the results of my shooting and these scores. Freestyle 25 yard shooting is something I’ve been working on in the past several months and I am finally making some inroads when it comes to shot-calling and baseline skills.

124-gr Syntech (96-3x)
150-gr Syntech (unscored)
147-gr AE9FP (unscored)
124-gr AE9AP (93-2x)
124-gr AE9AP (95-3x)
115-gr CCI (91-2x)
115-gr CCI (97-3x)

My best two B8 scores from this session, Syntech on the left and Blazer Brass on the right.

Overall, I am very pleased with my performance. Shooting B8 Targets freestyle at 25 yards with open sights also requires a lot of consistency and focus, not to mention precision. That said, getting scores in the mid to high 90s is great for me. Currently, I have not scored higher than a 97 on a 25 yard B8 target shot freestyle (with any type of pistol). I still have to shoot groups from rest and record them for my upcoming formal review. Given the circumstances of having a new to me pistol from a product line I was previously unfamiliar with and with shots taken at 25 yards freestyle I am feeling confident for the next step: matches. There is no doubt that the all-steel 43 ounce unloaded weight and the light trigger makes life with the Canik Rival-S easier, but then again this competition pistol has some fierce rivals indeed.

Sights On Target

The Canik Rival-S ships with phenomenal Tru-Glo fiber optic competition style sights (And extra fiber optic inserts). Out of the box, the front sight is calibrated to shoot lights out with 124 or 115 grain standard velocity 9mm Luger ammunition. Being well aware of how popular heavy-for-caliber 9mm Luger ammo at USPSA matches, I think that the balance and weight of the Rival-S make that somewhat of a moot-point. Besides my handloads, I shoot tons of CCI Blazer (Brass or Aluminum) and knowing that the Rival-S can shoot this dead on at 25 is comforting, as this CCI ammo is easy to find online and in stores. I did not score Strings 2 and 3 which were the ones I shot with the heavier 147 and 150 grain cartridges. Given that I am barely getting acquainted with the Rival-S, I really did not want to adjust the sights just yet. In fairness, the rear sight is adjustable, so you can shoot your favorite 9mm bullet weight with this pistol.

Here are the rest of my B8 targets: the good, the bad and the ugly.

With the Canik Rival-S’ all-steel competition based design, matches ought to be fun in either USPSA Limited or Carry Optics.

NTOA Launches the 2023 PFQ Fitness Challenge

By

Travis Pike

-

April 12, 2023

The National Tactical Officer’s Association is kicking off the 2023 PFQ Fitness Challenge. They have hosted this for several years now and provide a ball-busting series of fitness tests. This is a nationwide contest aimed at police officers, SWAT Teams in particular. This Fitness Challenge is made up of five tests, and the competitor can earn up to ten points in each test. If you max out at 50 points, your name and agency will be recognized in the Tactical Edge publication. While this might be aimed at police officers, I think it’s an interesting test for any prepared person.

We like to LARP in our plate carriers and chest rigs, but can we walk the walk? The PFQ Fitness Test certainly aims to find out. If you are a police officer, you can submit your score for recognition, and you can begin submitting scores online on June 1st, 2023, with a deadline of June 15th. The SWAT team with the highest score will receive a plaque. The individual officer with the highest score will be recognized and receive a free trip to the Law Enforcement Operations Conference in Aurora, Colorado, in 2023.

If you are a civilian schlub like me, you can think of the PFQ Fitness Challenge as your athletic FAST Test, but I can’t get you a coin, so you get the satisfaction of a job well done.

The PFQ Fitness Challenge Tests

The PFQ Fitness Challenge is made up of five different tests. The tests much be run on the same day, and three minutes of recovery are required between tests. During that recovery period, commanders can assign an extra task to complete. It’s optional, but the tasks listed by NTOA as extra credit are:

Reload a magazine
Tie knots
Match a lock and key
Weapon system accuracy
Radio traffic
Memory cards
Assemble / disassemble weapon systems
Apply defensive tactics techniques
These might be fun to add in between your tests if you want to push yourself even harder.

Test 1 – 800 Meter Run

The first PFQ Fitness challenge is an 800-meter sprint. It will be run in training uniform and boots.

Scoring

3:14 or less = 10 points
3:15 – 3:29 = 8
3:30 – 3:44 = 6
3:45 – 3:59 = 4
4:00 – 4:29 = 2
4:30 or greater = 0

Extra credit – One point for every 15 seconds above MAX Score.

Test 2 – 400 Meter Run

Get ready to spring again. This time you will run 400 meters carrying a 25-pound weight in each hand and wearing a 20 lb vest and carrier with a donned gas mask. Like, it’s a ballbreaker.

Scoring

2:44 or less = 10 points
2:45 – 2:59 = 8
3:00 – 3:14 = 6
3:15 – 3:29 = 4
3:30 – 3:44 = 2
3:45 or greater = 0

Extra credit – One point for every 15 seconds above MAX Score.

Test 3 – Burpees

To be clear, the PFQ Fitness Challenge uses real burpees, which means you have to do the push-up. There seem to be multiple ideas for burpees, so let’s get that clear. This is an AMRAP test. So As Many Reps As Possible. You have three minutes to do as many burpees as possible.

Scoring

50+ = 10 points
46-49 = 8
43-45 = 6
40-42 = 4
38-39 = 2
37 or below = 0

Extra credit – One point for each rep above MAX score

Test 4 – Squats

Squats must be done wearing a 20lb vest and gas mask with no filter. The operator has to squat until their butt is below their knees for it to count as one repetition. This is another AMRAP exercise. You have 2 minutes to squat your butt off.

Scoring

75+ = 10 points
73-74 = 8
70-72 = 6
67-69 = 4
64-66 = 2
63 or below = 0

Extra Credit – One point for each rep above MAX score.

Test 5 – Pull-Ups

The pull-up portion rounds out the PFQ Fitness Challenge. It’s a bit interesting, so pay close attention. You can use a forward or reverse grip. Start with your arms fully extended at the bottom, hang and your feet off the ground. Your chin must clear the bar to make one rep.

The first five pull-ups must be strict pull-ups. After that, you can kip and butterfly all you want. You have 1 minute to do as many as you can.

Scoring

20+ = 10 points
18-19 = 8
16-17 = 6
14-15 = 4
12-13 = 2
11 or below = 0

Extra credit – One point for each rep above MAX score.

Boom, Get Some Water

We are done, and if you complete, your butt is likely kicked. The good news is you still have a month to get better, and NTOA offers a four-week prep plan on their website. Check it out here. Hopefully, this inspires you to get working on your fitness.

The Mossberg 590S- Not For Me!

By

V. Caldwell

-

April 11, 2023

GATMS5 — These 12 gauge Shockwaves can be a lot to handle

I am not in executive protection although I have protected public figures and celebrities on occasion. In one case a mayor was threatened by a person who had killed two family members with an AR 15 rifle the previous day. Fran and I drank coffee together in a dark room well away from the windows. To even the odds I had a Colt HBAR leaning against the sofa. My cruiser was behind the home- I was interested in capturing the offender more than dissuading her. We received a call on the shortwave around midnight the perpetrator had been captured. When I need a long gun I want something capable and appropriate. Something that most of us can use well without beating ourselves up with recoil. Most of us feel the same. I have no use for AR type pistols but then I don’t fight from inside my car. I prefer a handy simple AR carbine. I find pistol caliber carbines not only a good choice for personal defense within their range but a great deal of fun. I prefer a rifle. I am continually impressed with the accuracy and reliability of AR 15 rifles. I own several Remington 870 ‘riot guns’ and a Remington Versa Max Tactical shotgun. Good experience with Benelli not to mention the Black Aces shotgun. In comparison the Mossberg Shockwave and Remington TAC 14 in my mind are practically worthless.

Well, ask me what I really think. Other than at very short range in the home or perhaps dispatching a thrashing shark on the deck of a fishing trawler I see little use for the Shockwave type. (The stocked shotgun with 14 inch barrel is another matter) To intimidate new shooters and create flinch they are great. Sure a very good shooter may get half way competent. But there is little point. Best to learn to use a folding stock 870 or something of that nature if you need a stow away shotgun. Having seen some interesting shotguns on both sides of the law while in uniform I was not impressed with the Shockwave. From double barrel .410 gauge shotguns with a short grip to 14 inch Remington 870s I have seen quite a few shotguns deployed. During these decades of practical experience I studied about two dozen shotgun defense incidents. In home invasions or defensive situations the rule was one load of buckshot and it was cancel Christmas. In one incident a homeowner defended himself against gang violence with a Browning Auto5 and destroyed a pickup truck with the deer load. Five shells fired and the fellow with a P 38 was killed , his friends, armament unspecified, were wounded by the five shells fired. In case another a store owner firing a pistol grip short barrel shotgun fired four buckshot shells and downed the robber he was shooting at although he did not really get a solid hit. The good guy fired from the hip. He did a lot of damage to his store!

The Nobel Sports NSI load, left, feeds well but isn’t as short as others. It seems out of print. The Aquila and Federal shells are fine for single shot and double barrel guns.

So- do the math. Almost one hundred per cent fatality with a single shot load of buckshot in every incident. Then there is my Uncle Arden’s many deer taken with buckshot. Buckshot, he told me, travels in pairs and worked great within 35 yards with Magnum loads. A deer is about the same size as a man and about as hard to put down save animals are not susceptible to shock. Modern loads are better. All of the police shootings were with 18 or 20 inch barrel riot guns and all were effective. Keep my experience in mind. Those working big city stake out squads or long time investigators I am certain will have experience that mirrors my own. The shotgun handles by feel and with a three point lockup of support arm cheek and firing side arm the lockup is steady and makes for a good natural point. Hit probability is high making a buckshot loaded shotgun our best choice for home defense in the majority of cases.

Another advantage of the shotgun is that they are affordable. For those on a tight budget an inexpensive Turkish pump action is reliable and effective. It isn’t as smooth or proven as a Mossberg 590 but it works. The Shockwave type shotgun has only two contact points. I have seen several types of firing stances used. Some shooters somehow raise the shotgun almost to eye level. Risking facial feature rearrangement isn’t something I look forward to. Even so this movement is so slow and unsure you are better off with a full size shotgun. But then the Shockwave is easily stored. True, and for some an under the bar under the desk or hidden under the steps shotgun may be viable. But it certainly would never be my only shotgun. Of course it isn’t a shotgun by legal definition but a firearm making it legal in its abbreviated form. That’s great but it fires shotgun shells. The superb ergonomics of a fast handling shotgun are ruined by the Shockwave and Tac designs. Since there is no shoulder stock and less stability you may shuck the shotgun differently by holding the forend tightly and ramming the shotgun forward. Then back. You may miss very quickly in this manner. The Shockwave should be fired from hip level in most defense situations. At 3 to 5 yards with practice the Shockwave type may be used with some effectiveness. Don’t worry about the front bead. You can surely miss with a shotgun and you will miss a lot with this shotgun. The Shockwave isn’t useful past very close range. Even with an effective load such as buckshot you must aim and get a solid hit. The Shockwave type shotgun along with the Remington TAC and H&R Honcho severely limits the hit probability and usefulness of the pump action shotgun.

After a number of range drills- I am a paid writer and I enjoy good experiments so the time was not wasted but it could have been better spent. I began with birdshot for practice. Recoil isn’t really that bad. After firing about 50 shotgun shells I found I could keep shells in the center of the B 27 target most of the time at five yards. If I left the range and came back two days later I had to begin again. I can shoot and have taken quite a bit of flying and running game with the shotgun. This isn’t a fast or comfortable firearm to use well. With a handgun you have both hands on the same part of the firing grip and may direct fire accurately. The Shockwave type gun with no shoulder stock is used with two hands and the hands are widely separated. If either hand is just a little off target then you will miss the target. There is accountability in every shell we fire in personal defense. The Shockwave isn’t going to promote accurate delivery and if you are not a very experienced shooter control is difficult. If you are experienced you will realize there are better choices. The Shockwave cannot be fired from cover in any manner I was to able to discover.

The new Mossberg 590S is designed for both standard and mini shells.

A very bad idea in wide circulation is the Mini Shell a short stubby shell that doesn’t feed properly in any firearm I have tried. A single shot or double barrel proposition only. I have actually met individuals who have stuffed their shotguns with these loads without test firing! A modified feed device available only for the Mossberg shotgun improves reliability. Mossberg’s 590S is modified to be reliable with both short and standard shells, quite an accomplishment. It isn’t quite as reliable as I had hoped. You will see this soon enough for yourself. So what do the shortie shells offer? Poor patterns and almost half the energy. The advantage? A Mossberg with a five shot magazine has an eight round capacity with short shells. An eight round 590 jumps to twelve shells. I am unimpressed. After all- all of those cases with a single shot of buckshot on each target. Even so perhaps four shells in the Remington is a bit short- but it is simple enough to deploy an eight shot 18 inch barrel pump shotgun or perhaps add the excellent XS magazine extension. So in the end we have a Shockwave type shotgun that practically ruins the effectiveness of the shotgun compared to full size types. In a firearm that emphatically does not need a change in load as the standard load is unquestionably effective we are choosing a load that limits effectiveness and most of all DOES NOT FEED properly save in specialized or modified shotguns. Lets look at comparisons. I used an eighteen inch barrel shotgun as consistent pattern testing is practically impossible with the Shockwave. The groups were fired at ten yards. Since I take my work seriously I use a Chronograph. I don’t rely on manufacturer’s figures.

Hornady Critical Defense 12 gauge #00 buckshot

1254 fps. 1501 ft lbs energy Pattern 4 x 3 inch.

Aquila shorty 12 gauge

1080 fps 788 ft lbs. Pattern 6.8 x 7.7 inch

Federal shorty 12 gauge

1125 fps 926 ft lbs Pattern 6.75 x 4.75 in.

I began writing as a trainer and peace officer to save lives. I believe that no one serious about personal defense should consider the Shockwave and short mini shells. I enjoy testing and firing these items as a lark is fine. But don’t bet your life on this nonsense.

The New Face of Subcompacts

By

Travis Pike

-

April 11, 2023

From 2018 til now, we’ve seen a massive change in subcompact pistols. We’ve seen them become an entirely new genre in the form of micro-compacts. Guns like the double-stack Glock 26 and even the single-stack Walther PPS were filtered into the subcompact realm, yet both of those guns have been tossed to the back burner in favor of the new genre of micro-compact. Subcompacts have improved in size efficiency and now hold a minimum of ten rounds while being the same size as a single stack 9mm.

More than just improving in size and ammo capacity, the guns have begun morphing in terms of accessories and capabilities. The new face of subcompact pistols isn’t a tiny pistol with barely visible sights. Gun companies have transformed subcompacts into capable weapons for defensive use. In many ways, they’ve grown alongside full-sized and compact guns into more capable weapons.

Modern Subcompacts – Modern Solutions

There have been three big advents in the world of subcompact accessories. First is sight systems. Shield developed the RMSc and began an entirely new genre of red dots. These micro-sized red dots allowed little guns to have red dots effectively mounted to their smaller slides.

Walther was the first company I saw to include a red dot on their handguns, and the PPS M2 premiered with the micro red dot. Subcompacts benefit greatly from red dots. These guns are already small, and their short sight radius makes them more difficult to shoot accurately. A red dot eliminates sight radius concerns.

The second accessory has been magazine extensions and modifications. Those stock ten-round magazines can be made to hold 12 to 13 rounds depending on the base plate and mag variation. Mag Guts has designed a spring system to allow a slight extension without increasing the size of the magazine. Companies like Shield Arms have developed 15-round magazines for weapons like the Glock 43X and 48. Capacity is king, and magazine accessories are taking them to new levels.

Finally, the last upgrade we’ve seen in lights. What started with the pen-light-powered TLR-6 has morphed into the Surefire XSC and TLR7 SUB. These micro-sized lights blast out impressive light from very small guns. These powerful little lights shine bright and far for their size and give the guns an edge in ensuring you have proper PID for engagements.

Why Have They Changed?

There are several reasons. Technology for lights and optics has advanced and shrunken. Demand for it has driven the market to innovate. We’ve also seen holsters get way better. Modern kydex and appendix holsters have made these guns much easier to carry and much easier to conceal.

In my opinion, what’s really driven these advances for subcompacts is gun owners seeking to be better shooters. It seems like more shooters than ever are training, practicing, and becoming better shooters. Who needs a PF940V2 when you can have a P365. Education has driven the demand for better technology and advances in firearm design.

Modern subcompacts morphed into weapons of convenience for carry into capable fighting pistols that are still pretty easy to carry. I welcome the changing face of subcompacts and can’t wait to see what’s next.

Measure 114 End Run in Oregon

By

Lars Smith

-

April 10, 2023

Oregon Measure 114/SB 348 to restrict firearms ownership — Photo Credit: Andrew Selsky/AP Photo

Ballot measure 114 barely passed (with 50.7% of the vote, and only 1/6 of Oregon counties) in Oregon back in November. Along with establishing a permit-to-purchase scheme, it enacted a ban on the sale, transfer and manufacture of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. Fortunately –as measure 114 is clearly counter to both the Oregon and US Constitution– it was immediately mired in lawsuits from Oregon Firearms Federation, Firearm Policy Center and others, resulting in an injunction –upheld by the state supreme court while the case proceeds– that is ongoing. Basically, the law cannot be implemented until the state has won this case. The most successful such suit against 114 to date was filed in rural Harney county (pop: 7,575), challenging the measure on state constitutional grounds.

In response to the checks and balances of the American governmental system working as designed, the Democrat-controlled Oregon legislature has decided to simply draft their own legislation (114 was a citizen-led initiative) to implement most of 114’s policies. You know, those same policies which have been validly challenged in court? The ones currently being blocked from implementation until the constitutionality of such can be determined by the state judiciary?

Not satisfied with simply trying to avoid judicial scrutiny of 114, the legislature is also adding some extra provisions: A mandatory 72hr waiting period for all gun purchases, removes the 3-day time limit for return of a background check, and they’ve proposed doubling the cost of the proposed permit. The included magazine capacity ban would be retroactive to 12/8/22, though no provisions for how an OR resident would actually prove their magazines were purchased prior to that date (or surrendered to police following it) is offered or even hinted at (likely because enforcement of such is a dubious prospect at best). Perhaps most absurd though, is the most recent amendment requiring any challenge to the law be filed in Marion county.

Why Marion county? One need only look at the state of 114 to speculate: 85% of Harney county voted against 114, and that is where the lawsuit that is currently slowly choking the ballot measure to death was filed. Marion county however is home to Salem, the state Capitol, and a lot more anti-gun sentiment. Restricting the citizenry’s right to self-defense with the most safe and effective tools available is bad enough, but restricting their right to legal redress of governmental overreach to 1 of 36 counties is a transparent attempt to circumvent a foundational concept of American governance: the checks and balances of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Where measure 114 was a single facet of oppression, Senate Bill 348 is a 5 carat diamond of abuse –designed, shaped, and mounted atop the rights of all Oregonians like a terrible crown jewel– the better to crush under its weight any resistance to a legislature who neither recognizes, nor cares about the human right to effective self-defense.