Remembering The MP9 – Ruger’s SMG

By

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September 18, 2023

What’s Ruger mostly known for? Affordable firearms? Sure. Revolvers? Yep. The Mini-14 and the A-Team? Hell yeah. What they aren’t known for are machine guns or, more accurately, submachine guns. Ruger has never been HK in that department, but that doesn’t mean they never tried. In the early 1990s, before the carbine took over, the SMG was still the weapon of choice for close-quarter combat, and Ruger wanted to get into that market with the MP9.

The Origin of the MP9

The Ruger MP9 looks a bit like a Uzi, right? Well, that’s because Uziel’ Uzi’ Gal designed it. He designed a gun called the Model 201, which was meant to be an improvement on the Uzi. Bill Ruger purchased the design and brought it to the States. The Model 201 and the MP9 share a common parentage, but the MP9 did make some serious changes to the Model 201.

The MP9 shares a lot of components with the Uzi. They are both 9 mm, although Ruger did produce a tool room 10mm prototype. The gun uses a wrap-around bolt design, a grip-based magazine well, and lots of stamped, welded sheet metal. While it had a lot in common with the Uzui, the MP9 was clearly an improvement.

Breaking Down the MP9

The Uzi was a fine SMG, but it had some flaws. Namely, it was an open-bolt gun. Open bolt guns aren’t as reliable as closed bolt designs, are not drop-safe, and can affect accuracy due to excessive bolt movement. The biggest change with the MP9 was the move to a closed bolt format. This put the MP9 right up there with the MP5 and Colt SMG in terms of modernization. (In 1994, anyway.)

The MP9 still used a straight blowback system but did use a dual buffer system in the recoil assembly. The first is a stationary buffer made from DuPont material. The second is a bit more interesting. Seven washers sat behind the barrel nut and were preloaded by the factory. When the gun fired, the bolt would strike the chamber end of the barrel, and the barrel would move forward just a hair. This counteracted normal recoil, and it made the gun fairly easy to control for a blowback SMG.

The gun features a collapsing stock design, much like the original Uzi. It collapses and folds out of the way to make the gun relatively comfortable and easy to carry. You might notice a weird rear end on the gun. It’s an odd design choice, and apparently, a writer for Soldier of Fortune described it as being used to help fire the gun. The support hand could hold this portion and create tension to control the gun with the stock collapsed. Up front, there was another area that acted as a support grip.

The Ruger Touches

The original Uzi was an all-metal gun, but the MP9 featured a healthy dose of polymer. The lower frame portion is made of the same polymer Ruger used for their P series pistols. It’s cheap and kind of ugly, but we all know it’s tank-like and quite strong. Unlike the original Uzi, this closed-bolt variant utilized a drop-safe design. The gun features a firing pin block for total safety.

The weapon’s 600-round-per-minute firing rate makes it plenty easy to control. That’s fairly slow, and that makes it easy to fire two to three-shot bursts in a controllable design. A top-mounted charging handle is ambidextrous and is nonreciprocating. The sight speer through the charging handle, and Ruger went with a peep sight. Ruger even included a pair of sling swivels for the modern user.

Fate of the MP9

Only about 1,500 MP9s were ever produced. A few are kicking around the private market via dealer samples. It’s not clear if anyone ever adopted the gun, but it apparently showed up in Burundi. The MP9 was never a popular option, and this was an odd era for SMGs. HK dominated, and if your SWAT team had SMGs, they likely already had HK MP5s.

A few years later, the GWOT would kick off, and the short carbine would become the de facto choice for close-quarter fights. Sadly, this effectively killed most SMG designs and their use amongst military forces. The MP9 was Ruger’s first and only submachine gun and remains so to this day.

WHAT IS MY #1 CARRY PISTOL?

By

The Suited Shootist

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September 18, 2023

The guys over at Gunday Brunch were talking last week about recommendations for people buying their first gun. This got me wondering, if I had to pick one single forever carry gun out of an entire collection, what would it be? I go through my current options, and break down why my #1 choice is what it is.

Gunday Brunch 118: Real Stopping Power

By

Keith Finch

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September 17, 2023

One of the things that has infected people’s brains is a Hollywood-influenced idea of how human beings react to injury.

Firearm Pedantism

By

Keith Finch

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September 16, 2023

What level of specificity is appropriate in a conversation about firearms? This consistent topic, and one that has a variety of answers, usually depends upon the audience.

The 9-Hole video, as well as a video from Forgotten Weapons, highlights how I believe the most constructive way to explain niche concepts should go. What do I mean?

If someone were to say a DI AR, everyone worth their time as being familiar with the subject would know what type of firearm is being discussed. If someone were to then pipe up and say, “Actually they aren’t direct impingement…” and then proceed down the explanation contained in this and Ian’s videos, that person is an asshole. They are not helping anyone, they are probably not furthering the knowledge base of those around them, they are merely flexing how smart they are.

Not neat. The opposite of neat, actually.

The tone and tenor of constructive and educational conversations involving firearms need to consider both the appreciable understanding of the audience and the best way to orient that audience to new learning. The overplayed bits of esoteric knowledge that is ‘technically more correct’ than the audiences’ general understanding can often hamper learning and turn people off of continued education.

Below are some examples, and again this video and Ian’s video covering this particular topic are excellent formats of how to present this information positively and informatively instead of as a 1-up over the listeners.

“It’s magazine, not clip…”

This is probably the most common one. Clip is making its way out of our vernacular slowly but steadily, and I was certainly guilty of this bit for awhile too, but when someone asks for a gun’s ‘clip’ I know what they mean. You know what they mean. We all probably know what they mean.

What we do from here is often formative in the inquirer’s experience with ‘gun people’ and so a positive inquiry back that includes the term magazine is preferable to a confrontational one. “You’re looking for a Ruger magazine?” or “What gun are you looking for a magazine for?” are positive and assistance driven, “It’s called a magazine.” is dickish. Avoid being dickish. Some old timers will only say clip, that’s fine. Let them. It isn’t worth your time to try and change it when you already know what they mean.

For new owners this will be a core interaction as they learn.

“AK47”

I don’t know the actual number of AK47 rifles within the United States, but of that particular model it is really low. However when anyone says “AK47” we know they are quite likely talking about either an AKM or a model later than the AKM and not the original AK47. This is fine. Especially in the 7.62×39 models it can be used as an interchangeable term with no harm. Only among the well learned and in certain contexts where differences in model and origin are poignant to the conversation, a Chinese Type 56 vs a Yugo M76 for example, will the differences matter.

In most of these the audience and level of the conversation are the driving factor in the level of detail that is appropriate and most productive.

“AR-15’s aren’t Direct Impingement”

This was a neat thing I found out and it made sense from Ian’s video a couple years back, it is reiterated here.

I then saw the internet troll lords immediately go to work one upping every current thread they could find with the term “DI AR” in it. Cool, you were given a cool new technically more correct piece of information and now this is your whole personality. Splendid. I’m sure you have helped tens of people with your knowledge today that you until now also used wrong…

What’s next?

It’s a revolver, not a pistol.”

This is one I find tremendously tedious, personally. More so when the government is using the distinction to purposefully deflate numbers of incidents involving small concealable firearms, looking at you ATF.

“That’s just an AR-180 you know…”

Yes, everything modern is an AR-180 it feels like. Cool. Next.

G36, SCAR, ACR, Bren 805, Bren 2, MSBS Grot, Carmel, MCX, JAKL, BRN-180, yep. Lots of 180 evolutions out there, they run well.

Cool.

Those are some of the major ones. They all tend to gravitate around the being ‘overly detailed for the sake of ego’ instead of information schtick. There is a time and place to land detail home and use superior knowledge as a bludgeon (New Mexico’s Governor’s office is a current example) but in most instances using the vocabulary the audience, instead of the expert, is familiar with will better produce the desired result.

EOTech Vudu 1x-10x: Best Do-All Scope?

By

BullShooters

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September 15, 2023

The same company that brought us the world-famous holographic sight as seen on rifles such as the one that killed OBL—all the way to first person video games—is now firmly in the traditional optics category. Certainly the company had a hiccup with its military contract, but after a management change, it’s back on track with a full line of traditional-style riflescopes. This video details why JJ thinks its 1-10x-28mm Vudu is likely the most versatile scope on the market. At 1 power with the illumination turned on, it functions exactly like a red dot sight for EDC and dangerous game hunting, but at 10 power it can be used for long range. But big deal. Why is this so special? Because of its reticle. Formerly if a 1-10 power scope had a reticle that was in the first focal plane, either the reticle would be too big at 1 power or too small to see at 10 power. EoTech solved this with its ingenious reticle-in-reticle system. Check it out here. While the scope isn’t cheap, it’s one of the world’s best do-all riflescopes.

EOTech's Vudu 1x-10x functions like a traditional riflescope at range, but close up, it's illuminated reticle set at one power functions exactly like a red dot. But most impressively, it's has an innovative reticle inside a reticle system that allows for dual reticles, depending on the magnification chosen.

Smith & Wesson’s Mighty .22

By

V. Caldwell

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September 15, 2023

After testing quite a few 9mm and .45 handgun not to mention the .357 and .38 revolvers I often review it is a pleasure to fire a fun gun for a change. The Smith & Wesson M&P .22 Magnum is a fun gun by any definition. The M&P .22 Magnum is a polymer frame hammer fired .22 Magnum automatic with a thirty round magazine. The top of the slide is nicely serrated while the slide itself is well finished. The slide features a long flat on each side running into a bevel. The inner barrel is nicely crowned. The rear sight is nicely serrated. A set screw is loosened to allow adjusting the sight for leverage. The front sight is dovetailed and features a fiber optic insert.. The frame is polymer. An accessory rail accommodates a range of lights and lasers. The safety is ambidextrous. So is the slide lock. The safety doesn’t lock the slide in place when applied. This means the pistol may be loaded with the safety on. The safety is positive in operation. To disassemble the pistol tap out the takedown lever as you hold the slide about .25 inch to the rear. The takedown lever slide/stop is easily taken out. Remove the recoil assembly and next the barrel. Easy enough. The gas operated Temp system features a barrel inside a shroud. Rotate the barrel to remove the inner barrel for cleaning.

SIG’s Foxtrot is a good match for the M&P .22 Magnum

The trigger is a flat type with a safety lever set into the trigger face. The pistol features a firing pin block as well. A nice mix of pebbling marked the grip frame. The trigger action is crisp with a sharp reset. The trigger breaks at 4.0 lb on the RCBS trigger gauge. The magazines are polymer with an orange follower. The 30 round magazines are easily loaded. Most of the ammunition fired was CCI MaxiMag. There are alternatives but why fired cheaper ammunition when it is a buck cheaper? Actually CCI loads are the el primo for the .22 Magnum and were less than PMC and Armscor at Cheaperthandirt.com making ammunition choice a no brainer. After a couple of short cycles in the first thirty rounds CCI ran one hundred per cent for more than three hundred rounds. Later I had an opportunity to fire Fiocchi, Armsor and Winchester. The malfunction rate was a total of around two per cent with these loads. Most of the time it was a bent cartridge case. With CCI .22 Magnum loads the pistol never failed to feed chamber ignite eject and feed against normally. For hunting and small game use any would be OK but for serious use load a reliable loading. I think folk recommending the .22 Magnum for defense are at a different place in study than I am. I would hate for you to roll snakes eyes on account of too little gun!

Most 40 grain loads will clock 1350 to 1400 fps. Firing from a solid braced barricade five shot groups are 25 yards are two inches for CCI 40 grain loads. When I do my part. The other loads were not bad- 2.5 to 3.0 inch at 25 yards. This isn’t a wide spread. At 10 to 15 yards all practically cut a ragged hole. Small game and pests will fall to this gun. Its primary appeal is as a fun gun. It is a joy to fire and use. As for personal defense and home defense you are far from naked. Aim for the arterial region or cranium. The Magnum has plenty of penetration. It isn’t my first choice but way above a rock or stick. The pistol is a must have the gun accumulator and a purchase you will enjoy more than most.

The .22 Magnum is a great rimfire cartridge.

Smith & Wesson M&P22 Magnum

Type: Internal hammer-fired semiauto
Cartridge: .22 WMR
Capacity: 30
Barrel: 4.35 in.
Overall Length: 8.4 in.
Width: 1.3 in.
Height: 5.9 in.
Weight: 22 oz.
Finish: Black Armornite
Sights: Adjustable rear notch, fiber optic dovetail front, optics cut
Trigger Compression 3.0 pounds
Contact: Smith & Wesson, (800) 331-0852,
Smith-wesson.com

NEW: Taurus Judge Home Defender

By

Keith Finch

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September 15, 2023

Bainbridge, GA, September 15 2023—Taurus Holdings, Inc., a leading innovator in the firearms industry, is proud to announce the forthcoming release of its latest masterpiece, the “Judge Home Defender.” This cutting-edge firearm represents the next evolution in performance, adaptability,and user-centric design.

Key Features of the Judge Home Defender:

Top Aluminum Picatinny Rail:A breakthrough feature that simplifies the attachment of optics and accessories, empowering shooters to customize their Judge Home Defender for precision and versatility.

45 Colt / 410 Bore 3 Inch Cylinder:Offering unparalleled versatility, this unique combination allows users to seamlessly switch between the potent 45 Colt and the versatile 410 Bore, ensuring optimal performance in any scenario.

13-Inch Barrel:Engineered to elevate 45 Colt terminal ballistics, the 13-inch barrel guarantees pinpoint accuracy, setting a new standard for precision in its class.

Forend Accessory Rail:Designed with shooters in mind, the Judge Home Defender incorporates a forend accessory rail, ideal for mounting lights, lasers, and other essential accessories, providing unparalleled preparedness.

Steel Blast Shield:Safety is paramount. The steel blast shield protects the shooter’s support arm, enhancing safety and peace of mind during operation.

Taurus Rubber Grip:Strategically integrated into the design, the Taurus rubber grip maximizes recoil absorption, delivering a comfortable and controlled shooting experience for all users.

The Judge Home Defender represents the culmination of advanced technology, precision engineering, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. It caters to the needs of experienced professionals, self-defense advocates, and sport shooters alike,promising to exceed expectations in every regard.

Unmatched Versatility

With its dual caliber capability in 45 Colt and 410 Bore 3 Inch Cylinder, the Judge Home Defender adapts seamlessly to a broad spectrum of shooting scenarios, from self-defense to sport shooting and more.

Superior Precision

The 13-inch barrel is a testament to our commitment to accuracy. Shooters can confidently rely on the Judge Home Defender’s exceptional precision, whether hitting targets at the range or ensuring pinpoint accuracy in self-defense situations.

Enhanced Safety

The inclusion of a steel blast shield and a Taurus rubber grip prioritizes user safety and comfort, enhancing the overall ergonomic design of the firearm.

Experience the future of home defense with the all-new Taurus Judge Home Defender. Available now at authorized Taurus dealers across the United States.

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

For additional information, visit www.taurususa.com.

Breaking: Hunter Biden formally indicted on federal gun charges

By

Keith Finch

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September 14, 2023

Hunter Biden boards Air Force One in Syracuse, New York — Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, boards Air Force One at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York, U.S., February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz Via CNN

From The Washington Post,

President Biden’s son Hunter was indicted Thursday for allegedly making false statements and illegal gun possession — setting the stage for a possible criminal trial for the younger Biden in 2024 while his father campaigns for re-election.

The charges follow the collapse in July of a plea deal that lawyers for Hunter Biden had negotiated with U.S. Attorney and special counsel David Weiss, in which Biden would have pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor tax violations while admitting to illegal possession of a gun but not actually pleading guilty to that felony offense.

The original deal would have deferred the charge of illegal possession and falsifying statements on the Form 4473, both federal felony gun crimes, while still technically pleading guilty to them. The agreement would have omitted the conviction and felon title, and the resulting prohibitions, if Hunter Biden had completed the terms of the agreement and deferment to satisfaction.

Allegedly, the court reviewed the agreement and found it wanting for details while granting clemency to Hunter blanketly, again without detail, and it was rejected. This has brought us to today’s formal announcement.

A representative for Biden’s legal team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Previously his lawyers and defenders have argued that prosecutors very rarely indict people on such gun violations unless the charge can be tied to more serious crimes. To do so in Biden’s case, his lawyers have said, would be an unfair application of federal charging practices.

They are correct, the charge of falsifying is rarely used as a standalone charge and is one of those add-ons prosecutors can leverage to get something to stick or to add time to a sentence. It is, however, a federal crime to lie on the 4473.

American 180 – The Rimfire Support Weapon

By

Travis Pike

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September 14, 2023

How many times has a .22LR submachine gun ever been adopted by a state law enforcement agency? I’ll give you two guesses, but you’ll only need one. Literally one, only one agency ever adopted a 22LR SMG, and that seems reasonable.

Who needs a .22LR SMG? Well, apparently, the Utah Department of Corrections did. They adopted the American 180 SMG back in the days before cell phones. It’s also worth noting a Florida cop (Of course, Florida) once used an American 180 when pursuing a felon. The felon was quickly dissuaded by a burst from the American 180. The American 180 is a fascinating little weapon, and I’d guess most folks recognize it as that weird SMG from Fallout New Vegas.

Inside the American 180

This angry hive of wasps was a very odd gun all around. The American 180 is a .22LR (limited models made in .22 Short Magnum), select fire, open bolt only submachine gun. It fires from a top-mounted pan magazine that holds anywhere from 165 to 275 rounds, depending on its tiers. While only one American agency adopted the weapon they apparently saw use in South Africa, and the GIPN in France purchased two of them for whatever reason.

The weapon fired at a rate of 1,200 to 1,500 rounds per minute. It’s absurdly fast for a handheld weapon. A full-auto AKM fires at about 600 rounds per minute for comparison. The main selling point was that you had a lightweight, man-portable weapon that could fire very quickly without much recoil. The little .22LR round was less likely to over-penetrate barriers, so it was thought to be safer. At the same time, the user could fire a handful of rounds into a threat quickly and effectively.

It’s almost like a shotgun firing number four buckshot with a much longer effective range than any shotgun. A .22LR round certainly isn’t the best fighting round, but it’s capable of penetrating deep enough to shut a threat down. A handful of .22LR will shut someone down quite efficiently.

The Weird World of the American 180

The American 180 actually came from Austria. Weird, right? The original guns were imported from Austria and assembled in the United States. However, later on, they were built in the United States. The original company that marketed the gun was the American Arms International Corporation.

The 180 name came from the original capacity. The original three-tiered pan magazine held 180 rounds. Later on, the metal production models only held 177 rounds. The American 177 didn’t roll off the tongue in the same way.

Speaking of those magazines. The pan magazines held a lot of rounds and were powered by a spring-loaded wind-up design. The magazines took about 15 minutes to load. The standard three-tier 177-round magazine is the most common. There was also a five-tiered 275-round magazine.

After loading the magazine, the user had to load the spring motor, which, if done incorrectly, would spring out of the gun and unwind itself. When this happens, your spring motor will jam, which is not user-repairable. Removing the magazine with a loaded spring motor, the user had to move the spring motto’s brake lever to a specific position.

As you can see, this was not a simple system by any means.

The Numerous Variants

The standard model of the American 180 had an 18.5-inch barrel, but several barrel variants were produced. This includes a 16 and 14-inch model as well as the uber-short 9.5-inch model. The American 180’s stock could be easily removed, and with a 9.5-inch barrel, you had a very small and controllable SMG.

It bears mentioning that AAI sold the design to Ilarco, and then it was sold to Feather Industries, and finally to E&L Manufacturing. There are subtle changes between each gun, but most parts will work with each variant.

There was an Uncover Briefcase produced for the American 180. This allowed a stockless American 180 to be mounted and even fired from inside a briefcase. The weapon used an early laser sight.

There were also several experiments in which multiple American 180 SMGs were mounted together in dual and quad mounts. The quad mount model fit to an M122 tripod and offered about 7,000 RPM. A salesman once mounted two quad-mount American 180 SMGs to a prop plane with the intent of selling the idea to 3rd world countries.

There were also a number of closed-bolt, semi-auto-only variants produced for civilian sales, but they were never highly popular. The American 180 is certainly a fascinating SMG, and while it was never highly successful, it was certainly creative. I really want to shoot one and feel the power of an angry hive of bees.

POCKET CARRY EXPLAINED: How To, Tips & Tricks, Dos & Don’ts

By

The Suited Shootist

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September 14, 2023

I’ve been playing with pocket carry for a couple years, and last month in Dallas I had the opportunity to take Darryl Bolke’s mini-class on pocket revolvers.

Up to this point, I’d struggled making a j-frame work in a pants pocket. I even did an entire video on that very issue!

As with many concealment challenges, it boiled down to the fact that I wasn’t using the right holster for my needs. 🤦‍♂️ I was able to run the Mika pocket holsters during the class, and I was blown away by how well they concealed the gun.

I liked them so much that I immediately ordered them for both my KelTec P32 and my Smith & Wesson M&P 340. As you can see, the right holster makes all the difference for pocket carry. Do you run a pocket gun? Let me hear it down in the comments!!!

“NARP” Beretta is joining international AR-type manufacturers.

By

Keith Finch

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September 13, 2023

In my feed today from European Defense Review it appears that Beretta is moving on from its floundering (in shape at least, the rifles had a solid operating system) ARX series of rifles and carbines and moving toward the more universal AR-15/18 hybrids that are emerging as the dominant service weapon designs.

Of note, none of Europe seems to be in a hurry to move beyond 5.56 NATO the way the US NGSW program pushed. Europe, who are currently witnessing a near peer ground war, are sticking to 5.56. This makes me more curious than ever what a hybrid case 5.56 round that can safely push 90,000 or 100,000 PSI, instead of the brass limit of around 60,000 PSI of M855A1 EPR, could do with an EPR in the 77gr mass range.

What that means for the MCX SPEAR and the return to battle rifles, a discussion for later.

For now, we see the NARP.

If that acronym makes you laugh because you have also seen Rory McCann in something earlier than GoT, congratulations on being a person of culture. The New Assault Rifle Platform is new from Beretta but is far from new as a concept.

Looks like an MCX, 416, 433, ACR, MSBS Grot, Bren 2, SCAR, Carmel, KS1, M6IC, etc.

Of course it does, because those rifles work really well. They are variations on significantly improved Stoner designs which were already excellent in their initial production phases decades ago. We’ve added advances in material selection, production, and maintenance to the lines and the modern NATO and NATO adjacent world continues the commonality in arms. This design works.

According to the timeline, in 2024 Beretta will initiate low rate initial production deliveries and will start the design of the other family members, as the 5.56×45 mm assault rifle seen in Gardone Valtrompia is only the starting point of a family that will see the NARP be developed in many versions and variants, with six different length of barrels, 7 inch (178 mm), 11.5 inch (292 mm), 14.5 inch (368 mm), 16 inch (406 mm), 18 inch (457 mm) and finally 20 inch (508). The 7-inch barrel will be fitted only to the Close Quarter Battle (CQB) rifle using the 7.62×35 mm or .300 Blackout subsonic ammunition. The NATO 5.56×45 mm NARP family will consist of four versions, CQB (11.5 inch), Assault Rifle, AR in short (14,5 inch), Infantry Automatic Rifle (16 inch), and Squad Designated Marksman Rifle or S-DMR (18 inch). The calibre declined in the most numerous versions is the NATO 7.62×51 mm, with five different rifles; CQB (11. 5 inch), Battle Rifle (BR) with either 14.5 inch or 16 inch barrel, and Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) available with 18 inch or 20 inch barrels. Three versions will be available chambered for the 6.5 mm Creedmoor or the 6.8 mm round, respectively BR (16 inch), DMR (18 inch) and Semi Automatic Sniper Rifle (20 inch), for a grand total of 16 different versions. -EDR Magazine

I’m happy to see the high amount of ancillary parts commonality with things like M-LOK, AR compatible grips, sling points, and stocks all making appearances since many companies have already done very good work on them. We’ve stopped reinventing the wheel just to do it “in house” and that I am glad to see.

U.S. Offerings? Unlikely but you never know, especially if a PD who likes Beretta buys them.

Desert Eagle – A Matter of Branding

By

Travis Pike

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September 13, 2023

Branding is always necessary for a company to succeed. Some branding is great, and some are not. I assure you whenever you say something like ‘my brand’ in reference to your 30-follower Instagram account, you just sound like a douchebag. Today, we are talking about good branding and how sometimes it can go a little far and even get a little confusing. The branding comes from a mix of Magnum Research and IWI. It all revolves around the Desert Eagle.

The Desert Eagle is an absolute legend. It’s a massive, magnum-powered pistol that has over 600 appearances in film and TV. This massive weapon stands out and is eye-catching. It doesn’t look like any standard all-black pistol, and if you need to harm a hero or a villain with something memorable, then a Desert Eagle will do it.

The Desert Eagle is a very successful pistol. Much like the AK, the Uzi, and M16, it’s a household name. Everyone knows the Desert Eagle. That is good branding. It’s also branding that can go a little too far. Magnum Research has taken the Desert Eagle branding to new levels. At this point, they have a flock of Eagles, and many can argue they’ve taken it too far or at least created some confusion with their branding.

Desert Eagle / Baby Eagle / Uzi Eagle

When Israel needed to produce a handgun, they turned to the CZ-75 series and effectively cloned the pistol in the form of the Jericho. The Jericho pistols are DA/SA guns that feed from a double-stack magazine. They primarily come in 9mm, but also .40 S&W and 45 ACP. The gun has been imported and produced in several variations. It’s also been imported and produced under several different names.

This includes simply calling it the Desert Eagle. I even have one with the name Desert Eagle inscribed on the slide. The Jericho certainly has some of the Desert Eagle looks with its distinctive slide. Calling two guns Desert Eagle didn’t work for long, and they later decided to combine two of their popular guns in one name. Thus, it became the Uzi Eagle.

Finally, seeing potential in the brand and wanting to clear the air, it became the Baby Eagle. The Baby Eagle is still imported by Magnum Research, and IWI produces the Jericho under its Jericho namesake.

Lone Eagle

With magnum in the name, the Magnum Research brand is all about big and powerful guns. The Lone Eagle is a bolt action handgun that fired rifle calibers. The gun was designed by a former alumnus of MAC and Cobray and was called the Ordnance Research SSP-91. It was designed for silhouette handgun shooting as well as handgun hunting.

The handgun fired calibers like .22 Hornet, .22/250 Rem, 7mm-08, .308 Winchester, and many more. The Lone Eagle certainly appealed to a very niche crowd of shooters and wasn’t a huge seller. It’s loud, and the recoil can be fairly nasty. Plus, the ultra-short barrels greatly affect the velocity of a rifle round.

Micro Eagle

The Micro Eagle wasn’t developed by Magnum Research, but you couldn’t tell. A look at the front of the gun and its shark-like appearance and front slide gives it that Desert Eagle look. Maybe that’s why Magnum Research was keen to pick it up. It’s a pocket-sized .380 ACP that uses a very interesting gas-assisted blowback system. This cuts reocil while keeping the gun small and compact.

The Micro Eagle is teeny tiny and fits in well with guns like the Ruger LCP. Unlike the LCP, it’s all metal and a bit of a brick. That also likely helps with recoil. The 14-ounce weight makes it heftier than most. Six shots of 380 ACP and a double-action trigger ensure it’s up there with most pocket pistols.

MR9 Eagle

The last in the Eagle family (for now) is the MR9 Eagle. Magnum Research and Walther teamed up to produce this P99 clone. There are two models produced, one being a standard 4-inch model and one with a slightly longer 4.5-inch barrel. The slide on the longer variant has the same upward curve and shark-like appearance of the Desert Eagle family and is one of the most unique P99 clones.

The MR9 Eagle is a great gun, and they were super affordable. Sadly, just like the P99, they were underrated and never sold very well. The MR9 Eagle is certainly a distinct and different pistol, and it is just another Eagle in the flock.

Taking Flight

The Desert Eagle series of handguns isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. It also seems like Magnum Research has taken a break from naming guns eagle as only the Desert Eagle and baby Eagle remain in their catalog. Here’s to good branding, even when it doesn’t always work out.

“No constitutional right, in my view, including my oath, is intended to be absolute.” – MLG

By

Keith Finch

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September 13, 2023

Have you ever ordered a blatantly unconstitutional act, from your position of elected power, in order to ‘stimulate a conversation’ over the epidemic of gun violence that you are just buzz wording into existence, while ignoring the fairly obvious pandemic associated root causes of the nationwide violence spike because some of those are highly inconvenient for your political party?

If you answered, “No.” then you are probably anyone and everyone except New Mexico’s governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham. Grisham is currently parading her political stunt for nation to see for an as yet undetermined reason. I am trying to see where this advances another concept or career path for her.

I can’t see it.

Her Attorney General doesn’t see it has gone on record has unwilling to defend it too.

This leads me to believe that perhaps, yes, she is just this stupid. She truly believes the words spilling out of her mouth and that should probably render her ineligible to hold office. You don’t understand how the machine works, you can’t drive it. We have forklift certifications and I’m increasingly in favor of a civics IQ test for elected officials. Like a 4473 question list where if you check one of the boxes wrong you are denied the opportunity to run for office.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal/Zuma Press/Newscom)

The governor’s “Public Health Emergency” covers cities and counties with over a 1% effective annual violent crime rate, 1,000+ incidents per 100,000 residents. That is Bernalillo County and Albuquerque. This, in this most dangerous of areas in the state, then suspends the constitutional right of self defense in public spaces with the governor’s acknowledgment that criminals will not abide by it.

“I welcome the debate and the fight about making New Mexicans safer.”

Again, this stunt is to prompt a debate. The governor is claiming that this attention grab is to start the conversation about making New Mexicans safer. What it appears to be accomplishing is simultaneously highlighting that the governor doesn’t know where the violence problems in her state are coming from or the limits of what she can do within the parameters of her office. It also looks to be chalking up some very easy wins for Pro-2A organizations and calling into question other governor’s efforts in their own states. New Mexico is not California and this lunacy won’t fly outside that rather odd space.

If she were hoping to fall on this grenade in order to flush “2A extremists” from their hiding places and bolster gun control positions… she is really bad at it. David Hogg thinks you are wrong, ma’am. David. Hogg.

If her goal is instead to make other positions look more reasonable and moderate, still a fail. I can neither see nor theorize any avenue where the burning of this political capital is buying anything. It makes the Dems in NM look silly and irritates that not insubstantial pool of moderates and conservatives within the state. Unlike California, New Mexico is only Blue by about 10 points (55% Dem vs 45% Rep). While guns are a polarizing issue they don’t affect everyone the way money does, so this may not cost them the state. It could be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back too with other negative issues piling up. Democrat elites have soured their base while Republicans have failed to capitalize and pick up the discontented break aways.

Basically everyone thinks politicians suck more than usual right now.

I wonder how that fit into MLG’s calculus? What am I saying, I don’t know if anything fit into her calculus. This was a wild idea.

Are Concealed Carry Rotations Stupid?

By

Travis Pike

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September 12, 2023

Whenever I heard the term, “I’m going to put this one in the rotation.” I cringe a bit. Mostly because when someone talks about their concealed carry rotation, it’s essentially a stable of mediocre guns. A lot of times, a concealed carry rotation is used to carry a few different guns based on someone’s feelings.

What they feel like carrying as if a gun is a pair of shoes. You can most assuredly do that if you so choose. It’s your right as an American. However, I’ve been slowly changing my mind as I break out of my comfort zone of polymer frame compacts. However, there is certainly a tactical argument we can have on the merits of a concealed carry rotation.

The Argument For A Rotation

If your argument is because I want to, then you can end it here. That’s most certainly the only argument you need to make to me. That doesn’t mean there can’t be an argument for a carry rotation based on the needs of any given day. I have several different guns I carry fairly often, depending on what exactly is happening that day.

Note excellent fit finish and stitching on the Transit by DeSantis.

Right now, I have a Beretta 3032 in my pocket. It’s great for walking around the house, with formal wear, and in situations where I need deep concealment. My normal carry gun is my P365XL, and that’s what I carry the majority of the time. When I travel, I actually tend to carry a larger gun because I’m away from home quite a distance. This offers me a bigger light, more ammunition, and great capability for hotel defense and on-the-road defense.

Different situations require different guns for some folks. If I lived in a place with a real winter, I might change my gun based on the weather as well. I might want something that deals better penetration through thick coats than a subcompact 9mm firing 124-grain rounds.

The Argument Against a Rotation

The main problem people point out with a carry rotation is the extra training required to learn multiple guns. There is a pretty big use gap between my striker-fired P365XL and my DA/SA Beretta 3032. This requires some transitional training to get good with either weapon. Not to mention, the cost of multiple guns gets high. Not only guns but multiple holsters and ammo types.

Mastering one gun is easier and allows you to really excel and know your gun inside and out. One gun can go a long way, especially if it’s sized just right. It’s often tough to fight the perfect size. Many only want to carry a single gun and will likely aim for a Glock 19-sized firearm and as many holsters as necessary to carry it in any clothing option.

One gun helps you reach peak efficiency in terms of monetary value and training time. Having one gun for concealed carry can certainly be the smart way to go logistically.

Making It Make Sense

If your rotation is nothing but Glock 19 or SIG P365-sized firearms, I can’t say I understand it. However, carrying multiple guns for multiple scenarios speaks a lot to me. I also get why one would only want to carry a single gun. I felt the exact way for quite some time, rarely veering from my Walther PPS until the SIG P365 came out anyway. While it’s always a personal choice, it should make sense to you and make sense tactically.

Michigan Concealed Carry Reaches 10.79% of Eligible Adults

By

Keith Finch

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September 12, 2023

Michigan is an interesting state, it is decidedly swing politically with the more conservative rural areas clashing voter wise with the urbanized greater Detroit area and overall fairly liberal, in the classic sense, gun laws.

Even with the Governor trying to institute further gun control, as it plays well to her base and makes her AG happy, the state continues to increase its active concealed carry role. Currently just under 11% of the eligible adult population of the state has a concealed pistol license.

The end of summer family vacations over the past month has led to an increase in people taking CPL classes and license applications. As a result, Michigan reached a new all-time high of 813,645 total current concealed pistol license holders as of September 1, 2023. We project continued monthly increases through the end of the year. This month’s full report from the Michigan State Police can be read HERE. – MCRGO September 2023 CPL Report

As political argument continue over the authority of the state to regulate or deny the carry of arms, the popularity of the practice continues to grow. The pandemic violent crime spike was very real and people continue to react by protecting themselves since the state repeatedly and consistently proves inept in that regard.