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6 G&A | March 2024

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 8 G&A | March 2024

1920s Style for a

1920s Price CORPORATE
®

I t was a warm summer afternoon and my wife and I

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was a 1920s-themed party, and everyone was dressed
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER,
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to the nines. Parked on the manse’s circular driveway Derek Sevcik
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B LOW BAC K Please include your city and state of residence. Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity.

weight performance loads. FEBRUARY ’60

The higher the charge
weight and slower the
powder, the higher the gas-
port pressure and impulse.
This statement is based on
testing with an overpressure
test barrel with a trans-
ducer at the M1 Garand’s
gas port location near the
muzzle. Original .30-’06
loads for the Garand were
designed around nominally
CHURCHILL’S GHOST 48 to 50 grains of powder.
I know October is the month of Halloween, but the picture Modern high-performance
of the top-hatted gentlemen on page 108 appeared as loads use anywhere from
ghoulish humor. Two right hands and no left? If that wasn’t 55 to 60 grains of powder.
an intentional photo alteration, where did it come from? It These loads put consider-
was definitely creepy! ably higher forces on the
Mark Stone operating rod. From my
Springfield, Missouri standpoint, as expensive as
M1 Garands are getting, I
The picture you are referring 9MM VS. .45 want to be as careful with
in Dave Emary’s feature, I enjoyed James Tarr’s what I feed them as possi-
“That Was Then” (October article “Pistol Caliber Wars” ble. Federal, Hornady and
2023), was of British Prime (December 2023), which Winchester offer at least one
Minister Winston Churchill revisited the “9mm versus load developed specifically
taken during an impromptu .45 ACP” debate. I guess for the M1 Garand. Also, the
“Carbine Match” on March the FBI never heard of the Hornady Reloading Man- Cobra Target, all I can say
24, 1944. The appearance of Super .38? Keep up the ual offers Garand-specific is, “I want one!” I believe
two right hands and no left great articles. load data that conforms to that this will be a worthy
was simply an illusion. Chur- James Kenyon original ammunition port alternative. I haven’t been
chill’s left and right hands are Hemet, California pressure specifications. this excited about a new fire-
correct, but visually confused — D. Emary arm purchase since the .300
by the lines of the soldier’s M1 GARAND LOADS WSM was announced! Keep
jacket in the background. I have heard that it is not TAKE MY MONEY! up the great reporting.
Participating in the contest recommended to use I have been a reader of Bernard Bandy
were Gen. Dwight Eisen- newly manufactured .30- Guns & Ammo for 51 years, Indio, California
hower and Gen. Omar Brad- ’06 rounds in older M1 and I always look forward to
ley. The event took place in Garands. Would Guns & the honest, straightforward NULA MODEL 24
England during an inspec- Ammo offer any advice reviews of new products I think Craig Boddington
tion of the 2nd Armored regarding this information? coming to market. Even missed an easy one with
and 9th Infantry Divisions at David Gene McQuillen though it has been 20 years his keyboard in writing “To
the U.S. Tidworth training Email since I purchased my last Hunt Another Day,” fea-
base in Wiltshire, England. firearm, all that is about to tured in the January 2024
The dignitaries were quickly There are two sets of opin- change now that I’ve read edition. If he had a “NULA
guided away before targets ions on this subject. The Brad Fitzpatrick’s article, Model 20” in “.280 Rem-
could be compared. Several first suggests you can shoot “Rimfire Royalty” (December ington,” he certainly should
U.S. Army photos from this whatever .30-’06 load you 2023). I have always wanted have bought it; it was one
event are available from want in an M1 Garand. The a Colt Diamondback in .22 of a kind! The NULA Model
the Imperial War Museum second, which is what I sub- LR, but I could never find 20 was a short-action rifle
collection (iwm.org.uk). scribe to is this: You should one. After reading Fitzpat- like the one he was testing
— E. Poole not use newer high-charge rick’s review of the Colt King in .308 Winchester; the
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12 G&A | March 2024 | reAder blowbAck

NULA Model 24 was the — which was built prior to factory Hornady Superfor-
one for the .280-length car- SAAMI — and my 7mm-300 mance load with a 200-grain
tridges. The Model number Winchester Magnum. I seat projectile. I’ve measured it
is the weight of the action. the 142-grain Sierra Match from a Remington 7600 at
The longer cartridges need King and the Hornady 190- a consistent 2,900 feet-per-
a longer action that weighs grain 7mm A-Tip way out second (fps). It hits like a
more; 4 ounces in this and use faster twist barrels. freight train, and I love it. In
instance. Good shooting! They are ridiculously accu- northern Minnesota’s deep
Ted Stephens rate. Please, give us an issue woods and swamp country
Santa Rosa, California with no mention to anything — especially where there is
“Creedmoor.” no snow for tracking, I want
NO MORE 6.5
6MM
CREEDMOOR
.22 Ted Schaffer a DRT cartridge. This combo
CREEDMOOR CREEDMOOR CREEDMOOR
Email delivers! Another favorite of
I love the magazine — most mine is the .405 Winchester.
of the time. Yet, as soon as rounds that allow heavy-for- SOUND OFF! Years ago, I got lucky and
I read the top of the front caliber bullets to be loaded I’m 55 years old and a gun stumbled on a new Win-
cover of the January issue, I without the projectile being nut who loves to shoot. chester Model 1895 in .405
cringed. I’m tired of seeing set deep into the powder I have hunted and taken Winchester. I immediately
“Creedmoor.” It makes me space, but this isn’t a new more deer than the plague! I bought it, as well as some
sick when I see another idea. Wildcat creators have grew up reading “Petersen’s Hornady ammunition. I
rifle tested in 6mm or 6.5 been doing this for decades! Hunting” and any other gun recorded that load at an
CM. Now Horizon Firearms Perhaps, the difference is book I could get my hands impressive 2,400 fps. It
and Hornady team up to that Hornady has the money on. My “DRT” cartridge, as works flawlessly, but ouch,
add “.22 Creedmoor” to to get SAAMI certifications. Craig Boddington described that one kicks!
the list? Okay, I get it that I shoot such heavy bullets in “Dead Right There,” is Gerald Yourczek II
Hornady commercializes out of a 6.5x284 Norma the .35 Whelen. I shoot the Email
 1 DESIGN | 2 SIZES

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E DI TOR I A L

Teaching youth is our responsibility.

@GUNSANDAMMOMAG

EN ALPHA
at’s the age I was when Dad began uation of a pistol, and quietly packed the Nylon 66, a
ng me shoot a Remington Nylon 66. The stock didn’t revolver, and a box of .22 target loads. Knowing he would
shoulder, but we made it work. I remember wishing ask to shoot a handgun, I selected the Smith & Wesson
ould take me more often. Though he passed away in Model 17 to take his handgun experience to the next
2017, I can still hear his voice when I’m at the range. level. Though a bit heavy for his age, the Model 17 offers
My kids started young, too, shooting a single-shot Savage a six-round capacity and introduced him to manipulating
Rascal, and then the Nylon 66. My son, Connor, is of Gener- a double-action (DA) trigger while steadying its adjustable
ation Alpha (2010 to 2024), and I feel as though I am running sights. He produced excellent results, managing to over-
out of time to infl trigger. When
loaders and rimfi r strength, he
the hammer of a tion mode.
Mom’s old .22 Co a Browning
maker. Using a tw fle equipped
grip, he feels con scope. At the
outcome; each ti ed it to score
his own achievem yards. The
Those guns reinfo eft his face, and
sight alignment, ant to stop. My
patience, respect hing fundamen-
trigger discipline smanship skills
For a family over, though.
range day, I Once he learned
brought a single how to work the
shot, as well as a magnification
Ruger 10/22 with ing, he kept it
iron sights, and a the highest
$1,169
Marlin Model 60 ower and went
a 4X rimfire scop work. “This is so
to go with an ob er, Dad!”
this visit I wanted him effortlessly
in actions and sig eral 10-shot
nating in the sco about the
after a few string seems to me
to shooting only s with a need
I’ve been the e ate gratification.
more than 10 ye e traced to the
Unfortunately, I rea e t at do t ta e y ds to t e p e a e ce o de ces, o at o at a d, and societal
range as often as I should. The time I should be spending attitudes towards affirmation, competition, entitlements,
PHOTO: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

with them has been replaced by other obligations; after- and work. Of course, my kid prefers shooting repeat-
school activities, friends, and their hand-held devices. The ers with red dots and optics, but at least he still craves
kids still enjoy shooting, but they don’t ask to go as often spending time with me — for now. There’s still time. Let’s
as they used to. Life has moved on and I’m noticing the encourage our youth to never abandon the fundamentals
effects of social influences beyond my home. or independent analysis. It is on us to ensure they are pre-
I recently brought Connor to assist me with the eval- pared to carry our traditions and protect our rights.
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223 Rem | 224 Valkyrie | 6mm ARC | 6mm Creedmoor

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GUN ROOM

“From the photos, the condition of your

gun looks decent but is not spectacular.”

GARRY.JAMES@
OUTDOORSG.COM

FRENCH What is this? Is ammunition

CHASSEPOT RIFLE available? What is it worth?
Q: For years I’ve had a F. G.
French rifle sitting in the Tulsa, Oklahoma
closet. I inherited it from
my father who said it was A: You have a French Model
used in the First World 1866 “Chassepot” infan-
War. It seems to be about try rifle, named after its
.45 caliber. It is a bolt designer Antoine Alphonse
action and 51 inches long. Chassepot. This bolt-action
On the receiver are the single-shot fired a clever
markings “MANUFAC- 11mm (.43) self-contained
TURE Chatelleraut MLE cartridge. At the time of its
1866”. On the barrel is the introduction, it was con-
REMINGTON NEW MODEL ARMY, .44 CAL., <5%: $150
serial number 31XXX and sidered to be one of the
RELIC REMINGTON REVOLVER “1874”. It has no finish. pre-eminent military rifles in
Q: My brother, a long-time Guns & Ammo subscriber,
recommended that I contact you about a revolver I AUCTION BLOCK
recently purchased at an estate sale. A Google photo
search showed it to possibly be an early 1860s model
Colt revolver. I would much appreciate you looking at the
attached photos to determine what you feel is its true
identity. The gun has considerable surface rust, pitting,
and is missing several parts. It is about 15 inches in length
and weighs 41 ounces. The only visible marking that I can
find is on the left side of the grip. Imprinted is the number
“7400” or “7600”; it’s hard to discern if it is a “4” or “6”.
S. P.
Napa, California

A: You have acquired the bers were used by Union

remnants of a Remington forces during the Civil War.
New Model Army revolver. Caliber was .44. There was
The New Model is consid- also a New Model Navy
ered by many experts to in .36 caliber that was not
be the apex of American manufactured in as large
single-action percussion numbers as the Army. Your
revolvers, though there are piece is, unfortunately,
also those who are stalwart in relic condition — i.e.,
champions of the Colt missing parts, broken parts,
Model 1860. About 122,000 heavily rusted. It has little
New Models were manu- collector value. I’d opine it’s
factured between 1863 and worth around $100 to $150,
1875. Considerable num- strictly as a curiosity.
18 G&A | March 2024 | Gun room

the world. It was used in the your rifle is unaltered and in

Franco-Prussian War where good condition, it is worth
it outclassed the German in the $1,000 to $1,250
Dreyse rifle, even though range. The “1874” on the
the French came out barrel refers to the year the
second best in the conflict. gun was made. They were
Interestingly, it effectively normally in the white, so the
used a rubber gasket on its fact that your Chassepot
$250
bolt to prevent gas leakage. has no finish is correct.
The “Châtellerault” on your
gun’s receiver refers to the HEIRLOOM COLT manufactured circa 1943. ceased in 1942. About
armory where it was made. WOODSMAN This line of repeaters was a quarter million Parker
Chassepots were also Q: This Colt Woodsman manufactured from 1927 to Brothers shotguns were
constructed at Saint-Éti- has been in my family for 1947. The Second Series made. Today, some of the
enne, Tulle and Mutzig. As four generations. After my includes those made from higher grade guns can
the rifle appeared during father’s passing, I inherited late ’47 to 1955, while the bring hefty prices.
a transition period wherein it. Can you give me any Third Series continued until
the metallic cartridge was info on it? S/N 157XXX 1977. More than 690,000 FAUX PARKER
becoming preeminent, J. B. were made. The 1st Model 12-GAUGE DOUBLE
its official service life was Grapevine, Texas is a good, collectible piece. Q: I’m writing for my uncle
somewhat short. It was The condition of your gun, in Pennsylvania who is
replaced by the Fusil Gras A: Colt .22 pistols made which appears to be about approaching 90 years old.
Model 1874. Fortunately, from 1915 to 1927 were 60 percent, places its worth He inherited this double
it was possible to convert known as the Colt Auto- in the $200 to $250 range. from his great uncle, also a
Chassepots to handle the matic Target Pistol, or Pennsylvanian who was 99
Gras’ metallic cartridge, so “Pre-Woodsman.” Yours is PARKER 12-GAUGE when he died. I’ve included
many are seen in that con- a First Series Woodsman DOUBLE numerous photos that I’m
figuration today. Assuming Automatic Target Model Q: I have a Parker hoping can help identify
20-gauge. It has been in the piece and provide
HOLLYWOOD HARDWARE my family for four gener- information for an approx-
ations. I think it was made imate value. My uncle has
somewhere around 1903. decided to sell the 12-
I know my granddad sent gauge double.
it back to be restocked. B. C.
This little gun has shot Email
lots of birds through the
years, and we still shoot it. A: Your uncle has a Belgian-
Any information would be made, “hardware store,”
appreciated. Thanks! exposed hammer, dou-
J. B. ble-barrel shotgun dating
Email from 1890 to 1900. It was
stamped with the name
A: As I am not stellar at “Parker” to take advantage
Parker evaluations, I for- of the cache of high-grade,
warded this one to Dwight considerably more expen-
Van Brunt of Sportsman’s sive, elegant, and highly
Legacy (sportsmanslegacy. regarded products manu-
com). From the photos, he factured by Parker Brothers
opined it’s a decent Parker in Meriden, Connecticut. As
made around 1920, and the condition of your uncle’s
it would retail for about gun is somewhat lacking,
$4,500. Parker Brothers was assuming it is functional, I
in business from 1866 to would not value it at more
1934. In 1934, Remington than $100 to $150. I would
assumed production, which not shoot it without having
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20 G&A | March 2024 | Gun room

M1000 Military Carbine, was founded in 1950. I

serial number 71XXX, was checked with a couple of
from the first batch. As you dealers who specialize in
opined, it was built in the these and the consensus
early 1960s. As it appears to is your 1968-vintage Colt
be in at least 85 to 90 per- 1911 in .45 ACP was spiffed
cent condition, according up. It is worth in the $2,500
to the “Forty-Fourth Edition to $2,750 range. From your
Blue Book of Gun Values,” photos, it appears you have
it is worth $350 to $400. kept the gun in pristine con-
$375
dition despite having used
VALUE OF A CLARK it for competition work.
CUSTOM .45
Q: In December of 1968, I MODEL 94
purchased a Clark Deluxe WINCHESTER LORE
Custom Colt .45 with an Q: Could you give me the
extended front sight, serial value of my 1906-manu-
#322XXX-C, through Gil factured Winchester 1894
a gunsmith give it a good revolver is worth between Hebard Guns. I have all the Saddle Ring lever action?
going-over and proclaiming $250 and $375. documentation, including It is chambered in .25-35
that it safe. the 50-yard machine-rest Winchester.
UNIVERSAL targets of five shots within N. N.
SINGLE-ACTION M1 CARBINE a 2½-inch group. The gun Email
S&W TOP-BREAK Q: I’ve sent pictures of my was used for Bullseye
Q: I came across an old M1 Carbine made in Flor- competition for a couple of A: From the photos, the
Smith & Wesson .38- ida. It looks and operates years before being put in condition of your gun looks
caliber revolver. The serial like an M1 produced during the safe. It still needs the decent but is not spectacu-
number is 438XXX. It World War II, but this one included tool to remove the lar. It is a standard 20-inch,
appears that the revolver was made in 1962. What barrel bushing, and it has round-barrel 94 Carbine,
is more than 100 years do you think? the original crisp 4-pound so there is nothing exotic
old. I’m hoping you can D. B. trigger. I would appreciate about it. While the metal
research and provide addi- Email it if you could tell me what seems to be a bit mottled,
tional info on this pistol, this gun is worth. at least it doesn’t appear
including value. A: Universal Firearms of T. R. to have been fooled with.
G. A. Hialeah, Florida, which Largo, Florida The caliber is not common,
Raleigh, North Carolina began life in the late 1950s, so that adds value. The
started making copies of A: That’s a very nice .45 stock looks suspicious and
A: From what I can discern the U.S. M1 Carbine around auto. Firearms offered may have been redone. If
of your photos, it appears 1962. It continued selling by Clark Custom Guns original, I’d value the piece
you found a Smith & Wes- them until 1983 when (clarkcustomguns.com) at $2,500 to $3,000. If the
son Single Action Second the firm was acquired by are well-respected and wood’s been refinished, its
Model. Caliber is .38 S&W. Iver Johnson. Initially, the maintain their value. Clark, worth is reduced by at least
Some 108,255 of these carbines were close copies which is still in business, $1,000.
revolvers were made from of the original military arms,
1877 to 1891. Barrel lengths but as production pro-
range from 3¼ inches to 10 gressed, external and inter-
inches, the latter being rare. nal changes were made to
The piece in the pictures the wares. Depending upon
looks like it has a common when a Universal Carbine
4-inch barrel, and it has was listed, it would be com-
little or no finish remain- posed of part new-made
ing. Assuming it works OK, and part ex-GI components.
according to the “Forty- The quality was good. Even-
Fourth Edition Blue Book tually more than 480,000
of Gun Values (bluebookof- were manufactured across
$2,750
gunvalues.com), this little several generations. Your
HANDGUNNING

Why some cartridges didn’t survive the future.

y failed — or at least failed to thrive — is what I find citizens. Improvements to 9mm bullets within the past 10
asc ating. This subject comes to mind because the 2022 years — combined with the fact that most federal agencies
G&A Ammo of the Year winner, the .30 Super Carry (SC), is switched to using 9mm pistols — killed the .357 SIG.
still struggling to find an audience. In no particular order: Performance-wise, the .357 SIG seemed to be the
perfect cartridge for a submachine gun. In fact, SIG Sauer
.357 SIG The .357 SIG is an interesting cartridge intro- was originally going to chamber its MPX in it, as well as .40
duced in 1994 and originally chambered for the P229 S&W, but that’s likely never going to happen now unless it
and offered in .357 SIG/.40 S&W caliber-convertible kits. experiences the same weird resurgence as the 10mm has.
It was popular for a while, and even famously adopted
by the U.S. Secret Service, and adopted by some law .327 Federal Magnum The rimmed .327 Federal cartridge
enforcement agencies such as Virginia’s Richmond Police was introduced in 2008 in the Ruger LCR. It did two things:
Department. The .357 SIG cartridge is basically a .40 S&W It provided six-shot capacity in cylinders only big enough
necked down to 9mm. Performance is equivalent to a 9mm for five .38s, and it offered magnum performance. Feder-
+P+. With the .357 SIG, mid- and some heavyweight 9mm al’s 100-grain bullets would do 1,400 fps; 115s, 1,300 fps.
bullets would scream downrange very fast; 125 grainers The revolver market has seen steady sales, but the
would clock more than 1,300 feet per second (fps), while American consumer hasn’t taken to the .327 Federal en
147s would go beyond 1,200 fps. The bottleneck design masse, likely due to the fact that the number of compa-
PHOTOS: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

seemed to feed reliably from most pistols, too. nies offering guns in this caliber has dropped to a fraction
The downsides to the .357 SIG? Excessive muzzleblast of what was a decade ago. As it turned out, yes, that
and recoil. It’s darn near a .357 Magnum, but cham- extra shot in the cylinder is nice, but .327 Federal Mag-
bered in pistols smaller and lighter than most .357 Mag. num ammunition was never anywhere close to being as
revolvers! The cartridge was always more expensive than inexpensive as the ubiquitous .38 Special. Second, those
either 9mm or 40 S&W. So, users got the same reduced people willing to put up with the blast of a magnum in a
24 G&A | March 2024 | hAndGunninG

compact revolver were not duced in 1990 on the heels

willing to switch from the of the 10mm Auto, and
.357 Mag. to the .327 Mag. it ran strong for 25 years.
Plus, Americans generally Then, it just died. (Perhaps
think bigger is better. “It’s it’s in a hospital on life sup-
only a .32,” was often said. port.) There many pistols
Which brings us to ... still sold for this cartridge,
including police trade-ins.
.32 ACP Perhaps you However, almost no gun
weren’t expecting this one. manufacturer is making new
When it comes to being models in .40 S&W. All the
used for personal defense, law enforcement agencies
this cartridge — which was have dumped the .40.
once popular in America This lineup of cartridges were all introduced for modern times: .45 Police trade-in Glocks 22s,
and around the world — GAP (2003), .357 SIG (1994), .40 S&W (1990), and .30 SC (2022). Smith & Wessons M&P40s,
is dead. You’d be hard and various SIG Sauer
pressed to find new .32 ACP guns or ammo, and there is a models are sold at bargain basement prices. (Tip: All those
relationship there. guns mean it’s still easy to find .40 S&W ammo.)
Also known as the “7.65 Browning,” this cartridge was Why the change? The .40 S&W grew from the FBI’s
designed by John Browning and introduced in 1899. quest to develop a cartridge that would pass its ammu-
It sent bullets between 60 and 75 grains at velocities nition testing protocol in the wake of several shootouts
between 900 and 1,100 fps. Almost all .32 ACP ammo in the 1980s. The .40 was developed as a short 10mm
was loaded with FMJ bullets. While penetration could be producing less recoil. The most common loads featured
decent, stopping power proved marginal. 165- and 180-grain bullets at 1,000 to 1,100 fps. Recoil
Guns chambering .32 ACP were interesting back Grand- was somewhere between “snappy” and “abusive,” espe-
and Great-Grandpa’s day because they were usually small. cially in small guns meant for concealed carry. In the past
A Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless could be con- 30 years, bullet technology improved to the point that
cealed in a pocket, and the .32 ACP hit harder than a .22. today’s best 9mm loads have passed the FBI Ammunition
The .380 ACP — another Browning invention — was Testing Protocol, providing significantly less recoil than the
always more popular in the U.S. than the .32, and .380 .40 S&W and more magazine capacity. Bullet technology
autos just kept getting smaller and lighter. The Ruger LCP, killed the .40 S&W. The market was already moving away
for example, is smaller and lighter than most of the promi- from it before the FBI announced it was abandoning it and
nent .32s, including those by Beretta, CZ, FN, and Walther. adopting the 9mm in 2015. The trickle became a flood.
Why buy a .32 when a .380 pistol is basically the same
size? Thus, the .32 ACP died. .30 SC Back to the .30 Super Carry (SC). Is it next to die?
The .30 SC provides near-9mm-level terminal performance,
.45 GAP In 2003, Glock wanted to fit a .45-caliber car- but with a narrower cartridge for more magazine capacity.
tridge into its shorter 9mm/.40 S&W-frame pistols. So, And we get just that. The .30 SC struggles have little to do
Glock went to CCI, Speer and Winchester. The result was with the cartridge’s performance. Rather, the rollout was
the .45 Glock Auto Pistol (GAP) cartridge. It uses standard half-botched, in my opinion.
.45 ACP bullets, provides .45 ACP performance, and has The selling point of the .30 SC was not its performance,
roughly a similar overall length as the 9mm and .40 S&W. but Federal spent too much time defending and focusing
Wide, heavy bullets were still sought after for defensive on that aspect. Rather the fact that it provides increased
pistols at that time, when the .40 S&W was still popular. magazine capacity was lost on the two guns it was intro-
However, the .45 GAP provided .45 ACP recoil, so sticking duced in. Federal should have paired it with a full-size
that energy in a gun small and light enough for a 9mm did Smith & Wesson M&P, SIG Sauer P320, or Glock 17 with
not produce an enjoyable experience. flush-fit 20-round mags. The 13-shot .30 SC Shield Plus
I was a huge fan of the .45 ACP, but I had no interest sells better than full-size M&Ps, but 20-plus-round mags
in the .45 GAP. If you were big enough to handle the for the full-size models would have gotten more apprecia-
recoil of the GAP, you were big enough to handle a pistol tion. You have to sell the sizzle, not the steak. Yet, here we
chambered in .45 ACP. Plus, the short GAP was still fat. If are. Almost 2 years later, it still hasn’t happened. News of
a shooter were to move away from the .45 ACP, they often Hi-Point chambering its carbines for .30 SC is the biggest
purchased one in .40 S&W for increased capacity. boost in interest the cartridge received in 2023.
Is the .30 Super Carry dead for defense? It’s a little too
.40 S&W. Of all the defensive cartridges now seemingly soon to tell, but if something doesn’t change it sure looks
dead, the .40 S&W had the longest reign. It was intro- like that’s where it’s headed.
26 G&A MARCH 2024

T H E CA R RY R IG

Utilizing a two-
sliders to retain
MultiFlex holst
a range of firear
Compact and Fu
ble with optics
for inside-the-w
side-the-waistba $55

8T
ELL YO
” holste s o da y ca y o a de e s e a dgu . ( ) o outs de t e a stba d (O ) ca y by attac g
xperience with the soft, amorphous, oversized, and belt clips or loops, respectively. An OWB paddle is an
times stretchy belt pouches is that they neither retain option, too, which is installed with 11/2-inch footprints.
t e rearm securely nor fully protect the trigger. The The MultiFlex is offered in two sizes: Full and Compact.
availability and affordability of leather, polymer or hybrid The holster accommodates more than 275 pistol mod-
model-specific holsters — such as those from N8 Tactical els. To explain how N8 Tactical and Crossbreed Holsters
and its parent, Crossbreed Holsters — means that I never accomplished this, allow me to review my experience
have to recommend a “universal” or “multi-fit” option. carrying the MultiFlex.
The N8 Tactical MultiFlex holster is different. Yes, it’s
compatible with a long list of firearm makes and models, 60-DAY CARRY
and the same holster can be used interchangeably with For this evaluation, Guns & Ammo received the MultiFlex
different guns. Rather than a static multi-fit design, it’s a Compact. To get a feel for the holster and how it works,
dynamic custom-fit solution that can be tailored by the I unloaded my primary carry pistol, a Shadow Systems
user to accommodate a variety of pistol platforms. Further, CR920P, and began to follow the sizing instructions.
the fit can be refined for ride height on a belt, cant, and The MultiFlex has seven visible Chicago-style screws that
retention. Using available and forthcoming accessories, the connect the holster’s two molded polypropylene shells.
 Celebrating 75 Years
of Rugged, Reliable Firearms ®

In 2024, Ruger proudly celebrates 75 years of manufacturing rugged, reliable firearms. To commemorate this occasion, Ruger is proud to announce
four 75th Anniversary Models, a Mark IV™ pistol, two different 10/22® rifles and an LCP® MAX, each representative of Ruger’s storied past and
bright future. These commemorative models are inspired by iconic Ruger products, and represent each of our three major manufacturing facilities.

The acquisition, ownership, possession and use of firearms are heavily regulated.
LEARN Some models may not be legally available in your state or locale. Whatever your
MORE purpose for lawfully acquiring a firearm – know the law, get trained and shoot safely.
28 G&A | March 2024 | the cArry riG

M
ti
to
in
as
pr
a
ch
ti
pi
re

The retention sliders found near the triggerguard expand as the screws are tightened, eventu-
ally reaching and maintainting contact with the gun to better hold it in place.

There are three in the front for FBI-style 4- to 5-o’clock

(slide side) and four in the carry. I prefer to carry at 3
back (frame side). Step one o’clock with less cant, so I
was to tighten the three moved the front belt clip
front screws, achieving a down to the second of its
snug fit over the slide. Step three holes and retightened.
two was to tighten the four For a full straight drop, I
rear screws, effectively would choose the top hole
pancaking the gun between for the front clip.
the shells. When adjusting While I was impressed
the friction-fit retention, or with the holster’s mechanical
tuning the amount of force function, I do have concerns
required to draw the pistol, about the durability of the
do so by loosening or tight- retention sliders. During
ening the rear set of screws, Crossbreed Holsters’ Confidant Mag Carrier 2.0 is one-size fits most. my two test fittings, a small
particularly the one below It was a great pairing with the MultiFlex holster. $35 tension indicator snapped
the triggerguard. off. To be clear, the indica-
With the screws snug, the gun is essentially retained. tor was a wholly unnecessary adornment, and its loss does
However, users will note a small degree of rock and wiggle, not pose functional or aesthetic issues. It does beg the
and this is where things get interesting. The holster includes question, “How many resizes can the holster endure? Will
a pair of so-called “retention sliders” located next to the bot- N8 Tactical offer replacement parts so users can affordably
tom of the triggerguard and the dustcover. These are basi- refit the MultiFlex?” Whatever the answer, I think there is
cally polymer bumpers affixed to screws. As you tighten the room to continue improving the durability of this product,
sliders, the bumpers contact the firearm and apply pressure especially with the retention assemblies.
to lock the gun in place. It is the adjustment of the seven Once fitment was complete, I was ready to carry. Initially,
screws and the two bumpers that enable the MultiFlex to I was worried that the holster would be as comfortable
achieve, essentially, a custom fit on a variety of guns. To test as a stack of LEGOs against my hip, but I was pleasantly
this feature, I loosened all the screws and sliders, swapped surprised. “Comfortable” isn’t the best word, but “unob-
in a SIG Sauer P365-AXG Legion, and then re-tightened trusive” seems right. I didn’t notice the holster while I was
it according to the instructions. It was a different gun, but wearing it, and didn’t need to readjust it as I sat, stood,
the same result: A perfect fit. There was no wiggle, just drove or walked. That’s a win. The MultiFlex also performed
custom and secure retention. Holstering the P365 yielded well in G&A’s draw-and-fire test. Having a clean draw is crit-
a confidence-inspiring, audible click. ical for a fast time. Being able to customize the draw was
Lessons learned: First, be sure to have a long-necked probably the holster’s greatest strength. I didn’t achieve my
Phillips-head screwdriver for the retention sliders. They are fastest shots with this rig, but I credit that to the sub-freez-
located between the shells, so a little reach is needed to ing temps at my range and the need to defeat both a vest
access them. Next, be prepared to make adjustments after and a jacket during this evaluation. With the conditions
trying the holster on. I found that firearm retention increased considered, I thought the MultiFlex was pretty darn quick. I
due to belt pressure flexing the holster. The solution was to would rate it highly among strongside IWB holsters.
loosen the rear screws until the drawstroke was clean. Off- While conducting my review, I simultaneously tested the
body retention was not noticeably affected. Finally, the hol- Confidant Mag Carrier 2.0 ($35) from Crossbreed Holsters.
ster came preset with 12 degrees of forward cant, well suited It seemed appropriate considering the Confidant is also a
30 G&A | March 2024 | the cArry riG
1.8 in.
N8 TACTICAL MULTIFLEX COMPACT
MATERIALS
CARRY TYPE
RETENTION TYPE
ADJUSTABILITY
MSRP
HANDGUN FIT
ACCESSORY RAIL ACCOMMODATIONS
POSITIONS TO CARRY
AVERAGE TIME TO ATTACH
COMFORT RATING
CONCEALMENT CLOTHING
AVERAGE DRAW-TO-FIRE TIME

6.75 in.
MANUFACTURER

versatile one-size-fits-most solution. The two-piece shell with new and unusual pistols that may
is connected by strong rubber bands that flex to accom- not have strong aftermarket support.
modate most single- and double-stack pistol magazines. This review focused on the Multi-
It’s durable and discreet, and I liked the integral no-fuss Flex as an IWB concealment holster.
11/2-inch belt clip. However, given the range of options
Overall, the MultiFlex impressed me with its secure fit, and likelihood of future evolutions and
adaptability, and ease of wear. It performed very well for accessories, I wouldn’t be surprised
me. I can confidently recommend it, as well as the to see future generations of the
Confidant mag pouch. These are suitable for daily con- holster back in “Carry Rig” down
cealed carry. I also liked that I can have a holster for use the road. — J. Kurtenbach

OUR PRODU CT HAS BEEN COMP

ARED TO
HANDM ADE JEWEL RY, BECAU SE
IT’S MADE BY PEOPL E
WHOS E CRAFT TOOK YEARS TO
DEVEL OP. AND YOU CAN’T
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GUN TECH

Nightstick TCM Series

$140

F M THE
SHADOWS
SI UYS tend to avoid the spotlight, there’s a
good chanc be dark should you ever need to defend
yourself with earm. Well-designed pistol-mounted
e Nightstick TCM-5B and TCM-10 enable
yo rly identify an immediate threat with little
Pistol lights present an ergonomic option for illuminating a potential
modification to your grip. This is the main advantage when threat, allowing you to keep a firm two-hand grip around the gun.
employing a firearm-mounted light versus a handheld
flashlight. There are techniques you can learn to effectively
use a handheld light with a firearm, but you must also person intent on harming you.
learn how to shoot with a compromised grip on the gun. The TCM-5B and TCM-10 include a user-programmable
A pistol-mounted light offers an additional option when strobe and safe mode. A strobing light can be disorienting
faced with a critical situation, but it must be convenient to to an adversary by disrupting his balance, depth percep-
carry and intuitive to use. tion and peripheral vision. To set up strobe mode, press
As a right-handed shooter, I just slide my left thumb down on both switches rapidly five times. After the fifth
down a half inch or so from the frame of the pistol to press, the light will flash on and off twice, signifying the
switch on the TCM-5B or TCM-10. This allows my trigger change. Reversing the sequence reverts to disabled mode.
finger to remain indexed along the frame of the pistol or Safe mode is an administrative function that can prevent
on the trigger, as appropriate, while I apply 360-degrees of the light from being unintentionally activated. You may
PHOTOS: ALFREDO RICO

inward pressure around the grip for optimal recoil control. decide to switch the light to safe mode to avoid draining the
Whenever the situation allows, avoid using a firearm- battery during storage, for instance. These lights are deliv-
mounted light as a search tool. It is a last-step verification ered with these modes disabled. To enable safe mode, press
check to know a threat is truly a threat, and a tool to and hold both switches for 3 seconds. The light will flash
enhance shot placement while potentially disorientating a once, indicating that safe mode is activated. Reversing the
34 G&A | March 2024 | Gun tech

Switches can be activated with the trigger Adapter plates are included with both
finger or support thumb, and are program- TCM-5B and TCM-10. These widen the
mable for constant or momentary presses. range of handguns each can be mounted on.

The TCM-10 (left) and TCM-5B (right) both mimic the shape of other popular duty lights,
which increase the compatability with many light-bearing holsters.

sequence reverts to disabled mode. (4612 candela) with a beam distance

The TCM-5B and TCM-10 allow of 446 feet (136 meters). While several
one to precisely control the duration light manufacturers refer to the ANSI
of light, as well. Press down on either FL1 Standard in their marketing, not
switch to illuminate the target area. all are as accurate as Nightstick’s.
Press the switch for less than half a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is
second and release to activate the Nightstick’s patented technology that
constant-on mode. Press for more controls the load an LED puts on the
than a half-second for the momen- battery to meet the product’s lumen
tary-on mode, meaning the light shuts output requirements. It also ensures
off when pressure on the switch is the longest possible runtime. PWM
released. To turn on strobe mode — causes the light to pulse on and off
once it’s programmed — press either thousands of times per second, which
switch twice in rapid succession, hold- is visually imperceivable yet dramati-
ing it down on the second press. cally improves battery life. Unlike many
Each light uses a TIR lens with an lights where output is most intense
internal reflector, providing a clear, during activation — where lumens are
white light. The beam culminates in a measured — light intensity usually dis-
hot spot and halo, which I found was sipates. The output of the Nightstick
ideal for room clearing and close- TCM-5B and TCM-10 is modulated to
quarter pistol shots during training. remain consistent throughout the life
The TCM-5B ships with two addi- of the battery. This means the output
tional adapter plates, while the TCM- specified is the actual output.
10 includes five extra. These allow The TCM-5B and TCM-10 are
the units to fit a variety of handguns drop-rated for 2 meters and IP-X7
and make them frequently compat- waterproof-rated. (“IP-X7” means that
ible with light-bearing holsters these lights will withstand sub-
designed for a handgun with a mersion in 1 meter of water for
competing Streamlight TLR-7A/ 30 minutes.) Notably, the TCM-10
Sub-style light attached. Clearly, TCM-5B was the National Association of
holster compatibility shaped the Tactical Officers (NTOA) “Mem-
design of these Nightstick lights. ber Tested and Recommended”
Output is impressive. Each winner in 2023. Visit nightstick.
model produces 650 lumens com for more information.
TCM-10
 OPERATOR ETR
PRO DEFENSE
CALIBER

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PERFORMANCE COUNTS
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R I F L E S & G LASS

Silencer Central Buck 30 by Banish

IT’S TIME TO OWN

A UPPRESSOR
ANY F RMS-RELATED TREND that survives for sev- the main reason why shooters learn to flinch. No one enjoys
eral yea curs for good reason. An example would be having a small explosion occur a couple of feet from their
ard heavy-for-caliber bullets. These rose in face. One way to illustrate this theory is to watch how much
popularity use rifleshooters had tools such as ballistic someone flinches when shooting a braked versus non-
calculators a d angefinders that made shooting targets at braked rifle. Flinching, in this example, is defined as closing
longer ranges possible. It’s only natural that these eye just prior to firing. The muzzlebrake reduces
shooters would seek out the most aerodynamic b the recoil on the shoulder, but significantly increases
lets to optimize success in hitting distant targets. the muzzleblast. New shooters will frequently flinch
Another trend that’s been building for the past more with a muzzlebrake than without. It’s pretty
years is the rise of suppressor (or “silencer”) own easy to film this with a cell phone in slow motion
ership. This is the only firearms-related example, and then review the footage at your leisure.
which I’m aware, that is undeniably healthier for t The last 20 years have seen a meteoric rise in
shooting community. For years I’ve been a propo suppressor use. However, there is still a sizeable
nent of suppressor use because it’s the best and portion of the shooting community that doesn’t
most convenient way to protect a person’s hearin own or use suppressors. The barriers to entry have
The challenge has been addressing our commun historically been high. The first and most egregious
lack of familiarity with suppressors. barrier is imposed by the U.S. government; it comes
When I was a youth, nobody I knew had even n the bureaucrat’s preferred form of warfare: Paper-
seen a suppressor. They were something only see work. After paying for a suppressor, this used to
used in movies, frequently associated with assas- mean getting fingerprints taken at the Sheriff’s office
sinations. I wasn’t planning on getting into that and then sending them and another form off to the
business, so I didn’t see a need for owning a sup- feds for review. Anywhere from several months to a
pressor. Fast forward a few years and I was in the year-ish later, the government allowed you to take
military fighting a war. Uncle Sam saw fit to loan m possession of your property.
a suppressor or two during my time in. This is wh Then along came Silencer Central. CEO Brandon
I decided I needed suppressors in my life. Many o ddox built the company around the idea of making
those I served alongside came to the same concl pressor ownership as painless as possible. Silencer
Suppressor use certainly has tactical benefits o ntral can do most of the work for you and talk you
the battlefield, but the two biggest attractions ar ough what you need to do on your own. The best
ability to shoot without needing to wear hearing t is that everything the individual needs to do can
tection and the elimination of muzzleblast. Shoot done from the comfort of home. The “paperwork”
even in a war, is a social event; ongoing commun all be done online — including payment — and
tion with those around you is beneficial. Whether n, once the federal government approves the sale,
communication involves issuing instructions in a t r suppressor ships to your front door. It has never
manner or just chatting away with a friend, it’s nic en — and will likely never be — easier than that.
needing to yell. n keeping with the “easy suppressor ownership”
The second significant benefit, which sees little me, Silencer Central recently released a new
cussion, is the removal of a rifle’s muzzleblast. Rec pressor: Buck 30 by Banish. The effort was a joint
on a rifle comes in two forms: The first is the blow ject between Silencer Central and the folks at Buck
to the shoulder. There is not much we can do mmander (buckcommander.com), including Willie
PHOTOS: MARK FINGAR

about that. The second is the blow to the head bertson, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Adam Laroche,
that comes from the pressure wave generated n Langerhans, Tombo Martin, and others. They are
by the muzzleblast. This is like a light jab to the ping to educate the public on the advantages of
brain that occurs every time the rifle fires; it is pressor use. The idea was to create the ultimate
38 G&A | March 2024 | rifles & GlAss

The steel baffles of the Buck 30 are precision-welded together and The Buck 30 features an industry-standard hub, but there are several
exist as part of the suppressor. There is no external tube. thread-mount options including 5⁄8x24 and 1⁄2x28, to M16x1RH.

A .30 the baffles. It’s quieter because the baffles can be made
suppr slightly larger and there is more internal volume.
for m
owne Silencer Central’s choice of using stainless steel instead
30 ca of titanium was wise because stainless steel is easier to
any r weld correctly than titanium. Titanium is lighter, but it is
.17 H
Win. also more expensive. Additionally, the
unsur complicated process used to weld
Silen titanium properly would have driven
to det
appro up the cost of the Buck 30. I’m
moun thankful they chose a tubeless
your design made from stainless steel
because it’s the best way for almost
anyone to acquire an affordable,
quiet, light, and strong suppressor.
introductory suppressor for anyone SILENCER CENTRAL The Buck 30 also uses the 1.375x24
BUCK 30 BY BANISH
hunting deer, hence the price, but thread pitch at the suppressor’s base,
CALIBER
along the way, they developed a which allows for the use of removable
ATTACHMENT 5
great “first suppressor” for anybody direct-thread adaptors to screw onto
MOUNT
shooting a rifle. The materials and most muzzles. Should you possess
OVERALL
manner of construction reflect its LENGTH
a rifle without a threaded muzzle,
simplicity, durability, and sound eco- WEIGHT
Silencer Central can send you a
nomics. The Buck 30 is exactly what DIAMETER
padded case so you can have their
I’d recommend for someone thinking MATERIALS
full-time gunsmiths thread it and
about suppressor ownership. FINISH
return it to you. Since Silencer Central
The Buck 30 is a tubeless design MSRP
is a licensed firearms manufacturer,
constructed of precipitation-hardened you can send the rifle from home and
stainless steel. This suppressor is MANFACTURER receive it the same way.
made by stacking the stainless-steel Suppressor ownership is becom-
baffles on top of each other and then ing more mainstream every day, and
welding them together. Suppressors used to be made by I’m glad because it benefits the shooter the most. Rifles
stacking the baffles, welding them together, and then slid- become more enjoyable to shoot, it’s easier to talk to
ing the stack inside a tube before welding them together. your family and friends when shooting, and it’s now more
Welding technology has improved. Testing has shown that convenient and less expensive than ever. If you still haven’t
welding the baffles together without an external tube is taken the plunge into suppressor ownership, Silencer Cen-
every bit as durable — but lighter and quieter. It’s lighter tral’s Buck 30 is the easiest way to dip your toe in. Come
because there is no longer an external tube surrounding on in, the water is fine.
40 G&A MARCH 2024

R A NG E BAG Real Avid adds clever tools to its gun-cleaning systems.

The Real Avid Gun Boss
Multi-Kit is a starting
point for those needing
gun-cleaning tools. It is
tailored for specific cali-
bers. $30

Real Avid
makes various
system to support
firearm maintenance.
Often the packaging is
included in the organization.
Cases with transparent lids open in a
way that provides easy access to picks, pull
ropes, brushes and jags.

$40

EAS GOING
s been doing a great job innovating prod-
cts th un owners find practical. The packaging is often
seful, a he gun maintenance tools are well-made,
rgonom d thoughtfully designed by real shooters allows it to wiggle around while brushing or swiping the
and gun ow e s. Among the newest offerings are the Real barrel bore.
Avid Accu-Grip Steel Picks ($40), Bore-Max Speed Brushes While the Gun Boss Multi-Kit has all of the basic tools
($40), and Bore-Max Speed Jags and Patches ($50). for cleaning included, the enhanced heads provide better
This introduction was the excuse I needed to clean a few detailing, and they are made from stronger materials. Real
neglected guns. I evaluated these products on a 1911, a Avid opted to nickel-plate both the brushes and the jags
.44 Magnum revolver, an AR-15 as well as a friend’s well- to prevent corrosion. Still, I found them soft enough that I
used single-stack 9mm carry pistol. (The latter had enough didn’t have to worry that I was scoring the bore.
carbon buildup that you could probably get away with The Speed Brush and Speed Jag kits come with most
calling it a “coal mine.”) common bore sizes, and the packaging also works as an
The Accu-Grip Steel Picks were the first tools to see use organized carrying case. When opened, the case props the
for this evaluation. They proved excellent for scraping out heads up at a 45-degree angle, and the sizes are clearly
heavy fouling. Each pick has two head shapes. labeled above each head. It was easy to simply pop open
With five picks to choose from, I never found a the cases and set them aside while cleaning. A snap-in-place
spot in these guns that I couldn’t reach. tray holds the Accu-Grip steel picks, too. These clever, small
Both the speed conveniences
jags and speed add up. Real Avid
brushes attach to has made it easy
the coated steel to quickly and
rod and T-handle efficiently find
found in the Real every tool you
PHOTOS: MEDIA DIRECT

Avid Gun Boss need to keep your

Multi-Kit. The rod guns clean and
With 10 heads to choose from, the Accu- The tools in the Gun Boss kit do a good job
is segmented in Grip Steel Picks can get into any nook and at basic maintenance and cleaning. The kit functioning.
a few spots that cranny while cleaning. $40 includes a pick, brushes, and jags. — A. Acitelli
 March 2024 | G&A 43

BORN
READY
NTRODUCING ROST MARTIN
AND THE RM1C 9MM PISTOL.
BY ERIC R. POOLE | PHOTOS BY MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

NT CASES littered the range, a THE TOOMERS

ral, Hornady, Magtech, and oth- How can a new brand come to market and expect to suc-
liability were flawless with the cessfully square off against popular rivals? Chris and Ste-
C, despite its compact size. fany Toomer are behind the Rost Martin endeavor. Chris
k I hardly missed,” the last served 5 years as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine
r on the firing line said. “Even Corps, deploying with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines. He then
gh the double- and triple-tap went to business school. Stefany is the daughter of Dennis
ls. I usually miss the second or Reese, CEO of Springfield Armory. She grew up living the
rd shots in rapid-fire strings gun culture that started with her late grandfather, Robert
th most compact autos, but Reese, a businessman, competition shooter, and veteran.
this one. It’s cool that there Rost Martin is not connected — or supported — by
n American-made pistol that Springfield Armory, which will be difficult for some to
ts this well for less than $500. believe. Chris and Stefany are two entrepreneurial spirits
to put more rounds through who share American pride. The Toomers want to preserve
rrying it on duty, but I would and expand U.S. manufacturing of firearms in the face of
epending on it while off-duty the anti-gun agenda. That isn’t to deny that they haven’t
concluded. gleaned an understanding of the manufacturing business
lidation than that officer’s com- from their experiences.
lusive first look at the company “Rost Martin represents the next generation of freedom,”
offering, the RM1C 9mm striker- said Chris. “It’s about making sure the Second Amendment
to rival the popular Glock 19 is preserved for our children and our children’s children,”
com) SIG Sauer P365 XL ($600, Stefany added.
d Armory Hellcat Pro ($679, The name is a marriage of family names. “Rost” is the
of those are proven, optic ready middle name of Stefany’s grandfather while “Martin” is
ast 15 rounds of 9mm. The Rost the maiden name of Chris’ great-grandmother, a woman
9. remembered for her tenacity. Rost Martin honors the path
 A

ROST MARTIN
RM1C
TYPE

CARTRIDGE
paved by each of their families in the
CAPACITY
firearm space.
BARREL
THE RM1C
Looking at the firearm landscape, OVERALL
LENGTH
it was obvious to Chris and Stefany
WIDTH
that Rost Martin’s first pistol needed unique features. It does utilize a
HEIGHT 4.92 in.
to be for the concealed carry market. double-action striker, but it has a
WEIGHT 1 lb., 5.1 oz.
Despite the segment being crowded, unique striker capture that prevents it
FINISH Nitride (steel)
the numbers of firearms sold each from moving forward no matter how
Polymer, textured; black,
month indicate that people are still GRIP
Stone gray, or FDE tan
a dropped pistol hits a concrete floor
looking for a pistol they can comfort- Steel; white dot (front);
or how hard a hammer smashes the
SIGHTS
ably use, but not just another “boring U-notch, black (rear) rear of the slide.
striker-fired polymer pistol,” Stefany TRIGGER 4 lbs., 15.2 oz. (tested);
said. “Let’s look at the best aspects SAFETY
Striker block, internal; FEATURES & BENEFITS
trigger lever
and make a name associated with a The trigger required longer develop-
MSRP $459
competitive price. It has to look, feel ment than most parts. It has the safety
Rost Martin,
and offer unmatched reliability.” MANUFACTURER 844-761-2022,
lever in the middle of the flat trigger
With an engineer and a lean oper- rostmartin.com face, but pressing it requires just less
ation, Rost Martin set out to make an than 5 pounds on average — consis-
all-American-made pistol in Dallas, tently. No one will describe the trigger
Texas, redesigning various aspects of the compact-pistol of the RM1C as being “too light,” but they won’t call it “too
platform. Their professional experiences quickly helped heavy” either. There is a little creep before the wall, but it
to overcome the usual hurdles encountered by typical off- fires predictably and has an excellent reset.
the-ground manufacturing companies, which is how Rost The flat-face trigger has a subtle hook at the bottom for a
Martin has a production-ready product to offer in less than consistent feel and index. Its metallurgy is made of carbon
3 years. steel, complete with a nitride finish. This is a cost-effective
“Once we knew how to source the tools and compo- method to prevent corrosion and rust. Another cost saver
nents we were designing, we looked at how the gun is I noted was the decision to use roll pins, which are easily
marked. We trademarked the RM1C name and logos,” sourced and replaced. Field-stripping the RM1C, however,
Stefany said. “Creating the RM1C at the sub-$500 price will be familiar to those who are used to disassembling a
point was a mixture of finding partners who could supply polymer-frame, striker-fired pistol — with one exception.
us at an affordable level.” Unlike a Glock-pattern action, the RM1C can be disassem-
Even while the RM1C was being developed, engineering bled without having to press the trigger. For many gun
continued for 2½ years to get the final product where it owners, this is an important attribute that makes the gun
needed to be. Though the profile and takedown crossbar easier and safer to maintain. The slide on the RM1C doesn’t
may give it somewhat of an appearance like one of the have to be held back as the takedown crossbar is depressed,
many recent Glock clones, the RM1C possesses several and it doesn’t have to slide forward over the dust cover.
 born ready | March 2024 | G&a 45

The trigger averaged 5 pounds. It has a wide and flat face, and
safety lever. An overtravel stop is molded as part of the frame.

The dustcover features a The follower was molded in

three-slot accessory rail for a highly visible yellow with a The front sight is a white dot in a dovetailed post. The rear is
mounting lights or lasers. proprietary hue for branding. serrated and features a black U-notch. The slide is optic ready.

Once the slide assembly detail. During Guns &

is unlocked, it moves less Ammo’s (ongoing) testfire,
than a quarter inch before the slide never failed to
it separates from the frame lock back (or stay back)
rails, even with a magazine when the magazine was
inserted. The magazine does empty. If you’ve fired
not prevent slide removal, other striker-fired polymer
and the pistol goes back pistols, you know how
together just as easily. aggravating it can be when
The serialized chassis is you aim, press the trigger
located within the frame, and hear click, not knowing
though the action compo- if the pistol is empty or if
nents could be removed you’ve experienced a hang-
and replaced by an fire. Too many shooters
The RM1C includes one 15-round magazine and a longer
armorer. Finding the serial 17-round magazine. The extended basepad adds grip length, tolerate a slide that slips
number was a bit of a chal- supporting the RGT texture and interchangeable backstrap. into battery with an empty
lenge, at first. Once found magazine.
underneath the frame within the triggerguard, seeing it Additional attention given to the frame is with the
required a magnifying glass and light cast from an angle. M1913-spec Picatinny rail at the dustcover. This rail was
The font used for the serial number is small and hard to optimized for use with popular duty lights such as the
read, which might have to be addressed if the RM1C were Streamlight TLR series and SureFire X300. One reason was
to be adopted by a law enforcement agency that conducts to ensure easy reach, activating the light using the thumb
regular inventories. or support hand. The second reason was to ensure com-
The polymer grip module is molded in one of three patibility with most holsters designed for similar-profile
colors: Black, Flat Dark Earth (FDE), and Stone gray. A Glock-pattern pistols. Until the holster market catches up,
nod to style, the magazine follower is molded in a yellow RM1C users will likely be able to turn to using existing
accent color that’s unique to Rost Martin. Created to set Glock holsters to carry this model. ANR Design, Black-
Rost Martin apart, I was told that it would appear in the point Tactical, Crossbreed Holsters, DeSantis, and We The
brand’s marketing and certain packaging elements, too. People already offer dedicated holster products.
Functionally, the bright yellow follower is easily visible “Consumers want the option to mount a red dot,” Chris
through the ejection port when an empty magazine locks said. “Stef was instrumental in advocating that our team give
the slide to the rear. Allow me to expand on that last the customer more features and benefits with the RM1C.”
46 G& A

Note p p p p p
Trijicon RMR adapter plate at purchase, but other plates will threaded barrel and extended magazines, but that will have
be available at a discount using a rebate and proof of pur- more to do with meeting state compliance regulations.
chase through the Rost Martin website. Notably, the pistol Nonetheless, the RM1C is a well-equipped package.
even included the correct Torx screws. This seemingly small Not to miss is the not-too-aggressive texture, which
detail is refreshing to those of us who have tired of dealing is present on the front and backstraps. Rost Martin has
with plastic adapter plates or having to find screws with termed the touchpoints its signature “Responsive Grip
the right length and thread Texture,” or “RGT.” RGT is
pitch. Thank you, Rost Mar- a proprietary laser-stippled
tin. The slide-cut depth and texturing designed to react, or
optic fitment were secure and “grip back,” depending on the
complimentary to the standard amount of grip pressure that
iron-sight configuration. you apply. I found it to be a
Also noteworthy is that wonderful balance of comfort
the slide features front and and control. The grip con-
rear slide serrations, and a tour feels similar to a micro-
serrated topstrap prevents compact with a longer grip for
glare between the sights while extended capacity, which is
adding a touch of style. The very comfortable to handle. I
metal sights are excellent. would suggest that it feels like
There’s a dot up front and the grip of the SIG Sauer P365
a U-notch rear that’s lightly XL or Springfield Armory
serrated. I could see the RM1C Hellcat Pro, larger than the
getting a night sight in the S&W Shield Plus and smaller
near future, but there won’t be than a Glock 19 Gen5. The
multiple models advertising grip also features a funneled
different upgrades and various magazine well that readily
 NEW

A LEGENDARY
UPGRADE.
ALL-NEW OPTICS PLATE
5-SHOT ACCOMMODATES HOLOSUN
45 COLT OR K-SERIES & SHIELD RMSC
410 SHOTSHELL FOOTPRINTS

STURDY STAINLESS STEEL

FRAME & CYLINDER

TaurusUSA.com
48 G&A | March 2024 | born reAdy

Serrated and textured touchpoints are at the front of the trigger-

guard and just in front of the takedown lever. Textured pads on
the frame are on both sides, serving as a place to rest your finger
while off the trigger or to index your grip with a support thumb.

The steel magazines feature a pair of alignment ribs, and witness

holes marked to 15 rounds on the spine. The extended basepad
increases capacity to 17 rounds. One of each mag are included.

accepts the supplied 15- or 17-plus magazines, which have

the American flag proudly engraved on the basepad.
Not only does the RM1C come with two steel maga-
zines, but it also ships with two additional backstraps,
secured by a rollpin. Allow me to suggest that you only
use a proper roll-pin punch to change backstraps when
searching for that perfect feel. Changing backstraps wasn’t
the easiest procedure for
me, but hopefully you’ll PERFORMANCE ammunition. Grain-
BEST AVG.
only need to do it once. VEL. GROUP GROUP weights spanned 115 to
LOAD (FPS) ES SD
(IN.) (IN.) 147 grains. Then, I fired
AT THE RANGE Magtech 115-gr. FMJ 200 additional rounds
A thousand rounds were of NOVX 65-grain poly-
initially fired through Federal Hydra-Shok Deep 135-gr. JHP 1,074 39 18.9 1.6 2.01 mer projectiles, which
the RM1C with only one traveled at near rifle
hiccup attributed to a NOVX 65-gr. Polymer 1,567 99 41.8 1.98 2.47 velocities. Some pistols
defective cartridge, which do not cycle these light-
Notes: Accuracy is the average of five, five-shot groups at 25 yards from a benchrest.
caused a failure to fire. Velocity is the average of five shots recorded by Labradar placed adjacent to the muzzle.
weight loads reliably,
For those who do most of especially when an optic
their shooting at paper and is mounted to the slide,
steel using cheap 115-grain full-metal-jackets (FMJ), this but the RMC1 produced zero malfunctions.
pistol seemed optimized for range loads. In fact, with two
witnesses — and an active police officer — I fired the most PARTING SHOT
accurate five-shot group I’ll likely ever fire from 25 yards on The Rost Martin RM1C is more accurate, reliable, and
a benchrest during testing. Using Magtech 115-grain FMJ, affordable than it should be for a company’s first-ever
I produced a five-shot hole that measured .94 inch! That offering. The fact that it is U.S.-made by a company in
isn’t to say, “This is what you can expect,” but subsequent Dallas makes me feel as though buying one is supporting
shooting demonstrated that the RM1C is capable of sub- the American job market. The RM1C is a fresh take on the
2-inch groups in the hands of an experienced shooter with striker-fired 9mm with a comprehensive list of features.
quality range ammunition, and sub-3-inch groups using The low-bore axis and grip design help it shoot reason-
heavier duty loads. For an unknown reason, two loads that ably flat, while the hammer-forged barrel provides excel-
Guns & Ammo’s samples did not shoot as well came from lent accuracy, even for a broad range of ammunition. The
Winchester, both featuring projectiles with Hex-Vent. RM1C is advertised as being backed by a lifetime war-
To explore the extent of the pistol’s reliability, I fired ranty, and considering the Toomers’ heritage, that should
several hundred rounds from a mixed bag of left-over test extend to the next generation of freedom lovers.
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50 G&A | March 2024

GET YOUR
 March 2024 | G&A 51

GAME ON
WALTHER’S PDP MATCH STEEL
FRAME IS HERE.
BY JAMES TARR | PHOTOS BY MARK FINGAR
 G&A

WALTHER PDP MATCH

STEEL FRAME
TYPE

CARTRIDGE
CAPACITY 18 1 rds., 20 1 rds.
IF YOU’VE BEEN paying attention, BARREL 5 in.
you knew it was going to happen. Wal- OVERALL
8.4 in.
LENGTH
ther produced a number of different
WIDTH 1.4 in.
variants of the PPQ after it was intro-
HEIGHT 5.9 in.
duced in 2011. The last two were the
WEIGHT 2 lbs., 6.7 oz.
Q5 Match (2018) and Q4 Steel Frame
FINISH Tenifer, matte black (steel)
(2020). Then, Walther reworked the is a longer variation of the duty-size
Polymer panels; Perfor-
PPQ into the PDP (2021), which GRIP
mance Duty Texture
PDP, squarely aimed at the competi-
became Guns & Ammo’s Handgun of 3-dot, polymer, adj. (rear)
tion segment. The Steel Frame version
SIGHTS
the Year for 2021. So, it isn’t a surprise (Glock pattern); optic rdy. sports a few bonus features not found
to me that a new steel-frame was cre- Walther Dynamic Per- on the polymer-framed model.
TRIGGER formance Trigger; 5 lbs.
ated for the PDP. Reviewed here is the (tested)
The standard, full-size PDP is fed
Walther PDP Match Steel Frame, new SAFETY Striker block, trigger lever
by flush 17-round magazines. The
for 2024, but Walther is also offering a polymer-frame version of the PDP
MSRP $1,899
near-identical version with a polymer Match includes one 18-round mag-
frame. One 18-rd. mag., two azine, which also has an aluminum
20-round mags.; one optic
This initial PDP Steel Frame model ACCESSORIES
mounting plate; mag.
basepad that supports proper seating
is a 5-inch “longslide.” It was meant loader; lockable case with the aluminum magwell in place.
for competition. You can expect to see MANUFACTURER
Walther Arms, 479-242- The PDP Match Steel Frame model
8500, waltherarms.com
other steel-framed PDP models more comes with one 18-rounder and two
suitable for concealed carry soon. 20-round magazines.
“PDP,” after all, stands for “Performance Duty Pistol.” The When shooting a pistol in competition, size and weight
photos in the owner’s manual are of a smaller steel-framed are your friends. However, this is the opposite of what
PDP, so the cat’s out of the bag. most people look for in a carry gun. The PDP Match Steel
The PDP is Walther’s current flagship pistol. It has Frame is 8.4 inches long, 5.9 inches tall and feeds from
supplanted the Walther PPQ. Both are based on polymer- either an 18- or 20-round magazine. It’s also 1.4 inches
frame, striker-fired designs. While the PPQ had a great wide at the bilateral slide release. The standard polymer-
run, only the Q-series remains. Remember when the first frame 5-inch PDP, with an empty mag inserted weighs just
PPQ had a paddle lever-style magazine release? Well, the 26.9 ounces; the PDP Match Steel Frame, with magazine
folks at Walther realized that if they wanted to sell pistols and the aluminum magazine well installed, weighs 42.7
in America, they needed to have an American-style button ounces. That’s a difference of nearly a pound!
magazine release, which resulted in the PPQ M2. The con-
tinued advancing that mentality by developing its Perfor- PUTTING THE PPQ BEHIND US
mance Duty Texture, incorporating Glock-pattern sights, First, let me get this out of the way: We can’t talk about the
and standardizing an optics-ready slide. The PDP Match Walther PDP without mentioning that it evolved from the
 get your game on | March 2024 | g&a 53

Once an optional accessory to the outgoing PPQ models, the The trigger return spring is similar to the part found in other PDP
PDP Match Steel Frame features Walther’s Dynamic Performance models, which ensures reliability. Despite the external appear-
Trigger. It’s an aluminum, flat-face trigger with safety lever. ance, the PDP shares several parts with the outgoing PPQ.

The 5-inch steel barrel of the PDP Match Steel Frame is not Slide cuts within the front SuperTerrain Serrations are machined
ported or threaded. Sights are a cost-savings polymer design to maintain the same slide weight as other PDP models. This
based on the Glock pattern, meaning they’re easy to upgrade. keeps slide velocity and the recoil spring assembly the same.

PPQ. The PPQ was a great pistol. It proved reliable and, at Performance Trigger.” (Yes, I know, that’s a ridiculous
the time of its introduction, it offered the best trigger pull of number of acronyms). The DPT has a trigger pull between
any striker-fired, polymer-framed handgun. The PPQ never 41/2 and 5 pounds, reduced travel, a shorter reset, a hand-
had a reputation for being problematic, so Walther took the tuned sear engagement, and a crisper break. The trigger is
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach when designing the aluminum, featuring a straight, flat face and a safety lever
PDP. Externally, the PDP hardly resembles the PPQ. Inter- in the center. The trigger pull of Guns & Ammo’s sample
nally, the PDP is nearly identical though. Many parts even measured 5 pounds, but it was so short and crisp that it
interchange. The PDP retained the PPQ barrel and striker felt even lighter. In truth, the trigger
assembly, as well as the same checkered steel magazine pull of the PDP Match is the closest in
release as the Steel Frame Q-series. The PDP Compact uses character and quality to a 1911 than
the same standard PPQ magazine, too, anything out of a striker-fired gun.
and full-size PDPs use the same PPQ- Just like the PPQ, the PDP has
pattern magazines, only longer. a single-action trigger system; the
The PDP incorporates the Perfor- striker is cocked for every shot. Wal-
mance Duty Trigger (PDT), which ther tends not to advertise it as the
uses trigger components that have the term “single action” since it tends to
same external dimensions as those scare away police administrators.
in the PPQ. However, the takeup has The PDP Match Steel Frame has a
been shortened and the wall has been 5-inch barrel. It is visible through cuts
made more robust for a crisper-feeling in the forward section of the slide, but
break. In the PDP Match Steel Frame, the barrel is not ported. The lighten-
The three-dot polymer sight arrangement
there is an upgraded version of the is mediocre, and it doesn’t co-witness with ing cuts in the slide reduce its weight,
PDT, called the “DPT,” or “Dynamic optics. The rear sight is adjustable, though. and less reciprocating weight equals
54 G&A | March 2024 | Get your GAme on

All PDP models are optic ready and come with a cover plate Looking underneath the PDP Match Steel Frame reveals a
(above, top). A free mounting plate can be requested for a spe- five-slot Picatinny rail for attaching lights. The triggerguard is
cific optic online at waltherarms.com/optic-plate-request. squared, which is compatible with popular accessory backplates.

The slide-lock/release lever is long, low-profile, and easy to use.

In front of it is the takedown lever, rotated up for disassembly.

less felt recoil and muzzle

rise. That is exactly what
you want in a competition may be all you want or
pistol. There’s another rea- need if you intend to run
son for it, as well: Walther an optic. However, they are
designed the PDP to be not what I think anyone
modular. This longslide should expect on a pistol
version uses the same cap- intended for competition
tured recoil spring system — especially at this price.
as the shorter models. With Any serious competitor
the weight removed, the using the PDP Steel Frame
longer slide has the same at USPSA matches — and
weight as a PDP Compact, not using an optic —
so this worked out. would have to replace these
With the PDP, Walther sights. At a minimum, the
The machined checkering on the frontstrap is excellent and
moved to Glock-pattern includes serrations that continue to the magazine funnel and trig- sights on this pistol should
sights, so aftermarket gerguard undercut. Grip panels feature Walther’s PDT texture. be made of steel, and the
options are plentiful. The front sight should be highly
standard front sight is a short post with a small white dot. visible, sporting a fiber-optic insert or something similar.
The rear sight is fully adjustable with white dots on either The biggest visual change between the PPQ and the PDP
side of the notch. Both front and rear sights are polymer, are Walther’s aggressive SuperTerrain slide serrations. They
and somewhat low in profile. are deep. At the front, they curve up and over the top of
Here we arrive at the only complaint I have with the the slide. This is exactly what you want on a competition
PDP Steel Frame. I’ll address it and move on: The factory gun or a gun meant for duty or self-defense. Personally, I
sights work. They are definitely better than nothing, and really like the way they look on every PDP model.
56 G&A | March 2024 | Get your GAme on

one-piece wraparound polymer grip features the Perfor-

mance Duty Texture (PDT) used on the polymer PDP frame.
Because it is a wrap-around grip, the PDP Steel Frame
doesn’t have the replaceable backstraps of the polymer-
framed PDP. The frontstrap of this gun sports aggressive
20 lines-per-inch (lpi) checkering, as does the front of the
triggerguard. It feels as good in the hand as it looks.
As Walther is going after law enforcement sales with the
PDP, Walther designed it to disassemble without having to
pull the trigger. That is now a requirement with a surpris-
ing number of police departments to prevent negligent dis-
charges. After rotating the takedown lever up, you can pull
the trigger to release the slide — or you can lock the slide
back and, using a handcuff
The slide of the PDP is PERFORMANCE key (or similar-size punch),
BEST AVG.
red-dot ready. The rear VEL. GROUP GROUP pop the steel slide cover
LOAD (FPS) ES SD (IN.) (IN.)
sight is not attached to the off and pull the striker
3
optic plate, so you won’t assembly out of the rear.
lose the rear sight if you The slide will then come all
attach an optic. This means the way off the front of the
that mounting tall sights frame.
Notes: Accuracy is the averages of four, five-shot groups at 25 yards from a sandbag
later, for use with a red dot, rest. Velocity is the average of 10 shots measured with an Oehler Model 35P
placed 12 feet in front of the muzzle.
is an option on the Walther AT THE RANGE
PDP Steel Frame. As I mentioned, while it’s
One mounting plate (of your choice) is provided with each got some updated bodywork, inside this pistol are the
pistol. They are mounting plates, though, not adapter plates. ultra-reliable action parts of the PPQ. Between the PPQ
The plate is attached to the slide with screws, and an optic is and PDP, I’ve got years of trigger time. They are bor-
attached to the plate. ingly reliable, and this pistol was no different. With an
As for the steel frame of the PDP, it adds a considerable extra pound of weight added to the frame, felt recoil was
weight. The extra weight reduces felt recoil, sure, but the significantly reduced. The 5-inch barrel will extract every
recoil impulse is a bit sharper and shorter as well. Polymer foot-per-second out of your ammunition.
flexes under recoil, but steel doesn’t. (At least, not enough At my local club, I used the PDP Match to knock down
in a pistol that you’ll be able to detect it.) plate racks, pepper poppers, and work through speed
At the front of the frame is a long, five-slot Picatinny rail drills on USPSA targets. I took the opportunity to test Fed-
for mounting lights or other accessories. The pistol has eral’s new Gold Medal Action Pistol ammunition, as well.
a long slide stop lever on each side, and each one works It was very soft-shooting, although not quite as soft as a
properly as a slide release. The magazine release is a big dedicated 125-Power Factor (PF) handload would be.
checkered steel button, which is also reversible. A lot of high-intensity competition experience behind
Though they appear similar, the contours of the steel various handgun platforms has shown me that heavier guns
frame are slightly altered from the polymer frame. The recoil less (obviously), but they also tend to remain steadier
undercut beneath the triggerguard comes up a bit higher. as you are pulling the trigger. Being a little rough or sloppy
This pistol has a small beavertail at the back, which adds a on the trigger with a light polymer gun can pull your sights
little style. The magazine well opening off the target. That’s much less of an
in the frame is beveled, too. The over- issue with a gun having the weight of
size aluminum magazine well is held the PDP Match Steel Frame.
in place by a roll pin, and is easily While it was intended as a compe-
removed. The sides of the magazine tition piece, the 20-round magazines,
well are relieved so you can grab a and ability to mount a pistol light,
sticky mag by the basepad and pull it make it a viable home-defense hand-
out if the need arises. The grip on this gun, too. To me, the PDP Match SF
pistol is long enough that my fingers has almost a Sci-Fi appearance, and I
don’t touch the magazine well in the like that. It is unusual enough that I
front, and the heel of my hand just wouldn’t be surprised to see Holly-
barely touches it in the back. Magazine basepads protrude from the wood using it onscreen. But perfor-
aluminum magazine well. The magwell is
Unlike with the polymer frame, notched for more purchase when grab- mance is more than skin deep, as it
the grips are a separate piece. The bing the pad. always has been with Walther.
 STILL MAKING HISTORY.

Colt’s CBX Precision

Rifle offers precision, ergonomics,
and customization for competitive shooters. The
CBX’s carbon steel, button-rifled barrel, and flat-bottom receiver
are optimized for ballistic performance and backed with a sub-MOA
accuracy guarantee. Its modular chassis rifle system featuring a user-
adjustable length-of-pull and cheek weld allows a custom shooter CBX PRECISION®
fit. Enhanced with a 15-inch extended forend with an ARCA rail and
M-LOK® slots, angled pistol grip, built-in thumb shelf, QD cups, and
an ambidextrous magazine release, the CBX provides an exceptional
shooting experience.

308 WIN CBX Precision (CBX-HV24CGA-308)

6.5 Creedmoor CBX Precision (CBX-HV26CGA-65C)

COLT.COM
 March 2024 | G&A 59

HROUGH
THE
KING-GLASS
E NX8 2.5-20X50MM IS A RIFLESCOPE
SEASON — AND ALL REASONS.
IG BODDINGTON | STUDIO PHOTOS BY MARK FINGAR

horizon. We weren’t their place, big country with varied habitat. Shots are from
is first morning, short to long, game ranging from small antelope to eland.
ll spotted kudu cows The rifle needed to be accurate and versatile.
way. The rut was on, I asked for a suitable rifle I could use with a rail mount,
e. Sure enough, a then attached the NX8 to a Nightforce tactical mount with
ne horn. medium rings, and stowed it in my locked duffel.
nimals because The 7mm Rem. Mag. might not have been my choice, but
We waited until they it’s a versatile cartridge with ammo readily available. The
began a stalk. rifle, fitted with a South African suppressor, was nearly new.
e top, and worked The beauty of the rail system is its simplicity and universality.
dus were still there, I landed in Port Elizabeth at midday, and we drove an hour
h at 380 yards. to Frontier’s main lodge and settled. Then, I popped the
n the backline. The scope onto the rifle and was on the range by late afternoon.
ble, with the cow Bore-sighted, I was on paper at short range immediately.
cow cleared and he I only made a few adjustments, then shot some gongs.
reathed and waited. Everything looked good, and the light was going, so we
later, the one-horned called it a day and shot that kudu the next morning.
pot. One more Flukes can be good as well as bad, and success can mask
dy, and I started the problems. The kudu went straight down, but my hit was
racks. left of where I’d held. On the way back to camp, I missed
an impala at about the same distance; it’s a much smaller
target and Burchell called it off to the left. This time, I
d hundreds of rifles knew it wasn’t the hold.
ke this. My scope Frontier has an awesome range across a deep valley. Steel
hours earlier. The plates ascend the opposite ridge to 900 yards. After lunch,
0x50mm F1. The we headed back to it. Sure enough, the rifle was shooting
00 Sendero in 7mm left. I zeroed at 200, and then verified the 300-yard hold. I
pe and a scheduled did the math and verified turret adjustments to 600 yards,
ntier Safaris in which was far enough for me. My guess is we’d been hasty
the night before while trying to beat sundown. For the rest
an accurate rifle, of the safari there were zero misses for shots from 150 to
ting. On this trip, beyond 500 yards.
here in Africa, and
urchell is a friend, THE NX8
s. I’ve hunted with Today, we are blessed with great optics. Nightforce is one
n guys, and I know of the brands with a following found among military,
60 g&a | March 2024 | through the looking-glass

The left turret contains the battery for the illuminated reticle. The All Nightforce controls feature a signature knurling, including the
left turret is also used for adjusting parallax. ocular focus ring. Ahead of it is the adjustable magnification dial.

precision, and tactical shooters — as it’s smaller than the 56mm objectives
NIGHTFORCE
well as long-range hunters. The NX8 NX8 2.5-20X50MM F1 often seen on other scopes.
family of scopes offers an amazing POWER
I mounted this scope on several
8X-zoom capability. OBJECTIVE
rifles. With medium rings, neither eye
For decades, 3X-zoom was the norm TUBE DIAMETER
relief nor clearance were issues. It was
and seemingly technology’s limit. Then ELEVATION
just a matter of popping it into place
came 4X, 5X, then six, and now eight ADJUSTMENT and tightening the nuts. Optics are
times zoom. The latter offers a low WINDAGE edge-to-edge clear across the magni-
setting for fast, close shots, plus high RETICLE fication range, too. In Africa, I would
magnification for enough “extreme LENGTH need to take several shots in fading
range.” Launched in 2017, the initial WEIGHT light, but brightness was never an
NX8 family group was small; there are EYE RELIEF issue for the NX8.
just six scopes, two each in 1-8x24mm, MSRP The NX8 is an exceptionally
2.5-20x50mm, and 4-32x50mm. “F1” MANUFACTURER
complete modern riflescope; if there’s
designates the reticle in first focal plane anything else a serious shooter might
(FFP). Both 1-8x24 scopes are F1, need, I can’t think of it. The left turret
one with a capped elevation turret, the other not. The 2.5- houses the CR2032 battery for the illuminated reticle, and
20x50mm and 4-32x50mm scopes are offered in both F1 turning it controls brightness. It dial also has a parallax
(FFP) and second focal plane (SFP) versions. All use 30mm adjustment ring. Left and right (windage) turrets have
tubes, and all have illuminated reticles. heavily knurled caps, a Nightforce signature. The elevation
Nightforce is a premium brand and thus their products turret does not have a cap on this model; at first glance
are not “budget” options. That’s okay. Folks who want the this mystified me. It must have a solid zero stop, right?
best glass reckon optics “cost nothing and weigh nothing” I ended up giving in and reading the directions. Nightforce
— because of what they enable. The good news: The NX8 supplies a handy three-way tool with all the Allen wrenches
line is still a Nightforce, with a price that’s considerably you’ll need. After zeroing, use the tool to remove the adjust-
lower than its tactical and competition models. ment cap. Loosen four screws on the upper clutch plate
The Nightforce scope I’ve been using is the 2.5-20x50mm beneath, rotate it clockwise until it stops. Tighten the screws,
F1 with MOA reticle. Finish is matte black, but Flat Dark replace the cap with zero lined up at the rear of the turret,
Earth (FDE) is also available. With a 12-inch length and and tighten its two Allen screws. Now we’ve got a zero stop.
weighing 28.3 ounces, it isn’t small. However, it is trim for Clicks are .25 MOA or .1 MRAD. Zeroing, shooting
this level of capability, enabled by the 50mm objective. Yet, groups, and both on the range and in the field, the adjust-
 through the looking-glass | March 2024 | g&a 61

Nightforce supplies a convenient multi-tool featuring all Allen To set the zero stop, remove the elevation cap, loosen the four
bits needed. Use the tool to install the extended power lever, or, screws on the upper clutch plate, rotate it clockwise until it
as Nightforce has labeled it, the “Power Throw Lever,” or PTL. stops, then retighten the screws and install the cap.

Nightforce is no stranger. I used one back in the mid-

1990s when the brand appeared from Australia, even
before Lightforce became Nightforce. The NX8 is a state-
of-the-art riflescope. Not every shooter needs its capability.
For those who do, they make one heck of a scope.

FIRST OR SECOND FOCAL PLANE?

Nightforce offers the choice of a first (FFP) and second
focal plane (SFP). This has nothing to do with the brand
or the “NX8” moniker. It’s a useful discussion because pur-
chasers must choose. Mechanically, FFP places the reticle
in front of the erector system, which changes magnifica-
tion. SFP places it behind. The choice doesn’t matter to
The cap securing the elevation turret cap uses two stainless-steel optical clarity or field of view; it matters in use. With FFP,
set screws to guard the zero-stop. the reticle visually shrinks and expands as magnification
changes. With SFP, the reti-
ments proved consistent cle stays the same size.
and repeatable, enabling me Many competition and
to move the bullet strike long-range shooters insist
around at will. Internally, FFP is the way to go. In
the scope offers 110 MOA one sense, it is. If the reticle
of elevation adjustment (80 has windage or elevation
MOA for windage). At the hashmarks, they are valid at
base of the rear turret are all magnification settings in
markings, showing if you’re an FFP scope. In SFP, they
past one full revolution. are valid at only one mag-
The magnification ring nification setting, usually
With the zero stop set, the elevation turret only turns count-
is knurled and easy to er-clockwise. The horizontal marks at the base of the turret the maximum. For hunters,
grasp, but it can seem stiff. indicate how many revolutions it has been rotated. this is not good. Because of
Also supplied separately the narrower field of view,
is an extended magnification lever, in Nightforce parlance, mirage, or too much magnification up close, we often don’t
“Power Throw Lever” (PTL). I didn’t install it at first, but use maximum.
soon did. As shipped, the power adjustment ring is tapped So, FFP must be the way to go, right? No, not for me!
(on this scope, at the 8X setting) for the PTL. Use the Night- I hunt a variety of game under differing conditions; my
force tool to remove the guard screw, then screw in the PTL. shots vary widely in range. With FFP, at lower magnifi-
My initial resistance was born from thinking that this would cation, the reticle is so small that it’s hard to see. At high
just be another projection on the scope, but I was wrong. magnification, the reticle is so large that it can obscure too
The PTL made changing magnification faster and easier. much of the target, especially if it contains multiple hash-
Also, it provides a quick visual for the current setting. marks or a grid system.
 62 G&A | March 2024 | throuGh the lookinG-GlAss

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without complex math. Note: If you snipers, though. With a dial-up turret,
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• 1916-1947 Liberty Walking Half Dollar –

focal plane is meaningless; turret to this old hunter beyond the hori-
values do not change. zontal and vertical crosswires.
• 1859-1909 Indian Head Cent –

At the intersection of the crosshairs

• 1913-1938 Buffalo Nickel –
• 1916-1945 Mercury Dime –

WHICH RETICLE? was a tiny dot. It’s visible to shooters

Nightforce offers reticle choices, some half my age, but was invisible to me.
simple, some complex. The MOA Whether shooting groups or shoot-
reticle on Guns & Ammo’s test scope ing at game, I had to ignore the real
had major crosshairs with hashmarks aiming point and concentrate on
for windage and elevation. I called it a holding in the center, between where
“Christmas tree”; below is a windage the solid crosshairs ended. I prefer a
and elevation grid. I suppose all might visible, central aiming point, even if it
(Dates our
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The adjustments were consistent and
repeatable. With an accurate rifle, the
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NX8 on a rifle in 7mm PRC; 1 and 2 MOA
adjustments were tested between shots.

subtends some of the target. Our eyes

work around that but cannot focus on
a dot smaller than visual acuity allows.
The illuminated reticle greatly
mitigates this. To Nightforce’s undying
credit, the illumination system lights
up the vertical and horizontal wires,
as well as the small dot. Whether
in bright or low light, the glowing
crosswires draw the eye to the center,
greatly speeding target acquisition. It’s
awesome on dark targets, whether a
black bullseye or shadowed animal.
However, the illumination control is
one more thing to manipulate while a
nervous animal contemplates fleeing.
There won’t always be time to employ
it. For hunting, choose a reticle with a
visible aiming point.

LOTS OF SHOOTING
I probably wouldn’t have chosen a
7mm Rem. Mag., or the ammo on
hand, but when you shoot a camp
gun, you shoot what’s available.
Burchell had Sierra’s 150-grain Tipped
GameKing load. With zebra and large
antelopes possible, I’d have preferred
a heavier and tougher bullet. Beggars
can’t be choosers. With careful shot
placement, we made them work and
had no problems. We culled several
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64 G&A | March 2024 | throuGh the lookinG-GlAss

Magnum. This rifle has an rets. I had him, but going

interrupted integral rail. It dead away. It was not the
took seconds to install the shot with this bullet and
scope; zeroing it took only cartridge in the chamber.
three shots. Tight groups They went on into some
are a credit to the rifle, but bush on the far skyline,
a good scope always helps. hesitated, then came out
Right now, I have it on a one at a time.
Mossberg Patriot in 7mm The bull stepped out, clear
PRC. The pair is a great and quartering away. Darn it,
match. With the Nightforce I can make that shot — but
NX8, I can move its bullets I did. Only then I remem-
anywhere I want. bered what I’d hit him with
and I started to worry.
A heavy-horned greater kudu was taken at long range in fading
LAST LIGHT, LAST CHANCE light at the end of the author’s 2023 South African safari. The Etienne stayed by the
As the days passed in Nightforce NX8 in 2.5-20x50 was used on an M700 in 7mm. sticks to signal us. It was
Africa, I was still hoping almost dark by the time
for a good kudu. Frontier Safaris has plenty, but big kudus we got to him. We spread out over the crest and started
aren’t easy to find. We glassed many ridges and passed on down. Running tracks were on the ground; maybe it was
a lot of immature bulls. It was clear down to the end, with him. I found the first blood, but not because I was the
us checking one last spot just as the sun set. best tracker. Then, we found good blood. Burchell saw
Young Etienne saw them first, cows coming up out of a him first. He was down maybe 80 yards over the top. He
canyon. Burchell put up the sticks. Sure enough, a good, was old with wonderfully heavy horns. It was maybe my
mature kudu bull trailed. Running, stopping, gaining best Eastern Cape kudu. We always need a good shot
distance. They slowed on the following ridge, but with an accurate rifle but, in that light at that range, I
were now past 400. On sticks, I dialed the scope’s tur- needed a great scope like the NX8.
66 G&A | March 2024

SPEC’D
SMITH & WESSON’S PERFORMANCE CENTER
BUILDS THE METAL-FRAME M&P SPEC SERIES
FOR GO-FAST GURUS.
 March 2024 | G&A 67

FORBY JOE KURTENBACH | PHOTOS BY MARK FINGAR

SPEED
68 G&A | March 2024 | spec’d for speed

The most distinctive feature on the 2023

Spec Series M&P Metal 2.0 is the Faxon
compensator and the Cerakote O.D.
finish. Enhancements are both aesthetic
and functional.

SMITH & WESSON 2023

SPEC SERIES M&P METAL M2.0
TYPE
CARTRIDGE
CAPACITY

IN 2023, Guns & Ammo awarded BARREL

Smith & Wesson the title “Innova- OVERALL LENGTH
tor of the Year” for recent intro- WIDTH
ductions including the Folding HEIGHT
Pistol Carbine (FPC) as well as the WEIGHT
versatile Response Pistol-Caliber
Carbine (PCC). The company also MATERIALS For 2023, the Spec Series
launched the easy-to-use Equalizer team expanded the coalition to
9mm pistol, along with myriad FINISH include the go-fast folks from
new chamberings and configura- Smith & Wesson’s Performance
SIGHTS
tions across its pistol, revolver, and Center. Traditionally, the Per-
rifle lines. Among those, G&A’s TRIGGER formance Center has offered
staff was most impressed with MSRP tuned firearms with a higher
Smith & Wesson’s Tempo barrel MANUFACTURER
degree of fit and finish, as well
system, which facilitated the devel- as additional feature sets. Best
opment of both the M&P 5.7 and known for competition-oriented
M&P 22 Magnum pistols. Taken as a whole, it’s clear the upgrades for handguns and rifles, the Performance Center
company is dedicated to pushing ballistic boundaries and is also home to upgraded sight packages for defensive
delivering interesting products to its customers. and hunting handguns, longer and shorter barrel options
So, if Smith & Wesson is a center for firearm develop- for pursuit-specific platforms, and modifications such as
ment and innovation, consider the 2023 Spec Series offer- barrel porting, muzzlebrakes and slide-lightening cuts. The
ings the company’s “Skunkworks” projects. A lab within a Performance Center’s influence is obvious in the 2023 Spec
lab, Spec Series design ideas come not just from the R&D Series M&P9 Metal M2.0. Let’s break it down.
team, but from the sales force, team shooters, professional
users, and customer requests. Under the Spec Series flag, THE SPEC’S SPECS
standard model firearms are modified and tuned to better Smith & Wesson’s Military & Police (M&P) products date
fit a specific purpose. The gun is packaged with some back to 1899 when the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy placed
chachkies, including knives and challenge coins, along orders for the company’s .38-caliber Model 10 revolver.
with more practical accessories such as custom-cut hard Since then, the M&P brand has become synonymous with
cases and extra magazines. A limited number are produced ruggedly reliable, duty-ready firearms. In 2005, the first
and put into circulation, adding to the line’s mystique. polymer-frame, striker-fired M&P pistols were introduced
The 2022 Spec Series was an enhanced M&P Compact and, in 2017, the lineup received the comprehensive
pistol, featuring suppressor-height sights, a threaded barrel “M2.0” overhaul with notable improvements to the trigger,
and the CORE optics mounting system. It wore a distinct grip texture, and the accuracy of the barrels.
gray Cerakote finish and was easy to configure for carry, Evolution continued and, through time, the pistol’s
range use or home defense, accepting both slide-mounted articulated triggers were replaced by flat-faced units
red dots as well as suppressors or muzzle devices. It was a with central safety levers. Other aspects were tweaked
neat package for about $800. and modified, but in my opinion the two most notable
 spec’d for speed | March 2024 | G&A 69

The Faxon compensator diverts gases up like a booster to push

the muzzle down during recoil. Lightening cuts in the slide offset Four magazines come with the 2023 Spec Series, two 17-round-
the added weight of the comp to ensure reliability. ers and two extended 23-round mags.

advancements were the inclusion of during recoil. The net result is that
the Competition Optics Ready Equip- the bore axis remains flatter as the
ment (CORE) optic-mounting system action cycles, making it easier and
as standard equipment (for most faster to reacquire sights and make
models) and the development of the follow-on shots.
heavier and more rigid T6-aluminum So, why doesn’t every handgun
frame. Compared to the 27-ounce utilize a compensator? There are a
polymer-frame M2.0 Full Size model lot of moving parts in a tilt-barrel
(i.e., empty mag and no optics), pistol, and reliable cycling is all about
the “Metal” pistol weighs about balancing the weights and interactions
30 ounces. Although it’s a modest of those components with the rela-
increase, the aluminum frame’s added tively diminutive power produced by
heft and reduced flexibility to better a centerfire handgun cartridge. Any
absorb recoil, resulting in a flatter- Controls include an M&P flat-faced trig- changes — such as an ounce of metal
ger, a reversible magazine release, bilat-
and faster-shooting platform. eral slide stop/release lever and a left-side added to the muzzle — can throw
A brief aside regarding Smith & takedown lever. that balance off and negatively impact
Wesson’s CORE mounting system: reliability. That’s why compensators
The company has taken some flak for its polymer mounting and slide lightening cuts often go hand-in-hand, as they do
plates, as well as with its optic-ready pistols. What naysay- with the 2023 Spec Series gun. Yes, they look cool, but the
ers don’t understand is that the plates are just spacers and practical reason for cutting ports and windows into a pis-
seals, not mounting surfaces. The CORE mounting screws tol’s slide was to reduce weight and increase slide velocity
pass through the optic body and the mounting plate to affix during recoil. When accessories such as optics and comps
directly to the slide. In my experience, Smith & Wesson’s are added, the operating system remains in tolerance.
solution is superior to typical plate-style multi-optic mount- For the 2023 Spec Series, the lightening cuts take the
ing systems, which often mount a plate to the slide first and form of bilateral windows beneath the front sight and a
then attach the optic to the plate. longer rounded rectangle cutout is on top of the slide,
The base platform for the 2023 Spec Series pistol is the behind the front sight. Too, the front and rear cocking
full-size M2.0 Metal, and its most prominent new feature serrations are cut to a different pattern than the typical
is the muzzle-mounted compensator. Designed by Faxon M&P fare. The forward serrations are full height, for one,
Firearms (faxonfirearms.com) in collaboration with the and, rather than the scalloped design we’re used to, the
Performance Center, the comp screws onto the gun’s 4.8- Spec Series uses straight, forward-angled ridges. Rounding
inch, ½-28 threaded barrel and is secured in place by a out the slide’s features, it is optic-ready, as mentioned, and
locking screw. The compensator features one large top-side the sights are tall for co-witnessing with red dots. Whereas
port as well as two small, angled side ports. When a round three-white-dot metal sights are the standard M&P offer-
is fired, pressurized gases propel the bullet down and out ing, the Spec Series has upgraded night sights with green
of the barrel, and escape the same way. Rather than simply tritium lamps surrounded by white outlines.
letting the gas go, the compensator diverts it through the Moving to the frame, being a full-size gun, the grip
ports, primarily upward. Like a booster, the gas vented accepts standard 17-round 9mm M&P magazines. Two
upward drives the front of the gun down, countering the come with the pistol, along with two extended 23-round
muzzle rise from the rapid rearward movement of the slide mags. The dustcover sports a three-slot Picatinny rail for
 l

reversible magazine release, bilateral slide releases, and metal frame gun, and almost anyone can quickly become
a left-side takedown lever. Interestingly, the M&P Metal comfortable with the M&P’s 18-degree grip angle. Between
utilizes two polymer inserts in the frontstrap and backstrap the weight and the aggressive texture of the front- and
to provide texture and purchase. The rear unit is the same backstrap inserts, the pistol felt well-anchored in my grasp.
interchangeable palmswell insert as used in all M2.0 M&Ps, Normally, I conduct my accuracy testing first and then
and a total of four are included with the gun to fit a range move on to practical shooting exercises. I had to reverse
of hand sizes: Small, Medium, Medium/Large, and Large. my plan for the Spec Series because it just begged to be
Besides the compensator, the gun’s most noticeable attri- shot fast. It’s a gun that looks like it’s built to run, and I
bute is its color: Green. Distinct Cerakote finishes are one wanted to see how it performed at speed. Shooting several
of the ways the Spec Series guns stand out. The previous runs of the classic Bill Drill (i.e., six shots to the “A” zone
model featured a hip Bull Shark Gray finish, and now the at 7 yards), the Spec Series proved to be a sprinter. A good
2023 model wears classic Olive Drab (OD). Bill Drill for me is usually between 21/2 and 3 seconds. I hit
Besides the gun, grip inserts and magazines, the Spec a 2.53 cold with the Spec Series and got down to 2.23 on
Series package includes a thread protector, should users subsequent runs. Similar results followed with plate racks,
prefer to remove the compensator; the CORE system of Failure Drills, etcetera. The gun shoots fast.
plates and screws; a karambit-style knife with 21/4-inch Its weight, ergonomics and compensator definitely
blade and kydex sheath; a commemorative challenge coin played a big part in keeping the slide flat between shots
engraved with a likeness of the pistol on the front and the and minimizing the effects of recoil. I also can’t discount
2023 Spec Series logo on the reverse; and, finally, a large the aid of the Trijicon RCR; it has a
polymer carry case with custom-cut foam to hold and big window for an enclosed optic
display everything. and I was easily able to track the dot
Overall, it’s a neat package, but during multi-shot strings. I was also
here’s where it gets desirable: The impressed by the trigger, which was
MSRP is $899. The going-price for consistently 4 pounds, 12 ounces. It
a Faxon compensator is $85. Slide was at least a few ounces lighter than
lightening cuts and a set of tall night most stock striker-fired pistols. There
sights would conservatively cost about is a little bit of the usual grit, but it’s a
$100, each. So, not counting the gun’s clean and predictable trigger.
finish, the extra magazines, the knife Having proved the Spec Series is
or the coin, I’d value the Spec Series ready to race, it was time to put it
pistol around $1,200; I wouldn’t have on the bags to evaluate its precision.
Three-dot night sights are tall enough to
been surprised by an MSRP approach- provide some cowitness capability with For testing, I chose a range of bullet
ing $1,300. Instead, Smith & Wesson most red-dot optics. weights and ammunition types,
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72 G&A | March 2024 | spec’d for speed

recoil, but given the added weight of the Faxon comp and
Trijicon sight, there wasn’t enough power to reliably cycle
the Spec Series’ action. The lightweight Lehigh load strug-
gled, too, but I was able to limp through G&A’s protocol
testing with a handful of failure-to-feed stoppages. On the
other hand, the Hornady and Remington loads produced
no issues. It’s very common for tuned and compensated
pistols to exhibit ammunition preferences, so I would
simply advise using loads with standard bullet weights
and standard or +P velocities in the 2023 Spec Series M&P
Metal.
Overall, accuracy was excellent and on par with mod-
ern, optically sighted striker-fired pistols. The average
of all 15 five-shot groups
PERFORMANCE
including Hornady Critical fired was 1.99 inches. A
BEST AVG.
Defense 135-grain FTX; VEL GROUP GROUP decade ago, that level of
LOAD (FPS) ES SD (IN.) (IN.)
Remington UMC 124-grain accuracy would have been
FMJ; Lehigh Defense 90- reserved for custom-built
grain Xtreme Defense (XD) handguns. Today, we expect
— a machined, solid cop- Notes: Velocity is the average of 10 shots measured by a Labradar chronograph offset
production pistols to shoot
per bullet — and a custom 6 inches from the muzzle. Accuracy is the average of five, five-shot groups fired at 25 better than 3-inch groups,
yards from bag rests using a Trijicon RCR sight.
competition/training load especially with a red-dot
from Wilson Combat. It sight mounted. Still, it was
quickly became apparent that the Spec Series had a strong a strong showing from the Spec Series and confirmation
preference for full-power, standard-weight loads. The Wil- that, when you let shooters design a gun, the results are
son competition ammo is intentionally loaded to lighten going to be impressive.

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74 G&A | March 2024

THE FITZ
SPECIALJOHN HENRY FITZGERALD’S
COLTS WERE THE FIRST
MODERN COMBAT REVOLVERS.
BY GARRY JAMES | PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHILIP SCHREIER
March 2024 | G&A 75
76 G&A | MARCH 2024 | THE FITZ SPECIAL

An original Fitz S
altered from a C
made around 19
typical bobbed h
triggerguard see
Henry FitzGerald

matchlocks that
intricate works rel-
welry of the nobility.
n improved degree
hat one would
carry” today.
of the flintlock
y 1600s at last ful-
of smaller, lighter
d be comfortably
rne on the person.
y large-caliber,
ndguns of that
sto y o pe so a p otect o a s d spos t o e e ged from gunmakers’
through the past few centuries. In the workshops during the flintlock’s hey-
14th century, despite innovations, day. There were drawbacks though.
formative, awkward handgonnes’ Firepower could be increased to a
general inefficiency relegated them degree by the addition of added bar-
almost to the novelty category. The rels, but at the cost of mobility. Too,
heavy lifting by gunpowder arms, the device’s sparking ignition arrange-
even in warfare, was principally ment, even in the finest firearms, was
provided by various types of cumber- not as dependable in a life-or-death
some cannons at the time. situation as a combatant might wish,
A copy of the Colt factory letter attesting
When true pistols first made to the authenticity of the “Fitz Special” and the vertical cock-and-steel com-
an appearance around 1500 A.D., .38 Special featured in this article. ponents of the lock were anything but
though intended primarily as com- discrete. They could be miniaturized
bat arms, the complicated wheellock mechanisms, by the and be more comfortably carried, but then power usually
nature of the size and number of components involved, suffered.
initially made employing guns anything but easy to carry When the percussion system became manifest in the
on the person. early 19th century, reliability and convenience were
True, wheellocks were a large step forward from the improved — but only marginally at first. While awkward
78 G&A | MARCH 2024 | THE FITZ SPECIAL

multiple-shot pist
the market, the u
ited to one or two
enough caliber, an
The first really p
1835/’36 by Samu
allowed this techn
take a turn for the
His early Paterson
shooters, though i
carry and firepow
far from perfect du
general delicate co
and hidden pop-out trigger the Pocket sold in enough
arrangement. Add to this numbers to finally put Colt
the so-so ballistics afforded in the black, and, at the
by the .28 to .36 calibers, same time, solidified the
in which various styles concept of small, totable
were offered, they were John Henry FitzGerald as depicted on his New York con- repeaters.
greeted with a lukewarm cealed-carry license, issued on June 6, 1924. As the self-contained car-
public reception. tridge gained pre-eminence
Colt attempted to correct these faults by designing the versus percussion, so did the types, shapes and styles of
more robust, larger-caliber Walker and Dragoon revolvers, revolvers made to take advantage of this more user-friendly
but as they were far from easy to carry on the person, his development. Calibers were universally increased, as was
fortunes continued to wane. As chance would have it, stopping power. Initially, the single-action held sway,
the stars aligned. In 1849, Colt introduced his .31-caliber but by the third quarter of the 1800s, the double-action
Pocket Model, a happenstance that fortuitously coin- overtook its lead and became the mechanism of choice for
cided with the discovery of gold in California the year self-protection arms. Carry guns of varying sizes, barrel
before. Hardy Argonauts headed for the West Coast were lengths and chamberings abounded. The introduction
well-heeled enough to afford them; they now had access of more powerful smokeless powder added positively to
to a handy, trustworthy self-protection gun. Though its the mélange. By the early part of the 20th century, fine,
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80 G&A | MARCH 2024 | THE FITZ SPECIAL

t e best s g e act o ,
struggled with double
To accommodate a shorter barrel, it is not
action (DA). The firm’s first uncommon for the ejector-rod head to be
foray into the field, the removed on Fitz Special New Services.
Model 1877 “Lightning”
and the larger Model 1878
“Frontier,” while hand-
some, well-made prod-
ucts, contained hidden
flaws. Though possessed
of glitchy mechanisms,
the two revolvers fared
reasonably well in the
marketplace, continuing in
production for a number
of years. Their success, as
One ejects spent cases from a Fitz in the
well as that of the repeaters normal manner employed with a swing-
of rival companies, encour- out cylinder revolver.
aged Colt to move ahead
and offer other similar gun. Harboring inherent flaws, the
wares. Though the hammers have been bobbed, if one is AN quickly underwent a number of
dexterous, they can be cocked and fired in single-ac-
Its next DA, the swing- tion mode. One must exercise considerable care upgrades of varying severity, resulting
out cylinder Model 1889 when manually lowering the hammer, however. in no less than six versions between
Navy, was followed by 1892 and 1903. Finally, production of
the similar New Model Army & Navy (AN). The AN was the revolver was terminated in 1907; the flawed revolver
a handsome piece featuring a swing-out cylinder and, was ultimately jettisoned by the U.S. military in favor of
despite its tepid .38 Colt chambering, authorities decided the infinitely superior Colt Model 1911 pistol.
to adopt it as the United States’ principal service hand- Colt finally hit double-action platinum with the 1898
 AL

mber of law
of the New
arliest propo-
among other
k, “Shooting”

ald intro-
me his
at least among
llectors: The
roponent of
e of draw and
manufactured until 1944 in a score of concealment, he reconfigured a .38
calibers, from .38 Colt to .476 Eley. It Special Colt Police Positive revolver
would see military and police service by bobbing its barrel to that length,
with the United States, Canada, Great and further improved its handling by
Britain — and others — in two World reconfiguring the grip, bobbing its
Wars, as well as between and beyond. hammer and cutting away the front
Colt was now in its DA stride. By of the triggerguard to provide quicker
1930, it had added to its lineup an trigger access. At the time, none
impressive selection of DA swing-out of these features were particularly
revolvers of service caliber. Note- unusual, however, FitzGerald was the
worthy among them were the Army first to assemble them in one, abbrevi-
Special, Official Police, Police Positive A Colt factory letter affirms Fitz’s own- ated, handy package.
and Officers Model. These became the ership of the New Service seen on this Soon this novel revolver began
page. Interestingly, though made in 1917,
go-to sidearms of police and civilians, it was shipped in 1944, the year of his drawing the attention of law enforce-
and would have long life spans. While death. ment officials and discerning shoot-
reliable and offered in effective cham- ers. With a few tweaks, it actually led
berings, one man felt they could be improved for combat directly to the development and production by Colt of the
purposes. famed Detective Special.
Fitz Special revolvers, always custom items, were made
COLT’S ADVOCATE by Colt using primarily New Service, Police Positive and
John Henry FitzGerald was born in Manchester, New Detective Special models as basic platforms. It is said, “Fitz
Hampshire, around 1870. In his youth, he developed was always armed with a brace of his altered .45 New
an all-abiding interest in firearms, and as he grew older Service revolvers concealed within pockets in the front of
he became highly adept as a competition and exhibition his trousers.”
shooter, as well as an expert in the general composition, During the heyday of the Fitz Special, versions of the
form and management of handguns. gun were carried by the eminent and notorious, including
A huge fan of the Colt revolver, especially the aforemen- such figures as aviator Charles Lindberg, actor William
tioned New Service, “Fitz,” as he came to be known, was Powell, combat expert Col. Rex Applegate, and desper-
described by one associate as “… the fastest man on the ado Clyde Barrow. Currently, a Fitz Special is the favored
draw I ever saw.” His acumen soon garnered the attention sidearm of NYPD Police Commissioner “Frank Reagan” as
of the Colt Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company, portrayed by Tom Selleck in the popular television series
which hired him as a salesman and spokesman for the “Blue Bloods.”
firm. His talents also extended to the shop floor where he It is not known how many Fitz Special revolvers were
was adept at improving designs and contriving new ones. produced prior to FitzGerald’s death in 1944. Estimates
As well as devising the now well-known Colt Police Sil- range from 50 or 60 to around 200, but records are
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84 G&A | March 2024 | the fitz speciAl

With the exception of ease of thumb-cocking its bobbed hammer, the author found the
shooting characteristics of the Fitz Special almost identical to those of a regular Colt
Detective Special.

The best 3-inch group was shot offhand

at 7 yards using 158-grain Remington-
Peters round-nose lead cartridges in a
Fitz Special made from a Colt Detective
Special. Performance was similar to that of
an unaltered 1935 Colt Detective Special
used for control during testing.

sketchy. Today, an authenticated Fitz

Special can easily bring in the lower In 1930, FitzGerald wrote “Shooting,” a
five figures. If offered one, the buyer book covering shooting competition and
should definitely beware because cop- combat shooting techniques. It also high-
lighted his modified “Fitz” Colt combat
ies of this unique revolver were even revolvers.
made during the inventor’s lifetime —
and are still being fabricated. May 22, 1933. It is blue with standard
checkered Detective Special-style
SHOOTING THE “FITZ” grips.
For this article, we were fortunate to The owner of this valuable piece
have an original Fitz Special based on graciously allowed us to fire it,
a Detective Special, which, according though, because of the gun’s worth,
to its factory letter, was produced on I was loathe to give it my usual
April 26, 1932, and was shipped on rigorous going-over, deciding to be
 the fitz special | March 2024 | G&a 85

content with firing offhand three cylinders-full of vintage

Remington-Peters 158-grain cartridges. My chosen range
was a combat distance of 7 yards.
The DA triggerpull measured a smooth 111/2 pounds
with single-action coming in at 31/2 pounds. All groups
were made in double-action. As an aside, we did try
manually cocking the hammer; I found that in order to
access its spur-less top, it was necessary to slightly pull
the trigger to retract the hammer and provide enough of
a purchase point. This is certainly not the safest, most
efficient arrangement, but I doubt Fitz really intended his
Special to be deliberately fired all that much.
The open triggerguard did allow for easy trigger
ingress. Though my actual handling of the revolver was
attenuated, it led me to wonder if this trigger and trig-
gerguard configuration would be quite as prone to acci-
dental discharge as some shooters have charged. More
experience would be necessary for a definitive judgment.
After running through a few rounds, it felt like old home
week. The gun had virtually identical handling charac-
teristics as those of a 1935 “Dick Special” I have in my
collection. It was pleasant and easy to control with groups
running from 3 inches to 4¼ inches, slightly high and to
the right. Like most Colts of this period, it is a class act.
I’m sure Fitz would not have been surprised, nor would he
have expected anything less.
PRIVATE COLLECTION

Fitz, ever the entrepreneur, for a time mar-

keted a gun solvent from his Connecticut
home, in addition to other firearm ventures.
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C ON N E C T

Long-distance shooting is easier to jump into.

HAVE
YOU
TRIED
T YET? What stood out to me,
The 6mm ARC cartridge is incredibly effective at long range, even in
G-RANGE SHOOTING a gas gun such as the AR-15. Scan the QR code to learn why the U.S. both in the classroom and
e a tricky subject to military wants this round. on the range, was the pride
people. Ballistic Editor that Leupold’s engineers
done some substantial and equipped with Leupold Mark 5HD took in their optics. Each strike on
o e pa g the math that goes 5-25x56mm scopes. We also tested steel signified that their designs
into making sure a bullet arrives at the some ARs chambered in 6mm ARC. could enable performance at the
right location, and the barriers of entry The 6.5 Creedmoor is an excellent farthest ranges, penetrating the limits
into the sport have gradually shrunk. cartridge to get into the sport. It has of what’s possible with commercial
New gear, tutorials, ammunition, been getting progressively more products.
and rifles can be acquired with less affordable to shoot 6.5 CM with its Field Editor Joseph von Benedikt
expense; no custom guns, loads, or 80-cents-per-round price rivaling the created an introductory guide to long-
on-the-fly math are needed. .30-’06 Springfield. A tougher round to range shooting that covers the basics.
In August 2023, Leupold invited me find is the 6mm ARC, but I understand Read it at gunsandammo.com.
out for a full factory tour at its Port- why U.S. Special Forces wanted it.
land headquarters and a long-range Repeatedly hitting steel at 700 yards TOP COMMENTS
shooting class at its private range near with an AR is a new experience for me.
Madres, Oregon. You can expect to The Hornady 4DOF app was used
read more about the factory tour at extensively used during training, which
gunsandammo.com. In this column, I’ll is free to download. It gave consistent
focus on my time at the range. There, windage and elevation guidelines
Hornady and Seekins Precision joined based on the ballistic and environmen-
us to demonstrate a few of its extreme- tal data fed into it. Additionally, any
range offerings. With targets placed factory-loaded Hornady ammo used
from 100 to 1,600 yards, attendees with the app can draw on doppler-
received more than a fair amount of radar testing, which Hornady per-
long-range practice. Seekins’ repre- formed on its cartridges.
sentatives brought along their HIT Pro
rifles chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor,

SOUND OFF
Respond to articles, find community and join the conversation in the Guns & Ammo forums and by engaging with us on social media:
Guns & Ammo Magazine @gunsandammomag @GunsAndAmmoMag gaeditor@outdoorsg.com
 SPE NT CASE S

Guns are back in the news.

ASE NOTES
OVEMBER 2023, a U.S. District Court judge blocked tling cancer — pled guilty to federal charges related to a
cement of ATF Rule 2021R-08F, better known as the conspiracy to import and obtain restricted firearms. Vickers
ol brace ban.” In a previous ruling, the court blocked and four other individuals were charged by a grand jury for
cement of the rule, but only to the plaintiffs in that activities that took place between 2018 and 2021. Accord-
fic case. The injunction granted by the court in Britto ing to a statement issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,
. TFE applies nationwide. The Justice Department is the men were importing rare and exotic firearms under
likely to appeal the ruling, the “law letter” provision
sending the case to the 5th of the National Firearms
Circuit Court of Appeals. Act (NFA). Vickers faces up
This confusing back- to 5 years imprisonment
and-forth brace saga has under the firearm-related
played-out through the past charges, and up to 20 years
10 years, and it has cost for a business association
taxpayers more than “$1 with Kalashnikov Concern,
billion dollars,” according a Russian firearm company
to court documents. currently under sanctions
In December 2023, by the U.S. In a Facebook
the U.S. Supreme Court post, Vickers said that
declined to block the he would “own my own
implementation of the Pro- actions and understand the
tect Illinois Communities consequences.”
Act, a sweeping law that The ongoing wars in
was signed into law by Gov. J. B. Pritzker in 2022. This law Ukraine and Israel are burning up lots of ammo. So far, the
bans or severely restricts many semiautomatic firearms, domestic supply of small arms ammunition has not been
detachable magazines, and even “attachments” such as significantly disrupted. A rumor that the Lake City Army
muzzle devices, pistol grips, folding stocks, and more. Ammunition Plant had cancelled commercial contracts
Items listed in the ban had to be registered by January to meet international military demand was just that — a
1, 2024. The registration period opened on October 1, rumor. Where shortages have occurred, they have been
2023. Compliance has been extremely low. Fewer than the result of increased demand from panic buying, not
2,500 Illinoisans disclosed ownership of banned items actual supply problems.
during the first 30 days, less than .1 percent of expected. According to new polling, gun-buying has become an
The ATF is cracking down on so-called “Glock increasingly bipartisan activity. The percentage of regis-
switches.” These small devices, often imported from tered Democrats with a firearm in the home rose from 33
China or made using 3-D printers, effectively convert percent to 41 percent, from August 2019 to November
semiautomatic handguns to automatic fire. Installing one 2023. The 60 million guns sold during the COVID-19 pan-
of these devices on a firearm could result in up to 10 years demic fed those numbers, no doubt. The NSSF reported
in prison and a $250,000 fine — so, don’t do it. The ATF that there were 5 million new gun owners in 2020.
reportedly seized 570 percent more conversion devices Since we are on the subject of new firearm owners,
ILLUSTRATION: A. F. BRANCO

from 2017 to 2021 than it did in the preceding 5 years. now might be a good time to take one to the range. As
More recent anecdotal data suggests that number has experienced shooters, it is incumbent upon us to set good
risen substantially since ‘21. examples of safety and skill for these individuals. Don’t be
In October 2023, U.S. Special Operations veteran and afraid to invite your Gen Z neighbors to the range. Their
firearm authority Larry Vickers — who has publicly bat- votes count as much as yours.
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