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GUNS & AMMO A U GU S T 2025 | VOLUME 69, NUMBER 8 | P UBLISH ED MONT H LY

CO N TE N TS

TURKISH
DELIGHT
BY ERIC R. POOLE
The subscriber
cover features
the Turkish-made
Tisas PX-9 Duty
Comp 9mm,
which includes
18- and 20-round
VISITING THE MASS magazines and
PRODUCERS OF THE features a com-
pensated slide
WORLD’S AFFORDABLE and barrel. p. 54
IMPORTED FIREARMS. The rifle is a
Henry SPD HUSH
in .44, optimized
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is shown with a
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ers Mojave 45.
p. 46

COVER PHOTOS: MARK FINGAR, ABOVE PHOTO: ERIC R. POOLE

46
OH, BE QUIET!
68
REVEL IN VICTORY
76
THE FRENCH CONNECTION
Henry’s SPD HUSH series of lever rifles Savage Arms has returned to During the transitional period from
combine technology with classic charm. lever-action rifles with the percussion to self-contained cartridges,
BY TOM BECKSTRAND rimfire-chambered Revel series. French revolver development
BY CRAIG BODDINGTON maintained a preemptive position.
BY GARRY JAMES

Reader Blowback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Bullet Board by Dave Emary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Editorial by Eric R. Poole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Quiet Time Shadow Systems HS923 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Gun Room by Garry James. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Range Bag Tactical Snacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Handgunning by James Tarr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Proofhouse Century Arms AP53 5.56 NATO . . . . . . . . . . 88
The Carry Rig Vertx S.O.C.P. Tactical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Connect by Antonio Acitelli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Gun Tech by Richard Nance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Spent Cases by Keith Wood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
MARK 4HD YOUR FIRST STEP TOWARDS LONG RANGE DOMINANCE
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EDITORIAL
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R E A DER WRITE US! “Letters,” Guns & Ammo, 2 News Plaza, 3rd Floor, Peoria, IL 61614, or email us at gaeditor@outdoorsg.com.
B LOWBAC K Please include your city and state of residence. Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity.

DECEMBER ’04
Editor-in-Chief Lee Hoots,
Field Editor Tom Gresham
and Washington D.C. Cor-
respondent John Hay Rabb
editorialized on the sunset
of the Clinton-era Assault
Weapon Ban (AWB). Hoots
wrote, “I don’t know how
THERMAL INERTIA plays a role in cooling, it many times I’ve seen footage
of the 1997 North Hollywood,
In “Gun Tech” (May 2025), Richard Nance used a barrel doesn’t tell the whole story. California, shoot-out, in
supplied by Avient featuring a ceramic material in the Fundamentally, thermal which the weapons used were
middle designed “to quickly transfer heat from the steel conductivity depends on the already illegal long before the
[AWB] was conceived. … I’d
bore.” However, he didn’t say where the heat goes. It mass of a material to draw like to see some honest news
seems that the only place for the heat to go is into the heat, favoring heavier mate- reporting for a change.”
carbon-fiber layer. Since carbon-fiber has only about rials such as steel. This helps
half the thermal conductivity of steel [.17 to 27 W/(m x metals perform their job as
K) versus 45 to 60 W/(m x K)], and considerably lower heat sinks, conducting and
density — thus reduced thermal mass and reduced weight absorbing heat away from
of the layered barrel — it follows that the steel liner in the its source. It does not, how-
layered barrel would get hotter compared to an all-steel ever, account specifically
barrel of similar profile. The outside of the layered barrel for the return to ambient
would remain cooler because of the same lack of heat temperature in applications
transfer from the bore to the outside surfaces. Ceramics where weight matters.
generally have a thermal conductivity between steel and Thus, Avient’s emphasis
carbon-fiber composites, so, without knowing the type or on thermal inertia, i.e., the
relative thickness, it is difficult to figure that in. Assuming resistance of a material to
the ceramic layer is thin relative to the steel liner and the change temperature. High
carbon fiber, it would likely play only a small role in the thermal-inertia materials has been drawn from the
heat transfer. Heat absorption by either the barrel from hold heat longer than low bore, which was repeatedly
the combustion gases and bullet friction would mostly be thermal-inertia materials of proven by measuring the
by conduction; dissipation would mainly be by radiation the same dimensions, inde- interior bore temperature.
and depend on the emissivity of the surface. My suspicion pendent of mass. Avient’s Avient’s testing has shown
is that a rapid sequence of, say, 20 to 30 high-power rifle CHR technology uses layers that CHR-modified barrels
rounds through the composite barrel would not heat the of proprietary, low thermal- consistently demonstrate
outer surface much beyond ambient temperature, thus inertia ceramic and carbon- lower peak temperatures
appearing deceptively cooler than a steel barrel after a fiber composite materials to and cool faster from the
similar session. The steel liner on the other hand would optimize barrel weight with- inside out than similar con-
be an entirely different matter. Similar conditions could out sacrificing performance. tour barrels of conventional
be had by wrapping a standard steel barrel in a similarly Therefore, a barrel can be materials.
heat insulating jacket. The resulting assembly would also large, stiff, very lightweight, — Y. Cordeau, Avient Corp.
appear cool. I appreciate Nance’s “Gun Tech” columns, and still cool throughout
and I look forward to them. drastically faster than most 1903A4 BARRELS
Dan MacDonald steel barrel contours. This Mr. Emary, my boys and
Long Lake, Minnesota effect was witnessed first- I enjoyed your series on
hand when firing through World War II sniper rifles,
Yves Cordeau, senior in his article, “Keeping it barrels that incorporated particularly the June 2025
research and develop- Cool,” Avient Corporation CHR technology. The outer issue featuring the Model
ment engineer at Avient applied the concepts of surface of the barrel was 1903A4. One reason for
Corporation, offered the thermal inertia with its Com- noticeably warmer after poor accuracy from these
following response to your posite Heat Release (CHR) firing just a few rounds than World War II-era rifles was
well-thought-out comment. technology for barrels, as other barrels; it then quickly that they were built on the
— R. Nance opposed to thermal con- cooled down as heat was A3, which had two-groove
ductivity. We recognize that released into the environ- barrels. The original ’03 had
As Mr. Nance mentioned while thermal conductivity ment. This means the heat a four-groove barrel, which
 RECOIL
NOT INCLUDED

RM1C-COMP. Integral compensator for faster, more accurate shots.

Optics-ready, flat-face trigger, extra-short reset, ambidextrous controls,
match-grade barrel. 15+1 and 17+1. Swap bounce for bullseyes.
10 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | READER BLOWBACK

typically gave better accu- very rust resistant, too. I’m Smith & Wesson’s Model 36 the construction of a bullet.
racy. To increase production writing, though, to mention Classic, I wondered if the Fast forward 70 years and
in later years, the A3 was fit- the Diamondback DB9, accuracy chart had a typo. I those of us saving money
ted with two-groove barrels. which I purchased for around question whether Mr. Swee- and vacation days for a
I had my A3 fitted with a $269. It’s a micro 9mm that ney (or anyone else) could hunt want the option to
modern scope, and I still get gets little mention, though shoot an average group size take a long shot while still
2.5 to 3 MOA accuracy. it seems to be the smallest of just more than 2 inches making an ethical killing
Dave Nelson of all the 9s. I have carried a with a 1.88-inch barrel and a shot. The .300 Win. Mag.
Conesus, New York Gen 2 for many years, and grooved topstrap rear sight and .300 PRC are similar,
it’s a great gun. at 25 yards. While I have but the PRC was designed
BUDGET GUNS David Curl no doubt that his abilities by Hornady to shoot longer
Eric Poole forgot Taurus Birmingham, Alabama exceed mine, I would be bullets farther. Some ideas
revolvers and semiautomatic very happy to get consistent are going to be winners,
pistols in his April 2025 “Edi- The Diamondback DB9 is hits on a steel plate with and some losers.
torial.” I have some of both, on its fourth generation. It is such a gun at that range! Brian McDonald
like them and carry them. currently priced with a $305 Steve C. Carson, California
Roy Jensen MSRP, $5 from making the Marion County, Arkansas
Ramsey, Minnesota list. Looks like you found NO THANKS
a good deal. It measures I, too, was a bit surprised by I hope Tom Beckstrand was
I surveyed Taurus pistols and 5.73 inches in length, with a the results, but not a lot. I well paid by Winchester for
revolvers for that column. It height of 4.51 inches and .9- learned to shoot on revolv- his five-page ad on its .21
started as a response to a inch in width. A few models ers, and I’ve had decades of Sharp cartridge (February
reader letter asking, “Where are smaller, a few are shorter, practice. When I’m in flow, 2025). It’s an imposing
are the articles on sub-$300 a couple are skinnier, but the good things happen. I was challenge to convince read-
guns?” I used that number DB9 is certainly among the in flow that afternoon. Short ers they need something
as the threshold to define smallest micro 9mm autos. barrels can be accurate. I they don’t. I had to turn off
a “budget” gun. To keep — E. Poole once did a TV segment with my B.S. detector to finish
all things equal — since a 2-inch M15. In one take, reading that article without
retailers and manufacturers BODDINGTON I went six for six on a 100- interruption.
can discount, offer rebates, ON DEER yard silhouette, standing. Van Baxter
or advertise different sale I saw an advertisement for Snubbies can surprise you. York, Nebraska
prices — I used the “Man- “Top Deer Rifles & Cartridges” — Patrick Sweeney
ufacturers Suggested Retail by Craig Boddington. In GOOD INFO!
Price” as the comparison. At what issue will it appear? NEW CARTRIDGES James Tarr’s article in the
the time, I found no Taurus Clayton Paul Concerning new cartridges, February 2025 issue on the
handgun with an MSRP of Email some say, “The .30-’06 Ruger RXM was the best
less than $300. As I write works just fine” — and review of a pistol that I have
this response, I see that one “Boddington’s Top Deer it does for most hunting ever read. The photography
pistol has been priced and Rifles & Cartridges” was applications. Many new by Michael Anschuetz was
would be added to that developed for the website. cartridges try to answer a excellent, too.
list: G2S ($296, taurususa. You can find the entire question: “How do I get Congratulations.
com). The base model G2C article here: https://www. the 7mm Mauser into a David Novoa
is close to making the list at gunsandammo.com/edito- short action?” “How do Sebring, Florida
$304, and the GX2 at $310. rial/boddingtons-favorite- I get a .300 Winchester
Thank you for bringing this whitetail-cartridges/522197. Magnum to shoot heavier CORRECTION
to our attention. We do not have plans to bullets?” “What if the .264 The Model 1904A4 reviewed
— E. Poole publish it in the print edi- Winchester Magnum was in the June and July 2025
issues was improperly labeled
tion. You will find additional what we wanted it to be?” “Springfield Armory.” All
FEELING LEFT OUT online exclusives available I think we should embrace M1903A4s were assembled
Let me say, I’m glad Eric at gunsandammo.com. new ideas and let the by Remington, and all were
roll-marked on the receiver
Poole finally wrote a story on — A. Acitelli market figure out if it is an “REMINGTON”. A special
“Budget Guns,” April 2025. I improved solution. In the thanks to longtime reader and
have several high-end guns, GROUP SHOOTER 1950s, people looked at subscriber Danny Arnold of
Purcell, Oklahoma, for calling
but I also own a couple of In Patrick Sweeney’s article making bullets go faster attention to this error.
Hi-Points, which are great to “Unlocked Potential” (June but engineers discovered — Eds
keep in a lock box; they are 2025), including a review of the forces can tear apart
E D I TO R I AL AUGUST 2025 G&A 13

An empowered woman inspired her son.

ERIC R. P OOL E
@GUNSANDAMMOMAG

MOTHER’S DAY
STANDING 5-FOOT-4 and a couple of pounds over 110, Still, he got a kick out of watching Mom shoot his favor-
my earliest memories of Mom — Rhonda Poole — are of ites, including a Smith & Wesson Model 29 with 83⁄8-inch
a God-serving woman who loved my sister Rachelle and I barrel. Mom was usually content with her experience after
more than anything. “Dad,” named Roy, was a police offi- a few shots, but sometimes Dad relentlessly urged her to
cer in Ridgecrest, California, when he rescued us from my continue until it wasn’t fun. However, she was a crackshot.
biological father’s abusive marriage. Roy married Rhonda I told my friends that she was a “handgun sniper.” When
on Christmas Eve, 1982. challenged, she could walk up
Mom chose to be a home- to the firing line, steady a pistol
maker, raising Rachelle and and skillfully press the trigger
I on a small desert property with perfect sight alignment.
with nearly 150 chickens, a few If a gun she was shooting was
rabbits, a duck, and a couple zeroed, she could score a 10X
of cats and dogs. She went on any bullseye target while
from being a woman who standing from 25 yards. In fact,
didn’t know anything about this skill became the key to
guns to someone who carried getting out of Dad’s insistence
them for both defense and the for her to keep shooting hard-
enjoyment of shooting. recoiling handguns. She’d ask,
Several memories of Mom “If I hit the bullseye, I can be
involve her wearing a gun, done, right?” Dad begrudg-
either a rimfire Colt Single ingly agreed.
Action Army or another cham- It became something of a
bered in .357 Magnum. On her show for the rest of us. Mom
hip, she carried a mixed cylin- took her time, made the shot
der of jacketed soft points and and then put the gun down. I
snake shot. Her reputation for don’t remember her analyzing
fearlessly protecting the hen a target, but the rest of us did.
house against invasive snakes It was always a race down-
meant that she was occasion- range to see a bullseye within
ally called on by a neighbor to the 10-ring. As impressed as I
assist with pests. We also experienced two home intruder was, there was a lesson to be learned.: “Don’t press your
situations. Once she had to hold a violent man at gunpoint luck,” she’d say. “Know when to stop.”
with a Browning BDA until police arrived, and another Years later, Mom visited me during a parent’s weekend
involved a convict who threatened Dad for arresting him at the Virginia Military Institute. I was on the Rifle Team, so
and putting him in jail. Perhaps he came to our property to she was excited to see where I spent my late afternoons.
intimidate our family, but I remember Mom telling us to go “Wanna try it?” Coach Jim Thorp implored of her.
in the house as she let the man in his car watch her strap Given the chance to shoot one of the team’s match pis-
on her holster. Eventually, he chose to drive away instead. tols, Mom stepped up to bench with an eager smile. The
Range days were a lot of fun. Dad would coach us at a range was quiet as she fired one shot, then follow-through.
defunct silver mine where we shot rimfires for accuracy. My “Shoot again!” someone said.
younger sister, Rachelle, annoyed me with her irreverence Without looking at the target, she safely cleared the
while punching holes in all the targets I had set up with pistol and put it away. The team was in awe at the center-
her magazine-fed semiautos. Dad often had a new gun punched bullseye. She held back her pride until she left.
to shoot, and it was usually too powerful for us to enjoy. Thank you, Mom.
GUN ROOM AUGUST 2025 G&A 15

“The engraving is ornate and quite competent,

but the serial number does not jibe with
Colt numbers for this model of pistol.”

GARRY JAMES
GARRY.JAMES@
OUTDOORSG.COM

MACHINISTS UNION these later Winchester com-

1894 WINCHESTER memoratives, the value is
Q: I have a Winchester not lofty. Assuming your rifle
Model 94 that I won from is in unfired condition and
my local machinists’ union includes the original box
about 30 years ago. I’ve and paperwork, it would be
enclosed some photos worth approximately $650.
of it. If you could tell me
what the value is, I would SAVAGE 99 RARITY
appreciate it. Q: I’m a subscriber to Guns
T. E. S. & Ammo, and I have a Sav-
Email age M99 made in 1912 in
.25-35 caliber. I have never
A: Three thousand Inter- seen another Savage 99
ELABORATE 1911 national Association of in this caliber. It is in very
Q: I inherited this 1911 .45 ACP from my father in 1990 Machinists and Aerospace good condition and most
and was hoping you could give me some information. The Workers Winchester Model likely in the 80-percent-plus
only marking on the pistol is the serial number, 144XXX. 1894 rifles were manufac- range for its age. Any ideas
My father told me it is a Llama, and he acquired it from tured in 1998. The caliber on how many were made
a friend in the mid- to late-1960s. It originally had white is .30-30 Win. Like many of and the current value? I
grips, which I believe were plastic. I do not know if the
engraving is factory or not, but it was on the piece when AUCTION BLOCK
he got it. The gun performs flawlessly, and I have person- An extraordinary Duane Weibe custom takedown Mauser 98 in
.404 Jeffery realized an impressive $15,000 at a March 23, 2025,
ally fired thousands of rounds with this pistol. As a matter Sportsman’s Legacy sale. Built on a Model 1935 action, the rifle
of fact, I just used it to qualify for my Maryland wear and separates into two pieces with the operation of a lever on the lower
carry renewal. I do not use it for concealed carry, but I forearm. Features include banded express sights and sling-swivel
stud, quick-detaching mounts with a Schmidt & Bender scope,
am so comfortable with it that I wanted the confidence it straight bolt handle, French gray finish, accent engraving, and a
gives me for the test. superlative Turkish walnut
S. S. stock with a leather-wrapped
recoil pad. All mechanical
Delta, Pennsylvania aspects are flawless. Capac-
ity is four plus one, and
A: The engraving is ornate the Model IX and others. the extractor “snaps over”
rounds dropped into the
and quite competent, but The engraving, too, does chamber. For more informa-
the serial number does not have a Colt factory tion on this and future sales,
not jibe with Colt numbers look. I’m sorry I can’t be visit Sportsman’s Legacy at
sportsmanslegacy.com.
for this model of pistol. more specific on this one.
The lack of Colt markings, I would need to have it in
and some other stylis- hand to give you a more
tic differences, certainly definitive answer. Perhaps
point to it being a Spanish one of my readers has a
Llama. However, it misses similar piece and could
some of the nuances of enlighten us both.
16 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | GUN ROOM

10 years ago. I’ve always

loved the pistol because
of the story behind it and
how it became part of our
family history. Then, my
mom’s current boyfriend
came into the picture. He’s
RECOMMENDED a lovely man and a gun afi-
READS cionado like I’ve never met
“Evolution of the Brown SMITH & WESSON MODEL NO. 1 THIRD ISSUE TIP-UP, .22 SHORT, 95%: $1,250 before. I asked him to find
Bess Musket” by Dr. Jay out more about the pistol.
Tartell. Track of the Wolf,
Inc., Elk River, MN, 2024. He was baffled as to what
168 pages. Hardcover have looked everywhere A: You have a very nice it truly was, but he asked
$42.99; softcover $35.99. for the last 10 years and condition Smith & Wesson around on the forums he’s
Few military arms are as iconic
and important as Britain’s haven’t found anything. Model No. 1, Third Issue part of. No one there had
Brown Bess musket. First J. R. revolver. This late variant of an idea, either.
appearing around 1730 as the Kimberly, Oregon the No. 1 tip-up was manu- The only lead he was
“King’s Pattern Long Land
Musket,” the piece — whose factured between 1868 and able to share came through
nickname “Brown Bess” was A: The Savage Model 1881. Some 131,163 were the Cody Firearms Museum
never an official designa- 1899H rifle, manufactured produced. Standard finishes (centerofthewest.org). A
tion — underwent a number
of modifications during its from 1905 to 1915, was were blue or nickel plat- gentleman who looked at
century-long period of usage. offered in .25-35 WCF, as ing. The supplied photos the pictures of the pistol
As with other famous military well as .22 Hi-Power, .30-30 indicate the gun is in at said the revolver is likely
weapons, the Bess did not
spring fully formed from a Win. and .303 Savage. A least 95-percent condition. a Whitney Rimfire Breech
designer’s drawing board. It takedown version of this This factor, along with the Loading Model No. 1,
came into being as a result of 1899 variant was introduced factory pearl grips, gives it a .30-caliber variant. This
an evolutionary process that
began decades prior to its in 1909. The .25-35 caliber value of $1,250 to $1,500. model is one of the rarest.
initial appearance. By means does bring something of a It is estimated that fewer
of superb photography, layout premium, as it was one of RARE .30 WHITNEY than 100 were made. “Flay-
and scholarship, Dr. Jay Tartell
traces the antecedents of the the scarcer chamberings. REVOLVER? derman’s Guide to Antique
Long Land Pattern beginning In 80 percent condition, Q: I have a fun little American Firearms” and
with mid-17th century match- I’d value the piece in the adventure on my hands. the “Blue Book of Antique
locks and wheellocks through
an extended lineage involving $1,250 to $1,500 range. I inherited a pistol from American Firearms and
English lock and French-style my dad when he passed Values” both state, “The
flintlock muskets. The various S&W NO. 1, away a little more than rarity of this revolver pre-
models are clearly put into his-
torical context by associating
THIRD ISSUE
them with the reigns of the Q: I have what appears to
British monarch during which be a .22 Short top-break
they were introduced and
used, along with appropriate revolver. The top of the
historical events. Astutely cho- barrel is marked in small
sen period and modern sup- lettering “Smith & Wesson
porting illustrations depicting
soldiers, monarchs, ephemera Springfield Mass. Pat Apr
and battle scenes add interest 3.55 July 5.59 Dec 18.60”.
and elaboration. Unfortunately, On the frame at the
space does not permit the
reviewer to properly extoll the bottom of the grip is the
many other nuanced facets number 964XX. The finish
of this adept work. Suffice it on the gun is in very good
to say, as a valuable readable
reference, for those not only condition, and the bore
interested in the genealogy is clean. The pearl grips
of early martial musketry as appear to be original. I
well as the casual reader, this
work is highly recommended. can’t find much information
“Evolution of the Brown Bess on this gun. Can you help
Musket” is available through me with some history and
retail book outlets or direct
from Track of the Wolf (track- approximate value?
ofthewolf.com). $36 - $43 S. B. WHITNEY RIMFIRE BREECH LOADING MODEL NO. 11⁄2, .30 CAL.: $400

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18 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | GUN ROOM

on the Colt website and

it appears to be from the
early teens. Any informa-
tion you can share regard-
ing condition, collectabil-
ity, value, etc., would be
appreciated. I took it to a
gun show where a vendor
offered $2,500. I’m not the
greatest photographer, so
if you need better pictures,
please let me know.
S. W.
Email
cludes accurate pricing. An have been misidentified; it Winchester, and it has lots
evaluation by an antique could be one of the more of plating and other modi- A: Your pictures are just
firearms appraiser would common 1½-inch guns. A fications. fine. They show you have a
be the best way to value quarter-inch variation in bar- J. H. good, honest Colt military
this firearm.” rel length between identical Email issue Model 1911 manu-
There was a gun show in model guns is not unusual factured in 1918. Although
Dillon, Montana, and I took for Whitney. Prince specu- A: Your dad’s Winchester the finish is a bit worn and
my son along. My goal was lated whether the informa- Model 92 was heavily the grips have been mildly
to spend time with him and tion in “Flayderman’s” is reworked and recham- abused, it is still a solid
see if I could get any leads correct, or if they uninten- bered, so it has little collec- piece. From what I can
on an appraiser, or find tionally created a model tor interest. According to its see, the $2,500 offer wasn’t
someone who could tell me that didn’t really exist. serial number, it was man- totally out of line, though,
more about this pistol. I’ve ufactured in 1915. Some as prices on these guns
had a run around trying to REWORKED MODEL 33,177 were built that year. have accelerated recently;
find an appraiser. I felt that 92 WINCHESTER Its principal worth is as a another $500 to $750
making a human connec- Q: My dad bought this shooter. I’d price it between would not be unrealistic.
tion would prove better rifle at the Amarillo, Texas, $850 and $1,000. The accompanying holster
than trying online. I spoke gun show in 1965 just as also appears to be quite
with two gentlemen who you see it. It was the first COLT MILITARY 1911 sound; it is worth $75 to
suggested I contact you. rifle I fired that was bigger Q: I was hoping you could $100.
We found plenty of exam- than a .22. I was 10 years share information regard-
ples that were Model No. of age. It shoots well and ing the attached photos of
1½, but nothing that was accounted for countless a Colt Model 1911. My par-
a “Model No. 1.” I would jack rabbits. Can you ents moved into a home in
love to know more about please tell me the date of 1968, and my father found
it. At this point, it has been manufacture and its value, this in the basement ceiling
an enigma. if any? It has been changed joist when they were
A. P. from firing .25-20 to .32-20 unpacking. I’ve looked
Email

A: Your photos indicate

it’s a decent example of a
fairly scarce gun. However,
it’s one that doesn’t have
much collector interest. I
ran this by Tim Prince of
College Hill Arsenal (tim@
colleghillarsenal.com) who
estimated the value would
be in the $300 to $500
range. However, he was COLT MODEL 1911 (MILITARY), .45 ACP, >60%: $2,500 U.S. ARMY M1916 HOLSTER: $75

also concerned that it might

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HANDGUNNING AUGUST 2025 G&A 21

Does magazine length and girth affect

your defensive shooting performance?

JA MES TA RR

EXTENSIONS
THE IMPETUS FOR THIS COLUMN followed a discus- Everything is interrelated, though. I always carry a
sion concerning my review of the Rost Martin RM1S in full-size handgun, but not because of barrel length. It’s
Guns & Ammo (April 2025). The RM1S includes one flush because a longer grip allows me to get my entire hand on
12-round magazine and one extended 15 rounder. In that the gun, all the way down to the heel of my palm. That
article, I mentioned how the extended magazine feels more comfortable and allows me to shoot up to
provided more control because I could get whatever my current skill level is. I don’t fight the
my entire hand around the grip. The only gun, I run it. The ability to grip the entire gun is
downside was that the longer mag why we are seeing upsized versions
was tougher to conceal for carry. I of popular sub- and micro-
preferred shooting the RM1S with compact pistols,
the extended magazine in place, specifically with
but that’s not surprising. Almost longer grips:
without exception, I prefer the feel Canik Mete,
of the extended magazine, too, not FN Reflex XL,
just in my hands, but while Kimber CDS9
shooting. and R7 Mako,
I got into this Ruger Max, Shadow
business from Systems CR-series,
the compe- SIG Sauer P365
tition side, X-series, Springfield
so I generally Armory Hellcat Pro, and
approach new Taurus GX4, to name a
firearms from a few. Short-gripped pistols
that perspective. But are easy to conceal but
how hard is it to make hard to shoot. This is one
a gun do what I want? reason for the popularity of
From decades of shooting, odd-proportioned pistols, such
and thousands of hours of practice, as the Glock 45.
training and matches, I’ve learned The G45 is one of a number of
that the more control you have of a modern pistols that pairs a longer
pistol, the faster and more accurately you or full-length grip with a compact
can shoot it. This is not groundbreaking information, slide. If you’re looking at these guns
but I don’t think most people consider how crucial grip in a vacuum, they are backwards in
length is. The only downside to a longer grip is that it is terms of traditional thought on carry.
less concealable. I made peace with that fact a long time The grip often determines how conceal-
ago; I’m willing to dress around my carry gun. able a gun is. Whether the slide is long or short, it’s usu-
As an aside, I think concealment and speed are the main ally concealed inside the pants. A gun for concealment
considerations that lead people to appendix inside-the- often has the grip designed as short as possible with a
PHOTOS: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

waistband (AIWB) carry. Many share the same conclusions. longer barrel for increased velocity and — for those of us
Guns with larger and more comfortable grips are easier still running iron sights — a longer sight radius.
to shoot accurately and quickly. The most effective way to However, until recently, few built guns like that. Why?
conceal a larger handgun at your waist is with appendix Two reasons: A shorter grip means fewer fingers grasping
carry, where even a sizable firearm can disappear under an the gun and less control. No matter how hard you grip a
untucked t-shirt. gun, you can’t eliminate recoil and muzzle rise, but you can
22 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | HANDGUNNING

manage it. You want the not have picked up on yet.

front sight to rise up during I haven’t addressed the
recoil, then drop down to most obvious benefit to
the exact same spot for shooting pistols with lon-
quick, accurate and easy ger grips and magazines:
follow-up shots. Second, Capacity. Compared to
there is less reciprocating previous decades, modern
mass, meaning lower felt carry guns are clown cars
recoil. This is why compe- stuffed with never-ending
tition guns have a lot of rounds of ammo. Today,
weight cut out of the long if your micro-compact
slides, and it’s why modern doesn’t hold more than
pistols with full-length grips 10 rounds, you’re carrying
and compact slides are so an old model or live in
popular. (Ex.: Walther PDP a restricted jurisdiction.
Pro-series.) Shorter slides Other consumers won’t
produce less reciprocating even consider a gun that
weight, which equals less carries fewer than 10
Walther is a brand that offers full-length grips with shorter slides,
felt recoil and muzzle rise albeit sometimes with compensated muzzles. The PDP F-Series Pro rounds. Are they wrong?
when shooting. Pair that 3.5- and 4-inch barrel models includes three 18-round mags. $929 As the cliché goes,
with a full-length grip or “There’s no such thing as
an extended mag with a plus-capacity basepad and you’ll having too much ammo on you unless you’re underwater
wrap your entire hand around the gun with a chef’s kiss. or on fire.” Nobody in the midst of a gunfight wished for
I’m not rewriting Jeff Cooper’s “Modern Technique” fewer rounds. I’ve found that in terms of defensive shoot-
with these statements. I’m just sharing a few conclusions ings in America — whether it be citizens or police — the
based on experience and observations that some might gunfight usually lasts as long as the ammo in a gun.

Arms of Liberty

® ®
 HANDGUNNING | AUGUST 2025 | G&A 23

AN HEIR & SPARE this topic. To address that, I went to the range with the
Let’s consider the spare magazines most companies RM1S, the provided standard-length and extended maga-
include with their pistols. Whether the magazine in the zines, and my electronic timer. I shot controlled pairs and
gun is a flush or extended type, having access to a spare hammers, Bill Drills — firing six shots as fast as I can keep
magazine is important. You should always carry one. The hits inside the A-zone of an IPSC target at 7 yards — and
chances of needing to reload in a defensive shooting are transition drills, or swinging between targets.
small, but never zero. If a gun is going to malfunction, the While I wasn’t more accurate when shooting with the
most likely cause will be the magazine. A spare magazine extended magazine, I was faster. Not a lot, though. Over-
is an immediate fix. all, my results demonstrated an average between 5 and 8
I’ve explained before that gun companies can play percent improvement in speed. The “why” I shot faster or
fast and loose with words. A so-called “micro-compact” slower was interesting to me. It wasn’t that I had less con-
pistol is whatever they say it is. “Small” is also a relative trol of the gun with the short grip. It felt as though I had
term. I’ve shot with many “small-statured” adult men and less control of the gun during its recoil cycle, which caused
women with tiny hands. It’s not that their grip strength was me to slow down and verify the sights were where they
compromised; they never really had much. I noticed that needed to be for follow-up shots. The reduced control of
even standard compact pistols looked too large in their the gun due to the short grip was both real and perceived.
hands. Those were a challenge for them to carry, much less Comparing the numbers-result of both styles indicated
shoot. If you’re one of those people, don’t let someone that I shot a bit slower to make sure impacts on target
tell you what size gun to buy. Being able to get your entire stayed consistent.
hand around the pistol will give you the most control of it. While the experiment was subjective — and solely an
Therefore, my best advice is to try several and pick a gun indicator of what I found for me on that day with that spe-
that you can run — not one that runs you. cific gun — I’m not an outlier. People who shoot their carry
guns will continue to move from the micro subcompacts to
FLUSH VS. EXTENDED the slightly upsized versions with longer grips, and mag-
While I’ve had many subjective impressions through the azines with extended basepads. For us, the benefits are
years, I’ve never done an objective side-by-side test of increased control and increased capacity. It’s a win-win.

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24 G&A AUGUST 2025

THE CARRY RIG The fanny pack is back!

The Vertx
S.O.C.P. Tactical
Fanny Pack features
a multi-compartment
layout partitioned for your
smartphone, identification,
money, accessories such as a
tourniquet and spare maga-
zine, and a pistol. The primary
pocket within measures 11 by
7½ inches, meaning that it will
accommodate most full-size
pistols. It can be worn around
the waist or across the chest for
comfort and convenience. $105

VERTX S.O.C.P. TACTICAL

RECALL, FOR A MOMENT, the iconic trends of the 1980s. ON- OR OFF-BODY CARRY?
For five seasons, “Miami Vice” was among the most popu- A philosophical question arose when Guns & Ammo’s edi-
lar TV series. The mullet was the hairstyle of choice, which tors considered whether a fanny pack should be classified
was often accompanied by a pair of Oakley shades. As all as an “on-” or “off-body” type of carry. Though it shares
things fashion, what is old becomes vogue, and both mul- similarities with a small backpack, i.e., “off-body,” the fact
lets and Pit Vipers are popular in the U.S. Another trend that the user has to buckle it on to carry means that it’s more
has returned from the ’80s: The fanny pack. akin to on-body carry. Whether standing, sitting, running
While it’s hard to understand why the mullet returned, or anything in-between, the S.O.C.P. Tactical fanny pack
the practicality and utility of fanny packs such as the Vertx stays on your person. Is it all that different from a traditional
S.O.C.P. Tactical is clear immediately. It’s an obvious solu- outside-the-waist (OWB) hip holster in function, then?
tion for everyday carry (EDC) during the summer months This brings us to how to carry a fanny pack. Thinking back
when many leave the house in gym shorts and a t-shirt, to the 80s, fanny packs were worn as the name implies.
which cannot even secure or easily conceal a lightweight Today, an assortment of fanny packs exist, some worn in the
micro-compact pistol. With the Vertx S.O.C.P. Tactical fanny cross-sling fashion across the chest. Wearing it across the
PHOTOS: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

pack, you have a solution that’s ready to complete any chest is quite comfortable, and may become your preferred
attire and most activities; it’s the fanny pack’s greatest fea- method to carry the S.O.C.P. Tactical. Of course, it can be
ture. There is no thinking or adjusting your EDC loadout for worn around the waist, too, where it can be easily carried
a given day. Just grab it and go. The gear doesn’t need to toward the strong-side hip and be familiar to those who have
change. In addition to its always-ready status, consistency worn a traditional OWB holster. Worth noting, the S.O.C.P.
of carry can give you the edge in a defensive fight. features a zipper instead of a snap button for retention.
26 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | THE CARRY RIG

VERTX
S.O.C.P. TACTICAL FANNY PACK
CARRY TYPE Fanny pack, on-body
Level II, friction internal holster &
RETENTION TYPE
zippered containment
ADJUSTABILITY Extendable waist strap
MSRP $105
Full-size pistols or smaller;
HANDGUN FIT Walther PDP, Springfield Armory
Hellcat RDP (tested)
PRIMARY POCKET DIMENSIONS 11 in. x 7.5 in.
POSITIONS TO CARRY Cross chest, around the waist
carried a Walther PDP, which is easier for big guys like me
AVERAGE TIME TO ATTACH 3 seconds
to grip and shoot effectively than a micro-compact pistol.
COMFORT RATING 5/5
AVERAGE DRAW-TO-FIRE TIME 2.54 seconds
The only downside to carrying a full-size handgun is the
MANUFACTURER Vertx, 844-932-7889, vertx.com
added weight, which increases with each additional 18-
Draw-to-fire time is the average of five clean draws producing an A-zone hit on a round magazine stowed in the accessory pocket.
stationary target positioned at 21 feet. To split the difference, the 45-day evaluation also
involved a Springfield Armory Hellcat
PREMIER BODY ARMOR RDP. The Walther PDP was featured in
In collaboration with Premier Body Armor photos to illustrate how much room is
(premierbodyarmor.com), the S.O.C.P. available in the carry pocket of the fanny
Tactical features a compartment for pack for similarly large handguns, should
an optional Level IIIA soft body armor that be your preference.
insert, measuring 8½ by 5½ inches. G&A In addition to the large carry pocket, the
previously tested a Premier Level IIIA S.O.C.P. has a large, central admin pocket
Backpack Insert, which is identical to the for EDC essentials and accessories. During
S.O.C.P. insert, just larger. Level IIIA armor the evaluation period, extra gear included
is rated to stop handgun rounds up to one 13-round mag for 26-plus-one rounds
.44 Magnum. G&A’s sample stopped an available, SureFire Stiletto Pro II, knife,
assortment of +P 9mm, .45 ACP, .357 tourniquet, QuikClot bandage, wallet and
Magnum and 10mm, and it did so with phone. The total weight was less than 5
edge-to-edge protection. The insert for pounds, and it carried comfortably. Worth
the S.O.C.P. Tactical Fanny Pack is just noting, the smartphone pocket in the front
large enough to cover the heart and a small area of the folds out for operation in a water-resistant pouch should you
lungs when worn over the shoulder and across the body. need to read your phone in wet weather.
Is that enough coverage to make a difference in a defen- As with all carry methods, we look to balance draw time,
sive handgun fight? Handgun-caliber gunshot wounds are comfort, retention, concealability and fit. The Vertx S.O.C.P.
statistically quite survivable, but there is not much a doctor Tactical Fanny Pack proved to be a one-size-fits-all option that
can do for a direct shot to the heart. The Premier Armor completely conceals most EDC pistols. Retention was excel-
insert stops handgun calibers. The armor is an additional lent, and it was always comfortable to carry in any environ-
$75, which is not too expensive for a potentially life-saving ment. As expected, this came at the cost of a slightly reduced
upgrade to a fanny pack that you’d be wearing either way. draw time, but I could still access the pistol, establish my grip
and fire in a reasonable amount of time. When worn across
45-DAY CARRY my chest, the optional armor over my chest was comforting. I
An advantage to the Vertx S.O.C.P. Tactical Fanny Pack is was impressed with this unique carry option. The fanny pack
its ability to support full-size handguns. To evaluate this, I is back, and for me it’s here to stay. — J. Oller
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GUN TECH AUGUST 2025 G&A 29

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from either side, with either hand. abled from the factory, but it can be enabled
The TLR-1 HP-X is compatible with most by tapping either switch rapidly nine times fol-
pistol rails. The package includes one rail key lowed by holding it down on the tenth press until
installed and several others. If the light turns off. For momen-
The Streamlight TRL-1 HP-X is a long-range, rail-mounted
the factory-installed key doesn’t handgun light that is powered by either two USB-C tary use, press and hold either
fit your pistol rail, select a key rechargeable Streamlight SL-B9 lithium-ion battery packs switch. When you release, the
that will. A compatibility list is or two CR123A lithium batteries. It features a front- light turns off. For constant-on,
loading battery compartment and a secure rail clamp that
available at streamlight.com. can be mounted without risking your hand in front of tap and release to turn the light
Changing the rail key is simple the muzzle. The TLR-1 HP-X has three modes: Momen- on or off. When enabled, strobe
using the supplied multi-tool. tary, constant and a user-programable strobe. The light mode is achieved by pressing
is activated by bilateral, customizable paddle switches.
The process is detailed in the Assembled in the U.S., the machined aluminum-bodied either switch twice within a quar-
product instructions. TLR-1 HP-X includes a limited lifetime warranty. $375 ter second.
After ensuring the TLR-1 HP-X As intuitive as a pistol light
is configured to mount to the rail of your pistol, it’s time to may be to operate, it doesn’t do much good if it isn’t
decide if the high or low switch works better for you. This bright. Fortunately, the TLR-1 HP-X is plenty bright.
depends on the size of your hands, length of your fingers, When powered by SL-B9 lithium batteries, it produces
nuances of your grip and personal preference. Tail switches 1,300 lumens (77,000 candela) at 607 yards with a
PHOTOS: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

To access the battery compartment, press the small button in front of the mounting screw on the left side of the unit. This releases the discon-
nect lever on the right side of the unit. Rotating the lever opens the front of the housing to access the batteries without removing the unit.
30 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | GUN TECH

runtime of one hour. With

CR123A lithium batteries,
power is 1,000 lumens
(53,000 candela), reaching
503 yards with a runtime of
an hour and a half. Either
way, the light is powerful
enough to not only illumi-
nate, but also disrupt an
adversary’s vision.
The front-loading battery
compartment means a
battery change without the
need to remove the light
or place your hand in front
The textured activation switches The Streamlight TLR-1 HP-X USB is available with two SL-B9
of the muzzle is possible. are enduser-customizable for rechargeable batteries and a USB-C power cord. The SL-B9 batteries
This feature is both conve- high- or low-finger index points. are necessary to achieve the unit’s maximum 1,300-lumen output.
nient and safe.
The Streamlight TLR-1 HP-X is 3.7-inches long and of -4 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit with SL-B9 batteries and
weighs 5.43 ounces with SL-B9 batteries, 5.2 ounces with -40 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit with CR123A batteries.
CR123A batteries. It’s constructed from aircraft-grade alu- The TLR-1 HP-X retails for $375. The TLR-1 HP-X USB,
minum alloy with a black anodized finish. It incorporates a which includes two SL-B9 battery packs and a USB-C
polycarbonate lens with a scratch-resistant coating. charging cord, retails for $402. The TLR-1 HP-X is assem-
The unit is IPX7 waterproof rated, meaning it can bled in the U.S. and is backed by Streamlight’s Limited
withstand submersion in 1 meter of water for up to 30 Lifetime Warranty.
minutes. The TLR-1 HP-X has an operating temperature For more information, visit steamlight.com.

ƙĘ ՞ን ‫ ¡ڑ‬՞Ǐ
ጃጃջኔኔኔ‫ڑ‬I īT_Ę ‫ڑ‬ՄƋĘ՞Aጅ Յ‫ |ڑ‬ģƥĘƙÅ՞ƥ_Ęր‫ڑ‬ƥƋ_Ƌ‫ڑ‬ƋĘ՞Aጅ
_‫ ڑ ڑ‬ንኖኘ ‫ڑ‬ĘÅƙ¡Åƥģ‫ ڑ|ڑ‬ŀīƙ՞Ęŀ ‫ڑ‬
ƙƙ Å_Ƌր‫ڑ‬ I_‫ ڑ‬ƙƙ Å_Ƌ‫ڑ‬LjÅƙ¡ŀƥƙ‫_ ڑ‬ģŀ ‫ڑ‬ƙ¡_‫ڑ‬Ę ‫ڑ‬
ŀģ‫ڑ‬ƙ¡_‫ڑ‬ ‫ڑ|ڑ‬ƥ ‫ڑ‬Åīƙ _‫ڑ‬ƋLjÅƙI¡_Ƌ

Replace batteries in seconds

without removing the light
from the weapon.

L .COM/ƙĘ ՞ን ՞Ǐ
©2025 , INC. VED.
B UL LE T BOAR D AUGUST 2025 G&A 33

Disproving myths and finding facts about

primers with modern science.

DAV E EMA RY

avail- Such-and-such primer is “hotter” than another, whatever

that means. “Small rifle primers give better performance
than large rifle primers.” I could go on. How much of this
folklore is true, and what is it based on? I will attempt to
address some of this with actual data.
appropriate cartridge use, performance for uniformity
and accuracy — is all well documented. PRIMER TESTING
Not so when it comes to primers. About all The test conducted in “High-Speed Measure-
that is readily available is what size they are and ment of Rifle Primer Blast Waves” employed a
whether a primer is “standard” or “magnum.” high-speed piezo electric transducer, just like
Some are marketed as “match” primers, but those used in ammunition test guns, and a high-
there is little objective data revealing whether speed data acquisition system. The test utilized
these more expensive primers really achieve bet- a .308 Winchester-chambered Remington Model
ter performance versus standard primers. 700 action with a 22-inch barrel. The trans-
What are the real differences between primer ducer was mounted flush with the muzzle of
types and brands? How do they perform relative the barrel, and cartridge cases with both large
to each other? How should a reloader decide and small rifle primers were fired. The resulting
which one to use? This is information that is not blast pressure at the muzzle was recorded, and
easily accessible. test results were based on 10-shot sample sizes.
After conducting extensive research, finding Conducted by CabineTree LLC, this test used
several good tests that were done on primers, a short tube that held a fixture containing the
and my own observations as a ballistician across primer. The muzzle end of the tube fit flush
a 30-year career, I’d like to present this data with a weight on a pivot, equipped with a
showing the differences in primer performance. pointer that stayed at the high point of deflec-
I’ll explain what these findings mean, and hope- tion. This was a well thought out and executed
fully offer some guidelines to help make decisions ballistic pendulum test. The test can’t be used
about which primer to use. to determine anything quantitative about primers,
I’d like to credit the people whose data I’ll be but it provided a good means to measure the
presenting in this article, and whose work my relative output and uniformity of output of each
recommendations are based on. The first is primer relative to the other primers used in the
“High-Speed Measurement of Rifle Primer Blast test. The test also used a large sample size with
Waves” by Michael W. Courtney, Ph.D., and a minimum of 50 primers evaluated with most
Amy C. Courtney, Ph.D. tested 100 times.
The second source is work done by “Jim” —
last name withheld — of CabineTree LLC (casting- THE RESULTS
stuff.com), which has been published on several forums. Table 1 shows the results from the first test for peak pres-
Both of these works provided extensive data on primer out- sure, as well as the uniformity and standard deviation of
put and uniformity relative to each other from very different each primer based on a 10-round sample. It’s interesting
test techniques. With the preliminaries out of the way, let us to note that this test verified that all primer lots are not the
dive deeper. same, even within the same brand and type. For example,
PHOTOS: MARK FINGAR

two different lots of Federal 205 Match primers showed

PRIMER FOLKLORE substantial differences in both output and uniformity. It
There are many ideas about primers that are taken at face supported the axiom that when you find a primer lot that
value. “Match primers give better results,” for example. works well, buy as many as you can find!
34 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | BULLET BOARD

PRIMER PRESSURE OUTPUT variation accounts for the weight difference in primers and
AND UNIFORMITY Table 1
therefore primer output variations. The slope, or output,
PEAK
PRESSURE versus pellet weight is determined from Figure 3.
PRIMER (PSI) SD (PSI) SD (%)
This data confirms there is a variation in pellet weight
Federal 210 Match 421.7 32.4 7.7
and an associated difference of output. However, a closer
Federal 215 Match 552.7 27.8 5
look at the data points reveals that output still varies within
CCI 200 371.4 39.2 10.7
the same pellet weight. The conclusion that can most read-
CCI 250 520.3 58.6 11.3
ily be derived from all this is that primers can be weighed
Federal 205 Match (lot 1CW306) 176.5 20.4 11.6
to improve the uniformity of their performance, but you
Federal 205 Match (lot 13X416) 208 15 7.2
will never be able to get uniformity better than what the
Federal 205 213 15 7.1
slope of the output curve versus pellet weight is. (Note:
CCI 450 232.3 15.1 6.5
Sorting primers by weight requires a quality scale capable
Remingtom 7½ 334 27 8.1
of weight to 1mg sensitivity. The Hornady Precision Lab
Scale ($430, hornady.com)
PRIMER PRESSURE OUTPUT Figure 1
Another common axiom 600
meets this requirement,
is “Remington primers are and other capable models
the hottest.” However, the 500 Q FED 210M are available online and
Q FED 215M
data from this test does Q CCI 220 in retail stores. The scale
PRESSURE (PSI)

400
not support that claim. The Q FED 205M should be placed in a
300
Remington 7½ primer pro- temperature-stable environ-
duced significantly less out- 200 ment and protected from
put than CCI 200 or Federal any air currents.)
100
210 primers. The data As stated, the sec-
also suggests that match 0 ond test used a different
0 0.001 0 0.001 0 0.001 0 0.001 0.002 0.003
primers seem to have more TIME (SEC) method for measuring
uniform performance than primer output. The method
standard primers, although PRIMER TOTAL WEIGHT VARIATION Table 2 features essentially a bal-
as I mentioned, you can’t TOTAL listic pendulum to measure
AVERAGE
assume this will always be PRIMER MASS (MG) SD (%) PSI/MG total primer output energy.
the same from lot to lot. Federal 210 Match 354.2 0.5 10.6 You can’t determine any-
Figure 1 shows a sample of Federal 215 Match 363.3 0.6 9.3 thing quantitative, but the
pressure traces from these CCI 200 371.4 0.5 18 qualitative comparison of
tests that highlight the CCI 250 337.5 0.6 18.8 primers under the same test
comparison of the different Federal 205 Match (lot 1CW306) 236.3 0.7 9.1 conditions is meaningful.
primers’ output. Each suc- Federal 205 Match (lot 13X416) 234.9 0.5 8 Table 3 shows the results
cessive primer was shifted Federal 205 239.5 0.3 14 of this testing for large rifle
.002 sec for clarity. Remington 7½ 229 0.9 8.5 primers. It shows the scale
We all assume that each Remington 7½ 334 27 8.1 used in the test for total
primer we take out of a Large rifle primers contained 33mg to 40mg of explosive compound. Test sample size output and uniformity of
of 10. Small rifle primers contained 12mg to 16mg of explosive compound.
sleeve will be exactly the the output.
same. Results from the first This data also supports
test show that this is not the case. Further tests of primers that match primers seem to be more uniform than stan-
were done weighing the unfired primer and fired primer dard primers. It’s also worth noting that the Winchester
to determine the explosive pellet weight. In 10-round Large Rifle Magnum (WLRM) lot showed high levels of
samples, there were noticeable differences in the pellet uniformity. That would’ve been a good lot to stock up on.
weight. Table 2 shows the results of this test. The slope The results also confirm that Remington primers are not
mentioned in the table is the experimentally derived the hottest or most energetic, contrary to popular belief.
change in pressure per milligram (mg) of explosive mix.
Figure 2 shows a graph of total primer weight (before OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
firing) versus pressure output for the Federal 210 Match In the quest for uniform primer performance, primer seat-
primer. In a 10-round sample, the total weight variation is ing can play a significant role. I have done many thousands
about 4 milligrams (mg). of primer sensitivity tests. There are some definite trends
Figure 3 shows the same data plotted for explosive pel- that showed up from this testing. The first was that suffi-
let weight versus pressure. Notice that the weight variation cient firing-pin strike must be achieved. As the firing-pin
of the pellet is essentially the same as the total primer strike degrades, the sensitivity and output of the primer
weight variation, about 4mg. This shows that pellet weight becomes erratic. Make sure your gun has a clean firing pin
36 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | BULLET BOARD

FEDERAL 210 MATCH FEDERAL 210 MATCH

(OUTPUT VERSUS TOTAL WEIGHT) Figure 2 (OUTPUT VERSUS EXPLOSIVE PELLET WEIGHT) Figure 3
500 500

450 450
PRESSURE (PSI)

PRESSURE (PSI)
400 400

350 350

300 300

250 250
29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 352 352.5 353 353.5 354 354.5 355 355.5 356 356.5 357
Slope = 10.5 PSI/MG EXPLOSIVE PELLET WEIGHT (MG) Slope = 10.6 PSI/MG TOTAL PRIMER MASS (MG)

For maximum consistency, the primer pocket should be cleaned and The difference is subtle, but even this much variance in seating
the flash hole deburred, especially for high-performance loads. depth can lead to inconsistencies when shooting.

channel in the bolt, and has at least .060 inch of protrusion deburring tool and primer pocket uniforming cutter. Figure
from the bolt face with a firing-pin spring in good shape. 5 shows a picture of a Lee Ram Prime System. My Ram
What also became apparent was that excessive seating Prime is the original, older SKU 90106 model which works
force resulted in erratic sensitivity and output. My the- in nearly any press ($22, leeprecision.com). The newer one
ory is that with excessive seating force on the primer the doesn’t work in all presses. There are often a number of
explosive pellet starts to crack, which will compromise the the older ones available on ebay, too.
primer performance.
In the quest for uniform primer performance, it’s import- PARTING SHOTS
ant to make sure that each primer is seated exactly the Let’s review what we determined from all the data consid-
same way. In that endeavor, it’s important to deburr flash ered in this column.:
holes and uniform primer pockets to get the diameter and 1. There are definite differences in primer output and
depth as identical as possible. It can uniformity from different brands of the
also be helpful to use Lee’s Ram Prime same size and type of primer.
system. These priming systems use 2. The tests verified that the same
a fixed ram that goes into the ram of primer type does not perform exactly
the reloading press. This, in turn, seats the same from lot to lot. If you come
the primer when the ram is run to the across a lot that gives you particularly
top of the stroke. The seating depth good results, buy a large number.
or seating pressure is controlled by 3. The data lends credence to
screwing the shell holder fixture in or match primers providing more uni-
out of the press head. By using this, form performance than standard prim-
an exact seating pressure from primer ers. Point two still applies, though.
to primer can be achieved because it There can be variance between lots in
is only dependent on a fixed mechan- match primers, too.
ical system rather than a “by feel” 4. Even within a single sleeve, prim-
Figure 4: RCBS makes affordable, manual
pressure on the handle. Figure 4 tools to deburr and cut the primer pocket. ers will not perform exactly the same.
shows an image of an RCBS flash hole Electric-powered models are also available. Even primers with the same weight will
38 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | BULLET BOARD

BALLISTIC PENDULUM BALLISTIC PENDULUM

PRIMER OUTPUT (RIFLE) Table 3 PRIMER OUTPUT (PISTOL) Table 4

POWER POWER
PRIMER (AVG.) RANGE SD PRIMER (AVG.) RANGE SD

Federal 215 Match 6.12 5.23 – 6.8 0.351 Remington LP 4.47 3.2 – 5.6 0.517
Federal 215 5.69 5.2 – 6.5 0.444 CCI 300 3.18 2.7 – 3.5 0.241
CCI 250 5.66 4.5 – 7.4 0.483 Federal 150 3.11 2.6 – 3.5 0.209
Winchester WLRM 5.45 5.1 – 6.0 0.204 Federal 150 Match 3.05 2.6 – 3.7 0.23
Remington 9½ Mag 5.09 3.5 – 6.75 0.664
Winchester WLR 4.8 4.1 – 6.0 0.430
This article has covered a large
Remington 9½ 4.75 3.7 – 6.25 0.568
amount of material, but how can you
Federal 210 Match 4.64 4.0 – 5.6 0.330
use some of this information? There
Federal 210 4.62 3.7 – 5.5 0.400
are circumstances where a softer
CCI BR2 4.37 4.0 – 5.0 0.246
ignition might help performance. The
Figure 5: The Lee Ram Prime System can CCI 200 4.28 3.8 - 4.8 0.322
ensure identical seating depth in primers data tables can help you decide what
Based on a minimum of 50 tests; most were 100 tests.
from load to load. $22 to look for when wanting to experi-
ment with different primers. The uni-
have some variation. Weighing primers will improve the per- formity data can also guide you in what to look for when
formance variation, but it will never make them all perform trying different primers for a new load. If you are forced
exactly the same. to use a primer different from what you have been using,
5. If you want to experiment with a .308 Win. case using this data will give you an idea of how the primers’ output
a small rifle primer to see if it gives you improved perfor- compares to make appropriate adjustments in your load.
mance, use the tables in this article to establish a basis for The bottom line is you will have to load and test different
trying different primers. (Caution: I don’t recommend use combinations to arrive at what works best for you. Using
of small rifle primers with hard-to-ignite propellants such as the data in the tables can give an idea of the first primers
Ball powders and deterred, slow-extruded propellants.) to experiment with to get a desired outcome.
40 G&A AUGUST 2025

Q U I ET TI M E Shadow Systems HS923

SHADOW SYSTEMS HS923

CALIBER 9mm
THREAD PITCH ½-28
LENGTH 5.33 in. to 8.18 in.
DIAMETER 1.37 in.
9.5 oz. (short),
WEIGHT
12.25 oz. (long)
7075 aluminum,
MATERIAL
titanium (blast baffle)
Cerakote, black (titanium);
FINISH
anodized (aluminum)
MSRP $822
Shadow Systems Corp.,
MANUFACTURER 469-458-6808,
shadowsystemscorp.com

The Shadow Systems HS923 is a

dedicated 9mm suppressor featuring
fixed K-baffles. It includes a piston
assembly, and is also adjustable for
length.

SILENT SHADOW
SHADOW SYSTEMS is widely known for its premium pis- lengths in minutes without additional tools. Shadow Sys-
tols. It focuses on enhanced ergonomics, innovative design tems claims the short configuration provides a 24 decibel
and engineering that sets its products apart. These princi- (dB) reduction, and the long configuration provides a 33
ples guided the design of its first entry into the sound sup- dB reduction. Since an unsuppressed 9mm pistol meters
pressor market, the HS923, a dedicated 9mm suppressor. around 155 dB, a long-configuration HS923 should reduce
Shadow Systems has a distinct style to its offerings, and that sound pressure to a pleasing 122 dB.
the HS923 echoes these features and performance, mak- To keep weight to a minimum, the HS923 uses 7075
ing it an excellent addition aluminum for all com-
to the product line. ponents, except for the
The HS923 is a two- titanium blast baffle, piston
piece modular suppressor and spring. The reduction
consisting of what Shadow in weight helps reduce
Systems calls a “primary downward pressure on the
module” with a removable pistol’s barrel during oper-
extended module. The ation, easing the burden
design allows the user on tilt-barrel designs. The
to tailor the suppressor’s full-length configuration
length to a specific mission, weighs 12¼ ounces, while
from either a short and the short version weighs
PHOTOS: MARK FINGAR

maneuverable 5.33 inches only 9½ ounces.

to the full-length 8.18-inch The full-length configura-
configuration. Users can The HS923 utilizes a K-baffle design with aptly named “mousehole” tion has seven baffles. The
swap between the two cuts to each baffle. The baffles are welded together. primary module contains a
 TRUSTED
BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT

OFFICIAL TRAINING PARTNER

NIGHTSTICK.COM
42 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | QUIET TIME

There is a tradeoff when

considering length ver-
sus sound suppression.
Longer is quieter, but
less wieldy. Shorter is
more maneuverable, but
at the cost of reduced
sound suppression.

Shadow Systems developed the endcap to match the dimensions of the underside of a Shadow Systems pistol slide. This clever design helps
remove the endcap without specialized tools. Plus, the endcap can be removed using the slide without separating the slide from the frame.

total of four baffles, comprising of a blast baffle and three commonly called a “Nielsen device.” It aids in the function
K-type baffles. The extension module has three K-type baf- of tilting-barrel handguns. The piston assembly consists of
fles. To ensure proper fit, all baffles are welded in-place at four parts: Housing, piston, spring and retaining cap. The
the factory. Each baffle has a notched rear with an oppos- assembly threads into the rear of the primary module and
ing mouse hole cut into the forward cone. The design can be disassembled for routine maintenance without the
helps to generate turbulence within the suppressor, slow- need for tools. While the housing and retaining cap are
ing down gasses. By doing so, sound is reduced. K baffles lightweight aluminum, the piston is stainless steel, with a
are inherently strong and center easily during assembly, bronze titanium-carbonnitride (TiCN) coating for improved
guaranteeing a straight bore line. The HS923’s blast baffle operation, and to allow for easier cleanup. Fans of Shadow
is titanium, designed to withstand the punishing high Systems will be pleased, since it’s the same bronze TiCN
pressures at the muzzle. The remaining baffles are 7075 coating used on many of its pistol barrels. The piston
aluminum and clear anodized to give them a bronze color glides centered and smoothly on a high-temperature
and additional corrosion resistance. The module sections O-ring located inside the retainer cap.
and front endcap are finished in black Cerakote, provid- Shadow Systems also makes a 13.5x1 left-land (LH) piston
ing resistance to corrosion and wear. The piston housing for those with European-standard threads. Also available
and retaining cap are Type III hardcoat anodized to resist from Shadow Systems are direct-thread mounts in ½x28 and
the abuse that could result from ultrasonic cleaners. (Such 13.5x1 LH, as well as a tri-lug mount for those running sub-
cleaners could damage Cerakote.) guns (SMGs) or pistol-caliber carbines (PCC). These options
The HS923 ships with a ½x28-threaded piston assembly, replace the entire piston housing assembly, reducing the
 QUIET TIME | AUGUST 2025 | G&A 43

overall length by about an inch.

A unique feature of the HS923 is the patent-
pending endcap design. The face of the endcap
features purposefully engineered slots that match
the underside geometry of a Shadow Systems’
pistol slide. This approach eliminates the need for
additional tools when reconfiguring the suppres-
sor at the range. With the pistol’s slide locked
back, connect the suppressor’s endcap against The HS923 includes a piston
assembly for use with tilt-
the slots underneath the slide and rotate to barrel-design semiautomatic
loosen or tighten the cap. The tool-less capability handguns. It’s a fine value-add.
shows Shadow Systems’ creativity and
focus on innovative creations. Several
WWW.RITONOPTICS.COM
manufacturer’s pistol slides also worked
successfully during our testing, so odds
are that it will work to support your
choice of pistol, as well. It’s a smart
feature to get stubborn endcaps off at
the bench, or to tighten it if needed.
Shadow Systems sent Guns &
Ammo one of its MR920 pistols for
testing with the HS923. The 1.37-inch
diameter body of the HS923 is nearly
flush with the top of factory iron sights
when obtaining a sight picture. While
still technically useable, it was not
optimal for testing, so we opted to
install a Trijicon RMR HD reflex sight to
the slide and went to the range with a
sampling of 9mm ammunition.
Using Federal American Eagle 9mm
115-grain ammunition, the full-length
configuration was noticeably quieter
than the short version. Both were
acceptable with the long version
being hearing safe. While shooting the
pistol with and without the suppres-
sor, the point of impact (POI) change
wasn’t noticeable to 50 feet. Surpris-
ingly, neither was the POI shift when
going from long to the short version.
All rounds landed in a 2½-inch group.
The system ran without a malfunction
all day, regardless of the load. The
balance felt great, too. Overall, the
HS923 was a true pleasure to use.
If you’ve been waiting to enter the world of pistol-mounted optics,
The modularity, construction and
the excuses are gone. Riton has a full assortment of red dot solutions.
innovative toolless design of the
Open and closed emitters, common footprints, and prices that
HS923, make it an easy choice for
eliminate any excuse you have to be tied to your iron sights.
owners of Shadow Systems pistols
wanting an effective sound suppres-
sor, but it would also be a great sup-
pressor for any 9mm firearm. We look
forward to more quiet things coming
from this company.
SE E TH E D IF F E R E N C E
— M. Fingar
44 G&A AUGUST 2025

R A N G E BAG Munch on this snack alternative at the range.

Tactical Snacks are a healthier alternative

compared to high-sugar candy bars and
snacks with artificial food dyes. These gum-
mies are available in several flavors, along
with protein-enhanced options.
Box of 6: $20

TACTICAL
SNACKS
“LICK-EES” AND “CHEW-EES.”
Snacks of this nature are highly cov-
eted during a long day afield. Anyone
who has served in the military probably
spent considerable time on training
exercises where they’d be visited by watch — the names describe the flavors
the colloquially named “gut truck” or well. These standard flavors are also
“roach coach.” Civilian entrepreneurs available in a protein-
would often load these trucks with the enhanced offering, upping the calorie
worst junk food options one could count from 55 to 95, but you get an
imagine, selling them to captive sol- additional 8 grams of protein. G&A
diers, sailors and Marines on military staff noticed that the protein-option
installations. Seemingly hated by first gummies were slightly tougher to chew,
sergeants everywhere, they were but the flavor profile was similar as the
always an immediate distraction. Yet, standard fruitful-tasting gummies.
small-unit leaders knew the value of Tactical Snacks are convenient to
a morale-boosting treat when the toss into a range bag, and they are
only meal troops could look forward certainly a healthier alternative to candy
to was prepared by field kitchens or in an MRE. bars and bags of chips. Notably, the ingredients list does
Snacks aren’t just applicable to servicemembers, though. not include any of the red dyes that we now know are not
Hunters in a treestand or blind and shooters spending long good for us. For example, instead of Red 40 synthetic dye,
training days at a civilian firearms courses experience the you’ll find red radish for color, and tapioca syrup for sweet-
same distracting hunger as energy depletes. The mental ener rather than high-fructose corn syrup.
and physical benefits that come from a good treat go a long Tactical Snacks are available for bulk purchase from
PHOTOS: MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

way to boost morale. Allow us to introduce Tactical Snacks, a tactical-snacks.com, and individual purchase, costing about
more gut-friendly alternative to the rolling convenience store. $20 for a package of six at aimcise.com. Discounted pricing
Tactical Snacks’ gummies are a sweet — pun intended is available for bulk orders. Next time you’re thinking about
— choice to satisfy those hunger cravings when dinner is what to take to the range or with you on a hunt, Tactical
still a few hours away. Available in three different flavors — Snacks should be a consideration.
Raspberry Recon, Breach Peach, and Watermelon Over- — G&A Staff
 AEMS PRO X2
NEXT-GENERATION. SAME DNA.
The Holosun AEMS PRO X2 is a premium sight designed to enhance • Multi-Reticle System™; 2 MOA dot & 65 MOA
the renowned AEMS platform with cutting-edge features that Circle; 2 MOA Dot; 65 MOA Circle
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46 G&A | AUGUST 2025
 AUGUST 2025 | G&A 47

OH,
BE QUIET!
HENRY’S SPD HUSH SERIES OF LEVER RIFLES
COMBINE TECHNOLOGY WITH
CLASSIC CHARM.
BY TOM BECKSTRAND | PHOTOS BY MARK FINGAR
The HUSH barrel is made by BSF Barrels and features a carbon The M-Lok forend is slim and light. It has attachment points to
fiber sleeve that lightly jackets the barrel for air flow. accept preferred accessories without overwhelming the profile.

LEVER-ACTION RIFLES continue to enjoy increased pop- from the barrel as possible. Also unique to the SPD HUSH
ularity, presenting today’s riflemen with more choices than is the M-Lok aluminum forend. It is light and hugs the
ever. With those choices comes nuance and performance. A barrel contour, keeping the forend’s girth to a minimum.
fun rifle that advances the modern lever action is the Special The resulting combination is a rifle that feels heavier in the
Products Division (SPD) Henry Ultimate Suppressor Host buttstock without a suppressor attached. Install a suppres-
(HUSH). The SPD HUSH combines classic lever-action sor, though, and it balances like a traditional rifle.
design with cutting-edge materials and accessories to give The barrel on the SPD HUSH is made by BSF Barrels
the lever-gun enthusiast a light yet fully featured rifle. (bsfbarrels.com), a Wisconsin company that specializes in
carbon fiber. Shooting a bunch of rounds quickly through
PARTY UP FRONT a carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel results in a lot of heat, as any
The SPD HUSH is Henry’s best effort at creating a lever- other. The concern for years has been that the difference in
action rifle ideally suited to suppressor use. When viewed thermal expansion between steel and carbon fiber could, or
through that lens, the components used in this configura- would, lead to the carbon fiber delaminating from the steel.
tion make a lot of sense. The short carbon-fiber barrel cuts I think this problem was solved long ago because I’ve never
weight out front because a suppressor adds both weight seen a carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel from a quality manufac-
and length. Henry decided it might as well get in front turer delaminate, even at shooting matches where barrels
of the challenge by trimming as much weight and length go through several hot/cold cycles across several days.
 OH, BE QUIET! | AUGUST 2025 | G&A 49

HENRY REPEATING ARMS

SPD HUSH
TYPE Lever action
.44 Mag./.44 Spl. (tested),
.357 Mag./.38 Spl.,
CARTRIDGE
.45 Colt, .30-30 Win.,
.45-70 Gov’t
CAPACITY 7 rds.
BARREL 16.5 in.; 1:16-in. twist
LENGTH 34.3 in.
WEIGHT 6 lbs.,15 oz.
American hardwood
STOCK
laminate
LENGTH OF PULL 14 in.
Matte blue (steel),
FINISH
anodized (aluminum)
SIGHTS None; optic rail, incl.
TRIGGER 6 lbs., 8 oz. (tested)
SAFETY Transfer bar
MSRP $1,999
Henry Repeating Arms,
MANUFACTURER 866-200-2354,
henryusa.com

BSF doesn’t wrap carbon

fiber around the barrel as
other manufacturers do,
but instead uses a carbon-
fiber sleeve that barely
touches the barrel. BSF
preferred to leave internal rel to have two tensioning
channels and cavities that sleeves, but accuracy was
allow air to flow around the still excellent for this rifle.
steel while also using their G&A’s test gun was cham-
sleeve like a tensioner. I like bered in .44 Special/.44
the idea of giving the barrel Magnum and had a muzzle
a better chance to breathe, threaded at 5⁄8-24. Henry
but what I really like about uses a 5⁄8-24 thread on all of
BSF barrels I’ve tested in its HUSH rifles, simplifying
the past was their accuracy. the suppressor attachment
I think BSF barrels lasts as effort by using the most
long as every other carbon common thread pattern.
fiber barrel, but it’s less The M-Lok handguard is
expensive and is as accurate made by TAPCO and shows
in the three or four models fine workmanship. For
I’ve used. I think the BSF those who are decisively
barrel was a wise choice into middle age or older,
for the Henry rifle because this is not the TAPCO of 15
it doesn’t drive the price years ago. Today’s TAPCO
sky-high. It’s accurate and has a narrow and focused
shaves a lot of weight from As the model name suggests, the SPD HUSH is ready for use product portfolio with an
the muzzle end of the rifle. with suppressors. Threads are 5⁄8x24 for this Henry rifle. official name of “The Amer-
These are all great contribu- ican Parts Company.” When
tions for a rifle that is meant to host a suppressor. testing various handguards for the SPD HUSH, Henry sam-
The BSF barrel on the SPD HUSH is also unique because pled nearly all forends. TAPCO reportedly beat the com-
it has a steel band midway down the barrel that allows for petition by a wide margin. The TAPCO handguard fits the
attachment of the M-Lok handguard. This requires the bar- rifle well, allowing users to attach sling mounting points
50 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | OH, BE QUIET!

The HUSH can be loaded from the loading gate or the loading port in the magazine tube. The magazine holds seven rounds of .44 Spl./.44 Mag.

The Henry SPD HUSH hammer does not

have a half-cock position, though it does
utilize a transfer bar for safety.

or lights where desired. It manufacturing. The

is also comfortable in the receiver is machined from
hand and exhibits excellent forged steel and incorpo-
machining with no sharp rates all of the best prac-
edges. The handguard is tices seen in lever-action
lighter than Henry’s poly- rifles through the decades.
mer handguard, and was The receiver is enclosed up
selected for its ergonomics, top and uses a round bolt
rigidity and light weight. to create as strong an action
There will undoubtedly as possible.
be the temptation to attach The receiver design,
a bipod to this forend for material, and forging all
accuracy testing, a practice combine for a robust rifle.
that I discourage on any As an added safety measure, the two-piece firing pin only aligns Henry chambers some of
lever-action rifle. Lever- when the lever is in the closed position. its rifles with this receiver
action rifles shoot best type in .360 Buckhammer,
when the entire forend is supported by a bag, spreading which has a maximum chamber pressure of 50,000 pounds
the load evenly across its length. Using a bipod puts a per square inch (psi). While this specific receiver is too
point load near the muzzle of the barrel, making consis- short for the Buckhammer cartridge, it has the same materi-
tency difficult from one shot to another. I’ve had a lever als and design, and is capable of handling similar pressure.
rifle struggle to group well with a bipod but shoot just fine Any factory-loaded .44 Special of .44 Magnum ammunition
once the bipod is removed. is likely going to be fine in the SPD HUSH, to include the
offerings from Buffalo Bore, Double Tap and Grizzly. I don’t
BUSINESS IN THE BACK think anyone is loading .44 Magnum ammunition above
Everything from the receiver on back is traditional Henry 50,000 psi.
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52 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | OH, BE QUIET!

The trigger on the SPD HUSH is on par with most lever-action rifles. An American hardwood laminate wooden stock finished in grey fea-
G&A’s test rifle produced a 6½-pound trigger on a Lyman gauge. tures a slightly hollowed-out core to reduce the weight in the rear.

also inquired about the quality control. Henry rifles receive

some inspection before being boxed up and shipped off.
However, SPD HUSH rifles have an additional detailed
inspection of the barrel and bore where critical dimensions
are checked. The forend also receives additional verifica-
tion. When these steps are complete, the individual doing
the inspection stamps the rifle’s paperwork with a unique
mark. The mark confirms who checked the parts, should
the rifle ever need factory service.
I spoke with George Thompson, Henry’s director of
products, when gathering information for this review. One
observation he mentioned that bears sharing is how sig-
nificantly manufacturing has changed in the last 10 years,
which allows rifle man-
Safety is also a priority for PERFORMANCE ufacturers to craft details
the folks at Henry. The two- VEL.
BEST
GROUP GROUP
AVG. consistently that were not
piece firing pin only aligns LOAD (FPS) ES SD (IN.) (IN.) possible before. The SPD
.44 SPECIAL
when the lever is fully HUSH is a prime example.
Black Hills 125-gr. Honeybadger 1,605 49.7 15.3 1.78 2.08
closed, preventing an out- Even if we overlook the
.44 MAGNUM
of-battery discharge. Henry advanced BSF barrel, and
Hornady 225-gr. FTX 1,793 37.5 12.3 2.58 2.91
was thoughtful enough to all the complex shapes of
SIG Sauer V-Crown 240-gr. JHP 1,679 37.1 12.7 2.59 2.98
do away with unsightly and the handguard, we still
Notes: Accuracy is the average of five five-shot groups at 100 yards from a rest. Veloc-
unnecessary crossbolt or ity is the average of five shots measured using a Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph have a rifle made from
placed adjacent to the muzzle.
tang safeties, abominations precision-machined parts
in the eyes of our ancestors that is far more consistent
but a common scourge in today’s lawyer-fearing society. and smoother than hand-fit lever guns of yesteryear. This
Instead, Henry used an internal transfer bar safety that pre- means the rifle found in the local gun shop will likely per-
vents firing unless the trigger is held down the entire time form identically to the one seen on these pages.
the hammer falls. There is no half-cock on the SPD HUSH. The SPD HUSH from Henry is a unique rifle designed
Like other Henry levers, the SPD HUSH can be loaded for today’ s suppressor and rifleman. It’
s a growing demo-
through the loading gate or through the underbarrel graphic. The lever-action rifle offers fast follow-up shots
magazine tube. I like the idea of easy unloading and would while still remaining as quiet as any bolt-action rifle when
prefer loading through the tube on lengthy range days. suppressed. All of the chamberings in the HUSH are avail-
The loading gate worked well, but it took more deliberate able with factory-loaded subsonic ammunition, making
effort to use the gate than the tube. this a fast-shooting and nearly silent rifle. When unsup-
The test rifle was chambered in .44 Magnum/.44 Spe- pressed, it is a light lever gun that puts most of the weight
cial, and it cycled loads in these two cartridges with equal in the rear and close to the shooter’s body. That makes it
ease. Accuracy was excellent and akin to other premium easy to shoot offhand. While excelling in the niche for
lever-action rifles. which it was designed, the SPD HUSH is a high-tech rifle
When I called Henry to discuss this rifle’s provenance, I at home in any lever-action enthusiast’s hands.
 ©2025 O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc.

990 AFTERSHOCK™ SEMI-AUTO

WORTH
54 G&A | AUGUST 2025
 AUGUST 2025 | G&A 55

TURKISH
DELIGHT
VISITING THE MASS PRODUCERS
OF THE WORLD’S AFFORDABLE
IMPORTED FIREARMS.
BY ERIC R. POOLE | PHOTOS BY MARK FINGAR
56 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | TURKISH DELIGHT

The MAC 5 (left) and MAC 5K (below) are manufac-

tured from original tooling and designs by Mertsav
Defense Systems in a suburb of Istanbul. Mertsav
employs more than 200 and operates three pro-
duction facilities. Since 2006, Mertsav also makes
machine guns, grenade launchers, infantry rifles
and automatic pistols for the Turkish military.

MILITARY ARMAMENT CORP.

MAC 5/MAC 5K
Delayed roller-lock
TYPE
A PART OF ME YEARNED to return blowback, semiautomatic
since serving in the Middle East as a CARTRIDGE 9mm
U.S. Marine, perhaps in the same way BARREL 8.9 in./5.8 in.
that draws some veterans of World LENGTH 17.9 in./13.7 in.
War II, Korea and Vietnam to visit the HEIGHT 8 in.
sites of their battles. Though Türkiye, WIDTH 1.75 in.
pronounced “Tur-kee-yeh,” is predom- WEIGHT 5 lbs., 8 oz./4 lbs., 10 oz. sincere gestures of friendship and
inantly Muslim — and I a Christian FINISH
Phosphate (barrel), respect. The meal’s host pulled his
lacquer, black (steel)
— both religions have a historical guests, one by one, into an embrace,
Post, hooded (front);
presence in this region. Though busi- SIGHTS
aperture drum (rear)
connected by touching head-to-head
ness was conducted during the waking MSRP $1,295
or cheek-to-cheek. I struggled to
hours, we gathered in the evenings to Mertsav Savunma
remember the etiquette — right side
MANUFACTURER
exchange culture and celebrate each Sıstemlerı, Istanbul, Türkiye first and then left — but I was quickly
other’s company using the shared IMPORTER
SDS Arms, 865-604-6894, reminded that I had made friends for
sdsarms.com
understanding of a few words to life, was always welcome to return, to
lengthen meals of seasoned steak, lamb, stay with them, and encouraged to do
and chicken placed on colorful plates of fruit and vegetables, so sooner rather than later.
some pierced by skewers with tallow. By invitation, I visited firearm manufacturing facilities in
At times, a TV in the background was set to world news, Istanbul, the Bey ehir region in Konya, and Trabzon. There
soccer or a game’s highlights. This had little interest to were certain similarities regardless of brand: Cool marble
me given that I didn’t understand the broadcasts beyond floors and walls cut from the local mountains, chocolate on
the weather and had to look at our hosts to determine conference tables surrounded by comfortable chairs. Some
who was winning the games. Despite the language barrier, offices were smoke-filled, featuring ice breakers in the form
every day ended late in a mutual reluctance to depart, with of pictures, trophies and awards, and multiple Turkish flags

These receivers illustrate the multiple stages of stamping and die-cut- Receivers and barrels are welded with sight bases, magazine well, and
ting MAC 5-series receivers before they are folded over tooling and a block for reinforcement at the rear. The 5.8-inch barrel indicates these
fitted with a barrel, sights and subassemblies. will be MAC 5K models.
 TURKISH DELIGHT | AUGUST 2025 | G&A 57

MILITARY ARMAMENT CORP.

MAC 9 DS COMP
Recoil operated, single
TYPE
action, semiautomatic The MAC 9 DS
Comp is available
CARTRIDGE 9mm
with a ported slide
BARREL 4.25 in. and barrel in either
LENGTH 7.6 in. 41⁄4- or 5-inch barrel
lengths. The full-
HEIGHT 5.8 in.
length rail features a
WIDTH 1.5 in. single Picatinny slot
WEIGHT 2 lbs., 2 oz. to mount a light or
laser sight.
FINISH QPQ Tenifer (steel)
Fixed, black post (front),
SIGHTS
ornamenting the surrounding walls. An black notch (rear) Corporation (MAC), Tisa USA,
assistant entered the meeting early to MSRP $1,161 Tokarev USA, Spandau and Inglis.
serve hot tea sweetened with sugar or MANUFACTURER Tisaş, Trabzon, Türkiye Under a “quality made affordable con-
a miniature cup of thick ground coffee IMPORTER
SDS Arms, 865-604-6894, cept,” CEO Chris DiCenso joined me,
sdsarms.com
or espresso. Glasses and escorted by Gaines Davis, a
cups were refreshed every widower, professional engi-
10 minutes, empty or not. neer and 3-Gun competitor
Through our translator — who now spends half his
Operations Manager Altan year living in Bey ehir and
Ate of SDS Arms — small consulting with clients on
talk initiated a discussion manufacturing, quality con-
of each company’s history trol, and American design
and capabilities, followed trends. SDS Arms is the
by a trader’s discussion to only company I’m aware
negotiate quantities, price, of that has three employ-
payment and delivery sched- ees living and working in
ules. Then came the plant Türkiye to ensure America’s
tour. demand for quality are
Except for the manufac- met. Davis deserves large
ture of specialty parts such credit as to why products
as springs, companies are such as the MAC 5, DS
proud of their labor and 1911s, and its sporting
The MAC 9 DS series features a double-stack (DS) polymer grip mod-
machining, always looking ule. The “Comp” model adds a functional compensating port atop the and tactical shotguns turn
for ways to make processes barrel and slide. out as dependable and
more efficient. Whether it accurate as they are. SDS
be shotgun, pistol, rifle or air gun, any detail is possible. Arms products are generally spec’d to order rather than
The American importer only has to ask. Business is simple conceived and built by the Turkish maker, and all of its
economics. The list of features is negotiated to a price that firearms are backed by a lifetime warranty. Davis’ end-user
the importer believes will create a good value proposition insight, scrutiny of manufacturing, eye for detail and rela-
for their customers. The manufacturer attempts to secure tionships contribute to the performance of these products.
a certain percentage up front to cover wages, materials His bridge to the companies was best described when he
and overhead, while trying to sneak in some profit. The said, “I have more close friends here in Türkiye now than I
ATF came up in every conversation, including questions have in the U.S.”
about current approval times for Form 6s, tariffs, estimated I visited nine companies during my February 2025 tour,
delivery times and balance payment schedules. Much of it but there are hundreds of companies producing firearms
was speculative. for the world. The size of Turkish firearm manufacturing
My invitation to see Turkish manufacturing came was surprising. In fact, Türkiye is the largest exporter
through SDS Arms of Knoxville, Tennessee, a business of shotguns to the U.S. and the second-largest overall
owned by four investors, including Military Armament exporter of firearms, according to the annual statistical
58 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | TURKISH DELIGHT

DiCenso added, “We’re very excited to be working with

the preeminent manufacturer of military small arms, to be
making our MAC 5 and MAK 5K roller-block series and
Introduced in 2025, the TT-12 Pro proliferation of well-known models
features a competition-style layout coming soon.”
with distinctive controls. Spare 5-, 10- TOKAREV
and 20-round T-1919 mags are avail- TT-12 PRO
able at tokarevusa.com. $20 - $30 TOKAREV, BEYŞEHIR, KONYA
Gas piston operated,
TYPE
semiautomatic tokarevarms.com
ATF report “Firearms Commerce in CARTRIDGE 12 ga. (2¾ in., 3 in.) Tokarev is a family-owned business
the United States.” In 2020, Turkey BARREL 18.5 in. that grew from producing garments
exported 415,180 handguns, 29,450 LENGTH 38 in. to buying, selling and manufacturing
rifles and 1,045,621 shotguns. Austria HEIGHT 9 in. firearms within Türkiye under the
was second with 1,279,123 handguns WIDTH 3 in. Salvador brand. Co-owners Süleyman
imported that same year, and Brazil WEIGHT 8 lbs., 9 oz. Alaboğa, president, and Fahruk Tutal,
third with 1,016,630 total firearms. FINISH
Chromate (steel), CEO, purchased the Tokarev brand
anodized (aluminum)
Of the Turkish importers, SDS Arms in 2019. Though they could (and
Flip-up, adj. post (front),
is one of the top three importers of SIGHTS
aperture (rear)
have) manufactured the TT-33 most
firearms into the U.S. Other Turkish MSRP $487
associated with the name, Tokarev has
importers include Canik with a fac- Tokarev, Beyşehir,
responded to America’s demands for
MANUFACTURER
tory in Samsun and headquarters in Konya, Türkiye its bullpup shotguns, 500-inspired
Ankara, the capital of Türkiye; SAR of IMPORTER
Tokarev USA, 865-604- pump-actions, A300-pattern semiau-
6894, tokarevusa.com
Sarsilmaz, Beyköy, outside of Istanbul; tomatic shotguns, AR-15-style shot-
Tisas in Trabzon; Tokarev in guns and lever-action Model
Bey ehir; Huglu in Huğlu; 1894-style rifles.
Stoeger in İstanbul; and In my observation, the
Century with products manufacturing process
purchased from MKE and flowed well through the
Canik. facilities. With space avail-
What follows are able for expansion, Tokarev
company overviews and employs experienced mas-
manufacturing highlights ters and young engineers to
experienced during Guns & ensure firearm knowledge
Ammo’s exclusive visit. is passed down to secure its
future. Kadir Yıldırım, head
MERTSAV, İSTANBUL of engineering, has worked
mertsav.com.tr at Tokarev for seven years
SDS Arms sources its MAC and has studied electrical
5 and MAC 5K pistols from engineering for 12 years in
Tokarev encourages engineers to improve existing products and
Mertsav, a company that develop new concepts. This engineer is working on a lever-action Konya. Yıldırım is called
has operated in support revolving carbine that’s near completion. “Usta,” meaning that he
of the defense industry has earned the title “Mas-
since 2006. Its product portfolio includes machine guns, ter.” The strategy to secure its future is also present in its
infantry rifles, sniper rifles, rifle-mounted grenade launch- executive leadership through Seyit Mehmet Alaboğa, son of
ers and multi-shot grenade launchers. Notably, it has also Süleyman.
developed a bolt-action chassis system featuring a three- The gunmaking tradition in the Bey ehir region was
lug bolt design. started 40 kilometers away in the village of Gencek. In the
“Mertsav has a long history of collaboration with military 1940s, a veteran learned how to repair guns in the military.
tenders,” said Davis. “They now have interest in reaching Starting with single-shot shotguns, a gun-making tradition
the commercial market. They are our newest vendor and was created. Gaines noted, “Tokarev is eager to take all of
now have the top-selling product.” the technical and manufacturing advice SDS Arms can give
 TURKISH DELIGHT | AUGUST 2025 | G&A 59

them,” which is how products such as the TBP 12 bullpup

became a best-seller.
Most of the shotguns made in Tokarev’s TBP is a
Türkiye are made in or near Konya. TOKAREV compact bullpup
TBP 12 semiautomatic shotgun
Among them is the company’s latest
Gas piston operated, that utilizes detachable
TT-12 Pro, which is an AR-style 12- TYPE
semiautomatic T-1919 magazines. Yes,
gauge shotgun developed for serious CARTRIDGE 12 ga. (2¾ in., 3 in.)
the price is right. $244
3-Gun Open Class competition where 18.5 in.,
BARREL
fast reloading is required. Its rival at Benelli Mobil chokes thousands of square feet of CNC
the range is the Rock Island Armory LENGTH 30.25 in. manufacturing, robotics, development
VR80, which is made by Derya Arms HEIGHT 8.5 in. labs, and an indoor range. Known for
in the Bey ehir industrial park. WIDTH 3 in. its sporting shotguns, the company
“Tokarev has been a reliable and WEIGHT 7 lbs., 4 oz. also manufactures pistols and AK-
consistent partner,” said DiCenso, FINISH
Chromate (steel), style firearms not currently imported
anodized (aluminum)
“They are easy to work with — flexible into the United States. However, it
Flip-up, adj. post (front),
and responsive.” Browning and Kalash- SIGHTS
aperture (rear)
is SDS Arms’ source for the award-
nikov are familiar names in the firearm MSRP $244
winning MAC 1014 semiautomatic
manufacturing business, and they are Tokarev, Beyşehir,
shotgun. More than 10,000 M1014
MANUFACTURER
globally produced brands. Similarly, Konya, Türkiye shotguns are produced annually. In
Tokarev has helped SDS Arms gain a IMPORTER
Tokarev USA, 865-604- fact, it has become so popular that a
6894, tokarevusa.com
significant share of the shotgun market turkey-hunting version of the plat-
since 2022. form is being considered.
Typhoon is also making the Spaundau S2 and the
TAYFUN ÖZERBAŞ MAKINE, BEYŞEHIR, KONYA Agency M2/M4 Tradesman. In the case of the Tradesman,
typhoonsilah.com Agency Arms (agencyarms.com) designed the accoutre-
“Özerba ,” also known as “Typhoon,” was started by Tay- ments made for this platform. These guns were based on
fun Özerba in 2011. Typhoon is a sophisticated, multi- the legendary M1014 and M2 shotguns. The internals of
level, and modernized manufacturing facility containing the M1014 are gas and inertia operation, while the M2 is

G&A Editor Eric Poole smiles after evaluat-

ing the Tokarev TAR 12ODG semiautomatic
shotgun in 12 gauge, a favorite among 3-Gun Özerbaş’ Typhoon Defence Industries operates multiple floors of CNC machines, robotics and
competition shooters. $350 injection molding stations, as well as an assembly area and indoor range.
60 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | TURKISH DELIGHT

The Military Armament Corporation offers

several versions of the inertia-driven semi-
auto made at Özerbaş by Typhoon Defence
Industries. The Agency Tradesman 1014 was
developed by SDS Arms in collaboration with
Agency Arms. $1,277

MILITARY ARMAMENT CORP.

inertia-operated only. AGENCY TRADESMAN 1014
During the tour, Typhoon was Gas piston operated,
TYPE
proud to claim the best engineer in semiautomatic
the region: Ömer Sayın. Sayın’s father GAUGE 12 (2¾ in., 3 in.)
was also a shotgun manufacturer who BARREL 18.5 in. this brand is one to watch for its new
worked at several facilities. He was LENGTH 39.8 in. sporting rifle designs.
the initial designer of the MAC IX and HEIGHT 8.3 in.
worked on perfecting MP5 tributes. WIDTH 2.6 in. KRAL ARMS, AÜZÜMLÜ, KONYA
“[Typhoon] is flexible and respon- WEIGHT 8 lbs., 5 oz. kralarms.com
sive, said DiCenso. “They have great FINISH
Chromate (steel), Established in 1997, Kral Arms is
anodized (aluminum)
expansion capability, too. known internationally for its air guns,
Blade, white (front),
As SDS Arms continues to seek SIGHTS
ghost ring, adj. (rear)
pistols, semiautomatics, AK47 varieties
potential business opportunities and MSRP $1,277
and for making the first pump-action
partners, we drove across the indus- Tayfun Özerbaş Makine,
shotgun in Turkey. Staffed by nearly
MANUFACTURER
trial park to visit Reximex. Beyşehir, Konya, Türkiye 200 employees, it operates more than
IMPORTER
SDS Arms, 865-604-6894, 130 CNC machines to manufacture
sdsarms.com
REXIMEX, BEYŞEHIR, KONYA 150,000 air guns, 100,000 shotguns,
reximex.com and 54,000 9mm pistols in
Reximex owner and 2024. To increase manufac-
President Raif Sütçü is the turing capabilities, a new
brother of Mustafa Sütçü. facility was under construc-
Together they own and tion in the Bey ehir indus-
operate Kral Arms, a suc- trial park during my visit.
cessful maker of rifles, pis- At the time, 80 additional
tols, shotguns and air rifles, CNC machines were already
some of which are imported there. In the U.S., Kral
to the U.S. by other brands. Arms is known for making
Raif maintains a small own- more than 50,000 pieces
ership stake in Kral Arms for TriStar. Though scalable
but is no longer partici- exports to the U.S. are dif-
pating in board meetings. ficult, Kral has 72 partners
Founded in 2015, Reximex worldwide including Air
Surrounded by hand tools and working over a vise, a long-time
is a comparatively young employee at Huğlu sands and blends a wooden stock to a shotgun Venturi for its air guns.
company created to man- receiver with careful attention to detail. “You dream, we do,” is the
ufacture air rifles, pistols company’s motto.
and shotguns. It has also developed new bolt-action rifle
designs with a short 60-degree bolt lift. Knowledge of the HUĞLU AV TÜFEKLERI KOOPERATIFI, HUĞLU, KONYA
Turkish firearm manufacturing industry, combined with huglu.com.tr
the latest in CNC machines and equipment and a youthful Huğlu — pronounced “Hoo-loo” — is one of the larg-
labor force means that Reximex is flexible to respond and est and well-known firearm manufacturers in Türkiye.
quickly develop specific configurations of its products for Other than springs, Huğlu manufactures all its parts from
its clients. It already produces high-quality over/under and material, including plastic and wooden components. It
semiautomatic shotguns and competition air rifles, but even does its own heat treatment and coatings. Of the
62 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | TURKISH DELIGHT

The Spandau Arms S2 is manufactured by Özer-

baş, and is the same gun as the tactical MAC 2. The
sporting S2 is available in several Mossy Oak and
Realtree hydro-dip patterns.

550 employees working two shifts, SPANDAU ARMS

more than 230 are professionals S2 MOSSY OAK BOTTOMLAND
with engraving or woodworking Inertia operated,
TYPE
semiautomatic
skills. Forty are hand engravers. Its CARTRIDGE 12 ga. (2¾ in., 3 in.)
shotgun-making history started in 24 in. or 28 in.; vent rib;
the U.S. options are currently limited
1914, although Huğlu Corporation BARREL to barrel lengths of these models.
Benelli Mobil chokes
was established in 1962. The com- HEIGHT 7 in.
pany began with making a single-shot WIDTH 2 in. AKDAŞ SILAH A.Ş. AND AKDAŞ OUT-
shotgun before adding a side-by- WEIGHT 6 lbs., 7 oz. DOOR, HUĞLU, KONYA
side, over/under and semiautomatic FINISH
Hydro-dip (Mossy Oak akdassilah.com
shotguns to its offerings. For the past Bottomland) Selim Akda , CEO and owner, started
42 years, Huğlu has been a partner of Fiber-optic bead, red; Akda in 1998. Today, more than 110
SIGHTS brass mid-bead,
CZ-Colt, which owns the Huğlu name optic ready employees work 9,500 square meters
in the U.S. It also supplies Mossberg. MSRP $558 of manufacturing real estate. With its
In addition to those shotguns, Huğlu Tayfun Özerbaş indoor and outdoor firing ranges, the
manufactures select-fire and semiau- MANUFACTURER Makine, Beyşehir, property spans 15,000 square meters.
Konya, Türkiye
tomatic 9mm pistols and is working Spandau Arms,
Akda Outdoor is operated by Selim’s
on a bolt-action rifle for SDS Arms. IMPORTER 865-604-6894, brother, who makes sporting shotguns
spandauarms.com for brands such as SKB in the U.S. The
AKUS SILAH SANAYI VE TICARET A.Ş, Akda brand is a family-owned and
BEYŞEHIR, KONYA -operated company who has
akus.com.tr been in the business of gun
Akus was founded by the making for 77 years.
father of Fahti Akus and his Akda is the only company
brother, Halit. The company manufacturing defense
makes high-quality, hand- products for the Turkish
made, bespoke shotguns in army in the Bey ehir. Its
low volumes. The staff are first was the MG3 German
few but are seemingly all machine gun, a design
skilled artists and craftsman. derived from the World
In one corner of the facility, War II-era MG 42.
a 20-foot-high stack stretch- “We are always seeking
ing 40 feet in length on two innovation,” Akda told
sides of an aisle contained me. “[For example,] our
the highest grades of walnut government started a new
Produced by Akdaş, the MAC IX 9mm demonstrated excellent accuracy
— with some blanks worth and flaweless reliability at the range. An SMG-style pistol is offered by project requiring a grenade
more than $10,000 each. the Military Armament Corp. $833 launcher in 2019. We made
The over/under and side-by- it, as well as the grenades,
side shotguns made here are all hand-fit and hand-engraved. for the Turkish army. It was the first launcher for the Turk-
During my tour, I observed four women hand-checkering ish army, and we delivered more than 14,000 units.”
full-figured wooden stocks. I also made the acquaintance of In addition to its sporting shotguns, Akda also man-
Engraver Fahri Ağır, who shared techniques while polish- ufactures AR-pattern rifles and semiautomatic shotguns
ing and creating a relief of a field scene that canvased the and carbines. Among them was the SA-9 semiautomatic
receiver, triggerguard and hardware. submachine gun (SMG)-style pistol in 9mm, which will be
Akus makes Spaundau Premier Target and Premier Field imported by SDS Arms as the MAC IX. The quality of these
over/under shotguns, which are imported through SDS products is shocking, as was the full-auto controllability and
Arms. Though Akus could make custom-order products, reliability of the SA-9. The SMG market is about to heat up.
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64 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | TURKISH DELIGHT

INGLIS
GP-35
Recoil operated, single
TYPE
action, semiautomatic
CARTRIDGE 9mm The Inglis GP-35 is man-
ufactured by Özerbaş.
BARREL 4.7 in. The design is a faithful
LENGTH 7.5 in. tribute to the Hi Power, but
HEIGHT 5 in. is available in a variety of
finishes and grips, including
WIDTH 1.6 in. color-case steel and Turkish
WEIGHT 1 lb., 14 oz. walnut. $757
TISAŞ, TRABZON Hard chrome (barrel),
FINISH Color Case Hardened
tisasarms.com (steel)
pany in Ankara. Tisa ’ strategy is to
Tisa was founded in 1985 in a garage Fixed, brass bead
manufacture the large components
to manufacture boutique firearms. SIGHTS (front), black notch while maintaining control of small
(rear)
Located on the Black Sea, there are parts produced by Furkan CNC, also
MSRP $757
cultural differences between Tisa and in Trabzon.
Tayfun Özerbaş
the manufacturers in the southern MANUFACTURER Makine, Beyşehir,
In addition to the polymer (PX)
Mediterranean regions of Türkiye. Konya, Türkiye series — which includes the PX-9 and
Hence, the areas that SDS Arms IMPORTER
SDS Arms, 865-604- PX-5.7 — SDS Arms imported 84,999
6894, sdsarms.com
sources products from provides a 1911s from Tisa , to include single- and
diverse perspective between double-stack (DS) models,
manufacturing practices. plus the Military Armament
Business between SDS Corporation (MAC) line.
Arms and Tisa began in Tisa employs more than
2016. The primary point of a dozen engineers, who
contact is Ergin Akyüz, who helped quickly develop
is the international trade variations of the Model 1911
manager. Most manufac- and make SDS Arms one of
turers have an international the largest vendors of the
trade manager who speaks 1911 platform. The Night
English, and Ergin was that Stalker series is an example
person for us. However, of that collaboration.
he not only helped with “With more than 105,000
translations but also in the guns a year, Tisa is the
understanding of cultural largest partner to SDS
The Inglis L9A1 is a historically correct configuration that serves as a
differences and mediating tribute to the Hi Power issued to British forces between 1962 and 2013. Arms,” said DiCenso.
between companies. $575 “With them, SDS Arms has
Previously, Tisa only had become the number two
business with TriStar. Of the five largest Turkish exporters, seller of 1911s in the U.S. in terms of volume.”
Tisa is number five. Unlike companies in the Bey ehir
region, Tisa makes more rifle products than shotguns. It AMERICAN CONCERNS
has a tender with the Turkish government for 30,000 guns, Türkiye earned its independence in 1923 and is a strategic
including the new PX-9. Tisa is a privately held, multiple ally to U.S. interests. In the last decade, it has integrated
family brand. Unfortunately, Chairman of the Board Ahmet modern manufacturing standards to rival all other firearm
Alemdaroğlu passed away during my visit. The company is companies in the world. As parts are precision cut and
now in the hands of his sons and the members of the board. shaped, the machines at these factories don’t care where they
The manufacturing and modernization are efficient. In operate. What makes products offered by SDS Arms different
addition to some 300 CNC machines, several state-of-the- is that the company has employees in country, helping these
art five-axis machines, and robotic cells are operating as partners focus on improving their processes and adapt to
well. Since 2023, Tisa has more than doubled the size of America’s changing interests and economy. There are nearly
its manufacturing capacity. 200 firearm manufacturers in the Bey ehir region, but those
The PX-9 frames are outsourced by a molding com- working with SDS Arms are better off. Manufacturers such as
66 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | TURKISH DELIGHT

TISAS
1911 DUTY RAIDER
Recoil operated, hammer
TYPE
fired, semiautomatic
CARTRIDGE .45 ACP
TISAS BARREL 5 in., hard-chrome steel
PX-9 DUTY
LENGTH 8.62 in.
Recoil operated, striker
TYPE HEIGHT 5.3 in.
fire, semiautomatic
WIDTH 1.41 in.
CARTRIDGE 9mm
WEIGHT 2 lbs., 4 oz.
BARREL 4.1 in.
FINISH Cerakote, FDE (steel)
LENGTH 7.2 in. The Tisas 1911 Duty
Fixed, three dot; post is a continuation of
HEIGHT 5.8 in. SIGHTS
(front), ramp, notch (rear) the Raider Series 70
WIDTH 1.33 in.
MSRP $656 platform chambered
WEIGHT 1 lb., 12 oz. in .45 ACP. It is a
MANUFACTURER Tisaş, Trabzon, Türkiye
FINISH QPQ Tenifer (steel) tribute to the M45A1
Tisas USA, 865-604-6894, formerly issued to
IMPORTER
Based on the Fixed fiber-optic tisasusa.com
U.S. Marines. $656
polymer-framed SIGHTS post (front);
PX-series, the PX-9 Notch, black (rear)
Duty includes a new MSRP $392 U.S. partner. It continues to bridge relationships around
magwell, trigger, MANUFACTURER Tisaş, Trabzon, Türkiye the world, hosting meetings between world leaders.
front and rear serra-
tions, and compensa- IMPORTER
Tisas USA, 865-604- With more than 300 firearm manufacturers, how do
6894, tisasusa.com
tor. $392 companies compete? On price and quality. There is an atti-
tude of “frenemies” between
Reximex are seeking out the competing brands, but each
attention of American engi- respected and referred us to
neers such as Gaines Davis visit other companies.
to steady its business. What about supporting
Though SDS Arms “Made in America” policies?
imports from several It’s always good to buy
Turkish manufacturers, it American, and SDS Arms
employs a gunsmith and is an American company
offers a service department whose business is to import
at its Tennessee location. firearms from Turkey. When
Every product sold by SDS you think of top firearm
Arms is backed by a lifetime manufacturers, who’s on
warranty. If a problem can’t that list? There are a lot of
be repaired or replaced, non-U.S. manufacturers
they’ll offer an option for because the arms market is
The PX-9 represents a great value in any configuration. The PX-9 Duty
a new firearm. It’s a no- includes trending features such as optic ready and compensated slides, an international one. Few
questions-asked policy. extended mags, and an excellent trigger. exclusively manufacture
What about intellectual every component in the U.S.
property rights or patent infringements? These products
are all tribute guns. As patents expire, this is what happens. PARTING SHOT
(How old is the MP5 design?) During a 3-Gun competition, I was staged with two com-
Do these employees get paid a minimum or living wage? petitors faced with an array of steel targets. One was armed
Yes. Turkish firearm manufacturers are not exploiting with a $2,500 custom shotgun tricked out with oversized
anyone. Companies such as Özerba even offer employees buttons and a bright anodized receiver. The other was a
two meals a day, time off for prayer and health insurance. shooter competing for the first time who had purchased a
I did not observe a sweatshop. Thousands of lives depend MAC 2 Tactical 3 Gun model for less than $500 — $461
on these businesses to survive, while 35 employees in the to be exact. They were evenly matched. Every target
U.S. depend on SDS Arms. received a hit and there were no malfunctions or fumbled
Does Turkey stand up to terrorism? Though politics did reloads. Most importantly, the sport gained a new partici-
not come up, Turkey is a NATO-member country and a pant, and that’s something we all can root for.
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68 G&A | AUGUST 2025

REVEL IN
VICTORY
SAVAGE ARMS HAS RETURNED TO
LEVER-ACTION RIFLES WITH THE
RIMFIRE-CHAMBERED REVEL SERIES.
BY CRAIG BODDINGTON | PHOTOS BY MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ
 AUGUST 2025 | G&A 69

SAVAGE IS NO STRANGER to lever actions. MIXING OLD & NEW

Arthur Savage’s Model 1895/1899/99 was pro- The Revel (that’s “lever” spelled backwards)
duced for a century, with nearly a million made. was initially released in .22 LR, the chambering
Throughout most of the 20th century, the Savage of Guns & Ammo’s test rifles, with .22 WMR
99 was a nasty thorn in the side of Winchester’s and .17 HMR soon to follow. All are tubular-
lever-action business. The 99’s internal box mag- magazine rifles with the tube under the barrel.
azine housed spitzer bullets, and its strong action With rimfire cartridges, there is little downside
could handle higher pressures than competing to tubular magazines since the nose of one car-
tubular-magazine lever actions. As scopes came tridge bears on the center of the case ahead of it,
into common use, the Savage — with its side ejec- not on the rim where the priming is.
tion and solid-top receiver — was readily adapt- One thing I loved about the Savage 99 was its
able to conventional scope mounting. In the early internal rotary magazine. At the end of produc-
1950s, the lever-action Savage 99 became the first tion, they lost me when Savage switched to a
American production rifle drilled and tapped for detachable magazine. It’s just one more thing to
scope mounts across the line. keep track of. That’s a fundamental problem I
Lever actions eventually became costlier to have with many modern rifles of various action
produce, and therefore more expensive to buy types: A detachable magazine is an extra piece
than bolt actions. Also, bolt actions are more easily that can be dropped or forgotten. Yes, there’s
engineered to handle a wider range of cartridges a trade-off; it takes extra seconds to unload a
and are generally more accurate. Savage started as a tubular magazine, unlike popping a mag in and
lever-action company but was out of the lever-gun out. Whether the tube is in the stock or under
business for 25 years. In 2025, it returned with a the barrel, I like tubular-magazine rimfires, and
new rimfire lever-action, traditionally styled yet the tubular magazine is the most traditional in
thoroughly modern — and amazingly affordable. lever-actions.
70 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | REVEL IN VICTORY

The Revel DLX, above, has a Functionally, the handguards

modern-looking stock with a of each model are identi-
curved pistol grip and traditional cal. As on many takedown
lever. The Classic has a large- firearms, the rear sight is
loop lever and straight grip. also dovetail-mounted to
the barrel.

.The Revel is manufactured in Savage’s Ontario, Canada, is creepy, heavy triggers, so endemic as to seem a function
factory, so it’s a North American product. It’s stocked in of design — not on the Revel! I’m not sure how Savage
Turkish walnut, too. The wood on G&A’s two test rifles broke the code, but the Revel trigger is light and crisp. The
wasn’t fancy, just good, straight-grained walnut. Turkey is factory suggested it was a 2½-pound trigger pull, but our
one of the last and best sources on Earth for good gun- test rifles measured just more than advertised.
stock walnut. Even there, it’s getting scarcer and pricier.
The .22 LR-chambered Revel is offered in two grades: TAKEDOWN TAKEAWAY
Classic and DLX, with respective retail prices of $439 and Another pleasant surprise is that all Revels are takedown
$539. At either price, it’s an excellent value for a lever-action models, with the operation as simple and goof-proof as
stocked in nice walnut. Factory iron sights are traditional I’ve seen on a takedown lever-action. Start with the action
lever-action style: Blade front, buckhorn rear. The rear sight open, lever extended all the way, safety engaged. The two
has a typical wedge for elevation and is drift-adjustable for takedown pins are at the bottom of the receiver. Start them
windage. The top of the receiver is flat and level, drilled and from left side to right with a punch or pen, then pull them
tapped for four- out as far as
screw bases or a they go; they’re
SAVAGE ARMS SAVAGE ARMS
rail strip. REVEL CLASSIC REVEL DLX captive and
Operation TYPE Lever action TYPE Lever action can’t get away
is lever-gun CARTRIDGE .22 LR CARTRIDGE .22 LR from you. The
simple. As one CAPACITY 12 rds. CAPACITY 12 rds. upper and lower
might expect, the BARREL 18 in., 1:16-in. twist 18 in., 1:16-in. twist, receiver groups
BARREL
exposed hammer LENGTH 36.3 in.
threaded ½-28 then separate
is two-stage, WEIGHT 6 lbs., 2 oz.
LENGTH 36.3 in. smoothly and
with a cross- STOCK Turkish walnut
WEIGHT 6 lbs., 1 oz. easily. Reassem-
bolt safety low FINISH Cerakote, black
STOCK Turkish walnut bly is the reverse.
and rear on the TRIGGER 2 lbs., 10 oz.
FINISH Cerakote, black Being less than
receiver, above Bead on blade (front),
TRIGGER 2 lbs., 10 oz. a mechanical
and just behind SIGHTS adjustable notch (rear), Hooded blade (front), genius, I admit I
drilled and tapped SIGHTS adjustable notch (rear),
the trigger. The drilled and tapped had to hold my
MSRP $439
action is won- MSRP $539 mouth just right
Savage Arms,
derfully smooth MANUFACTURER 800-370-0708, Savage Arms, to get it back
and fast. One of savagearms.com MANUFACTURER 800-370-0708, together. After a
savagearms.com
the lever-action’s couple of times it
historic problems got easier.
 REVEL IN VICTORY | AUGUST 2025 | G&A 71

The business end of the Revel DLX

(above, right) differs in the ferrule secur-
ing the magazine tube to the barrel, and
The Savage Revel DLX and Classic models the DLX has a hooded front sight. Also, Contrasting the differences between mod-
share the same notched rear sight. The the muzzle is threaded for use with a els, the DLX features a rubber buttpad
rear sight is adjustable for elevation. suppressor. while the Classic has a metal buttplate.

CLASSIC OR DLX? differences between the two, both

The Classic is, well, classic. subtle and significant. The DLX has a
Unadorned, straight-grained satin- curved pistol grip. The lever loop is
finished walnut stock and forend, also oversized, large enough for gloves
straight pistol grip with oversized but not as big as the Classic’s lever.
lever loop. The Revel Classic is a plain, It has a thick, black rubber buttpad.
simple rifle that looks like a traditional Whether .22 LR, WMR, or .17 HMR,
saddle gun, complete with a black we don’t need it for recoil. However,
buttplate bearing the Savage logo. this little touch can be significant.
Since I had both the Classic and Operating a lever-action from the
DLX in .22 LR for testing, a compari- shoulder starts with the downward
son seemed essential. The $100 price motion of the lever. A hard buttplate
difference between the two is not can slip; a rubber buttpad will not.
dramatic, but it is nearly a 25 percent The rear sights are identical; the
upgrade. The Revel DLX is not fancy. front sights are not. The Classic has
From left: .17 HMR, .22 WMR, .22 LR. The
However, instead of unadorned wood, Savage Revel will be offered in each of an exposed bead-on-blade foresight,
the pistol grip is stippled, with match- these cartridges by late-Summer 2025. while the DLX has a square-topped
ing relief carving and through-and- blade-on-ramp with a front sight
through ventilated cutouts on both the forend and stock, hood. Both are visible and functional. Since my days of
sort of a modern touch. head-shooting squirrels with open sights are over, I don’t
After my wife, Donna, and I had returned from a range have a preference, although the hooded front sight on the
session shooting these rifles, I laid them on my desk to DLX is superior. The ferrules securing the magazine tube
discuss the dif- to the barrel are
ferences between also different. On
them. She looked the DLX, it’s a
at the DLX stock Figure 8, encir-
and instantly cling both barrel
said, “Wow, that and tube. On the
looks cool.” Classic, the fer-
Funny, to me, rule is dovetailed
it’s just cosmet- to the bottom of
ics. Unabashed barrel, encircling
Western fan that only the maga-
I am, I’m happy zine tube. Again,
with the tradi- I don’t have a
tional style of the preference.
Classic. At the muzzle,
The Revel Classic takes advantage of an The narrow-loop lever on the Revel DLX is
Beyond aes- oversized lever loop, which is good for quick to use and shaped to complement there is a distinc-
thetics, there are use with gloved hands. the contour of the pistol-style grip. tive difference.
72 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | REVEL IN VICTORY

Loading the 12-round tubular magazine Ammo should be loaded through the The Savage Revel DLX includes a ½-28
is a simple process. Start by twisting and loading port. Don’t load ammo beyond threaded barrel for use with rimfire suppres-
removing the magazine’s guiderod. the loading port or load from the muzzle. sors. With a static bolt, it’s quiet to shoot.

The DLX has a threaded muzzle, ½-28 threads with a chamber loaded, you now have three choices.: (1) You can
knurled thread protector. For those who shoot rimfires fire, work the lever, and continue to fire until the tube is
with suppressors, this is obviously an important difference. empty. (2) You can re-engage the safety (left to right) and
The cost of having a Revel Classic threaded should factor choose not to fire. (3) Controlling the hammer with your
into one’s choice. thumb, you can manually move the hammer to half-cock
There’s another contrast that seems subtle, but may and re-engage the safety. The trigger will not function with
be the most important of all. The Classic comes up just the hammer at half-cock. However, to move the hammer
perfect with iron sights on target, as a good saddle gun from half-cock to full, the safety must be in the ready to
should. The DLX has a slightly higher comb; it’s okay with fire position.
iron sights, but the DLX allows for a better cheekweld Absent an exposed hammer, the old Savage 99 always
when used with a scope. had a bolt-locking manual safety, initially in the trigger-
guard, later on the tang. Since the specter of product lia-
AT THE RANGE bility loomed large in our society, many exposed hammer
I did some plinking with the Classic; it was fast and fun. lever-actions were redesigned with a manual safety, some
Out of the box, the windage was perfect, but elevation with a crossbolt, others with a tang safety. It’s important to
was a bit high at 25 yards, fixed by dropping the rear sight understand they don’t all operate like the Revel, whereby
wedge a couple notches. To see how a rifle groups, these the safety must be in “ready to fire” in order to feed. Even
days I need an optic. Using a rail strip and Weaver rings, I veteran lever-gun guys like me need to do the unmanly
mounted a Riton Primal 3-9X scope. thing and read the instructions, plus spend time on the
Before shooting, I needed to make sure I knew how to range acquiring muscle memory. With all that figured out,
operate it. If you’re new to lever-actions, or like me, more shooting groups was simple and fun, greatly aided by the
familiar with lever-actions made a century ago, read the Revel’s excellent trigger and smooth action.
instruction manual. Thr Revel has a three-position ham- The three loads I had on hand in adequate quantity
mer: Fired or rebound, half-cocked and fully cocked. Nor- were Federal’s 40-grain Auto-Match, Remington’s 36-grain
mal and standard for exposed hammer lever-guns. Now, Golden Bullet and Winchester 36-grain ammo. The latter
we introduce a two-position cross- two, both high-velocity loads, are
bolt safety. Present in some current loaded with copper-plated hollow-
lever-actions, absent in millions of points. The Riton scope came into
older guns. In the Revel, the half-cock zero in three or four shots. Accuracy
hammer position is not considered an exceeded expectations, easily in line
alternate safety. with what one might get from a good
With the magazine loaded, drop .22 sporter in any action type.
the lever to release a cartridge onto Federal 40-grain Auto-Match
the loading ramp, then bring the lever averaged just a hair less than an inch
back up to bring the bolt forward and for five five-shot groups at 50 yards.
feed the cartridge into the cham- The Winchester 36-grain hollowpoint,
ber to start shooting. The crossbolt a favorite tree squirrel and varmint
safety must be fully moved into the load, ran just behind at a 1.264-inch
Savage leans toward more safety in its
“ready to fire” position to work the designs, so the Revel features a cross-bolt average. It’s worth noting that the
lever and feed a cartridge. With the safety unlike most traditional lever guns. Winchester load produced the single
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74 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | REVEL IN VICTORY

best five-shot group of The actions were slick,

.665 inch. For whatever smooth, positive and
reason on this day, the fast. In total, I experi-
Remington Hi-Speed enced maybe four jams.
hollowpoints lagged a bit Some were my fault.
behind, yet still deliv- While shooting off
ered a 1½-inch average. sticks with the Clas-
Basically, the Revel shot sic, the hard buttplate
“minute-of-squirrel’s slid off my shoulder a
head” to 50 yards with couple of times, so I
all three loads, which is stuttered while working
the way I judge .22 accu- the lever. With lever-
racy. In my thick Kansas actions, it’s important
woods, I usually can’t see Savage Revel lever-actions are takedown rifles, handy for trail and back- to work the lever fully
pack use. At the bottom of the receiver, above the trigger, the left-to-
a squirrel much farther. right captive takedown pins are visible. To disassemble or reassemble, and completely. One
It’s worth noting that the lever must be down, bolt open and safety engaged. consistent motion all the
all three loads were way down, followed by
bulk-packaged and inexpensive, the kind of .22 ammo I a second motion all the way back up. With practice, this
suspect most of us shoot. Not necessarily because we’re becomes one smooth, continuous motion. Stutter-feed a
cheap, but because that’s what we can most easily find and lever-action and misfeeds will happen.
purchase. Extreme spreads (ES) were significant and resul- A couple of jams were probably caused by bad car-
tant standard deviations (SD) unimpressively high, which tridges. Bulk-packaged ammo is inexpensive for a reason
made the Revel’s accuracy even more impressive. — it’s not the best any manufacturer produces. Cartridges
Between grouping, plinking and playing, I put about rattle around in packaging, leading to dented cases or
400 rounds through the rifles — probably a two-thirds/ partially unseated, skewed bullets.
one-third split between the scoped DLX and the Classic. Regardless of the cause, with any .22 repeater, one
 REVEL IN VICTORY | AUGUST 2025 | G&A 75

misfeed per 100 rounds is a great performance.

However, when it happens, the Revel’s small
ejection port doesn’t offer much room for
clearing. With a fired case stuck in the cham-
ber, and a fresh round trying to double-feed, I
needed a small tool to get in there and push the
live round down on the follower, and either the
same small tool or a cleaning rod to clear the
fired case over it. I had both in my range bag;
maybe check yours.
At 6.1 pounds unscoped, neither Revel is
light. The walnut stock adds weight, and the
barrel is mostly
The best 50-yard group
steel. It has good SAVAGE REVEL DLX average was obtained with
heft and feel, and BEST AVG Federal Auto-Target 40-grain
VEL. GROUP GROUP lead, followed by Winchester
I was delighted to LOAD (.22 LR) (FPS) ES SD (IN.) (IN.)
36-grain copper-plated hollow-
find the balance Federal AutoMatch 40-gr. Lead Round Nose 1,185 38 13 .76 1 point. Remington’s 36-grain
point just behind Winchester 36-gr. Copper Plated HP 1,235 95 38 .67 1.3 high-velocity hollowpoint
where the forend lagged just behind, all “minute
Rem. Golden Bullet 36-gr. Brass Plated HP 1,243 85 27 1 1.5
of squirrel’s head” at 50 yards,
joins the receiver. Notes Accuracy is the average of five five-shot groups at 50 yards, fired over sandbags with a Riton excellent accuracy for any
3-9X scope. Velocity is the average of five shots measured by a Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph.
At this juncture, sporting .22 LR.
the bottom of the
receiver has an inch of rounded surface. That’s where the LAST ROUND
balance point is, offering a comfortable grip to carry the I can conclude by saying that Savage’s Revels are accurate.
Revel in one hand. The mounts and scope I put on the They are smooth functioning, sweet shooting, and a joy to
Revel DLX added weight but didn’t change the balance. carry. At its price point, it’s hard to ask for more.
76 G&A | AUGUST 2025

THE FRENCH
CONNECTION
DURING THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD
FROM PERCUSSION TO SELF-CONTAINED
CARTRIDGES, FRENCH REVOLVER
DEVELOPMENT MAINTAINED A
PREEMPTIVE POSITION.
BY GARRY JAMES
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHILIP SCHREIER

A Union trooper
displays a
Inventor Model 1854
Louis-François Lefaucheux
Devisme made revolver and
arms spanning U.S. Model
dueling and 1840 cavalry
target pistols saber in a
to exquisitely daguerréotype
appointed swords portrait circa
and knives. 1861.
 AUGUST 2025 | G&A 77

AMERICANS ARE QUICK to praise the ingenuity of Vermont designer Rollin

White for his 1855 patent of a bored-through revolver system that supposedly
revolutionized firearm design. White’s early efforts were beset with mechanical
and legal problems, resulting initially in a rather anemic .22 Short-caliber tip-up
revolver, the Smith & Wesson No. 1. The tiny seven-shooter was followed by a
slightly larger .32 rimfire upgrade. However, despite the novelty, neither piece
could be considered effective defensive or offensive repeaters.

On the other side of the Atlantic, had considerably greater power than
a full year before White’s U.S. patent the .22 and .32 Yankee rimfires.
was granted, French inventor Eugene Beginning in the mid-1850s, and
Lefaucheux patented a revolver with continuing at a rapid pace for at least
a bored-through cylinder that utilized several decades, numerous French-
a modified version of the successful men produced a wealth of practical
pinfire cartridge developed by his late service-grade revolvers. These arms
father, Casimir, in 1835. At the same enjoyed success in Europe, and were
time, other Gallic designers were also used by soldiers during the U.S.
developing their own systems, which Civil War, providing some of the most
were not only innovative but often sophisticated pistols of the conflict.
78 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | THE FRENCH CONNECTION

Devisme cartridge revolvers in the guise

of the Model 1854 (above) and Model 1858
(below) were early entries into the large-
caliber self-contained cartridge arena.
▼ Model 1859 Perrin 11mm and
12mm cartridge revolvers were
double-action only and were seen
in two basic variants, the Type 1
(below, top) and Type II (below,
bottom). A limited number of
these arms saw use during the
American Civil war, mostly with
Union troops.

The first metallic-cartridge Devismes were derived

from the firm’s percussion Model 1854. Variants
employed either an internal hammer or external cock-
ing lever, the latter connected to an internal striker. and was tested by several other nations, including the
United States. In addition to military models, pinfires were
produced for decades — well into the centerfire era — in
Though there were many worthy candidates for inclu- civilian versions with calibers ranging from 5mm to 15mm.
sion in this article, we’ll limit the field to a selection of Service revolvers were normally 12mm (.44) and fol-
examples offering innovative and varied designs to give the lowed a basic design: Single-action with no-topstrap. The
reader a feel for the vibrant, influential French cartridge hammers, which dropped downward to strike the car-
revolver development of the mid-19th century. tridge pins, often had generous spurs to allow for ease of
cocking. Loading was achieved through a frame-mounted
LEFAUCHEUX side gate with the cartridge pins projecting through small
When Eugene Lefaucheux premiered his revolver in 1854, slots at the top of the chambers. Ejection of spent cases
the idea of a self-contained cartridge was really nothing was performed one-at-a-time by means of a simple push
new. It made its first important appearance as early as rod mounted on the front right side of the frame.
1814 with an ingenious brass-cased round designed by Due to the projecting pin, it’s obvious that the risk of
Swiss arms-maker Samuel Johannes Pauly. His formative accidental discharge with the pinfire was greater than
concept worked reasonably well but was somewhat fragile. that with the contemporary centerfire and rimfire rounds.
It was soon eclipsed by other designs, notably the pinfire However, studying period pinfire military evaluations indi-
round contrived by Pauly’s assistant, Casimir Lefaucheux. cate that this was a consideration but did not deter many
Initially employed in shotguns, the pinfire was ingenious thousands of these handguns from seeing military service
and relatively robust. It consisted of a paper or copper/brass on both sides of the Atlantic.
round containing powder, bullet and an internal percussion At the beginning of the Civil War, the United States
cap, which was set off when a firearm’s hammer struck a Ordnance Department ordered some 12,649 Lefaucheaux
pin protruding at a slight angle from the top-rear of the 12mm pinfire revolvers and hundreds of thousands of
case. In 1854, Lefaucheux took his design to a new level by rounds of ammunition. It is not uncommon to see photo-
mating it to a revolver with a bored-through cylinder. graphs, primarily of Yankee troopers, proudly displaying
His revolver was initially accepted by the French military these revolvers.
 THE FRENCH CONNECTION | AUGUST 2025 | G&A 79

The superb 11mm Model 1873 French Service

revolver was rugged, reliable and possessed of
an excellent double-action mechanism. These
revolvers saw service from the early 1870s
through World War II as provisional arms.

Premier French cartridge revolvers

employed the pinfire system developed
by Casimir Lefacheaux. Seen here are
(above, bottom) a typical Lefaucheux
12mm repeater and (above, top) rare
Navy Model 1858T (“T” for transforme,
meaning ”altered”) that began life as a
pinfire and was converted to centerfire.
Confederate soldiers also availed themselves of pinfires
when they could. For instance, Thomas Jonathon “Stone-
wall” Jackson carried one. However, purchasing and sup-
ply issues — along with difficulty obtaining ammunition
— considerably limited Rebel usage.
In addition to France and the United States, Lefau-
cheaux revolvers saw service with the militaries of Sweden,
Denmark, Italy, Egypt, Spain, Russia and Norway.
The French had several variants of the 12mm Mle 1854
Lefaucheaux, generally differing only in minor details. By
The elaborate Galand cartridge revolver
the time Lefaucheaux patented his revolver, advances in appeared slightly later than Devismes,
ammunition were already rendering the pinfire obsolete. debuting around 1868. Unlike its pre-
French ordnance (circa 1870) later “transformed” some of decessors, the Galand featured a clever
simultaneous extraction system.
its Model 1858 Naval revolvers from pinfire to centerfire
by the simple modification of the revolver’s hammer and
slight chamber alteration. already being marketed or were at least in their embryonic
state. Later, the works of Hiram Berdan, Stephen Vincent
DEVISME Benet and Edward Boxer would become prominent, but
About the time Lefaucheaux was debuting the pinfire six- earlier centerfires, though often underpowered and some-
shooter, French gunmaker Louis-Francois Devisme was what complicated, were becoming increasingly popular
examining his own line of percussion revolvers with the and beginning to threaten the percussion system.
intention of modernizing them to take advantage of the Such was the situation with the Devisme. By 1858, the
self-contained centerfire cartridges, which were making firm had embraced a practical centerfire round and was
initial appearances. As he had no particular proprietary confident enough in its efficacy to modify earlier percussion
interest in the pinfire, his company was free to develop its M1854 revolvers to handle it. This proved to be sound
own, more efficient system. judgment, and shortly thereafter, the business introduced a
The first Devisme revolvers were percussion models. new, hinged-frame revolver that was easier to manipulate.
(See the article “The Enigmatic Devisme,” Guns & Ammo, (The converted percussion model had to be disassembled
January 2021, for a full treatment of these guns.) Initially to laboriously load cartridges and eject spent cases.) The
appearing around 1854, they have been called by modern caliber was 12mm. Both 1854 and 1858 revolvers exhibited
enthusiasts “Model 1854” or “Model 1855.” Even though distinctive, ergonomically sound, fluid Gallic styling.
these guns, along with the later Model 1858 hinged-frame Quality was excellent and, especially with the 1858,
cartridge revolver, were not termed as such during the mechanisms were clever and serviceable. Though both
period of production. For convenience, though, we will the 1854 and 1858 were produced alongside the other for
use those designations. a time, the latter arm was more suited to its task with a
By the mid-1850s, various self-contained cartridges were clever latching system and bottom hinge opening. To load
 80 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | THE FRENCH CONNECTION
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received considerable attention on the center of the revolver’s recoil shield.
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Name _______________________________________________ didn’t catch on all that well in Amer- Curiously, unlike the rivals Raphael
ica or Britain. Belt-sized revolvers, as and Perrin, they were either unable or
Address___________________________________ Apt #______
well as pocket models, were manufac- unwilling to take proper advantage of
City___________________________ State ____ Zip_________
tured by Devisme and under contract the hunger for arms during the U.S.
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E-Mail_______________________________________________
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 82 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | THE FRENCH CONNECTION

INNOVATION
THROUGH
EVOLUTION

The Galand’s triggerguard serves double duty of an operating lever [1]. When lowered [2]
it moves the barrel assembly away from the frame [3], at the same time activating a cap-
tive circular extractor that pulls spent cases free and allows them to be shaken loose [3].

the guise of a fine sporting rifle, which thick-rimmed, internally primed car-
fired an explosive bullet, taken from tridge. Calibers included 9mm, 11mm
Confederate President Jefferson Davis and 12mm, with the latter being most
when he was captured by Union forces. common in military-grade arms.
Another notable piece was a mag- Due to Perrins having no hammer
nificent presentation sword given to spurs, a clever arrangement was built
Confederate General Robert E. Lee by into the design whereby when one
“a Marylander” in 1863. pulled the trigger slightly to the rear, a
safety spring would snap into position
PERRIN, RAPHAEL and hold the hammer in an abbre-
Despite limited procurement, by pro- viated half-cock to permit cartridge
cess of elimination, two of the most loading and empty case ejection.
successful French revolvers received The cartridge designed for the guns
on American shores during the Civil was similar to — but not exactly the
SCALE War were the Perrin and Raphael. same as — the later Galand round.
YOUR BUILD The Perrin revolver — ultimately
made in three types, two with open
The Perrin was among the earliest
types of self-contained centerfires,
SCAN FOR
MORE INFORMATION top frames and one with a topstrap leading the way for later improved
— was designed by Louis Perrin of designs. Generally, they worked just
Paris and patented in 1859. They were fine. Because of the attenuated length,
spurless and largely differentiated from rather elaborate internal centerfire
one another by redesigned loading apparatus and relatively deep seating
gates and some internal refinements. of the bullet, space within the case for
These 6-shot revolvers were designed powder was considerably reduced.
to take an interesting, rather involved This resulted in rather mediocre stop-
 THE FRENCH CONNECTION | AUGUST 2025 | G&A 83

The main difference between the Type I and

Type II Perrin revolvers is the robustness of
the revolver’s loading gates. The Type I has
a thin gate that rotates to the side [1] while
the Type II loading gate moves rearward
[2]. Both varieties use a side-swinging rod
for single case ejection [3].

& Co. The Raphael resembled the

ping power. Perrin somewhat but did have a ham-
Perrins were well made and reliable. mer spur for thumb-cocking. While
At the beginning of the Civil War, the Perrins used under-barrel rotating
United States contracted for 1,000 ejector rods, the Raphael featured a
Type I and Type II Perrins along with separate ejector/lanyard ring housed
a quantity of ammunition. However, in the grip. It could be unscrewed
distribution of the guns was haphaz- and used to separately poke out cases
ard, so it’s difficult to determine how from the rear of the gun’s cylinder
many, if any, ever saw combat prior to through a loading gate. Though the
the rescission of hostilities in 1865. DA/SA mechanism was relatively
Perrin’s strongest rival was the double-/single-action straightforward, the cylinder was complex, consisting of a
(DA/SA) 11mm Raphael designed around 1860 by Pari- main body and a backplate that rotated with the cylinder.
sians Martial Pidault and Charles Cordier. It got the name When the loading gate was opened, it was unlocked and
“Raphael” in the U.S. because examples were purchased by allowed for ejection.
the Union War Department from importer George Raphael Neither Perrins nor Raphaels were purchased in large
84 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | THE FRENCH CONNECTION

The pinfire was the earliest successful self-contained cartridge system. It continued in use in longarms and handguns for a consider-
able time. Though many styles abounded, the typical Lefaucheux revolver loaded its rounds through an upswinging loading gate [1]
[2]. The most vulnerable aspect of the system was the protruding pins, which could be struck causing an accidental discharge [3].

The Model 1858T Naval Revolver loaded and ejected cases in a now-familiar fashion [1] [2]. The pinfire holes were not removed during
the centerfire transformation and can still be seen at the rear of the chambers [3].

numbers, and their issuance was spotty. After the war, a tle as $4.75 each, advertised as “almost new, no cartridges.”
small number of Perrins were purchased at a U.S. Gov- A few Raphaels were obtained by Bannerman’s from a
ernment auction and were offered by the New York arms New York Arsenal sale in 1900 and sold — also without
dealer Francis Bannerman in early 1900s catalogs for as lit- cartridges — for $3.50 to $4.85, depending on condition.

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 THE FRENCH CONNECTION | AUGUST 2025 | G&A 85

Early French cartridges. Left to right:

Lefaucheaux pinfire, Perrin, Devisme.
Long and short 12mm pinfire cartridges A scarce 12mm Devisme cartridge and Though the Perrin appears to be a rimfire,
shown with their respective boxes. 9mm box. it has an internal centerfire primer.

Considerably larger quantities of Lefaucheux 12mm revolv- introduction of an ingenious new revolver contrived by
ers were concurrently available from Bannerman for $3.95 Parisian Charles-Francois Galand. Instead of a solid frame
each, or $1.25 in lots of 5,000 or more. Ammunition was or one that opened on a hinge, Galand designed a forward
available but not guaranteed. frame/barrel portion of which slid forward when the shooter
lowered the gun’s sturdy lever-like triggerguard. During this
GALAND action, the frontally rebated cylinder also moved forward
Though the revolvers mentioned so far certainly express on its arbor, a rear plate separating from the unit. This plate
individuality, they have a couple of things in common. First, would grip the thick rims of the Galand cartridges, pulling
though being forerunners in the field of the self-contained them free of the chambers and allowing them to be shaken
cartridge, the rounds were rather underpowered. The guns loose. The arm could then be easily reloaded, and the lever
could be loaded and managed more rapidily than percus- and frame/cylinder returned to firing condition.
sion repeaters, but cases had to be ejected one at a time, The Galand revolver featured a robust DA trigger, ele-
slowing down the reloading process. ments of which would be seen on later revolvers such as
The latter situation was ably addressed in 1868 with the the Belgian Nagant. The round accompanying the arm was

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86 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | THE FRENCH CONNECTION

Looking somewhat like the Perrin,

the Raphael was a SA/DA revolver
with a different loading cylinder
system.

The Raphael
employed a sepa-
rate backplate that
unlocked from the
cylinder body when
the loading gate
was opened [1] [2].
Ejection of spent
cases was accom-
plished by a rod
with an attached
lanyard ring that
was unscrewed
from the base of the
revolver’s grip [3].

similar to, but not quite the same as the revolver Modele 1873. Like its
that employed by Perrin; the rim was predecessors, the 1873 was somewhat
thicker and the case slightly longer. As underpowered for a military arm. Still,
in the Perrin, it was internally primed. it enjoyed a long life, seeing military
Calibers were 12mm and 9mm. use as late as the mid-20th century.
Galand revolvers were evaluated by Despite the practicality and inno-
a number of countries and were even- vation, with the exception of the
tually adopted by the Russian Navy Lefaucheax, most of the revolvers
as the Model 1870. In the meantime, mentioned here saw only moderate
civilian sales continued apace and military use. Those that did were
numbers of Galands were made in likely privately purchased by officers.
France and Belgium. Galand also Still, they enjoyed strong civilian sales.
partnered with the firm of Braendlin, In the manner of many other foreign
Sommerville & Co., which produced and domestic civilian and military
versions in Birmingham, England. arms dragooned into service during
Though soon overtaken by more the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71),
sophisticated designs such as the Devismes, Lefaucheauxes, Perrins and
PHOTOS: TIM PRINCE, COLLEGE HILL ARSENAL

Smith & Wesson No. 3, Galands were Galands did see some action during
manufactured for a number of years that brief but seminal conflict.
and enjoyed brisk sales. Interestingly, While most of these arms had
Galand offered his design to the short production runs, they provided
French government for evaluation, but important stops along the way to
it was passed over by a more conven- more powerful and reliable cartridge
tional, though excellent, solid-frame handguns. During their time they
Chamelot-Delvigne, which was taken were respected and taken quite seri-
into the service of the republique as ously, as they should be today.
88 G&A AUGUST 2025

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THE CENTURY ARMS AP53 is both old cold-hammer-forged barrel with a 1-in-7-
and new. It’s never really been available inch twist and a fluted chamber. Inside
to the U.S. consumer market, but the is the famous roller-delayed blowback
design is nearly 50 years old. The AP53 is a operating system.
semiautomatic pistol version of the iconic Century Arms is importing the AP53
(and unobtainable) Heckler & Koch HK53 from MKE in Turkey. MKE is a NATO
short-barreled rifle (SBR). Just as AR-style defense contractor, which makes all
pistols have benefited, the HK53 was given sorts of arms for the Turkish military
new life in large part due to the existence and national police. The HK-pattern
of arm braces for pistols. Century Arms’ AP guns are made on HK-licensed tool-
series is available either with an endcap or ing. The 9mm MP5-clone pistols enjoy
a brace. A Magpul BTR brace version was an excellent reputation among American
sent to Guns & Ammo for testing, mounted shooters. It’s not completely wrong to
to an AR-pattern receiver extension. think of the AP53 as an MP5 chambered
The AP53 is chambered in 5.56x45mm in 5.56 since it shares the same operat-
NATO and provided with 30-round mag- ing system principles, and even certain
azines. It has an 8.3-inch, chrome-lined, dimensions.
 AUGUST 2025 G&A 89

A four-prong flash hider is supplied as the muzzle device on the

AP53. Underneath, the muzzle is threaded ½x28, opening the
door for users to change devices or suppress it.

The Century Arms AP53 is available with or without a pistol

brace. The Magpul BTR is adjustable for length of pull and
mounted to a backplate with an AR-pattern receiver extension.

CENTURY ARMS
AP53
TYPE Roller-delayed blowback, semiautomatic
CARTRIDGE 5.56 NATO
CAPACITY 30 rds.
8.3 in., chrome lined, 1:7-in. twist,
BARREL
threaded ½x28
MUZZLE DEVICE Flash hider, four prong
LENGTH 31 in. (extended), 28 in. (collapsed)
WEIGHT 7 lbs., 9 oz.
STOCK Magpul BTR brace, adjustable
GRIP Navy-style, polymer
Post, hooded (front), three-aperture, 1
SIGHTS
notch, windage/elevation adj. (rear)
TRIGGER Single stage, 8 lbs., 12 oz. (tested)
SAFETY Selector lever
Two 30-round magazines, cleaning kit,
ACCESSORIES
sling, trigger lock, hard case
MSRP $1,899 w/ brace, $1,799 w/o brace
MANUFACTURER MKE, Kirkkale, Ankara, Turkey
Century Arms, 561-908-7993,
IMPORTER
centuryarms.com
90 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | CENTURY ARMS AP53 5.56 NATO

Two takedown pins hold the upper receiver to the lower trigger pack and backplate assembly. The bolt assembly features two rollers that
With the backplate and trigger assemblies removed, the bolt slides out the rear of the upper lock the bolt when in battery to delay the
receiver. Included with the AP53 is a cleaning kit, sling and stackable transparent magazines. cycle of operation until pressure is reduced.

A BRIEF HISTORY the HK variants, which have

The first HK 5.56-cham- metric threading, the barrel
bered roller-lock system of the AP53 is threaded
was in the HK33, intro- ½x28 to make it convenient
duced in 1968. The first for American endusers to
HK33 had a 15.4-inch change the muzzle device
barrel, 16 inches on the or mount a suppressor.
semiauto HK93 that was The AP53 continues
exported to the U.S. HK the modular construction,
also made the HK33K, which was advanced when
which featured a 13.1-inch the platform was intro-
barrel. In the late 1970s, duced in 1959. The upper
HK introduced the even receiver is stamped sheet
The AP53 can be locked to the rear manually, but the bolt does not
shorter HK53, reducing lock rearward after the final round in the magazine is fired. Like the metal, which is the serial-
barrel length to 8.3 inches HK53 and MP5, the bolt can returned to battery with a hand slap. ized part. The barrel and
and giving it a collapsible trunion are welded to the
stock. The HK53 was purchased by several militaries, most receiver. The lower trigger assembly features a polymer
notably the United Kingdom. The Brits fielded many to module with an internal chassis, trigger and selector
small units such as the Special Air Service (SAS), desig- components — i.e., the “trigger pack” — held in place by
nating it the “L101A1” and “L101A2.” The SAS used it two crossbolt pins. Pop out those push pins and both the
on missions involving vehicles, but its short length made endcap and the lower receiver can be separated from the
it handy in tight urban and indoor environments, as well. upper receiver. Then, the bolt and carrier assemblies can
As tactical teams started acquiring short-barreled AR-15 be removed from the rear. The recoil spring and guiderod
variants in the 1980s and ’90s, short-barreled ARs were not assembly on these pistols is affixed to the end cap.
considered as reliable. Fitted with a collapsible stock, the One pin secures the triangular polymer forend in place.
HK53 in 5.56 NATO filled that need. The AP53 will accept MP5-style handguards. In fact, that’s
what comes installed on Century’s AP53. True HK53 hand-
MAJOR ASSEMBLIES guards extend to the back of the receiver, almost to the
The Century Arms AP53 is 28-inches long with the brace magazine well, to protect the support hand. These guns
collapsed, and 31-inches long with the brace extended. get hot quicker than the 9mm MP5, but you’ll be out of
The non-brace model with the feature-less endcap is 22.3 ammo before the thick handguard gets too hot to hold.
inches long. The Magpul BTR brace model, empty with no
magazine, weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces. WORKING THE CONTROLS
The barrel has a four-prong flash hider installed. Unlike The charging handle on the AP53 is forward on the left
 CENTURY ARMS AP53 5.56 NATO | AUGUST 2025 | G&A 91

The AP53’s magazine well has been enlarged slightly versus the Two transparent, stackable polymer magazines are provided. The
original HK design. This effort improved reliability with different AP53 features both an ambidextrous paddle magazine release lever
magazines. Magazines insert straight into the magwell for operation. and a right-side-only push-button release.

side near the front sight. for the protective ring of

It’s spring loaded and folds the front sight to fit inside
outward; it requires some it when taking a quick sight
force to cycle. The bolt can picture, a ring within a ring.
be locked back manually, The fourth position marked
though, by lifting it up “1” is a stepped notch
into a notch. However, meant for use at speed or
the action does not lock at close range. The entire
rearward when a magazine front sight tower fits inside
is empty. There is a button the wide part of the notch.
magazine release on the The rear sight is adjustable
right side of the gun few for windage, too, using a
use. Instead, magazine Phillips-head screwdriver.
True to the HK original, the Century Arms AP53 features a protected
changes most frequently post at the front and a four-position drum at the rear. The rear sight Elevation can be zeroed
involve the paddle maga- can be zeroed for windage and elevation with a screwdriver. using a narrow needle-nose
zine release lever forward pliers or, preferably, an HK
of the triggerguard. Magazines insert straight in and are rear sight tool, which is not provided.
intuitive to change. At two spots on the top of the receiver are bulges where
The polymer trigger housing features pictograph the provided rail attaches for mounting optics. The spacing
markings for safe, semiautomatic, three-round burst, and between the receiver mounts is the same on the AP53 as
full automatic modes. The last two are just for show; the on MP5-pattern guns, although they were moved back on
trigger is semiautomatic only and cannot be retrofitted to the AP53.
select-fire modes.The housing is the slim Navy-style with HK-pattern roller locks are known for a few things, and
integral pistol grip. You can reach the selector lever with heavy trigger pulls are one of them. G&A staff had an
your thumb, but these guns are noto- opportunity to shoot several sam-
rious for hard-to-reach selector levers ples. The lightest trigger tested at
by some. The bilateral lever on G&A’s 7¾ pounds. The trigger pull on the
sample was a bit stiff to operate. sample featured in this column was
The HK-pattern sights on the AP53 8¾ pounds. They are shootable, but
are iconic. The fixed front sight is a you really have to work at it.
post protected by a sturdy hooded G&A’s initial sample was one of five
ring. The rear sight is a rotating four- prototypes in the U.S. A piece in the
position drum with V-notch. Three of cocking tube was discovered to be
the positions are apertures. They are out of spec, causing issues with the
all the same diameter, but the height charging handle. A replacement was
is positioned for use at different obtained, making it trouble free.
ranges marked on the drum: “2” for Derek Giddings, Team HK shooter,
The AP53 is semiauto only, however, the pic-
200 meters, “3” for 300, and “4” for tograms on the trigger housing falsely sug- was consulted, and he stated that
400. The aperture is just large enough gest three-round burst and auto functions. the magazine well on the MKE-
92 G&A | AUGUST 2025 | CENTURY ARMS AP53 5.56 NATO

PERFORMANCE
LOAD VEL. (FPS) ES SD BEST GROUP (IN.) AVG. GROUP (IN.)
.223 REM.
Hornady Am. Gun. 55-gr. HP 2,384 72 44 1.3 3.1
American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ 2,367 44 28 1.8 2.6
Winchester 55-gr. FMJ 2,438 47 23 2.2 3.4
5.56 NATO
Black Hills 50-gr. TSX 2,564 42 30 2.1 4.2
MKE SS109 62-gr. FMJ 2,389 52 36 2.8 4.1
Notes: Accuracy is the average of four five-shot groups at 100 yards from a sandbag rest. Velocity is the average of 10
shots measured with an Oehler Model 35P chronograph set at 12 feet in front of the muzzle.

manufactured guns has slightly differ- For $100 extra, the AP53 includes the
ent (bigger) dimensions than that of brace, buffer tube and castle nut, too,
actual HK models. Hence, MKE mag- which is a solid value. However, of
azines are generally more reliable, all Magpul products, it was the least
good news for AP53 users. Additional impressive. Handgun Editor Jim Tarr
MKE mags through Century are only called it a “near minimum effort.” If
$30 apiece; authentic HK mags are you want a braced AP53, the SBA5
$80. Steel HK magazines were used brace from SB Tactical ($125, sb-
in G&A’s reliability testing, too. While tactical.com) is the preferred choice. It
they wiggled in the magazine well, vaguely resembles an HK416 stock, so
reliability was perfect. aesthetically it complements the AP53
and is more functional.
AT THE RANGE The AP53, objectively, is inferior to
While an 8.3-inch-barreled an AR-15 of the same size. The safety
5.56-chambered firearm is loud, the is hard to reach and stiff to manipu-
flash hider worked. Our first range late. The gun weighs more while pro-
session was indoors, specifically to ducing more recoil. The bolt does not
test this. There was no visible flash lock back on an empty magazine, and
with any load. While the MP5 is the charging handle isn’t quite as easy
known for being the softest-recoiling to work. The trigger pull is both lon-
9mm sub-gun on the market, the ger and heavier. It’s not as accurate,
same roller-lock system paired with or all that accurate either. Despite
the 5.56mm produces more recoil these considerations, the heart wants
than a gas-impingement AR. what the heart wants. It is an iconic
The heavy trigger pull didn’t help design and a piece of firearm history.
our accuracy test, but with patience Until now, it’s been largely unobtain-
and a Leupold Mark 5HD 2-10X, some able in the U.S. It is reliable, durable
decent groups left the short-barrel. and a battle-proven design that will
This was also the first time G&A continue to put smiles on the faces of
experienced the Magpul BTR brace. those who can find one.
 Sold elsewhere
for $119.99

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40.60 millimeters

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C ON N E C T AUGUST 2025 G&A 95

Special Interest Publications for enthusiasts!

NICHING
THE NICHES
AT GUNS & AMMO, we take pride
in our mandate to review any fire- A NTONIO ACITEL L I
arm category or topic. However, the
once-per-month publication means
if anything is missed in an issue, it GUNS & AMMO SIPS
Guns & Ammo Special Interest
may need to be covered in the next Publications target trending sub- Have a niche subject you want to
month’s. Being a general interest pub- jects. Visit osgnewsstand.com. learn more about? Perhaps, you just
lication, though, can mean that some can’t get enough of a certain type of
readers only get a taste of their par- Deciding the topic for each pub- gun? Email us at gaeditor@outdoorsg.
ticular interest. A pistolero may skip lication depends on several factors, com to get the conversation started.
straight to James Tarr’s latest handgun including demand and industry trends.
feature, leaving the other articles When readers submit requests for TOP COMMENTS
unread. For those who want a focused articles on rimfires, Faubion’s team In response to “Connect” (May 2025),
titled “Quick Response”:
experience, allow me to introduce the answers with the “Rimfire” edition, Concerning the utilization of QR codes:
Outdoor Sportsman Group’s Special which is dedicated to ammo, optics, Please give consideration to those of us
Interest Publications (SIPs) Division. and everything that shoots them. who do not possess nor use smart phones.
Thanks. — Joel R., Email
“We’re the opposite of a general Categories of firearms and ammuni-
firearm magazine such as Guns & tion aren’t limiting. For example, the Dear editor, as hard as it seems to realize,
Ammo,” said SIP Editor-in-Chief D. SIP Division released its best-selling not everyone today uses a “smart phone.” To
hold down monthly costs — I am on a fixed
Faubion. “By producing a variety of publication, “Zombie Nation,” at the income — I use a Tracfone, which is voice
special interest magazines for the height of the zombie craze in 2012. It and text only. So, I vote against widespread
Guns & Ammo brand — ‘AR-15,’ was an SIP focused exclusively on how use of QR codes. I know that I am in the
minority, but it makes me wonder if print
Suppressor,' ‘Rimfire,’ ‘Precision Rifle to survive hordes of walking dead. magazines will someday be nothing but two
Shooter,’ ‘Carry,’ and many more — Manufacturing trends also influ- sheets of paper filled only with QR codes!
we provide readers with the option of ence the publication schedule. For — Phil M., Email
sighting in on certain firearm topics. instance, as interest in lever-action I love it when my copy of Guns & Ammo
Maybe you’re in the mood for long- rifles rises, new models from Henry, shows up in the mailbox. I know that I can
range shooting, considering a red dot Marlin, Rossi, Smith & Wesson, and cuddle up in bed at night and read some
interesting, educational, and enjoyable
for your carry gun, or exploring the others have emerged. The surge information about a hobby, and it means I
benefits of pistol-caliber carbines. No in availability meant that there was can be away from my computer for a few
matter what it is, the SIP Division has enough new material available to hours. My life career has been in comput-
ers, and it’s nice to get away from them for
you covered.” support a dedicated magazine. relaxation. I especially dislike QR codes, as I
don’t like to read from my cell phone. It’s the
.17 HMR — IN AN AR! SMITH & WESSON SHOWDOWN pits to get it on to some comfortable format. I
Rock River Arms’ LAR-15M is a reliable Which pistol-caliber carbine (PCC) from have pretty much canceled all the maga-
and capable semiauto in .17 HMR. Smith & Wesson is right for you? zines, books, etc., that I read for pleasure.
Computers are for business. I would hate to
lose the enjoyment of this magazine, but I
will have to give up on this one if the format
is changed. There are other magazines I have
been taking for years as well, and others
available to switch over should you move to
the QR format. Please keep up being the fine
magazine you have always been.
— Leyne E., Email

If you go to QR codes, I’m out.

— Frank N. Email

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
96 G&A AUGUST 2025 SPENT CASES

It’s time to rally in support of the NRA.

K E I T H WO O D

BACK ON TRACK
IN 2024, former Guns & Ammo Publisher Doug Hamlin I’ve advocated for reforming the NRA’s Board of Direc-
took the reins as CEO and Executive Vice President of tors, including use of this column. During the 2025 elec-
the National Rifle Association (NRA). He stepped into tions, self-described “reform” candidates were successful
the unenviable position of cleaning up the waste left in in taking over 20 of the 29 available board seats. At the
the wake of Wayne LaPierre and his cronies. I wished Mr. annual meeting, board member and NRA 2.0 supporter
Hamlin well, but given the circumstances, I wasn’t over- Bill Bachenberg was elected as the NRA’s President. As
whelmed with optimism. Donald Trump, Jr. put it,
A year after his election “Bachenberg being named
to the role, I sat down the new president of the
with Hamlin for a one-on- NRA Board of Directors is a
one meeting at the NRA positive, and much-needed
Annual Meeting in Atlanta, step in the right direction.”
Georgia. He looked me Though other orga-
in the eye and shot me nizations, including the
straight. No question was National Shooting Sports
off the table. After months Foundation (nssf.org) and
of quiet observation, back- the Second Amendment
channel discussions with Foundation (saf.org) are
NRA staff, and finally this doing great work advo-
sit-down, I am convinced cating for our rights, the
that the organization is on reality is that no group has
the right path. been able to fill the NRA’s
Serving six years as a U.S. Marine officer, Hamlin shoes. Rebuilding the NRA has always been gun owners’
became a close confidant of Guns & Ammo Founder Rob- best bet. With Hamlin at the helm, that process is under-
ert “Pete” Petersen. Hamlin is what I’ve long said the NRA way.
has needed: A humble businessman. He’s not the type I joined the NRA as a teenager and have been an
who loves to see his face on TV, but rather a leader who Endowment Member for decades. In recent years, I’ve
makes the trains run on time. He’s not an egomaniac, and been hesitant to contribute to the organization financially.
he buys his own suits. (I asked.) During his first year, Ham- As a former employee, I saw things that I thought were
lin quietly cleaned house. He dismissed numerous execu- the result of ineptitude. They turned out to be downright
tives and replaced them with folks who came through the fraud and waste. “Not another penny,” I swore.
ranks at headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia, those who want Seeing the reforms that are being made has changed my
to see the NRA succeed. I’ve known several for decades, tune. While in Atlanta, I put my money where my mouth is
and they are solid, honest individuals. and bought my 10-year-old son, James, a Life membership.
As part of what Hamlin calls “NRA 2.0,” he instituted My hope is that, during his journey, the NRA will continue to
widespread reforms inside the organization. Perhaps most protect the rights of all Americans, as well as the future.
importantly, he severed the NRA’s ties with William A. NRA 2.0 still has a tough road ahead, but through these
ILLUSTRATION: A. F. BRANCO

Brewer III, the attorney who reportedly collected more actions they’ve won back my support. Returning the NRA
than $200 million in legal fees from the organization for to its position of influence will take time — and money.
more than 6 years. It was precisely that type of excessive If you’ve let your membership lapse or, like me, stopped
spending that disillusioned many longtime NRA support- writing checks out of frustration or mistrust, maybe it’s
ers — myself included. time to reconsider. I did.
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