  The Gemtech MIST 22-V is an exciting new silencer designed for use on the SW22 Victory pistol. The MIST 22-V replaces the standard Victory barrel with an intrinsically suppressed barrel designed to provide whisper-quiet suppression in a compact package. The rifled portion of the barrel is only 3" in length meaning every round, regardless of listed fps, will leave the muzzle sub-sonically (unless factory listed velocity is 1,600 fps or more). Gemtech's patented stainless steel G-CORE design is durable, easy to clean, and relatively lightweight. A 3" barrel won't provide the same accuracy as a 10" barrel for instance, but for short ranges this promises to be a (quiet) blast. One primary advantage of an intrinsically suppressed barrel over a regular suppressor threaded onto a barrel is this unit provides a front sight giving you an improved sight radius. Overall length of the unit is 8.95" and $490 MSRP is a good price for a suppressor/barrel combo considering the cost of these items individually, i.e. the Gemtech GM-22 will set you back $399 and a threaded barrel from Volquartsen will set you back $278 totaling almost $700 for a longer 11" overall setup. This from the Gemtech WEBSITE.
 Over the years I've bought a range of rifle scopes from different manufacturers and paid a spectrum of prices. With normal wear and tear, and over time, many end up having issues holding zero, or losing reticle alignment, or suffering loss of clarity regardless of the brand name. Indeed some were quite pricey and usually problems occurred after the expiration of warranties, naturally.
Due to the occurrences of the last two years I've focused much of my range time on my rimfires with ammo being more affordable and available than the rarely-in-stock and vastly-overpriced centerfire cartridges. With a good bolt action rimfire rifle I can spend all afternoon dissipating my worldly stresses by picking off tennis balls scattered across my 1-acre back lawn. A few Dunlop mini orange squash balls thrown-in allow me to dial down and really hit those diminutive targets. Tennis and squash balls are easy to see and react nicely to 22LR rounds by leaping in the air to denote a hit. The lead round leaves a small black dot of residue as it passes through but does not tear the ball apart. Eventually the balls will begin to lose their integrity and none would be much use on the court after a few sessions, but they still offer months of plinking practice. And all this with a $10 rimfire scope. My local Walmart sells 4 x 15 Tasco's for $9.99 and these have served me very well. I've had a couple that didn't hold up but I've got three that have, beautifully, holding zero shot after shot. Their narrow 3/4" tubes (unique to Tasco) look sleek on a rifle and if the rifle has a picatinny rail I simply bend off the attached 11mm scope rings with a pair of pliers and put on a pair of 22mm mounts. If you only have scope rings for 1" diameter tubes you can adapt the smaller diameter Tasco by buying a foot of 3/4"ID fuel tubing at the hardware store: cut off two short sections, split it lengthways and wrap it around the scope tube before setting the scope into the 1" rings. Born with acute colorblindness I've always found bright light troublesome, and have always worn sunglasses. Some were very expensive. But after sitting on several pairs of high end shades and discovering they break just as easily as the Foster Grants you find at your pharmacy, I used working man's logic and have happily settled on the cheaper ones. I'm thankful we live in an era where we have those options. And so I've learned the same of rimfire scopes: with a total of five $10 scopes purchased, I'm still further ahead in the game than if I'd bought a single $300 rimfire scope which I'd be overly precious about. I really don't waste any time worrying about my Tasco's. If I break one, I'm not too bothered whereas if I break an expensive scope, I'm cussing mad and out a chunk of change. And if I break 25 more Tasco scopes over the next decade then I've only just spent the same amount of money as a $300 fancy brand optic. I also have a theory about rimfire scopes: I feel manufacturers (regardless of name) do not build-in ruggedness and durability the same way as they do for their centerfire scopes. This makes no sense to me because any rifle, regardless of caliber, can be dropped, bumped and jostled in the back of your truck causing damage to your optic, but makers only make allowances for the recoil the scope must endure. I've seen spring pellet guns disassemble a rimfire scope in short order so maybe logic would dictate that scopes intended for air rifles would be more robust? Furthermore, when a buyer finds a scope they love they'll often transfer it to another centerfire rifle, or buy another for their other weapons, but rimfire scopes always seem to come with a manufacturer's warning that it's not intended for larger caliber counterparts. Why? Because the companies know they won't hold up. And disappointed-user reviews always confirm that to be case as they mourn the scope they just killed. So, in summary, logic and experience has educated my purchases of rimfire scopes over these past 24 months and I've concluded, for me at least, cheapo Tasco's do the job, are slimmer, less worry and preferable all round! Tasco no longer lists these $10 4x15 scopes on their website but currently they still seem available online. You can also find similar 3/4"-tubed, low-powered, fixed-magnification scopes HERE from their original country of manufacture, with free shipping.  Just like for LEO and Military personnel, firearms are not always the answer to every self defense situation we might encounter as civilians. Similarly for our judicial system, the death penalty doesn't fit every crime (thankfully). However, if you're like me, the firearms in your safe are all potentially lethal, so what happens when you need to arm yourself in the middle of the night? Everything from pesky raccoons, pranking kids, a drunk mistaking your house for theirs and burglars alike all face the same sentence as you arm-up for the role of judge, jury and potential executioner. Could you (and they) benefit from a weapon less terminal as punishment for their mistake?
What if the situation calls for a spanking and not the firing squad? What if you're out for a run and the neighbor's off-leash dog decides to follow it's chase-and-bite instinct? Or hiking in bear country where firearms are not permitted? Or live in an area that won't issue a carry license? Or you're generally concerned by the state of the World and feel you want to be armed, but an actual firearm feels like too much responsibility? If any of these shoes fit, the Byrna SD .68Cal Pepper Kit might be more humane and legally savvy than your usual EDC recommendation. You can buy this HSD (Humane Self Defense) without any background check, without paying your usual FFL fee and without worrying where you're going to find ammo. Just go on line, purchase and wait for the box to arrive at your home. Byrna uses it's own 8gram CO2 powerlets, so be aware of that (unofficially you can use cheaper soda siphon powerlets) - whereas other brands of CO2 HSD's allow you to use the inexpensive 12oz powerlets available at any Walmart. The advantage of the Byrna however, is it is more compact than some other alternatives yet still uses the readily available .68Cal projectiles - you can use paint, pepper, salt, powder, PVC , rubber or steel composite balls produced by a variety of manufacturers. In this day and age we are increasingly ready to protect what's ours with lethal force (as is our right) - however I suspect any honorable person with a conscience is going to have regrets if they end up killing an unarmed person over a few replaceable possessions. Restraint is the true measure of power. To soberly observe the situation and make an intelligent assessment of a threat is what we ask of our LEO's every single day: take note of how society is overly ready to blame them whenever they make a poor judgement call. Most situations you might encounter will entail the absence of cops to help you - you'll need to make those quick judgement calls on our own - so having both options at hand will allow you to make the terminal or the moral decision depending on what the moment calls for. This is the Byrna WEBSITE. This is the WEBSITE for Riot Balls who make a cool array of .68Cal projectiles.  David "Reaper" Justin (aka the kilt-clad paintballer) might be the greatest ambassador for the TiPX pistol because he'll use nothing else, and as a jet-setting World champion this vouches amply for the viability of the iconic TiPX marker from Tippmann. You can Google the Reaper, watch some of his videos, view him in action and learn exactly how he sets up his system. You can also visit the plethora of paintball websites and customize your marker according to your preferred tastes. But one thing is clear, due to the lack of ATF regulating, the offerings for air-powered guns (both in weapons and accessories) is truly exciting to behold for traditional gun owners: in the world of cartridge-firing firearms everything is increasingly a potential legal concern. The non-lethal (or what we call Humane Self Defense or HSD) world of weapons is an amazingly un-fenced frontier reminiscent of pre-1934 freedoms. We’re not advocating abandoning your 2A rights, selling your guns or slowing your firearm-collecting proclivities, we’re just recommending an extra string to your bow.
The military-style TiPX is not only a very credible HSD weapon but it can provide hours of fun combat-simulation as you compete with buddies in the woods on the weekend. Also, in order to remain proficient with firearms we must practice, however it’s often difficult to find a suitable range plus ammo scarcity and prices has made us all reluctant to go spend a few hours shooting off valuable bullets. The TiPX affords you the opportunity to maintain hand-eye coordination in your basement or back yard for a fraction of the cost. The beauty of the first-trigger-pull system utilized by Tippmann is it allows you to keep a full un-pierced CO2 cartridge in the chamber at all times: when you need it simply pull the trigger once to pierce and charge the pistol - the second and subsequent trigger-pulls will shoot a round. If you ever needed to reach for it in the dark of night, and use it as a deterrent, it’s a powerful option that’ll spare you the risk of eardrum rupture (try firing a 9MM, AR or 12GAUGE in an enclosed space without ear protection) and allow your intruder to flee rather than dealing with the bloody and legal aftermath of a fatal shooting. It might even be someone you know like a neighbors delinquent teenager, and you may not even need to call the police afterward. How much more satisfying would it be to call on your neighbors the next day and tell them what their son did without the life-altering consequences of involving law enforcement - and how could the kid lie with three large facial bruises?! Think it over, it’s good to have options. Here’s a good video in how to adjust the velocity on a TiPX Here’s a good price on a TiPX pistol (typically out of stock on the manufacturers website) Here's where to buy the combat kilt favored by the Reaper  Continuing our theme this week of Humane Self Defense (HSD), I want to profile the Dagger .68Cal. The Dagger Compact Machine Pistol (CMP) is a package put together by a company called Modern Combat Sports (MCS). MCS is an emerging leader in combat games, promoting special events and league play that combines world-class facilities with state-of-the-art magfed equipment to grow the sport and promote the most authentic tactical games possible. They are a division of Defense Innovation which designs, engineers and manufactures exceptional combat simulation equipment. Therefore the difference between regular paintball and MCS is, MCS games are mission-driven, require teamwork and strategy, and utilize equipment that more closely simulates real-world firearms and combat gear. To this end they manufacture the folding stock chassis for the Tippmann TiPX used in the Dagger above (this chassis can be purchased alone for $119 from their website).
The Dagger package comes with the chassis/stock, the TiPX pistol, a red dot sight, a special ops suppressor (nothing on their website states this is a faux can), a 10" inch Lion Claw Barrel, a vertical grip, 2 x TiPX 7-round mags, 2 Zeta 20-round mags, a remote line kit and their K416 front and rear sight set. All these components are available individually from their website but the kit makes for a no-brainer lower-cost assembly that'll have you up and running in minutes. This package comes unassembled - TiPX are shipped brand new in the original case so that you can get warranty service from Tippmann as needed. I'll cover the features of the TiPX pistol in tomorrow's BLOG post to give you the lowdown on velocity, reliability etc. So, all that technical talk aside, this is an incredibly cool Humane Self Defense (HSD) weapon that'll allow you to keep 20 pepper balls (or hard PVC balls) on hand should the need arise in a home defense situation. I can even see how this might be superior to bear spray against unruly bruins, vicious dogs or big cats - accurately planting pepper on target at 60 feet beats a plume of wind-blown mist at 15 feet. Personally I think our USPS heroes should be allowed to use these against aggressive, impolite canines. As for cost, PVC balls are reusable and CO2 cartridges can be bought for around 40 cents a piece which equates to a couple of pennies a shot. Economically HSD guns are far, far cheaper to run than conventional firearms. Cheaper equals more practice. More practice equals more hits. More hits equals a better deterrent. And you can practice in your living room without fear of wall-penetrating projectiles harming family members or neighbors. So for those who really don't want to have angry ghosts in their home following a home intrusion, or for those who legally can't buy a firearm, don't worry, you're not without methods of viable home defense. The MCS Dagger looks like an awesome (and dare I say fun) way to dump a world of hurt on malfeasant scumbags thinking they can steal your stuff or do you harm! Get this wickedly cool device here on the MCS WEBSITE.  Imagine a 50 caliber PVC-coated steel ball hitting you in the face at 375 feet per second? Would you stick around for a second dose? Anyone who's ridden a motorcycle wearing an open face novelty helmet knows what happens when a dune bug hits you on the cheek at 70mph! I must confess to emitting a yelp followed by a string of colorful profanities, and for a second my rubber-on-blacktop status is compromised. So don't sniff your nose at the efficacy of Umarex's highly affordable T4E (Training for Engagement) HDP (Home Defense Pistol) especially when other manufacturers of pepperball guns charge three of four times the price for a similar product. Too powerful for paintball competition, this is a dedicated training weapon for LEO and military personnel. It also shoots inert (powder) rounds and pepper balls (in my opinion not recommended for small enclosed spaces as the capsicum will effect you too).
A couple of years back I lived next door to a combat veteran with three tours in the sandbox. One afternoon whilst enjoying a beer in his back yard, the conversation inevitably circled round to firearms and home defense choices. He surprised the heck out of my when he showed me his nightstand weapon: the Umarex T4E Double Barreled Shotgun in .68 caliber and a bag of rubber balls. He had removed an internal valve that limits joules (ships at 7 joules for paintball competition) and was getting 16 joules/350fps from this cool contraption. (Umarex now sell the 16 joule version, or the 7 joule version.) We fired a few rounds in his back yard and I had to concede it was deterrent enough for everything from aggressive dogs to would-be intruders, the one caveat perhaps being someone hopped-up on meth or other behavior-altering narcotic. My friend said he didn't want to contend with the baggage of killing a home intruder, or worry about the safety of his kids around firearms. And his rationale for non-lethal deterrents made so much sense that I have to wonder if most of us truly understand what's entailed in the aftermath of a home defense incident where you fatally shoot (albeit justifiably) one or more dangerous intruders. Of course his reluctance was likely based on firsthand experience, but as hardened action movie watchers are we truly prepared for the legal red-tape and moral injury of taking another human life? Will you and your family feel like living in a home after bad people died there, badly, by your hand? Of course what'll make the T4E most effective is round placement - you'll want to aim for the face, throat or genitals to stop an attacker but one or two good hits with a sub-300fps paintball round (even through light clothing) can leave a nice round bruise so imagine what this will feel like at 375fps, at 15 feet with a non-frangible 50 caliber ball? The CO2 port in the grip uses a cap with a quick-pierce device: keep balls and a CO2 cartridge loaded at all times and if/when needed simply tap the button on the bottom of the grip to pierce the CO2 cartridge and arm the pistol. For those who are unfamiliar, Umarex is a German company that specializes in manufacturer-licensed firearms, airguns and airsoft guns and has a reputation for quality and ingenuity. The T4E HDP ships with 10 rubber rounds for practice and training, and 10 pepper rounds for self-defense. Check out the T4E on the Umarex WEBSITE.  Umarex have just released their new Glock 17 T4E (Train for Engagement) paint marker and it's bristling with authenticity. The .43 caliber magazine holds eight rounds of paintball (and presumably PVC, pepper, steel-composite or powder balls too) and also accommodates a 12-gram CO2 cartridge that can be swapped without tools, in seconds, when on the field. A quick-piercing magazine is available as an optional accessory - this will allow you to use the pistol as a non-lethal personal defense weapon because the CO2 is only charged when you need it (by giving a quick tap to a button on the base of the magazine). Then you have 8 shots of powder, pepper, steel or PVC riot balls leaving the barrel at 350fps, enough to cause anyone to recoil in pain and vacate your space. This muzzle velocity likely makes it unfit for paintball competition, however. With precise dimensions replicating the live-fire G17, you can choose from the vast selection of Glock accessories and attachments that have been manufactured over the years. As a training weapon the new G17 T4E is unparalleled, especially in this era of ammo scarcity and cost. Specs below and check out the pistol on the Umarex WEBSITE here:
 The SCS-MOS (Solar Charging Sight) is a direct-attachment optic for GLOCK MOS systems offering the lowest profile deck height for use with standard-height iron sights. This Multiple Reticle system (MRs) provides the choice of a 2 MOA dot only, a 32MOA circle only, or a 2 MOA dot with the 32 MOA circle. The SCS-MOS combines solar power with an internal rechargeable battery to give you extraordinary longevity in the field. The reticle brightness is auto-adjusting to provide seamless usability in a broad range of lighting conditions. And in case you're worried about climate, the SCS will function in temperatures ranging from -22F to 140F. It can also be had in a red reticle option for $35 less. A multi tool, lens cloth and manual come in the box. Check it out on the Holosun WEBSITE.
 Just recently the Blaser R8 .22 LR Conversion Kit won a prestigious Gray’s Best award in the shooting category so this is a good juncture to give a shout-out to this remarkable German rifle. The Blaser R8 pictured above is just one of many iterations available. The straight pull action is buttery smooth and provides interchangeability for 47 calibers, and if you multiply those by the available choices of engraving and stock types (woods & composites), you have a single rifle that could keep you spending for a lifetime. The integrally suppressed barrel version above comes in .308 Win., 8x57 IS and 9.3x62 with barrel lengths 16.5" or 18.5": .30-06 with barrel length 18.5": .300 Win. Mag. and .300 Blaser Mag. with barrel length 20.5" and 8.5 x 55 Blaser with barrel length 18.5". The desmodromic trigger mechanism guarantees trigger function even when iced or heavily soiled. When you're ready to fire, a 2lb trigger, without creep, turns that thought impulse into precise bullet placement. There is no manual safety - Blaser’s manual cocking system is actually acknowledged as one of the safest in the world - the R8 is cocked the very moment before you fire and should you choose not to take the shot, you simply press the cocking lever and it will slide back smoothly and automatically decock the rifle. The rifle breaks down in seconds for easy cleaning, even in the field. Check out the Blaser WEBSITE and start drooling! What do they cost? Ownership is not for the feint of heart, but they basically range from $3k-$25k.
 Okay so I must confess to a being a little bit of a watch nerd, perpetually on the hunt for that perfect timepiece that checks all the boxes in weight, functional simplicity, comfort and 24-hour readability. For me I‘ll only wear a watch if I can forget it’s on my wrist because the minute it starts to bother me I take it off, put it in a drawer and may never think to put it on again no matter how cool or attractive it boasts to be. Needless to say I have a drawer full of neglected chronographs that tout themselves as tactical and/or cool including the brand we all know and trust from Japan. However most are erring too heavily on the tacticool and less on the tactical. Most are overly complicated to set so when there’s a time or timezone change they get out of sync. Many are too heavy, the majority cannot be read in 0-dark-thirty without pressing a minuscule button, putting on a light or zapping it briefly with a flashlight and all of them finally become a nuisance on the wrist and remain relegated to “the drawer”. My wife jokes if we’re ever broke she knows what she can hock on ebay.  Well all that changed when a package arrived last week from a company called MWC - the Military Watch Company - who make watches for the British Ministry of Defense. Lifting the P656 from it’s box I knew immediately I was beholding something borne by decades of design cues relayed from the military personnel, LEO and security contractors who typically wear MWC watches. In this day and age I frequently feel I've overpaid for something when it finally arrives in the mail - the photographs that prompted me to make the purchase tend not to disclose an item's defects or sub-par quality - but with the P656 you’ll immediately feel you got away with robbery! This feels like a watch ten times the price. It’s titanium case belies it’s expected heft and the sapphire crystal (the same glass used on the latest iPhone) is all but invisible over the crisp 24hour dial. The bezel (rotating ani-clockwise) provides a tritium zero and 60 units of count. Instructions on setting the time consists of a single, beautiful sentence “Unscrew or pull out the crown to the second position. Once the time is correct push or screw the winder back in.” And you’re in business.  The matt black on all surfaces is not paint as you’ll find on most watches, no, this is a PVD treatment that actually blackens the metal down to a certain depth meaning scuffs and scrapes (unless very deep) won’t suddenly reveal white metal beneath. This is an important feature and critical for the special forces and anti-terrorist units who rely on stealth and invisibility to perform their duties (MWC claims that wearers report PVD-treated watches retain their finish for 20-30 years with no visible loss of plating).  Likewise, the recessed numbers on the bezel allow the tritium to stay down out of sight to everyone but the wearer. I originally wanted the subdued version of this watch thinking the luminescence might be glaringly obvious, but it’s not. You actually have to be quite close, and on my nightstand it’s subtle enough that I have to position the watch on it’s side to be visible from the pillow should I open my eyes in the wee small hours wondering what time it is. In my opinion the P656 provides the perfect amount of covert black-of-night visibility and I now suspect the subdued version would have been less usefully readable. Remember, this is not the run of the mill phosphorescence you’ll see on most luminous watches, this is Swiss Tritium GTLS. GTLS is a self-illuminating radioactive isotope that does not require pre-charging with a flashlight. It’s a costly but wondrous, non-hazardous material that glows perpetually providing the wearer with time-keeping confidence whichever God-forsaken corner of the planet you’re in, and, no matter the dark of night.  If I have one issue after several days of wearing - and this is not a strike against the P656 - it's with webbing watch straps. I find them awkward to fasten quickly and always struggle to feed the strap-end through the second side of the buckle. It's not a big deal as I can usually slip it into the strap keeper (in this case a loop of stitched webbing) but over the course of the day it'll come loose and annoy me - remember, I don't want to be aware of a watch until I need to read it. In this case I was able to promptly remedy this issue with the addition of a leather cuff I'd bought for another (disused) watch and I was mollified. The cuff also spreads the weight of a watch more pleasingly around the wrist though weight is certainly not a factor with the titanium P656.  With each passing day I've further realized what a uniquely crafted timepiece the P656 actually is - it's truly intended for the avid outdoorsman, special operator or master of adventures. At it's heart beats a high precision Swiss-made Ronda Quartz Movement designed to withstand 40,000 feet of altitude and high G-forces, so pilots needn't hesitate to go wheels up with this one. Surpassing U.S W-46374F Type 6 mil specs, the watch is also water resistant to 30ATM (1000ft) just like MWC's dedicated diving watches; that along with the precision bezel means professional or recreational divers can breath easily knowing they'll avoid the hazards of low oxygen or decompression sickness. And in case I was worried about longevity, it has a 10-year battery life as well as an end-of-battery-life indicator.  One particular group whom I think would value this timekeeper are the hunters. Game is easily spooked so trekking out to a tree stand or brush hide before dawn requires stealth. Once inside the blind it’s even darker, but you don’t want to alert anything to your presence by flicking on a light or making a noise. They claim a red light is safe but I know for a fact animals pick up on them - for my part when I add all the hours and effort of prep I expend to get out into the woods, plus the waking up at 2am, plus the drive to my favorite spot, plus the cold and lugging stuff into the hide, I don’t want to then go and blow it all by making my presence known with flashlights, chirping walkie talkie’s or pinging cell phones. There is something especially comforting in the P656’s softly glowing constancy and as I huddle cold and adrenalized in my deer hide next November this puppy will absolutely be on my wrist.  So, whether you're an outdoorsman, an intrepid civilian explorer, a foreign correspondent, a prepper anticipating imminent societal meltdown, a law enforcement professional tasked with nighttime stakeouts, an FSO or warfighter protecting our air, land and sea borders, the P656 is a vital addition to your kit. For my part, I'm just a regular Joe who's acquired a big piece of utilitarian cool and I feel lucky to have found my new favorite watch. I have been looking for this exact set of features on a timepiece for a long, long time and would not hesitate to trust my life to the outstanding MWC P656.
You can find it here on their WEBSITE. The strap can be purchased from this leatherworker HERE.  The brand new Grand Power Stribog SP9A3G sports a non-reciprocating charging handle and an all new roller delayed operation which utilizes Glock style 9mm magazines. It's semi-automatic only with a 5" threaded barrel, aluminum frame with M-LOK accessory mounts and an all black finish. Grand Power promises the same reliability and robustness of previous versions that enthusiasts, reviewers, and firearm dealers have come to love. Each SP9A3G ships in a hard plastic case with 3x 30-round magazines. Though not yet profiled on their WEBSITE, you can view the Stribog lineup on their distributor WEBSITE.
 Nice large aperture red dot sight with top-loading battery meaning you don't have to reset zero after replacing. At 1MOA it may not be optimal for red-green colorblind shooters but hopefully soon they'll release it in a more visible green dot variation. Also, if you buy an SRO for your Glock MOS, Springfield OSP, Walther PDP or H&K VP9 Optics Ready, a Trijicon SRO mounting kit (AC32085) will be required at an additional cost of $17.50. This from the Trijicon WEBSITE.
The Trijicon Specialized Reflex Optic (SRO) 1.0 MOA Adjustable LED red dot is best suited for use on a rifle or target pistol application or in applications where increased accuracy at distance is needed. The wide field of view and clean, crisp dot makes it easy for users to find and track the dot in both target and competitive shooting applications, helping improve shooting accuracy and speed. Every SRO features both manual and automatic LED brightness modes and a 3-year battery life. The SRO is designed to survive the rigors of slide ride pistols and is engineered for hard use. It shares a similar electronics design with the proven Trijicon RMR. Like the RMR, the SRO is forged from 7075, T-6 aircraft grade aluminum, making it much more durable than conventional red dot sights. This forged housing protects the lenses and electronics, and it has been tested to survive typical pistol mounted drops. NOTE:  Cabot Guns make exquisite 1911's for the firearm connoisseur. If you want one great pistol instead of spending $10,000 on an assortment of sub-1k polymer sidearms (as you hunt for that perfect ONE over the years), go take a look at Cabot's lineup of masterpieces. One is as fine as the next so you can't go wrong with any of them, and like the Samurai's of yore you'll treasure your weapon as though it were quite literally an arm, or a leg, or other vital below-the-belt appendage. To be sure 1911's are not newbie weapons so either a degree of firearm experience or a willingness to visit the range a few times in order to develop that requisite muscle memory, will be required. Like a challenge coin this is also one of those pistols you could lay on the table whilst debating with your buddies over that tireless topic "what's the best gun?" And you'd undoubtedly win, if only because of the awe it'd inspire. Anyhoo, enough dreaming, go check out Cabot's range on the WEBSITE and leave the page open when your partner asks what you want for Valentines.
 The eagerly anticipated subcompact model of the acclaimed Heckler & Koch VP Series handgun, the VP9SK, has all of the sought-after characteristics of larger frame VP pistols but in a more concealable package: this Made in Germany model incorporates the popular VP trigger, adjustable grip, ambi controls, charging supports (slide ears to aid in racking), 10/13/15 round mags, integral 1913 rail, flat recoil spring, their 90,000-round barrel and all in competitive 23oz weight. Visit the WEBSITE for further specs.
 The MFP-21 Pistol from DRD Tactical features a newly designed lower with an integrated picatinny rail on the butt plate, allowing you to mount a brace, sling or other accessory. Their patented technology allows the weapon to run without the need for a buffer tube, giving you better maneuverability in close quarters or tight spots. You can purchase it and view images and specs on their WEBSITE here.
 A special full build offered by QC10 focuses on bringing the tried-and-true technology of the MP5 platform to American shooters. This from the Quarter Circle 10 WEBSITE:
The YKMF-5 comes as a complete blowback AR pistol and is equipped with a 5.5" QC10 barrel, Bowden Tactical handguard, Dead Air Muzzle Brake, SB Tactical PDW stock and Phase 5 ambi controls. What sets the YKMF-5 apart is that it is manufactured from the ground up focused on the MP5 9x19mm magazine, features QC10’s adjustable buffer system, includes high quality parts from trusted partners, and specific attention to detail on the design and aesthetics. Avoid potential headaches from mixing other brands, knowing the YKMF-5 has been thoroughly tested and is supported fully by QC10’s lifetime warranty and recognized customer support. Made for - Not Modified: Every QC10 product is engineered specifically for pistol caliber ammunition, not modified from an existing platform, increasing functionality, reliability, and overall performance.
 Reminiscent of the infamous Tommy Gun, Standard MFG's new G4S promises hours of afternoon fun at the range with a crate of 22LR. Not sure what happened to the downsized Tommy replica (also in 22LR) released by Standard MFG in 2017, but it could have had something to do with renewed Auto Ordnance patents - hence Standard Mfg stressing "this is not a Tommy Gun." Alternatively, it could just be chronic unreliability seemingly inherent with the design. As a former owner of a new Auto Ordnance 1927A-1, I can say with hand on heart I could not get through a single stick mag without a jam (or two, or three) and no amount of feed-ramp polishing or inspection revealed the cause of the issue: I've subsequently read of many owners experiencing the same complaints. So, Standard Mfg's abandonment of the replica in favor of their new G4S could be their remedy to the malady. Keep an eye on Youtube reviews to determine whether it's reliable or not. This from the Standard Mfg WEBSITE.
Introducing the exciting and new G4S, the ultimate in semiautomatic rifles chambered in .22LR, it is ideally suited for plinking and precision shooting. The tactical features of the G4S includes a 6-position adjustable AR style stock, provisions for mounting all types of accessories through the generous amount of Keymod, M-LOK, and picatinny rail mounting provisions. Additionally, the G4S features a stainless steel lined aluminum 16.5" barrel, a thumbhole pistol grip, and a detachable 10-round magazine with an optional 50-round drum magazine. Caliber: .22 LR Barrel Length: 16.5" Overall Length: 35"-38" Capacity: 10-Round Stick, Optional 50-Round Drum Action: Semi Automatic Material: Aircraft Grade 7075 Machined Aluminum  Now we're talking! The P50 is straight up Star Wars meets Blade Rubber retro radical! It's space age steampunk styling is further enhanced by the use of a 50 round, double stack magazine which lays horizontally along the top of the grip (originally designed by FN for their PS90) - resultantly, there's nothing hanging down to get bumped and create malfunctions. A new carbine kit due to be released by KelTec will allow you to add a 16" barrel and shoulder stock. KelTec asserts this little pistol is a tack driver: by utilizing the 5.7 cartridge, shooters can choose from several variants whether it's sporting, hunting or serious personal defense. Protective details around the world utilize the bullet's efficiency while sport shooters and hunters love the cartridge for its accuracy and distance capabilities. KelTec does it again, and for a working-man price. Check it out on their WEBSITE.
 The brilliantly retro CSV-9 harks back to the Tec-9 or first gen CZ Scorpion but at $2k it'll deter the budget buyer. Increasingly with cool PCC's, you have to pay to play! We just wish one PCC manufacturer understood that volume sales to working people are ultimately more lucrative than intermittent sales to high incomers. When PSA can produce the Dagger for $299, why does the above PCC cost $2,000? Anyhoo, that aside, this really is one of the funnest looking pistol caliber carbines to enter the market this year and if wallets allowed we'd be all over this. The CSV-9 is imported from Czechoslovakia by Four Peaks Imports and can be viewed on their WEBSITE here.
Made in the Czech Republic, by Czech Weapons, the CSV-9 is a Striker Fired direct blow back 9MM pistol. It features a 4.75” barrel and utilizes Glock Gen 4 magazines. The CSV-9 pistol is equipped with an ambidextrous safety and the charging handle can be installed and used on either side of the firearm. |
the afd blog
Previews and reviews on newly available items are written-up by our team as quickly as we can find them. Please let us know if we've missed something debuting on the market. As a firearm enthusiast or an AFD listed company you are welcome to submit a blog entry about a new product. You may also submit a firearm related commentary, idea or nostalgic musing: we like things celebratory of American ingenuity and manufacturing. All entries are subject to editing and/or fact-checking. Archives
April 2023
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