Getting rave reviews and a 4.7/5 stars for reliability and fun factor. See the following text from their website...

The FX-9 carbine (Freedom Xtreme-9mm Carbine) has a familiar set of operating controls for the avid AR-15 user, it accepts AR-15 stocks and buffer tube assemblies,as well as most free float AR-15 rail assemblies.

The FX-9  comes standard with a 33 rd double stack Glock® style 9mm  magazine. When we designed the FX-9 our goals were Reliability , Affordability, and familiar controls for the user.

The FX-9 is machined From Billet material, Anodized type III aluminum components and Full hard nitride Steel components including the barrel,bolt,ejector,last round hold open,feed ramp and extractor for extended wear properties and corrosion resistance.

The upper and lower receiver are more than 1.00″ shorter than a standard AR-15 upper and lower receiver making it more compact and lighter than a standard mil-spec AR-15 design

Note – The FX-9 Carbine is designed for right handed use. We advise left handed shooters to consider this before purchase, as some features may not be well suited to all left handed shooters.

We do not recommend using aftermarket lighter weight triggers, if you wish to try an aftermarket trigger group we recommend keeping your factory supplied trigger group nearby for re-installation as it has more disconnector engagement built into it than a normal mil spec trigger group or after market trigger group.

Features include:

LIMITED LIFE TIME WARRANTY

The FX-9 upholds Xtreme reliability with a wide range of ammo including many hollow point designs for self defense, full metal jacket and copper plated bullets.

We do not recommend the use of non jacketed/plated ammunition as unprotected lead can cause fouling and buildups that plated and jacketed bullets do not.

Do Not use aluminum case ammunition in your FX-9 !!

We recommend starting with the following Ammunition.

-115 gr. FMJ Tulammo®

-115 gr. FMJ  MAGTECH®

-124 gr. JHP SIG SAUER® Elite Performance

Springfield's new Saint SBR. Cost? A grand! Text from the SA website:

Springfield Armory’s SAINT AR-15 series expands to include the SAINT SBR, featuring an 11.5” CMV government profiled 1:8 twist barrel that is Melonite® finished inside and out for the ultimate in corrosion resistance. This configuration was selected as the best balance between length and ballistic performance of the 5.56 cartridge.

The SAINT SBR, with its forged lower receiver, provides superior accuracy thanks in part to a free-float handguard featuring Springfield’s rock-solid proprietary attachment system. With four attachment points anchoring it to the barrel nut, this M-Lok compatible handguard was designed to withstand the hard use of law enforcement and military operations. Under the handguard is Springfield’s pinned multi/mode adjustable gas block for suppressed or unsuppressed use.

Forged from aircraft grade 7075 T6 aluminum and Type III hard coat anodized, the lower receiver is equipped with the Accu-Tite™ tension system, which reduces movement between the upper and lower receiver. No corners were cut on the MPT (magnetic particle tested) enhanced M16 bolt carrier group – the heart of any premium AR. This BCG is finished with super-hard Melonite® and carries a 9310 steel bolt.

The GI trigger on the SAINT SBR is nickel boron coated for a smooth, grit-free feel, and the Bravo Company stock, pistol grip and Magpul Gen M3 PMAG are right at home on this combat grade short-barreled rifle. A single-sided 90 degree safety, GI charging handle and A2 flash hider complete the package.

For those looking for a light, tight and quick-handling short-barreled rifle, the SAINT SBR is the ultimate hard use carbine.

CALIBER
5.56x45mm (.223 REM)
LENGTH
27.5" - 30.75"
WEIGHT
5 lbs 9 oz
UPPER RECEIVER
SA Forged Type III Hard Coat Anodized Aircraft Grade 7075 T6 Aluminum Flat Top w/ Forward Assist & M4 Feed Ramps
LOWER RECEIVER
SA Forged Type III Hard Coat Anodized Aircraft Grade 7075 T6 Aluminum w/ Accu-Tite™ Tension System & Receiver End Plate w/ QD Swivel Attachment
BARREL
11.5" CMV, Melonite® Internally & Externally, A2 Flash Hider / 1:8 Twist
GAS SYSTEM
SA Proprietary Low Profile Carbine Length Adjustable Gas Block
TRIGGER
SA Proprietary, Nickel Boron Coated GI Style
SIGHTS
Not Included
TRIGGER GUARD
Bravo Company
PISTOL GRIP
Bravo Company Gunfighter Mod 3
HANDGUARD
FUll Length Aluminum Free Float Handguard w/ M-Lok Attachment Points
BUTT STOCK
Bravo Company Gunfighter
BUFFER ASSEMBLY
Carbine "H" Heavy Tungsten Buffer
RECEIVER EXTENSION
Mil-Spec Carbine, 7075 T6 Type III Hard Anodized Aluminum
CHARGING HANDLE
GI Style
BOLT CARRIER GROUP
Enhanced M16 Melonite® Finish, MPT, 9310 Steel Bolt
MAGAZINE
1 - 30 Round Magpul PMAG
CASE
Soft Rifle Case
MSRP
$1,049.00

A Perspective on the Current State of the Firearms Market

Turn on the news or log onto social media and you’ll see a lot of conversations regarding firearms. Gun control and ownership are hot topics that everyone seems to have an opinion on. But what aren’t well covered during these debates are the facts regarding the firearms market or the positives gun ownership has on society. To really understand the issue regarding gun regulations, it helps to look at a much larger picture in regards to the current state of firearms in this country.

Firearm Sales are on the Rise 

During the past five years, the gun and ammo manufacturing industries have seen a lot of volatility; as well as a lot of growth. The civilian market is responsible for a lot of this growth. It’s easy to wonder why the sale of guns keeps going up despite growing sentiment that is frequently shown on the news.

Following landmark mass shootings such as at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in October 2017, the market sees a surge due to consumer concerns about stricter gun laws in anticipation of bans. The market also sees growth in exports, primarily due to rising geopolitical tensions and instability. Regardless of what you see on the news about gun control and whatever the legislatures may land on in terms of regulation, there’s one thing clear: the firearms market is as healthy as it has ever been and will likely expand in the years ahead.

Responsible Gun Owners Need to be Advocates

How can responsible gun owners calm the nerves of Americans with little regard for their second amendment rights? Explaining the positive ways that firearms help society is a good place to start:

• Law enforcement departments are often understaffed with personnel who are overworked. Even as officers diversify the equipment and firearms they take into the field, they can only do so much. Having ready access to a gun can often mean life or death to people where relying on emergency personnel to respond isn’t practical.
• Rural areas are seeing more threats from dangerous animals. Firearms are the best tool in these situations to protect family, pets, and livestock from predators that wander onto your property.
• The best deterrent against robbery, home invasion, and similar situations is to have a trained, knowledgeable firearm owner.

Being armed with these facts can help you demonstrate how responsible gun ownership works so that you can be a role model for gun carry rights and a positive voice in the industry.

The Growing Subculture of the Firearms Market

Unlike with other products, the firearms market isn’t limited to traditional storefronts. Passionate gun owners have made firearms a career. Gun trade shows are growing in numbers as interest is self-protection increases. A variety of products from handmade leather IWB holsters to rigs and other accessories have given many people a way to earn a living with products they’re passionate about.

Understanding Permits will Increase Sales

Where does all this leave the industry? As the firearms market gets more diverse and concerns about personal safety increase we will likely see sales go up, not down. This is particularly true because much of the gun conversation has focused on a different aspect – carry permits – instead of removing firearms completely.

How to obtain a carry permit can vary between states and jurisdictions. Anyone interested in getting a firearm needs to make sure they diligently research to find the best permit for their situation. This can help people understand the situations why carrying a gun is important, along with proper care and maintenance of firearms too. The more people educate themselves regarding proper gun usage and how to responsibly carry will only translate into better sales and a healthier firearms market in the future.

About the Author: Brian Claywell is a freelance writer and blogger based in Austin, Texas. With a love for hunting, hiking, and the great outdoors in general, he spends much of his time writing outside. In his free time, he enjoys spending time at his local shooting range.

The new Diana Chaser CO2 Air Rifle Kit in .22 or .177 is a serious contender to the Crosman 2240/2300/2300T series which require a whole lot of expenditure in aftermarket parts to bring into accurizing and/or rifle configuration. Though the 2240 is around $60, both the 2300 and the 2300T are $300 and $175 respectively. This new Diana Chaser gives you both pistol and rifle options, plus German design, plus an integrally suppressed rifle barrel, plus a 2-stage trigger, plus a 500fps rating in .22 (Crosman is 460fps), plus grip storage etc all for the lovely low price of $120 from Pyramid Air. Damn, that's a deal! Now don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of the Crosman 2240 and have mine all decked out with the most desirable accoutrements but with this Diana kit I could have had all the same for less than half the price. I'll keep you posted on reviews as they start to surface online but I'm betting this is a peach. GOM. This from the Pyramid Air website:

• CO2
• Bolt-Action
• Includes Single-Shot Tray
• Fixed Front Sight
• Adjustable Rear Sight
• 11mm Dovetail
• 2-Stage Trigger, Adjustable take-up
• Spare CO2 capsule can be stored in grip
• Small Weaver accessory mount on underside of barrel band
• Kit includes Chaser Pistol, Butt Stock, and Silenced Rifle Barrel

The Diana Chaser Rifle Kit is a pistol and rifle in one! This lightweight CO2 airgun was designed for hours of fun outdoor target shooting or as an ideal indoor plinker. Fueled by a single 12-gram CO2 cartridge, the Chaser is a finely balanced modular platform that lets you choose whether a pistol or rifle is a better fit for your trigger time.  

Available in .177 or .22 Diana had shooters of all ages in mind with the airgun's feather-light weight of 3.1lbs.  But do not let its slight build fool you!  The Chaser is a capable plinker and target puncher that can send its rounds downrange at speeds up to 560 fps in .177 and 500 fps in .22 caliber. To get started shooting, first decide if you want to use the Chaser pistol or transform it into a modular air rifle.  To turn the pistol into a rifle, loosen the three set screws that secure the barrel and pull the barrel from the breech.  Insert the moderated 17.7” rifle barrel into the breech and tighten the set screws.  Remove the pistol grip cap by unthreading the securing screw on the underside of the grip and sliding the cap off of the grip.  Then insert the butt stock into the holes on the grip and replace the securing screw.  Once those parts are in place, you’re ready to load up and sling lead.  As a bonus, the elongated barrel has the added benefit of increasing pellet speed by 35-40 fps over that of the pistol.

To get started, load a single CO2 cartridge, cock the smooth bolt-action, load your pellet, and pull the trigger.  While the Chaser only needs a single CO2 cartridge, a compartment on the bottom of the grip opens up a storage area to hold a second CO2 cartridge to keep more air power on deck.  Each includes a front blade sight with an adjustable rear sight and an 11mm Dovetail to zero in on targets with a scope.   
 
Diana includes a single shot tray for precision shooting, but the Chaser can accept magazines used by its big brother the Stormrider.  With the addition of indexing magazines, transform your single-shot Chaser into a multi-shot repeater pistol!  These indexing mags hold 9 shots in .177 and 7 in .22 and cut down your reload times significantly.  The magazines are sold separately but are readily available here at Pyramyd Air.
If you want a lightweight pistol/rifle combination built for dropping cans and peppering paper targets, choose the Chaser Rifle Set and see what your shooting sessions have been missing.

​All you need and more in this well appointed new rifle from Ruger. I love walnut but I'm the first to recognize the benefits of a lightweight polymer stock that's immune to damp and temperature changes and doesn't require the felling of deciduous trees that are so valuable an element of game habitats! I'm a fan of tang safeties and the RMA trigger, nice big bolt handles (this one's a tad small) and box mags, but I'd like to see some fine iron sights on this rifle despite knowing it'd bump the price up considerably. Then there's the range of caliber choices and the factory threaded barrel that truly makes this the everyman's rifle for under $500 (street). Amazing. Top off the entire package with outstanding accuracy and what's not to love. Ruger scores a homerun, yet again. GOM. PS. Data from the Ruger website:
​

• Ergonomic, lightweight synthetic stock designed for quick, easy handling blends a classic look with modern forend contouring and grip serrations.
• Ruger Marksman Adjustable™ trigger offers a crisp release with a pull weight that is user adjustable between 3 and 5 pounds, allowing shooters to make that perfect shot.
• The one-piece, three-lug bolt with 70° throw provides ample scope clearance and utilizes a full diameter bolt body and dual cocking cams for smooth, easy cycling from the shoulder.
• Patent-pending Power Bedding®, integral bedding block system positively locates the receiver and free-floats the barrel for outstanding accuracy.
• Offers minute-of-angle accuracy that can make every hunt a success.
• Heavier tapered, threaded barrel is cold hammer-forged, resulting in ultra-precise rifling that provides exceptional accuracy, longevity and easy cleaning.
• Features a visible, accessible and easy-to-actuate tang safety that provides instant security.
• Soft rubber buttpad is crafted for maximum recoil reduction.
• Factory-Installed One-Piece Aluminum Scope Rail
• Also includes - magazine; sling swivel studs.

It's a very interesting concept all round. This -- the full story -- from their website:

​After the July 2012 mass shooting inside a Century 15 movie theater in Aurora, Colorado that left 12 dead and 70 injured, Mike Full decided something had to be done about the mass shootings. His primary concern was that these “mass shooters” wanted to take people’s lives instead of money (money can be replaced, but our loved ones cannot). The idea of taking the family to a restaurant or the movies now seemed risky in today’s world. Full wondered why not a single person was carrying in the movie theater that night and how it could have ended differently if someone did.

​Despite the actions of these mass shooters gunning down innocent lives in gun free zones, Full felt confident that if the laws and right products were on the side of the innocents, more ‘good guys’ would be carrying a firearm and mass shooters would no longer have the opportunity to create such chaos in our society.

Full said, “In general, as a family man, if a bad guy surprised me at gun point to rob me, even if I had a loaded concealed gun, I would just drop my wallet and run. My personal choice is not to risk my life when someone just wants my money. Returning to my family alive is priority, but, if someone wants my life and the life of my family, then I want to have choices in handling that situation. I advocate being situationally aware, street smart and you should have a firearm ready to prevent, get out of, or stop a bad situation (such as a mass shooting scenario). I view the firearm as a tool that gives you options, and I would rather have the options than not.”

Full’s research into these mass shooters showed they usually executed their plan with preparedness and firepower (rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammo, body armor, etc.). Full looked into the options that today’s market provides “the good guys” (the concealed carry law-abiding citizen). The concealed carry market continues to push sub-compact pistols that are smaller, thinner, and have less of a footprint. For Full the smaller sub-compact pistols were inadequate to confidently engage the ‘mass shooter’ due to all the compromises that were sacrificed to be able to more comfortably carry a pistol throughout the day.

“Like in the Aurora movie theater shooting,” Full continued, “how am I going to engage a bad guy with an AR-15 rifle who is covered in body armor with my six-shot, 9mm sub-compact? I imagined the ‘what if’ scenario in that movie theater, a dark, people trampling chaotic mess and there is only 1 exit that is jammed. If the best choice was to ‘stop’ the mass shooter (in body armor), you need to get a head shot (central nervous system will incapacitate) or hit his (un-armored) body parts to causes enough muscle damage so he can’t move and/or bleeds out (and goes unconscious). I do not feel confident that 6-shots of 9mm will do the job (unless you are very lucky). But, if you put a continuous 21-shots of 9mm on him, even with body armor, I don’t care how much body armor he is wearing, he is not going to be ok. At the very least, those 21 rounds could provide valuable seconds for your family and other to escape.”

“Ultimately, I want a firearm to give me these options: first, provide covering fire to create enough TIME for me and my family to escape; second, take down or disable the bad guy; third, and finally, stay covered (fortified and distance from the bad guy) until the police or help arrive. But, I am not confident that I can do this because I have compromised firepower and shooting advantages with my sub-compact firearm. Even well-trained police officers have about a 20% hit ratio in a gun fight (with a full-sized pistol). It would be safe to assume that with a sub-compact firearm, that hit percentage goes down.” ***

Full’s mission was to create a conceal carry pistol where there was NO MORE COMPROMISING, starting with these basic requirements:

1)    Naturally concealable (Footprint) – Has a footprint of a common cell phone so you can carry it in a pocket, purse or bag. You can tuck in your shirt and there are no clips on your belt that give away that you are carrying.

2)    No holster required (Thin) – Be able to hide the pistol without a holster (so no added thickness). By the time you add a holster to a single-stack pistol, it will be thicker than normal double stack.

3)    Safe / Reliable – When concealed without a holster, it is 100 percent safe from discharging the round in the chamber and is reliable in all aspects.

4)    Quick / Easy Deploy – Quick and easy to deploy under stress and low-light conditions (like a movie theater). Only ONE simple action to deploy.

5)    Full-sized gun – Full-length barrel (accuracy at distance), full-length slide (longer sight radius for aiming at longer distances), full-grip (more natural grip for rapid follow up shots and stability).

6)    Max firepower – Deploy with the largest magazine capacity possible so you don’t need to reload often

7)    Well balanced / comfortable – Well balanced and comfortable for daily concealed carry.

8)    Standard pistol operation – When shooting and reloading, same muscle memory as a standard pistol.

Based upon these requirements, Full believes not only would you have the perfect concealed pistol, but you would have a disruptive pistol design that would become the defacto form for all future pistol design and could be used in all applications, including law enforcement and military. With design in mind, Full met with longtime friend and business entrepreneur Steve Pantalemon, and FULL CONCEAL Inc. was born in April 2016. From his garage, Full developed prototypes that were debuted at the 2017 SHOT Show.

As a gun enthusiast, Full understood the caution gun buyers have when a new brand of pistol comes to market because of reliability, etc. FULL CONCEAL’s strategy was genius to adapt existing popular branded pistols to their designs and requirements, leveraging the history, testing and reliability of that brand. For example, consumers would not have to worry about the reliability of the barrel, because it’s the original factory barrel. FULL CONCEAL only replaces / adds essential parts to their existing design and leaves the majority of the original factory’s pistol parts in place. FULL CONCEAL’s strategy does not compete head on with other pistol manufacturers, but instead to compliment the brand, giving buyers another option by having their favorite branded pistol with FULL CONCEAL’s enhanced capabilities and features. Many after-market parts, including barrels, sights and more for those popular brands, will still be compatible on FULL CONCEAL’s pistol modification.

The patent pending M3 (Model 3) design is FULL CONCEAL’s latest design on their folding semi-auto pistol. The first M3 platform in production is based on the GLOCK® 19. After FULL CONCEAL’s modification, it becomes an “FC Arms M3D” pistol. There is also a gunsmith option (no FFL required) where users that already own a GLOCK® 19/23/25/32/38 can send in their pistol and have it converted to an M3D. When the M3D pistol is folded, the footprint is approximately the size of an iPhone 7 Plus cell phone. It comes standard with a Magpul 21-round magazine and an engineered proprietary mechanical safety that safely holds one round in the chamber. The mechanical safety requires the grip to almost be completely unfolded in order for the trigger to be pulled. The original GLOCK® factory drop-safety and firing-pin safety works in conjunction with Full Conceal’s Trigger Folding safety. Unfolding is done with one swift motion, in one second, and the magazine automatically orients properly, the grip locks into place, and the pistol is ready to fire. Once unfolded, the M3D looks and functions very similarly to a factory GLOCK.

The constant innovation and push to evolve the M3D design is happening daily at FULL CONCEAL. The original idea of being able to hide a full-sized pistol with 21+1 rounds of ammo behind a common cell phone seemed like an impossibility. Presenting other configurations of the M3D, they are now able to show how to hide a 33+1 round M3D in your pocket, bag or purse and unfolding it into ready-to-fire position in one second using only one hand to deploy. There is no other solution that exists that can fully conceal that kind of ready-to-go firepower and can be deployed while using only 1-hand.

“As we show the M3D pistol at various shows, we do encounter individuals that are confused or reticent to accept this folding semi-auto concept,” Full said. “Their comments are generally that, “I’m happy with my sub-compact single stack pistol… or I already carry a full-sized pistol….”

“For those who are ‘happy’ carrying a single-stack/sub-compact pistol, the first question I ask why don’t you carry a full-sized pistol? We both agree that full-sized pistol has many advantages over the sub-compact right? The answer was always “of course a full-sized pistol is better because of more ammo capacity, full grip…etc.” BUT…. At that point, the issue of comfort and ease of concealment comes into play. The conclusion was that they are ‘happy’ with the compromises they made and not happy with the actual sub-compact pistol (otherwise, if we both agree a full-sized pistol is better, then why are you still carrying a sub-compact)? My response, is why are you happy with the compromises? What if you didn’t have to compromise?”

“For those who are ‘happy’ carrying a full-sized pistol, the first question I ask is does carrying a full-sized pistol cause you do anything different that you would normally wouldn’t do (if you didn’t carry it)? Over the course of talking many ‘full-sized’ concealed carriers, there’s a common phrase that comes up ‘…you get used to it….’ Some take the full-sized gun out when they sit in their car, some readjust their pants on occasion…etc. They dress differently (larger shirts, usually not tucked in), when they sit down in the car or restaurant the grip digs into their spine or gut…etc. Then I also point out that if that grip is above the belt (even with an untucked shirt), as soon as you are not perfectly standing straight, you will see the hard edge of the grip print about an inch or two above the belt, which someone would assume/guess that you are carrying. So are you fully concealed? The conclusion again is that they are ‘happy’ with being able to compromise by changing their lifestyle and just get use to it, even though it causes occasional discomfort and they struggle to ‘fully’ conceal the full-sized pistol. But in the end, they know that when they need it, having the full-sized pistol is worth all the hassles of every day carry if it can increase their odds of saving a life. So, what if you could have another option to make that full-sized pistol fully concealable, more comfortable, tuck in your shirt, and also increase your magazine ammo capacity?”

“I use Tesla (the car company) sometimes as an example when I am talking to gun owners that are on the fence. In the old car paradigm (before Tesla), you had to choose between different classes of cars: Eco-Friendly (great mileage), Race Car (fast acceleration), Luxury (heavier insulation and quiet). If you buy a sports car (to get 0-60mph in 3 seconds) for speed you need to compromise on not having luxury of ‘quietness’ and not being ‘eco-friendly’. You can’t have everything.”

“When new advancements in design and technology come along, it can disrupt and change the paradigm. When the Tesla Model S (P100D) debuted, it was luxurious (extremely quiet), faster than most exotic race cars (0-60mph in 2.5 seconds), and was more ‘eco-friendly’ than any gas engine in existence. You now can have EVERYTHING. With the Full Conceal M3D Pistol, you now can have EVERYTHING. A 34-round 9mm Full Conceal M3D is a full-sized pistol that can be truly comfortably carried loaded, in a pocket with no holster, 100% mechanically safe, fully concealed, and deployed in 1-second (using only 1-hand). What are we compromising now?”

The company, headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, designs and manufactures all their parts just a short distance from where the annual SHOT Show is held. “We take great pride in using American talent, production machines and capabilities. Nevada is a gun friendly state, which allows us to hire skilled staff and grow our business to better serve a customer base nationwide and now internationally,” says Full.

With two major distributors, Ellett Brothers and Sports South and over 150 dealers in the US, FULL CONCEAL has recently expanded to cover international sales.

“Some comments on social media were misleading. FULL CONCEAL is not a niche, a concept, or novelty product. The M3 is reality and truly a game changer,” Steve Pantalemon, FULL CONCEAL’s COO responsible for sales and operations, added. “We see that in our sales figures and the feedback we get from dealers and customers employing the products. FULL CONCEAL is here to stay and provide our customers with a weapon system that doesn’t compromise on comfort, capacity, caliber, concealment and quick deployment.”

The FULL CONCEAL team is available for interviews, meetings and videos upon appointment.

Learn more about FULL CONCEAL’s M3 folding semi-auto pistols on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. See all the products at www.fullconceal.com