​No one has talked about this pocket pistol since Shot Show so I’m assuming it hasn’t yet hit the shelves, but it really piqued my interest in January and I’ve been waiting to get my hands on one since. The concept is great: it promises to be a robust, close up self-defender without any external doodads to trip you up as your brain goes into singular fight or flight mode in the heat of a life threatening moment. Being shot twice simultaneously with two 25ACP bullets would be a sobering check to a would be assailant. This blurb from the manufacturer whom you should pester if this is something you’d like in your pocket: “We're going to offer the S333 in many different calibers, but it will initially be a .25 caliber. The S333 gets its name from the rule of 3. 3 Seconds, 3 Feet/Yards (depending on which agency you want to use), and 3 shots is where you will need personal protection. The S333 has 6 barrels, and fires two barrels simultaneously. We have trademarked the names Volley Fire and S-333. It's a top break gun, and doesn't have a moving slide, or a bulky revolving cylinder. It works like a double action and has a long throw. So when you pull the trigger you are actually pulling the hammer back and then dropping it. It needs to be done very purposely; therefore there is no chance of accidental discharge, and no need for a safety. In a stressful situation you could easily fumble or forget about the safety. Also since there aren't any external moving parts it can easily be fired through your pocket, or satchel. With 2 bullets, it's extremely powerful and devastating. Although, (only) initially available in 25 caliber, you can have one side with shot, and one side with a bullet for even more versatility for protection. It's really not a novelty, but a self defense handgun that really makes sense because of the simplicity, firepower, and safety.” Their website is http://www.stdgun.com. Their contact email is [email protected]. And they also make some gorgeous blue, stainless and engraved 1911’s including this Case Colored model (my favorite) for $1,595. GOM  

​At just under 1lb in weight and with an average 4.5 star user rating, the SCCY CPX-1 9MM is a premium contender for budget deep-concealed carry. It seems we've foregone the term mouse gun in this striker-fired era, but I still like it as a description of diminutive pocketable pistols that you're more likely to carry than not, and SCCY makes a worthy companion for three different proclivities: 9MM with manual safety, 9MM without manual safety and 380ACP without manual safety. I like the former so thats the one I'm giving a shoutout to now. I like manual safeties, I just do, but that comes from a lifetime of firearm usage and observing a myriad of fails, faux pas' and foolishness among inexperienced or careless shooters. Safeties make sense on all fronts and with practice you don't forget to disengage them because its part of the process of attaining gun readiness, like racking the slide or inserting a magazine! Why folks are so rabidly anti safety confuses me more than an ashtray on a motorcycle. So here is a 9MM mouse gun with a manual safety, awesome! AND it's affordable. AND shooters find them generally reliable. And they're in the $200 range online-store value. Damn, whats not to like? I do recall the first generation having some issues but given time and tenacity, most diligent manufacturers will iron out those hiccups manifested in their first wave of releases if the reviews don't first kill business stone dead. The secret to market survival is price: SCCY founder Joe Roebuck hit a home run with the MSRP and thusly found affection and forgiveness among his customers...this allowed him time to address the reliability issues and release the Gen2 which for the most part resolved user complaints. For anyone who has pored over the pages of the AFD they will notice a direct correlation between price and user rating. I know, I know, we haven't finished the job of adding user ratings to all listed companies yet (we do have day jobs you know), but for the hundreds of companies completed we've seen a curious pattern: the higher the price the more nit-picky the buyer. Low cost in general makes buyers more long-suffering and despite more affluent consumers' readiness to procure high-ticket brands, bragging rights is apparently not enough to deter harsh reviews for the slightest technical infraction (manufacturers take note). Back to the little pistol at hand: 9MM is the cheapest ammunition after 22LR and significantly more effective as a threat stopper when pointed, under stress, at central mass. So, if you are in the market for a sub-compact 9MM with a manual safety - and you're not ready to part with a week's wages - then take a serious look at these quality pistols. After 12 years of production they've completed the test of time. As for guarantees, I remember when they first launched, their warranty included replacement of any weapon stolen but after a spate of bogus thefts they had to withdraw that promise: shame on those scammers but kudos to SCCY for maintaining a "No Questions Asked Warranty" meaning they'll make technical issues right should you have a functionality concern. They also come in a wide range of colors providing appeal for all those who don't dig the standard Henry Ford black. Good founder, good business practices, good pistol. $200. http://www.sccy.com
​Ed.    

Thanks to our $26,000,000,000 a year drug habit, Mexico has developed an industry in premium quality body armor so that their law enforcers, government officials and monied civilians might prevent themselves becoming another statistic. 80,000 people in Mexico are thought to have died as a direct result of cartel bloodletting since 2006. That’s a lot of bodies in a decade. On the other hand, we lose that many people every two years on our roads here in the US: so next time you hear your neighborhood anti-gunner bemoan the 7,000 firearm homicides (last year) in this country, suggest banning cars as a preferable lifesaver. 

Anyhow, back on topic. Miguel Caballero is a five star user rated manufacturer of discreet level II bulletproof undershirts for men and women (pictured above), as well as traditional body armor and protective vehicles. You’re probably asking why I’m giving a shoutout to a foreign made product, but to me anything manufactured as a direct consequence of our national interests (albeit drug addiction in this instance) is a viable purchase consideration. Similarly, the 1911’s manufactured in the Philippines pass my spit test precisely because the iconic JMB-designed pistol was developed specifically to kill them a century ago. As for Caballero's products, a climate of constant peril has clearly inspired great innovation in protectiveness: because seemingly no one south of the border can be guaranteed immunity from a barbaric slaughter by narcotraficantes, making a bulletproof wifebeater in Mexico is a surefire route to commercial success regardless of the 2k pricetag. Mexican elite will tell themselves “my life is worth the cost?” and narcotraficantes matons will say "I need that wifebeater!" Either way, it's one of the few zero visibility ballistic garments on the general market.

On our side of the proverbial wall, Armour Wear is an entirely American company making five-star user rated undershorts with level IIIA protection for your crown jewels and femoral artery. Even wearing these, something tells me that taking shrapnel or a shot in the groin would be cripplingly painful and possibly permanently dibilitating, but lack of a wound chanel would certainly guarantee your survival even if you sang falsetto for a few months afterward. Finally, another made-in-America company, Bullet Blocker, will custom tailor any undergarment you need to level II with the option of level IIIA plate inserts. 

Ballistic underwear is a great way to provide yourself with low profile, midlevel bullet, shrapnel and blade protection if you are in a profession that demands the appearance of civilian membership, OR, you sense a genuine risk but don't wish to appear paranoid. However, there ARE limitations to what can be done without forfeiting concealability, so if you unequivocally need level IIIA then coats and jackets are your best solution in covert protection, and both Bullet Blocker in the US and Miguel Caballero in Mexico have an impressive range of coats, puffer vests and civilian appearing jackets to protect your valued hide. AH

https://armour-wear.com/shop/all/soft-panels/bulletproof-underwear/
http://www.bulletblocker.com/bulletproof-custom-body-armor-clothing.html
http://miguelcaballerofashion.com

21+1, 19+1 and 17+1 are nice numbers when considering a 9mm sidearm. Sometimes we overlook the advantages of a full size pistol in our relentless pursuit for compact, carryable, concealable, polymer, striker-fired weapons for everyday carry but there are three outstanding offerings that should be on everybody's radar. The Sig P-320 5" X-Series costs around $850 and boasts the highest with 21+1 capacity. The CZ P-09 is a DA/SA pistol that costs $520 and has a 19+1 capacity. And the Bersa Thunder Pro is an aluminum and steel DA/SA pistol with a 17+1 capacity costing about $425. All prices are street, not MSRP. Depending on your wallet there's a pistol for you among this exemplary trio: all offer competition grade accuracy, top notch reliability, durabilty and military credentials (meaning they are manufactured by companies who supply one or more uniformed services). Bersa offers a lifetime warranty for the original owner while Sig provides a limited lifetime warranty and CZ offers a 5 year limited warranty. The Bersa weighs 30oz, the CZ weighs 17oz and the Sig weighs 27oz. The sig comes with 4 mags, the CZ with 2 and the Bersa comes with 1. Sig stems from Switzerland circa 1850, Bersa was founded in the 50's by an Italian immigrant to Argentina who graduated from Beretta and CZ is a Czechoslovakian company founded immediately after WWI in 1918. All three companies now have US-based facilities and are for all intents and purposes naturalized. Bersa stays affordable due to cheaper Argentinian labor, more rustic finish and lack of name recognition but having experience of all three brands I can say with hand on heart that - despite the affordability - Bersa make outstanding weapons that are on a par with their higher-priced brothers from fancier mothers. Higher capacity means more time between reloads and more gun in hand to hold on to during range time. More in the hand means steadier shots and better accuracy but all three of these pistols have been crafted for precision from premium materials, workmanship, trial, error and pro-user feedback: these aren't fad followers, market gap fillers or commercial afterthoughts, these are some of the finest dedicated handguns on the market and any one of them would make a great, lifetime choice. Ultra compact pistols are all fine and dandy but there's nothing like a full size sidearm for all day shooting comfort. Being able to hit the target over and over and not suffer hand-fatigue is key to the acquisition of weapon confidence. Looking for a stellar 9mm? Decide which suits your budget and take your pick. Ed.

​It’s almost Shakespearean, such is the momentousness of the decision. And the question is always the same: “do I want to go through the process of filing all my personal data with the ATF and informing the local sheriff of my acquisition for the luxury of adding a stock to a pistol, or, shortening a rifle’s barrel?” How much red tape you’re prepared to endure in life is down to personal preference and your proclivity for headaches. If going to the DMV is an utterly repellent task then you may want to avoid applying for ATF tax stamps because it’s on a par with that. Do you want the scrutiny? Honestly, it doesn’t matter. Every firearm we purchase is logged into the NICS database and shareable with any law enforcement agency nationwide, so going through the ATF for a stamp is simply a formality and opportunity for them to collect $200. Do they honestly care that your barrel is a couple of inches under 16? Doubtful. Is there any tactical advantage? Negligible. And as for public safety, in my opinion the only gun law that’s had any valuable impact is the machine gun act of 1986, without which all those malfeasant individuals intent on attacking our schools, fast food establishments and malls would be able to up their evil carnage significantly. Short of that a gun is a gun is a gun. And so is a knife, it seems...recent ISIS attacks in London have proven a knife can be almost as deadly and inflict wounds that are often harder to recover from. Election be damned, the Brits should hide their forks and knives in preparation for the inevitable ban!

Short barrels on rifles tend to be less accurate at distance and short barrels on shotguns have a decreased affective range so benefits are not the argument here. But for concealability and close-up usefulness in tight spaces they make absolute sense. And for cool factor. We all like the idea of having a weapon normally reserved for our special operatives and movie stars so even if your lifestyle will never maximize the advantages, the cost for cool is worth it. In that light I say wholeheartedly, to hell with pistol braces, go for the real deal and have the option to add any type of actual stock you like. Being purpose-built and shoulder-able makes it truly useful. Just look on line at the amazing array of stocks from the ultra lightweight to fully benchrest adjustable and you’ll get my point. And the elevation from fairly inadequate pistol brace to purpose-made stock is huge, and authentically legal. Folks say breaking the rules is fun but in a few cases in life it’s the opposite: properly registered SBR’s (and suppressors) are all the more enjoyable for the absence of stress and the strange sense of accomplishment in having gone through the rigmarole of getting that antique-looking postage stamp stuck to your receipt. 

For pistol-up SBR’s (my favorite), the SBR stamp allows those who are inventive to fabricate their own setup (there are almost no commercial stock offerings for converting your handgun into an SBR unless you use a Glock, in which case there are three systems made by Mako, CAA {Micro Roni} and Endo Tactical). So for those like me who enjoy the stability of a shoulder stock on a pistol the opportunities for invention are numerous and displayed proudly throughout the web, just Google “stock on pistol” to get some inspiration. Once legally attached, the difference in accuracy and shot-consistency is astounding, enabling you to push shots comfortably from 10 yards out to 50 without breaking a sweat. Put a stock on a pistol and suddenly you become Hickok45! Shooting a stocked pistol opens your eyes to the inherent capabilities of what you felt was a limited-range weapon (your sidearm) whereas the rifle-down SBR variant tends to disappoint when the shooter attempts to match the performance of it’s longer barreled counterpart. If you love rifles for their range and accuracy then SBR’ing it will possibly be a let down. If you enjoy pistols for their compactness then throwing a detachable stock on it will be a step up in function, which is suddenly exciting and in my opinion the most sensible reason for getting your stamp. Either way, it's always worth it. GOM

Okay, the ISSC 22LR pistols don’t have the greatest record, or at least owners say they’re inconsistent in functionality. Some run like a top, others hiccup on every brand of ammo except one and it’s up to the owner to find the one it likes. This can actually be said of many 22LR semi-auto pistols, regardless of brand. The 22LR bullet is a tricky little round to get right but in my experience almost every 22 pistol can be factory tuned to perfection: so if it comes from a company with good customer service then (as annoying as it is) it may simply be a matter of sending it home for a damned good feed-ramp polishing and deburring. I’ve had a few like this, and after some factory fixin’ it’s surprising how much fun it is to have a truly reliable 22 pistol. And if their customer service is poor, don’t despair, strip the gun down, get out the #0000 wire wool and gently polish everything the bullet comes in contact with during battery: often that’ll do it. This is exemplified by the fact that a $1000+ custom 22 pistol (i.e. a Volquartsen Scorpion, perhaps the apex of 22’s) will run like a Swiss watch out of the box. With most modern 22’s, the potential is there with patience and care. 

Back to ISSC. Last year they released the Gen2 in attempt to address some of the issues manifested by the Gen1. Essentially a Glock 19 in size and profile, the ISSC offers shooters a cheaper range alternative for practice and familiarity. And now it gets even cheaper with ISSC offering their own budget trainer in the form of a mirror-image CO2 bb pistol complete with blowback action. (Side note to ISSC: you should have kept the safety functional on the BB version as this is an important step in muscle memory acquisition for those NOT owning the G19.) The upside of a bb replica is you can maintain practice over the winter months in your basement or backyard and acquire such second nature familiarity with your primary pistol - whether that’s the G19 or the ISSC 22LR - that when you reach for it in a crisis it’ll feel like an extension of your own hand. Familiarity is critical with any firearm. I knew a couple who lived in a cabin in Alaska for 15 years. Their only source of mail and supplies came via Cessna once a month from the nearest town which was over 100 miles away. The husband habitually carried a 6” 357MAG and over the years developed such proficiency and ease with that weapon so when the day arrived that he was charged by a male grizzly bear he was able to place all 6 shots on it’s forehead and hump throughout the 5 second charge. If that aint a cool head I don’t know what is. Surprisingly, the bear stopped on the sixth shot and walked off into the forest, no doubt succumbing later to lead poisoning. Admittedly that’s a very steady head under stress but again, familiarity is everything if you wish to place rounds on target when needed. Buy all the firepower you want but if you’re unable to hit where it counts then you could be felled by an aggressive dog, an assailant with a knife or a single CCI 22LR Standard velocity bullet from someone who DOES know what they’re doing. 

The ISSC pistols fit into your G19 holsters and feel virtually identical in the hand. Conversion kits are fine but price wise there’s not a huge difference and “do I leave the kit in, or, do I return my G19 to it’s 9mm setup” is always the question. To my knowledge there’s no bb kit for a G19 as of yet. So if you’re like me and prefer to keep your primary as a dedicated firearm, then the ISSC duo offers an excellent pair of training choices for range, backyard and man cave plinking. Here in the NE those winter months tend to drag a bit so with a nice little bb home-shooting gallery you can afford to think of it these pistols as valuable familiarization. Hey, we all need excuses to add new items to our collection!  ED