Nov. 8, 2016, was a huge victory for gun owners and the firearms industry. Our new president, strongly endorsed and supported by the NRA, has promised to protect the Second amendment from encroachment. National concealed-carry reciprocity and the Hearing Protection Act actually look like they’ll have a chance of passing Congress and we, the firearms community, can finally breathe a sigh of relief. We are not so embattled, and for the moment life is good. But there were other consequences as a result of the election, and I guess it depends on which seat you are sitting in as to whether they are good or bad.

After The Boom

The AR-15, or modern sporting rifle (MSR) as we have come to know it, has never been more popular. In recent years, many shops with CNC machinery have become manufacturers and some sold to even smaller shops with variances. A lot of these small manufacturers gambled on Hillary Clinton winning the presidential election and tapped out their lines of credit to build inventory in time for the post-election panic buying. With diminished post-Trump-victory demand and an oversupplied market, prices for ARs have never been cheaper. As a result, we can expect to see a number of these smaller manufacturers disappear.

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Is the Savage MSR 15 Recon a Serviceable Combat Rifle?

But one company sure to weather the storm is Savage Arms. In January of 2017, Savage introduced its new line of MSRs. The line includes two rifles with .223 Wylde chamberings so they can fire both 5.56mm NATO and .223 Remington cartridges reliably and accurately without pressure issues. The MSR 15 Patrol carbine is an enhanced civilian-legal version of the military’s M4 Carbine while the MSR 15 Recon possesses a BlackHawk AR Blaze trigger, a free-floating handguard and a collapsible BlackHawk buttstock and pistol grip. I received the latter for testing.

Family Resemblance

My initial examination of the carbine didn’t reveal any surprises. If you’re expecting anything dramatically different than what we’ve become accustom to in AR-15 rifles, you will be disappointed. But what I discovered is the Savage MSR 15 Recon is a well-built gun using some great components and assembled with a good degree of attention to detail. The Savage gun uses a direct gas impingement system just like the original AR-15. However, it uses a mid-length gas system, which reduces the port pressure, helps reduce wear by lowering the bolt carrier velocity and makes the gun softer on recoil. Savage calls the mid-length system appropriate for the 16.13-inch barrel length, and I wholeheartedly agree.

Savage uses a 1-in-8-inch-twist barrel on the MSR 15 Recon. Here we see a number of innovations that help set the rifle apart from competitors. The barrel’s 5R rifling has five lands and grooves arranged so there is no land or groove directly opposite (180 degrees) of each other, which might cause an uneven constriction on the projectile. The lands are slightly slanted and less likely to collect bullet jacket material, which should aid in accuracy and makes the barrel easier to clean. Savage claims the 5R rifling cradles the bullet just enough to impart spin without unnecessary constriction.

To protect the barrel, Savage gives it a surface hardening treatment called Melonite QPQ. Besides making the barrel harder, it also has a lower friction coefficient than chrome and should ensure a long life. As mentioned, the gun has a .223 Wylde chamber.

Savage goes the extra length and laser-engraves the rifle’s serial number on the bolt. I could see where this would be especially helpful when guns are involved in group cleaning sessions such as with a department or agency. The bolt carrier’s gas key is correctly staked and should provide a lifetime of trouble-free use.

Extra Touches

A 13.5-inch, free-floating M-LOK handguard is used on the Savage MSR 15 Recon. It’s a rock-solid unit, and I like its small diameter. It covers the gun’s gas block to give the carbine clean and uncluttered lines and provides plenty of rail space on top for different sighting options. BlackHawk’s folding backup sights are also included.

Savage uses its own forgings to machine the upper and lower receivers. The stylized lines give the lower a decidedly “billet” look, though it is not. There are grooves on the front of the magazine well for those who like to shoot with their support hand in this location instead of on the handguard. There are also indexing cuts on the rear of the magazine well, bilaterally, to give shooters a place for their trigger fingers to rest when they are not on the trigger. The lower has an integral winter triggerguard.

One interesting feature of the Savage MSR lower receiver is that it is drilled and tapped for a setscrew that, when tightened, eliminates all of the play and movement between the upper and lower receivers. The tip of the screw bears against the bottom of the rear lug of the upper receiver for rigidity.

As mentioned, the Savage MSR 15 Recon is outfitted with a BlackHawk AR Blaze trigger, a single-stage unit designed for duty use. It features a full-mass hammer, and all of the components are given a boron treatment to eliminate the need for lubrication. My test sample had a smooth and crisp trigger pull, breaking at 5.25 pounds with a firm reset. This is a sensible trigger pull for those who will use this gun for tactical applications, but those interested in target work and 3-Gun competition will likely want to switch to a lighter pull.

The pistol grip used on the Savage MSR 15 Recon is also a BlackHawk part. Ergonomically, it is one of the best grips I have used. It has a “bottle taper,” meaning it’s slim at the top and fatter at its bottom, and it’s heavily textured. The Recon also uses a BlackHawk six-position collapsible stock. It features a wedge-shaped cheekweld and a 1-inch recoil pad. Though the recoil from .223/5.56mm rounds isn’t punishing, the pad gives the stock extra length, and its tacky rubber composition prevents it from sliding off of a ballistic vest.

Range Workout

I tested the MSR 15 Recon’s accuracy at the range on a blustery Tucson winter day. Winds gusted to 15 mph, and I tried to time my shots during windless lulls. If I thought the wind affected a group, I reshot it. For optics, I used a Bushnell AR Optics 1-4x24mm scope with a 30mm tube. It has .223/5.56 BDC reticle for mid-range accuracy and target turrets. I mounted it in a Weaver Tactical SPR mount. This combo proved to be a perfect match for the Recon for short- to mid-range work. I didn’t feel handicapped at all using the 4X scope to shoot groups at 100 yards.

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The scope’s clear and bright optics made it easy to hold the crosshairs on the little 2-inch Shoot-N-C targets. While the trigger was a little heavier and had a little more creep than I would prefer for target work, I was able to shoot some very nice groups. All of the groups were fired from a warm barrel with no effort made to allow it to cool. Savage doesn’t claim the MSR 15 Recon to be a target gun, but it did produce sub-MOA groups—not just once, but with three of the five different loads used!

Shooting the Recon on steel, I dialed the Bushnell’s magnification down and shot with both eyes open. I liked the long handguard and the ability to grip it far forward, with its slim diameter permitting me to hook my thumb over the top rail.

The Takeaway

Admittedly, I am many years removed from active 3-Gun competition, but the Savage MSR 15 Recon impressed me as a gun whose only limitation would be the shooter. The rifle worked and worked well, with absolutely no stoppages during the 300-round test. It possesses all the accuracy needed for competition, law enforcement or security work.

For those wanting to test the waters in 3-Gun competition, the Savage MSR 15 Recon makes a lot of sense. It provides a solid platform that can be added to as the competitor’s skill level increases. Savage Arms lists the MSRP of the Recon at $999 but, like most other guns—especially AR-style rifles—you’ll find the real-world price to be substantially less.

Savage MSR 15 Recon Specs

Savage MSR 15 Recon Performance

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for three 5-shot groups at 100 yards.

For more information, visit savagearms.com. Keep Reading

Battle Rifle Company is a relative new player in the AR-15 market. The company opened its doors in 2011 with a mission to supply law enforcement agencies and other professionals with quality rifles built for hard use in the harshest environments. I recently received a sample of the company’s BR4 Cutlass, which is designed for maritime use.

Battle Rifle Company started when Chris Kurzadkowski’s son was a policeman and needed a rifle to go through SWAT school. Kurzadkowski told him to bring him a receiver, and he built a gun that performed so well that many of the other officers wanted him to build guns for them as well. Before long, his hobby had turned into a full-time business and Battle Rifle Company was born. Weapons weren’t exactly new to Kurzadkowski—he’d spent 20 years in the U.S. Army, enlisted and as an officer, serving in the infantry, mechanized infantry and air cavalry.

Waterproof AR

“When we built the BR4 Cutlass, we did it with the intention of using it in maritime operations. We put a test gun underwater in Galveston Bay. After 30 days, we pulled it out and knocked the barnacles off of it and ran 500 rounds through it without a problem,” said Chris Kurzadkowski.

Kurzadkowski went so far as working with a company to develop a thermally cured weapons coating impregnated with more Teflon for protection and to provide more lubricity. He calls the finish “Battle Rifle Deep Ocean Blue,” and it gives the carbine a sleek and satiny look and feel. Parts like the takedown pins, ejection port door, magazine release and forward assist are covered in Robar’s NP3 and present a striking contrast to the receivers and handguard.

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The corrosion resistance and lubricity of the nickel-Teflon NP3 finish is well documented. Battle Rifle Company coats every moving part of the BR4 Cutlass, including the trigger group and M16-profile bolt carrier. One of the huge advantages of the NP3 finish is that it eliminates the need for lubrication, which can act as a sand magnet. Stainless steel pins and springs are also used to ensure corrosion resistance.

Battle Rifle Company also uses a 16-inch, chrome-lined barrel on the Cutlass. It is rifled with a 1-in-7-inch twist and possesses a 5.56mm NATO chamber so it can safely fire surplus ammo as well as .223 Remington ammunition without pressure or extraction problems. The company goes the extra mile to have its high-quality barrels cryogenically treated. When I asked Kurzadkowski about the benefits of this process, he remarked that Battle Rifle Company does it for four reasons: “It reduces the harmonic whip, it aligns the molecules to give the barrel strength, it gives the barrel longevity and makes it easier to clean. It is proven to increase the accuracy and performance of barrels.”

Battle Rifle Company is so confident in its rifles’ accuracy that it offers an MOA guarantee. Kurzadkowski estimates that the treated barrels have a service life of approximately 50,000 rounds.

The BR4 Cutlass possesses a very distinctive muzzle device. Kurzadkowski calls it the Battle Rifle Disintegrator flash suppressor. “The twist on the brake matches the rifling in the barrel, and there’s a lip on the inside of the suppressor that creates a Venturi chamber and burns off all of the hot gases inside the brake. The end result is that you don’t get anything burning out in front of the brake. It is 98 percent effective,” claims Kurzadkowski.

My BR4 Cutlass sample came with a mid-length gas system. The advantage to the mid-length system is that it reduces port pressure and helps reduce wear by lowering the bolt carrier velocity, making the gun a shoot softer. A low-profile gas block is used, and the free-floating handguard covers it to give the rifle uncluttered lines. Kurzadkowski says that this handguard was chosen for its rigidity, but he also said that he is developing a new and improved handguard that will be available later this year.

When the BR4 Cutlass arrived, I gave it a cursory examination, noting that the ALG Defense Advanced Combat Trigger (ACT) was tremendously smooth and broke at 4 pounds. It definitely was not a standard mil-spec trigger. It possesses a consistent and predictable pull, and this made shooting the gun from a bench a joy.

The BR4 Cutlass comes equipped with Magpul MBUS backup sights, but to see what the gun was really capable of, I mounted a 1-6x24mm Lucid L7 scope. This was my first opportunity to work with a Lucid optic, and I have to say that I was very impressed. The scope features an etched circle-dot P7 reticle, and it’s very clear and bright. It also has a parallax adjustment, locking turrets and an ocular focus. I used a Lucid high mount. The cantilever design is easy to use and possesses a quick-detach lever arrangement.

Trigger Time

I set out my target stand at 100 yards and used 2-inch-diameter Shoot-N-C pasters for groups. The L7’s center-dot aiming point is 1 MOA, and I held it dead center as I squeezed off shots. The L7 has adjustable illumination, glowing a soothing blue color when activated. Lucid calls it “Lucid Blue,” and the best way I can describe it is as an electric blue color. This provided a nice contrast against the black Shoot-N-C targets. I fired three 5-shot groups with each test load. It was an easy matter to adjust the L7 for windage and elevation by simply lifting the turret, adding the adjustment and pushing it down to lock.

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Three of the five loads I ran through the BR4 Cutlass produced sub-MOA groups, and the two that didn’t were very close. Black Hills’ 69-grain Open-Tip Match (OTM) load produced the best group of the day measuring just 0.8 inches from center to center. All of the groups were well rounded, and there was no indication of vertical stringing. No effort was made to allow the barrel to cool between groups, and the temperature was a stifling 111 degrees at the range.

For field shooting, I set up an MGM BC-C Zone steel target at 20 yards and practiced hammering it with the BR4 Cutlass. With the Lucid L7 dialed down to 1X, I used the scope as a reflex sight and shot with both eyes open. The circle-dot reticle made target acquisitions quick, and the crisp 4-pound trigger pull and positive reset helped with double-taps. My splits, or time between shots, averaged 0.19 seconds, which I found impressive.

There were no failures during my 250-round evaluation. The Cutlass performed flawlessly and exhibited admirable accuracy. Cleaning the carbine was also extremely easy thanks to the NP3-coated parts. The bolt carrier group didn’t require any scrubbing; it was easily wiped clean with a solvent-dampened rag.

The Rockport, Texas, Police Department, 30 or so miles north of Corpus Christi and located right on the coast, is the first agency to test the BR4 Cutlass, splitting its guns between patrol and marine divisions. Kurzadkowski said, “For the last year we’ve been selling the Cutlass to various private entities. We have a bunch up and down the coast of Florida. I have individual officers in the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Fish and Wildlife in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama who are carrying our guns. Individual officers in Galveston County are using the BR4 Cutlass. I have one guy who owns one because he drives up and down the beach all day.”

While Battle Rifle Company specializes in building guns for law enforcement, this doesn’t preclude individuals from owning one. Chris Kurzadkowski said, “We’re really a boutique manufacturer, so we have the ability to build a rifle exactly the way you want it.” Have Battle Rifle Company ship a Cutlass to your local FFL. You won’t be disappointed.

Battle Rifle Company BR4 Cutlass Specs

Battle Rifle Company BR4 Cutlass Performance

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 100 yards.

For more information, visit battleriflecompany.com.

This article was originally published in “Gun Buyer’s Annual” 2018. To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com. Keep Reading

Back in 2015, Primary Weapons Systems (PWS) launched a sister company called Bootleg that focuses on direct-impingement ARs and accessories. To help launch the new product line, PWS contacted Agency Arms.

When it came to building its own AR-15, Mike Parks, the co-owner of Agency Arms, said, “We normally don’t stray outside of our lane. There’s just too much of a learning curve. But working in collaboration with another company shortens that curve.”

Starting with a Bootleg forged receiver set, Agency Arms set about giving the rifle its own unique styling with dramatic lightening cuts. From there, the gun was outfitted with high-quality parts to produce what would become known as the Agency Arms Classified Rifle.

Built for Speed

Sporting a 14.5-inch, 1-in-8-inch-twist barrel with a pinned and welded Dead Air flash suppressor and Pyro brake to redirect and minimize flash and concussion, the Classified is a short, fast-handling carbine.

The barrel is covered with Bootleg’s 15-inch, free-floating PicMod handguard with a full-length Picatinny top rail and shorter rails along the sides and bottom that turn into KeyMod interfaces. I like this setup, and it provides rock-solid mounting for lights and other accessories.

One unique Bootleg part is the Classified’s bolt carrier group, which can be adjusted with two settings for suppressed and unsuppressed use. Adjustments are made through the ejection port with a flat-head screwdriver, so the bolt carrier group doesn’t have to be removed first.

The gun also boasts ambidextrous controls, including the magazine release, bolt release, short-throw Radian Talon safety selector and Raptor charging handle. The lower also features a Magpul MOE SL collapsible stock and K2 pistol grip. Another neat feature of the Classified rifle is that its PWS castle nut ratchets with a locking detent, which makes staking the part unnecessary.

CQB Ready

We used the Classified at Gunsite’s shoothouse and found the gun to be 100-percent reliable. Its short length made negotiating doorways, hatches and tight hallways bearable without reducing our effectiveness. Our gun had a very clean 3.75-pound trigger pull with an awesome reset. This made the gun devastatingly fast on the close-range targets inside the shoothouse.

There’s only one bad thing about the Agency Arms Classified Rifle: Only 300 of these guns were produced last year, and if you didn’t get one, you’ll have to find someone who is willing to part with their gun. Based on our experience with the Classified Rifle, that will be unlikely!

For more information, visit AgencyArms.com.

Agency Arms Classified Rifle Specifications

• Caliber: .223 Wylde
• Barrel: 14.5 inches
• OA Length: 32-36 inches
• Weight: 7 pounds (empty)
• Grips: Magpul MOE SL
• Sights: Magpul MBUS Pro
• Action: Direct impingement semi-auto
• Finish: Gray Cerakote
• Capacity: 30+1
• MSRP: N/A

This article is from the summer 2018 issue of Ballistic Magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Keep Reading

Eugene Stoner’s extensive knowledge of alloys made the modern battle rifle possible. The former WWII Marine knew that only key components of the rifle needed to be made from hardened steel. Parts like the barrel and bolt required tough steel that would hold up to the pressure of cartridges like the 7.62mm NATO. But other parts, like the receiver that held the magazine and trigger group, could be made of lightweight aluminum alloy.

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Working for Armalite, then a branch of the Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation, Stoner was privy to some of the most advanced alloy blends and machining techniques of the day. His AR-10 and subsequent AR-15 and M16 designs were met with derision and downright contempt from traditionalists who opined that the guns would never hold up. Close to 70 years later, we know those pundits were wrong and his designs, in different variations, have been in every scrap the U.S. has been involved in worldwide ever since. It’s doubtful that anyone could foresee guns becoming any lighter when Stoner debuted his designs in the 1950s, but evolution never rests.

Plastic Fantastic

I suppose it was only natural that someone would try to make an AR-15 lower from plastic, and over the years there have been more than a few different companies who have tried to injection-mold AR-15 lowers from polymer. Most have been failures, however, and you can see such defective lowers failing badly on the internet. Offhand, I can specifically name four companies who have tried and failed miserably. Sadly, some of them are still pumping out receivers for unsuspecting customers. There is an exception, though.

Kaiser Shooting Products (KSP) manufactures upper and lower receivers from a proprietary blend of composites that are reinforced in critical areas and specifically engineered to withstand hard use in the real world. Mike Bietsch, a man who knows guns and, more importantly, tool-making, injection molding and compound-blended polymers, is the owner and founder of KSP.

Origins

Mike Bietsch has always been a gun guy, but not always a gun manufacturer. He started in Chicago as a journeyman mold-maker and also put himself through school to become a tooling engineer. Along the way, he worked for Motorola, building injection molds for the cell phone division and then spent some time as a K9 officer and trainer in Florida for a large law enforcement agency. But an opportunity in southern Arizona lured him away.

Besides meeting and marrying his wife, Veronica, who now runs the administrative end of KSP, Bietsch was hired by a meter company. He was tasked with designing injection molds for plastic casings used for water meters. Once that was accomplished, he was instructed to build a fixture to test the casings’ strength by blowing them up with water pressure. The casings’ ability to withstand incredible pressures inspired Bietsch to think about building AR receivers. His first step was to study what was already on the market and discover why they were failing.

The Kaiser Difference

Early manufacturers of polymer receivers made some serious errors. The first ones were made to standard aluminum receiver dimensions; unfortunately, the polymer that was used did not have the same structural integrity as the aluminum alloy. It’s not unusual to see failures at both the barrel nut and receiver ring areas of these polymer receivers.

Bietsch spent two years developing a design with Solidworks software before actually cutting a mold. Aluminum inserts are used to reinforce critical areas. These inserts are machined and then tumbled to remove the sharp edges before being sent off to the anodizer. The inserts are then overmolded, a process that involves molding the polymer around the part, locking it forever in the receiver. Vital areas like the receiver ring, barrel nut, and hammer and trigger pin locations are all reinforced. The resulting upper receiver does not possess a forward assist, but it does have a special polymer dust cover.

Bietsch’s blend of polymers is proprietary, and he claims it is stronger than most major manufacturers’ polymer pistol frames. He used a team of polymer compounders to develop an ultra-strong formula utilizing short and long fibers. The upper and lower weigh just 10 ounces together, compared to 16 ounces for traditional aluminum receivers. That’s a whopping 37-percent reduction in weight.

Meet The Monarch

At first, KSP just marketed receiver sets, but now the company is building complete guns. I recently received a sample X-7 Monarch rifle for testing. Weighing just 4.88 pounds unloaded, it is a gun so light that it has attracted the attention of numerous federal agencies and military units. Designed to run dry, or without lubrication, the Monarch is perfect for hostile environments, like the desert Southwest and also coastal areas where humidity and salt water can turn a finely tuned weapon into a pile of rust.

To keep the guns as light as possible, Bietsch machines his own titanium bolt carriers. Weighing 30-percent less than a traditional bolt carrier, Bietsch then has the part coated with a DLC-like finish, which increases the surface hardness and adds a degree of lubricity. Bietsch also plates the bolt and gas key with Robar’s NP3 finish for ease of cleaning, corrosion resistance and lubricious characteristics.

Barrel

KSP also outfits the Monarch with a 16-inch Faxon Gunner barrel. It features a traditional government profile up to the gas block and then a pencil profile forward of that. This keeps the barrel from producing a thermal shift that skinny barrels are sometimes known for yet gives the gun great handling characteristics. Faxon button rifles the barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate and uses the QPQ process to finish the 4150 chrome-moly-vanadium steel. The barrel also has a 5.56mm NATO chamber so it can readily shoot surplus ammo as well as any .223 Remington loads without pressure or extraction issues. Over the years, I’ve fired a number of guns with Faxon barrels, and every one of them has been a shooter.

The Monarch utilizes a mid-length gas system that reduces port pressure and helps reduce wear by lowering the bolt carrier’s velocity, which generally makes the gun shoot softer. A 15-inch, free-floating, aluminum handguard covers the barrel and gas system and gives the rifle clean, uncluttered lines. It has M-LOK slots for attaching lights, lasers and other accessories, and the top rail gives shooters plenty of space for optics and night vision. I like this handguard because of its slim dimensions; it also allows me to easily throw my thumb over the top for a “C-clamp” hold.

Trigger

My test sample had a standard AR trigger in it. Of course, there’s no reason it couldn’t be retrofitted with a match trigger of some sort; the KSP lower uses the same exact pinhole locations as any other AR lower. My rifle’s trigger broke at just over 6 pounds with the creep that usually accompanies standard triggers. Despite the less-than-ideal trigger pull, it really didn’t affect my ability to fire the gun accurately.

Live-Fire Testing

To test the Monarch’s accuracy, I used a Trijicon 1-4x24mm AccuPoint scope set up in an American Defense mount and fired all of my groups from a stable shooting bench using a rifle rest for support. I also brought along a variety of premium ammunition in different bullet weights to see if the 1-in-8-inch-twist barrel had a preference.

Three of the five test loads produced sub-MOA groups, with the single best group coming from Federal’s 69-grain Gold Medal Match BTHPs. The Monarch just wants to shoot! I’d also be curious to see just how much I could shave from the group sizes by using a more powerful optic and installing a match trigger. That’s a project for another day.

For field shooting, I mounted a Trijicon 1.5x16S Compact ACOG on the Monarch’s receiver rail. This little sight features a 2-MOA dot reticle with a ring around it. It weighs just over 5 ounces, and its circle-dot aiming point is illuminated by a fiber-optic light collector during daylight and tritium in the dark. I set up my MGM BC-C Zone target at 25 yards and practiced hammering it with two shots. My average time between shots was 0.17 seconds This is about as good as I have ever gotten with any AR-15, much less a 4.88-pound rifle. You’d think that weight savings would be offset by a lack of control, but that wasn’t the case here.

I haven’t shot a 3-Gun match since I had my ankles replaced; if I could, I wouldn’t hesitate to use the Monarch. In fact, Bietsch tells me that there are several highly ranked competitors using KSP receivers as the basis for their competition rifles.

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In The Works

It’s no wonder that the Kaiser Monarch is getting so much attention from military and law enforcement agencies. It’s extremely lightweight, accurate and also has the ability to operate flawlessly in the harshest conditions. KSP also sells complete rifles like the Monarch with a number of different options. There’s even a very short and handy pistol version available; for those who like to build their own, upper and lower receiver sets are also available.

When I interviewed Mike Bietsch, I asked him if there was anything new on the horizon. He’s currently working on a new collapsing buttstock design that is easy to deploy and extend when exiting from a vehicle. It has a triangular cheekweld design that is extremely ergonomic and a single-point sling attachment socket molded into it. After looking at his prototype, I can predict, without a doubt, that it will be tremendously popular with operators and wannabes.

But the really exciting news is that Bietsch is currently working on a design for a .308 rifle with polymer receivers. If it’s anything like the Monarch, it will redefine just how light a service rifle can be. Like I said, evolution never rests!

Kaiser X-7 Monarch Specs

Kaiser X-7 Monarch Performance

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 100 yards.

For more information, visit kaiserus.com. Keep Reading

Fifteen years ago, no one would seriously consider a semi-auto rifle for precision use. We’d spend thousands of dollars trying to get our bolt guns to break the MOA gold standard. It took a lot of effort—blueprinting the action, glass bedding, high-dollar barrels, adjustable triggers, load development.

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But somewhere along the way, we discovered that AR-platform rifles could easily shoot groups under an inch wide without quite so much effort. Softer recoil, quicker follow-up shots and longer service life are some of the other advantages of the AR,or modern sporting rifle (MSR).

Enter Savage Arms

In 2017, Savage Arms began producing its own ARs.

I tested the company’s MSR 15 Recon rifle in 5.56mm NATO and found it to be extremely well built and constructed with the finest materials. The gun was well thought out and assembled with an unusual degree of expertise.

Several months after the MSR 15 series was introduced, Savage began rolling out big-bore MSR 10s, and I recently got my hands on the Savage MSR 10 Long Range in .308 Winchester/ 7.62mm NATO for testing.

Earning Its Name

Designed for precision shooting, the MSR 10 Long Range comes with free-floating, 20-inch barrel, an adjustable gas system and a match-grade, two-stage trigger. The rifle also features a non-reciprocating side charging handle, a Magpul PRS GEN3 adjustable stock and a very effective two-port muzzle brake.

Savage engineers started with a fresh page when they designed the MSR 10. Consider the gas system, for example. The MSR 10 is a direct-impingement gun, but Savage outfits the rifle with a gas tube that measures more than 2 inches longer than a standard rifle-length gas tube. This helps decrease pressure. The action can’t cycle until the projectile passes the barrel’s gas port, and the tube’s longer length provides more volume.

Less chamber pressure means easier extraction of spent cases as well as a weapon that lasts longer. Shooters can also fine-tune the rifle for specific loads by using the adjustable gas block. A properly gassed gun will run longer, softer and better while reducing wear on the gun.

For maximum reliability, Savage designed the bolt to use two spring-loaded, plunger-style ejectors along with a more conventional extractor. The gas key is actually machined into the bolt carrier so you don’t have to worry about it being properly staked. While the bolt has a QPQ finish like the barrel and is serialized to the gun, the bolt carrier body is nickel-boron plated, which adds a degree of lubricity and makes it extremely easy to clean. Also, unlike the AR-15s, the MSR 10 does use a spring-loaded firing pin.

“Compact”

Savage bills the MSR 10 as having a “compact” design, and the upper receiver is shorter by 0.7 inches. The bolt carrier is also shortened and 17-percent lighter. Of course, less reciprocating mass translates to less recoil, and Savage also installs a lighter buffer that, again, helps minimize felt recoil and reduce overall weight.

The 20-inch barrel has 5R rifling, which means it has five lands and grooves that are arranged so they aren’t directly opposite each other, preventing uneven constriction on the projectile. The lands are slightly slanted and less likely to collect bullet jacket material, which should boost accuracy while making the barrel easier to clean. The barrel also has a 1-in-10-inch twist rate and a very effective two-port muzzle brake. I didn’t notice it too much when shooting from a benchrest, but off-hand, I actually found that it was so effective it pushed the muzzle downward.

To protect the barrel from corrosion, Savage treats its interior and exterior with Melonite QPQ. Besides making the barrel harder, it also has a lower friction coefficient than chrome. There are also six heavy flutes on the exterior of the barrel, under the handguard. These flutes help reduce weight without losing an ounce of rigidity.

Surrounding the barrel and gas system is an aluminum handguard with a full-length Picatinny rail on top with an access port machined for the gas block about an inch and a half from its forward edge. You’ll also notice M-LOK slots along the sides and bottom for attaching lights, lasers, bipods, etc. The upper and handguard are mated with four screws.

Receivers

The upper and lower receivers are custom forged. Their stylized lines give the lower a decidedly “billet” look, though it is not. There are grooves on the front of the magazine well for those who like to shoot with their support hand in this location instead of on the handguard. There are also indexing cuts at the rear of the mag well to give shooters a place to index their trigger fingers when not firing, and the lower has an integral, enlarged triggerguard.

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One interesting feature of the lower receiver is that Savage has drilled and tapped it for a setscrew that, when tightened, eliminates all of the play between the upper and lower receivers. The tip of the screw bears against the bottom of the rear lug of the upper receiver. The pistol grip must be removed to adjust this screw, but, when properly adjusted, it gives the rifle a decidedly solid feel.

Finally, a precision rifle is only as good as its trigger, and Savage uses a BlackHawk two-stage trigger on the MSR 10 Long Range. The hammer and trigger are nickel-boron treated, increasing the parts’ hardness and making them incredibly slick. My test sample’s trigger broke consistently at 2.5 pounds and had a very firm reset. The trigger isn’t adjustable, though, frankly, I’m not sure there is anything I would change.

Zeroing In

For testing, Bushnell provided me with a 3.5-21x50mm Elite Tactical DMR II-i scope. This optic is capable of providing long-range precision without sacrificing short-range capabilities. The scope’s illumination control is integrated with the side parallax focus in one simple knob for easy adjustability. Bushnell’s ThrowHammer lever also makes magnification changes quick and easy. Weighing in at over 2 pounds, the DMR II-i is no lightweight, but I found this first-focal-plane scope easy to adjust and get on target, and its clear and bright optics made shooting from the bench downright easy.

Most of my shooting locations were shut down here in southeastern Arizona in early June due to fire hazards, so I took the MSR 10 to a public range in Mammoth with a solid backstop, an awning over the shooting positions and concrete benches. I set my Shoot-N-C targets out at 100 yards, and it became immediately clear that my biggest challenge would be keeping sweat out of my eyes long enough to squeeze off a shot as the temperature was about 104 degrees.

Testing the Savage MSR 10 Long Range

One of the things I noted was that the MSR 10 produced nice round groups that didn’t show any evidence of horizontal or vertical stringing. I didn’t let the barrel cool between shots, so it got very hot, yet my groups remained constant. I fired several groups with five different test loads, with the best results shown in the accompanying table (below).

When I fired my first group with Federal’s 175-grain Gold Medal Match BTHPs, I noticed that I could fire one shot before getting a click when attempting the second shot. The rifle’s bolt was short-stroking and not coming back far enough to strip the next round out of the magazine. By turning the adjustment screw on the gas block counterclockwise, I was able to get the MSR 10 to cycle perfectly with the Federal rounds. These rounds also produced a tight five-shot group measuring just 0.89 inches. But the 168-grain Federal rounds printed my tightest group of 0.87 inches. In the end, the Savage proved that it was capable of producing sub-MOA groups with all five of the loads I tested.

One of the most impressive features of the MSR 10 Long Range is just how light it is on recoil. The gun is incredibly easy on the shoulder, and the felt recoil wasn’t what I’m used to with AR-10-style rifles. The MSR 10’s innovative gas system, compact bolt and muzzle brake make a great deal of difference. The light and crisp trigger, with its firm reset, also makes it easy to get back on target quickly for fast follow-up shots.

Final Thoughts

While Savage Arms might be a latecomer to the modern sporting rifle party, its MSR 10 Long Range displays some brilliant and innovative engineering that sets the company apart from all the other “me-too” manufacturers. This rifle is accurate and easily adaptable to different types of ammunition and missions. If you’re looking for a long-range precision rifle, make sure you check it out.

For more information, please visit SavageArms.com.

Savage MSR 10 Long Range Specs

• Caliber: 7.62mm NATO
• Barrel: 20 inches
• OA Length: 40.63-42.63 inches
• Weight: 9.75 pounds (empty)
• Stock: Magpul PRS GEN3
• Sights: None
• Action: Direct impingement semi-auto
• Finish: Matte black
• Capacity: 20+1
• MSRP: $2,284

Savage MSR 10 Long Range Performance

*Bullet weight measured in grains; velocity in fps by chronograph; and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 100 yards.*

This article is from the November/December 2018 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com. For digital subscriptions, please visit our Amazon store. Keep Reading

RISE Armament is a name you should get used to hearing. RISE’s 300LE rifle made a lot of waves in 2018. The RISE Armament 1121XR should be no different.

In early October, the 2018 Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous took place just outside of Missoula, Mont. More than 30 firearm companies, accessory makers and ammunition manufacturers made the trip to present their products to Athlon’s top contributors. RISE Armament joined us and I had the opportunity to chat with Garrett Grover to learn the details of the relatively new RISE Armament 1121XR rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor.

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According to Grover, RISE Armament introduced the 1121XR in 2017 and chambered it for the .308 cartridge. Just a couple months ago Rise Armament started shipping the 1121XR chambered for the hugely popular 6.5 CM.

RISE Armament 1121XR Precision Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor

“It is pretty much identical to the .308 version except for the barrel,” Grover said. “We went with the 22-inch 416R stainless with a 1:8-inch twist. The .308 has a 20-inch barrel with a 1:11.25-inch twist. This rifle features our RA-701 stainless steel compensator to tame muzzle rise, and we use a black nitride carrier group. We machine our 7075 billet receiver set in-house. We use our 902 free floating handguard, which is 15 inches in length, and it is M-Lok compatible.

“The slim and ergonomically designed free-floating aluminum handguard provides exceptional weight savings and cooling properties while remaining strong and durable,” Grover continued.

RISE has an incredible selection of AR-15 trigger options, and it went with one of its best here.

“We outfit the 1121XR with our hugely popular RA-535 High Performance trigger. The 535 was kind of Rise Armament’s flagship product, and it is the trigger which many others are measured by. It has a super clean 3.5-pound break, virtually no overtravel and a very short 1/8-inch reset. It is a single-stage trigger. In fact, all of our triggers are single stage.”

Triggers That RISE to the Occasion

Camille Torres, RISE Armament’s marketing director, showed me several demonstration units, basically an AR lower without the magwell or any other parts, equipped with various RISE Armament trigger kits. Impressively, each broke crisply with zero overtravel and a very firm re-set. RISE Armament understands that even the most accurate rifle in the world won’t reach its potential unless it has a great trigger. I’ll be buying some of RISE Armament RA535 triggers for my precision ARs! They are that good!

The RISE Armament 1121XR uses a Magpul PRS stock and a Magpul MOE pistol grip, and the gun comes with an ambidextrous safety/selector. The bolt carrier group is Nitride-coated for corrosion resistance and a low friction coefficient.

Grover claims the rifle is capable of sub-minute-of-angle accuracy, mentioning that he shot a 960-yard group this year with the same rifle I fired that measured about 4.5 inches!

“We stand behind every rifle we build, and if you’re not getting the kind of accuracy we think our rifles are capable of, send it back to us and let us take care of it,” Grover explained. “Even if you sell your gun to a buddy and he’s unhappy with it, we’ll take it back and make whatever corrections are necessary to get the rifle shooting like it should. The rifles come with a lifetime warranty and they are fully transferable to the new owner.”

Shooting the 1121XR Precision Rifle

With Grover spotting me, I sat down at the DOA Tactical portable shooting bench and found the 8-inch steel plate hung at a distance of 1,050 yards. With Grover’s help I was able to ring the steel on my third shot, and after I found my hold was able to hit the target with boring reliability.

It was amazing just how good the trigger on this gun is. Crisp, with no over-travel and a short and very positive reset; I was able to watch my hits and fire a quick follow-up shot thanks to the effectiveness of the RA muzzle brake.

The RISE Armament 1121XR rifle impressed across the board. Assembled with quality components by people who really know how to build rifles, the 1121XR provides the accuracy and reliability needed for just about any use from hunting to competition.

For more information, visit RISEArmament.com.

RISE Armament 1121XR Precision Rifle Specs

• Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win.
• Barrel: 22 inches; 416R Stainless Steel
• Rifling: 1:8 inches
• Handguard: 15-inch slim, M-Lok, with Picatinny top rail
• Stock: Magpul PRS Adjustable, MOE Pistol Grip
• Weight: 9.5 pounds
• Overall Length: 41.75 inches
• MSRP: $2,449

Keep Reading

As I drove under the raven gate at Gunsite Academy, I thought to myself, “These are the kind of events that make being a gun writer worthwhile.” An invitation passed from Ruger to one of my editors ended up in my lap, and I jumped at the chance to go.

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“We’ve introduced at least 40 new products a year for the last few years,” said Paul Pluff, Ruger’s public relations manager. “Ruger does new product launches differently from most manufacturers. We try to have between two and 10,000 of the new products ready to ship to distributors before we make the announcement.”

Ruger Security-9

First up was the new Security-9 pistol. Many years ago, Ruger introduced the Security-Six revolver—a nearly indestructible .357 Magnum that was priced significantly below comparable Colt and S&W products. The gun was popular with private security companies who needed a workhorse revolver at an economical price.

Brandon Trevino, Ruger’s product manager, said, “The Security-9 is not meant to be a subcompact. We designed it to approximate the Glock 19’s dimensions and made it a mid-sized gun. It’s big enough to shoot well—without compromise—and small enough to carry without being burdensome.”

The Security-9 is, of course, named for its 9mm chambering, and it uses double-stack 15-round magazines. Two come with the gun, which also has a 4-inch barrel and a polymer frame.

Ruger spent a great deal of effort to make the Security-9’s frame as ergonomic as possible. It has a very comfortable grip angle and excellent texturing for a secure hold. It also boasts an accessory rail for lights and lasers and has a one-piece, full-length hardcoat anodized aluminum chassis to keep all of the fire control components in proper orientation.

Trevino said, “More than 1.6 million Ruger LCPs have been sold, and the one constant criticism we heard was that the trigger could be better. So, we leveraged the knowledge gained from the LCP to design the Security-9’s trigger.”

Security-9 Features

Despite the size approximation to the Glock 19, the Security-9 is not a striker-fired gun. Its mechanics are very similar to that of the LCP, and it uses a pre-cocked hammer with a lot more engagement on the sear. The result is a very serviceable, crisp trigger pull with a positive reset. It almost feels like a single action. The Security-9 also possesses a manual thumb safety located in the familiar 1911 position. Gunsite’s instructors left it up to us as to whether we wanted to use the safety or just run the guns like Glocks.

Using supplied Blade-Tech holsters, we adjourned to the range, where we were introduced to Jeff Cooper’s step-by-step drawstroke from the holster. From there, we practiced controlled pairs followed by failure-to-stop drills. Hornady supplied us with plenty of its 115-grain Critical Defense FTX rounds, and the Security-9s ran flawlessly. The gun was comfortable to shoot and pointed naturally, and everyone seemed to like the trigger.

After lunch, we returned to the range to find that Jeff Hoskinson of MGM Targets had set up new Steel Challenge Plate Racks. We ran a number of exercises with the MGM steel and even had a man-on-man shoot-off before moving over to Gunsite’s “Urban Scrambler,” a field course designed to test a shooter’s ability to use cover while firing from unconventional positions, reloading where necessary and moving as rapidly as possible between targets. Trevino and Pluff then set up a USPSA-style course afterwards, and we each took turns running the high-round-count stage with yours truly coming in first place! The first day was long, and we each put at least 300 rounds through Security-9s without any major problems.

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Ruger PC Carbine

The next day we were introduced to Frank Saunders, the principal design engineer of Ruger’s new Pistol-Caliber (PC) Carbine. This is a completely new semi-auto chambered for the 9mm. It has a takedown design similar to the Ruger 10/22 Takedown’s and has a rigid synthetic stock that comes with spacers so you can adjust the length of pull from 12.38 to 14.13 inches. With the magazine removed and the bolt locked back, depressing the takedown release and twisting the forend a quarter-turn clockwise allows you to separate the barrel/forend from the receiver. It’s quick and easy, and reassembly is just as simple.

A big selling point of the new PC Carbine is that it can use either Ruger SR9 or Security-9 magazines. By changing out the magazine well module with the included Glock mag well, the PC Carbine can take 9mm Glock magazines. Since we were already using the Security-9s, we continued to use these magazines in the PC Carbine. The carbine currently ships with one 17-round SR9 magazine.

The new carbine is blowback operated and uses what Ruger calls a “dead blow” action. A tungsten weight, nearly as heavy as the bolt itself, floats freely in the bolt assembly, essentially reducing the length of the bolt stroke and greatly reducing felt recoil and muzzle lift. The bolt’s charging handle can be changed to the left side if desired, and the magazine release is also reversible, making the PC Carbine southpaw friendly.

Ruger machines the receiver from 7075-T6 aluminum, and it has a Picatinny rail on top for optics. Also, the fluted, 16.12-inch barrel comes with 1/2×28-tpi muzzle threading for those who want to suppress their PC Carbines.

Shooting the PC Carbine

We spent our first range session sighting in the carbines at 50 yards. The rear sight is a ghost ring that can be adjusted for windage and elevation by loosening setscrews. I didn’t think I’d like this system at first but found it to be relatively fast and very accurate. From the prone position, my groups with Hornady’s 115-grain Critical Defense rounds were tighter than 1.5 inches.

Like the pistol, we used the carbine in a number of different range scenarios and courses. We shot MGM steel targets and ran the Scrambler course of fire. Then we ended our day with an informal competition among the shooters that involved a great deal of ammunition and more steel targets. In the end, I think it’s safe to say that most of us put at least 500 rounds through our carbines that day. I don’t recall any of us having a stoppage or problem of any sort, even after coating the guns with a dusting of Gunsite grit while firing the guns from prone.

Ruger Precision Rimfire

I was chomping at the bit to get my hands on Ruger’s last product at the event, the Precision Rimfire. Also, it is similar to the super-accurate-yet-budget-priced Precision Rifle. It’s designed to give competitors the same feel as their centerfire competition guns.

With the Precision Rimfire, you can adjust the bolt throw; it can be short—just long enough to eject an empty casing and chamber a new one—or the same 3-inch bolt travel as its centerfire counterpart. The bolt handle itself has a big knob just like the centerfire model’s. Ruger uses a free-floating M-LOK handguard, and the hammer-forged, 18-inch barrel sports a match chamber and muzzle threading. And, realizing that competitors may want to upgrade their barrel at some point, Ruger engineers designed the barrel to be replaceable. The receiver also features a 30-MOA top rail, and the chassis is molded from rigid glass-filled nylon.

The buttstock is adjustable for both length of pull and comb height. As for controls, Ruger uses the same safety selector and trigger used on the centerfire Precision Rifle. There’s even a spot in the stock that holds an Allen wrench to adjust the trigger. Finally, the Ruger Precision Rimfire uses 10/22 magazines and comes with one 15-round BX-15 magazine.

Shawn Skipper from Leupold was there, and each of our sample rifles wore a serious piece of glass. Mine had a Leupold 4-12x40mm VX-Freedom scope, and B&T Industries supplied Atlas bipods. We zeroed our rifles at 100 yards using subsonic 40-grain Eley ammo that clocked in at 1,080 fps from the Precision Rimfire’s 18-inch barrel.

Shooting the Precision Rimfire

Our test rifles also sported Ruger Silent-SR suppressors, allowing us to shoot without any hearing protection. After zeroing in, most of my groups were around an inch wide despite the wind. Under better conditions and shooting from a bench, I think Precision Rimfire would be closer to a 0.5-MOA rifle.

Hoskinson set up numerous steel targets along the Urban Scrambler at ranges under 100 yards; they were all easy to hit. The hardest part was getting into position and obtaining a solid rest with the rifle. One difficult setup involved shooting a pendulum-style target from a simulated pitched rooftop at about 80 yards. The target array consisted of four rimfire targets ranging from 4 inches in diameter all the way down to an inch. Of course, the smallest target was the most difficult to hit, but I managed to do so on my first shot.

There’s nothing more fun than shooting a .22, but it’s even better when you use a super-accurate rifle like the Ruger Precision Rimfire. Whether it’s used strictly for competition or just to keep your skills sharp on a shortened range, this new Ruger should prove just as popular as its centerfire counterpart.

It’s hard to keep up with Ruger and all of its new products. Launching something new approximately every 10 days makes it likely that you’ll find something that suits your taste in firearms.

For more information, visit ruger.com.

PC Carbine Specifications

• Caliber: 9mm
• Barrel: 16.12 inches
• OA Length: 34.37 inches
• Weight: 6.8 pounds (empty)
• Stock: Synthetic
• Sights: Blade front, adjustable rear
• Action: Blowback-operated semi-auto
• Finish: Matte black
• Capacity: 17+1
• MSRP: $649

Precision Rimfire Specifications

• Caliber: .22 LR
• Barrel: 18 inches
• OA Length: 35.13-38.63 inches
• Weight: 6.8 pounds (empty)
• Stock: Adjustable
• Sights: None
• Action: Blowback-operated semi-auto
• Finish: Matte black
• Capacity: 15+1
• MSRP: $529

Security-9 Specifications

• Caliber: 9mm
• Barrel: 4 inches
• OA Length: 7.24 inches
• Weight: 23.7 ounces (empty)
• Grip: Glass-filled nylon
• Sights: White-dot front, outlined rear
• Action: DAO
• Finish: Matte black
• Capacity: 15+1
• MSRP: $379

This article is from the November-December 2018 issue of Tactical-Life magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Keep Reading

Sig Sauer introduced its MPX submachine gun in 2013 with hopes of capturing some of the law enforcement market that had been long held by the Heckler & Koch MP5. The select-fire gun uses a short-stroke gas piston system and a rotating bolt for increased accuracy and reduced felt recoil. It also possesses completely ambidextrous controls. In 2015, several semi-auto variations were made available to the civilian market with one of the more interesting, at least to me, being the MPX-K PSB.

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Classified by the BATFE as a handgun, the MPX-K PSB has a 4.5-inch barrel, a free-floating KeyMod handguard and a collapsible arm brace. It is a compact personal-defense weapon (PDW) capable of being concealed in just about any briefcase or messenger bag yet easily deployed to provide fast and accurate hits.

Despite its small footprint, the MPX-K PSB is not a lightweight by any means. Though the upper and lower receivers are made from aluminum, the gun still weighs in at 6.2 pounds yet balances nicely between the hands. With a loaded 30-round magazine locked in place, the gun’s weight is a solid 7 pounds. Its overall length with the stock collapsed is just 17.5 inches and only 22.5 inches with it fully extended.

Hands On

The MPX family of guns all fire from a closed bolt. Whereas most of the 9mm ARs on the market are blowback in operation, Sig engineers designed the MPX with a short-stroke gas piston to impart enough energy on the gun’s carriage system to unlock the bolt, extract the fired casing and eject it. As the bolt moves rearward, it compresses dual recoil springs that then push the bolt forward, stripping a new cartridge from the magazine and chambering it. The piston system theoretically makes the gun more reliable with a broader selection of ammunition compared to blowback-style guns, and it’s also a better choice for work with a suppressor.

Without the AR-style buffer tube, the MPX-K PSB is a very compact weapon. The telescoping arm brace can be expanded by simply pushing a spring-loaded button and pulling it rearward. It has three positions: all the way closed, midway between closed and fully opened, and all the way open. Locked in its fully open position, the brace provides the user with a length of pull just over 12 inches, and I found it very comfortable to use while shooting.

ATF Compliant

Sig introduced the SB15 Pistol Stabilizing Brace back in 2013, and offered what had previously been classified as short-barreled rifles (SBRs) with these rubber braces. Designed to help wounded warriors and other shooters with physical limitations fire the pistols with one hand, the BATFE initially issued a letter saying that it was okay to place the arm brace against the shoulder when firing. Shooters immediately discovered that this legal loophole allowed them to enjoy all the benefits of a SBR without doing reams of paperwork and paying $200 for a tax stamp.

The popularity of stabilizing braces skyrocketed until the BATFE reversed itself and said that placing such a brace against one’s shoulder constitutes a redesign of the weapon, in this case a handgun, making it an illegal SBR. The BATFE did not prohibit the ownership or attachment of a brace—just using it like a shoulder stock. But, in a surprise move, the BATFE reversed itself yet again in April of 2017 and said that shouldering a handgun outfitted with an arm brace did not constitute a redesign of the pistol and can be legally shouldered and fired. Sig includes a copy of the BATFE letter with each MPX-K PSB.

MPX-K PSB Controls & Features

The safety is located in the AR-15/M16 position, and the gun has the same grip angle, making its use very familiar to anyone who has trained with the 5.56 platform. Additionally, the safety, magazine release and bolt release are all ambidextrous and can be operated from either side of the weapon. Also, I found the right-side bolt release to be perfectly positioned for activation with my right-hand trigger finger, and it didn’t require much pressure to drop the bolt. Sig also ships the MPX-K PSB with one 30-round, translucent polymer magazine with reinforced feed lips.

For targeting, Sig sent me a ROMEO3 miniature reflex sight. The provided graphite high mount positioned the sight perfectly on the gun’s top rail. I like it a lot! It’s fast and easy to pick up, and the dot’s intensity can also be adjusted for any lighting situation. Its relatively small 3-MOA dot allows for precision yet is still extremely fast for the eye to acquire. One interesting feature of the ROMEO3 is that is has a motion-activated illumination system that powers up when it senses motion and powers down when the gun isn’t being handled. The housing utilizes machined aluminum, and it is also waterproof. It uses a QD mount that made it easy for me to find the perfect position for it on the MPX-K PSB’s top rail, and the whole unit weighs just 4.4 ounces.

Range Time

I started by testing the MPX-K PSB by shooting groups at 25 yards, but they were so unbelievably small that I moved my target out to 50 yards. For these longer shots I mounted a Trijicon 1-4x24mm AccuPoint scope and dialed up the magnification so I could get an indication of the pistol’s true mechanical accuracy.

I fired all of the groups from my DOA Tactical portable shooting bench and used a rifle rest for support. Unfortunately, the length of the 30-round magazine made it impossible to use the rest with it locked in place. So, I loaded and chambered each round from the magazine, removed it and fired a single shot. The groups ran from just over 1 inch to 1.5 inches, with the average of all loads being just 1.25 inches! Remember, this is a handgun with a 4.5-inch barrel, so this kind of accuracy is pretty incredible.

The trigger pull on my test gun was a crisp 5.5 pounds. It was consistent and predictable, and I had no problem at all shooting tight groups. It also had a very firm reset, and that was a big help in shooting the gun rapidly.

I set up my MGM BC-C Zone steel target at 15 yards and used a PACT electronic timer to measure my splits, or time between shots, firing double-taps. Using Sig’s 124-grain FMJ rounds, I found that I could place both hits on target in less than 0.16 seconds. Shooting with both eyes open and the ROMEO3 dot set so I could easily find it even in the bright sunlight, it was an easy matter to double-tap the steel at this distance, without failure, even when pushing for speed. The Sig is so controllable that the little 3-MOA dot never moved off target.

Flawless Fighter

I fired over 300 rounds during my evaluation and didn’t have a single failure of any kind. I used +P ammo and bullet weights from 77 grains up to 150 grains, and the MPX-K PSB chewed them up and spit them out. Also, even the cheap 115- grain FMJ range fodder ran fine in the handgun!

The Sig MPX-K PSB is an impressive pistol! Its short-stroke gas system and rotating bolt make it controllable, light on recoil and extremely accurate. Its ability to place a large number of rounds on target in a rapid manner is impressive. Moreover, in the right hands, this is a devastating weapon, and its small size makes the MPX-K PSB an easily concealable PDW. The MPX line continues to expand, with the likes of ultra-compact SIG Copperhead leading the way. There simply is no slowing down the MPX series.

For more information, visit sigsauer.com.

SIG Sauer MPX-K PSB Specifications

• Caliber: 9mm
• Overall Barrel Length: 4.5 inches
• Overall Length: 17.5-22.5 inches
• Grip: Polymer
• Overall Weight: 6.2 pounds (unloaded)
• Sights: None
• Action: Piston-operated semi-auto
• Finish: Matte black
• Capacity: 30+1
• MSRP: $2,162

This article is from the 2019 issue of Black Guns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Keep Reading

The popularity of the pistol-caliber carbine has grown exponentially over the last few years. More and more folks are seeing the value of a fast-handling carbine set up to fire a light-recoil cartridge. Whether it is used as a truck gun, varmint rifle or home-defense weapon, the ability to place shots quickly and accurately makes the pistol-caliber carbine a valued addition to most folks’ gun collections.

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FIRST LOOK: The Lever-Action Henry American Eagle .22 Rifle

Naturally most people think of an AR-platform gun when they hear the term “pistol-caliber carbine,” and there are many fine guns set up to run with Glock magazines and chambered in 9mm. Their speed and accuracy make them perfect for competition and all-around use. But these ARs are not legal everywhere, and the 9mm chambering may be a bit anemic for some folks’ taste. And that’s where the Henry Big Boy All-Weather comes in. The lever action is legal for hunting nearly everywhere, and the multitude of loads for the .45 Colt presents nearly double the energy of the 9mm, making it ideal for game up to deer size. Combined with a new handguard from Midwest Industries, which allows for the attachment of a tactical light and laser, the Henry Big Boy also makes a fine choice for a home-defense weapon.

Big Boy Details

Introduced in 2003, the Henry Big Boy is available in .45 Colt, .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum. The .357 will also fire .38 Special, and the .44 Magnum will fire .44 Special, so the gun is very versatile when it comes to load selection. This versatility also makes the Henry Big Boy All-Weather a great training rifle for youngsters and recoil-sensitive adults.

While many of the lever-action guns on the market are the descendants of rifles designed over 100 years ago, the Big Boy features all-new engineering and coil spring construction. The Henry rifle is the strongest design that I have seen, with its solid top receiver and no cuts for a loading port. Rounds are loaded through the keyhole on the bottom of the magazine tube. Our test rifle, chambered in .45 Colt, holds 10 rounds of ammunition. Henry drills and taps the receiver top of the Big Boy All-Weather, and both a scope base and Picatinny rail are available for this model. I selected the Picatinny mount because it was perfect for attaching the scope that I planned to use, and later a red-dot reflex sight.

Henry Big Boy All Weather

Henry Repeating Arms introduced the Big Boy All-Weather in 2017 after seeing the tremendous success of their .30-30 and .45-70 rifles with the All-Weather treatment. Though the original Henry Big Boy features a brass receiver, the All-Weather gun uses a steel receiver, and both it and the barrel are plated with an industrial hard chrome to provide plenty of corrosion resistance, giving this rifle the ability to stand up to the elements or long periods of inattention while it sits in a truck. Internals between the Big Boy with its brass frame and the All-Weather model are identical, though the brass-framed guns normally weigh about a pound more because they use heavier octagonal barrels.

The All-Weather rifle uses a rubber recoil pad, while the original Big Boy sports a brass buttplate. Henry outfits the All-Weather model with an American walnut stock that’s given a tough polyurethane finish. The buttstock features an adult-size 14-inch length of pull and has already been fitted with a sling swivel mount, while the forend has a steel cap with an integral sling mount.

Henry Upgrades

To set up the gun for home-defense use, I decided to add a Midwest Industries M-LOK handguard. Long known for their AR and AK handguards, Midwest Industries has begun making aluminum forends for various Henry lever guns, as well as some of the Marlin lever guns. Weighing just 5.5 ounces, the 6061 aluminum handguard is 11 inches long and offers plenty of M-LOK slots to attach whatever you’d like to your rifle. Built for hard use, the rifle features hardcoat anodizing and sports a sling swivel mount for use with a hunting rifle.

When I first received the Midwest handguard, I thought it would be a simple matter to remove the forend and replace it with the handguard. I was wrong! Replacing the forend with the Midwest handguard requires a nearly complete takedown of the rifle, which demands tools and skills that I do not possess. I even watched one YouTube video by a well-known vlogger who had attempted to do the install himself and had creased his magazine tube. Since the gun didn’t belong to me and I didn’t want to take a chance on damaging the Henry rifle, I set my ego aside and contacted my friend Mario Ramos at Old Pueblo Gunsmith Services.

‘Smithing the Big Boy

Located in my hometown of Tucson, Mario is a graduate of the Colorado School of Trades gunsmithing program. While attending school he was actually roommates with Bobby Tyler, now of Tyler Gun Works. Ramos got the Big Boy figured out pretty quickly and actually made a couple of small fixtures to aid him in the install. Ramos is a man of many talents and a master machinist and can tackle just about any gunsmithing task you can imagine. If you’d like him to install a Midwest Industries handguard on your Henry, drop him a line.

Raining Lead

With the new handguard installed, I was ready to shoot the Big Boy. I had Henry send me a Picatinny receiver mount, which attaches with three screws. With medium-height scope rings, I was able to get a nice cheek weld while looking through the scope. I used a Leupold VX-2 2-7x28mm Ultralight scope with a Duplex reticle. It weighs just 8.5 ounces and is only 10 inches in length. It has precise 0.25 MOA finger click adjustment for windage and elevation and seemed perfect for the Big Boy All-Weather. I fired all groups from a seated position using a DOA Tactical portable shooting bench and a Caldwell rifle rest.

My test rifle had a trigger pull of 3.75 pounds. It did possess a little bit of creep, but for a hunting and home-defense gun I don’t think I’d want a trigger any lighter than that. My single best 5-shot group was fired with Federal’s 225-grain semi-wadcutter hollow-point lead bullet, and it measured just 1.18 inches at 50 yards. In fact, the average of the best groups I fired with the four cartridges measured just over 1.5 inches, with the average of all groups being just under 2 inches. This is plenty of practical accuracy for use as a short-range hunting gun or home-defense rifle.

Big Boy Data

My Big Boy All-Weather gun sports a 20-inch barrel, and I was curious to know how the longer barrel length would affect the velocity of the .45 Colt cartridge. While chronographing the rifle, I fired a Taylor’s & Company 1873 Cattleman revolver, also chambered in .45 Colt, but with a 4.75-inch barrel, for comparison. The Henry’s extra 15.25 inches of barrel accounts for 21 percent more velocity.

• RELATED VIDEO: Testing the Classic Henry Lever Action 22 Rifle in All Its Glory

More important, the extra velocity equated to 37 percent more energy, giving the Big Boy plenty of punch. Though the 20-inch barrel gives us more velocity and energy, I would prefer a 16-inch barrel for home or truck use. When I asked a Henry Repeating Arms executive about the chances of them making a 16-inch Big Boy All-Weather, he said, “Anything is possible… with enough requests.” So, if you think the Big Boy would be the perfect defense gun with a 16-inch barrel, drop Henry a note and let them know.

Dots & Lights

Once I had finished the accuracy testing of the Big Boy, I replaced the Leupold scope with a Trijicon RMR red-dot reflex sight. It’s been tested and proved in some of the world’s most hellish war zones and is rock-solid rugged and will withstand both abuse and neglect. My sample features a 1 MOA-size dot, which is adjustable for brightness and can be used in nearly every light condition. This sight allows the shooter to maintain focus on the target and shoot with both eyes open. Unobstructed peripheral vision in a defense situation could be a lifesaver!

If you haven’t ever shot a gun outfitted with a red-dot reflex sight, it really is as simple as putting the dot on the target and pulling the trigger. There’s nothing to align, and the dot doesn’t even need to be centered in the screen. Also, just put the dot on the target and squeeze. Like all optics, the RMR is adjustable for windage and elevation, and it took just a few rounds to get it zeroed. Additionally, the RMR rides in a mount designed for a flat-top AR rifle. Because of this the sight sits higher than is ideal, so if you plan on putting an RMR on your Henry Big Boy, get a lower mount such as their RM34W.

Laser Device

Being able to identify your target is a critical element of home defense, and if you’re unable to do so you have no business pulling the trigger. Crimson Trace sent me a sample of their Rail Master Pro (CMR-204), which features a white tactical light and green laser. The unit weighs just a couple of ounces and attaches to the Picatinny rail/M-LOK adapter and then to the handguard. Also, it runs on a single CR2 lithium battery, and the flashlight produces a bright 100 lumens of light.

The green laser adjusts for both windage and elevation, and I adjusted it to co-witness with my RMR’s red dot, so even if I weren’t able to get a solid sight picture I know that if I’m able to place the green laser on my target I’m going to score a hit. Crimson Trace’s light and laser units are extremely helpful to the responsible shooter in identifying and targeting a threat.

My time with the Henry Big Boy All-Weather was an extremely pleasant one. I fired more than 300 rounds during my testing and experienced zero failures or malfunctions. It performed exactly as I expected it to and exhibited the accuracy needed for home defense and much more. Combined with the hard-hitting .45 Colt cartridge, Midwest Industries handguard, Trijicon RMR and Crimson Trace Rail Master Pro, the Henry rifle should make a first-class companion, whether it’s in the field, behind the bench seat of your truck or next to your nightstand at home.

For further information, visit henryusa.com.

Henry Big Boy All Weather Specifications

• Calbier: .357 Mag., .45 Colt, .44 Mag.
• Overall Barrel Length: 20 inches
• Overall Length: 37.5 inches
• Stocks: Walnut
• Overall Weight: 7 pounds (empty)
• Sights: Fully-adjustable rear buckhorn, front brass bead, drilled and tapped
• Action: Lever
• Finish: Satin industrial hard chrome
• Overall Capacity: 10+1
• MSRP: $1,050

This article is from the 2019 issue of Tactical-Life Modern Guns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Keep Reading

Standing on frozen grass while snow and sleet spit on me, I stomped my feet and rubbed my hands, vigorously trying to warm them. The temperatures weren’t that low at the U.S. Shooting Academy in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this past December, but the humidity was high, and the combination was miserable. Walther Marketing Manager Cody Osborn had assembled a group of gun writers at a quiet pistol bay to make an important pre-launch announcement.

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VIDEO: How Fast Is the Walther Q5 Match Pistol?

“Our goal is to push the performance limits of our flagship PPQ product family beyond what is possible in a polymer-framed gun. We’ve invited you here to see and shoot our brand-new Q5 Match SF pistol—a steel-framed version of our already popular polymer-framed Q5 Match gun.”

Match Ready

Walther introduced the Q5 Match a couple of years ago. It has since proven popular with both USPSA and IDPA competitors. The first Q5 was modeled after the 5-inch-barreled PPQ, which found its way into competitive circles. Walther decided to build a dedicated match gun with a longer sight radius, phenomenal balance and a no-compromise match-grade trigger. The longer slide was cut with ports to give the gun a rakish look and the ideal cycling speed for light 9mm loads.

For those who wanted to shoot in the USPSA’s Production division, the gun was given a fiber-optic front sight and an adjustable rear sight. And for those who want to compete in the Carry Optics class, the gun comes with three different mounting plates to accommodate the most common reflex sights. All in all, the Walther Q5 Match gave competitors a “match-ready” gun for less money than most folks spend on a stock 1911 out of the box.

But the Q5 Match weighs just 27.9 ounces unloaded, which makes the gun a little too “lively” for most shooters. After listening to its professional shooters and a host of unsponsored Q5 users, Walther decided to up the Q5’s game.

Q5 Match Steel Frame

The result is the Q5 Match Steel Frame (SF). It weighs in at a hefty 41.6 ounces unloaded, and that extra weight makes for a significant reduction in felt recoil. This in turn makes it easier for shooters to get back on target quickly, and their splits, or time between shots, are dramatically reduced. And in a game measured in fractions of seconds, every bit of time saved adds up. Walther is currently offering two different versions of the Q5 Match SF: the Standard and the Pro. The only real difference between the two is that the Pro model comes with a magazine well funnel and three magazines fitted with +2 basepads.

Walther had set up several USPSA-type stages in different pistol bays at the U.S. Shooting Academy, and the company’s pro shooters ran us gun writers through each stage using the Q5 Match SF. The stages were simple and uncomplicated, with few targets obscured by hard cover or no-shoot targets. The idea was to let us push our limits in terms of speed. Unfortunately, most of us were hampered by the cold.

But one thing was certain: The new Q5 Match SF is a flat-shooter. It was easy to quickly double-tap close targets, and the sights never seemed to move off target. Shooting a heavy steel-framed gun with relatively light loads made us all look good and created a very enjoyable experience, despite the cold.

Hands On

A couple of weeks later, I received a test sample so I could give the gun a more thorough evaluation. The Q5 Match SF arrived in a foam-lined plastic with three magazines, a magazine loader, three optics plates, a sight adjustment tool and a cable lock. One of the first things you’ll notice about the gun is its long dust-cover rail. At the other end is a beavertail that extends past the rear of the slide. The ambidextrous slide release has low-profile levers that inset into the frame.

The slide and frame both have a black Tenifer finish to stand up to a competitor’s hard use and thousands upon thousands of presentations from the holster. The flattop slide is serrated. The fiber-optic front sight is not dovetailed, but attached via a screw from inside the slide. Walther machines ports into the front of the slide, claiming they help cool the barrel, but I think most shooters will find them to handy for manually loading the chamber or doing a press-check.

Of course, the heart and soul of this gun is the steel frame, which gives the gun its recoil-absorbing weight. Dimensionally, it is very close to the Q5’s polymer frame, but there are some important differences. You’ll notice that there is a takedown lever on the left side of the frame instead of the bilateral takedown tabs on the polymer gun. Most of the other parts will interchange between the two guns, including the magazines.

Enhanced Ergonomics

One of the considerations of the Q5 Match SF is ergonomics. The graceful arch of the backstrap forces the shooter’s hand high up into the beavertail. Combined with the undercut at the junction of the triggerguard and frontstrap, this allows the shooter to get a very high hold on the gun to aid in fighting recoil.

The barrel uses polygonal rifling, which is a huge selling point for competitors. Instead of sharp lands and grooves, the rifling uses a series of hills and valleys to impart twist on the projectile without cutting into its jacket. There are a number of claims that could be made, including the better gas seal with the bullet and a concomitant increase in velocity. Other benefits include less chance of bullet deformation, a longer barrel life, increased accuracy and ease of cleaning.

But the rifling isn’t the only thing different about the Q5’s barrel. Walther cuts its chambers a little differently. According to Cody Osborn, “We actually use a step chamber. About the first 75 percent of the chamber is loosely fit so it feeds reliably. The last 25 percent actually steps down so we get a lot higher velocities out of this gun. This makes the gun run cleaner and gives us tighter groups. There will actually be a 25-meter target in the box shot by a Walther technician at the factory so you can see your accuracy.”

Built to Shoot Well

My test gun came with a target showing a 1.68-inch group at 25 meters, and inspecting spent casings during the evaluation revealed a consistent mark about 0.25 inches from the mouth of the case down. But this should in no way affect the number of times these cases can be reloaded.

The barrel’s 5-inch length also allows for a more efficient powder burn compared to most service-sized 4-inch-barreled guns, and this translates into velocity for a sport where the minimum “power factor” is determined by bullet weight and how fast it goes. But the longer barrel length also creates a longer sight radius—another important factor in being able to shoot accurately.

The Q5 Match SF has a bright blue trigger that contrasts nicely with the rest of the black gun. Walther states that the trigger breaks at 5.5 pounds, but my test sample’s trigger broke consistently at 4.7 pounds. I would have guessed the trigger pull to be closer to 3.5 pounds based on how light and crisp it felt. Rest assured that as the gun’s popularity increases, there will be a variety of aftermarket kits available to bring the pull weight down to Grand Master liking! The reset on my gun was firm and only took about 0.1 inches. Also, like most current striker-fired guns, the Q5 Match SF has a safety blade in the middle of the trigger, preventing the gun from firing unless the trigger is purposefully pulled.

Driving Tacks

To measure the Q5 Match SF’s accuracy at the range, I fired five-shot groups from 25 yards using my DOA Shooting Bench for support and resting the pistol’s dust cover on my Millett BenchMaster. The frame rail made it rock-steady on my rest. All I needed to do was maintain a sight picture as I added pressure to the trigger until the shot broke.

Federal’s 115-grain Syntech TSJ rounds delivered the best five-shot group at 0.98 inches. My best group with the 150-grain TSJs was just slightly larger. We used these 150-grain rounds at the Tulsa event. They’re probably the best choice for competitors who don’t handload, with light recoil and the perfect slide velocity. All of the rounds I tested performed flawlessly, and there were no failures to feed, cycle or eject. Even the slide lock worked perfectly and without failure, locking the slide to the rear when the last round was fired.

I set up a USPSA target at 10 yards and fired double-taps at it, counting only my A-zone hits. I am many years removed from being an active competitor, and I’m hesitant to even publish my results. The splits of a double-tap are indicative of the shooter’s skill rather than the pistol’s capabilities. But most of my splits ran between 0.19 and 0.21 seconds. In more practiced hands, I am certain the splits would run closer to 0.15 seconds, or lower. In any event, it’s obvious that the Q5 Match SF is capable of taking anyone to the highest levels of competition.

Final Thoughts

At the end of our range session in early December, Cody Osborn said, “Walther’s Q5 Match SF won’t be the only PPQ family member to benefit from the steel frame. Standing for Police Pistol Quick Defense, the steel-frame PPQ platform will grow into a full product family supporting the competition, duty and tactical self-defense customer. The steel-frame product family will showcase the highest level of quality and precision engineering that only Walther is capable of providing. The Q5 Match SF is just the beginning!”

For more information, visit waltherarms.com.

Walther Q5 Match SF Specifications

• Caliber: 9mm
• Overall Barrel Length: 5 inches
• Overall Length: 8.7 inches
• Grip: Ergonomic Wraparound grip
• Overall Weight: 41.6 ounces (empty)
• Sights: Fiber-optic front, adjustable rear
• Action: Striker-fired
• Finish: Black Tenifer
• Overall Capacity: 15+1, 17+1
• MSRP: $1,399

This article is from the April-May 2019 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com. For digital editions, visit Amazon. Keep Reading

One of the reasons more people don’t get involved in organized action pistol competition is the cost of gear required for each shooting discipline. Last year Canik decided to do something about that and created the SFx Rival, a polymer-framed, striker-fired 9mm semi-auto pistol legal for USPSA, IPSC, IDPA and 3-Gun competition. The gun can be used in Production and Carry Optic divisions and even comes with a holster! Also included is a water-resistant rigid polymer case, two 18-round magazines, various tools and a detachable magazine well funnel. Canik priced this Rival package for just $679.99 and, as you might imagine, it became popular immediately.

Canik SFx Rival-S

But don’t let the price fool you though–this is no beginner’s pistol! Canik Team captain Nils Jonasson used a Rival to best 416 other shooters at the USPSA 2022 Carry Optic Nationals!

Building on the immense popularity of the original Rival, Canik has just introduced the SFx Rival-S; a steel-framed version of the Rival that retains all of the features that made the original such a success but with 31-percent more recoil-absorbing weight! The original polymer framed Rival weighs 29.5 ounces, while the Rival-S (S is for steel, if you haven’t already guessed) tips the scale at 42.7 ounces.

The benefit of having a heavier gun is that it reduces felt recoil and muzzle rise and helps the shooter get back on target more quickly. Canik machines the Rival-S’s frame from a steel forging and it retains all of the original Rival’s excellent ergonomics.

Canik undercuts the frame where it meets the trigger guard so the shooter can get their hand as high as possible on the gun. The closer the hand is to the bore line the less muzzle flip there will be. Shooters can choose from three different backstrap inserts to fit the gun to their hand. The inserts come textured for a secure firing grip and Canik checkers the frame’s front strap for the same reason. Bilateral slide releases exhibit a low profile and facilitate operation from either side of the gun without breaking the firing grip. A reversible magazine release offers solutions for southpaws.

Optic-Ready for Open Divisions & More

Canik dramatically sculpts the Rival’s slide so that the shooter can get a firm grasp, to rack it, wherever their hand lands on the slide. A fully adjustable rear sight sits on a plate on the slide top. The plate, along with the sight assembly can be easily removed by loosening two screws. Canik includes five different optic plates with the Rival-S which can accommodate most popular micro red dots. I used the #2 plate and attached my Trijicon RMR with a 3.25 MOA dot.

I tested the Rival-S at 25-yards for accuracy and fired all groups from a seated rest with the gun’s dust cover resting on a Millett BenchMaster for support. Using Federal’s Syntech 150-grain Action Pistol rounds, which chronographed out of the Rival-S’s 5-inch barrel at 986 feet per second, groups ranged from 1- to 1.5-inch, although I speculate there would have been a number of sub-1-inch groups if the wind hadn’t been gusting to 25 mph.

One of the Rival features that made shooting small groups possible was its crisp 3.5-pound trigger. It also possesses a short and firm reset and that made shooting doubletaps downright easy! I spent part of my afternoon with the Rival-S shooting steel and found the gun to be incredibly soft shooting-because of its steel frame.

If you’ve been looking for an out-of-the-box, race-ready competition gun but haven’t pulled the trigger yet (pun intended) because of the cost, take a long hard look at the Canik SFx Rival-S! With the Dark Side black finish, the gun retails for just $899.99 or with its brightly polished chrome finish $949.99. It’s a gun that can take a shooter from “D” class all the way to Master class. Learn more about the newest Canik at canikusa.com.

Get the Full Story!

We first saw the Rival-S at the recent Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous, and it left us impressed. Read Mike Detty’s full review in the January-February 2023 issue of Tactical Life Magazine. Get your copy today at OutdoorGroupStore.com.

Paper or plastic? Remember that simple question? I always preferred paper grocery bags as they kept my apples, oranges, and cans of soda from rolling around the back of my SUV when I turned corners. Then one day paper bags weren’t available anymore. Our choice was gone, we were stuck with plastic bags, and there was nothing we could do about it. That’s just the way it was! Fortunately, Smith & Wesson still gives us the choice between polymer and Metal with the M&P9 M2.0.

The Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Metal

The popularity of polymer-framed, striker-fired pistols encouraged manufacturers to give customers exactly what they were asking for. While many companies initially made 9mm alloy-framed guns, they have mostly been replaced with higher capacity, poly-framed models. It seemed to be what the concealed carry market wanted—more bullets in a lighter gun.

Smith & Wesson rocked the shooting industry last December when they introduced their CSX. The CSX is a 9mm, single-action, semi-auto micro-compact pistol with a 10+1 flush-fit magazine or 12-round extended magazine.

But what really set this gun aside from the current crop of micro-compacts, other than its single-action cocked-and-locked action, was its aluminum frame. It is a gun that I thoroughly enjoyed shooting. And time will tell whether the CCW market embraces the little single-action pistol as warmly as I did.

Extensive market research and survey work by Smith & Wesson before committing to full production of any product virtually guarantees a new product’s success. As I pulled the newest S&W M&P9 M2.0 Metal Frame gun from its box, I thought, “My God—they’re going to sell thousands of these!”

Meet The M&P9 M2.0 Metal

It’s a stunning beast, complete with frame relief cuts designed to not only lighten the T6 aluminum frame but to provide the shooter with a comfortable thumb shelf and indexing points. Those cuts also give the gun some very cool aesthetics!

The Metal M&P9 also retains the reptilian style fore and aft slide cocking serrations of the original M2.0. S&W coats the frame and stainless slide with a beautiful and non-reflective Tungsten gray Cerakote finish. Parts like the magazine release, takedown lever, slide stop, extractor, sights, and barrel are given S&W’s proprietary Armornite black finish for a pleasing contrast.

S&W ships the new gun with four interchangeable palm swell inserts to custom fit the gun to the user’s hand and trigger reach. The black inserts are textured for a no-slip grip, and there is a front strap insert made from the same textured polymer to ensure a secure firing grip—even with wet hands.

S&W realizes that not everyone needs or wants a lightweight gun. There is a reassuring heft to the M2.0 Metal pistol that is absent in polymer guns. Some might even say that S&W has given the gun a soul!

Virtually The Same Gun as the M&P9 M2.0

The M&P9 M2.0 Metal pistol is virtually the same gun, albeit with an aluminum frame, as the polymer-framed M&P9 M2.0. In fact, even the holsters made for the plastic gun will work perfectly with the aluminum-framed gun!

The new gun retains features like the bilateral slide stops, a reversible mag release, and a railed dust cover for attaching a tactical light/laser. S&W outfits the M&P9 2.0 Metal with a stainless steel 4.25-inch barrel. Two 17-round magazines are included with the gun.

Like the poly-framed M&P9 2.0 guns, the new Metal gun uses the same upgraded trigger. It has a blade safety in the trigger face, and it breaks crisply at 3 pounds, 5 ounces with a firm reset.

The gun also has an optics plate with a polymer cover. S&W includes seven different polymer optics adapter plates to handle just about any micro red dot available. I attached a Trijicon RMR with a 3.25-MOA dot.

Shots Fired

Because the M&P9 M2.0 Metal Frame is a full-size gun with a 4.25-inch barrel, I set my targets out at 25 yards. I used a 2-inch diameter Shoot N C for my aiming point. All groups were fired from a seated position using a DOA Tactical shooting bench while resting the gun’s dust cover on a Millett BenchMaster for support.

I fired three five-shot groups with each ammunition, and the best group is reflected in the performance chart. I selected ammunition based on bullet weight to see if the gun had any preferences. Four of the five loads tested were defensive rounds, with the Federal Syntech Training Match 147-grain being the only real range load tried. Groups ranged from just over 1 to 1.5 inches.

Keep in mind-these groups were fired at 25 yards! That is exceptional accuracy, and the M2.0 Metal’s enhanced sear geometry and crisp trigger pull helped make these groups possible. I am happy to report that the M2.0 Metal digested them all without a single bobble!

Doubletap’s 77-grain solid copper hollow point produced the very best five-shot group measuring just 1.04 inches. This load continues to impress me. It is always accurate and usually produces the highest energy of the loads I include. This is even though it is a standard pressure load—not a +P.

From the M&P9’s 4.25-inch barrel, the round had a velocity of 1,515 feet per second (fps) and generated a whopping 392 foot-pounds of energy. I witnessed Doubletap’s owner, Mike McNett, fire this round into a block of gelatin from a 3-inch micro-compact. It penetrated 14 inches easily, mushroomed to twice its diameter, and retained nearly 100 percent of its weight. Now that’s performance.

Draw-And-Fire Tests

Tulster sent me a Contour outside the waistband (OWB) holster for the new Metal frame M2.0. As I mentioned earlier, the external dimensions of the aluminum and poly guns are the same. I chose the OWB holster as this is a full-size gun and wearing it at the 4 o’clock position just seemed to make more sense than my usual appendix carry with micro-compacts.

The holster is adjustable for ride height, cant, and retention. Additionally, the “molded-in” asymmetrical wings of the Contour’s Kydex shell angle the pistol’s grip toward my body, eliminating the visible print with a covering garment.

I set up my MGM BC C-Zone steel target at 15 yards and did some draw and fire work. The value of the metal frame can be seen in shooting rapid fire as the added weight helps control muzzle disruption.

The new Metal gun weighs in at 30 ounces unloaded, whereas the original M2.0 poly frame gun weighs 24.7 ounces. That’s an 18 percent difference, and it becomes immediately apparent when shooting double taps. I was able to get the dot back on target quickly and my splits, or time between shots, averaged 0.18 of a second.

The sights on the M2.0 Metal are not tall enough to co-witness with the RMR’s red dot. If I were going to keep this gun, I’d most likely replace them with taller suppressor sights for this reason. Fortunately, the Tulster Contour features a raised sight channel to accommodate the taller sights.

For more information, check them out at Tulster.com.

The M&P9 M2.0 Metal is a Welcome Upgrade

I own one of the original M&P9s purchased after an S&W media outing years ago. It’s a gun that I frequently used for classes where one of my more expensive/custom guns would not be appropriate. Not to mention, I often use it as a training gun for new shooters.

I’ve always shot that gun well and didn’t see the need to upgrade when S&W came out with the M2.0. But I really like this new M2.0 Metal pistol! It just feels good in the hand, and I love the way the aluminum feels compared to the polymer frame.

I appreciate what the added heft does for recoil control and love the M2.0 trigger. It gives me the ability to shoot the gun closer to its accuracy potential, and its firm reset also makes quick follow-up shots easy.

But to be completely honest, I like the new Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Metal because it just looks cool! Its Tungsten finish with black accents puts polymer-framed guns to shame in the looks department. With a suggested retail price of $899, look for S&W to sell lots of the new M2.0 Metal guns.

For more information, please visit Smith-Wesson.com.

Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 METAL Specs

Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 4.25 inches
Overall Length: 7.4 inches
Weight: 30 ounces (empty)
Grips: Aluminum
Sights: Three-dot
Action: Striker-fired
Finish: Tungsten Cerakote
Capacity: 17+1
MSRP: $899

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2022 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Get your copy today at OutdoorGroupStore.com.