Gun Reviews

American Tactical Omni Hybrid Maxx AR-15 Review: It Sucks

April 2, 2018 By Eve Flanigan Leave a Comment

American Tactical AR 15 Omni Hybrid Review

The idea of a lighter-than-normal AR15 is appealing for those of us who wear our rifles for hours at a time. After years of intrigue regarding the polymer-lower AR made by American Tactical (formerly American Tactical Imports), I finally got my hands on a test model. Turns out, lightness isn’t the only reason to like this AR.

American Tactical (AT) has perfected the lightweight lower formula over the years. After first manufacturing an all-polymer lower, the company learned lessons about the effects of hot gas and pressures imposed by the bolt carrier group onto polymer parts. Cracking, warping, and barrel/upper misalignment were the result of heavy use.

The new “Maxx” version of the American Tactical Omni Hybrid is the company’s apparent answer to those lessons learned; a patented design of the lower receiver that exploits the carry-friendly lightness of polymer while not sacrificing the stability of metal at critical points. This updated version of the original Omni Hybrid uses metal spines and threaded connections embedded in an over-molded polymer shroud. The metal components of the upper and lower are 7075-T6 forged aluminum—sturdy stuff.

There are a couple versions of the American Tactical Omni Hybrid when sold as a complete rifle—fully outfitted uppers are also available from AT. The version in this test is the quad rail version.

In addition to the original, light design, this AR is loaded with interesting features. Working from back to front, we first encounter a six-position adjustable buttstock by Rogers, with lots of places to thread through or adapt for a sling.

Speaking of slings, the receiver endplate has two sling loops molded into it, keeping the setup ambi-friendly. Being kind of short, I immediately chose this as the rear attachment location of a two-point sling. Though the endplate was surely designed with one-point carry in mind, it works well for me in terms of keeping the rifle high, tight, and flat against me in carriage.

The rear takedown pin is slightly recessed. I improvised a punch to poke it through far enough to pull on the right side. Takedown is otherwise typical. I inquired with American Tactical, asking about this design, but the question went unanswered.

The trigger guard is both rugged and remarkable. It’s enlarged for gloved fingers, and has an attractive shape without adding bulk.

The bolt hold-open lever sticks out more prominently than on most AR receivers. This makes it easy to slap and load, but the lever would more easily be unintentionally activated, and the bolt therefore run forward, by virtue of its approximately 20-degree departure from the receiver surface. This shouldn’t present any problem when safe handling is practiced.

AT says the receiver components, including the trigger, are milspec. Maybe they were looking for the pleasantly surprised reaction from new users, because this is much nicer than any milspec trigger I’ve encountered. The pull weight isn’t much north of four pounds, and reset is both close and delivers a distinct “click.” There’s less travel and less fuss as compared with many others. Could it be smoother? Yes. But it’s more than adequate for everyday use.

Moving up, there’s a milspec charging handle and nitride-coated bolt carrier group. On top is seven inches of picatinny rail. As a handguard, AT chose California-based NC Star’s quad rail system. Even more rail space is gained by the inclusion of a rail-topped gas block, ideal for maximizing distance between front and rear backup iron sights or, in my case, attaching a low-profile sling mount.

American Tactical went with California-made NCStar’s railed handguard.

The quad rail version of the American Tactical Omni Hybrid Maxx is, no joke, handy. Hands are shielded from heat while the operator can enjoy plethora of choices for placement of lights, backup sights, or other accessories.

A small problem was encountered with the rail section above the receiver. It was impossible to fully tighten a LaRue Tactical mount for the Aimpoint T1 Micro optic on it. Although adjustments to the mount could solve this problem, it would require quite a lot of fiddling for a mount that’s meant for grab-and-go use. The problem was solved by moving it forward. The rail on the handguard is apparently milspec and fit perfectly. The long eye relief took a little getting used to, though.

AT’s self-branded, lightweight mag feeds really well.

The 16-inch barrel has the classic M4 profile, with a 1:7 twist to handle those heavier bullets. At the end is an equally classic A2-style compensator. It’s okay, but I’m looking forward to seeing if another AT product, the HFS muzzle brake, makes a difference in handling. AT claims that for $50, washer included, this slender, 2.25-inch device will eliminate 95 percent of muzzle rise—that’s a pretty bold statement.

This rifle ships with AT’s Amend2 30-round magazine, with an orange follower and bold orange “2” on the bottom, and huge-font MADE IN USA on one side. The branding should make it easier to track in a pocket, belt, or chest-borne system. This polymer mag is noticeably lighter in weight than a Magpul and, so far, has performed flawlessly in terms of feeding and ease of seating. For $13.95, this makes a great competition mag that’s dependable and saves weight.

American Tactical recommends a 150-200 round break-in period for this carbine, as well as factory new, brass-cased ammunition. As of this writing, the 80 round mark has just been passed, so far with no hiccups running three different brands of 55 grain FMJ—Lake City, PMC, and Federal American Eagle.

My preliminary take on the American Tactical Omni Hybrid Maxx, quadrail edition, is that it’s a better-than-entry level quality AR for an entry level price of $649. Features like a great stock, a quality but not match grade trigger, 1:7 twist barrel, and virtually unlimited accessory space make this a rifle to buy today and grow with over the years. Besides that, it’s entirely made in the USA—American Tactical now has its own manufacturing plant in South Carolina.

If I keep this rifle, a follow-up article will detail its dependability and performance at distance. For now, it’s looking quite promising as a keeper.

A loose gas block? Um, no.

American Tactical Omni Hybrid Maxx Issues …

… it didn’t end well.

My philosophy on gun reviews is that all firearms that consistently go “bang” when I press the trigger with the safety off are going to get a basically positive commentary along with key details so potential consumers can make an informed choice. It’s not like I’m capable of making a gun from scratch myself, and I stand in constant awe of the brilliance and dedication that goes into making any firearm.

In the case of this Omni Hybrid Maxx carbine, while I remain respectful of the design, American Tactical’s handling of a problem with this one firearm has been a very poor reflection on the brand.

The original review was written after a brief trial of a few 20-round boxes of ammo. With great pleasure I took it to the range for a more serious accuracy test and breaking-in, the latter of which AT says is complete after the 200-round mark.

While being fired from a supported bench position and with the chamber empty, I moved to put the safety lever to the “FIRE” position after firing the 138th round ever through the rifle. The lever wouldn’t budge. I unloaded mag and chamber, and manually ran the bolt a couple times. Still stuck.

A call to the factory resulted in a promise to repair the Omni promptly, and a shipping tag was sent my way. On the pre-printed repair order, the reason for return was listed as “gas block loose,” which was not the case. Before shipping, I scrawled through that inaccuracy and wrote in “safety lever stuck.”

The rifle was returned in approximately two weeks—not bad! Inside, an employee-signed paper described how the gas block had been inspected, re-tightened, and 15 test shots had been fired to confirm the repair.

I have a hard time imagining how someone could test fire a rifle with the safety stuck on “SAFE,” as it still was when I received the rifle a second time.

An email to the factory was again promptly met with the delivery of a second call tag, and assurance that a different rifle would be shipped for testing.

That was more than a month ago. No word from American Tactical, and no rifle.

Things happen. Manufacturing processes and humans can fail. I’ve no problem with that when the company is willing to stand behind the product.

It’s painful to say this about this US-made American Tactical Omni Hybrid Maxx rifle, but AT’s repeated demonstrations of lack of attention to detail, once aware of a problem, are unacceptable.

All photos by Team HB.

Here is our list of the best 17 AR-15 manufacturers.

Also check out Travis’ M16A4 Clone Review.

38 Super Dan Wesson Guardian 1911 Review

March 21, 2018 By Joe Roberts 3 Comments

Dan Wesson History:

Dan Wesson is a company founded by Daniel B. Wesson II, the great-grandson of one of the founders of Smith and Wesson. In 1963 when Smith & Wesson was purchased by the Bangor-Punta Manufacturing Concern, Dan Wesson left the company with the intent of manufacturing high quality revolvers.

In 1968 Dan Wesson was incorporated. The company is best known for large frame revolvers in .22 Long Rifle, .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum with interchangeable barrels that are used mostly for hunting and IMSA metallic silhouette competition. After Wesson’s death in 1978 the company experienced many financial issues and a couple of bankruptcies until they were purchased by CZ-USA in 2005. Somewhere along the line the company added a series of high quality M1911A1 type pistols in various calibers.

.38 Super +P –

The .38 Super +P is based on its parent cartridge the .38 ACP, which was originally loaded with a 130 grain projectile loaded to 1260 FPS. In its original loading it proved too powerful for the Colt model 1900 that was built to fire it. It was eventually de-tuned to a max loading of 130gr propelled at 1150 FPS. In 1929 the .38 Super was introduced as a chambering for the 1911 pistol.

It was basically the 38 ACP loaded back to its original loading and shared the same loaded dimensions as the parent cartridge. It was designated the .38 Super to discourage use in the earlier Model 1900 pistols.

Unfortunately, two things took place that almost relegated the .38 Super to the dustbin of firearms history.

Colt decided to headspace the cartridge on its rim rather than on the mouth of the case like the .45 ACP. This caused the .38 Super to have dismal accuracy, Colt did eventually correct the head-spacing issue around 1989. About 60 years too late for my taste.
The introduction of the .357 Magnum in 1934 meant that law enforcement officers of the day could have superior ballistics and still keep the revolvers they had been trained with. In fact, it was only due to South American firearms restrictions and competitors in IPSC looking for a leg up on the competition that have kept the .38 Super alive to this day.

First Impression –

The Dan Wesson Guardian is an alloy frame, Commander sized 1911 with a bobbed mainspring housing that is advertised as a pistol built for concealed carry. It comes in a lockable hard case that is molded for the pistol, 2 magazines, bushing wrench, lock and owner’s manual. My first thought upon removing the Guardian was “this thing is all business.”

Dimensions/Description –

Overall Length – 8 inches

Overall Height – 5.5 inches

Width – 1.45 inches

Barrel Length – 4.25 inches

Unloaded Weight – 28.5 ounces

Trigger Pull – 4 lb.

Capacity – 9+1

First off, I am not a huge fan of matte finishes. I understand the utility of them and even though I would have preferred traditional bluing (that is not an option due to the lightweight alloy frame), the finish on the Guardian is first rate. The Dan Wesson website refers to it as the “Duty Finish” and it works well at absorbing light like a black hole.

The grips are an attractive reddish wood with stippling on the front edge that, when combined with the 25LPI checkering on the front strap, provides plenty of traction should you have to handle it with wet mitts.

The sights are Trijicon, snag free with Tritium inserts in case you have to engage during low light situations. All of the sharp edges have been broken so that there are no edges or corners to snag on cover garments. The smoothing up is very subtle not at all like the “carry melt” treatment of other manufacturers, it’s more something you feel rather than see and sometimes less is more.

The barrel is match grade stainless, is cut flush with the bushing and is of the Wilson-Nowlin ramped variety, which I prefer when a pistol has an alloy frame. As a side note: I had a Federal Ordinance Ranger Lightweight that fed ball ammo all day, but when loaded with hollow points it would hang up on every shot due to the copper jacket gouging into the frame. I carried that pistol for years with FMJ because I didn’t trust it to operate with anything else. The fully ramped barrel solves that issue.

The controls are right where you would expect to find them on a 1911 and I especially appreciated the wide flat shelf on the slide release. As a southpaw I activate the slide release with my trigger finger and the flat shelf of the slide release aids in reloads by giving my trigger finger more purchase and leverage when sending the slide back into battery after a magazine change.

Unfortunately, the controls are where I found my first issue with the Guardian.

In the 21st century most manufacturers have come to grips with the fact that not every shooter is right-handed. Apparently, Dan Wesson never got the memo. Now if this was a $400 Armscor 1911 I would expect it to be pretty basic, but with an MSRP over $1600 I sort of expect an ambidextrous thumb safety to be an option at the very least if not standard.

Even some right-handed shooters I know that carry 1911’s insist on one, in case they ever have to engage with their weak hand. However, a quick perusal of Dan Wesson’s website shows no option for ordering the Guardian with an ambidextrous safety.

At the Range –

My wife and I went out for a date at one of our favorite places … the local indoor range. Since the pistol was purchased with her in mind I wanted to get her to assist me in breaking this bad boy in.

Now, over the years I have bought her a couple of 1911 variants, and while she has been appreciative of the gifts, the appreciation vaporized once she shot them.

There have been issues from the pistol ejecting brass directly into her forehead to uncomfortable recoil. So, this time I wanted to make sure she liked it before I stuffed it in her Christmas stocking. So, we loaded up around 300 rounds of various .38 Super ammunition that I had on hand and trucked it down to the range. I wanted to see if this thing would function as well as it looked.

I was not disappointed. We burned through 3 boxes of 130gr FMJ and shot groups with 4 different hollow point defensive loads without a single failure. No failure to feed, no failure to fire. Man, can this thing shoot.

My wife was thoroughly impressed, as was I. The Guardian performed so good I almost forgot about the missing safety and was considering giving my wife a diamond ring for Christmas so I could keep the pistol.

Now, since .38 Super is considered a niche caliber there is not a lot of selection when it comes to ammunition. We shot FMJ from Magtech, Armscor and Fiocchi. The hollow point loads were from Buffalo Bore, Sig Sauer, Double Tap and Winchester. All of our shooting was done from an unsupported standing position. The .38 Super is known as an accurate, flat shooting round and Dan Wesson is known for accurate handguns. They both delivered.

My wife stayed in her comfort zone of 7-10 yards while I moved it out from 15-25 yards and the Dan Wesson Guardian shot point of aim/point of impact the whole way. The only time the Guardian failed to deliver was when we failed to do our job of applying the fundamentals.

My wife only managed to drop 15 of 100 out of the black and even her misses would have been torso hits if we had been shooting silhouettes. I managed to keep all of mine within the 7 ring which is better than I ever did during 12 years of pistol qualification in the Marine Corps with the M9.

Next, we tried out some defensive carry ammo I brought along to see if the Guardian would prefer one manufacturer over another. These groups were fired at 8yds for her and 15yds for me. Again, the Guardian did its job as long as we did ours. The groups were fired from an unsupported offhand and since you only get 1 chance to make a first impression in fights as well as in life, the groups displayed were; for better or worse, fired with that in mind.

First up was Buffalo Bore 124gr JHP, muzzle velocity 1350 fps/muzzle energy 502 ft.lbs. The Buffalo Bore gave the tightest groups of all the defensive ammo we tested. The recoil was comparable to 9mm 115gr FMJ. Buffalo Bores use of low flash powder makes it a good choice for carry in situations where low light is a factor.

Next up was Double Tap 147gr Controlled Expansion JHP, muzzle velocity 1225 fps/muzzle energy 490 ft.lbs. The Double Tap ammo also gave us tight groups, with the exception of the flier. The recoil of the 147gr Double Tap was the stoutest of all the ammunition we tested (which is to be expected due to the heavier projectile moving out of the bore), but is still comparable to a similar loading in 9mm.

Practical accuracy is still impressive as even the dropped rounds would have still been hits to the vital organ areas

Next was Sig Sauer Elite 125gr V-Crown JHP, muzzle velocity 1230 fps/muzzle energy 420 ft.lbs. I am not exactly sure what happened here, but the groups spread a bit. While the felt recoil wasn’t as substantial as the Double Tap, the muzzle flip was the most significant of any of the ammunition we tested.

This may have contributed to a case of flinches, which is my excuse for being bested by my wife …lol. Still; even with loose groups and vertical stringing the Guardian put 3 rounds center mass, which would be enough to ruin anyone’s day.

Last up was the Winchester 125gr Silver Tip JHP, muzzle velocity 1240 fps/muzzle energy 427 ft.lbs. While technology in bullet design has improved significantly since its introduction, the classic Silver Tip is still a viable carry ammo. It has been ending criminal careers for over 40 years now. The recoil of the Winchester ammunition was the mildest of all the defensive ammo we shot, and the grouping speaks for itself.

Overall Impression –

Usually, my preference is for all steel guns, as the extra weight can be helpful in soaking up felt recoil. At 6ft 2in and 225 lbs., I don’t mind the extra ounces that I have to lug around to carry something that I am comfortable and confident in using if I am called upon. That said, the Guardian in .38 Super is hands down one of the more pleasant pistols I have ever shot.

It is also accurate and reliable, and I have no reservations about my wife carrying it as her primary defensive arm. Usually higher end 1911s are made to tighter tolerances and require significant break-in time before they are reliable enough for people to bet their lives on them. The Dan Wesson Guardian apparently does not, as at the time of this writing it has over 300 rounds downrange with zero failures.

Conclusion –

For a company founded to produce quality double action revolvers, Dan Wesson has definitely hit one out of the park with the Guardian 1911. An attractive, reliable and accurate 1911 pistol that has power comparable to a .45 ACP with the recoil and capacity of 9mm, the Guardian in .38 Super is an outstanding example of the quality that is leaving the Dan Wesson factory these days. Now if I could just get them to start using ambi-safeties.

Do you own any of Dan Wesson’s firearms? If so, let us know which one in the comments below.

Kel Tec CMR 30 Review

March 19, 2018 By Terry Nelson Leave a Comment

The CMR-30 with stock collapsed and sights folded down

The Kel-Tec CMR-30 review —

If you like compact and maneuverable carbines in the hot 22 WMR rimfire cartridge then the Kel-Tec CMR-30 is for you. Kel-Tec introduced the CMR in .22 WMR on the market in early 2015 adding another player to their lineup of lightweight, compact rifles. There’s a lot to love about this little gun, and if you combine it with the Kel-Tec PMR-30 pistol (same caliber) you would have a dynamite package for hunting, survival and target shooting.

This carbine barrel is 16.1 inches with a 1 in 16-inch twist. With stock fully extended, the overall length is 30.6 inches. Thanks to mostly aluminum construction, it’s very light at 3.8 pounds unloaded.

Sling mounts like this on left and right

Lots of features

The CMR is loaded with a wide range of usable features right out of the box. Examining this little carbine overall you will find:

Metal sling loops on either side of the buttstock. Admittedly, they’re small but that’s a trait that can be compensated for by using a bit of paracord to accommodate larger sling hardware connecting points.
Adjustable stock. Kel-Tec calls it a four-position stock, but that doesn’t include the fully collapsed position, which shortens the gun to a very portable 22.7 inches. The ambidextrous adjustment lever is located just under the top front of the trigger guard. Operation in my experience has been silent and very smooth.
Ambidextrous safety. Several folks that shot in testing the CMR are southpaws and all found the thumb-operated lever convenient.
The magazine release, like most other things on this rifle, is ambi-friendly. Its location at the rear lower edge of the mag well takes a little getting used to however.
A textured pistol grip that compliments this gun’s pack-ability with its narrow, flat profile. The signature Kel-Tec texture makes keeping a solid grip and shoulder mount easy.
A very roomy trigger guard allows for safe operation even with gloved hands.
Flip-up Magpul rear sight, with aperture that’s adjustable for windage. This (along with its mate up front) is a surprisingly high-end attachment. Regardless of the reason for putting better sights on the CMR-30 than on other Kel-Tec carbines they did right by the consumer with this choice.
To match the rear sight, the front is a flip-up, Magpul adjustable post. This setup is great for keeping the gun compact as optics can clear the sights without being mounted extra-high. The sights can thus co-witness with many optic setups.
More Pictatinny rail than you’ll ever use runs the length of the stock, top and bottom. You can add more stuff than you probably need!
Ambidextrous bolt operation, with a charging handle big enough to grab onto and operate quickly to clear a malfunction while keeping the gun shouldered. It’s also there to simply lock the bolt back, though doing that without breaking the firing position would take more work than I’ve put into this gun so far. The lock-back lever isn’t ambi; it’s on the left side only. At first glance it appears the charging handles may reciprocate during firing, endangering fingers. They don’t—they’re only for manually pulling the bolt rearward.
Threaded muzzle, with a good checkered steel cap, allows for quick installation of a suppressor or flash hider. The cap keeps the threads clean and the barrel streamlined without an accessory.

Trigger

The CMR trigger has a bit of take-up but isn’t heavy or grainy, and the reset is palpable without being match-grade sensitive. Kel-Tec says the weight range is three to five pounds and it’s not adjustable.

Accuracy and ammo

Shooting the CMR with a variety of setups from prone, kneeling and standing positions, with and without a bipod, with and without a Gemtech Outback 2 model suppressor; with the stock sights and with a red dot optic accuracy was found to be more than acceptable. Especially considering a magnified optic was NOT utilized for a detailed accuracy test.

View through Magpul flip-up sights on the CMR

Ammo types during the trial include CCI TNT Green (lead-free) 30 grain, CCI Maxi-Mag 40 grain, and Hornady Critical Defense 45 grain. All achieved one to one-and-a-half-inch groups at 25 yards, with the TNT Green forming the tightest group of less than an inch. This is not to pass negative judgement on the other loads, as improvised rests used in the prone position, wind and shooter error surely had some effect, as they usually do.

Keep in mind that just a year or so ago 22WMR ammo (<—Ballistics chart) was quite challenging to find due to supplies having been bought up over the previous six to eight years because of concerns over gun and ammunition availability. Moral to this story, keep a very good supply of the calibers of ammo you enjoy shooting and intend to use for all purposes.

A nice package the CMR-30 along with the PRM-30

Magazines

The owner’s manual provides rather sternly-worded instructions about loading the magazines, and they’re not kidding. Loading the 30-round mag is the only thing inconvenient about operating this gun. Ammo must be loaded from the front of the magazine while sliding the round towards the rear wall of the magazine. The manual recommends tapping the flat back side of the mag on a flat wooden surface every 5-10 rounds.

The spring is quite tight and much pressure is required to load the last ten rounds. The rounds also tend, at any stage of loading, to get a little off kilter in their double-stack configuration. The four misfeeds experienced during the 125-round test (a three percent failure rate) can probably be attributed to a slightly displaced round near the top of a full magazine. Once you become accustomed to the magazine loading procedure it’s not that big a deal.

The magazine drops easily from the mag well upon release. This allows one to run speed or tactical reloads without hassle.

Takedown

Disassembling the CMR-30 is a straightforward process, if unusual in comparison to most common semi-autos. A small pin located on the frame and above the trigger must be pushed through with an improvised pointy object. The grip/trigger assembly separate as one unit, along with the stock, and barrel/bolt assembly which can be separated for cleaning. It’s not intuitive, but once done, it’s easy to repeat.

CMR-30 with stock collapsed and ACOG optic

Final thoughts

Fitted with a magnifying optic, zeroed for the shooter’s ammo of choice, the Kel-Tec CMR-30 is a highly portable, dependable and accurate tool for a variety of applications out to at least 100 yards and probably beyond. For shooters whose visual acuity is good, the same is true for using the rifle with its stock sights.

What’s even more appealing is that the CMR-30 companion gun, the Kel-Tec PMR-30, a full-size pistol of the same caliber and the magazines are the same for both. Finally, Kel-Tec provides a full-color, highly detailed owner’s manual. It’s a nice gesture in an age when most manufacturers are issuing dull, generic manuals that drive us to YouTube when it’s time to clean the firearm.

Both the Kel Tec CMR and the PMR seem to enjoy a continued high demand. Current retail pricing for the CMR-30 ranges from $450 to $550.

Also, these guys usually have Kel Tec guns in stock, but inventory is always changing.

And, these guys have 22 WMR Ammo in stock.

Taurus Spectrum Review (Yeah, I Bought One)

March 14, 2018 By Josh 6 Comments

Taurus Spectrum Review

What follows is my Taurus Spectrum Review. I’ve been following this gun for over a year now, first released back in SHOT Show, 2017, then sort of re-announced a couple months ago at the same show, this year. And then, I got a phone call from my buddy at Xtreme Gun Worx, in Emmaus PA that he just managed to get two of these little pocket 380 guns in, and offered to sell me one.

Here is where you can buy a Taurus Spectrum. They were in stock, last I checked at a much better price than I paid.

I brought it to the range, and fired 300 rounds of three different kinds of ammo through. So far I’ve had two stovepipes, a few light strikes, and a few instances where I do what I call “short-stroke” the trigger.

Positives:

Taurus Spectrum Reliability:

One of the main things I want to get across in my Taurus Spectrum Review, is that it was more reliable than I thought it would be.

I want to say that, those light strikes occurred when I was shooting steel cased TulAmmo, and the stovepipes only occurred after the firearm was nasty with residue from the Tul and Winchester White Box ammo I ran through it.

Also, this pistol is capable of just pulling the trigger again on a lightstrike until it goes bang.

And, the little Taurus Spectrum handled the Federal Ammunition I was using like a dream. I have to admit that I went into the shooting session concerned, at best, but came out of it pleasantly surprised. Because, again, it was more reliable than I thought it would be.

But, this little pocket 380 isn’t perfect. Considering that this is a gun I bought for $250, was I really expecting it to be? No. In fact, I was expecting it to be much, much worse. I thought for sure I’d have more than the two malfunctions I did have. Let’s start with the positives of the .380 Taurus Spectrum

More often than not, it went bang when I wanted it to. I burned up 300 rounds of ammo in quick fashion. I got it hot and sticky, and it was raining and wet outside. The inside of this little pocket gun looked like it ran a tough mudder, and for the most part, it still worked with the better ammo.

I do want to say that, as far as shooting and reliability is concerned, the Taurus Spectrum does prefer being clean, and the stovepipes did not happen until I gunked it up with Tul and White Box Winchester.

Ergonomics:

The gun also, surprisingly because it’s so tiny, feels good in my hands. It doesn’t exactly fit my hands well, but it feels good enough with the extended 7-round mag inserted. Speaking of the magazines, they’re “Made in Italy,” and while it’s too early to speculate what that means, I’m hopeful it means they’ve outsourced to a specific company.

With such large hands the 6-round magazine makes it very difficult to hold onto once the shooting starts, but I suspect Taurus’ primary market with this pistol, which isn’t my big 300 pound burly butt, will take to this gun well.

Takedown:

The Taurus Spectrum takedown and reassembly is very easy via a small screw on the side of the gun. One thing I’m never a fan of, though, is needing a tool to take a gun apart. A flat tipped screwdriver is recommended, but I found that a brass case works just fine. So, in theory, just as long as you’ve got a round of ammo, or some spent casings, you should be able to dis and reassemble this little gun with ease.

To put it back together is literally just lining up the rails on the slide and frame, pulling it back, and it locks automatically taking any guesswork out of it. Of course, I’d recommend doing a function check to see if it still works properly.

Pull the slide all the way to the rear, and it self-locks.

Accuracy:

This is a small, concealed carry pistol that is meant to be hidden on your person. It comes with snag-free, integrated, non-adjustable sights. But, I was able to utterly destroy my 9-inch paper plate out at 7 and 10 yards with rapid and slow fire rates.

Overall, the Taurus Spectrum is as accurate as the shooter is. Would I shoot competitions with it? Not likely, but that’s not what this little pocket pistol is for. It’s for self-defense, which happens at those yardages.

Totally unrelated: Here’s our list of the best 22 pistols out there.

Here’s the little lock. You can stick a flat head screwdriver or an empty 380 case, turn it, and the slide comes off. To reassemble, just line the rails up, and pull the slide all the way to the rear for it to auto-lock back in place.

Taurus Spectrum Negatives:

Now let’s move on to the negatives. This is an under $300 gun, and it feels like it. Other guns in this price range don’t always have a cheap feel, but the Taurus Spectrum does, at least it does to me. Maybe you’d disagree.

Trigger:

The main negative I’d want you to take away from my Taurus Spectrum Review is that the trigger leaves a lot to be desired. The first thing I noticed, as well as the guy at the gunshop, is that the trigger (feels) gritty (but actually isn’t). This is one of those things that cannot be easily explained, but needs to be felt. The trigger also stacks upon itself which I’m not a fan of. It’s not excessive, but it’s felt.

In true DAO (double action only) fashion, it’s got a very long, safe pull to the rear, and a very long reset. I have no issues with a long pull and a long reset, by itself, and most people won’t have an issue. But, my problem here with such big hands, is that I kept doing what I call short-stroking the trigger.

I don’t want to say that this is the gun’s fault as much as it is my genetic makeup. After some troubleshooting, I figured out that my larger than average trigger finger would hit the smaller than average trigger guard before it resets fully. I would make the mistake of pulling the trigger to the rear again on follow up shots, but hadn’t allowed the trigger to reset.

Me trying to show how small the trigger guard is. I’ll be uploading a video soon, to show this problem off a bit more.

After consciously pushing my finger to the front as far as it would go, I don’t have this issue any longer.

Slide-stop:

The ergonomics and controls of the gun are fine, for the most part, but I do have a few issues here as well. The main one being that the slide-stop is nearly non-existent. I know why it’s like this, when you take into consideration that the gun is rounded and designed for a snag-free draw, that’s the point. There is no slide-stop lever to snag.

Therefore, I can see some folks with less than calloused hands getting cut thumbs attempting to disengage it, even when the slide is pulled to the rear to release the tension.

Furthermore, while I’m not the biggest fan of hitting the slide-stop as a release to send a gun into battery, I believe it’s always beneficial to have that option should your support hand become damaged in a fight.

And, while the rounded edges and integrated, non-adjustable sights are great for a snag free draw, you can’t hook them onto anything to open the gun’s action if needed, in a one-handed battle. I know it’s a stretch, but I still feel like it’s important enough to point out.

Slide Serrations and Overmolding:

Finally, at the end of this review, we talk about the soft-touch slide serrations and grip overmolding. For the most part, it serves its purpose okay. The grip with the panels suited me fine and was a decent, comfortable slip-free surface. However, it was raining out when I tested this gun, and at one point, my hands got wet and the slide panels got a bit slippery.

I personally don’t have a hard time manipulating the action on any gun I’ve ever handled (with the exception of a .44 Auto Mag until I learned how to do it properly), but it was slippery. I can imagine some folks having a difficult time if their hands get slippery. It may not seem like a big deal, but in a fight for your life, with bloody or sweaty hands, is that a chance I’d take? Probably not.

In fact, I’m a firm believer of stacking as many pluses on my side as I possibly can. That way, I can go home to my family at night.

Also, on the topic of the rubber serration type things on the slide, it looks like one of them is loose. It’s not coming out yet, but it moves when I push on it, and I’m thinking that’s not supposed to be happening. We’ll see if it falls out with continued use, because my next go around when I update this Taurus Spectrum review, will show it using some common self-defense hollow points, and a few other brands of ammo.

This one moves a small bit, in and out. I hope it doesn’t fall out.

Conclusion:

Shooting +P ammo and the like with higher pressures is not recommended by Taurus for the Spectrum, so I will not be testing them out the next go round when I give another update on this little pocket .380 ACP gun. There will be a video to follow this written Taurus Spectrum review in the very near future. I just need to finalize some things.

Would I recommend the Taurus Spectrum as a primary self-defense weapon? Maybe, but I’m not going to, yet. I need to test it some more, with a few different types of ammo. So far, though, it goes bang nearly every time which says something about the engineering, even if it isn’t perfect. Would I carry the Taurus Spectrum as a backup gun? Yeah, I think so.

These guys have some in stock for under $240.

The rest of this page covers my first impresses of the Taurus Spectrum, and some of the issues that I think it had getting to where it’s at right now. What follows is not a part of the Taurus Spectrum Review, but may be worth your while to read —

The New Taurus Spectrum, First Impression

[Old Update]: I was able to get in front of a representative from Taurus at the NRA’s Annual Meetings on April 27th 2017, and they confirmed a ship date of mid to late June for the Taurus Spectrum.

Update Number 2: While I had to wait for a good amount of time to talk to a representative from Taurus, on the Spectrum, I had someone confirm a few things: First, I’m told that the Spectrum will be having a hard release this May. This person also told me that they are taking orders for the pistols, and some have started shipping.

When I asked him what was taking so long from its release last year to the time where they’re actually being shipped, all he said was ” we wanted to be happy with it.” In all honesty, while it is frustrating to have to wait for so very long, I do believe that it is better for everyone that they waited until everything was how they wanted it.

Whatever the problems were, though he didn’t confirm nor deny that there were any problems, hopefully they have everything worked out. I did find it strange, however, that they weren’t at the range this year for Industry Day at SHOT Show. I talk more about range day/industry day and why I thought they weren’t there last year even thought they announced this pistol that week, more in the original article which follows below.

In summary of this update, they’re apparently taking orders and will be shipping in May.

I’m not quite sure how I feel about Taurus’ new pocket pistol, just yet because I haven’t shot it. I’ll get to more on this in a minute.

Taurus never disappoints on ingenuity, but will it be a quality firearm? Only time will tell at this point, but I do have my red flag raised, thus far.

Why?

Well, for starters, this colorful new addition was released at SHOT Show 2017. However, Taurus did not have the Spectrum at the range for members of the media to test out. This can only mean one of two things. The first one, is that it tells me that there may be issues with it from the onset.

Or, they could just be ramping up excitement for their new, .380 pocket pistol.

Personally speaking, a gamble like that may not pay off for the struggling gun maker, with clear quality control issues on some guns. I’d wait to release a new gun until it runs flawlessly. That way, it doesn’t seem in the least bit fishy that you’re doing a soft-release on a gun during the same time when everyone else does hard releases on their own guns.

Another time of year for new gun releases is the NRAAM, which is right around the corner, at the end of next month and is also very heavily covered by the media. It may have been beneficial to just wait until the annual meeting for release.

What I can say, positive, about the Taurus Spectrum so far, is that it did fit in my hand well enough that I feel like it could get the job done if I had to carry one (I have ginormous hands). Also, it looks to conceal well with a snag-free design.

And, from first glance, I did like the feel of the soft-touch panels, during the short time I saw it at the Great American Outdoor Show, in Harrisburg.

Having said all of that, more mixed emotions come about when I start to think about all the colors the Spectrum is available in. While some of the colors on this DAO, striker-fired .380 pistol are pleasing on the eye, I feel that most gun makers miss the mark when they produce such glamorific guns.

When it’s all said and done, most shooters (though certainly not all), both men and women, would prefer basic colors to the eye-popping ones that draw the attention of people who should not have guns. For those gun owners who don’t teach their children properly, a gun that looks like a toy could be an issue.

And, some of these color schemes do make it look like something a child would play with.

The price tag is nice, and, depending upon the options you choose, you can expect to pay just over (or under) the $300 mark. That’s a good price, set to compete with some other guns with a much more proven platform, like Ruger’s LCP II.

I can honestly say that I hope it does well. I hope it works, is reliable, and is fairly accurate at the close ranges it’s designed for. I’m one of those guys who would rather see every gun be reliable than poke fun at those that aren’t.

Because at some point, someone will depend on this gun to save their life, and the goal is to have a firearm that does the job. Therefore, I hope the Taurus Spectrum does well.

What do you think about this colorful little pocket pistol?

Have you seen my top 20 best 9mm pistol picks yet? If not, give it a read to see if you concealed carry gun made the cut.

What did you think about my Taurus Spectrum review? Let us know in the comments below.

Fab Defense KPOS G2: Glock Carbine Conversion Kit Review

March 12, 2018 By Travis Pike Leave a Comment

We live in the golden age of pistol caliber carbines. I’m a fan of these guns due to their easy handling, cheap ammo, and how much fun they can be. In the last few years, the PCC has exploded with offerings from SIG, CZ, Kel Tec, Ruger, and a dozen smaller companies. One name that’s been absent from the PCC lineup is Glock. Maybe the KPOS can change that with their Glock Carbine Conversion Kit.

If you want a Glock pistol caliber carbine then the only way to get one is to make one. Today we are looking at making one with a Glock 17, and a FAB Defense KPOS Glock carbine conversion kit.

What is It?

The KPOS Gen 2 is a kit designed to convert a handgun into a rifle. The KPOS by itself isn’t a gun, but an accessory. It’s essentially a shell the Glock slides into. The KPOS kit is simple but effective in reaching our goal of a Glock carbine.

What About the Law?

As most people know tossing a Glock 17 into a KPOS Gen 2 turns it into a short barreled rifle. Without the proper tax stamp, you’ve committed a felony that you can be harshly punished for. I don’t have 9 months to wait for permission so we are tossing on a 16-inch barrel from IGB. This makes everything kosher and NFA free.

Let’s not forget that a number of states don’t allow you to own an SBR, regardless of Federal legality. This 16-inch barrel solution keeps everything simple. I’ve had the barrel for months now and it hasn’t caused any issues in terms of reliability. It looks odd in a Glock without a rifle conversion system, but it works.

How to Install your Glock into your KPOS G2

One of the make it or break it factors is how quick and how easy the installation of the Glock with the 16-inch barrel is into the KPOS. Luckily it’s actually pretty easy. It takes a little practice to get right but overall it’s simple.

You release a bolt from the stock that hinges the stock upwards and move a small slider rearwards.

Moving to the front you flip a QD switch and pull the front half downwards.

You align the rail on the Glock with the front of KPOS and slide it forward.

Flip the QD switch back to it’s locked position.

Push the Glock upwards.

Push the stock back down and slide the bolt back in. That’s it, you are ready to go.

Function and Reliability

My primary concern regarding reliability was an ammunition case getting caught between the shell of the KPOS Gen 2 and the Glock during ejection. Apparently, this was an issue on the KPOS Gen 1 models. FAB Defense seemed to have fixed this issue though. In all 350 rounds I’ve put through the kit I’ve never had a round get caught between the gun and KPOS Gen 2.

In terms of standard ejection and extraction, I only ran into issues with one type of ammo. Freedom Munitions American Steel and this gun did not get along. Every single round was a failure to extract and eject. To even get the slide to move rearwards I had to use both hands and brace the gun against my chest.

I ran the ammo through my CZ Scorpion and the Glock sans KPOS and IGB barrel and got the same results. The round would fire and the case would have issues extracting and ejecting. In fact, as I write this the Scorpion still has a case stuck in the gun.

With Tula, Winchester, Armscor, and Fiocchi I had few issues. I ran into a double feed twice caused by poor ejection when shooting Tula. With standard brass case ammo, I had zero issues.

Accuracy

On paper my average group size was 1.5 to 2 inches at 50 yards. It’s no sniper rifle but it does increase your effective range. At least it increased my effective range. Out to 75 yards, I was ringing a 21-inch tall steel popper with boring regularity in the off hand position. The KPOS Glock Carbine Conversion Kit comes with a robust set of flip up sights that makes taking precise shots simple. The extended rail on top of the KPOS offers you almost twice the sight radius as the standard Glock. Plus the third point of contact adds a great deal of stability to the gun.

Ding, ding, ding, is a sound I love to hear and the KPOS makes it possible. At 75 yards, I was seeing 3 inches of drop give or take. That’s not terrible, and the 9mm isn’t exactly a long range round.

Ergonomics

The KPOS Gen 2 is covered with rails so you can add flashlights, optics, etc to the gun with ease. There is an included vertical foregrip that folds and actually extends to form a type of trigger cover safety device. It’s a nice idea since, unlike a handgun, this pistol caliber carbine won’t be carried in a holster. This gives you a safe means to carry the weapon for an extended period with a round in the chamber.

This acts the same way a good holster does by covering the trigger–though we all know the most important safety is your trigger finger, a backup helps. To deactivate the safety you can deploy the vert grip downwards, or press a button on the grip and it will collapse.

The gun is comfortable to use and half the ergos are coming from the Glock, like the magazine and slide release. This makes it easy to transition from using a Glock to using an equipped KPOS G2.

Racking the gun requires a KPOS solution. Built into it is an AR style charging handle. It’s great for me because I’m used to how an AR-15 handles. The biggest problem comes from just how hard it is to rack the gun as it takes some significant force to do so. This translates poorly when it comes to locking the slide to the rear. It feels like I need three hands to do so efficiently.

Another minor complaint is the stock’s short length of pull. I’m a big guy, over 6 foot with gorilla length arms so keep that in mind. The gun is so light recoiling I didn’t have any real issues with the short LOP other than feeling like I was eating the gun.

Folding and unfolding the stock is easy to do. Once deployed, the stock locks in place quite tight. When folded the stock is only held by a small amount of friction. This Glock Carbine can be fired with the stock folded, and the back plate has a spring loaded plunger and you need to crank the gun into your shoulder to depress it. Once depressed the gun doesn’t move. Shooting it without locking it down may affect your accuracy at longer ranges.

Build Quality

The KPOS G2 Glock Carbine Conversion Kit is built well. The main portion of the gun is made from one solid piece of aluminum and the entire system feels rock solid. In the month and some change I’ve been running the kit I haven’t so much as nicked it. Everything locks up as nice and tight as it did on day one. FAB Defense put a lot of time and effort into making this kit tough and dependable.

Price

The biggest downside to this kit is going to be the price, which starts with an MSRP in the neighborhood of $600. I can see and understand why some folks would be apprehensive about purchasing the kit.

I can, however, also see why the kit’s expensive. It’s made to work and to be something people can rely and depend on. FAB Defense is an Israeli company and this kit was likely designed with Israelis in mind. Their gun laws make it difficult to obtain multiple guns, but not difficult to convert a handgun into a rifle. Being surrounded by people that want to kill you creates a demand for high quality kits. The FAB Defense G2 kit is made to be able to risk your life on.

Why this Glock Carbine Conversion Kit Makes Sense

This setup certainly isn’t for everyone. However, there are some advantages this offers over a standard pistol caliber carbine. Glock handguns are likely the most popular handgun in the United States. This has spurred a massive aftermarket for Glock accessories and upgrades.

With this kit, you can customize your base Glock and therefore customize your new PCC to a near-absurd level. The Glock as the base gun is perfect, you can install different triggers, different magazine releases, larger slide locks, and use a wide variety of different magazines for the gun.

With gen 4 and gen 5 guns you can even install a variety of grip adapters to change the gun to fit your hand a bit better. A lot of dedicated PCCs aren’t going to have the level of customization a Glock has. So, to me, it just makes sense.

Have you had the chance to turn your Glock into a Pistol Caliber Carbine? If so, which kit did you use? Ever see a 9mm AK before?

Remington Model 870 Tac 14 Review: Is It Just A “Short Shotgun?”

March 4, 2018 By Travis Pike Leave a Comment

The ‘other firearm’ category on a 4473 has likely never been checked to the degree it was in 2017 with the Mossberg Shockwave and Remington Tac 14 making massive waves in the industry. Anytime anything defies the NFA, you can bet it’s going to be popular. There is a reason so many Pistol Brace companies exist today. The Tac 14 is a 12 gauge, pump action weapon with a 14-inch barrel that is not subject to NFA regulations.

So How Is the Tac 14 Legal?

The Tac 14 is a Remington 870, but it’s not a shotgun. By US Law a shotgun must have or have had a stock at some point in its life. The Tac 14 has never had a stock so technically it isn’t a shotgun. It is a Firearm, and therefore it can have a barrel shorter than 18 inches. However, the overall length (OAL) cannot dip below 26 inches. If the OAL dips below 26 inches it becomes an Any Other Weapon (AOW). An AOW is another class of NFA firearm.

The Tac 14 sports the KAK Shockwave Raptor grip, this unique birds head grip is a bit longer than your normal pistol grip. The added inches is what results in the 26 inch OAL with the 14-inch barrel. As long as it stays over 26 inches, and doesn’t have a stock you aren’t violating the law.

There is one last NFA conversion to be aware of. That 26 inch OAL is required because if it was under 26 inches it would be considered “concealable” under the law. That being said if you conceal this weapon on your body it may become an AOW. So don’t tuck it under a trench coat.

Specs, Fit, and Finish

It’s no secret that in the last decade Remington has seen a decline in certain aspects of their weapon’s quality. This can most noticeably be seen in their fit and finish. One running joke at my local gun store is to see how long it takes a Remington to rust in Florida weather. I was certainly surprised to see the Tac 14 actually has a nice finish that’s evenly applied, smooth, and, nearly a year later, without rust.

The Remington Tac 14 is the Express model and sports a 4-round tube. Unfortunately, the tube is dimpled so you can’t add a plus 1 extension. Not a major deal, but the dimpling seems excessive. The gun rocks the fantastic Magpul pump so you have customization options through the M-Lok attachments. The gun is topped off with a simple bead sight that’s functional, but nothing fancy.

On the Range

The thing about these guns is that they are a blast to shoot … if you enjoy a wild, bucking gun. It takes some practice and control to really get a handle on, buts it’s fun the whole time. Part of the fun is the challenge of controlling the recoil and keeping the gun on target.

Birdshot isn’t bad at all, and should certainly be where you start. Get some practice in before you move into the much more fun, not to mention heavier recoiling, buckshot. The trick to controlling the gun is to grip the rearmost portion of the Magpul pump and push the forward. At the same time, you need to pull the Raptor grip rearward. It should feel like you are stretching the gun. I’m not sure what this technique is called, but I first heard about it from Gabe Suarez. It works well and really helps if you are shooting buckshot and shooting it fast.

Having said all that, the recoil isn’t as bad as most people assume. The Raptor grip really does its job and mitigates recoil well. There is more upward muzzle rise than rearward push. I put a few slugs through it at 25 yards and grouped them all into the head of a man-sized target. They all landed a little to the left.

Even with full powered slugs, I could control the Remington 870 Tac 14. I will say I have nearly a year worth of practice with these guns so I don’t recommend rushing into slugs.

The Remington pump is exceptionally smooth. It glides rearward with little force and throws shells outward with some real force. The pump is so smooth I can charge it with one hand and a bit of inertia. I wouldn’t recommend it at home, buts it is possible.

Safety Issues

There is an issue I found when I first started handling this gun. The gun likes to jump out of your hands and the Magpul pump is hard to hang onto. With proper technique, it isn’t an issue. When you first start shooting I don’t recommend going fast or your hand may find its way in front of the barrel. Mossberg uses a strap, but the Magpul pump is perfectly suited to mount a hand stop or foregrip on. Both will help in controlling the gun.

Reliability

It’s a pump action shotgun so very little can go wrong. I haven’t run into issues with any standard ammunition. Those little Mini Shells function about 75% of the time. The gun cycles great, ejects consistently, and runs buck, bird, and slugs without issue.

The Remington Tac 14 is a fun little “not a shotgun” firearm. It’s a challenging gun to control, and even more so to master. This is a limited use weapon, and it takes a lot of practice to run effectively enough to be used as a weapon. It fills very niche roles, and you may be better served with a standard stocked 870. If it becomes your home defense scattergun you best get out and get some practice with it. If you are looking to have some fun, and challenge yourself the Tac 14 is a fantastic way to do so.

Gun Review: Henry Big Boy Steel 44 Mag

January 11, 2018 By Eve Flanigan Leave a Comment

It’s not every day that words like “venerable” and “legendary” are attached to a company that just celebrated its 20th birthday. Henry Repeating Arms is a sort of precocious child in the gun industry; making their mark as the United States’ standout manufacturer of mostly single action rifles with inherent and, often, added aesthetic appeal in the form of polished brass or engraved receivers, octagon barrels, and the like. In addition, Henry has left large footprints on the charitable side of the industry, with a strong reputation for supporting worthy causes as well as recognizing unsung heroes via specially engraved receivers.

The company recently donated 20 rifles that went to auction to benefit conservation groups. Each rifle was an anniversary edition of the company’s 44 Magnum/44 Special Big Boy. In recent months, I’ve had the chance to test the steel finish version of this rifle that’s often used in the company’s charitable work, as well as being the choice of many buyers who are purchasing custom rifles to honor a worthy cause or outstanding career.

The Big Boy Steel 44 bottom compared to Henry’s Big Boy carbine top.

The Big Boy Steel is, as the name implies, a hefty rifle with blued finish on all metal surfaces. Henry makes a carbine and full-size version of the Big Boy line; the carbines have a 16-inch hexagonal barrel and large loop lever; the rifles have a 20-inch round barrel and traditional loop lever. The 44 in this test is full size, with its seven-pound weight distributed through its 37.5 inches in overall length. The barrel has a 1:38 twist, a 14-inch length of pull, and 10-round capacity.

The handsome walnut stock is checkered just enough to give grip where it’s needed, and beauty where it’s desirable. The test model has a small handful of “checkers” that were apparently bruised at the factory; the points are knocked off and without stain giving them a white appearance. A little wipe of stain will easily set that problem right. The scuff is so small that it’s only noticeable upon close examination.

Tiny flaws in checkering could be fixed with a bit of stain.

Like most Henry Repeating Arms rifles, the Big Boy Steel 44 Magnum has a semi-buckhorn rear sight, with a diamond-shaped, ivory-colored insert, and brass bead front sight. The rear sight is fully adjustable for elevation and windage.

The receiver is drilled and tapped for a scope, but this test was done with the iron sights—a disadvantage where the accuracy test is concerned. On the butt is a thick rubber pad to absorb the substantial recoil produced by the 44 Mag cartridge.

Henrys adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight is removable if it gets in the way of a scope.

Loading this rifle is done through the feeding tube that unlocks just under and behind the muzzle. Run the lever, and go! This big boy is also a bad boy, with the big cartridge delivering a satisfying report. With a muzzle velocity in the 1,300 fps range with magnum loads and around 1,000 fps for 44 Special, there’s plenty of recoil to enjoy along with the wallop these big projectiles put on a target.

As has been the case with every Henry rifle I’ve handled, the action is butter-smooth, the feeding flawless. When shooting for groups, I do feel a very slight roll, about 1/16 of an inch, in the single-stage trigger between the wall and break. It happens about half the time. It’s a minor inconsistency and would certainly not be noticeable when focused on a game animal or competitive challenge.

The blued finish is handsome and field-ready.

A sling would make this rifle more field-expedient. Foreseeing that need, Henry put swivel studs on the stock.

The blued finish makes this a rifle for using, unlike many of the company’s gleaming or engraved receivers, which are functional but lend a constant sense of worry about whether the finish is being marred by normal use. Make no mistake, though, the Big Boy Steel is still handsome enough to hang over the fireplace mantel. This is one rifle that can take you afield and serve as an heirloom later.

Current real prices are in the mid-$600s. Every rifle collection should include a Henry lever action! Why not make it one you don’t have to hesitate to really use, made by an American company?

Winchester 240 grain JSP yielded the best group of our 25-yard open-sight target test.

You can find more information on Henry Repeating Arms on their website. Like rifles? Check this one out on AR-15s, next.

All photos by Team HB.

Kel Tec PMR 30 Review

January 2, 2018 By Eve Flanigan 2 Comments

Kel-Tec PMR 30 Review —

There’s a lot to love about the 22 WMR cartridge. Powerful and fast enough to take down up to medium-size game with a well-placed shot, so light you can pack hundreds of rounds in your kit and not be weighed down, and easy on the ears–at least when compared to centerfire rounds. It took Florida-based Keltec to re-imagine ways of using this old cartridge, and they did it in fine fashion.

The Kel Tec PMR 30, commonly called PMR, is their full-size pistol chambered only in 22 Magnum. It’ a great choice for a pack trip, plinking, or learning the fundamentals without the bother of excessive felt recoil. This innovative handgun has been around a few years now, and during that time I’ve had the opportunity to use it many times. While the intelligence of design and ease of use impressed me when it was new, today it has earned added affections as a great companion for overland travel as well as stress-free practice.

Kel Tec PMR 30 Construction—a lot to love

So what’s to love? For starters, that packability thing. It’s slim, being 1.3 inches at the widest, and lightweight at just 19.6 ounces with a full mag. Unlike most lightweights, though, it’s got a long sight radius with a 4.3-inch barrel and overall length of 7.9 inches.

An innovative mix of materials is responsible for this gun’s incredibly light weight. The only steel is in the slide and barrel. The frame is aluminum, and I’d have sworn the magazines were some sort of thin steel, but they, along with the rest of the gun, are molded from Zytel, described as glass-reinforced nylon. The stuff is so sturdy that, except for the weight, it’s hard to believe it’s not steel.

User-friendly features don’t end with size and weight. For example, the ambidextrous safety is big enough to flip even with gloves on. Standard equipment includes light-gathering, but not luminescent, Hi-Viz sights. A sight tool is included with a new Kel Tec PMR 30, in case changing tubes is desired or necessary.

The fiber optic sights are effective in natural light but are not night sights

The outwardly visible body of the frame is molded with traction in mind. Cleat-like bumps on the grip guarantee there’ll be no problem with slippery—anything. Aft of the ejection port, the slide is the same way. There’s a rail to attach your favorite light, mini chainsaw, or whatever.

Those mags—they hold THIRTY rounds. What other pistol can claim that? They are, admittedly, more time-consuming to load than a typical 30-round rifle mag. Rapping the mag against the hand or solid but forgiving surface is necessary every couple rounds to keep those little rims correctly arranged.

The magazine release is located at the bottom rear of the well. Magazines drop out easily, full or empty, but the position of the release button at the bottom of the well takes some getting used to, and makes releasing the mag a two-handed operation.

PMR 30 mag release — The mag locking mechanism is down low and the release is even lower.

Firing the PMR-30

Though loading the mags is a bit laborious, going hot is easy with this little shooter. The slide is incredibly light and easy to rack—another reason, along with low recoil, this may be the ideal gun for injured or elderly hands and arms, so long as someone will help load magazines.

The trigger pull is light but on the long side. Kel-Tec rates it as a four- to six-pound pull. On our copy, it feels closer to four. Firing from reset shortens the trip enough to make shot sequences enjoyable.

Slide operation felt less than silky-smooth before the first shots were fired, so we took the precaution of putting a drop of oil on each side of the slide. In retrospect, it probably didn’t need this, as it cycled without issue.

It is critical to load the magazines according to instructions. After about 25 rounds, insertion becomes challenging and rapping the back of the mag on a flat, wooden surface after every round over 25 is almost a necessity to get the rounds to seat properly. A failure to feed, the only malfunction experienced during this test, resulted from a hastily loaded magazine, which we did to see if non-compliance with instructions, even with an only partially full mag, makes a difference. It does.

Correct mag loading is essential to dependable operation of the PMR-30

Packaged with the PMR-30 is a factory insert with several brands/types of recommended ammunition. The overall guideline is to use American-made, high-power loads, generally at least 40 grains. However, the non-exhaustive list includes 33-grain Remington Premier Magnum. It performed most accurately for us with CCI’s TNT Green, a 30-grain, lead-free hollow point that would nicely transition from target to hunting and defensive use. TNT Green produced a very tidy group from an unsupported firing position at 10 yards. We used other CCI types as well.

Several keyboard commandos have decried the PMR for lack of reliable feeding. In the few instances when these observers cite their ammunition choice, it’s something other than clean-burning, jacketed CCI. I received absolutely no free ammunition, compensation, or incentives from ammo vendors during this test. From experience with long days of running 22 LR, I’ve come to learn CCI’s jacketed loads burn cleaner and cycle more dependably than just about any other in semi-auto platforms. Use what works, and this handgun will work. Use dirty, cheap ammo, and it’ll gum up this or any other auto-cycling rimfire.

It’s true, 22 magnum is definitely not most folks’ choice as a defensive round, but this underdog of the ammo world has more punch to offer than one might expect. The muzzle velocity of TNT Green, for example, is rated at a blazing 2,050 feet per second. One tester refers to this caliber as a “best-kept secret.”

In the Kel-Tec PMR 30, this round definitely has a place for varmint control, survival, or home/auto defense, especially for those who, due to injury, arthritis, or whatever, are recoil-sensitive.

Maintenance

Prior to this test, this reviewer had operated a .22 WMR-caliber firearm but hadn’t taken the opportunity to clean one. After 60 rounds, the action was as clean as any other centerfire pistol would be. Good thing, because it’d be easy to drop and lose the small takedown pin that allows for disassembly and cleaning. Other than the pin, takedown is a fairly predictable process for anyone accustomed to cleaning a standard pistol.

The exception, in addition to the pin, is the presence of a white plastic-looking buffer that lives just inside the front of the slide and could also be easily misplaced in windy conditions. The manual makes no bones about the importance of putting the buffer back into place before firing. There’s also a stern admonition to not drop the hammer while the firearm is disassembled.

Speaking of the owner’s manual, Keltec should receive some kind of award for a customer-oriented version. In an age when many gun makers get by with half-attempts at a generic manual that’s of minimal use, Keltec produced a highly detailed, model-specific one for their PMR 30.

Overall, PMR-30 maintenance is just marginally more complicated than a typical handgun. As long as you can set up a cleaning bench in an uncluttered and wind-free area where the two small pieces won’t get lost, takedown, cleaning, and reassembly aren’t difficult.

The thumb safety is ambi and easy to operate.

Conclusion

Online prices as of this writing range from $400 to $450. Colors have been added to the lineup, and now include black, tan, and gray. In some markets, it’s not unusual to find PMRs selling for well above MSRP. Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks it’s a great multi-purpose gun.

The Kel Tec PMR 30 is fun and easy to shoot, and can fill the bill for plinkers, hikers, survivalists, and home/personal defense, especially for physically challenged folks. Loaded with high-quality ammunition, it’ll burn more than the average person can shoot in a single session before needing to be cleaned. Best of all, this handgun matches, down to the magazines, Kel tec’s carbine interpretation of the PMR-30, called the CMR-30—but that is a topic for another review.

Do you own one of these fun little plinkers? What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below.

All photos by Team HB.

Canik TP9 SA Review

December 28, 2017 By Eve Flanigan Leave a Comment

TP9 SA in the HTC low profile system.

Canik TP9 SA Review —

A few years back, I read a review and some salacious marketing that led me to purchase a new pistol—a Canik TP9 SA, at the time a brand new striker-fired model from a company formerly known only for double/single action pistols. It was the beginning of a love story that continues to this day.

Like any partnership, this one’s had a few bumps in the road. Naysayers and admirers alike have come and gone, and there are more on the horizon. This article then, is a diary-like synopsis, sharing the things learned in a long-term relationship with this Canik 9mm, both about the SA model, specifically, as well as the Canik brand.

To begin, there are many reasons I love this 9mm pistol and continue to choose it frequently over the Glock 17 and HK VP9 that also occupy my range gun selection. In summary, they are:

1. An outstanding trigger

Canik TP9 Vs Glock 17 — Both are reliable. But the bottom one is my usual choice.

The TP9 series has what’s been called the best stock trigger in the polymer-lower market, and I agree. It has a safety block, followed by a short and fairly light pull. Reset is crisp and a short trip from the break point. The only one I’ve tested that’s close is the one on the HK VP9, which costs almost twice as much. The trigger guard is roomy and leaves plenty of room for a fat or gloved finger.

Somewhere north of 6,000 rounds, the trigger gave out. The familiar “click” and reset still worked, but the striker stayed put. It happened all at once, no warning. I wish I’d taken notes from a gunsmith, experienced with these pistols, who heard about this and replied that the early TP9s were manufactured with an inherent flaw that causes premature failure of a spring—a flaw that’s been quietly eliminated from newer production runs.

Meanwhile, a colleague’s similarly early-build Canik TP9 SF, a full-size model very similar to the SA but without the useless-but-harmless decocker, had a trigger that reset with two clicks instead of one—uncharacteristic for this brand. Both pistols were sent to Century Arms’ repair shop, infamous for surly service.

Despite the brusqueness and promise to send the guns back up to two months later, both were returned within nine days. Both have the superb triggers I’ve come to associate with the brand. My own model hasn’t missed a beat in at least 1,000 rounds since.

2. Fab sights

Tha SA has a staked front sight the SF and newer SAs have a Glock-compatible dovetail.

The stock sights on this gun are conducive to quick acquisition and accuracy. The three-dot configuration is enhanced by a vertical hash mark on the rear sight, which I find helpful for rapid alignment. For those familiar with the CZ 75, I’m told they’re a match. There’s no tritium in there, so what you see is what you get.

Great as these sights are, there are times I’ve wished for tritium. Problem with the older SA sights is, they’re not interchangeable with aftermarket ones. The company now offers interchangeable sights on newer models like the Canik TP9 SF, but on a slightly weird basis—the front is Glock-compatible, while the rear is Smith & Wesson.

Considering that sight kits usually include front and rear, that’s kind of inconvenient, to put it politely. Oh well—I like the stock ones just fine, and use a flashlight to light the sights up when needed.

3. Superior ergonomics

Herein lies the primary reason I choose the Canik TP9 SA over two other dependable pistols. For this shooter, it’s a “Goldilocks” fit. With the smallest backstrap installed (yes there’s a choice, as with the other two pistols), there’s no fooling around necessary to get the perfect trigger press–it just IS.

The Glock’s mag release and slide lock require more time and effort, albeit minor, to operate, as they’re farther from my fingertips. This is particularly true when performing speed reloads on the clock; the TP9’s slide lock is “right there” and can be released with my firing hand thumb if I wish. Unlike some pistols, it never fails to go into battery when loaded this way. Like the VP9, about half the time the slide will self-load the top round if the mag is firmly smacked into place. However, the HK invites my finger to drag the deck of the trigger guard about halfway through the press—a big issue for distance shooting.

Of course, these are highly individual traits and no two sets of hands are alike. I’ve seen two shooters who grip the Canik, but not other pistols, such that they drop the magazine out unintentionally. In what is probably 10,000 rounds fired through this pistol, that’s never happened to me.

4. Reliable AF

With the exception of the trigger repair done by Century Arms past the 6,000 round mark, I can count the number of malfunctions my Canik TP9 SA has had on one hand—and that’s with shooting mostly cheap, brass-or aluminum-cased FMJ. This gun is easy to please in terms of ammo. It’s far outperformed the VP9 in recoil spring department. There’s no stopping it.

5. Massive capacity

Did someone say 18-round Mec-Gar mags? Yes, please! Two come with each handgun. Extras are less than $40. I’ve had one of my three develop a sticky follower when it was dirty, once. Since cleaning it, that’s not happened again. These mags are similar to, but have greater capacity and much better price than the HK’s. Newer Canik mags come with a matte black finish; my colleague’s SF model came new this way. It’s an improvement that makes these mags superior to both Glock’s and HK’s.

The SA and innocuous weirdness

The TP9 SAs original rear sight makes aiming fast and easy.

There’s a red striker-ready indicator on the rear-facing surface of the slide, which may appeal to some. I could do without it, especially as the loaded chamber indicator atop the slide—big enough to feel with gloves on–works just fine.

The real weirdness on the Canik TP9 SA is a holdover from its double/single action predecessor, the TP9. There’s a striker decocker on the top of the slide. It’s advertised as a tool for avoiding pressing the trigger before cleaning. In years of hard use, I’ve never used this feature. At first I had some concern that it would disengage the striker when I didn’t intend to. That’s never happened. I’ve come to like the black button as nothing more than decoration on my desert tan gun. The SF model (also available in black or tan) doesn’t have this feature, and the only thing I miss on it is the visual contrast on the tan gun.

Holsters–good and getting better

The HTC holster is finish-protecting with great retention.

The Canik TP9 SA comes packaged with a Serpa-style, company-branded holster that can be configured for paddle or belt-mounted use. It’s more than adequate. Those with poor finger discipline or who might find themselves rolling around in the woods or in snow should avoid Serpa holsters categorically—but that is a story for another day.

This wonderful asset comes free with the gun, but like most Kydex holsters, will mar the finish. My guns are for using, not show, so the silvery sheen and lack of finish on my SA where the holster touches it is a source of pride.

At long last, there are new options cropping up. One of the first, and the only other I’ve tested, is the modular OWB design by High Threat Concealment (HTC) , worn as part of their Low Profile System. It’s made of Boltaron—thinner, more weather resistant, and stronger as compared to Kydex. Not only is the material superior; HTC’s proprietary retention design insures that the holster never comes into physical contact with the gun while it’s contained, yet retention is rock-solid.

A Serpa-style holster is included with purchase making the real cost of this gun around $300! Belt sponsored by Exos.

Finding mag pouches to fit this handgun has been a bigger challenge than holsters. HTC’s is custom and right on the mark. When I’m not wearing their system, a Springfield XD mag carrier, lined with a bit of loop material to take up extra room, is what I use for a close but imperfect fit. Mag retention in this setup is marginal.

With a take-home price of less than $370 for the desert tan and $350 for the black model of the SA, including a holster, there’s not much reason to say no to this brand. The TP9 line has expanded considerably since 2016, and now includes compact, competition, and double action models. It’s an affordable brand that can run right alongside big-name competitors.

CAA Micro Roni Review | Glock Carbine Conversion Kit With IGB Barrel

December 9, 2017 By Eve Flanigan Leave a Comment

CAA Micro Roni: yes, you can have it all, no NFA required!

Not gonna lie, when I saw the first press release for the CAA Micro Roni series, my line of thinking included the words “cheesy,” and “gimmick.” That changed when I tested one out for myself. Throngs of Glock fans have dreamt of a carbine version of the famously dependable pistol. CAA, of Israel, has made that dream a reality.

Meet the Micro Roni, a 3.5-pound, polymer and aluminum contraption that converts most double stack Glock pistols into a short-barreled rifle (SBR). For $250, plus the $200 ATF tax stamp, a shooter can switch between pistol and rifle modes in seconds.

Don’t want to deal with the legal hassle and expense associated with SBR permitting? There are two other options. CAA makes an arm brace version of the Micro Roni that requires no tax stamp, and still offers the benefits—if not quite the cool appearance, in my opinion—of the regular Micro Roni.

Yet another off-the-shelf (or over-the-internet) option is to grab what was provided in this trial, and truly have it all—a Micro Roni SBR, or Glock Carbine Conversion kit, with a 16-inch replacement barrel by IGB of Austria. Together, these products make your Glock into an incredibly versatile, non-NFA regulated carbine.

Putting it together

Inserting a Glock into either Micro Roni on its own is a straightforward process. The gun plugs into the polymer shroud; snapping the insertion port back into place secures the charging handle over the slide. It only takes a few seconds, and it’s ready to go.

The IGB barrel adds a few steps and a bit of complexity. First, the barrel simply replaces the original in the normal field strip/reassembly. There are two Allen (2.5 and 3mm) screws to remove, a pin that requires a punch, and some parts, including a one-inch spring, to keep track of. It’s not rocket science, but in the windy country where this writer lives, it’s definitely a job to do indoors.

Useful features

The utterly cool Micro Roni, a G17, and a 16 inch barrel

The CAA Micro Roni conveniently holds a spare mag in the foregrip, so the user can start with 35 rounds on board, assuming the chamber is hot. Why not, considering that a simple finger-operated polymer triangle rotates to cover both sides of the trigger guard as a safety.

When it’s not in use, the stock folds in half. At just 24 inches folded, including the barrel, it’s a very easy to carry package; ideal for small spaces like a truck or bedside.

A full-length Picatinny rail on the top, and smaller sections on the sides, allow for installation of sights or an optic, a light, a sling, or whatever floats your boat. Go for the upgrade package for $175, and your Micro Roni Glock Carbine Conversion comes complete with push-button sling swivels, thumb rests (yes they exist), a sling, a light that fits into the frame, and flip-up rear and front sights … a pretty good bargain when compared to purchasing these components separately, not to mention that the light socket under the muzzle is made exclusively for CAA’s tactical flashlight.

Operation

CAA roni — There is enough rail space for both a scope and iron sights

The slide racks with a charging handle like most semi-auto rifles. It, as well as the safety lever, are ambidextrous.

In this test, a Glock 17 was used—Gen 1 and 2 need not apply, by the way. Firing the familiar Glock pistol through the shroud-and-barrel combo is a pleasant combination of familiar components. The stability of a shoulder-mounted rifle means less fatigue and better accuracy at distance.

A familiar, if not stellar, Glock trigger and nearly non-existent felt recoil make for an enjoyable, affordable practice session. These same traits also make it an easy-to-deploy defensive carbine. With on-board ammo storage in standard magazines, it might also be considered to have greater immediate capacity than an AR-15, unless the higher-powered rifle carries a mag coupler or the shooter carries extra ammo on their person.

After about 75 rounds, some light strike misfires were experienced with two brands of ammunition, one a newer brand that uses nickel in the casing, and one more common brand of brass-cased FMJ. We surmised the system had caused excess fouling, as this has been reported by other reviewers using the Micro Roni alone.

Upon disassembling the setup, the Glock appeared not dirty at all, but perhaps under-lubricated. It functioned well with all other types of ammunition, and this Glock has fired both test brands without the kit without issue. It’s not clear whether this is a developing problem in the gun, or with its interface with the Micro Roni. I suspect the former, however test time and ammo supply didn’t allow for another range session sans the Micro Roni’s at-home disassembly. Suffice to say that some ammunition reliability testing is indicated for any individual Glock in the device.

Accuracy and performance

CAA Roni Review — This still shows why a thumb rest can be an attractive accessory

Our testers found themselves hitting a large, 36-inch square steel target with a hit rate of 60-70 percent with the long-barreled Micro Roni Glock Conversion. With just the Glock 17, that rate is about 40-50 percent. The range of the Glock was thus improved, without much sacrifice of close-up action.

At 25 yards, a 4 MOA group was achieved with Federal 147 grain jacketed hollow point. This was, by far, the best group of the three grain weights and four brands. The heavier the bullet, the tighter the group. 115 grain bullets’ groups, even using a supported bench rest position were surprisingly loose, with some not even hitting the IDPA-regulation target. I could do better with a naked Glock.

It’s obvious, ammunition makes a big difference using the IGB barrel. Were I to speculate, I’d guess that the heavier rounds don’t create as much instability in the long, unsupported barrel, which can be rattled around if grabbed near the muzzle end. With steel target shooting in the plan for this review, I reached out to YRS Inc., distributor of IGB barrels, to inquire about the barrel’s effect on muzzle velocity.

With the caveat that different loads will yield different results, the YRS Inc. rep said one can expect an increase of around 14 percent from a round fired from a full-size pistol with a 4.5- to 5-inch barrel. Barrel-related speed enhancements for 9mm pistols tend to peak at a barrel length of 10 inches. After that, slight decreases are observed. Long story short, it’s considered safe to use the IGB 16-inch barrel as a pistol caliber carbine (PCC) for matches or recreational shooting. Nevertheless, I’m hesitant to get closer than 15 yards to steel targets with a PCC. For me, the risk of injury doesn’t outweigh the enjoyment at closer distances.

Maintenance

Some reviewers of the Micro Roni, using it as an SBR, complained about excess carbon buildup. After approximately 200 rounds, I disassembled the setup to see what sort of grime awaited. To my surprise, there was no more than I’d expect from 200 rounds being fired through the pistol alone. There is a noticeable gunpowder ignition smell that emanates from the Micro Roni after firing, and that, along with common sense, are indications that a little extra attention to cleaning and lubrication are advised.

Specs and price

The CAA Micro Roni wearing flip-up front and rear sights

The Micro Roni is 2.5 inches wide, 5.7 inches at its tallest point. It’s 23.75 inches long folded; 31.75 inches with the stock ready, barrel included. It weighs 56 ounces sans Glock and barrel. The complete assembly, without mags and ammo, weighs in at a bit less than five pounds—my scale can’t give an exact weight without a little help from the handler, which doesn’t yield a precise measurement.

The threaded IGB barrel in this test is pricey at $280. But think of how fun it is to be able to shoot your Micro Roni now rather than wait for ATF to approve your tax stamp, not to mention the trouble saved. As stated before, the Micro Roni is now widely available in the US and retail prices depend on options.

At the end of the day

The Micro Roni and IGB barrel combo are a great way to milk a plain ol’ Glock for all the versatility it has to offer, without sacrificing the firearm as a pistol. It’s far less expensive than a new rifle, and makes a stash-friendly kit for truck or bedside use. With the barrel, I’ll stop short of saying it’s backpack-ready.

Running the Glock as a rifle increases range and ease of use. In addition to being a great contender in the pistol caliber carbine market, the Micro Roni/barrel may make a Glock easier to use for home defense for people with disabilities. The longer barrel makes for safer handling for those who struggle with muzzle control, yet need a lightweight platform.

Yes, there is a non-NFA brace version of the Micro Roni that can, under the latest ATF ruling, be legally shoulder fired. The original model is the focus of this test, and although both function the same, I think the original is a much more attractive package while also being easier to pack due to its slimmer profile.

YRS Inc., the vendor of IGB barrels, is actively seeking US-based distributors. Interested businesses should look up YRS Inc. marketing department.

All photos by Team HB.

Gun Reviews

American Tactical AR 15 Omni Hybrid Review

American Tactical Omni Hybrid Maxx Issues …

Dan Wesson History:

.38 Super +P –

First Impression –

Dimensions/Description –

At the Range –

Overall Impression –

Conclusion –

Lots of features

Trigger

Accuracy and ammo

Magazines

Takedown

Final thoughts

Taurus Spectrum Review

Positives:

Taurus Spectrum Reliability:

Ergonomics:

Takedown:

Accuracy:

Taurus Spectrum Negatives:

Trigger:

Slide-stop:

Slide Serrations and Overmolding:

Conclusion:

<img class="size-large wp-image-576 aligncenter" src="//i0.wp.com/gunnersden.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2017-02-08-16.24.54.jpg?resize=575%2C383&#038;ssl=1" alt="taurus spectrum" width="575" height="383" data-recalc-dims="1">

The New Taurus Spectrum, First Impression

What is It?

What About the Law?

How to Install your Glock into your KPOS G2

Function and Reliability

Accuracy

Ergonomics

Build Quality

Price

Why this Glock Carbine Conversion Kit Makes Sense

So How Is the Tac 14 Legal?

Specs, Fit, and Finish

On the Range

Safety Issues

Reliability

Kel Tec PMR 30 Construction—a lot to love

Firing the PMR-30

Maintenance

Conclusion

Canik TP9 SA Review —

1. An outstanding trigger

2. Fab sights

3. Superior ergonomics

4. Reliable AF

5. Massive capacity

The SA and innocuous weirdness

Holsters–good and getting better

CAA Micro Roni: yes, you can have it all, no NFA required!

Putting it together

Useful features

Operation

Accuracy and performance

Maintenance

Specs and price

At the end of the day

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