Gun Reviews

Gun Test: Sarsilmaz SAR 9 Review

November 14, 2017 By Eve Flanigan 2 Comments

There’s a new 9mm kid in town, and I’m willing to bet he’s here to stay. The SAR 9 is a new full size, striker-fired pistol from the factory of longtime gun maker Sarsilmaz, of Turkey.

The Turks are accomplished gun-makers, and rather than default the country’s, and Sarsilmaz’s usual double/single action design, they put the modern striker fire action to work borrowing elements from many existing, familiar pistols, and adding original features to come up with a very functional handgun.

While that may not sound original, I think it’s brilliant. The company allowed the striker-fired platform market to mature, and then harvested many of the most popular elements of various designs—including, as far as I can tell, Glock, H&K’s VP9, and perhaps the Arsenal Firearms’ Stryk B, among others. The result is a user-oriented pistol that I think is destined to become popular.

What’s so great about the design? It starts with handling. The SAR 9 has a low bore axis and deep grip—that is, the barrel is aligned almost as closely as is possible to the long bones of the shooter’s forearm, and the web of the hand is seated not behind, but slightly under the rear of, the slide. This feature dramatically improves recoil management.

It’s not quite as low as the Stryk B’s, but is one of the lowest I’ve tested.

Many pistol makers have learned that consumers would rather not struggle to release a magazine. Sarsilmaz didn’t have to evolve its mag release like Glock, it simply put a protruding release on the first edition of this gun. It’s still an original design, though. The teardrop-like shape of the release button invites natural, correct operation, but doesn’t facilitate unintended dropping of the mag when the gun is in a firing grip.

Hands come in every size and vary greatly in proportions. Sarsilmaz brilliantly combined both existing and original elements to make this one very comfortable gun in terms of grip. The SAR 9 comes with interchangeable backstrap and side panels, so users can mix and match to find their preferred fit. This configuration is a near-replica of the VP9 by H&K, including the prominent palm swell integral to the large panels.

But the ergonomics don’t stop there. Sculpted depressions on each side of the grip make it easy to get the trigger finger placed just right, even for those of us with shorter fingers. The thumb side’s depression allows for a solid, fist-like grip with the strongest part of the firing hand. Recoil control is aided yet again by the design of the trigger guard—if this is a copied design, I’ve not noticed it before. The rearmost point of the trigger guard is thinned and slanted slightly upward, allowing the highest, most solid possible grip from the support hand.

Ergonomics deluxe: three sizes of backstrap and side grip panels to choose from, plus indentations at all the right places, make this one easy shooter.

Serrations fore and aft of the ejection port give decent traction for slide manipulation. There’s a rail for a light—or compact chainsaw, for USA Today readers. A cut-out on each side of the magazine well, and substantial magazine floorplates, insure a secure purchase on the mag for clearing double feeds. The magazines are metallic and drop freely in normal operation, full or empty. If they aren’t made by respected mag producer Mec-Gar, they’re a good imitation. Two 15 round mags come with a new Sarsilmaz SAR 9.

Sarsmilaz — The author isn’t keen on the safety lever, or the unnecessary red triangle on the trigger. But neither of these is terribly important.

The SAR 9 is topped by a three-dot sight setup that’s really easy to use. The rear dovetailed sight is windage-adjustable; the front is pinned. They’re quality steel sights and the only downside I can see is that it’s not currently interchangeable with any aftermarket sights.

The trigger has a Glock-esque safety block which is consistent, if not the smoothest one I’ve felt. Travel is about 0.75 inches, and feels a bit like driving on fine gravel. There’s a very short section–a quarter inch, maybe–of roll between the very clear wall to the break. Reset is, in my estimation, just right. Not match-trigger close, but half or less to full extension, and distinct.

Words like “gravely” aren’t usually associated with compliments on a trigger. But I think this is an ideal handgun for new semi-auto shooters, or more experienced ones who’ve never developed a feel for trigger operation. Its consistent performance, palpable stages of pull, and ease of operation make it an easier gun to learn on than one a more precision-oriented trigger.

As an instructor, I see this as a valuable tool for developing good shooters. The SAR 9 is capable of putting in expert performances with a competent trigger-presser. It’s a gun to start with, and stay with.

Inside, the stainless components aren’t polished, but function perfectly. The two-stage, captive recoil spring assembly contributes to recoil management in a good way.

The only thing I dislike about this pistol is its external safety lever, which is all-ambi, all the time. It’s nicely textured and appropriately adjusted for operating with the firing hand thumb. But I dislike external safeties and feel they cost precious time under stress, whether it be competition or defense. I rely on a good holster and finger discipline for safety. That’s a personal preference, and I respect that some folks attach great piece of mind to these devices.

The SAR 9 is accurate; it was easy to consistently hit an 8-inch steel target–a cool portable one, sponsored by CTS Targets, at 20 yards. There was some difference in ammunition. FMJ, all 124 grain, from LAX and Winchester performed well. Aguila’s 124 grain load tended to impact left for some reason. All three brands cycled without any problems.

SAR-9 Sights — The adjustable, steel, three-dot sights are just right.

Where field stripping is concerned, Sarsilmaz again took a good thing and made it better. The procedure is similar to that of a Glock or Canik: clear the gun, press the trigger, pull back on the slide slightly while pulling down on the takedown mechanism, and voila, a disassembled gun. The difference here is the SAR 9’s traction-enhanced, sizable takedown lever makes this already easy process even easier.

I don’t know about you, but I love not having little parts to risk lose, and the ability to quickly and simply clean my handgun so I can move on to what’s next.

Disassembly is super-easy thanks to good design and ergonomic controls.

Here are the specs on this good-looking and practical range gun–

Overall length: 7.5 inches

Barrel: 4.4 inches

Height: 5.5 inches

Width: 1.4 inches

Weight: 26.4 ounces, unloaded

The SAR 9 has an MSRP of $495, below much of the competition. Finding a holster may be challenging, but with the success I believe this gun will see in the US, perhaps custom models will be available in the next couple years. The model in this test is blued/black, with a black-and-stainless model forthcoming as well.

All around, it’s a great shooter that I enjoyed very much. What do you think?

Check out what I have to say about concealed carry holsters for women, next.

*All photos by Team HB.

Zenith Firearms Review: MP5 Clone, Z-5K

November 10, 2017 By Josh Leave a Comment

There are a few guns that reign supreme on the “must have list” for us firearm enthusiasts. Usually such guns as the Colt Python, M1, GI issue 1911, and of course the topic of this review, the MP5. The sad part, is that all of those aforementioned guns are expensive. In fact, I personally don’t own any of those, and chances are good that you don’t either.

Sadly, if you want a real one, you’ll have to sell your left testicle (or ovary) to cover the cost. Thankfully, Zenith Firearms makes it much easier to put some serious lead downrange with their MP5 Clone, and I had the chance to put one through its paces about a year ago and still can’t get it out of my head. I can say that it is some of the most fun you can have in 9mm.

Before we get there, however, let’s talk about how this all started. As you likely know, HK decided that they’d stop producing them for whatever reason and since, decided to start making semi-auto MP5s in the form of their way too expensive, SP5K.

If you’re like most red-blooded, bill-paying Americans the price is just too much.

A few years before HK jumped back into the game, they sold some MP5 machines and equipment to MKE out of Turkey, which is where Zenith Firearms imports these almost sub-guns from. What you end up with, are MP5 Clones made on actual HK tools. In fact, it isn’t even really fair to call them a “clone,” because they’re actually “licensed production models.”

The “K” model. Watch your thumb’s placement or it could go buh-bye.

The Zenith Firearms Z-5K’s are about as close to a factory, semi-auto MP5 as you can get without paying a huge price.

This is great because many of the other manufacturers out there produce really low-quality guns that are slapped together like Frankenstein with mixed results. Sometimes you get a good one, sometimes you don’t. I’m proud to say that I’ve got thousands of rounds downrange with one of Zenith Firearms’ MP5 Clone pistols and am glad to report no malfunctions from this roller lock, delayed blowback fun … I mean gun.

Furthermore, I know that I’m personally responsible for several other folks who’ve purchase one of these with similar results. Let’s get on to the review …

Fit and finish:

These are pretty close to the original HK MP5. The only thing that I can see is different is that there is a rail added, if you didn’t want to use the drum sights. I did use the stock drum sights and was able to put lead on paper in most instances, and in accurate fashion.

It’s about as tight as I’d imagine a mosquitoes ass to be, and everything fit together exactly how it should. The finish was what you’d expect to find on an MP5. For what these babies are, at way under the cost to buy a new semi-automatic MP5 from HK, it’s a no-brainer.

Included:

The one Zenith Firearms sent out to me came with a hard case for transport, a few magazines, a cleaning kit, a sling that was entirely too small for my bigness, and the pistol itself.

The sling was too short, and I’d like to see a bigger option included in the future. But for now, it is what it is. What exactly is it? Something I had to improvise, adapt, and overcome as I was forced to wrap it around my neck to shoot properly.

I would also include that the short sling is the only negative I can come up with except that, even while one of the least expensive MP5 Clones on the market, I’d still like it to be cheaper. Hey, a man can dream … right?

Function:

The Zenith Firearms Z-5K is the best MP5 Clone on the market (my personal opinion) and performed flawlessly at the range. I was able to shoot it with the sling they sent me, in a modified position just around my neck. Utilizing a sling to shoot it was ideal because it allowed me to put positive pressure on the gun for accuracy, as well as to acquire my target quickly.

One of my last range days, peaking at a mag loaded with Fiocci 9mm ball ammo.

For giggles and spits, I even got into a modified isosceles stance with a defensive pistol grip as well, and slung some lead downrange like this. While not intended to be shot in this fashion, I wanted to see how it would do. The 4.4 pound gun did okay, but it did get heavy after a bit. Again, this gun isn’t meant to be shot like this, and I only wanted to see if I could do it.

Accuracy:

I’m happy to say that, for the most part and a few mistakes in my shooting (hey nobody’s perfect), the gun is quite accurate and put lead on paper where I wanted it to go more often than not. I tested it out to varying lengths with 15 and 25 yards being the average, and was able to hit my target with ease.

The drum sights allow for quick target acquisition and enable this gun to be used for short range shooting, out to medium range shooting.

Reliability:

After thousands of rounds downrange with the MP5 Clone (hey, I had it for much longer than I should have because I just couldn’t bring myself to give it back), I don’t recall many malfunctions. It didn’t matter which ammo I threw at it, from the cheapest Wolf and Tull I could scrounge up, to ball ammo with brass casings, and high quality self-defense ammo from the top makers.

Muzzle on this short, 4.6 inch barrel is nonexistent.

The Zenith Firearms MKE MP5 Clone performed exactly how you’d expect an $1,800 gun to, flawlessly. Each pull of the trigger had the same result flying out of the barrel, with minimal recoil especially when the included mini-sling was utilized.

Trigger:

MP5 Clones clearly don’t have the best trigger in the world, but they were never meant to. It’s also not the worst trigger out there. There was some grit, but overall not a deal breaker.

Magazines:

They give you three mags, which is a good amount to get started, and they work great. If you happen to have any original MP5 mags laying around, they should work, as well. From what I hear, though, Zenith Firearms has a hard time keeping them in stock.

A word of caution:

I do want to caution you about one thing, HK redesigned their SP5K to be a bit longer to prevent the shooter from accidentally shooting off a thumb. The Zenith Firearms MP5 Clone, AKA Z-5K, does not have this extension so a conscious decision has to be made to watch proper thumb placement. Or you could just grip the magazine like I did when I shot it, or buy one of the other models.

I still have both of my thumbs after thousands of rounds downrange with it. If I can keep my thumbs and have some fun with an MP5-K Clone, so can you. Just be careful.

Stats as pulled from Zenith Firearms’ website:

Caliber – 9×19 mm Parabellum
OA Length – 12.79 inches
Barrel Length – 4.6 inches
Barrel – cold hammer forged 32 chrome molybdenum vanadium
Weight (Empty) – 4.43 pounds
Operation – semi-automatic, roller-delayed blowback
Twist Rate – 1:9.8
Sights – rear drum for elevation and windage, front protected post
Capacity – 30
Colors – black
Includes – Z-5K pistol with rugged plastic carry case, factory cleaning kit, two (2) extra take-down pins, Picatinny style optics rail, military style sling, three (3) magazines, and 5-year warranty
Made in Turkey by MKE

Conclusion:

Sadly, I did have to give this gun back. I do have plans to buy one, one day. Does the Zenith Firearms Z-5K get my stamp of approval? Yep, and then some.

Looking for another Zenith Firearms Review? Check out this 1911 pistol review I did. Though, by the looks of it, they don’t sell self-defense handguns anymore, just roller lock guns like the Z-5K.

Concealed Carry Revolver: A Tale of 2 Six Guns For Everyday Carry

October 23, 2017 By Joe Roberts Leave a Comment

When it comes to firearms I have wide and varied tastes. From antiques to the latest tactical lead-slingers, if you can use it to put steel on target then I am in. I have owned many different firearms over the years from single action black-powder Colt replicas to Gen IV Glocks, flintlock Pennsylvania rifles to the Colt M4 and everything in between.

My love affair with big-bore handguns started at age 13 when my step-dad and his cousin thought it would be funny to have me touch off a .44 Rem Mag from a Thompson Contender. The recoil was substantial, the muzzle blast was deafening, and I was hooked. Since then I have owned and shot countless handguns in calibers ranging from .44 S&W Special to the mighty .454 Casull and beyond.

While my everyday carry piece has been a variety of semi-auto pistols for several years now, I have been toying with breaking into the safe and dusting off one of my trusty wheel-guns to do daily duty. Now I have read and heard all the arguments in favor of the semi-auto for defensive carry and for the most part agree wholeheartedly with them. However, there is still an argument to be made for the simplicity and inherent reliability of a double action revolver.

When I started digging through the safe I settled on two of my favorite revolvers, a S&W Model 22-4 Thunder Ranch and a Ruger Redhawk both in .45 ACP. Now choosing a favorite between these two revolvers is like trying to choose a favorite between my kids. So I figured I would do a full comparison of the two on their merits to figure out which would reside in my holster for the foreseeable future.

A little background.

The Smith and Wesson model 22 traces its lineage back to the beginning of the last century in 1908 when S&W introduced the .44 Hand Ejector, First Model “New Century”, better known as the “Triple Lock”. These were the handguns that Elmer Keith used to develop .44 Special loads that eventually gave rise to the .44 Remington Magnum.

The First Model was discontinued in 1915 and was replaced by the Second Model which was adapted to fire .45 ACP by using half-moon clips. Dubbed the M1917 by the Army Ordnance Department it was adopted to supplement the M1911 during World War I and saw service thru the Vietnam War. It was sold commercially as the Model 1950 and was reintroduced as the limited production Thunder Ranch revolver.

The Ruger Redhawk was first introduced in 1979 by Sturm, Ruger and Co., Inc. The Redhawk was initially chambered in .44 Magnum and was produced to compete with the S&W model 29 which were in short supply due to the popularity of the “Dirty Harry” movies of the late seventies.

The Redhawk is a beefier, scaled up version of the Security Six line of revolvers. It was unique in that it used a one piece frame, unlike other double-action revolvers that had removable side plates giving it unsurpassed strength. In 2015 Ruger introduced the Redhawk with a 4 inch barrel and round butt in a .45 Colt/.45 ACP chambering that had the cylinder machined from the factory to accept .45 ACP using full moon clips.

On the bench.

The Thunder Ranch measured out with the following dimensions using my own “scientific” equipment; steel ruler, dial caliper, trigger pull gage, and my wife’s digital kitchen scale.

Overall Length – 9 3/8 inches

Overall height – 5 ¼ inches

Width at cylinder – 1.715 inches

Stock width @ grip screw – 1.2 inches

Single action trigger pull – 4.5 pounds (average of 3 pulls)

Empty weight – 36.7 ounces

The Redhawk measured out to the following dimensions with the aforementioned equipment.

Overall length – 9 3/8 inches

Overall height – 5 ¾ inches

Width at cylinder – 1.78 inches

Stock width @ grip screw – 1.285 inches

Single action trigger pull – 6.5 pounds (average of 3 pulls)

Empty weight – 45 ounces

On the range.

Shooting these revolvers is a blast to say the least. Felt recoil was surprisingly light due to factors like weight and grip design. Both revolvers were fired at ranges of 7 to 25 yards in both double and single action modes. I have 2 sets of aftermarket grips for the S&W, but due to an extremely limited aftermarket for the round-butt Redhawk (read non-existent) I put the factory stocks back on for the comparison to compare apples to apples.

I have owned the Thunder Ranch for a couple of years now and it came used with the Hogue monogrip installed. I have also purchased a Pachmayr gripper grip for it as well. I have shot it extensively with both and have found it to be less than comfortable. Both of the aftermarket grips for the Smith always seemed to direct the recoil right into the meaty part of my hand between my thumb and trigger finger. After a couple of cylinders of hardball I would start to anticipate the pain that I knew was coming, leading to less than satisfactory shot groups.

This was my first time shooting the Thunder Ranch with the factory stocks and I have to say that at first they felt a little funky in my hand while holding the revolver. I am used to grips on a revolver that put my trigger finger a little more in line with the trigger. The factory stocks seem small and my trigger finger at full extension lay across the gap where the bottom of the cylinder and frame meet. I know why the Tyler T-Grip is so popular for these models. However; when it comes to felt recoil, whoever designed these stocks should be given a promotion. The width of the factory stocks spread the recoil out into my hand to the point where after 150 rounds of factory FMJ I had no tenderness in my hand whatsoever.

In addition to what I would call mild recoil, the muzzle flip was controllable to the point that I had no issues getting off double-taps and running a Mozambique drill (two to the chest, one to the head) was also within the realm of reality. The rudimentary sights (grooved top-strap and half-moon blade up front) were quick to line up and surprisingly easy to see. The wide blade up front makes it relatively easy to focus on your front sight when you are putting lead downrange. I was able to keep all but one in the black at 10 yards when I ran several double taps. Having never qualified past sharpshooter with the M9 during my career in the Marine Corps, I was surprised by how accurate this handgun was in my hands.

My first impression upon picking up the Ruger Redhawk was “this thing is a frigging tank”. At 45 ounces empty, it is without a doubt a heavy revolver. It is very well balanced though and points easily. The stocks are also very well designed to do a very good job of spreading out felt recoil. The weight helps soak up a lot of the felt recoil and muzzle flip as well. The double action trigger is a hair smoother than the Smith and I could actually feel the cylinder lock up during a long, deliberate double action pull. That being said it was very easy to shoot rapidly in double action mode.

The adjustable rear sight and red blade up front make it very easy to line up the sights and the quick change front sight will make it easy to swap for a fiber optic front sight in the future. My Redhawk grouped about 1.5 inches to the right of center and unfortunately I didn’t bring a screwdriver with me to the range so I wasn’t able to make any sight adjustments. The Ruger grouped just as nicely with the 230 gr FMJ as the Smith. My 10 yard double taps were surprisingly not as tight as with the Thunder Ranch and I apparently started to anticipate the recoil and push into it. However even with my pushing and jerking it still retained pretty good accuracy for a close range gunfight if it ever (God forbid) comes to that.

Overall impressions.

I was pleasantly surprised by the manners of the Thunder Ranch revolver even though I shouldn’t be. It was, after all designed to be a fighting revolver. The Ruger on the other hand owes its lineage to a revolver designed to soak up full power magnum loads and ask for more. It was designed originally for handgun hunters and was over-engineered in that respect. The fit and finish on both is what you should expect from these companies without a doubt.

The brushed stainless and checkered hardwood stocks on the Redhawk are just plain sexy in my opinion, although I have a built in bias towards stainless firearms as I think they just have a clean, sanitary look. The bluing on the Thunder Ranch however belies its true intent. It is deep and rich, definitely one of the nicer factory bluing jobs I have seen in a while. The Cocobolo wood contrasts nicely with the bluing and really makes this revolver almost more of a collector piece than a fighting handgun for carry.

Of course good looks aren’t everything and as they say in the car world “Chrome don’t get you home”, hits are the only thing that counts in a fight and both handguns are definitely capable of getting you home. The adjustable sights on the Ruger are much better suited for hunting in my opinion. Personally I just prefer fixed sights on a carry gun, as there is less chance of Senor Murphy showing up and screwing up my day. While I may have to try out different ammo to find one that shoots point of aim, once I do, game on.

Since I carry all day every day, weight will be another huge factor and the Thunder Ranch is the obvious winner here at almost 9 ounces lighter than the Redhawk. Remember we are going for concealed everyday carry here. As they say in the Infantry “ounces equal pounds, pounds equal pain” and if I don’t have to carry around an extra half pound strapped to my waist I’m not going to.

I am a Diesel Mechanic by trade and live by the adage of using the right tool for the job. My firearms are no different. If I am out in the woods in bear country the Ruger Redhawk would be my handgun of choice. It has the versatility of using both .45 ACP and .45 Colt and I would not feel under-gunned if I was carrying some Buffalo Bore 325 gr LFN ammo. I would also not be concerned about concealment while hiking or hunting in the woods and would probably be carrying the Redhawk in a hunting shoulder holster.

Since the job here is everyday concealed carry of a fighting handgun, I have to go with the Thunder Ranch for the win. With fixed sights that won’t work themselves out of alignment due to screws coming loose, lighter weight that won’t pull my spine out of alignment after 12 plus hours on my hip and quick reloads of accurate and powerful .45 ACP thanks to the use of full moon clips. The Thunder Ranch is what a fighting handgun is supposed to be: simple, accurate, and reliable enough to bet your life on.

Now I just need to wait for El Paso Saddlery to ship my holster …

Do you carry a revolver for your everyday carry? Let us know in the comments below. Also, if you’re a revolver person, check out this interview with one of Colt’s VPs on their newest .38 wheel gun.

Gun Test: FNS9-C Review in Flat Dark Earth

August 18, 2017 By Josh Leave a Comment

While everyone and their uncle sings the continuous, angelic praises of other striker-fired pistols and seemingly never talk about any other brand, I am never one to walk with a crowd of people. I tend to take the road less-traveled, and I always shave against the grain–on the rare occasion that I do actually shave since I received my DD214. Meet the FNS9-C FDE, the one capable of knocking them all from their respected pedestals.

Before I get to the actual gun review of FN’s FNS9 compact in flat dark earth (FDE), let me tell you why I feel like I’m qualified to write this review for you. I have owned my fair share of striker-fired pistols, and have handled even more that weren’t lucky enough to be mine.

My name is Josh Gillem and I’ve been shooting guns since I was a little kid. I got my first shotgun, a 12 gauge single-shot, when I was just 10 years old. I actually still have that gun in my safe and won’t likely ever get rid of it. My old man and I went hunting numerous times throughout the years for squirrel, deer, and pheasant.

Though, sadly, I don’t ever remember hitting my target. Thankfully, I joined the Marines in my late teens where I learned more than Kentucky Windage.

I would eventually go on to qualify with a rifle, M9 pistol, and go through a 240 Golf machine gun course (Please note that I was not a machine gunner, just b-billeted).

I’ve since tried my hand in law enforcement as a state corrections officer, which, by the way, was the worst year of my life. I mention that experience because in order to graduate the academy, I had to qualify with a .38 revolver and 12 gauge shotgun. And finally, I’ve been working in the gun industry where my work can be found on several of the biggest gun publications in the industry.

Why do I mention all of this? Because there are some folks out there who give horrible advice, shady reviews, and some “gun publications” who, when you look deep down inside them, aren’t actually pro-gun in the least bit. I’m not going to point any fingers, or name any names, not now at least. For now, just know that anti-gun “gun websites” do exist and this is NOT one of them.

We are as pro-gun, pro-2A as you can get. Each one of us carries a handgun for protection and goes to the range on a regular basis to train.

Let’s move on …

First Impressions of this pistol from FN:

I remember opening the small, tan, soft case this little compact pistol came in for the first time while at my FFL. As is my general practice, I always open up the case and inspect my new test guns. I always run my finger over the entire piece, check out all of its contours and lines, do a chamber check, and then feel the trigger.

My lame attempt at showing you the trigger.

I was surprised at what I felt, but in a good way. The trigger shoe was large and beefy, leaving no doubt whether the pad of my finger was right where it was supposed to be.

This trigger was, for the most part, as crisp of a trigger as I’ve ever felt on a polymer-framed, striker-fired gun.

To my benefit, as a shooter, there is a tactile trigger break after a small amount of take up without any over travel. The trigger reset can also be felt and heard and I really appreciate the work FN Herstal put into this compact concealed carry gun.

Let me be clear on one thing, this is likely one of the best triggers I’ve ever felt on a gun like this. There are some that come close, but the FNS9-C, being what it is with an MSRP at under $600, this trigger is fantastic. Oh, and I almost forgot, while I didn’t measure its weight, I’d guesstimate it somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 pounds. These guys have one in a good price.

The grip’s texturing may be a bit aggressive for some, but I can say that it didn’t bother me at all, and, actually, I liked it. I’ve had guns in the past, like the XD Mod.2, where the grip texture was annoying on my skin. While I haven’t changed the positioning of my carry gun, this one isn’t so aggressive that it rubs me the wrong way.

It’s aggressive, maybe too much for some.

I guess now is a good point to mention that FN also includes two different backstraps for different sized hands. I can say that the one that came installed on this concealed carry gun hasn’t been changed because it works well for me. I have the distinct thought that says this: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I can hit my target well at ranges varying from 5-25 yards with ease, and the compact 3.6 inch barrel did not hinder me at all.

Let’s talk about how reliable the FNS9-Compact is:

The FNS9-C ran flawlessly the entire time I had it. This is the 9mm version of this concealed carry pistol, and this double-action compact handgun was reliable almost to a fault. I mean, how boring, right? To not have any malfunctions after running several hundreds of rounds down range?

Anything made in the USA is good in my book

Of course I’m being sarcastic here a bit. Seriously though, this is exactly the kind of pistol you want on your hip with the S hits the F because it works, without issue. Every. Single. Time.

How many times, exactly? Well, I actually lost count. But each time I go to the range with a test gun I bring 150 rounds with me. I’ve had this pistol for 3+ months and go to the range on an almost weekly basis. Granted, I didn’t take it with me each time because I can’t make ammo rain down like Manna from Heaven, but that’s a lot of rounds down range any way you slice it.

And, just so we are both on the same page, no gun belongs in my house unless it runs dirty. Plus, I know some folks clean their guns even less than I do and I want to give a realistic review of every firearm. So, I have not cleaned it a single time since I’ve had it. Have I put some Frog Lube on it to moisten her up a bit? Sure. But have I taken it apart to actually run cleaning brushes and junk through it? Not once.

Again, she ran like a top. So much so, in fact, that I’m not ready to give it back. Why else do you think I’ve had it for over my allotted time with it?

How is it as a carry piece?

Every single time I get a pistol in I carry it concealed, regardless of size. There are exceptions to this, of course. For example, I don’t carry guns for self-defense if they suck. If it’s a jam’o mattic, I will not carry it because it’s obviously not the best pistol around.

But, I digress … It doesn’t matter which gun it is, if it works I conceal it. Thankfully, this time the handgun was a compact gun that is designed to be carried for self-defense. It concealed nicely and with the short, 12 round magazine with pinky extender, I never even knew it was there.

There’s the pinky extender, 12-round mag.

Of course, I was able to slide the 17 round magazine into a mag pouch for even more bad-guy stoppers. Let’s see … 12 in the short magazine, plus 17 in the full-size mag, plus one in the pipe equals 30 rounds of 9mm. By the way, if you’re curious about the type of ammo I trust most, it’s this one.

FNs9-C Holster:

This is where things start to get a bit tricky. Even though this gun has been out for a bit in another color, there is not a tremendous amount of holster support for it. In fact, I reached out to my go-to holster companies for help and they each said they don’t have anything for it.

That’s fine, because I did find someone to help me out. JM4 Tactical provided me with one of their newest magnetic holsters that’s a bit different than the one you saw me do a review on in the past. This particular leather holster allows the gun to sit up higher, so you can get that full, combat grip from the draw a lot easier.

Here it is in the holster JM4 sent me for it. You can see that I’ve been wearing it all summer long so far because of how nasty looking it is!

This review on the holster I used for this FNS9-C is coming your way as soon as I can get it done. So stay tuned for that.

FNS9-C Magazines:

I wanted to dedicate a small section just to these magazines. The pistol FN sent out to me came with a 12 round mag and a 17 round magazine. I’ve heard many other people claim that their magazines did not drop free when the release was pressed, but I didn’t have any drop-free issues whatsoever.

This leads me to believe that one of four things happened —

They fixed the issue
I got a lemon
Other people lied
Other folks have no clue how to operate a firearm

I believe that the first one is the most likely option and that there was an issue at some point with mags not dropping like they should, requiring them to be stripped, but no more. Again, this pistol ran flawless in every regard. I will say this, however, if your fingers are effing ginormous like mine are with thumbs that don’t bend in the right spots, you will have a hard time pressing the tear-shaped magazine release.

FNS9C — Shorty magazine inserted. I was too lazy to walk to the other room to get the 17 rounder. Forgive me.

That’s something I don’t like. But, this happens to me on all mag releases of this type and I generally need my mag release to stick out more. I’m guessing the reason why these are so low-profile, is because they’re trying to create a snag-free design. If that’s the case, which I believe it is, FN America succeeded because as far as I can tell, there’s nothing to snag except the 3-dot sights.

Dislikes:

It’s bound to happen, because no single gun can be perfect. Plus, it’s my duty as a gun writer to inform you of any potential pitfalls to be aware of. Having the gorilla-sized hands I do, I don’t have a hard time grabbing the slide on any firearm and pulling it back.

However, those folks with weaker hands (both men and women of all ages), may have a hard time sending a round into the chamber because the recoil spring is a bit on the stiff side. Again, if you have at least average strength in your hands, you should be fine.

Also, any firearm that requires the trigger to be pulled for disassembly is a recipe for disaster. NOT because the gun is unsafe, but because people are stupid. Seriously, the more you handle a gun the more complacent you’re likely to get. If you remember the basic rules of firearms safety and then follow these additional rules for safety, this should be a non-issue.

But again, people are stupid.

And then, I believe this brings me to my final point …

Takedown of the FNS-9 Compact:

It’s simple. So simple, in fact, I’m not even going to show you how to do it. Simply remove the magazine, make sure there are no rounds anywhere in or near your gun, pull and lock the slide to the rear, rotate the take-down lever, release the slide, pull the trigger, and then pull the slide off. Of course, doing all of that with this 9mm handgun pointed in a safe direction.

To put it back together, just reverse the process. It is that simple. Just like many other guns on the market.

Conclusion:

This is one of the best concealed carry guns on the market. Is it perfect? Uh, no. No gun is. But if you can get past some little things you’ll have no problem. All that really matters to me is that it can save my life when I need it to, and I believe that it will without failure, each time I have to put the squeeze on the trigger. For more information, you can visit FN’s page here, or …

You can buy an FNS9-Compact, here.

Here are some specs, taken from FN:

CALIBER: 9mm
OPERATION: Double-action
MAG CAPACITY: 10, 12, or 17 Rd.
WEIGHT: 23.4 oz.
BARREL LENGTH: 3.6″
OVERALL LENGTH: 6.7″
TWIST RATE: 1:10″ RH
HEIGHT: 5.2″
WIDTH: 1.35″
TRIGGER PULL: 5.5 – 7.7 lb.
SIGHT RADIUS: 5.6″

Frame and slide, side by side. Hey, who knew I was a poet?

Gun Review: Zenith Firearms Tisas 1911 In .45 ACP

June 26, 2017 By Josh 2 Comments

In a moment, we’re going to talk in depth about the Zenith Firearms Tisas 1911 in .45 ACP. But first, let’s pay homage to the guns that brought all of this about:

The M1911:

One of my favorites, and to me one of the best pistols ever made, is the 1911 platform. Yes, yes, I know … they’re big, heavy, low-capacity, etc. All good arguments in a world nearly (but not completely) dominated by striker-fired, polymer-framed pistols. Oh, and then we can talk about its age, right? How can a pistol design that’s over 100 years old possibly be sufficient for self-defense?

Again, all good points. Then again, let’s not forget that the M1911 saw service and fought in every major war since its inception until it was retired. Even then, it was not replaced because it didn’t work. The old GI issued guns were tired, and the military wanted a cheaper solution.

The 1911 still works.

It works well-enough that many people still carry one for self-defense on a daily basis. I, personally, also carry a concealed 1911 from time to time. They fit great in my hand, the controls are well within reach, they’re reliable and accurate, and they also look much better than a lot of other guns out there.

Zenith Firearms Tisas 1911:

First and foremost, let’s get this out of the way. Zenith Firearms, to my knowledge, does not manufacture any firearms. They simply import them from overseas companies like Tisas, the maker of this budget 1911. They also have a custom shop, where you can get some work done. But, they are primarily an importer of Turkish firearms.

This Zenith 1911 from Tisas is the all-stainless version with an accessory rail. It retails for $599.99, and I can say that, after I pulled the pistol from the box and opened the red case, I was impressed by its look. While it took me a minute to get used to the rail, this 1911 is sexy. I flipped it around in my hands a few times, and found something that, while not the biggest deal, was certainly puzzling.

One of the grips was brownish in color, while the other was a sort of reddish color. Or, one was light, and one was dark … however you want to look at it. Either way, having two different colors of grips isn’t a tremendous problem, and definitely not a deal breaker. After all, replacing grips is an easy enough task. I tried to show the difference in a photo, but it didn’t show up so I left it out to save space.

As I usually do, I function check firearms before I sign any paperwork, just to make sure everything is in working order. I pulled back the slide, checked the chamber, released the slide, played with the ambidextrous safety, pulled the trigger, and that’s where the first sign that this was a budget 1911 sank in.

The trigger needs work. There is a long take up and a much heavier pull than you’d expect to find on a modern-day 1911. Still not a deal breaker, however because that’s something you could train for, or adjust with a gunsmith.

Tisas Zig M1911 At The Range:

I had an up and down relationship with this pistol. As with some other guns, it required a grace period for break-in time and to figure out which type of ammunition it finds tastiest. It took a few hundred rounds of ammo to break in, and then after that point, the failures were few and far between.

In the beginning, I had multiple failures to feed on just about any brand of ammo I put in it from HPR’s hollow points down to the cheapest White Box Winchester I was able to find. It did not matter what I put in it, the PC1911 was problematic.

I do want to say here, however, that when many other 1911s require a break-in period, it’s because the tolerances are extremely tight and need to be loosened up a bit. That’s not the case with the Tisas 1911, because it seems loose enough.

It did get better with time so I’m not entirely sure what the issue was.

If you buy one of these pistols, I strongly urge you to put it through its paces before you decide whether you like it or not, because it will get better as it’s used more. My last day at the range with it, I put a 100 round box of American Eagle through it, and about 20 HPR hollow points (the same box giving me issues previously) with only 1 malfunction to report.

ammunition — That fat one on the end is an HPR hollow point.

I can say with near certainty that the malfunctions on this Tisas 1911 have seemingly stopped after the proper break-in time.

The PC1911’s Acuracy:

So, I found that this budget 1911 puts lead on paper in a consistent low/left fashion, which could be nothing more than me still getting used to the take up and, what I’m calling a false break in the trigger. Either way, the rear sight also looks to be adjusted pretty far to the left, as well, but I never touched it.

7 Yards, low-left, varying rates of fire. This was consistent the entire time I had it, and this 9″ plate shows 100+ shots of .45 ACP during my last range session.

One thing that I need to keep telling myself when I shoot this thing, is that it’s not meant to be the best 1911 pistol on the market. Perhaps it’s one of the best in its price range, but not the best of its kind. With that in mind, its accuracy is perfectly acceptable to me.

Included with the Tisas Zig M1911:

It’s often the little things that count, right? In the case of this Zenith Firearms Tisas 1911, you get a plastic case (with cutouts for the gun, mags, tools, and even little holes for your ammo), 3 eight-round magazines, some cleaning tools, and a cable lock. I can appreciate them sending 3 magazines with this gun, because they can get expensive.

gun case — The holes cut into the padding are for rounds of ammo.

Tisas 1911 Discrepancies:

I’m not sure where to insert these things, but these are little issues I had with workmanship. First, the set screw on the rear sight had worked itself out and was loose during my last range session. Even now as I sit here and type this with the handgun in front of me, I feel the rear sight, and there is some play in it. If I were to keep this gun, It would need some sight adjustments done.

The grips are two different colors, which is really nothing more than an annoyance. While it’s not like one is green and one is red, they are two different shades of brown. One is lighter in color, and the other is darker. Honestly, if I were to buy this pistol I’d end up changing the grips anyway, so this isn’t that huge of a deal.

Early on I experienced many failures to feed and a few ejection stoppages. I attribute this to being a thirsty, new 1911 and after time the stoppages all but ceased to exist in a 120 round period on my last range trip with only 1 malfunction to report at that time.

I would usually holster and carry one of my test pistols and report back how it acts as a concealed carry piece, but I didn’t quite feel it was up to the challenge early enough on, and my time is sadly over with it, now.

Finally, one of the grip screws worked itself loose on me while shooting. This is not that big of a deal, but one does expect screws to be tight on a new firearm.

Conclusion:

I can say that, while the Zenith Firearms Tisas 1911 isn’t necessarily the best 1911 pistol out there, if you’re in the market for a new one and don’t mind breaking one in (and tightening all the screws) without spending several hundred dollars more, this may be a good handgun for you.

After all, it does have some premium options, like front slide serrations and an accessory rail, which could be a plus for some. Do you own any of Zenith’s Firearms? If so, let me know in the comments below.

Stats:

Price – $599.99
Caliber – .45 ACP
OA Length – 7.64 inches
Barrel Length – 4 inches
Weight (Empty) – 2.13 pounds
Height – 5.3 inches
Operation – single action
Sights – dove tailed
Capacity – 8+1
Colors – stainless (matte finish)
Includes – a rugged plastic carry case, a factory cleaning kit, a keyed cable lock, three (3) magazines, and a 5-year warranty

More photos that were too random for insertion anywhere else, but still important enough to show you:

Slide, barrel, bushing, recoil spring, slide stop, guide rod

Front slide serrations, usually not found on 1911s

Gun Review: Magnum Research Baby Desert Eagle 3

March 7, 2017 By Josh Leave a Comment

The folks who brought us the venerable Desert Eagle have also given us a smaller, tamer version of that monster in the form of the Baby Desert Eagle. The one Magnum Research sent out to me is the polymer-framed version of the full-sized pistol, with a 4.43 inch barrel chambered for .40 S&W. This gun came to me in a hard case, two 13-round magazines, and some cleaning gear.

The 28 ounce gun fit great in my hands, but I tend to like finger grooves. While the one I was sent was chambered in .40 S&W and is not the best self-defense cartridge for recoil-sensitive people I can imagine it would be a dream to shoot in 9mm for any recoil hating shooter. Also keep in mind that this isn’t as snappy as most other forty cal pistols are, so take that for what it’s worth.

As far as accuracy is concerned, it is center-mass accurate out to my max testing distance of 15 yards in rapid fire drills. Please keep in mind that most defensive shooting takes place at much closer distances than that, making this polymer, hammer-fired gun more than sufficient for home and self-defense.

Again, the one they sent me was polymer framed, but there are other Baby Desert Eagles available, to include those full-size and semi-compact pistols and an all-steel framed version. You can purchase the steel Baby Desert Eagle 3 model in three different calibers: 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. As a side note, the steel version does not have finger grooves.

Those of you who prefer a hammer fired pistol in SA/DA (single action, double action) will appreciate these Baby Desert Eagles, complete with de-cocker. Speaking of the de-cocker, it did take some getting used to, at first, because it’s the only thing to grab onto when pulling the uber thin slide to the rear.

When I say “uber thin,” I’m talking about the overall height of the slide, not the width. Magnum Research decided it was time to make this model look more like its big brother and redesigned it, ultimately thinning out the slide considerably. There just isn’t that much to grab on to, and if I had to come up with a main complaint, that would be it.

The overall smaller size of the slide forced me to grab the de-cocker, itself, in order to pull it back which was not ideal. Also making things a bit more interesting, are the virtually non-existent slide serrations. What little bit can be seen are nearly useless because of the shoddy location of the slide mounted de-cocking mechanism.

Baby Desert Eagles — Take a gander at the de-cocking mechanism!

All of this isn’t really a big deal, once you figure out that it isn’t what you’re used to, and need to adjust for it and train hard with your new carry piece. As far as reliability is concerned, it doesn’t get much better. I had this Baby Eagle for several months and can’t report on a single malfunction. It ate everything I threw at it like a starved animal.

As tested, the Baby Desert Eagle 3 has an MSRP of $646, with the steel framed models ranging up to $691. And, in contrast to the polymer framed gun, the steel one weighs in at nearly 10 ounces more at 37.9.

Baby Desert Eagles have a smooth trigger without any noticeable grit or stacking, with a 12 pound pull in DA, and 4 pounds in single action. While the trigger is a gripe for some folks, because it’s long, I really had no issues with it.

The disassembly is easy, the three dot sights do what they’re supposed to do but are nothing special, and the Baby Desert Eagle comes with an accessory rail if you are a fan of mounting lights and lasers to your handgun. If you’re in the market for a new gun that isn’t your average Glock or 1911, this hammer fired pistol may be just what the doctor ordered.

If you need more information on this, or any of the products Magnum research offers, you can visit their page here. Otherwise, let us know what you think about this handgun in the comments below, and make sure you check out our article about the top 20 best 9mm, to see if yours in on the list.

Gun Review: Definitive Arms AKX-9, Perfect SBR Candidate

December 23, 2016 By Josh Leave a Comment

Gun Review: An in depth look at the Definitive Arms AKX-9, which seems to be the perfect SBR candidate

We all have high hopes that Donald Trump will make good on his promise to not only keep the Second Amendment in tact, but also strengthen it by taking action on some long overdue things, like lifting the idiotic laws on suppressors and short barreled rifles and shotguns.

If that happens, and SBRs become easier to get, I’ve got the perfect candidate for you in the form of the Definitive Arms AKX-9.

Before we get to that, however, let’s take a moment to explain some things. First, a word about myself and why I’m qualified to share my thoughts on this firearm with you.

I’ve been around, and firing, guns most of my life. In fact, I was given my first firearm at the ripe old age of 10 (at the moment I’m typing this up, I’m 36 years old). It was a single-shot 12 gauge shotgun.

I joined the Marines at age 19 where I qualified with an M16A2 Service Rifle, an M9 Beretta pistol, and an M240G Machine Gun. This is the time when I truly fell in love with shooting and couldn’t get to the range enough.

And for the past few years, I’ve worked in the firearms industry.

I’ve written for some of the biggest names in the gun-world, have served as the managing editor for someone else’s website (where I grew a big audience from scratch), and am proud to say that I started this website with a small group of other like minded individuals and veterans.

As a quick aside, I started this project because I was sick of working for “pro-gun” companies who were secretly anti-gun, or at least left-leaning.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, what exactly is an SBR? Well, if you didn’t know, the term SBR stands for Short Barreled Rifle. And, SBS stands for Short Barreled Shotgun. Basically, it’s a long gun with a barrel much shorter than what is currently allowed by law.

What is currently allowed? Law states that a rifle needs to have a barrel of at least 16” while a shotgun needs to have a barrel of at least 18 inches before you need to get the government’s “OK” to possess such a gun with a shortened barrel.

Overall length comes into play, too, but we’ll keep it here for now.

That’s a topic for a different day … But if Trump gives the people who voted him into office what we want, SBRs could become an easy reality for many of us. When that happens, I’ve got a good candidate for you:

Enter the Definitive Arms AKX-9

At the range with well-over 1,100 rounds of ammunition passing through the 11.25” barrel, there are zero malfunctions to date. Yes, you read that right, the barrel is just 11.25 inches, but it also comes from the factory with a fixed, five inch extension for an overall length of 16.25 inches, just over the minimum requirement.

As an SBR, the extension may be removed from the 1/2X28 threads, and replaced by a suppressor or hider of your choice. After all, when you’re home with sleeping children and other family members, the loud crack of an un-suppressed anything is the last thing they’d want to hear.

Chambered in 9mm, with Colt 32-round stick mags, there is plenty of firepower to knock down a gang of intruders in your home should anyone be stupid enough to break in while you’re actually there. And, as we’ve found out, that does happen more often than we’d like to think.

The lack of recoil from the parabellum round coming from a nearly 7 lb rifle enables the shooter to get back onto target in quick fashion, as the smooth trigger stands up to all the abuse your finger can throw at it.

In the below video, I demonstrate just how fast I was able to get the trigger moving:

I set targets up at various yardages ranging from 15-50 yards, and can say that I’m happy with its performance. I’m comfortable saying that this little rifle is superbly accurate out to distances much further than where I’ve taken it.

Granted, I’ve never taken this AK out that far, and at longer distances there will be a noticeable drop in terminal performance as it slows down considerably. Still, you won’t likely be engaging targets 150 yards away, while in your house.

The Definitive Arms AKX-9, available from Atlantic Firearms, is a blast to shoot at the range. Plus, the 9mm Luger is the most affordable center-fire cartridge on the market, today. That means you can actually get better because you can afford to shoot it.

While it may seem like it right now, this is definitely not a fluff piece. I don’t work for Definitive Arms or Atlantic Firearms. They did not pay me for this review, and I refuse to ever give any firearm a perfect score.

While currently my favorite rifle, there are some things that I’d likely want to change on it if at all possible. First, while the stick mags do a great job of getting the cheapest available 9mm ammo down range, this is the only part that is not AK-like.

Then again, having a last round bolt hold open feature is not AK-like, either, and I really like that.

Furthermore, I’m just not a fan of plastic furniture on an AK. I, personally, like wood. I get by with it because looks always take a back seat to performance. Need I remind you that this thing performs flawlessly with all types of ammo, and at all rates of fire.

As of this writing, I do believe there to be a Definitive Arms AKX-9 with wood-finished furniture on it. It’s just not the one I have.

Finally, the price tag is hard to deal with. The MSRP on this rifle is just over $1600. They may be found for less than that, but not likely because this isn’t exactly something your neighborhood shop carries on the shelf.

I guess they can command that price, though, because people still buy them, and they run great. I spoke to the guy at Atlantic Firearms, who told me that this entire firearm was blueprinted from muzzle to stock, and designed to work.

I can say with absolute certainty, that after putting so much lead down range, it does work very well.

Overall, this is a great firearm that is a great candidate for an SBR. It’s already short at just 33.5 inches, with part of the barrel left inside the receiver to shorten it up.

Gun Reviews

Fit and finish:

Included:

Function:

Accuracy:

Reliability:

Trigger:

Magazines:

A word of caution:

Stats as pulled from Zenith Firearms’ website:

Conclusion:

First Impressions of this pistol from FN:

Let’s talk about how reliable the FNS9-Compact is:

How is it as a carry piece?

FNs9-C Holster:

FNS9-C Magazines:

Dislikes:

Takedown of the FNS-9 Compact:

Conclusion:

The M1911:

Zenith Firearms Tisas 1911:

Tisas Zig M1911 At The Range:

The PC1911’s Acuracy:

Included with the Tisas Zig M1911:

Tisas 1911 Discrepancies:

Conclusion:

Stats:

Enter the Definitive Arms AKX-9

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