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Top 5 Best Guns To Have When SHTF

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FIVE GUNS NOT TO BE WITHOUT WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS

Let’s pretend for a moment that the world of tax-funded public safety and well-stocked grocery stores are a thing of the past and you, perhaps with a handful of family and friends, must fend for yourself in a tough and perhaps hostile environment. Among the considerations for survival are, of course, firearms. Which would you choose?

The most critical consideration for firearms in our scenario would be reliability … does it go “bang” with every trigger press? Does it cycle the widest possible spectrum of ammo available in that caliber? Is it simple to maintain? What ammunition is likely to be found in the area? It’s a given that one of each major civilian classification of firearms will be needed—a handgun, a rifle, and a shotgun. Our task here is to pick an ideal group of five.

THE TOP THREE

Carbine

AR-15 Carbine and a Glock 17, a good combination. Photo by Kirk Wheeler

A carbine, with its shorter barrel, offers maximum portability as well as the capability of reaching out to larger game, within limited range, to provide for food. Larger capacity magazines and quick reloading capability may be necessary to defend against attackers of the two-legged variety.

My choice for a long-term carbine partner is the AR-15. The platform is proven as reliable, and most owners have accumulated a supply of spare parts. Ammunition and magazines as of this writing, are readily available.

The .223/.556 cartridge is admittedly not the most ideal for down range energy. Thanks to the other virtues named here, though, it garners top billing on the list. I have personally taken deer sized game with the .223/.556, and feel that it works well in many different situations.

Handgun

A Glock 17, Ruger Bearcat, and Kel-Tec PMR30

The Glock 17/19 has a long track record of reliability and the other criteria here. While Glock offers a wide variety of calibers and models the 9mm is a commonly available cartridge worldwide, and less pricey. Like the AR-15, parts are currently ubiquitous, and many are interchangeable between models/calibers.

As a true aficionado of the 1911, it’s hard to think of turning my back on that old standby. Indeed, it’s more accurate. But it falls behind, quickly, where ease-of-maintenance and magazine capacity are concerned. Newer models are, in my experience, less reliable than Colt originals

Concealability, which may or may not be a consideration in this scenario, isn’t easy with the G17 but the Glock 19 can bridge this gap.

Shotgun

shotguns
Mossberg 500 and Remington 870

This was the easiest choice. A shotgun in general has nearly endless applications based on the variety of loads available, especially if one has reloading equipment. The Remington 870 pump action, chambered in 12 gauge, has endured as one of the most reliable shotguns in history. It’s inexpensive, made for utility, and rugged. Semi-auto shotguns abound on the market today, but none have the reliability or simplicity of the 870. The gauge selection is due to the wide range of loads available in 12 gauge.

The Mossberg 500 was a close runner-up, but the 870 edged it out thanks to personal experience and the references of friends in law enforcement. It’s capable of earning its keep by obtaining large and small game and is an effective defense weapon.

Traditional hunting models are probably the most common 870s in civilian homes. The police model, with its shorter 18-inch barrel and larger magazine capacity, offers more practicality. Either one will serve the owner well, with greater reliability than most semi-auto shotguns. I have taken everything from birds to varmints to big game with a 12 gauge 870. Not to mention the shotgun is an effective deterrent against two legged pests.

TWO MORE

Now imagine for a moment that we have the luxury of two other guns at our disposal. To me, the ideal ones are—

A Bolt-Action Rifle

Remington 700
Remington 700 in .308 with custom shortened barrel.

As with the AR-15, the brand and model are less important as there are many choices with legendary track records. It’s comforting to know that, with the assistance of an optic, the little arsenal includes something that can be effective at long distances for most game and any precision shooting needs. The ideal caliber would be .308 or 30-06, both of which are more or less commonly available. Both can effectively take any game in North America and of course provide greater long range precision capabilities.

Rate of fire and weight are potential drawbacks with this firearm. In comparison to others here, this platform requires greater knowledge and time investment on the part of the operator to accomplish the long-range feats it’s capable of.

A .22 Rimfire

The Ruger 22, the Bearcat revolver and 10/22 takedown

There’ll be plenty of nay-sayers for this cartridge as a final choice, but the .22 has been a ballistic tool of choice for hunters, assassins, farmers, and housewives for over a century. It’s eliminated countless barnyard varmints and more good and bad guys than I care to count. If we as consumers discount the memory of the days when .22 was three cents per round, the cost and availability factors aren’t as dire as it once was just a mere year ago.

Notice there’s no make and model named in the subheading—that’s a reflection of how difficult it is to choose among the many candidates. In the end, utility is king. Some my favorites are the Ruger 10-22 takedown, Ruger 22 Bearcat, S&W Model 17 Revolver or the KelTec PMR or CMR 30 in 22 magnum (if you have a good supply of 22 mag ammo). Choices in this category are endless and should boil down to what you have experience and confidence in. Another consideration, five hundred rounds of .22 is portable in comparison to other calibers.

Many will likely argue that a .22 rifle is preferable to a .22 handgun. And I’d not argue back much, especially when discussing a firearm for a beginner to use effectively. In a world where the return on investment of both resources and calories is key, perhaps a .22 should be at the top of this list.

IN CONCLUSION, this is obviously one person’s opinion. There are virtually endless choices and considerations—for example, what if the environment was urban or in a foreign country? List your own version of this TOP 5 in the comments.

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

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CAA Micro Roni

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

The non-NFA Micro Roni disassembled

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.

The Arguments For Owning More Than One Handgun

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A compact double stack pistol like the Glock 19 is a great concealment tool for some, and is large enough to serve as the understudy of a full size counterpart like this Glock 17

Many people new to concealed carry take that big step of purchasing their first handgun—and stop there. If you’re interested enough in carrying a gun to be reading this article, then you’re likely one of the majority of handgun owners who would benefit from owning two or more handguns. Why? The reasons are numerous. Let’s examine a few of them, along with ideas on choices of an additional gun.

REASON 1: I was involved in a defensive shooting, and now the gun I carried is gone.

As you’re probably already aware, chances are your firearm will be confiscated, even if only temporarily, if you draw the gun in a criminal confrontation. Even when the presence and use of the gun is completely justified, it’s likely that your gun will be taken as evidence.

What now? The hours, days, and even years following a defensive shooting can be some of the most dangerous in some situations, especially as “catch and release” practices for repeat offenders are adopted by judges across the country. Years is a common length of time for criminal judicial proceedings following a defensive shooting. That may also be how long your gun is locked up in a police department’s evidence room. Stay prepared by having a spare handgun for personal carry.

Ideally, that spare gun will be the same model as the one used at the crime scene. That means the holster you’re used to wearing will fit it perfectly, unless you’ve added bulky accessories to one of the guns. It means the extra magazines you have, and hopefully carry, will fit in the “understudy” gun. And it means that your customs of wearing the gun don’t have to change. All of these elements make not only practical sense, they also contribute to peace of mind.

Not having to make major alterations to your daily routine to carry a different gun, at a time when you’ll have plenty else to think about, is handy. And let’s not even discuss the possibility of going unarmed, and increasing your risk of victimhood, because your only handgun was confiscated as part of a routine investigation.

REASON 2: I want to do more training, but the carry-size gun limits what I can do.

handgun
Some examples of many pistols of the same brand that operate and feel similar.

Everyone who carries, regardless of skill level, can benefit from regular training. Shooting skills fade quickly with neglect. Being a responsible armed citizen includes being proficient at the fundamentals of marksmanship and understanding of the limits of your current skillset.

For example: do you know up to what distance can you consistently hit a torso-sized target? Are you able to place a round in a credit-card size target at five, seven, even ten yards? How long does it take to draw your firearm from concealment and fire accurately?

Knowing your performance envelope for these practical skills, and working toward expanding that envelope of skills you’ve mastered and can perform under stress, represents a journey of development that every shooter is traveling on—some backward, some forward. We can all work to be better at some aspect of shooting, and continue to practice and maintain areas of proficiency once they’re reached.

This just in: Heavy practice with a concealment-size gun can be exhausting and impractical. Many excellent shooting classes require guns and gear that are too big and obvious to carry concealed. Even if you’ve managed to find the rigid, outside-waistband holster and perhaps a magazine pouch required by some schools and trainers, reloading magazines and carrying enough of them can be a challenge on days that require 200 or more rounds.

Wearing a full-size, or nearly full-size, gun may seem ostentatious or unnecessary to the person who’s training exclusively for personal defense with a small gun. But the wear and tear saved on the shooter’s joints and thumbs, from the extra recoil and reloading associated with most small handguns, should be motivation enough. If you’re hurting or worn out, you won’t gain all the benefits of training. And the skills practiced on the big gun can only enhance your prowess with the small one, assuming you’ve taken time to also practice with it shortly after training on the larger one.

REASON 3: My gun is in need of parts or repair.

The author’s favorite pairing, a Canik TP9SA for range practice and teaching, and a Glock42 outfitted with night sights and light/laser combo for concealment.

Guns, like cars, have parts that wear out. In recent years, as manufacturers rush production to keep up with growing demand, factory recalls are no longer surprising. In any case, the day may come when your gun goes offline for mechanical reasons. Having a second gun gives you something to carry until the main one is repaired. If your backup is the same make and model as the primary, a second gun can even serve as an organ donor of sorts.

Like some karmic lesson, this exact thing happened to me during the week I wrote this article. The gun I happened to be wearing that day, a fine Heckler & Koch VP9, literally blew its recoil spring/guide rod assembly across the range when I stripped it for what was intended as a midday cleaning.

I know better than to not carry a spare, but at just north of 3,000 rounds of use, delaying the purchase of this critical part to a later payday seemed like the thing to do—after all, my other main training and teaching guns’ recoil springs are still running strong, well beyond the average round count for this component.

Had I not had an extra 9mm, with its own holster and magazine pouch, along for the ride that day, my training and fun would’ve been cut short. HK did exchange the parts in a quick five days, but had this been my only gun, I’d have been unarmed for that period of time.

Fine, I’ll get a second gun. But what do I pick?

There are a couple avenues of logic to choose in this decision, linked to the reasons already given that justify a second gun. In no particular order, here are some questions to ask yourself as you make that decision:

Same caliber, or not?

glock 17 vs glock 19
Having two handguns of the same caliber like these two 9mm models really simplifies ammunition shopping.

Having two firearms in the same caliber can make ammunition purchasing and storage simpler, in that there’s only one caliber to deal with. Savings are easier to come by when buying in bulk quantities. If you’re practicing regularly on both firearms, this might present the best reason for having same-caliber guns.

There are also good reasons to choose a different caliber for practice. For example, if your daily carry gun is chambered in 380 Auto and you’ve decided to get a full-size handgun for participating in formal classes, that bigger gun won’t be available. The relatively small powder charge in a 380 cartridge is simply inadequate to cycle the heavier slide on a full-size semi-auto. Or perhaps your daily gun isn’t one that has readily available rigid, outside-waistband holsters and extra magazines that are required by most gun schools.

Maybe your favorite carry piece is a revolver, but you don’t want to deal with reloading every five or six rounds while your classmates with higher-capacity semi-autos are getting to shoot, and shoot some more, between reloads.

Cost of ammunition and the effects of recoil may be a factor in your decision to go with something of a smaller caliber than you carry. Maybe you’re one of those individuals who packs, say, .357 Sig or 10mm. Replacing 250 rounds of FMJ in either of those calibers is likely to set your wallet back to a greater degree than some other, more common, calibers.

Glock pistol
If two is good, four is better. A replete selection for range and concealed carry.

While the effects of recoil from either of those calibers is negligible in the context of using the gun in self-defense, both deliver more felt recoil, which may also deliver fatigue to you during extended firing. These stouter loads are also known for wearing out gun parts under heavy use, due to the increased pressures created by their comparatively high rate of speed.

Least important, but nevertheless a factor in some people’s choice of firearm, is style. There’s a wide swath of the carrying public who simply feel more confident with a 1911, usually chambered in .45 ACP, when carrying openly at a class, competition, or in public. And there’s little argument that this single-action platform can perform well across all those situations, when handled properly.

This same segment of armed citizens often begrudgingly adopt a less stylish, but more comfortably concealed, sub-compact firearm for daily carry. My observations have shown that these same folks usually abandon either the gun or the obligation to practice when choosing a small-frame .45, having discovered it’s far less controllable and enjoyable in comparison to the big gun.

In short, caliber can matter more in terms of simplicity of ammunition purchasing and storage, where having two guns chambered the same is an advantage. When opting for a large and small gun, smaller calibers in the carry-size gun are more manageable, and shooters are more likely to log more time with them during practice—a good habit for effective, responsible carry.

Shopping for a second handgun

It’s helpful to identify what you want to get out of having a second gun. If it’s strictly the ability to continue being armed if your main gun is in need of repair or taken into possession post-incident, then a same-make/same-model purchase makes sense, in addition to serving as a source of spare parts.

If you’re wanting to enter some local matches, or participate in classes that last a day or longer, it’s wise to consider a compact or full-size companion to your carry gun. The choices are virtually endless, but narrow substantially if you look for guns that have model-specific holsters and magazine pouches.

There are times when the compact or sub-compact and full-size categories can be combined on the range. An example that comes to mind is Glock’s double-stack compact line, including the 26, 27, 30, and others. The usefulness of these small guns is extended for practice and home defense by the compatibility of the brand’s magazines from their compact and full-size lines, so long as a person picks the same caliber.

It’s helpful to find a range or private class where trying different firearms out, including live fire, is part of the program. The gun that looked so appealing in the catalog and sounded so great in reviews may simply be a poor fit for you. Many shooters, unfortunately, purchase a gun first, then shoot it, only to find out it’s not what they had in mind.

At the end of the day–

A same or very similar concealement sized handgun can serve as backup if one is confiscate, breaks, or is stolen.

Any good instructor isn’t around to judge your decisions, but to help you make informed ones. It’s normal, for a shooter’s taste in guns to change over time as knowledge and experience are gained.

Owning at least two handguns, and practicing with both, accelerates a shooter’s understanding of the dynamics of shooting and makes informed decisions easier.

Did your favorite gun make Josh’s top 20 9mm handguns list? Again, take any “best gun” lists with a grain of salt, as they’re just recommendations.

God And Country 223 Rifle Ammunition Review

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.223 ammo
Emptied out one of the cartridges I had left to show you the components

Your guns are a lot like your body, needing to be fed on a regular basis. The things that you put into your body should be decent, won’t make you sick, or send you into cardiac arrest. Much in the same way, your guns need good ammo that doesn’t suck, break the bank, damage your gun, or make them too dirty.

I recently had the opportunity to put some serious lead downrange from a newer ammo company who supplied me with a big-ass bag of .223 ammo to do a review on.

The results of this .223 rifle ammunition?

Well, it’s hard to do an ammunition review because, it either works or it doesn’t. Truth be told, if it works it’s kinda boring to do a proper eval on, because there really isn’t anything to speak about. Of course, we could speak about whether or not the ammo burns clean, how accurate said ammunition was at the range, and a few other things.

I didn’t experience any malfunctions in the bag of remanufactured .223 ammo God And Country Munitions gave me to test out, so I guess this’ll be a boring review.

Accuracy:

AR-15
My AR-15 built from budget PSA parts, and an 80% lower

So, the rifle as tested is chambered in 5.56 NATO with a 16″ stainless steel barrel and a 1:7 twist rate, at 50 yards with open steel sights shooting at a lone, white, 9 inch paper plate. Yeah, I’m old school without a single optic on any of my rifles, even though I own three scopes (two of them have never left the package).

I also want to note that the tested rifle is one that I built myself from the ground up from an 80% lower and a budget PSA kit and upper. In other words, this is my budget AR-15 build and if I was going to witness any malfunctions, I believe it’d be with this one. It’s not the best AR-15 out there.

Anyway, after I realized I was sighted in for 100 yards with the open iron sights, I got on target and utterly destroyed that little target with each squeeze of the trigger.

These Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail 55 grain projectiles stabilize nicely and out of the mostly-shot 250 round bag, I didn’t notice any tumbling rounds on impact. That’s all great news, and as you likely know, 55 gr .223 bullets are good to shoot in barrels with 1:7; 1:8; 1:9 twist rates and should stabilize nicely in all of them.

Different angle.

That’s one of the reasons why you almost always see 55s for sale in the store, they’re the most common because they shoot well through many different barrels and platforms.

Now, as a side note, I usually opt for 62 grains and up in my 1:7 twisted barrels, just because the heavier projectiles usually perform better from my barrel. 55 grain projectiles are likely the smallest I’d use in this AR-15 barrel.

Dirt Factor:

Ammo is dirty. You can have the cleanest ammo available, and it’ll still leave some residue on your internals. This stuff burns pretty clean. Is it the cleanest? I’d be lying if I said it was. If I had to compare it to something that you’re likely familiar with, I’d say it’s somewhere along the lines of PMC.

.223 remanufactured

Again, it burns pretty clean, and I’m told that the powder they use is hard to get because it’s some specialty recipe. At some point in the near future, I’ll be doing a white glove test with the next batch of this stuff I get. Why am I going to keep getting it? Because it’s effing cheap!

Cost:

Listen, I shoot guns for a living. I can get a lot of ammo for free, but nobody is sending my poor butt cases of ammunition to shoot like I’m some famous YouTuber. Because of that, I still need to buy my ammo, and I know where I’ll be getting it from, from here on out. Well, in the calibers this guy currently offers, which is 9mm and .223.

I am told that there are plans to move into a few others in the near future, though, so we look forward to that.

So what’s the cost? Well, you can buy a case of 500 rounds for $147.50, shipped. That means that this is the total price you pay. Shipping is included every time you buy, not just the first time.

This is a 250 round bag, that sells for CHEAP.

Remanufactured, reloaded, or new?

This is likely one of the most misunderstood aspects about buying ammunition.

New ammunition is something that should be understood, right? It is never-fired brass that is loaded from a factory like Hornady, Federal, PMC, etc. Re-manufactured ammunition is that whose brass goes through an arduous inspection process at a factory before loaded to SAMMI specs on professional equipment, and finally, checked for quality. The rest of the parts are new, projectiles, powder, primers … all that’s re-used, are the brass cases–which are inspected.

Reloaded ammo, on the other hand, goes through the inspection of the dude reloading in his basement on a machine he bought at Cabela’s, sipping on a cool Budweiser. Nothing wrong with that, at all, but it is a different process.

Re-manufactured ammunition, in theory, should be totally fine to shoot through any modern firearm, but always check your owner’s manual first. You do read your gun’s book, right?

Conclusion:

This is good stuff. It’s pretty clean, shoots well, didn’t jam up my cheap rifle, and is super cheap.

Left handed Stag Arms AR-15 Review.

Zenith Firearms Review: MP5 Clone, Z-5K

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Zenith Z-5K

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.

MP5 Clone
Dead Sexy

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 included goodies.

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:

Trigger and safety

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.

mp5 clone

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.

Ejection side

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:

Zenith Firearms review

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.

Gun Test: FNS9-C Review in Flat Dark Earth

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FNS9-C

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.

Front Serrations

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.

Back-Strap

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.

FNS9-Compact

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.

Fns compact

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?

Flat Dark Earth
Love the FDE!

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.

Baby Got Back!

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.

Inside view

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.

There’s the takedown lever there.

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?

The Importance Of Gun Training At Every Age Cannot Be Overstated

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improvised shooting position
Practice with different shooting positions, including improvised ones, for better defensive readiness. (Team HB photo)

We’ve discussed in great length the importance of carrying a self-defense weapon, or having access to one, at all times. The truth is, we never know where tragedy will strike when at home, in the car, on the road in a hotel, etc. Such is the case for an 82 year old man who needed his firearm to defend himself against an intruder who broke in through the window air conditioning unit.

Nothing is sacred; nothing is safe. Criminals intent on hurting you will stop at nothing to make sure that their goals come to fruition, no matter the cost to you. One of the most important things we need to remember, is that if a criminal is brazen enough to break into your home, they are likely willing to eliminate any traces that they were ever there, including your life.

That is one of the main reasons why it is imperative that you’re willing and able to defend yourself against all threats, and understand that you’ll never actually be ready for an attack. And, when I say that you’ll never actually be ready for it, I mean that you won’t know when an attack will come.

Our 82 year old man from a recent Defensive Gun Use was clearly willing to defend himself against an intruder, to which I commend him for. However, after looking at this story in more detail, he wasn’t as able as he could have been.

Of course, we have to take the age of this man into consideration. At the age of 82, fine motor skills aren’t what they once were, and even gross motor skills are likely not tuned up and running in tip-top shape. That, coupled with the fact that even younger, healthier people have a hard time hitting their target when presented with a tremendous amount of stress, we have a recipe for disaster.

Thankfully, he lived. But he didn’t land either of the two shots he fired on his attacker, so it could have turned out very differently.

Getting old is a part of life. Try as we may, we’ll never be able to avoid this basic truth: We are all born, and we will all eventually die. In that process, called life, we get older and witness our bodies deteriorate. Again, nothing we can do about that.

What we can do to ensure our survival against someone who is bigger, stronger, younger, faster, smarter, etc., than we are, is to have the upper hand with a great force equalizer known as a self-defense firearm. The mere owning of a gun is not enough, though.

We cannot just go to the local gun shop, put some cash down on the counter, walk out with our new 9mm pistol, and expect ourselves to be John Wick with it. Now, I’m not saying that this is what our senior citizen did, because I’m all about honesty and I have no clue how much training this man has under his belt.

What we can all learn from this example of a defensive gun use nearly gone wrong, is that no matter our age, no matter our gun training level, no matter our experience or shakiness with our hands, nor how unhealthy we are, we can–and should–all still go to the gun range and practice with our guns on a least a monthly basis.

Period.

Further than that, if we suspect that there is even the slightest chance that we’ll have a break-in occur while we are at our homes, we need to practice maneuvering through our house, unloaded gun in hand, so we know what it’s like should the time ever come when we need to defend our homes from an intruder.

The thing is, while we continue to grow old, we are never old enough to practice our skills to get better. In fact, I’d argue that as you get older, it becomes even more important because your skills may decrease with time, naturally.

I’m much younger than this senior citizen. So, I cannot offer up much in the way of advice for how to train as an elderly person. What I can offer, however, is this: never stop going to the range, and even taking classes from time to time to refresh your skills to make sure you don’t develop any bad habits.

No matter your age, your life is important to someone. Which somehow brings me to my next point …

I cannot highlight how important it is to check your home out for vulnerabilities. I can all but guarantee you that at some point, this man never thought he’d have someone break in through his A/C unit. And yet, it happened to him.

I strongly suggest you check your windows, A/C units, doors, basement, and anything else that someone could exploit to get into your house, because the chance is always there. You may one day end up the victim of a break in if you’re not making sure that everything is secured.

In conclusion, we must never stop our gun training or proficiency in self-defense skills. No amount of training or experience entitles us to grow complacent. Be aware of your surroundings and make sure your house is secure. If your home utilizes window A/C units, secure them in with something. Make sure your doors are locked, and always have a way of defending yourself handy (like a gun) so you may equalize whatever force your are presented with.

If you’d like to read about the old man in greater detail.

Benefits To The 9mm, And Why It’s The Go-To Caliber For Many

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The endless debate about which caliber is best, rages on. Here is why many people concealed carry 9mm parabellum guns.

ammunition
Some common ammunition.

Let me start by saying that, regardless of what you read elsewhere, all the popular self-defense cartridges are all good, with their own set of benefits. When I say “all” I mean those from .32 magnum up to .44 mag in revolvers, and .380 ACP up to .45 ACP in semi-autos, along with a few outliers.

This article is simply meant to explain why I think 9mm is best for everyday carry. If you have anything to add, please feel free to do so in the comments below the article. Also, keep in mind that this is just my opinion, and that I own several guns in varying calibers.

Cost:

Round for round, I can afford to shoot more 9X19 ammo than I can just about any other of the bigger self-defense cartridges. Because I can afford to shoot it more, I can practice more. As the saying goes, practice makes progress.

FNS9-C
My FNS9-C. That’s a link to the review.

There is a direct correlation to your ability to defend yourself and the amount of time you spend with your gun in your hand, drawing from a holster, etc. The more you do it, the better you’ll get, as with anything in life.

Abundance:

One of the most important things, in my opinion, is the abundance of any given round of ammunition. I, personally, own several 9mm handguns. I have other calibers, as well, but I have far more guns chambered in the parabellum cartridge, than I do any other.

As a side note, I even have a carbine in 9mm sitting by my desk right now (with a 30 round mag inserted), just in case some nut-job decides to pick my house to break into while I’m typing this up. There has been an uptick in the amount of break ins, as of late, and I aim to not be caught off guard.

MP5K varaian
Zenith Z5k

What do I mean when I say abundance? Well, without securing my tinfoil hat on too tightly, in a SHTF scenario, 9mm ammo and guns are ideal because of their popularity with police officers, military units and plenty of concealed gun carriers.

While not ideal for hunting, 9mm will suffice in a pinch, and still be used for self and home-defense.  

Performance:

Modern technology has closed the gap between the 9mm Parabellum and .45ACP considerably. While the 9mm Luger will always only be able to open up a hole so big, other things have changed, bettering terminal ballistics.

Here’s an excellent video someone else did on 124 Grain Jhp Hst :


Does it perform as well as its bigger cousin? Well, in terms of bullet hole size, no, and it never will. But, it performs in other ways, like penetration and the ability to reach (and damage) more organs.

Terminal ballistics and proper cartridge choice are important things to consider. It’s never a good idea to just go to the sporting goods store and buy whatever 9mm NATO they have in stock, unless it’s just for target practice.

I personally tend to use 124 grain Jacketed Hollow Points (JHP) in my concealed carry gun of choice, as seen in the above video. 

Ease of shooting:

This is another way of saying 9mm recoils less, and therefore allows more follow up shots than a similarly sized handgun of a larger caliber does. This isn’t a big deal for everyone, me included, but it’s a good reason to carry the 9 mil as a defensive weapon for many people.

Magazine Capacity:

Of course, it depends on the state you live in, because some states cap the amount of rounds you carry, regardless of what you think. However, it should be noted that if you live in a state where there is no magazine ban, 9mm is a great choice because many of today’s guns come with a capacity of 16 or 17 rounds in the mag, with one in the pipe.  

I live in North Carolina. And, as such, I don’t suffer from a magazine capacity ban. So, if I chose to, I could walk around with a 30 round magazine in my pistol and, while that’s not the best idea for carrying a gun, nobody could say anything to me.


My Springfield XD-9, which I no longer carry but still own, comes with 16-round magazines. I have a holster with three built in mag pouches. With those three, a mag in the well, and a round in the chamber, I can carry around 65 rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition with me wherever I go.

Is that a little overkill? Maybe. But, then again, terrorists shooting up Christmas parties and nightclubs is also a bit overkill, and it’s an ever growing occurrence these days.

Pardon me if I feel the need to be over prepared, rather than underprepared. I always believe it’s better to have more ammo than you need, than need more than you have.

There are the benefits to carrying a 9mm concealed carry gun. Why do you carry 9? Why do you dislike it? What’s your personal reason? Let us know in the comments? Then, make sure you like Down Range Daily’s Facebook Page.

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

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Definitive Arms AKX-9

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.

Definitive Arms AKX-9

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.

Definitive Arms AKX-9

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:

Definitive Arms AKX-9

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.

Definitive Arms AKX-9

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.

Definitive Arms AKX-9

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.

Definitive Arms AKX-9

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.

Definitive Arms AKX-9

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.

Definitive Arms AKX-9

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.

Definitive Arms AKX-9

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.

Definitive Arms AKX-9

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.

Definitive Arms AKX-9

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.

Definitive Arms AKX-9

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.

Definitive Arms AKX-9

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.