gun review

Mossberg MC1SC Review

April 9, 2019 By Josh Leave a Comment

Mossberg MC1SC Review —

Mossberg shocked the gun industry earlier this year with the announcement and release of their 9mm striker fired pistol, the MC1SC. We were there at SHOT Show when it was released and were one of the first groups in the entire industry to fire it.

While many folks were confused with why Mossberg would make such a firearm after making nothing but shotguns and rifles for about 100 years, it makes sense to us.

Mossberg wanted a bigger slice of the pie. I can’t say as though I don’t get it. Most of us want a bigger slice of the pie, right?

I’ve got a few hundred rounds of ammo through a couple of these guns, and what follows is my Mossberg MC1SC Review.

I’m a huge fan of anyone displaying innovation in gun manufacturing. In recent years, gun companies have had to try to stand out that much more to win the lion’s share of sales.

What can I say? Mossberg hit a home run here. The MC1 comes with premium options like an excellent trigger at affordable prices not seen in a gun of this caliber before.

And no, I’m not just talking about the shape of the trigger, though I am a fan of its shape, too. It has a short amount of takeup, maybe about a half inch though I haven’t measured it, hits a hard wall, and then breaks with a crisp snap.

It returns back with a click that is both felt and heard during reset.

In hand the MC1SC just feels like it’s supposed to be there. It is almost as if it’s an extension of my body–just the way I like it. This pistol does not come with any backstrap inserts, nor do I feel that it needs them.

It just belongs there.

It is a small gun, though and I do have a hard time getting my entire grip on the gun–even with the pinky extender 7-round mag. Then again I’m 6’4″ and 300 pounds with proper hands to match.

Still, the gun feels right at home in my hand and it shoots great.

Some folks may not like the grip texture that much and while Mossberg calls it an aggressive grip, I don’t really think it is. I’m personally not a huge fan of aggressive stippling on my guns so it’s actually perfect for me.

However, some shooters won’t find it grippy enough for them.

Also take notice of the magazine release which is perfectly positioned and sticks out just far enough to be hit by my thumb. This is something that I have a hard time with on many guns.

You’ve likely often thought that bigger people have less problems. While we can reach the stuff on the back of the top shelf at the grocery store, that’s about the extent.

My thumbs are shaped in such a way that I’m prevented from effectively hitting the magazine release on many guns out there. That’s not a problem, here.

Here is another picture of the magazine release from the other side. It sits flush, here, but is reversible:

There are multiple different models of Mossberg’s MC1SC out there currently: a cross bolt safety model, a base model, a model with night sights, etc. The one they sent out to me is the one with the night sights.

They asked me which I’d like and I offered up “first available” to them. I have to admit that I’m glad I didn’t get the safety model as I wouldn’t use it.

While I do think that the cross bolt safety is an interesting option that is likely more intuitive than a manual thumb safety would have been, it’s just not for me.

I was secretly hoping for the base model in case I loved it so much that I’d buy it from them. That way I could do so at the lowest possible price. I’m happy they sent me the one they did, though. The night sights are of high quality and the rear sight allows for one handed slide racking.

A moment ago I mentioned the sights, and here is a picture of the back of the gun showing off the rear sights as well as takedown:

The dots work well, and the sights do light up nicely in lower light conditions. I have yet to fire it at night though, so I’ll report back when I do.

Takedown is not what you’re used to, but very intuitive. Simply lock the slide to the rear, remove the magazine, check the chamber to make clear, and press the button on the back of the slide (the area with the horizontal lines).

That button/plate then slides downward (and out) allowing the firing pin to slide outward toward the back. Finally, while grasping the slide, release the slide and it comes right off without requiring the trigger pull.

One area where I wish more gun manufacturers put thought into, besides the trigger, is the serrations on the slide. I feel as though there are many people out there who’d benefit from a more aggressive slide serration profile than what many manufacturers are actually giving us.

Mossberg actually has pretty decent, not to mention attractive, slide serrations cut into this slide. They provide a decent amount of grip to help chamber a round under stress, and when not. Overall, I think they put a good amount of thought into this and it shows.

They provide both fore and aft chamber serrations, depending on your preference. Here is an extreme up close shot of the rear serrations:

Where it gets tricky for the MC1 is in support. As of right now, more holster manufacturers are joining up to help the concealed or open carrier with options to carry this gun for protection, but the selection isn’t huge.

For this review, I used two different holsters. I had requested that Clinger send me one of their V3 No Print Wonders, as well as a Desntis Gun Hide holster.

Both companies sent me great options to carry, both are very different, and both have a review coming your way in the very near future. Here is a picture of the Mossberg pistol in the Clinger Holster:

At just over one inch wide (1.03 to be exact) it conceals well. The barrel is 3.4 inches and it’s 4.3 inches tall. Overall, it conceals well. I had no issues concealing this gun on my body at the 3-3:30 position in a Desantis Gun Hide Leather OWB holster and a baggy t-shirt.

The base model has an MSRP of $425.00, and I’ve heard people saying they’ve been picking them up for between $350-375. Overall, this is an affordable gun that seems to be uber reliable up to this point with a few hundred rounds downrange. It ships with two clear, plastic magazines.

The flush mount mag holds six rounds, and the pinky extender holds seven. And, overall, the 19 ounce, empty, gun doesn’t recoil as badly as you think it would shooting any number of ammunition from 115 grain reloads and Federal American Eagle, to 135 grain Hydra Shok JHP ammo.

It handled and felt great while shooting. I even took it out to 20-25 yards and put some rounds on steel one handed. It was great. Again, like an extension of my body.

The only thing I wish it had, was the capacity to hold a few more rounds. Not a deal breaker for me, especially when you take into account that I carry a revolver on a semi-regular basis, but it’d be nice to add a few more rounds here.

Still, I’ll be buying this MC1SC from Mossberg if given the option, even as I send other guns back to their respective manufacturers. This one is too good, conceals too well, and handles too perfect to give back.

Here are some more pictures of the Mossberg MC1SC pistol that I just didn’t know where to put in the review but didn’t want to leave out because I spent the time taking them and adjusting the sizes and whatnot —

Check out our handgun ballistics chart next.

Have you shot the Mossberg MC1SC yet? What did you think about it? Let us know in the comments below.

Rock Island 22 TCM Pistol Review (Convertible 9mm 1911)

April 19, 2018 By Josh Leave a Comment

Rock Island 22 TCM / 9mm 1911 Pistol

I’m not what you’d call a 1911 super-fan. Nor am I what you’d call a Glock fan. If I had to put a finger on where I stand, it’d be somewhere in the middle. Though, I admittedly don’t own a Glock at the moment. There’s no special reason that is, and a G26 is on my buy list once the funds come into play.

I do own a few 1911s, though, so there is that. When the opportunity came about to do a Rock Island Armory 1911 review on the 22 TCM and 9mm combo, I said yes, please.

In all actuality, I’ve never shot one before, even though I’ve seen them at SHOT Show.

I’m obviously not new to guns, nor the 1911/2011 platform. What was new to me, however, is the fantastic muzzle blast that accompanied the .22 Tuason Craig Micro-magnum. It’ll forever be burned into my brain housing group. After all, this was the day I brought my nine year old girl to the range for the first time, as well.

It was a sunny day, and my little girl had just finished up shooting her little .22 Henry Repeater for the very first time. She did great, and built up some great confidence with her ability to hit her target and the not-so-loud .22 long rifle cartridges she easily cycled.

Sadly, that all went away once I stepped up to the bench with the 22 TCM Rock Island 1911. From the corner of my eye I saw her nearly hit the ceiling of the overhead roof on the first press of the trigger.

The blast and associated fireball was way more than she was expecting from such a little gun (in her mind as she compared it to her “much bigger” lever action rifle). Because of this, I pulled her rifle back out and sat her back down at the bench, to re-build that confidence I had nearly shattered.

About The .22 TCM Cartridge, AKA Tuason Craig Magnum

There is quite a bit of obscurity regarding the .22 TCM cartridge, when it came out, what you can use it for, what are the ballistics of an Armscor .22 TCM, etc. It is a relatively new cartridge being only a few years old and is Armscor’s answer to FN’s 5.7X28. About one month ago, I was sent a Rock Island Armory 1911 combo, capable of shooting both .22 TCM and 9mm with nothing more than the swap of a barrel and spring.

.22 TCM’s lineage:

This quick little 22 handgun cartridge is essentially a shortened down .223 case. How short? Well, it’s about as tall as a .45 ACP with similar casing dimensions as a 9mm parabellum. Those similar casing dimensions allow for the .22 TCM cartridge and the 9mm Luger to use the same magazines when feeding your hungry 1911.

I do want to say here, that while they both use the same mags, the barrel and spring are totally different, for hopefully obvious reasons. You don’t want to confuse the two.

Many folks falsely assume that this cartridge is a necked down 9X19. While the dimensions are similar, it’s actually a shortened, necked down .223 Remington cartridge. As you can see from a below photo, the 9mm and the .22 TCM are about the same height with the 22 cal ammo edging it out just slightly.

What does TCM mean?

Glad you asked. So this guy named Fred Craig (the “C” in TCM) decided that he wanted to design a new pistol cartridge. So, he put his brain to work and came up with this shortened, necked down .22 cal ammo that’s similar in case-size to many handgun rounds. Armscor got wind of what he was doing, wanted in, and that’s where the “T” comes from: The Armscor company president, Mr. Tuason.

That just leaves us with the “M” in the name. This should be obvious, but in case it isn’t, it stands for micro-magnum. This little sucker is cruising at speeds in the neighborhood of 2,000 FPS at the muzzle. For reference, the average 9mm parabellum travels between 1,100 and 1,200 FPS at the muzzle.

How does it shoot:

This was the surprising part for me the first time I shot one, because I wasn’t expecting the result. While felt recoil was minimal, the muzzle blast was effing atrocious for a 22 handgun. To say it was loud is an understatement. But as far as having a range toy is concerned, having the ability to shoot balls of flame from your 22 cal pistol just makes things more interesting from my own point of view.

That being said, if you can get used to the muzzle blast, and I assume you’re here because this stuff excites you, it is quite pleasant to shoot, considering the felt-recoil is minimal allowing for quick target re-acquisition. Overall, besides the Coonan Classic chambered in .357 Magnum, this is some of the most fun I’ve had in a 1911 style gun.

And I have to admit that I am a 1911 fan. I can’t wait to bring this .22 handgun back to the range again, and plan on smiling with it the whole time.

What is the .22 TCM good for?

This is potentially the most interesting part of this article because I’m sure I’m about to confuse some of you. For certain people, the Rock Island .22 TCM guns will be a decent self-defense tool. Before you lose it on me for suggesting a 22 handgun for SD, hear me out.

There is a relatively large population of folks who are unable to pull the slide back on guns with a stouter recoil spring. Because the Second Amendment also applies to them, they, too, have the right to self-defense.

Once these poor people learn that they cannot pull a slide properly to the rear, they scour the WEB or the local gun-store for advice. What are they told? To get a revolver with a long, heavy DAO trigger that gets rid of the slide, altogether. Is that the best advice for someone who has hands that are so weak that they can’t pull back the slide on a semi-auto?

Is it likely that their hands are also weak enough that they cannot correctly (and accurately) pull a long, heavy double action only trigger? I’d say the chances are good that they cannot. Especially when you consider that many of these revolvers kick like a mule with their small frame.

Now, I would personally not use 22 cal pistols in self-defense, but if I had weaker hands that were unable to pull back the slide on a semi-automatic pistol or if I was tremendously recoil resistant, I would feel comfortable enough using a gun chambered in .22 TCM (or 22 magnum) for self-defense. Being that the .22 TCM doesn’t recoil that hard, its spring is lighter and easier to manipulate.

On that Rock Island .22 TCM 1911, I can pull back the slide with one finger. That’s how easy it is. Of course, I can only do it with one finger when the hammer is cocked, but that still shows how light of a spring that 22 TCM pistol uses.

Therefore, because it’s so light, I call this a great self-defense option for some people. After all, the gun you’ve got on you is better than the one you’ve got in your sock drawer.

Would it be my first choice since I am quite capable of handling recoil and can certainly pull back a slide with the man-mitts I call hands? No, not likely. However, this cartridge moves at 2,000 feet per second out of the Rock Island Armory 1911 and transfers about 350 lb.ft of energy to your target.

I don’t have any testing data on it, but this lady does a great job showing off some 22 TCM ballistics gel testing, and the first half of the wound channel is fearsome:

If you’ve got a Rock Island Armory 1911 or one of those rifles in .22 TCM, I want to hear what you think about it. What are your ammo woes? Can you find any where you live or do you need to special order from these guys? Let me know in the comments below.

Now on to the 22 TCM 1911 Pistol Review …

The skelotonized trigger on this Rock Island 1911 is exactly what I’ve come to expect from modern day interpretations of John Moses Browning’s timeless (and dare I say brilliant?) design. It is light and crisp with a short break and reset. The gun handles well, the finish and fit are flawless, and the controls are exactly what you’d expect on this gun. No surprises there.

Here is the right side of the Rock Island Armory .22 TCM 1911

This is one of my favorite guns to shoot right now. Reason being, it has minimal felt recoil when set up to shoot .22 TCM. This is one of, if not the, lowest recoiling 1911s I’ve ever fired. There are, of course, a few different reasons for this. First, it’s a heavy gun. Physics dictates (though I’m far from a professor) that a heavier (something/anything) will absorb more impact than a lighter thing will of the same size.

In the world of guns this means that a heavier gun will reduce the amount of recoil that is actually felt.

This, coupled with the fact that you’re basically shooting a light projectile and a few other things I’m not going to cover, equals a much lighter perceived recoil. Overall, this gun is a blast to shoot and is great for plinking, target practice, and all around just having fun at the range.

The controls were exactly where they were supposed to be, and I’m sure the ambi safety will come in handy for you southpaws. Take down is as easy as any other 1911 on the market, and barrel swaps to make it a 9mm 1911 are a breeze.

22 TCM Ammo Options:

From left to right: 9mm, .22 TCM, .223 Rem

.22 TCM Ammo options are pretty much limited to what you can get from Armscor, the parent of Rock Island Armory. There isn’t even much support for re-loaders, as far as my research has brought me to conclude. I’m admittedly not a re-loader yet though, due to space limitations in my abode. Therefore, don’t take my word on this one, and if you have any recommendations on re-loading .22 TCM ammo, I’m all ears.

Anyway, one of the great things about this particular gun, is that it comes standard from Rock Island with two barrels and two recoil springs. One for .22 TCM and one for 9mm. This helps make this nasty little bugger more than just a novelty, as you can run as much 9X19 through this 1911 as your little heart desires.

Here’s the 9mm barrel, making this gun a great addition to any collection

Another thing to keep in mind, is that the .22 TCM ammo isn’t exactly an abundantly found round. What I mean, is that most gun stores don’t stock it because most people have never even heard of it. Therefore, it can be expensive to shoot. I can say, however, that as expensive as it is, it’s also really fun to shoot.

I am able to find it at my local Cabela’s (about 45 minutes away) and there are plenty of online ammo suppliers who carry it, as well as buying from a link on their website.

My target on a cold February Day at 10 yards. I zoomed in on it, below.

Self-Defense:

Yes you read that right, I do feel as though this gun can be used for self-defense. Besides the fact that there are plenty of people out there who use 9mm Parabellum for self-defense on a regular basis, I also believe that there are some folks who could benefit from the .22 TCM cartridge for self-defense applications, too.

Think about it like this, this little sucker is moving at just under 2,000 FPS at the muzzle, delivering over 300 pounds of energy. Granted, it’s a much smaller projectile than you’d like, but the gun is also easier to rack than many others are, and recoil is very light. Is it better to have a gun that a person can handle and manipulate or one that has a bigger projectile where he/she cannot?

In the world where this saying: carry the biggest gun in the biggest caliber you can, is decent advice, the .22 TCM is good enough to plug a bad guy full of lead. And, being that you can carry 17+ one in the pipe, in 9mm or 22 TCM, I’d say it’s more than sufficient for self-defense in either caliber.

Complaint:

Nothing is perfect. No gun is ever perfect. This gun is not mine, it is a loaner from Rock Island that I sadly had to send back when finished with my review. If I could afford it, I’d buy it.

The finish on the gun, while flawless when taken out of the box, has not held up quite as well as I’d hoped it would. The finish outside the ejection port is showing much more wear than I thought possible after only having 600 rounds of ammo through it. Not the biggest thing, and certainly not a deal breaker by any means.

And, who knows, maybe with the proper cleaning solvent the marring would wipe away. But, with what I’ve been using, it won’t come clean.

Had I the proper funds, I’d buy this pistol from RIA in an instant.

Zoomed in on my 10 yard targets, I’d say that’s a pretty dead paper plate

And, I feel as though this is a good spot to mention the overall cost of the ammo and it’s limited availability for shooters. .22 TCM ammo, until it catches on, will remain a novelty item, even if it is a fun novelty. But remember, this is also a 9mm 1911 (2011), so there’s also that. If you’re looking for a double stack, 17 round handgun, this may fit the bill.

Stats:

Caliber – 22 TCM / 9mm
Length – 8 inch
Height – 5.5 inch
Capacity – 17 + 1 Rounds
Front Sight – Fixed Mounted on Dovetail Cut
Rear Sight – LPA MPS1-Type Adjustable Rear Sight
Unloaded Weight – 2.5 lbs
Grips – G10
Finish – Parkerized
Barrel Length – 4.25 inch
Trigger Pul – l4 – 6 lbs / 181
MSRP As Tested – $960

Conclusion:

This is a great gun that, in my opinion, should be added to anyone’s collection who is serious about 1911/2011 ownership. Rock Island Armory makes a great gun, and the .22 TCM is some of the most fun you can have at the range. Team that up with a double stack 9mm barrel and recoil spring, and you’ve got a recipe for self-defense that is also a head turner on the range. Do I recommend this gun for fun and self-defense?

I do.

Check out this Rock Island 22 TCM 1911 pistol on their website, here. These guys also have several models in stock for pretty good prices.

Kel Tec CMR 30 Review

March 19, 2018 By Terry Nelson Leave a Comment

The CMR-30 with stock collapsed and sights folded down

The Kel-Tec CMR-30 review —

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

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

Sling mounts like this on left and right

Lots of features

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

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

Trigger

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

Accuracy and ammo

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

View through Magpul flip-up sights on the CMR

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

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

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

Magazines

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

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

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

Takedown

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

CMR-30 with stock collapsed and ACOG optic

Final thoughts

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

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

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

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

And, these guys have 22 WMR Ammo in stock.

Gun Review: Henry Big Boy Steel 44 Mag

January 11, 2018 By Eve Flanigan Leave a Comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The blued finish is handsome and field-ready.

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

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

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

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

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

All photos by Team HB.

Kel Tec PMR 30 Review

January 2, 2018 By Eve Flanigan 2 Comments

Kel-Tec PMR 30 Review —

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

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

Kel Tec PMR 30 Construction—a lot to love

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Firing the PMR-30

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Maintenance

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

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

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

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

The thumb safety is ambi and easy to operate.

Conclusion

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

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

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

All photos by Team HB.

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.