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LAG Tactical Defender Holster Review

April 10, 2018 By Josh Leave a Comment

At the present time in firearms holster technology, if you don’t offer up something different than most others out there, you’re going to drown in the ocean of Kydex holster makers, struggling for air. L.A.G Tactical is a Kydex holster manufacturer that’s just different enough to snuff out the rest of the competition as they climb up this proverbial ladder.

I first ran into them at SHOT Show, 2017, surprisingly out on the range. I say it that way, because most holster companies choose to sit range day out, and opt to attend the greater part of the show.

After all, range day is open to only a small percentage of the people allowed to attend SHOT Show. If memory serves me correctly, only about 1,000 media pros are invited to the range each year, while somewhere in the neighborhood of 80,000 media and buyers are present at the rest of the show.

Either way, that’s where I met the folks at L.A.G Tactical, and they stand out in my memory as the company who handed me a Kydex business card holder that I still have, and use. In fact, I whipped it out when I saw them at SHOT Show, 2018 a few months back to show them I still had it, and to thank them, again.

kydex holster — LAG Tactical Defender with two Springfield Armory pistols

It was at this point where I was offered the chance to do a review on one of their holsters: The Defender.

I’m actually pretty stoked they sent it out to me, because where most plastic holsters are nearly identical to all others, the Defender has a few nice touches added that really help it stand out. They sent me two holsters of the same type for two different guns: One for a 4-inch 1911, and one for a Springfield Armory XD9, 4-inch barrel.

Both can be carried IWB or OWB depending on your preferences, and I was sent the clips for each. Though, I do feel inclined to let you know that I always prefer IWB carry in the 4 o’clock position and only had them set up for outside the waistband for a short time.

Let me start by saying that the the L.A.G. Tactical Defender Holster has since been added to the rotation of concealed carry gun holsters I use on a fairly regular basis, and retired a couple others, that I’m not a big fan of, anymore.

Hey, opinions change.

The LAG Tactical Defender Holster is comfortable. Now, I know that’s something you hear in a lot of holster reviews, but hear me out.

I traveled from my home in Pennsylvania to the mountains of North Carolina in an effort to find more affordable housing, and the only time I had the 1911 and LAG Tactical holster off my body was when I drove through communist Maryland.

Let me rephrase that for you in a different way, I took a 12 hour trip (I have 3 little kids who need the bathroom every 47 seconds so an 8 hour trip turns into 12) and I was no more uncomfortable than I would have been with my snubby revolver in my pocket, which is my usual travel gun.

As a side note, the reason why I didn’t bring my snub with me on this trip is because I had to review this holster, and thought a 12 hour trip with the gun placed at 4 o’clock would be a good demonstration of its comfort. I chose the 1911 instead of the XD9 because of its lesser capacity, overall, than the XD.

I know it sounds counter intuitive, but after speaking to a lawyer about driving through MD and realizing that I need as many things on my side as possible in case I get stopped, I opted for this pistol.

Maryland sucks for gun owners.

But, I digress …

The LAG Tactical Defender Holster is sturdy and has some great standard features that you come to expect on a modern day concealed carry gun holster, like adjustable cant and ride height. Personally speaking, I found the configuration it came in to be the most comfortable and left it that way.

The Defender is modular in that you can wear it inside the waistband, or swap it for outside the waistband use with a different set of available plastic (likely injection molded) belt clips. So, you essentially get two different holsters, if you get the extra clips.

I don’t usually carry OWB (outside the waistband), so it didn’t stay that way for long. But, when I carried that 1911 IWB (inside the waistband), it was effing dreamy. The hard, plastic Kydex shell is curved so it suctioned up to my right butt cheek like it was there from birth.

Check out the curved shape. It fits my butt like a glove.

Another thing I’m a fan of on this Kydex concealed carry gun holster is the flared lips up top. It’s the little things in life that make you stop and thank people who took the time to make something right. While it may not seem like that big of a deal, the flared top makes it that much easier on the re-holster.

Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, but there aren’t many other holster manufacturers who do that.

kydex iwb holster — This baby is puckered up like a prom queen.

The fit on this $79.95 holster is great for the guns they sent me holsters for, and they fit snug inside without any excessive movement, the hardware is top quality, and the retention is adjustable. I literally have no complaints which is hard for me if you’ve read any of my other reviews on other websites.

I do believe an $80 price tag is a bit much for your average Kydex holster, but the LAG Tactical Defender Holster is far from average, so they can get away with it and likely sell them all day long. Have you tried this one yet? If so, let us know in the comments below.

Blackhawk Omnivore Holster Review: It Eats (Almost) Everything

March 12, 2018 By Eve Flanigan Leave a Comment

There are lots of great full-size pistols on the market without a holster that fits. The relatively new Sarsilmaz SAR 9, for example, is a great firearm with no custom holster of its own. It took years for something other than the factory-supplied Serpa knockoff to be available for my own Canik TP9 SA.

What’s a body to do when there’s a great gun, but no holster on hand? Enter the Omnivore, by Blackhawk!. It’s a holster that fits pretty much any full-size handgun that has an accessory rail. More than that, it meets or exceeds the safety standards of many respected civilian and law enforcement institutions.

The Omnivore owes its safety to two measures of retention. It clicks into place in the holster thanks to a screw-on rail attachment that’s about the size of a Matchbox toy car. Releasing retention is accomplished by a fairly intuitive press of the thumb downward, against a padded button, during the draw.

This duo of retention devices overcome the danger factor associated with Blackhawk’s embattled Serpa design, which uses a lever inside the trigger guard as a retention device. The Serpa has become notorious for punishing people with poor finger discipline, and in two isolated cases, unintended discharges of a holstered gun allegedly happened after the lever became clogged with snow or ground debris during training exercises.

An added bonus of the rail-only retention device is that it protects the firearm’s finish. There’s no friction against the frame.

Since it is a Level 2 holster, that is to say a specific action on the part of the wearer, other than the upward draw, is required to release the firearm, the Omnivore is a handy option to have in stock for departments that require a Level 2 holster and allow employees to carry their own firearm.

The thumb-operated release requires a definite, but intuitive press during the draw. There’s an extension supplied with the holster so reaching it is never a problem with pistols that rest high in the holster. Blackhawk was serious about a universal fit with this holster.

The company maintains a list of compatible pistols on its website. As a rule, if it has a rail, it’ll fit. My guess is that the design would need revamping for the coming wave of concealment guns, like Sig Sauer’s P365 and the Springfield Armory XDE, rail guns that are well short of being full-size.

Users can mount their choice of a paddle or belt attachment. The belt slots are even adjustable for a variety of belt widths.

The Omnivore is available in right- and left-hand models. Those who carry common auxiliary lights weren’t left out; light-bearing models can accommodate either the Streamlight TLR 1 or TLR 2, or the Surefire X-300 or X-300UA.

Height of belt-mounted carry with the Omnivore is typical for a duty holster, neither high nor low. With a few reps of practice, the draw is natural and fast. This is a great holster in its own right, and a great choice for the family or facility that needs a multi-purpose holster for a variety of handguns.

While flexibility is the name of the game with the Omnivore, it does take a little time to set up for any given gun and wearer. I spent about 30 minutes reading directions, sorting the parts and hardware, and finally assembling a holster.

So far I’ve found no weaknesses in this holster; especially with the boxy light-bearing model (I own both), I was concerned that being squashed inside a seatbelt might encourage bending or brittleness. None of that has happened.

Prices vary widely, from $15 to $44 depending on vendor. Have you tried the Blackhawk Omnivore? Let us know in the comments.

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.

A Primer On The Concealed Carry Gun Holster

November 10, 2017 By Josh Leave a Comment

If there is one thing you’ll find out as you go on through your career as a concealed gun carrier, it’s that there are as many concealed carry gun holsters as there are firearms manufacturers. Trying to figure out which one is best for you, your method of carry, your body type, and everything else that one must consider when it’s time to conceal your gun, is not an easy task.

This blog exists to help you along your way. There are tons of holsters out there, and I’ve worked in the industry long enough that I’ve tried many of them out. So, I guess that should bring me to my next point: Who am I and why am I qualified to talk about gun holsters?

First, let me state that I’ve been carrying a concealed gun for a while. Beyond that, though, I’m a US Marine, have worked in the gun industry for many of the largest gun publications in the world, to include guns.com, TTAG, GunCarrier, LiveOutdoors, PewPewTactical, HomeDefenseGun, SurvivalLife, OffGridSurvival, and others.

I’m also the managing editor for ConcealedCarry.com, own the website you’re reading right now, and I’ve been writing gun holster reviews for many years.

Now, before we move on to bigger and better things, like the different types of gun holsters you’ll find on the market today, let’s go over what a good holster is supposed to do for you.

If you didn’t know, the thing that you carry your gun around in every day is supposed to do a few important things, very well. Here are some of those must haves in your tactical gun holster:

It doesn’t allow you to shoot yourself
It protects your gun
It protects you
It doesn’t move around on you
It keeps your gun secure

Let’s go over those bullet points independently:

Don’t shoot yourself:

I’m sure you’ve seen or heard of people who have “accidentally” shot themselves because they had a defective holster or their holster just didn’t have a sturdy part that protected the trigger. Here’s the deal, your gun holster should be sturdy enough that you can’t manipulate the trigger. If you can manipulate it, you need a different one.

Sometimes, good holsters just get old and need to be replaced with a newer one. There’s nothing wrong with this, and you should be doing random, periodic inspections of your gun holster to make sure that it’s still functional. I plan to cover this more in detail in a later post.

Protect your gun:

owb gun holster — The HTC holster is finish-protecting with great retention.

Many people don’t realize this, but your holster should protect your gun from you. What do I mean? Your body, if it’s anything like mine, is sweaty and has bodily oils. That stuff can damage your gun if you’re not careful. A good firearm holster actually has some parts to it that protect it from you.

Protects you:

This is twofold. First, as we already stated, your concealed carry holster should prevent you from shooting yourself. No-brainer, hopefully. What else? Well, ever have an uncomfortable holster rub you the wrong way? Or, ever have the grip of a gun with such an aggressive stippling job on it that rubbed your love handles the wrong way?

I have and it sucks. A properly fit gun holster won’t allow that to happen as much. And, I do want to state here, that what works well for me in this area, may not work well for you. A lot of it depends on your body type.

It shouldn’t move:

A rookie mistake is when you have to adjust your gun because it’s not comfortable. Look, your gun is concealed for a reason … you want it to be hidden. If you’re constantly adjusting it because it’s moving around on you, that’s a no-go situation.

Why? Because you’re giving away your position! Think about it, if you were behind enemy lines and you saw an advancing army, would you stand up and wave? Hells to the no … you’d hide your ass until the coast was clear. In the case of concealed carry, it’s when you get home.

What if I open carry? Trust me when I say that if you’re open carrying your gun the last thing anyone wants to see is you reach for it. Talk about awkward!

Secure:

On a slightly different note, your gun should also stay put. Your concealed carry holster moving around on your body is one thing, but if the gun works its way out of the holster that’s something totally different. If it comes out at all, you need a new holster ASAP. The last thing you could ever want to happen is to be bending over at the grocery store and your gun plop out on the ground.

Now that we’ve gotten that part out of the way, let’s talk briefly about the different types of holster materials that are used to make them.

Leather:

Leather gun holsters are classic, reliable, sturdy, long lasting, etc. You really can’t go wrong here. They don’t damage your gun with hard plastics that can mar up a finish (specifically found on plastic injected pieces), and they can be formed to fit your gun perfectly.

There are a plethora of different gun holster manufacturers out there, and most of them are master leather crafters who’ve perfected the process of holster making over the course of many years. The above pictured leather holsters are from JM4 Tactical.

Kydex:

Again, you can’t really go wrong with kydex. Still not as abrasive as certain plastic injection pieces, and very sturdy. Many Kydex gun holsters can be found in hybrid form that are combined with other materials, like leather. These work well, and are a dime a dozen. One of my favorites is the above pictured Kydex Holster from MFT.

Plastic Injection:

3 of Alien Gear's Holsters — 3 of Alien Gear’s Holsters, a combination of materials. These shells are boltaron I believe

Some plastics are fine. Others can hurt the finish on your firearm, so make sure you read a lot of reviews on a company before you decide to make a purchase. I own a few different plastic gun holsters, and can say that the cheaper ones I own did hurt the finish on one of my guns.

Nylon:

There are essentially two different types of nylon used in concealed carry holsters. The first one is just a regular, soft nylon that allows you to pull the trigger through the holster, which, as previously stated, is a no-go. The other kind of nylon used in gun holsters is ballistic nylon and much sturdier. Many times there is something between two layers of inner and outer layers to help give it more strength.

Before you buy a concealed carry gun holster:

Make sure you do a proper amount of research, beforehand. Check out your favorite gun blogs and read up on some reviews. Go to YouTube, and check out some reviews there as well. Then, once you’ve narrowed things down a bit, go ahead and research each company individually. Some companies aren’t all what they seem.

Finally, there is almost no getting around the dreaded box (or sock drawer) of holsters that you’ll accumulate. All the research in the world won’t prepare you for a holster that doesn’t fit you right. Some companies will let you return and get something else, while others force you to be stuck with your purchase. Either way, there is no getting around the box of holsters that you don’t touch.

In the end, all that matters is that you carry your self-defense gun so you can use it should the need arise. Stay safe, God bless, and stay tuned for more.

What’s your go-to holster? Let us know in the comments below.

Gun Test: FNS9-C Review in Flat Dark Earth

August 18, 2017 By Josh Leave a Comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let’s move on …

First Impressions of this pistol from FN:

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

My lame attempt at showing you the trigger.

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

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

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

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

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

It’s aggressive, maybe too much for some.

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

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

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

Anything made in the USA is good in my book

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

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

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

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

How is it as a carry piece?

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

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

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

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

FNs9-C Holster:

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

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

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

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

FNS9-C Magazines:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dislikes:

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

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

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

But again, people are stupid.

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

Takedown of the FNS-9 Compact:

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

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

Conclusion:

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

You can buy an FNS9-Compact, here.

Here are some specs, taken from FN:

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

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

NRAAM: First Impressions Of Beretta APX

May 13, 2017 By Josh Leave a Comment

Beretta brought their first full-sized, striker-fired pistol to the NRA’s Annual Meetings, 2017, and I was able to get my hands on it for the first time. The first thing you notice on the Beretta APX are the serrations cut into a majority of the slide. I can say that, at first, I wasn’t the biggest fan.

The gentleman I spoke to at the Beretta booth said that the photographer almost did “too well” taking pictures of the slide serrations, because they’re very prominent.

Before I got the pistol in my hand, I did not like them. At all.

I can say, however, after getting my hands on the pistol at their booth at the NRAAM, I see why they’re there, and why they went with such an aggressive serration pattern: Because they work.

They don’t just work, however. It didn’t really matter where I gripped the slide to pull it back, or how loose my grip was … Each time, without fail, the slide went back nice and easy.

I even went back a few different times in disbelief at how much I liked something I had presumed to hate, just to see if I still liked it. In the gun world, when some people poke fun at the boxiness and looks of polymer pistols, always remember that function trumps aesthetics every time.

When you get the pistol, it comes with different sized back straps that can be interchanged according to your hand size and comfort level. I tried out the medium and large size while at the NRAAM, and can say that both of them helped to fit the gun in my hand like it was meant to be there.

While I have not brought a Beretta APX to the gun range yet, I can say that from the time I had with it at the show, I was able to eject a magazine without having to adjust the grip on my hand–a huge positive for me–because most guns don’t let me keep that positive, combat grip on my pistol.

As a side note, many people assume that because I have larger than normal hands, that I should be able to reach all of the controls, very easily. I can say, however, that hands that are too big, are nearly as bad as those that are too small, when it comes to the design on some guns.

My hands are huge, so I have to adjust my grip on most pistols, when it’s time to eject a magazine. While I haven’t had that much time with the Beretta APX, I assume that it’s partially because of the teardrop shape of the release itself. On pistols with a round, or circular release, I have a hard time reaching. I’ll learn more when I actually get to shoot one.

Current setup on the mag release is for right handed shooters, but it does look from first glance to have the ability to swap over for lefties.

Finally, again while I’ve not fired it yet, another thing that stands out in my mind about the APX, was a great trigger and seemingly short reset which will be confirmed when I get my hands on one.

MSRP for both 9mm and .40 S&W is set at $575, and come with Cali-compliant magazines, and 15 or 17 rounders, depending on your chosen caliber.

I’m glad I was able to stop by their booth and get my hands on this new pistol. I’m going to do everything I possibly can to get my hands on one at the range and bring you a proper evaluation. What do you think about those slide serrations? Have you had the chance to get your hands on the Beretta APX yet? Let me know in the comments.

NRA Annual Meetings: FN 509 With Video

April 28, 2017 By Josh Leave a Comment

FN Recently announced the release of their newest pistol line, yes you read that correctly: This is a confirmed new lineup of pistols from the battle proven firearms manufacturer. While they won’t really tell me what that means, we can all guess that it’s something along the lines of a compact/subcompact line of guns, likely ranging in different calibers.

I recently got a chance to catch up with some of the folks from FN at the 2017 NRA Annual Meetings (NRAAM), and what follows is what I found out.

The 509 takes a lot of cues from its FNS brethren, with just enough changes to make it different. It comes with a 4 inch barrel, a 17 round magazine, and the only option currently available is in 9mm parabellum. As a side note, for those of you who live in a more unfriendly gun state, there are also 10 round mags, as well to help you conform to the crappy laws in your state.

Furthermore, the FN 509 is taken to a new level with front and rear deep-cut serrations, 3-dot luminescent sights, a new grip texture pattern that I think is an improvement, and an ambidextrous slide release.

Check out the following video I got from one of FN’s employees, and if I remember correctly, someone who even helped design the FN 509 pistol. Here’s the video:

What did you think? Is this something you’re excited for? Do you own any of FN’s products right now? Let me know in the comments below, and make sure you stay tuned because we’ve got more NRAAM 2017 coverage coming your way, soon. In fact, it may be a good idea for you to subscribe directly to my YouTube Page so you don’t miss anything.