Test and Evaluation

JM4 Tactical Holster Review: Quick Click and Carry

August 15, 2018 By Josh Leave a Comment

Concealed Carry Holster Review, JM4 QCC

Generally speaking, I won’t do a holster evaluation unless it’s something really different that you just don’t see everyday.

For example, I don’t usually do Kydex holster reviews because everyone and their uncle can get some equipment, make one, and, sadly, many of them are nearly identical to each other.

This, of course, isn’t always the case. There are some that stand out.

What I always try to do, however, is find the best concealed carry holsters that just also happen to be different from the others out there, and bring them to you for a review.

JM4 Tactical concealed carry holster — I can walk in my front door, and literally stick my gun upside down (or right side up) on my steel door. It stays put.

This next one is actually something I saw in a Facebook ad one time, thought it was a great concept, and reached out to the dude in charge, Chad.

I first got my hands on the JM4 Tactical leather holster in about October of last year. I like to put holsters through a rugged test to make sure they hold up, so I used and abused it, and can say that I’m happy with what I’ve found.

JM4 QCC Holster — Inside view after a few months of drawing and re-holstering.

The main thing that makes this holster different, is that it utilizes a couple of dual-purpose magnets in its design. When I say dual-purpose, I mean that they are meant to do a couple of things.

Concealed Carry holster — The round spots are the uber strong magnets. Careful, if they catch each other with your finger in the way, it smarts!

First, the magnets are placed in a manner so that they’re attracted to each other, and that’s what keeps your holster from moving out of place. Second, the magnets are used in the retention of the gun, making sure it doesn’t fall out.

Let’s break it down even more, shall we?

The internet is filled with people showing videos on drawing and re-holstering their concealed carry gun with this JM4 Tactical QCC (Quick Click and Carry) concealed carry holster. Instead, I’ll include one of those videos at the bottom, while I show you things about it that some other people skip. Mainly, how it works … in detail.

Position:

First, let’s discuss how the magnets work to keep the gun in your pants.

JM4 Tactical holster — Stick the holster in your pants, with the one side of the magnet-flap lifted out. Once in the position you want, close the flap, until it reaches your pants.

You stick the holster down your trousers, and then flip the flappy magnet part over your belt. You can adjust it for cant and height, and, even though it can move, it’s slight enough that you don’t really notice.

JM4 QCC — Here I have the magnets wrapped around a standard 1-subject notebook and flipped it upside down to show it won’t move.

Oh, and just so you’re aware, every single time I flipped this gun/holster combo upside down, it was with a full mag inserted.

full magazine — Full magazine for this demonstration. Well, I took a round out to show someone what I carry.

Retention:

There are a few things that a holster needs to be able to do, in order for it to be considered “good” in the eyes of most concealed gun carriers. Keeping your gun positioned in your waistline is one of them. The other, is keeping your gun secured in the holster itself.

I ran each of the above tests, again, but this time I removed the gun more than half way.

Remember above when I said that the magnets were used to keep the gun in place? Let me show you what I mean.

The following picture shows the full-size Springfield Armory XD9 pulled halfway out, on purpose by me. It stayed put and did not move. Again, the magnets are strong.

JM4 concealed carry holster — Here is the loaded gun hanging on the 1 subject notebook again. This time, I pulled the gun out more than halfway and let it sit there.

This time, I figured I’d stick it on a piece of paper. Same result until the paper ripped:

JM4 QCC concealed carry holster — Gun purposely removed halfway out of the holster. It did not fall out.

Some folks like to keep a gun by the door for easy access. We won’t discuss if that’s a good tactic or not right now, but you can’t get any closer to your front door than on it, like in the below picture.

concealed carry holster dock — Here it is upside down on my front door again, only pulled halfway out.

Construction:

Now that we’ve gotten the basics out of the way, how does this holster hold up under pressure?

The leather is of high quality, and is thick. It seems as though a lot of use would be required to wear a hole in it, which is great.

As you likely know, negligent discharges tend to happen in worn out holsters, and, as a side note, it’s always a good idea to thoroughly and regularly check your gear out for damage. A damaged holster is not something to mess around with.

The primary concern for me, because I’ve had issues with other holsters of this type from other manufacturers, is the stitching. However, this holster stood up to all my tests, and the only thing I don’t like is that I struggle to get a combat grip on the gun from the draw (more on this in a bit).

Here is another shot, up close. A portion of it is double stitched, which gives extra peace of mind that it won’t fall apart.

JM4 Tactical — Here is another up close shot of the holster, and its logo.

A word about the magnet’s leather.

The leather that covers the magnets itself may end up being an issue at some point, simply because it is so thin. I can see the need to have thin material here, because it could hurt the effectiveness of the magnets, and thus, the retention of the holster itself.

Here is the other magnet, up close:

concealed carry magnet — Up close shot of the flap magnet.

Ease Of Use:

A few paragraphs ago I mentioned that I have a hard time getting a full-combat grip on the draw. This is huge for effective self-defense with a handgun.

Without a solid grip, the shooter could end up inadvertently causing an operator malfunction with a limp-wrist or loose grip. Just so we’re clear, a full combat grip is one that has the web of your hand as high up on the grip as possible.

The work around for this, is to simply practice drawing from it more. And, from what I can tell, most people don’t have this problem, and may be unique to me and my gorilla-sized hands.

Comfort:

I can say that, as far as a holster meant to be worn in the appendix position, which is usually uncomfortable for me, it is fairly comfortable. In fact, I’m wearing it right now in the 1 o’clock position with a full-size pistol as I sit in my office typing this up.

Conclusion:

It’s my opinion that the JM4 Tactical QCC is the best concealed carry holster of this type, and one of the top concealed carry holsters available on the market right now. I’m not usually a fan of non gun-specific gun holsters, but this one does its job well.

Overall, this one has my stamp of approval. It is competitively priced starting in the $70.00 range and going up from there depending on the color and type of leather you choose.

I also want to give a word of caution to any of you who may wear pacemakers or other devices keeping you alive that could be hurt by a strong magnet. These magnets are very strong, so keep that in mind.

A few minutes ago I said that I first saw this on a Facebook ad. I also told you that I’d show you a video. Here is the original video I saw on Facebook that got me to look into this holster for you:

Have you tried one of these before? If you have, please let me know what you thought about it in the comments below. If not, check this concealed carry holster out, here.

Charter Arms Review: 38 Special Revolver

April 30, 2018 By Josh 1 Comment

My travel gun. Charter Arms Off Duty, .38 SPL.

To travel without having the ability to defend yourself against an attack is not a smart idea. No matter where I go, I try to pack a firearm with me, just in case I’m ever presented with the need for self-protection.

I have a firearm dedicated to travel, and I thought it would be prudent to do a follow up to Todd’s article on how to fly with a gun, to just go over what I looked for in my dedicated travel gun. This article is part Charter Arms Off Duty Gun Review, and part information on what you may want to look for in your dedicated travel gun.

Full body shot of the gun, on top of my Sticky Holster

My Travel Gun from Charter Arms:

My travel gun is nothing more than a 5-shot, snub nose .38 Special revolver. To be more precise, it’s a Charter Arms Off-Duty. It’s perfect for what I need it for, but I do also carry it around town, from time to time, and even in my house whenever I need an lightweight handgun.

Charter Arms .38 — This older photo shows it needing a good cleaning.

It’s main purpose right now, however, is as my travel gun. I’ve been traveling for work a lot lately, and it serves this purpose well. There are a few reasons why it’s a good gun for me to travel with. First, it was a cheap handgun. If I remember correctly, I walked out of my FFL, gun in hand after taxes and transfer, for $325. For a brand new, fully functioning self-defense weapon, that ain’t bad.

This is important because, while the last thing I could ever want to happen is to have my gun stolen by TSA, having a $300 gun stolen won’t hurt as much as having a $700 gun stolen. Seems like a no-brainer to me, and the Charter Arms Off Duty fits the bill well, for this “cheap gun” requirement.

Sight view of the Charter Arms Off Duty. Snag Free.

However, I do want to say here, that it’s always important to do as much to prevent theft, as possible, by using a high quality case and following the directions of your airline.

Second, it’s a small and easily concealable pocket revolver, with a long double action only trigger. I have a Sticky Holster that allows me to drop it right in my pocket, tucked out of the way. This is perfect for those states that allow me to conceal a firearm, but not carry one out in the open, or even have brandishing laws.

Please note that my revolver is filthy in all of the photos, because pocket carry is dirty. You may not realize it, but your pockets are filled with lint, and it tends to stick to guns. Clean your pocket pistol or revolver often, to make sure it functions properly if and when you need it to save your life.

I’d like to point out that proper training to make sure you can draw from the pocket holster with your gun, is all important. If you don’t train with it, drawing it from the holster, don’t carry that way. Why? Because drawing from a pocket holster is a different kind of animal and takes a lot of practice to become proficient.

charter arms cylinder — Cylinder Release

Third, the Charter Arms snub has a capacity of just 5 shots. While this is less than ideal in many situations, it keeps me from breaking the law in any of the less gun-friendly states I’m traveling through, if I’m driving, or my destination is a state that doesn’t allow higher capacity weapons.

Charter Arms 5 shot snub — Loaded cylinder

For example, I live in Pennsylvania, and we are surrounded by the blue sea. Literally, we are surrounded by NJ, MD, DE, NY, and if I want to go anywhere, the only gun-friendly state is Ohio. I rarely go that way. Therefore, to make sure I don’t go to jail, I want to make sure I’ve got as much on my side as possible, to include a small capacity firearm, like the Charter Arms 38 in all these photos.

hollow point in gun — Business side of the loaded cylinder.

At the Range:

To say that the Charter Arms Off Duty is a handful is less than an understatement. At only 12 oz, this aluminum framed revolver doesn’t do a lot to mitigate felt recoil. And, when +P cartridges are involved, it gets to be even more fun to hang onto.

This is me trying to show you how small the gun is, and that this setup doesn’t have room for my pinky finger

Still, for what the Charter Arms Off Duty is, a pocket revolver or backup gun, it’s a fantastic option as my go to travel self-defense weapon. I am combat accurate with it up to 10 yards, the maximum distance I’d ever consider shooting with a firearm with a two inch barrel.

Please note that mine is configured with the short grip, and there is an option to put an extended grip on this 38 revolver, so you can get your pinky finger on it to tame it more. Of course, if I were to do this, I’d lose some concealability, and may not be able to pocket it anymore. As with all things in the self-defense lifestyle we live, there are gives and takes.

Downsides:

The main downside to this self-defense gun, are also some of it’s positives. It’s small and sleek. When I say sleek, I mean that the trigger guard is small, and tends to beat the snot out of my trigger finger whenever I shoot it. In fact, on numerous occasions my finger pops off the trigger and smacks the guard. After numerous shots it chews my knuckle up.

I do want to point out that this isn’t the only revolver I have a problem with, and is one of the reasons I’m looking forward to Colt’s new Cobra. The trigger guard is nice and big, which is perfect for my fat fingers.

charter arms trigger — Here is the small trigger guard that my finger has a hard time getting into.

After training with it on several different occasions, I have been able to modify my shooting so it doesn’t happen as much. My fingers are quite a bit bigger than the average shooter, and that, coupled with the overall small size of the trigger guard are a recipe for chewed up fingers.

Carrying Charter Arms Off-Duty:

She may not be the sexiest, but she still gets the job done!

The overall small stature of the Charter Arms Off Duty pocket revolver makes it an excellent choice for concealed carry or even as a backup gun. As an added benefit, the internal hammer helps prevent any snags on the draw. Which is perfect for me, because I tend to pocket carry this revolver whenever I wear it.

Conclusion:

The Charter Arms Off-Duty is an excellent choice for concealed carry, and I tend to use mine as my travel gun because it’s small, affordable, and easily concealed on my person. It goes bang every time, and fits the bill for exactly what I need. It’s not all puppies and rainbows because my finger snaps off the trigger when I shoot causing it to bleed, but I’d much rather have the a bleeding finger than be in a ditch somewhere, dead.

Do you own any of these no frills revolvers? Let me know in the comments below.

Kel Tec CMR 30 Review

March 19, 2018 By Terry Nelson Leave a Comment

The CMR-30 with stock collapsed and sights folded down

The Kel-Tec CMR-30 review —

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

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

Sling mounts like this on left and right

Lots of features

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

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

Trigger

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

Accuracy and ammo

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

View through Magpul flip-up sights on the CMR

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

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

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

Magazines

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

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

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

Takedown

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

CMR-30 with stock collapsed and ACOG optic

Final thoughts

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

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

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

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

And, these guys have 22 WMR Ammo in stock.

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

March 4, 2018 By Travis Pike Leave a Comment

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

So How Is the Tac 14 Legal?

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

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

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

Specs, Fit, and Finish

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

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

On the Range

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

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

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

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

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

Safety Issues

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

Reliability

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

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

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 Test: Sarsilmaz SAR 9 Review

November 14, 2017 By Eve Flanigan 2 Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Overall length: 7.5 inches

Barrel: 4.4 inches

Height: 5.5 inches

Width: 1.4 inches

Weight: 26.4 ounces, unloaded

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

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

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

*All photos by Team HB.

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.

Mantis X Review

January 14, 2017 By Josh Leave a Comment

Mantis X Training System — MantisX Training System. The device is mounted on the accessory rail of my XD9

Training tool review, MantisX — Because being fast on the draw is great, but if you can’t hit anything, what’s the point?

In the wonderful world of self-defense, you need to have a solid understanding of what you’re doing with your chosen weapon. Whether a knife or a firearm, you need to be able to use this tool to your advantage if your life is ever in danger.

I want to state right here, that a tool like the one I’m about to discuss should never replace a qualified instructor, but be used in conjunction with him/her.

Many tools are available to help you be better prepared, should the time ever come when you need to draw your weapon. And, there are even some things you can do for free, in the comfort of your own home. One such thing, is dry-firing.

I recommend dry-firing to everyone and do it myself. But it, alone, does have limitations.

While dry firing your gun is a great thing to do for trigger time, the amount of information you receive from it is limited. While it is true that you can put a penny or an empty casing on top of your front sight, only so much is learned from this method.

Personally, I have trained this way, and it does help you work on trigger control. Where it lacks, however, is giving you an idea of where your shots land on target, helping you figure out why you can’t hit your target.

In other words, if my front sight travels too far from the target, it measures that. The sensors in the device track the direction it travels, and lists likely reasons why your shot would have been high and to the right. Or, low and to the left.

Then, it displays how you might be able to fix it on the screen of your phone:

How well does it work?

I was successfully able to throw the device off multiple times, with it registering that I was doing something wrong. It didn’t, however, always state the exact thing I was purposefully doing wrong, but it did most of the time.

So, while it isn’t 100% accurate all the time, it did always pick up that I was doing something wrong which should force the shooter to concentrate more on all aspects of shooting mechanics.

How does it work?

There is a bluetooth-enabled device that you attach to your accessory rail equipped firearm. The device actually collects data based on your dry and live firing, and sends the information to an application on your phone.

From there, you can see what you’re doing wrong, each time you squeeze the trigger.

Too little trigger finger? It’ll let you know. Too tight of a grip? It’s got your back. Pushing the gun to one side? Yeah, it’s got you there too.

In short, it’ll tell you all you’re doing wrong, sort of like an instructor would do, and help you become a better shooter because of it. Again, it isn’t meant to replace an instructor.

Another plus, is that I was actually able to track my progress during the course of time I used it. It’s beneficial because even though I thought I fixed an issue, like having too tight of a grip, I found that old habits don’t leave all that easily.

I still grip my pistol too tight when squeezing the trigger.

So, how did I do with my time using the MantisX?

To start, as stated a minute ago, I have a death grip on my gun. I found out that I over-grip it a majority of the time–more than any other shooting error.

I’ve got big, strong hands, and I just feel the need to manhandle everything I touch, and, for whatever reason, my gun is no different. So I now make a mental note to not grip so hard. It’s an uphill battle for me, because it’s an old habit, but it’s getting better.

Now, I do want to say here that it isn’t perfect, as no technology is. But, having the chance to learn something from a piece of gear that actually turned me into a better shooter, is worth the $150 price tag the MantisX costs.

Its biggest advantage, in my opinion, is that I’m actually forced to want to squeeze the trigger better. I would find that during my live-fire exercises, I’d just be going through the motions.

When I have the Mantis attached, I get feedback, and want to shoot as close to 100 as I possibly can. It’s almost like a competitive nature kicks in, and I’m competing with it.

Therefore I find myself dry-firing more and because of that and what I’m learning with the application, I’m improving at the range. It really is helping.

Here is a short video of me demonstrating it for you in dry-fire mode outside in my backyard:

I see this tool being used by people like myself who just want to become more proficient and accurate with their self-defense weapon of choice, as well as instructors looking for another tool to use in the classroom.

So, how do you use it?

First, you buy the device. Then, once you get it in the mail, you download the application available in the Android and Apple marketplaces.

Then, make sure you follow the directions that come in the box. Connect the device to your phone via bluetooth, and choose your settings:
After that, just hit the train button on the app, and you’re ready to go.

Now, I always try to list negatives on everything I review. This one is no different. There are a few features I’d like to see added at some point in the future.

I switched guns a few times, and it never registered a different gun. I moved from my XD to a 1911 with an accessory rail on it. It kept tracking as if I was using the same gun. Not that big of a deal, but something I’d like to see change in the future.

Overall, I think this is a great product that is designed to do one thing: Help you become more proficient with your self-defense weapon of choice. If you’re ever attacked, being able to shoot accurately is paramount.

The MantisX helps you achieve that. You can learn more about them, here.

What did you think about my MantisX review? Let me know in the comments below.

Holster Company Review: Alien Gear

January 10, 2017 By Josh Leave a Comment

3 of Alien Gear's Holsters — 3 of Alien Gear’s Holsters

The gear you choose can be the difference between life and death …

When it’s time to choose a holster for your firearm of choice, you need to choose one that will work properly, and do what a holster is designed to do. In just a few minutes, we’re going to talk about Alien Gear’s line of holsters, but first, let’s discuss what the purpose of a holster is.

Your firearm’s holster is should do a few things:

Keep your gun in the place you put it, which should be easy to reach
Allow the operator to get a solid grip from the draw
Protect you and your gun
Keep the weapon from discharging

Pretty self-explanatory, I think. But, let’s dissect these bullet points a bit, just in case there is any confusion.

The gun needs to be easy to reach. If your chosen method of carry is that of concealment, it needs to be well-hidden in a place that also just happens to be easy to get. If not, you may end up spending too much time fumbling for it, instead of actually using it in defense.

When time is of the essence, you don’t need to be trying to get your gun out of its resting place. This takes precious time away from you, and in a life and death situation, seconds matter.

Furthermore, your holster should allow you, the operator, to have a solid (or combat) grip on your firearm from the draw. If you have to re-position your hand, that’s a problem. Re-positioning takes your attention from your attacker, and even causes you to loosen your grip even more.

Alien Gear holsters — Alien Gear Collection

In as little as a split second, a bad guy can take advantage of that by knocking your gun out of your hand, or taking it altogether.

But if you take care to purchase a holster allowing a full grip from the draw, that’s one less thing you need to worry about.

Moving on …

Your gun needs to be protected so that your body’s sweat, and other grime doesn’t get on it. It should be no surprise that moisture is bad for firearms.

And, reversing that, it’s helpful if your holster protects your body from the inconvenience of carrying a gun. If you don’t know what I mean, go rub some sandpaper on the side of your belly and then get back to me. If your pistol grip has any type of gritty feel to it, it’ll drive you nuts.

Hopefully your holster of choice helps to mitigate that to some degree.

Most importantly, your holster needs to be designed in a way that protects the trigger from being pressed unintentionally.

This means that your holster should be sufficiently designed in a manner that totally covers the trigger. I won’t talk badly about any-one holster manufacturer here, because that’s not the point. There are a plethora of holsters on the market that don’t do a great job of protecting the trigger.

Covered trigger Alien Gear — Springfield XD-9, full size, 4 inch barrel with a covered trigger.

Some of them leave an entirely exposed trigger, while others cover it with an easily moved cloth. When enough pressure is put on the trigger, it could send the hammer or striker home.

Trust me when I say that the last thing you could ever want is a negligent discharge. Sadly, these happen way more often than they should.

Holster care:

Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.0 — Looking for damage. None found.

Just as important as choosing the right kind of holster, is the simple fact that your gear needs to be checked on a semi-regular basis to make sure there aren’t any defects. Too often has a holster malfunctioned, causing a piece of clothing or the holster itself to get snagged on the trigger.

Not good.

Periodic condition checks are a necessity to make sure that your weapon doesn’t discharge unintentionally by snagging the trigger.

When you inspect it, look for any kind of damage that could end up causing a problem for you, and then contact your holster company about it. Those companies worth anything will warranty their products, sending you a replacement free of charge.

Those who don’t, well, you do the math.

Speaking of warranties, while on the subject let’s take a look at Alien Gear’s:

Forever Warranty: They say that if any part of the holster ever breaks for any reason they’ll replace it.
Free Shell Swaps: If for some reason you decide to sell a gun to buy a new one, just swap the shell out by sending them the old one. They ship you the new shell for free. (more on this in a minute).
30 Day Test Drive: They allow you to try out their holsters for one month. If you don’t think it’s awesome, send it back to them–no questions asked.

Their warranty is one of the best in the industry, and one that others try to mimic. But, that’s not all they did right. They can offer that excellent warranty because their product is good enough that they rarely ever have to use it.

Granted, you can’t please everybody. And they do have unhappy customers, as every company does. However, they have done it right, and set a precedent for the rest of the industry to follow.

In fact, one of the things I do on the side, is run a small firearms consulting company where I give advice on how firearms-related manufacturers can market their product better and sell more stuff.

There are always two types of example companies I use to demonstrate to my clients. One of them speaks about what TO do. The other, tells them what NOT to do.

Alien Gear has been on the “what to do” side for a while now, and will likely continue to be into the future.

In other words, when I talk to company execs about how to grow their gun business, I use what I believe Alien Gear did as an example. Even though I’m not 100% sure how they did it, some things are obvious.

I want to say right here, that they are not paying me to say any of this about them. Nor do they even know that I’m saying these things. It’s just that, if you do things the right way, people notice.

It’s that simple.

Their Website:

It all needs to start somewhere. When you go to order a new holster, or anything for that matter, if the site is difficult to navigate, you’re not going to buy anything. Well, I won’t anyway.

The way the Alien Gear website is set up is interactive in nature. When you get there, you’re greeted with information about the products, with the ability to search by firearm type. And, they have a lot of firearms to choose from.

In fact, chances are good that they have your firearm listed, unless it’s an oddball. When you find your carry gun of choice, simply click on it, and you’re prompted to learn more about all the holsters they have for that gun.

Ease of Use:

One of the best things about their holsters is the simple fact that they can be swapped out for other guns. In other words, if you own 12 guns, you don’t need to own 12 different holsters.

You can own one holster, with however many shells you need.

If you wake up and are in a Glock 19 mood, but wore a 1911 yesterday, all you need to do is swap out the shells via four Allen head screws.

As far as I know, all of the holsters in Alien Gear’s lineup are capable of shell swaps.

Products:

I have received a few of their holsters, but I’m not up to date. I do not have the new mag pouch, though I do plan on getting one in the near future. So far, I have and can talk about:

Cloak Slide
Cloak Tuck 2.0
Cloak Tuck 3.0
Cloak Mod

Not all of those were given to me by the company. After they sent me the first one, which I really liked, I bought myself the other model that I didn’t have. Here they are in the order I received them:

Cloak Slide:

This holster was sent to me by the company a couple years ago when I worked for guns.com. This is still one of my go-to holsters when I decide to carry a gun Outside the Waistband (OWB).

Overall, it is one of the most comfortable holsters I have.

Alien Gear Claok Slide — Backside of the Cloak Slide

I can put it on with a full-size handgun in it, lay on my bed, and not be uncomfortable. The backing is made of leather, and the belt loops are also leather.

Overall quality is high, though the loops do seem to have stretched out a bit. Still, I wear it without issue, and will continue to do so.

Cloak Tuck 2.0:

I actually liked the Cloak Slide so much, that I purchased the 2.0 when I needed a new IWB holster. I bought it several months before I realized the 3.0 was on its way, or I would have just purchased that one, instead.

I don’t see this one listed on the website any longer, so we’ll move on.

Cloak Tuck 3.0:

This is the updated Inside the Waistband holster. It’s a two-clip type that is great for holding heavy guns. It’s best fit when worn on the 3 to 5 o’clock position (or reversed if you’re a lefty).

The absolute best thing about this holster, is that there is no break-in period whatsoever. There is a soft neoprene backing, and mashed in between that and the front is a spring steel plate that helps it bounce back to the original shape once it is taken off for the day.

I’ve been wearing it on and off depending on my setup for the day since they sent it out to me, and can say that it never lost shape.

Overall, I’m confident to say that this is one of the best holsters I’ve ever worn of this style.

Cloak Mod:

This is their latest edition, revealed at SHOT Show 2016. It’s a paddle style holster, that can also be used as a docking station on a fixed item, like in your car or on a dresser.

Of all the holsters they’ve released, this is my least favorite one. It is too big and bulky for me, but it seems to be designed for the growing number of open carriers out there, than for those of us who like to conceal their firearms.

While I do have one of these, I never wear it because it just is not practical for me.

Conclusion:

Alien Gear is on the forefront of the holster industry. They are innovative, willing to give the customer what they want, have an awesome warranty, a great product, and the ability to put those products in front of self-defense enthusiasts at a price point they can afford.

American made Alien Gear — Made in the US of A

You won’t break the bank with an Alien Gear Holster and you’ll get much deserved quality from an American company who stands behind their products 100%.

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

December 23, 2016 By Josh Leave a Comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enter the Definitive Arms AKX-9

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Test and Evaluation

<img class="size-large wp-image-601 aligncenter" src="//i2.wp.com/gunnersden.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/20170320_160939.jpg?resize=575%2C431&#038;ssl=1" alt="concealed carry holster" width="575" height="431" data-recalc-dims="1">

Concealed Carry Holster Review, JM4 QCC

Position:

Retention:

Construction:

A word about the magnet’s leather.

Ease Of Use:

Comfort:

Conclusion:

My Travel Gun from Charter Arms:

At the Range:

Downsides:

Carrying Charter Arms Off-Duty:

Conclusion:

Lots of features

Trigger

Accuracy and ammo

Magazines

Takedown

Final thoughts

So How Is the Tac 14 Legal?

Specs, Fit, and Finish

On the Range

Safety Issues

Reliability

Kel Tec PMR 30 Construction—a lot to love

Firing the PMR-30

Maintenance

Conclusion

Holster care:

Their Website:

Ease of Use:

Products:

Cloak Slide:

Cloak Tuck 2.0:

Cloak Tuck 3.0:

Cloak Mod:

Conclusion:

Enter the Definitive Arms AKX-9

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