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Gritr Tactical Range Bag

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Gritr Gear

Tactical Range Bag

Review

  Everyone needs a good range bag. Some people want smaller ones, and some people want larger ones. Gritr Gear has their Tactical Range Bag that falls somewhere in between the two sizes. So you get a medium sized range bag, with features that can turn it into a larger or smaller range bag.

  The Gritr Tactical Range Bag is really a do all bag. In general, it starts as a 18 inch x 12 inch x 10 inch exterior size. Inside the main compartment is a removable tote, a removable mat, and a medical pouch. On each side are large zipper compartments. On one end is another zipper compartment. On the other end is an open pouch. The main compartment is then covered by a highly velcroed dual zipper flap. Gritr offers the bag in a multitude of colors and patterns. I chose the Green Topo pattern, even though I was torn between it and Splatter.

 I will explain the main compartment of the Tactical Range Bag first. Especially since it is where you end up throwing everything into. The size of the main compartment is approximately 14 x 9 x 9 inches. It sounds small, but you can fit a lot of stuff in there. On the bottom of the main compartment is a hard floor mat. This mat gives the bag a hard bottom but is also removable. Once removed, the floor mat can then be unfolded to a 28 x 14.25 inch size. Because it unfolds, you now have a nice place to set pistols and gear on a shooting bench. You could also use it as an interim cleaning mat. I like it for taking pictures of pistols and gear that I am doing reviews on. The mat has the same topo pattern as the exterior of the range bag. The dual zippered flap that covers the main compartment has hook and loop all over it, for your patches of course. This feature gives you quick access to whatever is in the main compartment. The dual zippers are also tied together with a handle strap, making opening and closing it fairly easy with one hand. This main compartment is very useful for anything you want to throw in it.

  Inside that main compartment is something even more useful. That item is a removable Tote bag. It is made to just rest inside the main compartment. Yes, it does take up most of the main compartment, but you won’t care because it is so useful. It measures 12 x 7 x 8 inches and has some decent, soft style, carry handles. The tote is open top with a hard floor. Built into the sides of the tote bag are 2 padded pistol bags. Just unzip either of them and you can drop a full size pistol into them. Throw some ammo boxes inside the tote and you are ready to go. Because of the tote, you can just grab it instead of the whole range bag. So if you are at a match, or anywhere else, and don’t want to carry the whole bag, you can just grab the tote and go. Put the pistol on one side, and mags in the other, and your ammo resting on the bottom. The only down side to the tote is that it does take up space in the main compartment. I usually just put the tote in the main compartment and nothing else. Having the built in pistol bags is super useful.

  Gritr throws in a medical pouch with the Tactical range bag. It is a fairly decent med pouch having pockets and straps where you need them. The dual zippers unzip to let you open the pouch up flat and quickly. I do wish that Gritr had an option to have the med pouch filled with a trauma kit. Even without it being stocked, I think including a med pouch is pretty cool, especially since any range trip should be accompanied with a good med kit. On a basic level, you could always fill it with something like THIS. I do wish the med pouch had some MOLLE to attach it to the outside of the range bag. But hey, good on Gritr for including it and getting people thinking.

  Back to the outside of the Tactical Range Bag. On each side of the range bag are 2 large zippered compartments, both can fold down flat when open. Inside one of these pockets, there is hook and loop MOLLE up against the bag side. I like that you can attach extra stuff with multiple attachment methods. On the fold down side of this compartment are 2 zippered mesh pockets. I have my stapler in this compartment, with staples in one of the mesh pockets and target tape in the other pocket. The other compartment has one large zippered mesh pocket on the fold down flap side. Then on the side against the bag, there are 3 little pockets. 2 of these have a hook and loop cover flap. The other one is open. I usually put miscellaneous tools, a timer, and rifle mags in this compartment. These side compartments are large enough to fit a ton of extra stuff.

  The Gritr Range Bag has end pockets also. Okay, one is a compartment and one is a literal pouch. The pouch is just an open top pocket with an elastic pull string. I would prefer some way of closing it completely, but maybe I am wrong here. Either way, I use it for my over the ear hearing protection. It does give me easy access to just grab the shooting muffs and slip them on quickly. On the other end is an actual zippered compartment. On the outside of this end compartment is more MOLLE in the bag's color pattern. Inside it is just a compartment, no pockets or anything. I usually have extra hearing protection and eye protection in this compartment. 

  I have been very pleased with the overall size of the Gritr Tactical Range Bag. It has been working out great for me. It is smaller than my old super large one, but big enough that I can fit all my stuff in it. So far the stitching on the seams has held up and looks as good as new. I tend to overload my bags, so this says a lot about the quality of the Gritr bag. The carry handles on the bag work nice, even if they flop into the main compartment when closing it up, but most bags tend to do this. The bag also comes with a removable wide, padded, carry strap. This carry strap is 3.5 inches wide. So it really disperses the weight on your shoulder. Especially if you load the range bag up like I tend to do. Yes, it is adjustable for length too. The Gritr Range bag seems to be the perfect size. If you need only a small bag, just use the Tote by itself. If you need something larger, just attach some stuff to the MOLLE. 

  So, you are looking for a range bag. You don’t want to spend a ton but want a good bag. Go give the Gritr Tactical Range Bag a look. The bag is a great size for range trips, or anything else. The quality is nice. Plus it has all the features you need or want in a range bag. You can even get it on Amazon. Go check it out over at Gritr Gear, who knows, you might find some other good range stuff while you’re there.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Range bag that can used for various other things

Target Market:

Shooters, hunters, or anyone needing a decent shoulder bag

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Material - 500D Nylon

  • Volume - 35.4 liters

  • Dimensions - 18" x 12" x 10"

  • Weight - 6 lbs

  • Removable Inner Tote (12" x 7" x 8")

  • Removable Mat (28" x 14.25")

  • First Aid Kit Pouch

  • Top Patch panel

  • Laser cut molle

  • Heavy-duty zippers

  • Padded carry strap

  • Lifetime warranty 

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Lots of different designs and colors

What others are saying?:

4 out of 5 stars on Amazon 

Love it, could use a few tweaks

Overall I think this would be a five-star bag with a few tiny tweaks just to make it easier to fit things.

I love the bag overall.

Pros:

- good fabric

- great layout

- wish more manufacturers/importers opted for more interesting fabric colors

Cons:

- no pocket/opening fits ear pro well, they all crush ear pro except if you want it bouncing around inside the bag

- internal pockets really flat when empty so they're getting strained when you put anything inside, limiting what you can put in the bag. They are only single stitched, I bet this will be a problem too. Common design problem I see. Would be much better if they just added a half inch of fabric to make all the pockets a little loose when empty.

- wish either the gap for the inner bag were larger or oriented the other way

- eye pro pockets are a very tight fit

- wish the top zipper were lockable 

Link to other reviews:

The Gear Bunker

Price point:

MSRP = $114.95

Retail = $100

I need it now! Availability:

Gritr Gear or Amazon 

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Great size

  • Molle in good locations 

  • Removable inner tote

  • Hard removable floor/mat

  • Available in non-tactical colors

  • Padded carry strap

Cons:

  • Open end pocket

  • Small inner pockets

Score: 8.50 Great

Favorite Link:  Aimwin PE320 review   

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SRU SRUNA-22 Bullpup Chassis

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SRU Precision Sruna-22

10/22 Bullpup Chassis

Review

  If you are into guns, or maybe even if you aren't, you most likely have a Ruger 10/22. If you are like me, you can't leave anything in factory form. To help with that modification addiction, SRU Precision has their SRUNA-22 Bullpup Chassis for the 10/22 rifles and their clones. The Sruna-22 easily converts those 10/22's into a space age bullpup design. 

  I was looking for something different to do with a 10/22 that I had laying around. SRU had asked if I wanted one of the Sruna's to review. After using their SARB-15 AR bullpup kits, and liking it so much, I agreed. The Sruna's come in 3 standard colors: Black, Tan, and OD Green. However they currently have a limited edition White Sruna-22. I decided on the white one because it looks more like a space blaster than the other three. All of the Sruna chassis are the same, except for the color. 

  Now that you have decided on the SRUNA-22, what do you get? To start with, you get a complete exterior chassis that bolts on and around your 10/22. The Sruna separates into, essentially, 3 pieces for assembly and disassembly. You have the main aluminum piece that houses the barrel and receiver. The polymer trigger housing assembly with linkage. Then the rear quick release polymer housing. This rear housing enables you to quickly get to your 10/22’s trigger assembly. Allowing easy access for cleaning and maintenance. 

  The main aluminum housing of the SRUNA is where a lot of the utilitarian features come from. This is the section of the chassis that houses the barrel and receiver. One nice feature on the Sruna is that it will work with almost any 10/22 receiver. This includes billet machined as well as standard style 10/22 receivers. This also includes ones with or without a top pic rail. Plus it works with left hand receivers too. This housing also features a full raised top rail for mounting optics or sights on. I found using standard AR 1.5” mounts put an optic at just the right height. The Sruna chassis does drop down a little where your cheek rests. It also has a padded sticker that makes it more comfortable for your cheek. At the front are 5 M-Lok slots located at each of the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions. These are useful for mounting whatever. SRU also gave the Sruna 2 M-Lok slots, on 45’s, at the very rear of the chassis. Mainly so one can attach something like a QD sling mount. The top housing also has various cut outs to save weight and make it look “cool”. Warning, if you use any barrel length, or combination of muzzle devices and barrel, shorter than 17 inches, the muzzle will be inside the cut outs and M-Lok slots. I am running a 16” Shaw barrel in this one, and you can see in the pictures that it is just a wee bit short.

  The trigger housing section of the SRUNA-22 is what makes this a really good bullpup chassis. SRU uses a sturdy trigger linkage system. This linkage system doesn’t flex much. That gives the user a really decent feeling trigger. The trigger housing system also includes a new trigger and safety. The safety allows you to keep the 10/22’s original push button safety on “fire”, because the Sruna trigger’s safety keeps the trigger from moving. The trigger housing has an extremely large trigger guard that houses SRU’s designed trigger. It is a flat polymer AR style trigger shoe with texture. I like the SRU trigger. The Sruna also uses an AR style safety. It comes supplied with a polymer one that matches the trigger’s style. I switched it out for a normal AR style one. So yes, the Sruna chassis will take most, if not all, AR style safeties. Including ambidextrous and different lever styles. It will also take a number of different style AR trigger shoes. Not drop in style, but the standard style, and just the trigger. Lastly, the Sruna’s trigger housing needs a grip. You have to supply the grip, but any AR style grip will work. I’ve had 3 different styles on this one. I ended up with a fairly vertical grip from Black Collar Arms. The vertical grip just seems to work better for me.

  On the bottom rear of the SRUNA chassis is the quick release section. This section slides over your 10/22’s trigger housing and the Sruna’s trigger linkage. It has a quick release pin at the bottom rear. Just remove this pin and you can slide this piece down and off. Be careful, because the trigger pin might fall out of the linkage. It also houses the rear buttpad and spacers. When it is off, you have access to the original 10/22’s trigger housing so you can remove the whole thing for cleaning. The quick release housing goes on and off smoothly. It does have a little bit of misalignment with the trigger housing when installed. This doesn’t affect anything, it just looks a tiny bit odd.

  The SRUNA chassis also has a few adjustment screws. I thought I would mention these as they align your barrel and receiver with the chassis. In the Sruna kit are these tiny set-screws. There are places on the chassis to install these. They slightly push on the 10/22’s receiver at the front, back, and bottom for alignment. They also help keep the receiver tight in the chassis. I just snugged them down and everything worked fine, I didn’t see any mis-alignment that needed adjusting on this one.

  The SRUNA-22 bullpup chassis is fun. It shortens up a 10/22 and moves the weight toward the rear. This makes it easier to support because the bulk of the weight is between your hand and your shoulder. It also makes it swing faster between targets. I put a bunch of rounds through it and it does have a few flaws, but they are minor. If you run a larger charging handle on your 10/22, it may interfere with the Sruna chassis’ ejection port cutout. The stock charging handle works fine, but it sits in a little farther, making it harder to use. One with a longer handle, but similar profile should work best. I filed down a larger round handle to fit. The other flaw is that the return spring for the trigger linkage adds close to 1.5 pounds to the trigger pull weight. So it makes a good trigger not quite as good. I also wasn't keen on the chassis pieces not lining up. Now for good stuff. The accuracy out of the Sruna is just as good as your 10/22 was before sticking it in the Sruna. This chassis also takes some AR parts, making it customizable to some extent. I enjoyed my experience shooting the Sruna, plus it looks awesome. 

  If you are in the market for something different in the 10/22 world, the SRU SRUNA-22 Bullpup Chassis might be worth looking into. It does everything a bullpup should do, like shortening the overall length while still giving performance. It doesn't add a bunch of weight and it is just something you don't see everyday. Head on over to SRU Precision and check out the SRUNA-22 kit. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

10/22 bullpup chassis system 

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a bullpup style 10/22

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Compatible with all 10/22 variants except take down version

  • M-Lok slots at 3, 6, & 9 o’clock

  • Full top rail

  • Overall Length: 26.3” - 26.7” (With an additional butt pad, extends to 27.1”)

  • Length of Pull: 14.3” - 14.75” (With an additional butt pad, extends to 15.1”)

  • Chassis Weight: 1090g (38.5oz) (Ruger 10/22 wood chassis is approx. 950g)

  • Handguard Inner Width Compatible with suppressors or muzzle devices up to 1.299” in diameter

  • Upper Handguard: 6061 CNC Aluminum

  • Lower Frame material: PA66 Polymer

  • Trigger Linkage: SUS304 Metal Sheet Stamping

  • Butt Pad material: TPU

  • Cheek Pad material: EVA

  • Quick release chassis system 

  • Uses standard AR grips

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Black, Tan, and OD Green 

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found on Real Steel version (10/22 not airsoft)

Price point:

MSRP = $399 - $419

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

SRU Precision

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Good design

  • Takes standard AR grips

  • Works with left hand eject

  • Works with any 10/22 receiver 

  • M-Lok slots

  • Full top pic rail

Cons:

  • Misalignment between two parts

  • Increases trigger pull weight 

  • Screw height of top clamping screws

  • Some larger bolt handles may not work

Score: 7.00 Good

Favorite Link:  SARB-15 Bullpup Chassis Review 

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AimWin PE320

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Aimwin PE320

Enclosed Emitter

Red dot Review

  In today's market, there are a bunch of good pistol style red dots. They basically come in two categories: open emitter and closed emitter. Aimwin recently released their PE320. The PE320 is an enclosed emitter red dot with a multi-reticle system and a solar fail safe. 

  As with any quality red dot, the Aimwin PE320 comes with everything needed. In the box you get the optic, a battery, extra screws (including one for the battery tray), wrenches, cleaning cloth, etc. Probably the most important included item is the Acro to RMR adapter. This gives you the ability to mount it on anything that uses the RMR mounting footprint. There are lots of pistol options using a direct RMR footprint. 

  Mounting the PE320 is pretty straightforward. However, it does come with two options. If you happen to have something with an ACRO mounting footprint, like a riser or a plate adapter, you can mount the PE320 directly to that. If you have a direct mount RMR cut/footprint, you can use the supplied ACRO to RMR adapter. This is what I did. Just screw down the RMR plate onto your slide and then clamp on the PE320. It's really that easy.

  Now that the Aimwin PE320 is mounted, you can take it to the range. To initially turn on the PE320, just click the “+” button. The buttons to control the PE320 are located on the left side of the optic. These are rubberized raised buttons labeled “+” and “-”. They are pretty large and easy to use, even if you are wearing gloves. Of course, tapping on a “+” or “-” button will increase or decrease the brightness of the red dot. There are 11 total brightness settings, the 2 lowest are night vision compatible. Now that the PE320 is on, you can sight it in. A nice feature on the Aimwin is its click adjustable windage and elevation screws. Each click adjusts the point of impact 1 MOA, which is fine for these types of red dots. Now that it is sighted in, and you want to completely turn it off, just hold down the “-” button until the dot disappears. 

  The PE320 uses Aimwin's “aim awake” feature. The “aim awake” is their auto on/off feature. Once you turn on the PE320 this feature is enabled. Aim Awake works like any of the other auto on/off systems. After the optic sits idle for a short time, the dot will turn off. Once you barely move the optic, the dot will turn back on. The aim awake feature helps with battery life, giving the PE320 around 50,000 hours of run time. I am a huge fan of these auto on/off features. 

  Aimwin's PE320 is not just a red dot. It features a multi-reticle system. So you get the option of either a circle dot, just a circle, or just a red dot. If using one of the options with the circle, the circle also has little hash marks in it that are located every 90 degrees (similar to an Eotech). To cycle through these 3 reticle options, just hold down the “+” button until it changes. The PE320 uses a 36 MOA circle with a 3 MOA dot, or any combination of the three. I like having reticle options and the PE320's are useful for whatever you need or want. 

  The multi-reticle system of the PE320 is housed inside a large window. How large is the window? 0.94 inches wide by 0.79 inches high. It's a big window, which is really nice for finding the reticle. However, because of its large window, the PE320 is a little wider than a lot of the enclosed ACRO footprint optics. This isn't bad or good, it really just depends on what trade offs you want.

  The last notable feature of the PE320 is the solar panel on top of the optics housing. This solar panel adds a “solar failsafe” to the optic. So if your battery is low, and there is enough light, you will still see the reticle. The Solar Failsafe also works when the battery is completely dead, as long as there is enough light. I tried it with the battery out, and the reticle still comes on under normal room lighting. Don't expect it to work in a dark room without a battery. The Solar Failsafe is a nice option to have, especially if you forget to change the battery out once a year. When you do need to change that battery, the PE320 uses a side mount battery tray for easy use.

  I mounted the Aimwin PE320 to a Polymer 80 with a Grey Ghost slide. This particular slide is cut to direct mount an RMR footprint. So I ended up using the PE320’s ACRO to RMR plate. I chose this pistol because I use it in various different forms, one of those is using a Recover Tactical 20/80 brace system. This let me try out the PE320 in a chassis style system and as a standard pistol. I put a ton of rounds through it and even beat the crap out of the PE320. No loss of zero and no other problems, even when using the optic as a slide racker off the benches at the range. With the PE320’s adapter plate, the red dot does sit a little higher up on the pistol, but still below the top of the slide. If you want the PE320 to co-witness with iron sights, you will probably have to get some suppressor height ones. Those still might not be tall enough to clear the PE320’s deck height. Speaking of size, the PE320 is large for a pistol style red dot. Not so much height wise, but more width wise. It definitely is wider than a standard Glock slide. I only see this as a problem if you are carrying it inside the waistband. On a rifle, this could be a bonus. Especially since the window size on the PE320 is fantastic. It made finding the dot real easy. I like the 3 MOA dot size, it is a good compromise between speed and accuracy. Since I live in Oregon, it also rains a lot here. Having an enclosed system also makes it way easier to wipe the rain off of the lenses. 

  If you are in the market for an enclosed style pistol red dot, the Aimwin PE320 might be worth looking at. It has a decently large window and different reticle options. Being larger in size, it would also make a good rifle dot. If you forget to change your battery, it might still work for you thanks to that solar failsafe. It is also durable and held up to my abuse. So go check it out over at Aimwin.com.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Enclosed pistol red dot with large window

Target Market:

Those wanting a large windowed enclosed red dot

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Weight: 2.19 ounces (62g)

  • Dot Size: 3 MOA with 36 MOA ring (selectable) 

  • Window Size: 24.0mm x 20.0mm (0.94" x 0.79")

  • Dimensions: 45.3mm x 35.0mm x 31.2mm (1.78" x 1.38" x 1.2")

  • Housing Material: Hard-anodized 6061-T6 Aluminum

  • Adjustment per Click: 1 MOA

  • Windage & Elevation Range: ±50 MOA, total range 100 MOA

  • Footprint: ACRO, RMR adapter plate included

  • Battery: Side load CR2032

  • Solar Guard Fail Safe

  • Battery Life: 50,000 hours (low brightness)

  • Aim Awake mode

  • Operating Temperature: -30℃ - 60℃ (-22°F - 140°F)

  • Brightness Settings: 9 Daylight / 2 Night Vision Levels

  • Water Resistance: IPX7

  • Vibration: 2000 G’s

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

5 out of 5 stars on Amazon

 Very Nice Enclosed Optic

Just picked this up for my H&K P30L. Had to change the optics plate (Langdon Tactical cut) to an ACRO mount, but it fits perfectly on it and locks down solid. The body appears to be pretty durable and stout without being overly heavy. Controls are nice and large so adjusting brightness and/or choosing dot style is pretty easy. ACRO mounts are probably the easiest installation of any of the footprints since it works like a pic rail. No screws into the plate to worry about getting torqued just right. It does really need a torque spec listed for the clamp screw, though. Never really liked "make it tight, but be careful not to over tighten it" with no spec for what "tight" is. Dots are extremely bright on the max setting and much calmer on the lower settings. Again, it is nice to be able to choose different reticles for different situations. Battery is side loading, which is nice as you don't have to remove the optic for swaps. Only issue I have with the battery compartment is that the tiny screw that holds it in place seems easy to lose as it is not captured. So be careful swapping batteries. We'll see how it does at the range this weekend at holding zero. Adjustments are nice and tactile with just enough resistance to turning to make me think they will stay put pretty good. May wind up being awfully high if you were to use the RMR to ACRO adapter that comes with it on most RMR cut applications. But sits at a nice height on the ACRO specific plate I have installed.

Link to other reviews:

Chris from the 740 on YouTube  

Price point:

MSRP = $359.95

Retail = $240

I need it now! Availability:

Aimwin Optics or Amazon 

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Multi reticle

  • Solar fail safe

  • Large window size

  • Acro footprint w/RMR plate

  • Auto on/off (Aim Awake) 

Cons:

  • Optic is physically wider 

  • Deck height is pretty tall

Score: 8.00 Great

Favorite Link:  Grey Ghost Glock Slide Review 

Kahr X9

Kahr Arms X9

Review

  Every once in a while, you run across a handgun that fits a need for you. The Kahr Arms X9 turned out to be one of those handguns for me. I was looking to replace my old Kahr CM9 carry pistol with something newer. The X9, with its higher capacity 10 round magazines, seemed like an obvious choice. 

  I have known about the new Kahr X9 pistol since 2024. However it was SHOT show 2025 when I was first able to hold one in person. I liked the design. Partially because it is a small sub-compact pistol that has a 10+1 round capacity, and because it has optics capabilities. I recently noticed that the X9's were shipping, so I phoned a friend to see if I could get one. Now I am here, telling you what I think about the X9. 

  I had forgotten how small the X9 was. For reference, I carry my Kahr CM9 a bunch. The CM9 is tiny, so I expected the X9 to be larger. It really wasn't. When you compare it to a Sig P365, the Kahr X9 is essentially the same size. The only exception is that the X9 has a longer slide and barrel, which I actually prefer. The X9's dimensions are: Length - 6.125”, Height - 4.375” with the flush fit magazine, and a Width of 1”. It also doesn't weigh much, clocking in at 17.6 ounces unloaded. 

  The grip frame on the Kahr X9 has a nice design to it. The grip itself has a sandpaper style texture molded into the side. Then on the front and backstrap are lines made out of little squares. I was surprised at how grippy the front and backstrap are. The grip also dips in at the top. This makes the trigger reach shorter, helping people with tiny hands shoot the X9 better. Without a magazine inserted into the pistol, the grip length is super short. Okay, even with a magazine inserted, it is short. The flush fit magazine actually adds about ⅜ inch to the grips length. Without the magazine inserted, I could get about 1-½ fingers on the grip. With the flush fit magazine I could fit 2 fingers on the grip. To remove the magazine, there is a small mag release button on the left side. It is reversible for those in their right brains. Moving to the front of the frame, Kahr designed the X9 with a 3 slot picatinny rail for mounting lights or other accessories. I liked the feel of the X9’s frame.

  Kahr is known for their smooth triggers. The X9 is no different. If you have shot a kahr pistol before, then you know what I mean. Kahr uses a curved trigger shoe in the X9. Now to explain a Kahr trigger. The pull length is long, but smooth. Kahr states it as a DAO, or double action only, trigger. It is very much like a tuned revolver trigger. About half of the travel is fairly lightweight, about 1.5 pounds. Then it morphs into a smooth 7 pound pull at the end. There is no flipper safety like a lot of other pistols. So the trigger itself feels better on your finger. Reset is essentially all the way out on the trigger. I do not mind the long smooth trigger pull of Kahr pistols. After all, the X9 was designed as a carry or backup pistol, not a duty gun.

  The last user interface on the pistol is the slide. It literally lets you load the pistol and aim at what you want to hit. At the rear of the X9’s slide are slightly angled slide serrations. Kahr has always done a good job of cutting these to be useful. They are not very deep, but they are sharp enough to get a really good grip when racking the slide. There are also half height serrations on the front of the slide. They are half size because the slide is cut narrower in front. Leaving a design line on the top half of the slide. For slide manipulation, Kahr also gave the X9 an ambidextrous slide release. On the top side of the X9’s slide sits a set of dovetailed sights. The front is a white dot and the rear is a white bar. They work fine and I used them for about 400 rounds before mounting an optic. Yes, the X9’s slide is optics ready.

  In 2025, every pistol should come with an optic mount option. Kahr uses a direct mount system on the X9. They cut the slide for a Holosun “K” or RMSc style footprint. This is pretty much the standard for small sub-compact optic footprints. Having a direct mount, instead of a plate, lets the optic sit lower in the slide. The X9 comes with a removable cover plate, so if you don’t want an optic, the pistol still looks nice. Thank you Kahr for using a standard footprint optic cut.

  A pistol doesn’t work very well without magazines. Kahr includes two 10 round magazines with the X9 pistol. One has a flush fit baseplate and the other has a pinky extension. I really would have liked to have seen at least 3 magazines included. Maybe adding in one of Kahr’s 15 round extended magazines for a complete package. They do include a grip extension for the 15 round magazines. The 10 round included magazines do rattle when loaded to capacity. Not a huge deal, but if you are running you can hear them. Because the grip frame is so short, and the magazines have a small grip extension built in, they can pinch your hand when reloading. I thought I’d mention it, even though the X9 is not the only sub-compact pistol that does this. Now, there is a huge plus with the Kahr X9. It will accept Sig P365 and Springfield Hellcat magazines, and they function great. This is especially nice if you are looking for extended magazines in the 15+ capacity range. I have even seen 32 round magazines. You don’t see many other companies doing this with magazine compatibility.

  At this point in time, I have around 800 rounds through the little Kahr X9. I shot it with the iron sights for about 400 rounds. The sights work, but I wanted a red dot on it. Primary Arms had previously sent me one of their Classic series green dots that have an RMSc footprint. It sits pretty low and is easy to mount. I like these red dots because they have an auto on/off function. The rest of the current round count was shot with the optic. The factory iron sights do not stick up above the optics base. So having an option for higher sights that co-witness might be nice. I am sure sight companies will be bringing them out soon. I did have a few failures to feed and a couple stove pipes in the first 100 rounds. About 6-8 total failures. After those initial 100 rounds, the X9 runs fantastic. Kahr still recommends a 200 round break in period, so I can’t fault them on the failures. I think Kahrs tolerances are a little tighter than some other pistols. This can be good or bad, depending on if you are in the “break in” camp, or the “take it out and shoot” crowd. The X9 surprised me with how well and soft it shoots. I expected super snappy, but instead I got controllable with just a little snap. It has way less recoil and snap than my CM9. I think part of the reason the X9 is controllable is due to the fact that it has a 3.5 inch barrel and is a tiny bit wider than my CM9. I also think it is more controllable than the small size P365, also because of the slightly longer barrel and slide. 

  The Kahr X9 will make a great carry gun for some people. I plan on carrying it more. It shoots nice. Reloads are easy, just watch out for pinching that hand. I thought the mag release button would be hard to locate, since it is pretty small. However, during practice reloads, I had zero problems hitting the mag release and dropping a mag. Another reason the X9 would make a good carry gun is its weight. With the optic and a loaded 10 round magazine, the pistol only weighs 25.3 ounces. Because of the nice job Kahr does machining their pistols, the X9 is fairly smooth and shouldn’t catch on anything when it is concealed.

  If you are looking for a sub-compact carry gun, look into the Kahr X9. It does all the things the others do: It is small, narrow, fits 10 round magazines, and is optics ready. But, it will also take magazines from its competition. That by itself is a huge win for the X9. The handgun also shoots extremely well. The Kahr X9 is a great addition to the sub-compact concealed carry market. Check one out at your local dealer, or take a look at it over at Kahr Arms.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Sub compact, optics ready handgun that can use Hellcat and P365 magazines

Target Market:

Concealed carry

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Caliber: 9mm

  • Barrel: 3.54” Stainless Steel Barrel

  • Length: 6.125”

  • Height: 4.375"

  • Slide Width: 1"

  • Weight: 17.6 oz (Unloaded)

  • Finish: Blackened Matte Stainless

  • Sights: White Bar-Dot Combat Sights

  • Optics Cut: Holosun K or RMSc

  • Magazines: One 10 Rd Stainless magazine, one 10-round stainless magazine with finger rest grip extension, one sleeve, base lock, and base lock plate for Kahr X9 15-round or Sig 17-round X-Macro 9mm magazine

  • Grips: Textured polymer

  • Reversible magazine release

  • Armor Black Cerakoted Slide

  • Lifetime Warranty 

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

X9 is too new to find anything worthwhile 

Link to other reviews:

Guns & Ammo   

Price point:

MSRP = $549.00

Retail = $450

I need it now! Availability:

Palmetto State, Guns.com, Kahr Arms, or your local dealer

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Small and Compact

  • Uses Hellcat & P365 magazines 

  • Shoots smooth for a sub-compact

  • Optic cut from factory for a standard footprint 

  • Accessory rail

  • Long smooth trigger pull, also see “cons” 

Cons:

  • Small magazine release button

  • Long trigger pull similar to a tuned revolver

  • Magazines rattle when loaded

Score: 8.50 Great 

Favorite Link:  Kahr CM9 Review

,

Shaw Titanium 10/22 Barrel

,

Shaw Titanium 10/22

Barrel Review

  22 long rifle firearms seem to exist in everyone's collection, especially the Ruger 10/22. Lots of times we like to modify, or maybe even build, them. Sometimes that is done to make the 10/22 shoot more accurately. To help with that, you need to replace the barrel with a different one. Shaw Barrels has recently come out with a Titanium sleeved barrel for the 10/22 and its clones. With it, you get better accuracy and a lighter weight barrel. 

  The Shaw Titanium 10/22 barrel looks a lot like any other 10/22 barrel. There are a few exceptions though. The Shaw Titanium barrel has a straight bull barrel profile, but with spiral flutes. Fluting does two things for a barrel, it helps keep it cooler and it lightens it up. This barrel is also a slightly thinner profile. A standard 10/22 bull barrel usually has a diameter 0.920 inches. The Shaw Titanium barrel has a diameter of 0.875 inches. I opted for a 16.5 inch version in a matte finish. Polished is also available, as is an 18 inch version. 

  Shaw’s Titanium barrel is not your father’s 10/22 bull barrel. That fluted titanium is an outer sleeve that is tensioned over a 416R stainless steel core barrel. The core is essentially a very, very lightweight thin barrel. Then a titanium sleeve is installed over that core. Tension is then applied to the core, thus trying to pull it from both ends, making it very rigid. What does this tensioning do for you? It makes the barrel more rigid, reduces overall weight, and can improve accuracy by minimizing barrel vibrations during firing. 

  If you did not know, titanium is lightweight. Okay, all jokes aside, the Shaw 10/22 Titanium barrel doesn’t weigh much. In fact, it weighs a whole 1.35 pounds. My factory, tapered, 10/22 barrels weigh in at 1.72 - 1.80 pounds. So the Shaw Titanium barrel is quite a bit lighter. This weight reduction is due to the titanium and it being a tension style barrel. So if you are looking for something lightweight, that has that bull barrel profile, this might be it.

  A barrel should be threaded and it should not matter if it is factory or aftermarket. The Shaw Titanium barrel comes threaded with a thread protector. In today's world of suppressors and muzzle brakes, it just makes sense. The thread protector is nicely knurled and the same outer diameter as the barrel. The threads on the barrel are nicely done. They are ½-28 by 0.400 inch deep. This is a pretty standard thread pitch and depth for 22 long rifle barrels. Even though it is a shorter thread depth than an AR15, .223 and 5.56 muzzle devices will screw on and work. 

  Shaw uses a Bentz style chamber in their titanium 10/22 barrel. The Bentz chamber is what I call the Wylde chamber of 22lr. It is somewhere between a true match chamber and a standard one. As Shaw Barrels says: “The Bentz chamber is a match-type chamber for semi-autos.  It is not as tight as a true, minimum-spec match chamber, but is much tighter than a sporter chamber.” I found the Titanium barrel to shoot well. It didn’t give me any feeding issues with cheap ammunition, and it shot that ammo well. I was able to shoot a 1”, 10 shot group, off hand, at 25 yards with some bulk box ammo and a red dot. The CCI mini-mags shot about a 1.25” group with those same parameters. I then installed a 1-10x LPVO so I could get a better idea of how accurate the barrel was. Then I took it out and shot 5 shot groups at 50 yards. I was able to get a 0.80 inch group with standard velocity CCI mini-mags. All the other cheap ammo I had grouped between 1.3 - 1.7 inches. If one were to use match ammo, I would expect even better results.

  The timing on receiving the Shaw Titanium barrel couldn’t have been any more perfect. Near the same time, SRU sent me a 10/22 bullpup chassis for review. So guess where the Titanium barrel went? You got it, in the SRUNA chassis. Since the Shaw Titanium barrel is a 10/22 barrel, installation is super easy. Just remove the 10/22’s barrel clamp, slide the old barrel out, and slide the Titanium one in. The only flaw with this chassis/barrel combination is that you can’t see the barrel very well through the chassis. Since the Shaw barrel is pretty nice looking, it might look better in a more normal style stock or chassis. 

  Performance on the Shaw Titanium barrel was good. I was pleased with the accuracy I got out of it. Especially since I was mainly using cheap bulk box ammo. Being lightweight makes for a fairly light 10/22. It would work really nice in one of those 10/22’s that are meant to weigh under 3 lbs for competitions. In fact I was debating on installing it in my CP Firearms Dragonfly kit. I would also like to mention that the workmanship on the Shaw barrel is fantastic. If you look down the rifling, it is clean and smooth. Plus having that dull grey titanium color just makes it look good.

  If you are in the market for a great 10/22 barrel, give the Shaw Titanium one a look. It is super lightweight. Yes, it is a little pricey. But remember you are getting lightweight, titanium, and a precision tension barrel. It is also threaded for adding muzzle devices. I don’t think you could go wrong with the Shaw Titanium 10/22 barrel. It would be fantastic in a lightweight steel challenge rifle. Shaw offers more than just 10/22 barrels, so head on over to Shaw Custom Barrels and check them out.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Match type accuracy out of a lightweight barrel

Target Market:

Those wanting a lightweight, more accurate 10/22 barrel

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • 0.875" Diameter Bull Barrel

  • Spiral fluted titanium 

  • 416R stainless core

  • Length: 16.5”

  • Weight: 1.35 pounds

  • Bentz chamber for 22 long rifle

  • 1:16 twist rifling

  • Threaded ½-28

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Polished and 18” lengths

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing. 

Link to other reviews:

I couldn't find anything worth your time. 

Price point:

MSRP = $350.00

Retail = $315.00

I need it now! Availability:

Shaw Barrels or Midway USA

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Lightweight

  • Accurate

  • Threaded for muzzle devices

  • Includes thread protector

  • Bull barrel style profile

Cons:

  • Price

Score: 8.00 Great

Favorite Link:  CP Firearms Dragonfly review 

VKTR VK-1 Complete Piston Upper

VKTR Industries VK-1

10.5” Piston Upper Review

  Gas piston upper receivers for AR15 style rifles are not new. However, they seem to be more popular now than in past years. VKTR Industries is making their VK-1 short stroke gas piston system in either complete upper receivers or complete rifles. I opted to get one of their complete VK-1 uppers in a 10.5” length. I chose the 10.5” because I like that length and thought it would be a better application test of VKTR’s products.

  When you first pull the VK-1 upper out of the box, it resembles any other complete AR15 upper. That is until you look farther into it. The bolt carrier is industrial thin, dense, chrome, so it has a dull silver look to it. Then you notice the Radian Raptor charging handle. The upper has T marks on it for locating optics. Then you look inside the handguard and see the short stroke piston setup, which is why we are here. After unpacking the upper, you also notice that there is a buffer and spring in the box. The buffer weight and spring are part of the whole package to get the upper to run as smooth as possible.

  Now it was time to find a pistol lower to install the VKTR VK-1 upper on. I think I went through 3 of them. The third one I just built up from a stripped Anderson lower with an SBA3 brace and a Black Talon Tactical trigger. I know, who puts a $1800 upper on an Anderson lower? Me, but had I had a Hi-Point lower, I would have used it for style points. As you can tell, the VK-1 upper will fit on any AR-15 lower receiver, just make sure it has a carbine buffer tube so you can install the supplied spring and buffer. 

  The VKTR VK-1 system uses a short stroke gas piston. The difference between a gas piston AR15 system, and the normal direct impingement system, is how the rifle operates. A normal direct impingement system uses gas to cycle the bolt carrier system, thus cycling the rifle. A short stroke gas piston system, like the VK-1, uses the gas to operate a piston. Then the piston pushes on the bolt carrier to cycle the action. This results in a cleaner operating system and less, if not any, gas coming back into the action. The short stroke piston system also lets the operating system run cooler. All of this lets the gun run cleaner and longer. Another advantage to a piston operating system, on an AR15, comes when using a suppressor on the firearm. Gas from the system does not get forced back into the action or your face. The VK-1 short stroke piston system allows for normal tear down and maintenance too. This is due to the operating rod not being attached to the bolt carrier. The operating rod not being attached is a huge plus with the short stroke system. The VK-1’s piston system is truly a work of art.

  VKTR Industries redesigned the AR15 bolt carrier to work better. Not just because of the piston system, but in general. Since this is a piston BCG it uses a one piece carrier. This simplifies the carrier by not having to use carrier screws. It also makes the system stronger. The most unique thing done to the carrier is its long advance cam path. VKTR explains it as “The long advance cam path ensures the bolt unlocks at 22.5 degrees, thus correctly timing the locking and unlocking, allowing an additional 2 degrees of dwell time reducing residual chamber pressures, and ensuring no contact between the cam pin and receiver wall”. Since the bolt now unlocks at the proper time, you get smoother cycling and less wear on the receiver itself. The industrial thin, dense, chrome on the carrier also gives it some really good heat and wear resistant properties. 

  Along with the VKTR upper, they send a new buffer and spring. This buffer and spring are required for the VK-1 upper to work with all different types of ammunition, suppressed and un-suppressed. Just make sure you are using a carbine length buffer tube. Yes, it does work suppressed and un-suppressed with the supplied buffer and recoil spring.

  The VK-1 uses a thermal fit barrel system. This means that the barrel and receiver are fit together with either heat, cold, or both. When assembling the upper, the upper is most likely heated up and then the barrel is pushed into the receiver. Metal expands when heated, so when the receiver cools, it clamps down on the barrel, holding it tight. This gives a higher level accuracy over a non press fit receiver. It can also cause less point of impact shift when the barrel heats up. Both of these make for a better rifle, in my opinion. The barrel of the VK-1, in this case, is a 10.5 inch 1 in 7 twist. VKTR says the barrel is a “heavy profile” with machined cooling flutes. These barrel flutes are deeply cut. Using a fluted barrel aids in cooling of the barrel, while still maintaining the benefits of a larger diameter barrel. It also lightens up the weight of the barrel. The barrel is threaded the standard ½-28 and comes with an A2 birdcage installed. The barrel is chambered for 5.56 NATO. 

  The last part of the VK-1 upper is the handguard. The piston operating system can get pretty hot, so the handguard has lots of large holes. This helps get rid of heat by allowing air to flow over and through the handguard. The VK-1’s handguard has a full picatinny top rail that also has holes machined in the slots for cooling. M-Lok slots are then placed at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions. The length of the handguard is 9.85 inches, so it ends right at where the barrel threads begin. I thought the handguard was comfortable to use, worked well, and looks good.

  Piston systems tend to be heavier than their direct impingement counterparts, or at least some do. The VK-1 is not much heavier, if any. The total weight of the complete VK-1 upper was 3.9 pounds on my scale. Making the total weight of my pistol AR coming in at 7 pounds with a 1x prism optic and a sling. VKTR lists their complete 10.5 inch VK-1 pistol at 6 pounds stripped. My optic weighs 0.6 pounds, so I am only 0.4 pounds off of their pistols weight. So in my opinion, the VK-1 upper weighs the same as any other 10.5 inch direct impingement upper.

  I have about 800 rounds through the 10.5 inch VK-1 upper receiver. A couple of quick 30 round mag dumps will heat this thing up fast. The handguard, around the piston, can get hot. However, it cools off fairly quickly. Leitner-Wise makes handguard covers to help with this and they work extremely well at dissipating the heat. To be honest, the VK-1 is one of the softer shooting 10.5 inch uppers I have shot, especially for not being able to adjust the piston system. The recoil impulse is different then most direct impingement guns, and in a good way. I ran the VK-1 about half the time with a suppressor, or actually 2 different suppressors. I really like how there is no gas blowback into my face, an advantage of piston style AR’s. I did notice that un-suppressed, with low powered 223 ammunition, sometimes the upper would short stroke. This only happened a few times on me and this particular ammunition shot soft in my other AR’s as well. All the other standard 5.56 or 223 ammo I had on hand ran flawlessly, both suppressed and un-suppressed. I didn’t do any accuracy testing with the VK-1, mainly because it is a 10.5 inch and I was using a 1x prism on top. However, I could hit targets easily and transition between them with ease. I liked the VK-1 so much that I am contemplating making it one of my go-to AR15’s.

  Was the VKTR Industries VK-1 upper everything I was hoping for? I would have to say yes to that question. The short stroke piston, along with the long advance cam path, makes shooting this AR15 a pleasant experience. Recoil is reduced and the upper doesn’t weigh much. The VK-1 is a top tier upper receiver and it costs top tier price, but you really are getting a great product that will last a lifetime. This isn’t my first piston AR, but the VKTR VK-1 upper is my new favorite. Go check out all their products at VKTR Industries and see for yourself.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

AR-15 piston upper receiver 

Target Market:

Those wanting a more robust operating system 

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Enhanced Upper Rail

  • VK-1 Piston System

  • Enhanced cam path BCG

  • Radian Weapons Raptor™ charging handle

  • Continuous 12 o’clock Picatinny rail

  • Thermal fit forged upper receiver

  • Thread pitch: 1/2×28

  • Heavy Profile Barrel: 1:7″ Twist, Machined Cooling Flutes, Nitride Finished

  • Low profile MLOK handguard

  • Includes required carbine buffer and spring

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Different barrel lengths or complete rifles    

What others are saying?:

5 out 5 stars at BigTexOrdnance    

Okay so I’m not usually a piston AR guy, I’m not anti-piston, I have tried them all and just never thought the added weight on the front, expense, proprietary parts etc was really worth it for not a really tangible performance gain.

I listened to the manufacturer nerd out on the BTO podcast and decided to give it a whirl figuring I was getting got by good fellow gun nerd marketing .

But I can’t be happier with this rig, it’s lightweight, very well thought out design and is legit the flattest shooting out of the box 10.5” gun I’ve ever had or built. Best part is I don’t have to tune or adjust the gas system, it runs low powered .223 and hot 5.56 loads, suppressed and unsuppressed all with exceptionally low gas blow back, not just low for a 10.5, it’s lower gas blowback than some other pretty well suppressor tuned guns I have. Freaking space magic.

Only thing I haven’t done is bench it and properly evaluated it’s accuracy but so far blasting at 10yds to 200 yds it seems to be doing what it should.

Link to other reviews:

RTT: Guns and Gear on YouTube    

Gun Values Board  

Price point:

MSRP = $1799.00

Retail = Same 

I need it now! Availability:

VKTR Industries or Optics Planet

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Soft shooting

  • Clean

  • Functions suppressed and un-suppressed

  • Updated cam path

  • Chromed Carrier

Cons:

  • Gets Hot

  • Price

Score:  8.50 Great

Favorite Link:  Primary Arms GLX MD-21 Review   

,

Magne-Tech Scope Mount

,

Magne-Tech Magnetic

Scope Mount Review

  Optics mounts are everywhere nowadays. You can get them in just about any flavor imaginable. If you are looking for a quick change optics mount, and want something modular and unique, look no farther than the Magne-Tech Magnetic Rifle Scope Mount. This scope mount uses extreme magnets to hold the optic onto the mounting rail, and it works.

  The Magnetic Rifle Scope Mount is a pretty neat setup. It consists of a 2 piece system. The ring mount and the picatinny scope base. I was sent the 30mm scope mount, a 1 inch and 34mm are coming soon. These two parts can then be easily hooked together by the built in magnets, thus making one solid scope mount. An advantage to this system is the ability to quickly change to different, types or styles, of optics

  Magne-Tech uses a 3 magnet base for the scope mount. This base is about 6.5 inches long with 3 rare earth magnets installed in it. Of course it mounts to your top picatinny rail on most firearms. This base uses Magne-Tech's dual locking system. The first lock is the magnets. The second lock is a spring loaded side lock. That side lock then clips into the side of the scope ring mount. On the side clip mount is also a thumb screw. The thumb screw can be tightened down rendering the side lock lever inoperable and thus giving the mount extra security. 

  Before I get into the ring mount portion, let me explain how the scope mount works. If you have not figured it out, the Magne-Tech scope mount uses rare earth magnets to hold the 2 pieces of the mount together. One might ask why or how can this work? Magnets stick themselves together. So Magne-Tech has 3 of these magnets in the base, and 3 in the ring mount. When coming close together, these magnets attract each other strongly. Thus connecting the 2 halves. One might think, “how can that be accurate or repeatable?” Magne-Tech created the mount and base with various protrusions and angles. These angles center the mount into the base. So the scope mounted to it, sits in the same spot of the base, every time. 

  The Magne-Tech ring mount is pretty straightforward. It starts with the 3 magnet mount that attaches to the base. This particular one is for a 30mm scope tube. The rings are built into the mount. The rings themselves are very sturdy and spaced about 3.5 inches apart. Printed on the rings is a toque spec of 15 in-lb’s. That way you don’t have to go looking for what to torque them down at. When the mount is stuck together, it gives a center scope height of 1.516 inches from the top of the rail. This is a pretty standard height, especially if you mount this on an AR style rifle. If you are looking for something with more options. Magne-Tech also sells a 6 inch picatinny rail section that mounts onto the scope base. The base and the rail can be purchased separately to make a mount kit that doesn’t use rings. The 6 inch rail can be used to mount other styles of optics, say for a quick change in the field. This can be very handy if mounting a thermal optic, or something that you might not use during daylight hours, or something that doesn’t use standard rings. If your State doesn't allow hunting with certain illuminated optics, this 6 inch extra rail might make it easier to swap those optics out to something legal. 

  I have been using the Magnetic Scope Mount for a bit. I used it on my Bergara, both with and without the MDT chassis. This particular rifle is a great test platform for a quickly removable optic base. Mainly because it shoots really well. After getting the rifle sighted in with the Sight Mark Presidio, I immediately removed the scope and then snapped it back on. I was really curious if the stated 0.25 inch point of impact shift would show up. It did not for me, as I was shooting in the same spot as a few minutes earlier. I think Magne-Tech gives out that impact shift specification to be safe. I really didn’t see any point of impact shift. I have removed this optic plenty of times and everytime I go back to the range, it still shoots point of aim. Would I use this on a rifle shooting 1000 yards plus? Probably not, but I feel that is not what this mount is designed for. This mount is made to quickly change optics depending on what you need that particular day. Because of the way the Bergara and scope combo fit, I do have a complaint about the Magne-Tech scope ring mount. I was barely able to put the scope far enough forward in the rings. If there was a cantilever style ring mount, this problem wouldn’t have been there. I also noticed that if you have one of those safes that cram rifles together to fit more in, having the ability to take the scope off makes it fit in there way easier. This is especially true if you have some super large optic on the Magne-Tech mount.

  Along with the scope mount, Magne-Tech sent a 3 inch pic rail. As with the 6 inch previously mentioned, it can also just mount to the scope base. The 3 inch pic rail only has 2 magnets instead of 3, but it will still mount to the scope rail base and lock down with the side lever. It has the advantage of being able to be mounted forward or rearward on the base, since it is shorter. Magne-Tech also has various bases to mount this 3 inch rail on. I didn't end up using the 3 inch rail yet, but it will snap on the M-Lok mount that has my Magne-Tech Rigel light on it. This 3 inch pic rail section would work great for mounting one of the red dots that can not use regular rings. 

  If you have an application where quick change optics are needed, the Magne-Tech Magnetic Scope Mount might be worth looking into. The mount is built really well and holds up to abuse. Having the ability to quickly change optics is a huge plus, especially while maintaining zero. If you want a quality, quick change scope mount, go take a look at what Magne-Tech has to offer.  

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Magnetic scope mount with features to maintain point of impact

Target Market:

Those who change optics on a regular basis 

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Quick change magnetic scope mount

  • Interchangeable magnetic mounts

  • Maximum 0.25” point of impact shift

  • 7075-T6 aluminum construction

  • Hardcoat anodized

  • Rare earth magnet technology

  • Dual-redundant locking system

  • 1.516” centerline scope height off of pic rail (same as most AR mounts)

  • Receiver mount weight: 5.4 ounces

  • 30mm Ring mount weight: 6.5 ounces

  • Total weight: 11.9 ounces

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

34mm and 1” 

What others are saying?:

Awesome Product: 5 out 5 stars from Brian at ScopedOut

These are no joke. Quality is awesome and the magnetic field is very strong. It will have no issue holding zero. This product is perfect for attaching specialty scopes on multiple rifles (NV / Thermal). Expensive yes, worth the cost, absolutely.

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found as of publishing

Price point:

MSRP = $349.99

6” pic rail = $124.99    

3” pic rail = $93.99     

Retail = $265 ish

I need it now! Availability:

Magne-Tech or Optics Planet

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Held zero for me 

  • Thumb screw lock on mount

  • Interchangeable mounts (3” & 6” pic rail mounts)

  • Standard centerline height

  • Quality made

Cons:

  • Not 100% zero shift guarantee 

  • Needs cantilever mount option

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link:  Magne-Tech Rigel II Review    

,

MDT LSS Gen 3 Chassis

,

MDT LSS Gen 3

Chassis Review

  I am not a super precision rifle type of guy, but I do see the benefits of having a chassis system. That is why I was excited when MDT recently brought out their LSS Gen 3 chassis system. I had recently picked up a Bergara for review and knew the MDT chassis would be a great fit. I opted for “The Tactical” pre-configured LSS Gen 3.

  MDT has been updating chassis as the years go on. In fact, I have a LSS-XL Gen 1. Now they are on Gen 3 of the LSS chassis. What makes the LSS Gen 3 standout is its adjustability. Now you can purchase just the baseline chassis, with no buttstock and a small forend. Or, you can go all out and purchase different forends, different stocks, as well as pistol grip options. If you don’t want a stock, you don’t have to get one. The LSS Gen 3 is super customizable. 

  MDT also thought of something else with the LSS Gen 3. They have 3 pre-configured option packages: The Worker, The Tactical, and The Competitor. The Worker is the stripped down, lightweight version. The Competitor is the chassis you might want for shooting precision rifle competitions. Then there is the Tactical. I chose the Tactical for MDT to send out. It fits what I was looking for to install on the Bergara. So I will mainly focus on it, with some other stuff thrown in.

  Before I start on the Tactical, let me intrigue you with all the options one can choose on the LSS Gen 3. As of now, you get two color options, Black or FDE. You then choose your rifle’s action, there are plenty to choose from. Next you get to decide your stock interface. This is the only option that you need to choose if just buying the chassis by itself. There are three options: XTN (essentially MDT’s interface), Pic Rail (for folding stocks), and Carbine (Standard AR buffer tube). Then you can choose your stock, if applicable. If MDT doesn’t have a stock option you like, the LSS Gen 3 can accept just about any stock on the market. After you decide if you want a stock or not, you can choose what forend you want. As of now there are only two, the tactical and the competition. Lastly you can choose a pistol grip. Again, if you don’t like the options, any AR style pistol grip without a beavertail will work. 

  Now let’s get into the MDT LSS Gen 3 Tactical. The Tactical version comes pre configured with certain parts that make it feel more like an AR than a competition rifle. These include the forend, stock, and pistol grip, more on those later. The main Gen 3 chassis is the same across the board. It comes with some small polymer handguards attached to it. These can be used by themselves or removed to attach one of the other forends. This main chassis also has a built-in barricade stop on the front of the magwell. The Gen 3 chassis uses standard AICS pattern magazines. If you have a rifle that uses a blind or hinged magazine, it will convert it to use those AICS compatible magazines. To remove those magazines, MDT installed an ambidextrous mag release. Just push it forward with your trigger finger and the mags drop free. The Tactical model also uses the Carbine buttstock adapter so you can mount any AR buffer tube style stock to the chassis. MDT uses their Elite pistol grip for the Tactical version. This is an angled AR style grip with a soft overmold. 

  The forend on the Tactical version has some great features. First up, it has M-Lok slots at every 45 degrees. It also has a top picatinny rail out at the end of the handguard. This rail can be used to attach extra optics like night vision or thermal. This handguard has a long cut out toward the receiver. I believe this is so that larger optics will not interfere with the handguard. At 13.7” long, the tactical handguard gives plenty of room for attaching accessories like a bag plate or bipod. Since the Bergara I attached the Gen 3 LSS to only has an 18” barrel, it compliments the rifles “tactical” looks.

  Since the Tactical LSS Gen 3 uses a buffer tube style adapter, MDT supplies their top of the line carbine stock. The supplied stock is MDT’s SCS, or Skeleton Carbine Stock. This thing has more adjustments then I probably need, but they are sweet. On the SCS is an adjustable cheek piece that can quickly be adjusted with a thumb screw. The angle and location can also be changed by loosening some screws and re-tightening them. The actual buttpad interface has adjustments for the location on the buffer tube, as well as the angle, by also loosening screws. The buttpad interface is somewhat foot shaped with a flat bottom. It has an M-Lok slot at the bottom for attaching stuff. There is also a QD hole built into this foot for attaching a sling. Then there is a big thumb screw for quickly adjusting the length of pull on the buttpad. Along with the quick adjust screw, there are little thumb screws to lock this adjustment down. Then the buttpad itself can be adjusted up or down by loosening another little thumb screw. Even though there are a lot of adjustments with the SCS stock, it makes for a real nice interface between you and the rifle.

  I proceeded to mount up the MDT LSS Gen 3 Tactical to my Bergara Ridge SP in 308. I knew this would be the perfect platform. The Ridge only has a 18” barrel which makes it the perfect length for the Tactical chassis. Installation was pretty easy, just follow MDT’s instructions and use a torque wrench. Once installed I proceeded to take it to the range. Does the rifle shoot better because of the chassis? I couldn’t tell as this rifle shoots sub MOA with match ammo. But I do know that having the action sitting in a stable platform, like this chassis, will help with consistency. One advantage of the Tactical chassis, over the Bergara’s stock, is that the chassis won’t flex. I noticed this when trying out the built in barricade stop. The stock rifle didn’t even have one, but the MDT’s built in stop seemed to work pretty good. I also stuck on a bipod using one of the bottom M-Lok slots. The M-Lok slots are very useful, as is the top pic rail. To round out the handguard I installed some FDE Nile grip panels from Walker Defense. They match well, but more importantly is that they give a great grip to the smooth handguard of the Tactical chassis. My only complaint about the chassis is its weight. This could be a plus or minus in your mind. Heavy is better for a precision rifle, but light is better for a tactical rifle, at least in my opinion. Since this is labelled as “Tactical”, I was hoping for a pound or two less. However, If I were to just put a standard AR stock on it, it would lighten it up a bit. But then you would lose all the adjustability in the great SCS stock. So choose for yourself what you want, which is really the best feature about the LSS Gen 3. 

  If you are thinking about getting a chassis for your rifle, MDT makes some of the best out there. The LSS Gen 3 makes it possible to get just what you want, or don’t want. You get to choose. Or if you just want a pre configured chassis, like The Tactical, they have that too. I have been very pleased with the MDT LSS Gen 3 Tactical chassis. It makes the rifle look and shoot great. Go take a look at it over at MDT.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Configurable chassis

Target Market:

Those wanting a precision chassis that gives them options

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • 5.74 pounds complete for “Tactical” version

  • 2.2 pounds chassis only

  • Interchangeable Forends

  • Customizable Buttstock Interface

  • Interchangeable buttstocks

  • AICS Magazine Compatibility

  • Ambidextrous Magazine Latch

  • V-block bedding

  • Barricade stop

  • Compatible with AR-15 style grips

  • Compatible with M-LOK thumb shelf

  • Action stays in chassis when changing forend & stock, maintaining zero

  • 6061 aluminum construction

  • Cerakoted Black or FDE

  • 1.25” barrel channel

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Also can be had in basic black, but the options are too many to list

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Tactical Gear Guy  

Price point:

MSRP = $459.90 - $1509.75

Retail = $1059.75 as shown in Tactical Kit

I need it now! Availability:

MDT, MidwayUSA, or OpticsPlanet

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Configurable aluminum rifle chassis

  • Ways to mount just about any buttstock

  • Interchangeable forends

  • Uses AR pistol grips

Tactical Kit Pros:

  • Multiple M-Lok slots

  • Multi-adjustable stock

  • AR style buffer tube adapter

Cons:

  • Can be heavy (Good or Bad depending on set up)

Score: 8.50 Great

,

N96 Arms FX-9 RP

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N96 Arms FX-9 RP

Review

  There are tons of good handguns on the market today. What someone chooses is really up to them. Fit and features should be high on that list when choosing a handgun. N96 Arms has brought out their FX-9 RP. This imported pistol has a ton of great features, both for the beginner and the professional.

  To start with, the FX-9 RP is a duty sized handgun. So it has a full size grip frame and a 4.1 inch barrel. It comes with decent iron sights and three different backstraps. These backstraps help to make the pistol fit small to large hands. The FX-9 also has an ambidextrous safety. It also is cut for an RMSc footprint optic. Along with that, it comes with 2 - 17 round magazines, a mag loader, paddle holster, a cleaning kit, and an okay carrying case. You really get a lot of stuff for that $379.00 MSRP.

  When describing a pistol, I always try to do the frame first. Mainly because it is the interface between you and your shooting experience. The frame is made from polymer, so all the features are “molded” into it. The grip frame on the N96 Arms FX-9 RP starts with a really good grip texture. On the sides it has a rough stipple like texture. On the front and back are lines with little squares cut into them. Think of a small “frag” pattern, but not quit. The mag release form fits the frame very well and is easy to get to. It is also reversible if you are lefty. Moving to the trigger guard, it is large and has lines on the very front. It is large enough that gloved hands should not have any problems. It is fairly undercut at the rear so you can also get your hand up high on the grip to support recoil. Moving to the front is a 3 slot rail. The rail is a cross between a pic rail and a glock rail. The spacing between the rails is smaller than a pic rails spacing, more like a Glock. When I mounted a light, I had to use the smaller Glock lug, which is how I found out about the spacing. At the rear of the FX-( is a really nice beavertail to keep you from getting any slide bite.

  It is now trigger time. The trigger on the N96 Arms FX-9 RP is really good. It is a curved style with a safety flipper. The flipper is barely noticeable when pulling the trigger. The curve on the trigger is very shallow, somewhere between a standard curved and a flat faced. Total movement is around 0.400 inch. So a little shorter pull length than a Glock trigger. The first 0.300 inch is take up. The next 0.075 - 0.100 inch is the actual break. The break is pretty clean. Total trigger pull weight comes in at 4.5 pounds on my trigger gauge. Reset is also decent. Overall it is a nice trigger for a striker fired pistol. Along with the trigger comes a manual safety. The safety lever is ambidextrous. It is located near the rear of the frame, where it should be. Flip it up for safe and down for fire. The FX-9 RP’s safety has a decent detent, so you shouldn’t accidentally put it on. It also flips off decently easy with your thumb. It is very slim shaped, but I didn’t have any problems releasing it. To go along with the safeties, the FX-9 RP also has a striker indicator. When the pistol is ready to fire, you can see a red painted dot in the middle of the backplate. 

  The slide on the N96 Arms FX-9 RP is nice looking. The machining on it is top notch, which actually surprised me. At the front and rear are angled slide serrations. They work well, but I would like them cut just a little deeper. Most people probably won’t even notice since they work fine. At the front of the slide are 3 holes on each side, and the top. This lightens the slide but also makes it possible for a ported barrel. Or more so, porting the barrel in it. A set of sights, with a white dot front, sit on top. The sights are Glock compatible, so you can upgrade them to any of the various Glock sights out there. I stuck on a set of XS Sights tall big dots. I did this because the FX-9 RP is also cut for a RMSc footprint optic. Be careful when you pull the optic cover plate off, there is a small spring under it that the pistol needs to function properly. Primary Arms sent me one of their Classic Series red dots to use on the N96 Arms. 

  The extras that come with the FX-9 RP are a nice touch. As kind of mentioned earlier, it comes with 3 cleaning brushes. Who doesn’t need extra cleaning brushes? It also comes with a little metal punch for removing pins. Mainly for use when changing the backstraps, as they have a roll pin holding them in. Then comes the paddle holster. It is a level 2 retention holster. So it has a button that must be pressed to release the pistol. Kind of nice, especially for those worried about their pistol staying in the holster. The paddle is adjustable for cant. I did run into a problem, though minor, with the holster. It will not work with the taller sights that I installed. Anyone using this holster probably isn’t putting tall sights on it anyhow, so take it for what it is. The last nice addition is a magazine loader. It is just the “push down over the mag” style, but it works great.

  Now for my experience with the N96 Arms FX-9 RP. The FX-9 RP can rival some US made firearms. Build quality is great. The sights are good from the factory and being able to use Glock replacement sights is a nice touch. As previously mentioned, the trigger is great and lets you shoot fast and accurately. Accuracy is comparable with any other duty pistol. I really like how the grip is short front to back, it gives more versatility for those with smaller hands. Using common CZ75 magazines, that are not very expensive, is also great. I used some of my small frame EAA Witness magazines in the FX-9 RP and they worked fine. Not being able to use common holsters is kind of a bummer, but there is a way around that. Just put a light on it and use a light bearing holster, that’s what I ended up doing with it. Yes, it comes with an OWB holster, but it’s really only good for range use. Actually shooting the FX-9 is nice. I was able to flip the safety off without even thinking about it, thanks to thousands of reps with a 1911 in a past era. I think the FX-9 RP would be a great pistol for someone who is just starting out. Or someone that has just one gun. It could be carried, but I see it more as a bedside gun. Mainly for someone that wants a fullish size pistol, with the extra added peace of mind that a manual safety gives them. Add in night sights and an optic and you have a really good, easy shooting pistol.

  If you are looking for a decently priced pistol, that has a lot of features, go take a look at the N96 Arms FX-9 RP. Don’t let the fact that it is imported shy you away, it is a very good pistol. It has great features and can take aftermarket sights and optics. N96 Arms did a nice job with the FX-9 RP. Check one out over at North 96 Outdoors.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Value priced pistol with a ton of features

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a pistol for home defense, range, or carry

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Style:  Single Action Semi Auto

  • Manufacturer:  Agaoglu Aviation and Defence Industry

  • Caliber:  9mm Luger

  • Weight:  25.2 oz without magazine

  • Barrel Length: 4.1”

  • Overall Length: 7.3”

  • Height:  5.6”

  • Width:  1.38”

  • Mag Capacity:  17+1  Compatible with CZ 75 mags

  • Sights: Adjustable HiViz

  • Material:  Steel Slide, Poly Body

  • Picatinny Rail

  • Manual Ambi Safety

  • Striker Indicator

  • Interchangeable Backstraps - S, M, & L included

  • 2 magazines included

  • Paddle holster included

  • Mag loader included

  • RMSc optics cut with plate

  • Uses Glock iron sights

  • Lifetime warranty 

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Gray, Sand, or Green

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found, but GB Guns did a very similar review  

Price point:

MSRP = $379.00

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

North 96 Outdoors

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Trigger pull

  • Adjustability due to Backstraps

  • Good grip texture

  • Uses Glock sights

  • Optic cut

  • Uses readily available magazines (CZ75)

  • Comes with extras

Cons:

  • Safety

  • Holster compatibility 

Score: 8.00 Great

,

Strike Industries SMC Bravo Chassis

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Strike Industries SMC Bravo

Chassis Review

  Today, we're taking a look at the Strike Industries Bravo Chassis designed for the Sig Sauer P320. I received this chassis from Strike Industries, and since I had a P320 Compact sitting around, unused—not due to reliability issues, but simply because I didn't like how it felt or shot. I decided to reach out to Strike Industries for a chassis to create an interesting range toy.

Upon receiving the Bravo chassis, I realized I needed a few additional parts to complete the build. So I headed back to Strike Industries to purchase their pistol brace, compensator, and blast shield. I also contacted the team at XS Sights for a set of tall tritium suppressor sights that illuminate brightly. Now, back to the chassis itself, everything necessary to complete the build was included in the box. Including the chassis and a new back plate with a charging handle for easier operation.

  I opted for the FDE version of the chassis and mixed in some black components to enhance its appearance. The SMC Bravo stands for Strike Modular Chassis, and it's a lighter alternative to the Alpha system. Made from Polymer Extreme, it’s both durable and lightweight. This chassis is designed to accommodate the fire control unit and offers ample rail space for accessories. From the grip upwards, it features a flared mag well for smoother reloads. The frame includes a built-in gas pedal for improved stability, quicker follow-up shots, and better control. The rear back strap is integrated with a 1913 rail for attaching your preferred brace. Additionally, there's a molded QD socket for a quick-detachable sling system, making this chassis a versatile platform for a PDW, SBR, or any creative setup you envision.

  I added a spare magazine holder to the front, which provides quick access to an extra magazine and offers a place to index your hand. The takedown lever is a standard OEM part, and installing the trigger package was straightforward, as it is designed to accommodate both OEM and aftermarket trigger units. The Strike Bravo chassis is compatible with all P320 slides, but if you plan to use a shorter compact slide, a threaded barrel and compensator will be necessary to manage the muzzle blast. You can utilize P320 17-round, 21-round, or larger magazines. While it’s claimed that the chassis fits a variety of holsters, I've chosen to carry mine in a sling bag without a round in the chamber, as I find it would be too bulky in a holster. 

  At the range it was a pleasure to shoot. It was great having a third point of contact to stabilize the pistol. I was able to easily hit targets at 50 yards with iron sights. I had no issues with the reliability of the system. Everything on the system was either Strike Industries or OEM Sig parts. 

  As with Strike Industries and their website, there is very little technical information or specs on the product. I would like for Strike Industries to add size and width, blah blah, to the product specs. Overall I like their system. I don’t think it is a viable option to a traditional pistol when being worn in a holster. I do think it is a viable option of being a truck gun, backpack, or sling bag firearm. Home defense would be a plus as well. Their Bravo chassis opens itself up to give you a platform to go from mild to wild. I think it was clearly made well, the price for the chassis is on point, but to add all the other accessories, it gets a bit pricey. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

A chassis system to advance the P320 platform 

Target Market:

Those who want a pistol braced pistol 

Compact design 

Those who want a truck or tractor firearm that’s compact 

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Uses Sig P320 FCU

  • Material: Polymer Extreme

  • Built in Magwell

  • Extended front picatinny rail

  • Rear QD socket

  • Lightweight 

  • Durable 

  • Open platform 

  • Ergonomic 

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Three different colors available 

Ambidextrous charging handle 

Tons of different variations and configurations 

What others are saying?:

Quick and smooth 

Turning with the system is a breeze

Turns your firearm into a pistol with a brace. 

Link to other reviews:

Gun Values Board

Price point:

MSRP = $129.95

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Strike Industries

Optics Planet  

MidwayUSA  

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Built in features like QD pocket 

  • Generous rail space 

  • Modular design 

Cons:

  • I’m concerned about the rail on the back to place a brace or stock. Only time will tell

  • Limited optic mounting options 

Score: 7.00 Good

TriggerTech Ace Glock Trigger

TriggerTech Ace Glock

Trigger Review

  I am always looking for the next, best trigger. Handguns, rifles, I always want something better. Sometimes you come across one that is just great. That is where the TriggerTech Ace trigger for Glocks comes in.

  The TriggerTech Ace Glock trigger is strictly a competition trigger. It is definitely not a carry trigger. The pull weight is adjustable from 2.5 - 6.0 pounds but it does not include a tab safety on the trigger itself. Which is why I say it's a competition only trigger. However, TriggerTech does use a different style of safety in the trigger to make it safe. It also retains all the other factory Glock safeties. I dropped it on the rear of the gun, empty of course, and it locked the trigger from moving, but did not fire. Granted, that was from about 2 feet onto carpet. I had to rack the slide to get it back to working order. I also hit the back of the slide on the carpeted floor, like a hammer, the trigger still pulled fine and bumped a pencil out of it when fired. That was with the pull weight set at 2.5 pounds. I have not had any problems with this sample. But, to mention it again, it is a competition trigger, not a carry trigger.

  Let’s get into the Ace trigger itself. TriggerTech sent the Pro curved version. So the trigger is slightly curved with the face being flat. TriggerTech also has Flat and Traditional curved trigger faces if that is what you like. I like the feel of the Pro curved trigger, especially since it is not super curved. I would say it falls somewhere between a flat and a standard Glock curved trigger. Since the Ace is a competition trigger, TriggerTech got rid of the flipper safety on the trigger. They moved this type of feature to the top of the trigger, so no flipper is needed. 

  TriggerTech’s Ace trigger drops in similar to any Glock style trigger. Amazingly, it can be used in Gen 1-5 Glock pistols and clones. The difference lies in the backplate that has a disconnect function built into it. This backplate has a flat protruding out from it. It installs just like any other backplate, so no worries there. The lever and sear module install like any other Glock trigger. If you do not think you are capable of the installation yourself, please take it to a gunsmith. Now that that is installed, you can safety check it and head out to the range.

  What makes the Ace trigger so interesting is the fact that it can be adjusted for trigger pull weight. Depending on what parts are installed, it can be adjusted from 2.5 pounds up to 6 pounds. 3 different springs come with the Ace trigger kit. Depending on what springs are installed, determines the range at which the trigger can be adjusted. If you use a stock plunger spring and the heavy take up spring that comes installed in the Ace trigger, you get a trigger pull range of 4.5 - 6.0 pounds. By changing the plunger spring to the supplied lighter one and keeping the heavy take up spring, you get a trigger pull range of 3.0 - 4.5 pounds. Now if you replace the take up spring to the lighter one, while still keeping the light plunger spring, you get a trigger pull range between 2.5 - 4.0 pounds. Lastly, if you now change the plunger spring back to the stock one, while keeping the light take up spring, you get a range of 3.5 - 5.0 pounds. Since this Ace trigger uses TriggerTech’s CLKR technology, it lets you adjust anywhere in the ranges listed above. Just take the slide off, insert the allen wrench into the sear module and turn it the desired direction. There is a “+” marked on it so you know which way to increase the pull weight. Adjustments are pretty fine, as you can get about 40 or so clicks out of the CLKR adjustment. I was able to adjust the pull weight from 2.5 to 4.5 pounds with just the CLKR adjuster. I also am using the “Light” springs. 

  Besides being able to adjust for pull weights, the Ace trigger also shortens the physical trigger pull distance. A stock Glock trigger moves a little over a ½ inch to fire a round. The TriggerTech Ace moves 0.200 of an inch. That’s a 60% reduction in total trigger travel. It gets better. The Ace’s pre travel is about 0.100 inches of that. Then the Ace trigger hits the wall that has around a 0.050 inch break. The rest is over travel. It is the best trigger pull I have felt on a Glock. I have only one complaint with the Ace trigger, the reset is a little wimpy. So it is not very forceful or tactile. It doesn’t cause any problems, but I think it is a TriggerTech thing, because their AR triggers also have the same reset. 

  Since I don’t have any actual Glock pistols, I installed the Ace trigger in a Polymer 80. The installation was easy for me. I tried it as it came supplied at first, using the factory plunger spring. Of course it worked, but I wanted to see how light I could get it using the supplied parts. So I installed the light springs and it made a world of difference. When turned all the way down, I was able to get about a 2.4 pound trigger pull. I adjusted it, with the CLKR, to 2.5 pounds. The first time I pulled the trigger, I had to bust out my 1911 to see which was lighter. The Ace had the 1911 beat in pull weight by ¾ of a pound. The 1911 had a better trigger pull feel. Just remember these are two different styles of triggers, so they will be different. This Ace trigger shoots phenomenally. The pull has no gritty feel like some Glock triggers, just a little take up and then a bang. If you can manage recoil, you can get some really fast doubles and triples out of this trigger.  

  So far, the TriggerTech Ace trigger is the best feeling trigger, for Glocks, that I have seen. It lets you adjust it easily, as well as on the fly. The feel is just great. I just can’t get over how smooth and short the trigger is. If you are looking for one of the best competition Glock trigger one can get, you will definitely want to take a look at the Ace trigger from TriggerTech.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Competition Glock trigger

Target Market:

Those wanting a great Glock trigger

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Fully Tunable: Adjust take-up, break, and reset to your exact preferences.

  • Separate Disconnect Module and Sear Module — not a one-piece connector

  • True pivoting firing pin safety eliminates grit and drag

  • Patented Zero Creep Technology™ for an exceptionally crisp break

  • CLKR Technology™ lets you fine-tune pull weight with precision and confidence

  • Pull Weight: 2.5 lbs – 6 lbs

  • Safety: Enveloped Lever Safety

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Traditional curve or Flat

What others are saying?:

3 out of 5 stars from ZAC at  PSA 

Great break. Terrible reset. Very weak. Constantly short stroking. Tried in three different firearms with similar results.

5 out of 5 stars from DumpsterFire2424 at MidwayUSA

Feels great!

As far as competitive shooting or range training, this trigger keeps my splits about the same as my Staccato. Although it does not feel like a 2011 or custom Double Stack 1911 trigger, it's definitely much better (feeling wise) than any of the other Aftermarket Glock Triggers I've used. I didn't change any springs but I turned the internal dial 5 notches from the lowest setting. I am about 2.75 - 3.0 lbs according to my trigger gauge. Will I carry it in my EDC or Duty style weapon even with a higher setting on the internal dial? Not yet, not until I at least have a few thousand rounds on it. The lack of a bladed safety does have me at a slight pause and I know to some it's trivial. I'd like to see TriggerTech give us a trigger option that includes a small trigger blade safety like what Agency Arms does with their triggers. Just a little extra piece of visual/tactile assurance. 

Link to other reviews:

I couldn’t find anything I thought was relevant 

Price point:

MSRP = $274.99

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

TriggerTech, Primary Arms, Palmetto State Armory, or MidwayUSA

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Adjustable using TriggerTech’s CLKR 

  • Short break

  • Crisp

  • Wide trigger shoe

Cons:

  • Not a great reset

Score: 9.00 Amazing

Favorite Link:  TriggerTech AR Diamond Review   

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Strike Industries QD Rail Adapter & Riser

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Strike Industries QD Rail

Adapter & Riser Review

  Quick disconnect, red dot style, optic mounts seem to be a little harder to find these days, or at least decent ones. Do not worry, Strike Industries recently released their Strike QD Rail Adapter. This little QD mount works with Strike Industries risers so that you can have a quick disconnect for your T1/T2 footprint optic. 

  When I saw this QD Rail Adapter, I knew it would be perfect for me. Having the ability to quickly change an optic from rifle to rifle had me hooked. Especially since I review a bunch of stuff. This might not be your use case, but having a good picatinny QD mount can still be helpful. 

  Since I was using the Strike QD rail adapter on AR style rifles, it needed a riser to go with it. The Strike QD will only work with Strike Industries risers. So I had them send one of those to me also. That adds another $50 to the already $75 cost of the QD. Just shy of $125 is still a good deal for everything. The Strike Industries Riser can be used as a standard co witness or a lower ⅓. It does this with a little spacer that adds a small amount to the top of the mount. I ended up using it without the spacer. 

  The heart of the Strike QD Adapter is the throw lever. The throw lever is what locks and unlocks the rail to the picatinny. One can usually feel when the lever cams over. Then you know it is tight. Strike Industries QD adapter has this standard feature. But what really makes the Strike Industries QD adapter better is the extra spring loaded lock. Once the main lever is tight, this little lock springs down to keep the lever from moving. It is that little added extra so your optic won’t come off if bumped or accidentally hit. To unlock the QD mount, you must first push the safety lock upward, thus releasing the main lever to be moved. The safety lock has a little flat in it also. My guess is that if you can’t get it to move out of the way by hand, you can use a screwdriver or shell casing rim to push it up. The main lever is also spring loaded to help it pop back out when the safety lever is moved. There is a square headed screw on the main lever. This screw is used to adjust how tight the adapter fits to your picatinny rail. It is click adjustable and uses a regular bladed screwdriver. You can also use your fingers to adjust it, it’s just a little harder to do. 

  I have an Atibal Solar prism that has a T1 base. This prism sight is specifically why I asked for the Strike QD Rail Adapter when it came out. Mounting it up was easy with the screws provided with the Strike Riser. After the initial adjustment, I put the QD on an AR. After about a month, I received something else to migrate the QD mount and optic over to. I have also taken the sight off and on a ton of times. Everytime I just push the lock upward and move the lever, then the whole package falls into my hand. The lever system works great. The little safety is probably my favorite thing about the QD mount. Using a T1/T2 footprint for this mount was a smart choice.

  If you are in the market for a QD red dot mount, the Strike Industries QD Rail Adapter has worked great for me. It is super easy to use and has the extra added security of a safety lock. Pair it with Strike Industries T1 Riser and you get a whole package that you can use on any rifle. Head over to Strike Industries and check out the QD Rail Adapter and Riser for yourself.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

QD mount for T1/T2 style optics 

Target Market:

Those wanting a throw lever style mount for their optic

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

QD:

  • Length: 2.09"

  • Width:   1.78"

  • Height:  0.54"

  • Weight: 1.60 oz

  • QD Mount For T1/T2 Optics

  • Dual locking mechanism

  • Durable, steel-lined polymer body

  • Easy adjustment w/ flat head

  • Large quick detach lever

  • Compatible with all Strike T1 optic mounts

  • Use with Any T1/T2 Footprint Optics

  • ONLY usable with Strike Industries' Riser Mounts

Riser:

  • Includes T1 Riser in Lower 1/3 or Absolute

  • 6061-T6 aluminum construction

  • Type 3 hard anodized 

  • Dimensions: 23.6 mm x 25.6 mm x 53 mm

  • Weight: 2.3 oz

  • Includes mounting screws

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None on QD base, some different colors on the riser

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found as of publishing 

Price point:

MSRP = QD - $74.95

               Riser - $49.95

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Strike Industries, Optics Planet, or Midway USA

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Secondary lock holds secure

  • QD

  • Standard T1/T2 footprint

  • Lightweight 

Cons:

  • Must use Strike Industries risers

Score: 7.50 Good

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Civivi SOKN

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Civivi SOKN

Review

  Having a good little fixed blade knife can be very useful. If it is the right size, it can be used as a defensive knife or a good little hunting knife. Civivi and Kyle Lamb have brought out the SOKN fixed blade. The SOKN is targeted as a defensive tactical blade, but I found it to be very useful for other knife type things. 

  SOKN is an old Norse word meaning fight or attack. This is a fitting name for this little fixed blade, especially since it is designed as a defensive fighting knife. I still want a gun in a knife fight, but that may not always be feasible. Since it is a fighting knife, the SOKN comes with a multi use sheath. This sheath has either adjustable belt loops or a hook. The hook is so the knife sheath can be caught on the pocket when drawing the knife. 

  The SOKN is a very well designed fixed blade. It starts with the full tang blade and G10 handle. The inverse grip handle helps make the knife useful for both types of grip. On the end of the handle, at the butt, is a little “foot”. This “foot” lets you rest your thumb on the handle when using an inverse grip. It basically gives you more stabbing leverage. When using the SOKN with a normal grip, the little “foot” keeps your hand from sliding off the end. Another advantage to the “foot” is that it gives your hand something to catch while drawing the SOKN from its sheath. For as small as the handle is, I was able to get a good comfortable grip on it.

  Blade design and steel are always important, no matter what style of knife you are using. The SOKN uses a 2.82 inch Nitro-V stainless steel blade. It is a drop point style and flat ground. Civivi also put decent jimping on the spine of the blade. I like drop point style blades. The shape of the SOKN makes it good for just about any task, including stabbing things. Because of the blade shape, the SOKN would also make a decent skinning knife. You can also use the SOKN as a replacement for a folder, when a folder just won’t work. 

  Back to the sheath that comes with the SOKN. The kydex sheath really helps to make the SOKN so useful. First, the belt loops are adjustable and have some pretty great snaps on them. These belt loops are designed to carry the SOKN horizontally on a belt. I carried the SOKN for a little bit this way and it worked fine for me. Where the belt loops mount on the sheath, there are 4 riveted style holes. Since the sheath kind of curves up, you can change how the knife carries. The end hole can also be used for a chain, so that you can use the system as a large neck knife. The sheath also has a sharpish hook on it. This hook is intended for pocket carry. When you draw the SOKN out, this hook catches on the inside of your pocket, keeping the sheath in your pocket and allowing the knife to be ready to go. The SOKN also has a removable, and reversible pocket clip so the knife and sheath don’t just float around inside your pocket. Pocket carry is how I carry this little knife and it works extremely well.

 The SOKN is my first fixed blade defensive knife that I actually use. I absolutely love the sheath system. I am a big fan of drop point blade styles because they just work for everything I do with a knife. Nitro-V steel has proven to be a good knife steel. It is hard and holds an edge well. With a weight of just under 3 ounces, you can carry this knife anywhere and not know its there. I have two minor complaints with the SOKN. One, I would like the blade length to be a little longer. Somewhere in the 3-3.25 inch range would be just a tad bit better. Lastly, I would like a better way to mount it vertically on something like a vest. Overall, I really think the SOKN is a great little knife.

  If you are looking at getting a good little defensive knife, the Civivi SOKN might be a great pick. It isn’t just a defensive knife, it can be used for all types of “knife” things. I can see keeping one with your hunting equipment, or just in your car. It really has that many uses. I prefer to call the SOKN an everyday, all around, knife. Go check the SOKN out and see if it makes sense for you.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Small fixed blade defensive knife

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a small fixed blade

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Overall Length: 7.17" / 182.1mm

  • Width: 1.46" / 37.1mm

  • Overall Height (Includes Clip): 0.56" / 14.2mm

  • Blade Length: 2.82" / 71.6mm

  • Cutting Edge Length: 2.58" / 65.6mm

  • Handle Length: 4.35" / 110.5mm

  • Blade Thickness: 0.12" / 3mm

  • Handle Thickness: 0.35" / 9mm

  • Knife Weight: 2.93oz / 83g

  • Blade Material: Nitro-V

  • Blade Hardness: 59-61HRC

  • Blade Grind: Flat

  • Blade Finish: Stonewashed

  • Blade Type: Drop Point

  • Handle Material: G10

  • Handle Color/Finish: Black

  • Pocket Clip: Tip-Down, L/R

  • Clip Material: Stainless Steel 

  • Clip Screws / Tubes Material: Stainless Steel 

  • Sheath: Black Kydex Sheath With 2PCS Black Straps

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Gray Handles   

What others are saying?:

5 out 5 stars on Amazon

I bought this knife to have a lightweight cutting tool that would replace my folding knife. I have been impressed with the sharpness and ergonomics of the handle. The sheath allows for several choices of carry. When I carry this knife I often forget that it’s there. Excellent blade for hiking, self defense, and utility chores. The Nitro V steel lends itself to operate in a multitude of environments. Worth every penny.

Link to other reviews:

Gear Patrol  

Price point:

MSRP = $105.00

Retail = $89.25

I need it now! Availability:

Civivi, Amazon, or your local dealer

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Great size

  • Full tang

  • Sheath with multiple mounting options

  • Multi purpose blade

  • Reverse grip works well both ways

  • Nitro-V steel

Cons:

  • Blade could be a little longer

Score: 8.50

Favorite Link:  Traser P99A review   

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Primary Arms SLx RS-10R

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Primary Arms

SLx RS-10R Review

  Primary Arms has come out with their new SLx RS-10R. This is an updated version of the original RS-10 reflex style red dot. One of the big complaints about the original was the mounting footprint it used. Well, the SLx RS-10R has fixed that issue. 

  As with the original, the SLx RS-10R is packed with features. More important than all of those is the “R” designation at the end of the model number. That “R” stands for RMR. I don't think Primary Arms can say it, but we can. What that means for you is that the RS-10R now uses a RMR footprint. Or a Holosun 407C/507C footprint since they are essentially the same. The only drawback to using the RMR footprint is that the RS-10R now uses the smaller cr1632 battery instead of a cr2032. But through some magic, you still get 25k-50k hours of battery life. 

  Now back to the rest of the specifications. The RS-10R runs a 3 moa dot. I find the dot size to be a good compromise, no matter if you mount it on a pistol or rifle. It has 11 brightness settings. Of which, the bottom 2 are night vision compatible. To adjust the brightness, the RS-10R has soft touch buttons on the left side. When you reach the highest brightness setting, the dot will flash so you know when the limit has been reached. You also don't have to worry about turning the RS-10R on or off. It uses Primary Arms’ “Autolive” technology. This tech automatically turns the optic off when it is stationary and then on when it senses movement. Worth noting is the RS-10R has 1 moa click adjustments that uses a flathead to adjust. One can even use the rim of a spent case to adjust it, which I have done before. No trying to find the correct allen wrench. These clicks are tiny, but way better than no clicks at all. 

  Window size in these small red dots can be hard to understand sometimes. Manufactures spec the window size out, but it doesn't take into account if it is rounded or squared. Or where it is rounded and squared. I recommended looking through them to see if you like the window shape. Even though the RS-10R doesn't have a huge window, it is very well shaped to pick up the dot easily. Primary Arms specifies it as 23x19mm. I really like the shape. It is easy for me to see. Other people who I asked about it said the same thing, it's easy to find the dot. Primary Arms also fixed the refresh problem on the RS-10R. The original RS-10 would “galaxy” out because the refresh rate was too slow. The RS-10R does not have this problem. The dot stays consistent when moved and doesn't flash. 

  The SLx RS-10R uses an aluminum housing. They use 7075 aluminum which is a little stronger than the commonly used 6061. I like how the housing sticks out farther than the lens, giving it a little more protection from drops. One drawback to the RS-10R's construction is the higher deck height of the mounting surface. It sits higher up than some red dots. This doesn't hurt anything, but you do notice it when installing taller iron sights.  

  I ended up mounting the RS-10R on the Fusion XF-Pro. The XF-Pro uses a mounting plate system. This leads to you noticing the RS-10R’s deck height even more. It didn’t bother anything and I can pick up the dot easily. The dot on the RS-10R is pretty clear, even with my astigmatism. What I really like about the RS-10R, besides being an RMR footprint, is the window. For some reason I just pick the dot up quickly with the way the window is shaped. I am glad Primary Arms updated the RS-10 to an RMR footprint and fixed the refresh problems. It performs great.

  I know there are a million reflex pistol red dots on the market now, but the Primary Arms SLx RS-10R is a great option. You get a lifetime warranty. It has a side-loading battery with their “Autolive” on/off function. Plus it now features that RMR footprint everyone was asking for. If you are in the market for a pistol red dot, definitely go check out the new SLx RS-10R. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

RMR footprint red dot

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a pistol style red dot with a RMR footprint

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Battery Life: 25,001 - 50,000 Hours

  • Battery TypeCR1632 3V Lithium Coin

  • Side-loading CR1632 battery

  • Click Value: 1 MOA

  • Open Emitter

  • Finish: Hardcoat Anodized

  • 7075 Aluminum construction

  • Mount Compatibility: Holosun 407C/507C, RMR

  • Night Vision Compatible

  • 11 Brightness settings

  • 23 x 19mm window

  • 3 MOA Dot

  • Lifetime Warranty

  • Weight: 1.1 oz.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Original SLx RS-10

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Beyond Seclusion on YouTube   

Price point:

MSRP = $209.00

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Primary Arms, Midway USA, or your local gun store

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • RMR / Holosun 507c footprint

  • Click adjustments

  • Side loading battery

  • Autolive

  • Lifetime warranty

Cons:

  • Deck height

Score: 8.50 Great

Favorite Link:  Fusion XF-Pro Review    

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Sightmark Presidio 5-30x56

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Sightmark Presidio

5-30x56 LR2 Review

  When it comes to magnified optics, prices and quality can range drastically. Sightmark is not new to these magnified optics and has various different product lines. Sightmark's Presidio line is somewhere in the middle of what they have to offer, which fits with what I was going to do with it. 

  I was looking for a fairly high power magnified optic. That is where Sightmark came in. They have a first focal plane Presidio in 5-30x56. It has a mil style Christmas tree reticle called the LR2. It was perfect for the Bergara I was reviewing. This much magnification makes it easier for my eyes to see targets at distance. So testing accuracy on the Bergara was easy thanks to the Presidio 5-30.

  The specifications of the Presidio 5-30 are really what make it a great optic. That 6x zoom makes it possible to see fairly close up and still reach out. Its large 56mm objective lens allows good light transmission so you can see your target, even at dusk on high magnification. The 30mm one piece body makes it easy to find scope mounts. The parallax adjustment is adjustable from 20 yds to infinity, so the Presidio can still work well on a PCP style airgun or even a 22 long rifle. It has an illuminated red reticle so you can see it better at dusk or dawn. Plus, if you want it, Sightmark throws in a throw lever. All the other details are down below in the Features and Benefit section.

  Sightmark uses their LR2 Mil reticle in the Presidio. This reticle is a pretty standard First Focal Plane Christmas tree style reticle (see picture). Since it is a first focal plane, the stadia marks of the reticle stay the same size throughout the magnification range. The LR2 reticle has windage and elevation marks at 0.5 mil increments, with mil numbers at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mils. Out at the outer left, right, and top are 0.1 mil marks. They are intended to give a more accurate range estimation, when using the reticle for determining the range to a target. The Christmas tree dots can be used to combine wind and elevation holds, giving you a precise reference on where to aim. Lastly, the stadia line thickness is 0.03 mils, so you get a super precise aiming point. If you want the full hash marked reticle in view, you can only adjust the scope’s power up to 18x. After that the reticle starts to get cut off in the window. At 30x, you get about 2⁄3 's of the reticle’s marked stadia. 

  When looking at optics in this price range, optic clarity is huge. The Presidio 5-30 pleasantly surprised me for a $500 optic. When looking through the optic, it is very clear and has very little chromatic abrasion throughout the magnification range. Eye relief is decent. However, I did notice a slight difference between 5x and 30x. The weird part is that 30x seemed more forgiving than 5x, Usually it is the other way around and the lower magnification is more forgiving on eye relief. The field of view, or the width of what you see looking through the scope, is a little narrower than some optics. So finding a target at the higher magnifications can be a little more difficult. I wouldn’t call this a deal breaker for sure, just something to note for some shooters. 

  Having an illuminated reticle on the Presidio is nice. It is not daylight bright, but it is not intended to be. If you are shooting in lower light, or even cloud cover, it works nicely. There are 6 brightness adjustments on the left turret. In between each level is an “off” resting spot. I really like having an off position between brightness levels. That way I don’t have to try and remember to turn the knob all the way to the off position. Sightmark says the battery life on the Presidio has a 150 hour average. So at lower levels you can get up to 500 hours. This may not sound like a lot, but that's basically a week of being turned on all the time, or more. 

  The Presidio 5-30 uses target style turrets. I think these style turrets were a good option for the Presidio. They don’t stick up too far and are large enough to get a good grip on. The turrets produce a decent click when adjusting them and it can be felt. Each click adjusts the scope by 0.1 mil. The elevation turret has numbers 0-9, with 10 hash marks between the numbers. Each number is 1 mil and each hash mark is 0.1 mil. The windage knob has a zero position, then it is marked either 1R, 2R, etc, or 1L, 2L, etc. Each number is also 1 mil with 0.1 mil hash marks between them. For example, if the bullet needs to go left, just move the dial toward 1L. Both the windage and elevation knobs can be set to zero once you are sighted in. On the left side of the Presidio is the parallax knob and the brightness knob. These are pretty self explanatory. A win for the Presidio is that it also comes with a zero stop. This is very uncommon for optics in the Presidio’s price range. The zero stop is also easy to install. 

Radio tower lamp is approximately 300 yds away

  As mentioned previously, I mounted up the Sightmark Presidio on a Bergara bolt action rifle. The rifle is a 308 win. I found the Presidio to perform well enough on that platform. The eye relief made it harder to get the scope forward enough with normal picatinny rings. If I had an extended pic rail mounted on the Bergara, that would have helped. One disadvantage of the Presidio is its 30 mm tube. Because of this, you only get 18 mils of travel out of it. With the Bergara’s 20 moa base, I still only get 12.5 mils of up adjustment in the Presidio. That means that I can only dial the optic out to a range of around 1100 yards with the 308 cartridge. I don’t expect to ever shoot this past that, but it is something that I feel needed mentioning. The Presidio 5-30 is heavy, like 2 pounds worth. I know it isn’t a small optic, and other optics in this price range weigh about the same, but I was hoping for a little lighter. Other than that, I have been happy with the Presidio. I just can’t get over how clear the optic is.

  If you are looking at a decent optic to get into longer range shooting, the Sightmark Presidio 5-30x56 may be it. It has great glass for an optic in this price range. The nice turrets and zero stop make it a great choice for whatever you are doing. Yes it has some performance limitations, but in this price range, that can be expected. If you are looking for that decent, entry level, long range optic, the Sightmark Presidio might be a good choice for you.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Variable power, budget friendly, high magnification first focal plane optic

Target Market:

Anyone looking for a quality higher powered first focal plane optic 

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Reticle brightness settings: 6

  • Magnification (x): 5-30

  • Objective lens diameter (mm): 56

  • Eyepiece diameter (in/mm): 1.74 / 44.1

  • Exit pupil diameter (mm): 36.6

  • Eye relief (in/mm): 3.7 / 95

  • Field of view (ft @100yd): 22ft - 3.7ft

  • Tube diameter (mm/in): 30 / 1.18

  • Parallax setting (yds): 20 - ∞

  • Mil adjustment (one click =): 1/10

  • Windage adjustment range (MRAD): 18

  • Elevation adjustment range (MRAD): 18

  • Zero stop included

  • Throw lever included

  • Maximum caliber: .338

  • Battery type: CR2032

  • Battery life (hours): 150 - 500 hrs

  • Shockproof, Fog proof 

  • 1st Focal plane

  • IP67 - waterproof and dustproof

  • Body material: Aluminum

  • Fully multi-coated lenses

  • Operating temperature (°F/°C): -20 to 160 / -29 to 71 F/C

  • Length (in/mm): 15.67 / 398.02

  • Width (in/mm): 3.79 / 96.25

  • Height (in/mm): 3.02 / 76.71

  • Weight (oz): 33 oz

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

3-18x50

What others are saying?:

5 out of 5 stars from Randy on Optics Planet  

I was skeptical at first, decided to take a chance because it had a lifetime warranty and I watched a video on it from one the head tech/designer at Sightmark. I was impressed so I bought it. I wasn’t disappointed when I got it. This scope feels like a much more expensive scope. Turrets are solid, audible and precise. Has an elevation stop and removable turret caps to set back to zero when you’re done sighting. The throw lever on the magnification works really well. Clarity is very good, high and low. It weighs as much or more than scopes costing twice as much. I have it on an AR 50 A1 - .50 BMG and have put 12 rounds on it with no issues so far. As solid as it is and the few rounds I’ll shoot a lot of .50 BMG I don’t see any issues forthcoming.

Link to other reviews:

The Gun Zone  

Price point:

MSRP = $539.97

Retail = $449.97 on Amazon

I need it now! Availability:

Amazon, SightMark, MidwayUSA, or your local dealer

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Great clarity

  • LR2 mil reticle

  • First Focal Plane

  • Illuminated reticle

  • Target turrets

  • Zero Stop

Cons:

  • Long

  • Heavy

  • Long eye relief

  • Small elevation adjustment range

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link:  Bergara B-14 Ridge SP Review  

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Civivi Buster FG

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Civivi Buster FG

Review

Over the last few years I’ve really come to enjoy collecting knives. They are so fascinating and the designs that people come up with are really interesting. One brand that I have found myself loving and trusting with an excellent build quality is Civivi. As I’ve collected knives I’ve noticed that I like larger folding knives. So when I saw the Buster FG, I just had to get one.  From the massive size of the knife to the new locking style, we’ve got a lot of great stuff to talk about. So let’s see what makes this knife my new favorite Civivi.

Handle:

The Buster FG features a coarse black G10 handle over a golden stainless steel frame to give it a great two tone look. I personally really wanted this color option because it reminds me of my favorite comic book crime fighter who dresses like a bat. The coarse G10 scales on the handle have a rough finish on them to give you the ability to get a really good grip on it. And with the handle being roughly 5 inches long, you can definitely get a great grip on this knife!  Plus it has a reversible pocket clip. Because of the handle material, it stays in my pocket really well. One of my only gripes about it, which is to be expected by a knife of this size, is when it's closed… it’s massive in your pocket. But again, when opened it's almost 10” long. So it’s a big one!

Blade:

One thing that makes the Buster FG different from a lot of Civivi’s knives is its size. This is one of the largest folding knives they have released. The blade on this knife is a sheepsfoot style that measures in at a whopping 4.2” / 106.8mm. To top that off, the blade material is Nitro V. Which is a really great steel for an everyday carry, particularly in corrosion resistance and edge retention. Nitro V is also a steel that can be sharpened very easily. I was helping a friend build some furniture and got the task of cutting down all the cardboard and styrofoam sheets. After slicing up multiple 5 foot sheets of cardboard and styrofoam, this blade is still wicked sharp! Like most folding knives, it has jimping on the back of the blade. When I first got the knife, I wasn’t crazy about it. It just didn’t feel rugged enough or like it had enough grip. But as I used it and really cut stuff, I noticed that it was actually a really great amount and helped me get good control of the blade.

Opening:

The opening on the Buster FG is quite smooth. I was very curious as to how Civivi’s new Super Lock would affect the opening. And just like every Civivi knife I own or have used, it opens really nicely and like I said… smooth. And that’s thanks to the caged ceramic ball bearings they use. For opening styles on the knife you get two thumb studs or you can pull back on the Super Lock and flick the blade out. That is something else about this knife, I wish it had a flipper for opening. But, with this new lock style, that just wouldn’t work because the flipper would get in the way of the lock.

The Lock:

For the Buster FG, Civivi used their new Super Lock. The lock works similar to a crossbar lock. On the backside of the handle there is a spring loaded bar with a finger tab sticking out. On the inside of the blade, near the bearing, there is a cut out slot. So when you open the knife, that slot lines up with the lock bar, then the spring pushes the lock bar into place, locking the blade. It’s a really great locking system that I have really come to enjoy and trust. It feels similar to a back lock, which is very common on Buck style knives. Once it clicks into place, it feels very solid like a fixed blade. I really like how easy it is to unlock. But it’s not easy to accidentally unlock it while using it. I would definitely like to see this lock more on other knives!

Summary:

Civivi has a lot of knives to offer ranging from big to small and in many different styles. The Buster FG has definitely become my favorite Civivi knife I own. It fits very comfortably in my hand and I really dig the new Super Lock. Plus, I love how massive it is (that’s what she said). If you are looking for a big folding knife to use as your everyday carry, I would highly recommend the Civivi Buster FG! 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame: 

A large folding knife with a unique, stylish design and a very convenient lock. 

Target Market:

Anyone who is wanting a large and tough everyday carry knife that has a unique look.

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:
 

  • Overall Length: 9.65" / 245mm

  • Width: 1.72" / 43.6mm

  • Overall Height(Include Clip): 0.68" / 17.2mm

  • Blade Length: 4.2" / 106.8mm

  • Closed Length: 5.47" / 139mm

  • Blade Thickness: 0.16" / 4mm

  • Handle Thickness: 0.51" / 13mm

  • Knife Weight: 6.46oz / 183.1g

  • Blade Material: Nitro-V

  • Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC

  • Blade Grind: Flat

  • Blade Finish: Black Stonewashed, Satin Flat

  • Blade Type: Sheepsfoot

  • Handle Material: Coarse G10

  • Handle Color/Finish: Black

  • Back Spacer Material: Stainless Steel

  • Back Spacer Color/Finish: Black

  • Liner Material: Stainless Steel

  • Liner Color/Finish: Golden

  • Pocket Clip: Tip-Up, L/R

  • Clip Material: Stainless Steel

  • Screws / Thumb Stud Material: Stainless Steel

  • Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing

  • Locking Mechanism: Superlock

  • Opener: Manual Thumb

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Neutral blue course G10 handle / Satin finished Nitro-V

Green canvas micarta / Black Stonewashed Nitro-V

What others are saying?:

Exceeded High Expectations

I was excited about this knife when I preordered it. You never really know how nice it is until you get it in your hand. This is the smoothest, sharpest knife (out of the box) in my collection. Flicking this knife open the first time was how I imagine every knife I order will be. Very few blow me an away like this one did. Especially in this price range. I haven’t seen any mark on the choil from the stop pin. Specx did an amazing job putting my mind at ease about that. Hair splitting sharp out of the box you really can’t go wrong. It was even bigger than it looks in the pictures. Same length as a Kizer Momo.

Link to other reviews:

Sharp Ends on YouTube

Price point:

MSRP - $115.00

Retail - $97.75 on Amazon

I need it now! Availability:

Civivi or Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Great and secure locking system.

  • Fantastic grip on the handle

  • Very large, allowing you to get a good grip on it.

  • Awesome blade steel that has stayed sharp.

Cons:

  • When it’s closed and in your pocket. It’s almost a little too big. 

  • I wish it had a flipper on it. But I understand why it doesn’t.

Score: 9.00 Amazing

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Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HP-X

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Streamlight Protac HP-X

Weaponlight Review

  Weapon lights are something that I believe everyone should have on a long gun. There are various types and styles on the market today. They range from high lumen - low candela to high candela - low lumen. They all have different purposes. Streamlight has come out with a higher candela weapon light with a slightly lower lumen. That light is the ProTac Rail Mount HP-X Pro.

  Streamlight’s new HP-X is designed as a high lumen light. On High, Streamilight specs out a candela of 105,000 and a lumen rating of 800. This gives you, the user, a light that projects a narrower beam farther. However, having that lower lumen number makes the spill smaller. A smaller spill gives you less light close up. The HP-X still lights up stuff close and it does it well, it is just made primarily for distance. With the HP-X’s beam pattern, you can light up and identify targets at a much longer distance. The beam distance specification is stated as 648 meters. I could easily make out objects at 300 yards. 

  When you buy the ProTac Rail Mount HP-X kit, you get all the stuff needed to run the light. This is a real bonus in my opinion. The kit includes a 45 degree M-Lok mount, a pressure switch, wire management, zip ties, mounting tape, and a usb cord. The pressure switch is a momentary “on” style. It does not have a switch to keep the light on. However, the HP-X uses Streamlight’s “Jack-Cap” tailcap on the light. This tailcap lets you plug in the pressure pad and still have a button for use. So essentially, you get the best of both worlds. The tail cap button can be used in the momentary or click configurations. All this included stuff makes the HP-X a great deal. 

  Since the HP-X is made by Streamlight, it features their ten tap programming. Essentially, you tap the tailcap ten times and then it takes you to the programming mode. The HP-X has 3 different modes available: High/Strobe, High only, and Low/High. When operating the weapon light on the High/Strobe, tap the tailcap (or click) it once for high and then quickly again for strobe. The Low/High also works the same way. This extends over to the pressure pad too, press it twice quickly for Strobe, or High, depending on which mode you have the light in. 

  One feature, that I think is a must in any weapon light, is having the ability to use different types of batteries. The HP-X is Multi-Fuel. This means it can use the supplied SL-B26 USB rechargeable battery or 2 CR123 batteries. I also found that the HP-X will work with a 18650 style battery, even if Streamlight doesn’t mention it. Run times with the CR123’s is a little less, but I expect that. Run times on the HP-X with the SL-B26 battery are: High - 2 hours, Low - 26 hours, and Strobe - 2.5 hours. These are pretty standard for these types of weapon lights. 

Light at Dusk

Night, Target stands at 50, 100, & 200 yds

  Everyone needs a good mounting platform, aka rifle, for their weapon light. I didn’t hesitate to mount the Streamlight HP-X on the Global Monolith so I could put it through testing. The HP-X mounted up smoothly with the supplied M-Lok mount. If you don’t like the supplied mount, any “scout mount” can be used. I really like that the HP-X uses a readily available mount. Then the pressure pad went on with the zip ties. Followed by one of the rail management pieces. The system looks smooth. I used this light a bunch around the house to see how I liked it inside. Even though the HP-X is a long throw light, it still lit up rooms pretty good. If you have a place to reflect the light off of, like a light colored wall, it works a little better. The strength of the HP-X is the high candela. Outside the light shines for some distance. I could identify targets at 200 yards with ease. Another advantage to high lumens is the ability for the weapon light to punch through photonic barriers. Those barriers would include things like smoke, fog, or even other lights. I found the pressure switch to work nicely. The button on the rear tailcap works nice too, at least if the pressure switch is not plugged in. The plug for the pressure switch can get in the way of using the button. This is really my only fault with the light. This problem was really noticeable when running some drills with the light. Otherwise, I was happy with how the light itself performed 

  The Streamlight ProTac HP-X Pro is a nice weapon light. Especially if you want a light with more distance or need something to punch through some photonic barriers. At a street price of around $160 you really can’t go wrong with the HP-X. If you need that do everything type of light, the Streamlight ProTac HP-X Pro just might be it.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

High Candela, long throw weapon light

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a higher candela weapon mounted light

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Multi-Fuel: Uses (1) Streamlight SL-B26 protected Li-Ion USB rechargeable battery pack or 18650; also accepts (2) CR123A lithium batteries

  • TEN-TAP Programming allows for selection of three different operating programs:

  • 1) high/strobe  2) high only  3) low/high

  • High: 800 lumens; 105,000 candela; 648m beam distance; runs 2 hours (SL-B26); runs 1.5 hours (CR123A)

  • Low: 55 lumens; 7,600 candela; 174m beam distance; runs 26 hours (SL-B26); runs 18 hours (CR123A)

  • Strobe: runs 3.5 hours (SL-B26); runs 2.5 hours (CR123A)

  • High Lumens: 800

  • Beam Distance: 648 meters

  • Max Candela: 105,000

  • Battery Type: SL-B26 Rechargeable Battery Pack, CR123A Lithium, or standard 18650

  • Length: 5.63 inches (14.30 centimeters)

  • Weight: 6.40 ounces (181.44 grams) - 7.00 ounces (198.45 grams)

  • Includes remote switch, picatinny and M-Lok mounts, cable management, and mounting hardware

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Light only

What others are saying?:

Optics Planet   

Bright light

Wow this is a handy little tactical light with a beam that cuts through the dark, smoke, fog etc. Nice beam that has a strong column of center light and provides a wide peripheral viewing that allows you to light up a whole room when performing tactical maneuvers.

Link to other reviews:

Tiberious Gib YouTube  

Price point:

MSRP = $266.00

Retail = Around $160.00

I need it now! Availability:

Primary Arms, Brownells, or Optics Planet

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Good light throw

  • Decent light spill

  • 10 tap programming

  • Comes with everything needed

  • Dual fuel - SL-26B or 2x CR123’s

  • Can use standard 18650 batteries

Cons:

  • Tail switch is hard to get to when pressure switch is plugged in

  • Doesn’t use standard plugs for pressure switch

Score:  8.00 Great

Favorite Link:  Global Ordnance Monolith Review   

Primary Arms GLx MD-21

Primary Arms GLx MD-21

ACSS CQB Review

  It seems like nowadays everyone is making some sort of tube style red dot. Primary Arms is no different, except they seem to always be upgrading or bringing out new styles. The Primary Arms GLx MD-21 is one of their new red dots and it has some features not usually seen on the current generation of red dots. 

  This GLx MD-21 is in Primary Arms’ mid tier optics line. What does that mean for you? You get clearer glass with less tint, a multi reticle system, a solar fail safe, and multiple mounting options. Since the GLx MD-21 is a projected reticle, you may still have some starring out effect if you have an astigmatism. I have one and the MD-21 gives me a pretty clear sight picture. Or at least better than some other red dots that I personally have. 

  The GLx MD-21 is a tube style red dot. This makes it ideal for carbines or AR style pistols. Having 21 mm lenses gives it a decent field of view, Everything needed to adjust the little red dot is also placed around the optic. On the right side is the battery compartment for the CR2032 battery along with the horizontal reticle adjustment. On top is the solar panel and the vertical reticle adjustment. The reticle adjustments are large, have really good clicks, and adjust in 0.5 MOA clicks. I like the finer adjustments on the MD-21 over the 1 MOA ones found on other red dots. On the left side of the optic are the multi-use, soft touch, buttons. They are quite large and labeled “+” and “-”. Then on the bottom is a standard T1/T2 footprint for mounting. Primary Arms includes two mounting options with the MD-21. They are 1.41" or 1.535" mounting heights. I used the 1.41” one and it worked great. If you want something different, there are a bunch of other options available for the T1/T2 footprints. 

  Other features of the MD-21 abound. Of course it has Primary Arms’ autolive feature that turns the reticle on when moved and off when idle. This is also the first Primary Arms solar failsafe red dot. The solar failsafe helps with battery life and also will let the red dot function with a dead battery. Yes, it works without a battery also, at least if there is enough ambient light. Also included in the GLx MD-21 is a new super bright LED. You can probably see the reticle from space if the brightness is turned all the way up. Speaking of brightness, it has 12 levels and is night vision compatible. 

  The MD-21 doesn’t just have a red dot reticle. It is available with Primary Arms’ ACSS CQB reticle, which is what they sent me for this review. The ACSS reticle is a horseshoe style with a center chevron and bullet drop marking below it. The bullet drop compensation is made for 5.56 and .308 out to 600 yards, but it also works with other calibers. I like having the bullet drop compensation, but in a 1x optic, it is really small and hard to make out. If you were to run a magnifier with it, it would work much better. With that said, the GLx MD-21 also has the ability to use only portions of the ACSS reticle. By holding down the + or - button, it will cycle through reticle options. You can have the full ACSS CQB reticle with the bullet drops, just the chevron and bullet drops, just the chevron (basically a dot style reticle), or the horseshoe and chevron (my favorite). Having the ability to choose which reticle you want is great. When adjusting the brightness on the MD-21, the reticle will flash when you reach its maximum or minimum brightness. I like this function when in the bright sunlight, that way I know when to stop pressing buttons.

  I ended up mounting the MD-21 on the Global Monolith rifle. For some reason I tend to mount different optics on this rifle, probably because I like shooting the rifle and it makes testing out optics easier. Either way, I like the MD-21 on it. This little red dot is super bright, which works great in the bright sunlight. Even though the BDC part of the reticle tends to blur together for me, it is still useful if I want to shoot past 100 yards. The solar failsafe works so well that I actually did some shooting with the battery removed. The large buttons make it easy to adjust the brightness, or even the reticle. I really liked how well the MD-21 worked for my application. But I am also a fan of 1x optics.

  Primary Arms did a great job with the GLx MD-21. I was hard pressed to find anything bad with the MD-21. If you like red dot style optics, it is definitely worth looking into. The solar backup and reticle options make this a great option in the red dot game. If you just want a standard “dot” version, they have that too. You can check out the GLx MD-21 over at PrimaryArms.com

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Quality Solar Red dot with ACSS reticle

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a solar red dot

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Solar Failsafe and Autolive technology extends battery life 

  • Fully multi coated lens 

  • Side mounted push button controls 

  • Ultra bright ACSS-CQB reticle with 4 selectable modes 

  • Night vision compatibility 

  • Shockproof and waterproof aluminum construction 

  • Black anodized finish 

  • Includes Low mount and Absolute Cowitness mount with spacer (1.41" or 1.535" Height)

  • Standard T1/T2 microdot footprint

  • Accessory Attachment: M1913 Picatinny

  • Battery Type: CR2032 3V Lithium Coin

  • Brightness: 12 Settings

  • Click Value: 1/2 MOA

  • Finish: Hardcoat Anodized

  • Night Vision Compatible

  • Reticle: ACSS CQB

  • Warranty: Lifetime

  • Weight: 5 oz.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Dot only version   

What others are saying?:

Evan: 4 out 5 stars at PrimaryArms.com

Nice Optic

Optic is nice but I am a little disappointed with the chevron. The chevron is too small to make out so it just looks like a dot. I'll have to view it under some magnification to see how I like it. The horseshoe is pretty sharp even with my astig. Brightness settings are awesome although I can't speak on the night vision settings because I don't have night vision to test them. Build quality seems solid and it has some weight to it. Overall I'm happy with this optic and can't wait to run it.

Link to other reviews:

704 Tactical

Price point:

MSRP = $219.99

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Primary Arms or your local retailer

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Solar backup

  • Multi-reticle

  • Standard T1/T2 mount

  • Clear reticle

  • Lightweight

  • Comes with various height mounts

  • Autolive on/off

Cons:

  • Reticle is small and hard to see

Score: 8.50 Great

Favorite Link:  Global Ordnance Monolith Review 

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Bergara B-14 Ridge SP

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Bergara B-14 Ridge SP

Review

  Years ago I had a 308 varmint rifle that weighed a ton. I even took it deer hunting. So since then I have been looking for something shorter, and lighter, that still has the accuracy I got out of the varmint rifle. Bergara had exactly what I was looking for in their Ridge line of rifles. That rifle is the Ridge SP in 308 winchester.

  The Ridge SP is a shorter version of Bergara's standard Ridge line. The SP stands for “special purpose”. I think they intended this rifle for police snipers, but I can’t be sure. Really, the special purpose could be mid range hunting, or just someone wanting a bolt action performance rifle that doesn't weigh a ton. The only real difference between the .308 Ridge and the .308 Ridge SP, is that the SP has an 18 inch barrel instead of the standard 20 inch. 

  When you first look at the Ridge SP, it looks like most “hunting” style rifles. It has the normal looking American style stock with a hinged floor plate. The stock is a black polymer style with grey speckles. Bergara finished the stock in some sort of a semi-grippy coating. It is not smooth, but not sticky either. It gives a really good balance of grip if your hands are wet or muddy. It also has some diamond texture on the pistol grip and forend. There is also a nice soft buttpad. The buttpad probably helps more on the larger calibers, but it is really nice on the 308. To round out the stock, it has front and rear sling swivel studs and free floats the barrel. 

  Bergara is known for their barrels. Their barrels produce some good accuracy. They even have an accuracy guarantee. It is “Sub MOA at 100 yds with 3 shot groups of available factory match grade ammunition”. They recommend a few loads in 308 that should work. Those are: 168 gr Federal Gold Medal Match, 175 gr. Federal Gold Medal Match, Berger 175 gr OTM. I didn’t have any of these on hand, so I used some Norma 175 gr Golden Target and some 168 gr reloads I had made up. I was able to get 3 shot groups under 1 MOA fairly easily with the Ridge SP. I even have some 5 shot groups that measure under 1 MOA. All my accuracy testing was done at 100 yards. The barrels on the Ridge line are also threaded in the standard threads for whatever caliber they are chambered in. This gives the ability to put on any type of muzzle device, including suppressors. As a FYI, I broke in the barrel following the procedure in the rifles manual.

  The action on the Ridge SP is fantastic. It is super smooth to operate. For being a factory, mass produced rifle, I don't think you will find a smoother action, especially in the under $1000 price range that the Ridge SP falls into. Now that that is said, the action also feeds extremely nice out of the 4 round internal magazine. The large textured bolt handle tends to give you a good feel for what you are doing. It is also large enough to help with fast follow up shots. Something I couldn’t say about that varmint rifle I had.

  On top of the Ridge SP’s action is a 20 MOA picatinny scope rail. I believe this is because it is the SP line and Bergara doesn’t mention that it comes with one. If you want to change the rail or put normal scope mounts on the Ridge SP, it uses standard Remington 700 bases. I mounted a 4-16 Lucid on it when I first received the SP. Shortly after that I received a SightMark Presidio 5-30x56 and installed it. Yes, it is overkill for a rifle of this type, but I like it. One of my only complaints, with the scope rail, is that it gets in the way of loading the internal magazine. 

  The Bergara Ridge comes with an adjustable trigger. For a “hunting” style rifle, the trigger is fantastic. It’s a typical Remington style 700 trigger and can be replaced with any of the aftermarket triggers for that style of rifle. The trigger is a single stage, curved, and has zero take up, a short crisp break, and a little bit of over travel. I really like this trigger. The Ridge’s trigger is also adjustable for pull weight, from around 2 pounds up to 5 pounds. This one came from the factory at 3 pounds. I adjusted it down to about 2-¼ pounds and it works really good for me. If I were carrying it around in the brush, I personally would probably adjust it to 3-½ pounds or more. An aftermarket trigger, with the same pull range, would be hard pressed to be better.

  I have been really liking the Ridge SP. Granted I am not going to put thousands of rounds through it for a review. But I do have enough different types of ammo through it to know how well it works. I am well past 300 with about half that being some sort of match ammo. The match ammo does shoot better, but the new precision style hunting rounds are pretty good too. Now onto other stuff. I really like the texture of the stock. It is smooth but grippy. I’ve been told it feels weird, but then they shoot the Ridge SP with the stock and forget about it. My biggest complaint about the Ridge SP is the small loading/ejection port. This makes it harder to load the internal magazine. Add in the 20 MOA top rail, and it is even harder to load the magazine. For a hunting rifle this isn’t a deal breaker, but it is annoying. Speaking of that 20 MOA rail, I was thrilled that it came already installed. Even if you are only using the Ridge at 100 yards, a 20 MOA rail just makes sense. Did I mention the barrel is threaded? I did use it with a suppressor. The Ridge SP is a great suppressor host. The shorter barrel makes it so the overall length isn’t terrible with a long suppressor hanging off the end. The Ridge SP is just a great all around rifle.

  If you are in the market for a short, handy rifle, the Bergara Ridge SP would be a great choice. It has great accuracy, is super smooth, and doesn’t weigh a bunch. It really doesn’t matter if you are using it for hunting or anything else, it just works. The Bergara Ridge SP is also reasonably priced for what you get. If you want a quality, shorter barreled hunting rifle, definitely check out the Bergara Ridge Line. Especially the Ridge SP. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Shorter barreled hunting or precision rifle

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a shorter barreled performance bolt action rifle

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Caliber: 308 Win

  • Capacity: 4

  • 20 MOA picatinny mount included

  • Stock Material: Synthetic

  • OAL: 37.50"

  • Hand: Right Hand

  • Barrel Finish: Graphite Black Cerakote

  • Barrel Material: 4140 Steel

  • Twist: 1:10"

  • Receiver Material: Stainless Steel

  • Safety: Two-Position

  • Stock Type: American Style

  • Threaded: ⅝-24

  • Barrel Length: 18"

  • Receiver Finish: Graphite Black Cerakote

  • Trigger: Performance adjustable 2-5 lbs

  • Weight: 7.20 lbs

  • Stock Finish: Black / Gray Speckled

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

A ton of different calibers in the Ridge line. Only 6.5 Creedmoore and .308 Win in SP line with 18” barrel

What others are saying?:

Jamie P at Sportsmans Warehouse  

Ridge SP

This is a great rifle and accurate! Great everything rifle. I like the 18" barrel. Georgia Woods Hunting mostly some open field 300 yds shooting. Great action and the Ridge SP is very balanced and is comfortable to carry with a sling.

Link to other reviews:

Petersen’s Hunting

Price point:

MSRP = $999.00

Retail = $900

I need it now! Availability:

Primary Arms or Palmetto State Armory

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Super smooth action

  • Accuracy

  • Uses Rem 700 style action and accessories 

  • Adjustable trigger

  • Good weight

  • 20 MOA picatinny rail came mounted on rifle

  • Threaded barrel

Cons:

  • Ejection port is short (so loading internal magazine is difficult)

Score: 8.50 Great

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Fusion XF-Pro

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Fusion Firearms

XF Pro Review

  I am a huge fan of new, feature rich, handguns at an affordable price. When I say new, I don’t mean just another Glock clone or Sig remake. Fusion Firearms has brought out a new compact handgun that is packed with features. It is the Fusion XF-Pro 9mm. They were gracious enough to send the Black and Bronze version out for this review.

  When you first see the Fusion XF-Pro, you notice a bunch of things. First is that they designed it to be an all metal handgun and the machining on the outside is just perfect. Next you notice the aluminum grip panels it uses. It came with the bronze camo ones installed and an extra set of all black grip panels. More important is that the XF-Pro uses common Glock magazines. It comes with 2 in the box. After that, you notice that it is optics compatible and comes with the plates you need. There is also a cleaning kit and some empty brass test shells in the box.

  The Fusion XF-Pro’s frame is made from aluminum. This gives the compact pistol some weight. It weighs in at 33.4 ounces with an optic and empty magazine, or around 31 without an optic. The XF-Pro’s frame design looks like a CZ-75 and a Glock had a kid. The backstrap dips in at the top, like a CZ-75. But then the grip kind of resembles a Glock. Both the front and rear backstrap have some curved lines on them for grip. It runs a large squared trigger guard with some texture lines on the front. Then there is a 3 slot picatinny rail for mounting lights or whatever. The magazine button is raised and only on the left side. The grip panels have small golf ball style dimples. Probably the coolest feature of the XF-Pro is the machined in thumb rest on the left side of the frame. At least if you are right handed, because on the right side of the frame is some indexing texture for your trigger finger, not another thumb rest. 

  Fusion did a nice job of designing the slide on the XF-Pro. It has front and rear angled serrations. These serrations look good, plus they are useful. I would personally like them cut a little deeper. That way you can grip them better if your hands are wet or muddy. The top of the slide has a cut out for a ported barrel. Fusion sells a ported barrel for the XF-Pro, if you want some extra recoil mitigation. On each side of the port cutout is also some very aggressive texture. This is so you can get some grip, if you need to rack the slide on a table or barricade. The XF-Pro slide also has some side window cuts that allow you to see the bronze Gen 4 Glock compatible fluted barrel. Both the barrel and slide have a Tennifer finish.  

  As we move back on the slide, you will find a cutout for mounting optics. Fusion uses a plate system for the XF-Pro. It comes with 2 plates. One is for an RMR footprint optic. The other is for Truglo, Docter, Meopta, Insight, or Vortex footprints. I would like to see a RMSc plate, but since there is an included RMR one, I don't need it. I mounted the new Primary Arms RS-10R and one of their Classic series to the XF-Pro. Both mounted up easily with the supplied RMR plate. The optics sit really high with the plate. Even slightly higher than the slide. This makes it so that back up iron sights will not work with an optic, even suppressor height ones. However, even if you could get high enough sights, the XF-Pro uses 2 different types. The rear sight uses a Glock dovetail and the front uses a Novak dovetail. Fusion, please make them compatible with both a front and rear set from something that matches. Maybe a Sig or Springfield cut if you want to keep a front dovetail.

  Trigger pull is important to some people, I am one of those. The Fusion XF-Pro has a decent trigger for a striker fired handgun. It is a flat face style with a little hook at the end. It also uses a trigger safety. Both of these make it function, and look, very much like a Glock trigger, but better. It has a long take up stroke that is a little grainy. But after the initial take up, the trigger hits a short wall that breaks pretty clean. Reset on the trigger is pretty good. You can shoot the trigger from reset if you like, and that shortens the pull a bunch. My sample has a 4.75 pound pull. It started out around 5 pounds but works its way down a little. In all, it is a pretty decent trigger. To go along with the trigger is a striker indicator on the rear of the slide. A nice touch to let you know that the firearm is ready to fire.

  Performance on the XF-Pro is decent. I really liked shooting the pistol. The all metal construction just shoots so nice. I have only had one problem with feeding and I fed it various different types of ammunition. That one malfunction was a stovepipe malfunction, with cheap 124 gr ball ammo, and that was in the first 50 rounds. The gun seems to run just about anything I put in it. After that, it has gone another 900 without any problems. The thumb rest really helps get a good grip to help reduce some muzzle rise. Having the texture on the other side lets you know when your finger is not on the trigger. However, I do have a few complaints about the XF-Pro. When mounting an optic, it just sits too high above the slide. Does it affect anything? Not really, but it is hard to pick up the dot because of this. Next is that the grips are a little slick and could use more texture. Since it comes with 2 sets, I would like one of them to have a more aggressive texture. The XF-Pro also has a “tail” on the back of the grip frame. This tail makes some mag extensions not work in the gun. Lucky for us, all the extended Glock style magazines work. Another problem with the XF-Pro is that there isn’t any holster compatibility. It needs a special holster because of the thumb rest sticking out on the left side. Before I put the optic on the XF-Pro, I found the iron sights to be very useful. The serrated blacked out rear and white dot front worked well. Another feature I really like is the magazine release button. It is extended and makes dropping mags super easy. Thus making reloads quick. The Fusion XF-Pro is a fun gun to shoot.

  The Fusion Firearms XF-Pro is a nice sporty compact handgun. It has a lot of nice features that you will only find in higher priced handguns. Coming in at $550 makes it a good deal. Using Glock magazines and a few Glock parts makes it a win for anyone that already has Glocks, and if you don’t, the magazines are cheap. If you are in the market for a new handgun, I would check out the Fusion XF-Pro and see what you think.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Newly designed, aluminum framed, pistol that takes Glock magazines

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a compact pistol

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Caliber: 9MM

  • Magazine Compatibility: Glock magazines

  • Construction: All bar-stock materials, precision CNC machined

  • Barrel: 4" fluted Glock Gen 4 compatible, Tennifer finish

  • Sights: Fixed combat sights, optic-ready with RMR and others  included

  • Trigger: Competition flat-face, one-piece steel milled

  • Grip: Interchangeable panels, Bronze Camo & Black included, aluminum & poly construction

  • Frame: Aluminum with tactical rail, Sure Grip checkering, Thumb rest, hard coat finish

  • Slide: Pro Serrations, Pro Window Cuts, Tennifer Finish

  • Recoil System: Full metal, Glock Gen 4&5 compatible

  • Overall Length: 7.29 inches

  • Weight: 26.5 oz / 1.66 lbs

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Black or Chrome

What others are saying?:

Christopher at fusionfirearms.com

Excellent pistol

This pistol is awesome. Received today and went straight to the range to shoot some freedom seeds. 200 rounds and smooth as butter. Only critique I have is wishing this came with a magwell like the XP pro did!

Link to other reviews:

Gammage on YouTube   

GB Guns  

Price point:

MSRP = $549.99

Retail = $500.00

I need it now! Availability:

Palmetto State Armory or Guns.com

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • All Metal

  • Shoots nice

  • Takes Glock magazines and barrels

  • Thumb rest

  • Trigger pull

  • Comes with optic plated

Cons:

  • Not ambidextrous

  • Optics sit extremely high

  • Slick grips

  • Holster compatibility 

Score: 7.50 Good

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