threaded

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Shaw Custom Barrels - 6 ARC

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6mm ARC Shaw Barrel Review

  If you are building a 6 ARC for precision gas gun work, this is the barrel to beat for the money. What we are reviewing is the Shaw Barrels 22” stainless spiral flute barrel for the 6mm Advanced Rifle Cartridge. This started for me a few years ago when a bunch of new rounds dropped around Shot Show. The 6ARC has been around since 2020 but I was hesitant to jump on any new round that has dropped. A lot of people got burned on the 224 Valkyrie and the last thing I needed was a new round to reload for.

  But after a few years of sorting through reviews of different rounds and then getting the chance to meet the guys from Shaw Barrels at Guncon 2025 I asked the folks there if they might be interested in coming on the show. At this time I have just finished up a 6.5 Grendel pistol and wanted to kind of compare the two. The people at Shaw Barrels sent me a 22” spiral stainless fluted 6 ARC barrel. I built it on a no name upper and used some fairly decent parts to put it together with. I bought a budget scope off of Amazon that had great real world reviews to top it off. For the lower I slapped it on one of my lowers that I use for another range rifle that always gets shot off a bench.

  Just a side note, barrel reviews are hard for me because I don’t have all the technical know how and tools to tell you all the specs and what it does. So this is going to be a review on the quality of the machining and how it shot.

  I ordered 200 rounds of 108gr and 103gr Hornady Eld ammo. When I got it sighted in and the gas block adjusted to the suppressor I was ready. I started shooting for groups and slowly adjusting for POI. The groups I was getting were very impressive. Most of my groups were around 1” or less at 100 yards. At 200 yards it stayed about the same. What I have to say is this build is a lot more accurate than I am. I shot off sandbags for all of my shooting, and I am not the most steady of people.

  I found a process online that told me how to break the barrel in. It was like shoot, clean and repeat. I went through about 80 rounds that day to break it in. I let the barrel cool down between each group. I was shooting this suppressed and can’t tell you if that made a difference in accuracy.

  The quality and machining of the Shaw 6ARC barrel is top notch. The spiral fluting is stunning and the 6 groove spiral fluting and H Bar combo cuts the weight down so the upper doesn’t feel like a boat anchor and sheds heat when shooting string. The barrel is 416 stainless, bead blast to a non glare finish. It has 0.750” gas journal with ⅝-24” thread at the end. There are no sharp edges anywhere on the barrel. The threading on the end is beautiful. It is a button rifled barrel and from what I’ve read it is the preferred way to go. It has the correct twist rate of 1-7.5”, so it will stabilize some of the heavier bullets in that size. One of the best things about the barrel was when I opened the box and unwrapped it, there were no metal chips or cutting oil anywhere in the packaging.

  If you want proven 6 ARC performance without the custom barrel price tag, this Shaw Barrels 22 inch spiral flute HBAR is the sweet spot. It delivers the velocity, twist rate, and sub MOA accuracy long range shooters ask for, with clean machining and a matte stainless finish that looks as good as it shoots. It also comes in different lengths including 12.5 inch, 16 inch, 18 inch, and 22 inch, so you can pick the setup that fits your build from compact suppressed rig to full long range precision. For target work, predator hunting, or a do it all precision AR-15 build, it is hard to find a better value.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Precision 6 ARC barrel for long range shooting

Target Market:

  • Long range target and varmint shooters running 103 to 108 grain bullets out to 800 to 1000 yards

  • Coyote and predator hunters wanting flat trajectory and high BC from a gas gun

  • Handloaders looking for a forgiving 1-7.5 twist barrel that shoots well with LeverEvolution powder

  • DIY upper builders who want rifle length gas, .750 journal, and 5/8-24 threads for easy suppressor mounting

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • 6 ARC, 1-7.5" twist

  • Contour: HBar

  • Material / Finish: 416R Stainless Steel / Bead Blast Matte

  • Length / Weight: 22 Inches / 2.60 Pounds

  • Threads: 5/8-24

  • Spiral Fluting

  • Bolt Type / Headspace: 6.5 Grendel Type II / ARC (Bolt not included.)

  • Gas Block Diameter .750", Gas Journal is Dimpled

  • Gas System Length: Rifle

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

12.5” to 22” fluted and non-fluted

What others are saying?:

4.8 out of 5 stars at Optics Planet    

6mm ARC SHAW 22” barrel

Fit great shooting .3 moa after 50 rounds. I cleaned it every 5 rounds at the range.

5 out 5 stars at Midway USA   

22" barrel is a tack driver

Shot a .386" at 100 yards with 80g ELD-VT from a lead sled. .436" with 108g ELD-M from a -Bog death grip. Super accurate it lead me to buy 4 other caliber barrels all with sub MOA performance. Will only buy Shaw barrels if they have the caliber and length I need from now on.

Link to other reviews:

Gun Values Board

Price point:

MSRP = $342.00

Retail = $307.80 at Midway USA

I need it now! Availability:

Shaw Custom Barrels, Midway USA, Optics Planet

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Excellent accuracy for a factory button rifled barrel

  • Correct twist rate for heavy 6 ARC bullets

  • Great finish and machining for the price point

  • Rifle length gas shoots soft

  • 0.5 MOA to .75 MOA with factory Hornady 108 ELD M

Cons:

  • It is a 22 inch HBAR, so it is not light. Do not buy it for a truck gun.

  • I wish Shaw offered it with a matched bolt option. (Maybe they do but I didn’t see that option)

Score: 8.00 Great

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Savage RXR22

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Savage RXR22

  There tends to be a lot of 22 rimfire rifles on the market today. There are lots of reasons for this, but this review is not about the reasons. Instead I am taking a thorough look into the Savage RXR22. The RXR22 is a lightweight semi-automatic 22 long rifle with some features that make it a great deal in the saturated 22 market.

  I received a Gun Metal Gray RXR22. Which just means the stock is a gray color. The barrel and receiver of the firearm are a black color. Savage also has a Flat Dark Earth version. I was surprised to find out that they don’t have an all black version. The main key points of the RXR22 are its compatibility with 10/22 magazines, barrels, and trigger groups. This gives you some options to expand the RXR’s capabilities.

  From Savage, the RXR22’s synthetic stock comes with some decent features. Probably the first thing you notice about the stock is that it has a 4 slot picatinny rail at the front. It would make a nice spot to put a little bi-pod. Right behind the pic rail is a metal sling swivel stud. There is also another stud at the rear of the stock. The forearm and the pistol grip of the stock have some decent texture. The pistol grip also comes with two extra “grip inserts”. The RXR22 comes with the medium size installed. I swapped out for both the small and large one, then proceeded to install the medium one and use it. Having these inserts is a nice touch. Lastly, the stock has a rubber buttpad to keep it in place on your shoulder. 

  The heart of any rifle, even a 22, is the receiver and barrel. The receiver on the RXR22 is polymer. I have no problem with polymer receivers on 22’s, especially with the advancement in polymers over the last 10 years. Built into the receiver is a top picatinny rail. This is a good thing, especially since out of the box there are no sights on this rifle. On the right side of the receiver is an extended charging handle. It sticks out about an inch and does reciprocate when firing the rifle. Having the charging handle extend out a little farther than other semi-auto 22’s I own, really made charging the rifle easier. On the rear of the receiver is a hole for cleaning, thank you Savage for this. 22’s get dirty, and being able to properly clean the barrel from the chamber end is a big plus.

10/22 trigger assembly installed in RXR22 receiver

  Attached to the RXR’s receiver is the barrel, of course. The barrel attaches just like any 10/22 barrel, with a 2 screw clamp system. This design allows the RXR22 to be compatible with aftermarket 10/22 barrels. Yes, I tried it, different 10/22 barrels do fit. The RXR factory barrel is 16.5 inches long and tapers down to the 1/2x28 threads at the muzzle. Savage does have a removable plastic insert in the stock so that bull barrels will fit, if you choose to swap out the stock barrel. Savage uses a button rifled barrel with the standard 1 in 16 twist rate.

Dots are 1 MOA

  I was pleased with the accuracy I got out of the Savage RXR22. However, I did not mount a huge magnified optic to it and shoot it at 100 yards. After all, the RXR is a lightweight 22 rimfire rifle. So I mounted a 5 MOA red dot I had lying around on it. Even with the large dot size, which limits me seeing small targets, I was able to keep 10 shot groups under 2 inches. This was at 25 yards. Various types and brands of ammunition were used. Most groups were under 1.25 inches with one being right at an inch. I chose 10 shot groups because it gave me a better average over the standard 3 or 5 shot groups. Being that the RXR is imported by Savage, and not built in the USA, I was pleased with the accuracy outcome.

10/22 trigger housing installed in receiver, RXR22 trigger assembly next to it for comparison

  The trigger assembly on the RXR22 is interesting, in a good way. As far as the trigger pull, it is better than some more expensive 22’s. My sample came in at a 4.5 pound pull, no pre-travel, but with some creep during the pull. It’s a good trigger for a $250 rifle. The trigger housing on the RXR also holds the magazine release and the bolt hold open lever. The magazine release is extended, but only sticks out wider on the right side of the rifle. This is so you can push the release lever with your trigger finger. If you are left handed, you are out of luck. It needs to stick out on the left side also. Also on the left side, in front of the mag release, is the bolt hold open lever. This lever works way better than the tiny 10/22 ones you might be used to. A cool design in the RXR22 is that if you do not like the trigger assembly, or you want to upgrade it, you can. Savage designed the RXR22 to take complete 10/22 trigger housings. The advantage to the 10/22 trigger housing is that you can use all the available aftermarket goodies like extended mag releases, match triggers, and different bolt hold open levers. To do this, the RXR has a quick release pivoting system to pop the factory trigger assembly out. Then you just set it aside and install a new 10/22 compatible one. The only notable difference is that you will need the two 10/22 pins that hold the trigger assembly in as the Savage trigger assembly mounts differently. Yes, I tried this also and the 10/22 trigger assemblies do fit and function. 

10/22 trigger assembly and magazine installed into RXR receiver and stock

  One of my favorite aspects of the RXR22 is the compatibility. I previously mentioned the barrel and trigger assembly. But the RXR also uses Ruger 10/22 magazines. However, they do not lock the bolt back like the factory Savage magazine. But, if you swapped the trigger assembly out, the bolt wont lock back even on the Savage mag. Because of the compatibility with all these parts, you can basically set up the Savage RXR22 just like you want it.

  The Savage RXR22 is a really fun gun to shoot. I was really surprised at how well it performed. Accuracy was decent and so was the factory trigger. Not coming with sights does add a little to the price, since you have to get a red dot or something for it. It is a 22LR, so pretty much any red dot or optic will work and mount to the top pic rail. I really appreciated the RXR22 being lightweight. It might be a great 22 rifle for a child, even though the length of pull on the stock might be a little bit long for them. When I used the RXR22 at a local steel challenge match, its lack of weight really helped the rifle swing from target to target. It performed way past my expectations in the match. The only problem I had was that it did not want to manually eject a live round, after the string of fire, at that steel match. It did this twice to me. One time I cycled the bolt 3 or 4 times and the extractor finally pulled the cartridge out, the other time I had to use a knife to get under the rim and pop it out. It is possible that the chamber was getting dirty and caused this. I was using CCI Minimags, so I do not suspect it was an ammunition problem. The RXR only comes with 1 magazine, luckily I have a metric ton of 10/22 mags. The RXR magazine does have a little tab that holds the bolt open after the last round, or should I say “did”. That little tab proceeded to break off almost immediately, it did not make it through 3 full magazines. Luckily the piece fell out and the magazine still works, it just doesn’t lock the bolt back when empty. Lastly, since the RXR22 has a threaded barrel, I did put a suppressor on it and use it quite a bit. Of course it made it quieter, but it also helped it function better with lower powered ammunition , like the Gold Metal Target ammo I have. Being able to have the 10/22 compatibility is probably my favorite thing about the Savage RXR22.

  When I first received the Savage RXR22 I wasn’t sure how it would perform. Let’s just say it exceeded that thought. I really like shooting the RXR, it is a lot of fun. It’s accurate enough to do everything I did with it. It is threaded so you can make it quiet, Savage even has their own suppressor line for that. In my opinion, the key selling point for the Savage RXR22 is its modularity with aftermarket 10/22 accessories. If you want a fun little 22LR that you can add stuff to , the Savage RXR22 could be it.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Inexpensive semi-auto 22LR that has trigger, barrel, and magazine compatibility with Ruger 10/22

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a fun lightweight 22LR that has 10/22 compatibility

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Caliber: 22 Long Rifle

  • Weight: 4.6 pounds

  • Rugged polymer receiver with integral Picatinny top rail

  • 16.5” Precision button-rifled barrel with recessed target crown

  • Twist Rate: 1:16

  • Threaded barrel – ½”x28

  • 10-Round rotary magazine with polymer body and metal feed lips

  • Accepts aftermarket Ruger 10/22 compatible magazines, triggers, and barrels

  • Quick-release trigger group

  • Metal sling studs

  • Picatinny accessory rail located under the fore-end tip

  • Stylish synthetic stock with ergonomic grip

  • Interchangeable grip inserts

  • Cleaning port located in the rear of the receiver

  • Overall Length: 35.25 inches

  • Length of Pull (LOP): 13.75 inches

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Flat Dark Earth

What others are saying?:

5 out 5 stars at Sportsman.com    

Fun 22 for all day plinking…

Love this 22LR semi automatic. I can plink all day and not break the bank. It also can accurately reach out and touch something.

Link to other reviews:

Surprisingly I could not find much as of publishing this review

Price point:

MSRP = $259.00

Retail = $230.00 ish

I need it now! Availability:

Guns.com, Midway USA, Palmetto State Armory, or your local dealer

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Grip inserts

  • Takes 10/22 trigger housings, barrels, and magazines

  • Hole in receiver for cleaning

  • Threaded for suppressor use

  • Lightweight

  • Price

Cons:

  • Receiver is longer than 10/22, so no aftermarket stock support yet

  • Mag release is not ambidextrous

  • Weakish extractor

  • Need to add a sight, as it doesn’t come with any

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link:  Viridian RFX45 review 

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MAC IX

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 Military Armament Corporation -

MAC IX PCC Review

  Everyone is making 9mm Pistol Caliber Carbines (PCC) these days. Not to be outdone, Military Armament Corporation (MAC) came out with their MAC IX 9mm PCC. This is a direct blowback “pistol” that is compatible with MP5 magazines. It is not one of the MP5 clones, instead it is more like an AR PCC with MP5 features. 

  My first thoughts on the MAC IX. It is a nice looking PCC. It comes with a few extras that other companies do not do. The main one is removable iron sights. These sights have large side protectors to keep the sights safe in case they get banged around. Inside them are a standard AR post front sight and an A2 style rear. MAC also includes an adjustment tool for the front sight. The other included items are a single point sling and a flash hider. I believe the sling is included because this version does not come with an attached brace.

   Let me describe the MAC IX a little. It looks very much like an AR, but it is definitely not. It does have a separate upper and lower, like an AR, but these parts have different spacing, or at least the pins to take the upper and lower apart are spaced differently. There are only 2 main parts on the MAC IX that are interchangeable with an AR. Those are the trigger and safety selector. It also uses any standard AR grip. 

  The upper of the MAC IX is very similar to the PCC you are used to. There is a standard port door covering the bolt, it flops open once the bolt is cycled. To charge the MAC IX, it has an ambidextrous rear charging handle. The upper also has a M-Lok rail up front. It is short, so don’t expect to mount much to it. On top is a standard full length picatinny rail for mounting the included iron sights, or an optic. 

  Again, the lower portion of the MAC IX resembles an AR’s lower receiver. So the trigger and safety are in the same position. It has an ambidextrous safety with short levers on both sides. The safety is very stiff, even after a lot of use. Moving to the front of the lower, is the MP5 magwell. There are 2 different ways to drop the magazines on the MAC IX. First is with a button on the right side of the magwell, very similar to the AR mag release you are used to. However, this mag button is farther away from the trigger than a normal AR. This makes the button hard to get to unless you have long fingers. But, MAC also gives you an ambidextrous paddle mag release. This mag release is like a better MP5 paddle release, it has large paddles on both sides. The only problem with the paddle release is that it is not easy to use. The spring pressure is way too much to reliably push the paddle with your trigger finger. So you end up using your thumb, grabbing the mag and the paddle, and pulling the mag out. On the left side of the receiver is a bolt catch, this is typical AR style. When using the MAC magazines, the bolt will lock back when empty. When using actual MP5 magazines, the bolt will not lock back. The MAC magazines are cheaper anyhow and work great. 

  At the very rear of the MAC IX’s receiver is a vertical pic rail. This rail is for mounting various braces and stocks (assuming you have your Form 1 in hand). On a 45 degree angle, at the bottom of this pic rail, is a QD mounting spot. This is where you install the supplied single point sling. That way you can push out on the pistol, with the sling wrapped around you, to stabilize the pistol. Single point slings work well for this, and the supplied one worked as intended. 

  The MAC IX has a 6.5 inch barrel. It is a good size for this type of 9mm PCC. This barrel has two different ways of attaching muzzle devices or suppressors. The first is with a tri lug quick detach mount. So if you have a tri lug suppressor, you won't need to add anything to the MAC IX to mount it. The other mounting option is ½-28 threads. Which is what I used. The MAC IX also comes with a flash hider that screws onto the barrel. It reminds me of an A1 style flash hider. The accuracy of the barrel was fine. I only ran cheap 9mm ammunition through it. Federal 124gr gave me the best 5 shot group at 15 yards, it was a little under an inch. The other cheap stuff ran between 1-2 inches at that range. 

Notice the metal nub sticking up, a quick file fixed it

  I like the MAC IX. But, it did have a few issues. None of them were functional issues as the IX ran great. The trigger is not good, even for a mil-spec AR style trigger. It's gritty and has lots of creep, even after 900 rounds. It has a pull weight of 6.5 pounds now, it started out heavier. But, you can always change the trigger. Next up, one of the iron sights had a nub on the bottom, inside, almost directly in the middle. This made it so the iron sight would not slide on the pic rail like it should. The sights come in the box, not on the gun. I filed the metal nub off and the sight slid right on. I would say that was a quality control problem. Speaking of QC problems, the IX is also supposed to come with 2 magazines in the box. Well, this one didn't have any in the box. Luckily, SDS Arms had sent me 3 extra mags. These 3 were separate line items, so I know they weren't part of the 2 “not” in the box. I contacted my rep (not at SDS or MAC). SDS told them they would ship me a couple when they were restocked, I still haven't seen them.  

  Now the good. The MAC IX is a super fun PCC. The small size makes it very maneuverable. I put a Strike Industries dual folding brace on this one. It mounted up on the rear pic rail without a hitch and fits the PCC well. The MAC IX will even fit in a backpack with the brace folded and a full 30 round magazine inserted. So if you want something small to carry, that has a little more firepower than a carry pistol, the MAC IX might help. I also installed a 1x prism from ZeroTech. Most of the testing was done with the prism. I only used the irons with a few mags, just to see if they worked. In the 900+ rounds I have shot, I only had 1 failure to feed. The IX was also dirty when that happened. Recoil on the IX had a typical PCC blowback feel to it. I do think the recoil felt less than my old AR PCC. I really like the MAC magazines because they hold the bolt back on the last round. I didn’t notice much difference running the IX with or without a suppressor. Granted, there was a little more gas blowback in my face, but not as much as I expected. The MAC IX just works. All I can say is that the MAC IX surprised me with how much fun it is to shoot. 

  The MAC IX is a fun little PCC. It uses those great MP5 style magazines, comes with iron sights, and is ready for you to install a suppressor. Being a Turkish import, the MAC IX is built really nice. It does everything you might need, or want, it to. The Mac IX is also super portable due to its small package size. The MAC series of firearms are distributed through SDS Arms and can be found on the Military Armament Corporation's website.  

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Blowback operated Pistol Caliber Carbine that uses MP5 magazines and some AR parts

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a small PCC

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Action Type: Direct Blow Back Semi-Auto 

  • Caliber: 9MM

  • Adjustable Sights - AR/M4 BUIS Style

  • Top picatinny rail

  • Capacity (w/ Included Mags): 30 + 1

  • Barrel Length: 6.5"

  • Barrel threaded 1/2-28 TPI and tri-lug

  • OAL: 15.97"

  • Height: 8"

  • Width: 1.75"

  • Weight (Unloaded): 5.10 lbs.

  • Rear picatinny for mounting braces

  • Rear QD attachment point

  • MAC-5/MP5 Magazine Compatibility

  • Paddle and Button Magazine Release

  • Includes: Hard case, 2 magazines, Cleaning kit, Sling, & Flash hider

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

4 out 5 stars at PSA   

I love this thing.

Only complaint I got is mine will not feed hollow points. I’ve run maybe 400 rounds of fmj flawlessly but it won’t fire two consecutive hollow points without failing to feed. Didn’t buy it for hollow points so I’m ok with it. Other than that, I have no regrets.

Link to other reviews:

Gun Talk  

Price point:

MSRP = $797.00

Retail = Around $700.00

I need it now! Availability:

Guns.com, MidwayUSA, PSA, Battle Hawk Armory, and many others

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Compact

  • Uses some AR parts

  • Uses MP5 Magazines

  • Tri-lug adaptor and threaded barrel

  • Comes with iron sights that are decent

  • Rear picatinny rail with QD point

  • SDS mags lock bolt open

Cons:

  • Did not have supplied magazines in box

  • Recoil due to blowback action

  • Stiff safety selector

  • Stiff paddle magazine release

  • Hard to reach button mag release

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link:  AimWin PE320 red dot review   

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TriStar KR22

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Tristar KR22

Review

  In my opinion, everyone should have a 22lr rifle. You can go mild to wild when it comes to 22’s. The Tristar KR.22 would be considered mild. Mild enough to make it an inexpensive entry level 22 rifle. The KR22 has some good features, as well as a few that don’t quite hit home.

  I had asked to get one of the TriStar KR22’s after talking about it on the Gun & Gear Review Podcast. The KR22 comes with a lot of features. Most important is that it will accept standard, available everywhere, Ruger 10/22 magazines. This is the reason I wanted to review it. I was also curious if more parts were compatible with the 10/22. They are not. The only parts compatible are those magazines. However, that does not stop the KR22 from having some good features.

  The KR22 uses a synthetic stock. This stock comes with built in swivel studs. I like this because it not only gives you the ability to easily mount a sling, it also gives you the ability to mount a bi-pod. A bi-pod can help young shooters to use the rifle easier. There is also a nice rubber buttpad . But more important is that the KR22 has an adjustable cheek riser. So if you are mounting up some optics, you can adjust it to get just the right position to look through those optics. To adjust it, you just loosen a set screw, adjust the riser up or down, and then tighten the screw back up. I really liked having the adjustable cheek riser since I ran the KR22 with a Primary Arms GLx MD-21 red dot. I also readjusted the riser when I mounted a Primary Arms 4-16x44 for doing accuracy work. Also on the stock is a really nice textured pistol grip. It is grippier than most and I really liked it.

  One of the nice features on the KR22 is the ability to move the bolt handle. You can swap it from the right side to the left. Just unscrew it and then screw it in the other side of the bolt. If you are left handed, or just like the bolt on the left side of the rifle, this feature just makes sense. The push button safety of the KR22 is not reversible though, sorry lefties. I would also like to mention that there is no feature to lock the bolt back. This doesn’t really matter to me, but if you are at certain ranges, or teaching a child, you will need a chamber flag to see if the chamber is empty and safe. 

  TriStar uses a fiber optic front sight on the KR22. The front fiber and standard style rear notch give the KR22 a decent sight picture. Windage is adjusted on the rear notch sight with an allen wrench and set screw set up. The front sight adjusts elevation , also with an allen wrench. These sights are tall enough to clear a suppressor, if you choose to mount one onto the threaded muzzle. All of this works okay, until you notice that the rear sight can move side to side a little. There is no way to tighten this down. So with iron sights, you can’t get very precise shot placement. Luckily, red dots are cheap and you can mount one on the built in pic rail. 

  I was pleasantly surprised with the KR22’s trigger. It is a flat style trigger with a flipper safety in it. The flipper safety just adds a little bit of extra safety and it isn’t noticeable when using the KR22. Of course there is a normal push button safety at the front of the trigger guard. Trigger pull came out at 4.5 pounds. There is essentially no pretravel, a decent wall, and then some over travel. But for a stock 22 trigger, it is better than I expected. The magazine release is located in front of the trigger guard. It is a flat style paddle that you push forward to drop the magazine. The size of the mag release is large enough to make it easy to reach and use. 

 Accuracy of the little KR22 was, what I would consider, normal. Using bulk box, cheap, 22LR ammunition I would get 3-4 inch groups at 50 yds. That was with about 5 different types of 22LR. The KR22 is not a match rifle, and that is about what I get with other 22’s. In this case, it is the ammo’s fault, as bulk 22LR ammo is not very consistent. I was able to get a few 2-2.25 inch groups with CCI MiniMags. This also did not surprise me as the CCI stuff is usually more consistent. For reliability in the KR22, I found the Winchester 36gr bulk packs and the CCI MiniMags functioned the most reliable. Some standard velocity 22LR didn’t always cycle the bolt all the way back to pick up a new round. So I would stick with hi-velocity 22LR ammunition in the KR22.

  I do like the TriStar KR22 rifle. Once I figured out which ammo it liked, it functioned quite well. This is however the 2nd KR22 I was sent. The first KR22 had a burr in the chamber where the extractor slides next to it. I contacted TriStar and they immediately sent me a call tag. Within a week or so, the new KR22 had arrived. So if you do have a problem with anything TriStar, their customer service is top notch, and will have you up and running again in no time. Besides this minor setback, I did find an inconvenience with the KR22. Both rifles I received had slop in the rear iron sight. Even with the adjustment tightened down. These sights would move a little back and forth where they sit inside the picatinny rail. Enough that if I moved it to one side, and then the other, it would change the point of impact by an inch or so at 25 yards. As mentioned, just install a red dot on it and you won’t have to worry about that. Even with these minor problems, I think the KR22 has a lot of good features. The trigger is nice. It has that adjustable cheek riser for when you mount a scope or red dot. It also has a threaded barrel which allows you to install a muzzle brake or suppressor. The KR22 is a fun little 22 rifle.

  The TriStar KR22 isn’t bad for what it is. It has a lot of nice features previously mentioned. Probably its biggest pro is the ability to use 10/22 magazines. Followed by its built in optics rail, because you will want to use it. The trigger is also pretty decent for a $250 22 rifle. So if you are looking for a lightweight 22 plinking rifle, the TriStar KR22 might fit the bill.  

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Inexpensive 22 rifle

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a 22lr rifle that is suppressor ready

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Threaded Barrel (1/2 x 28 right hand thread)

  • Blow back semi-automatic operation

  • Push button & trigger safety

  • Reversible Bolt Handle

  • Adjustable Comb

  • Swivel Studs

  • Picatinny Rail integrated on receiver

  • Adjustable Front Fiber Optic Sight

  • 2 -10 rd. Rotary Magazines

  • Accepts 10/22® Magazines

  • Barrel: 18.6”

  • Weight: 4.9 lbs

  • Overall Length: 38″

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

ODG/Black and FDE/Black   

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Shooting News Weekly on YouTube   

Price point:

MSRP = $289.00

Retail = $234.00 at MidwayUSA     

I need it now! Availability:

Tristar, MidwayUSA, or your local dealer

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Lightweight

  • Threaded barrel

  • Built in picatinny rail for optics

  • Reversible charging handle

  • Adjustable cheek riser

  • Uses 10/22 magazines

Cons:

  • Rear sight moves side to side

  • No way to lock bolt back

Score: 6.50 Okay

Favorite Link:  Primary Arms GLx MD-21 Review

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Shaw Titanium 10/22 Barrel

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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 

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Hi-Point 995P

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Hi-Point 995P

Pistol Review

  Hi-Point firearms has come out with a new pistol. At least that is what it is technically called. I like to call it a pistol caliber pistol (PCP) since it is similar to a pistol caliber carbine (PCC). This new pistol is their 995P. The 995P is a pistol version of the Hi-Point 995 carbine, hence the “P” at the end. One could technically call it a large frame pistol.

  The new Hi-Point 995P looks a lot like its bigger brother, the 995. The major differences are a shorter barrel. Now at 13.25 inches instead of the carbines 16 inches. The 995P is also threaded ½-28 to accept a 9mm muzzle device or a suppressor. Since it is now a pistol, they cut off the stock and replaced it with a picatinny rail adapter. So it looks like a short carbine, but is really a pistol.

  A little more on the new picatinny rail adapter on the 995P. This rear pic rail can be used for mounting various pistol braces, or at least ones that attach to these types of rails. Built into the pic rail is a QD socket. This lets you put a sling on it and do the old school mp5 sling pushout for stability. I initially installed a Strike Industries dual folding brace. It worked fine, but because of where Hi-Point had to put the pic rail, the length of pull with the brace was too long. Fear not, Hi-Point thought about this and you can remove the pic rail by taking a screw out and unscrewing it. Underneath this pic rail are some AR15 buffer tube threads. This allows you to attach any buffer tube and pistol brace you want. I ended up with an SBA3 brace since they are adjustable for length. Having the ability for both brace mounting options, on the 995P, is a very smart idea.

  Now, even some more on the pistol itself. The Hi-Point 995P comes with a plastic handguard that has a pic rail mounted on the bottom. It will look familiar if you have ever seen any of the other Hi-Point carbines. The sights also look familiar. It has a ghost ring rear with a hooded, fiber optic front post. The rear sight is a whole system that can be removed from the receiver's top rail. I removed the sight and added in a red dot. First I had an old Tasco PDP on it, with an airsoft periscope behind it. This was really just because it was a Hi-Point and I needed some InstaGram street cred. The 995P did end up with a Holosun after that. I use the red dot on a standard height AR riser and it puts it at about the right height for everyday use. 

  On the 995P, ammunition is fed through the 10 round magazines. These magazines worked fine for me. Hi-Point also sent some of the Red Ball 20 round magazines. Surprisingly they worked well also. The magazines are fed through the pistol grip of the 995P, just like most pistols. The pistol grip does not excite me as it doesn’t fit my hand very well. But Hi-Points aren’t known for their ergonomics.

  The blow back operation of the 995P helps make it super simple to use. There is a left side charging handle that reciprocates. This handle also can be used to lock the bolt back by pushing it in toward the receiver, but only when the bolt is pulled toward the rear. The 995P will also lock back on an empty magazine. After the bolt locks back on that empty magazine, you must first drop the magazine, insert a new one or don’t, and then pull back on the bolt handle to release the bolt.

  After having reviewed Hi-Point’s 3095 carbine, I expected the 995P to be just as fun. I was correct. The 995 is so much fun to shoot and it is accurate too. There is very little recoil, probably due to its weight being around 6 pounds. The iron sights are pretty good and super easy to use. However, a red dot makes the 995P even better. I ran a ton of rounds through the 995P without any problems. From 115 grains up to 147 grains. It just chugged along, but I kind of expected that. Having the ability to use whatever type of pistol brace you want is also a huge win for the 995P. Or, just hook a single point sling on it and use it that way. I even put my subgun suppressor on it. Yes, it is quiet with subsonic ammo. The 995P just ate it all without complaints. It really is just a fun range “pistol”. If you wanted a cheap short barrelled rifle, you could pay the $200 tax stamp and throw a stock on it. You would still only be out around $500 total. 

  If you are in the market for a “large” frame pistol, the Hi-Point 995P might be just what you are looking for. It is inexpensive and a whole lot of fun. The brace mounting system is top notch and gives you endless possibilities. But really, my favorite part about the Hi-Point 995P is how much fun it is just plinking at the range. To check it out, head over to Hi-Point.

  

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Large frame 9mm pistol with “options”

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a less expensive 9mm pistol caliber pistol

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Barrel length: 13.25" Standard

  • Back Plate: Accepts standard buffer tube

  • Rear Picatinny Rail

  • Weight: 6.1 LBS.

  • Capacity: 10-round mag standard

  • Overall length: 20.75"

  • Rear Sights: Ghost Ring Aperture

  • Finish: Black powder coat

  • Front Sights: HiViz light pipes fiber optics

  • Threaded ½-28 with thread protector 

  • Lifetime warranty 

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

.45acp or 10mm

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Athlon Outdoors

Price point:

MSRP = $379.00

Retail = Around $300    

I need it now! Availability:

Guns.com, KYGUNCO, or your local gun shop

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Configurable

  • Picatinny and buffer tube options

  • Short length

  • Made in USA

  • Price

Cons:

  • Trigger pull 

  • Ergonomics

  • 10 round capacity magazines

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link:  Hi Point 3095 review  

Tactical Kinetics G17 Threaded Barrel

  Tactical Kinetics, commonly called “The Barrel Guys”, makes rifle and pistol barrels. These barrels are 100 percent made in the USA. I was in need of a Glock 17 threaded barrel, so I asked if they would send one for review. Here we are, G17 barrel in hand, with many rounds down range.

  Since I had previous experience with a Tactical Kinetics’ rifle barrel, I expected the same quality. I was not disappointed. The threaded G17 barrel was beautifully made, inside and out. It came in a Black Nitride finish, giving it a smooth dark finish. Plain stainless steel and titanium nitride (TiN) are also available. This particular barrel was engraved with the “TK” logo on the hood, and the model/caliber (17 - 9x19) on the exterior side of the chamber. Amazing to me, was the ability to get a non-logoed version, with no markings at all for the same price. It made me think, “they are in it for the barrel”, not just to show off. 

  The specifications on this 9mm barrel are pretty standard for replacement barrels. It starts out with pre-hardened 416R stainless steel. Pre-hardening the barrel makes it less susceptible to becoming flawed during the hardening process, thus making a more accurate barrel. It does use a SAAMI spec chamber. The barrel is button rifled with 6 grooves in a 1 in 10 twist ratio. The button rifling lets the shooter shoot every type of bullet, from cast lead to copper jackets. A feature that a polygonal rifled barrel will not let you do. On a side note, the rifling is just beautiful. The 1 in 10 twist rate will let the barrel shoot heavier bullets, better. Bullet weight didn’t seem to matter much, in the way of accuracy, for me. Lastly, it is immaculately threaded the standard ½-28 for compensator or suppressor mounting.

  I installed the barrel in a Freedom Flag Products G17 slide. I proceeded to then install that slide on a Lone Wolf TWF-C frame. Everything fit together great. The barrel had a very good lock up with the slide. Better than a factory Glock barrel, for sure. So, I took it to the range, many times. As expected, it worked like a champ. All different types of ammunition cycled. I don’t remember ever having a failure to feed or extract from this barrel. The polished feed ramp probably helped this, as it is really smooth. 

  What would a barrel review be without some sort of accuracy testing? Probably not a review. So off to the range I went with a handful of different 9mm ammunition types and manufacturers. I measured out 15 yards from the shooting bench, and posted up some targets. I then proceeded to rest the pistol on my shooting bag. I know, not the best rest, but suitable for real world accuracy testing. Here are some of the 5 round groups I shot. They are all good representations of the specific loads tested. My best group was Sig Elite performance 115gr at 1.10”’s.

  • Freedom Munitions Hush 165gr - 2.26”

  • Corbon +P 115gr JHP - 2.18”

  • Federal Champion Brass 115gr - 3.22”

  • Blazer Brass 124gr - 2.21”

  • CCI Lawman 124gr - 1.68”

  • Sig Elite 115gr - 1.80”

  I would have no problem putting the Tactical Kinetics barrel up against other manufacturers barrels. You can’t beat the price at $105 plus $18 for a thread protector. It shoots well, has good lock up, and is completely manufactured in the USA. What more could anyone want in an aftermarket Glock barrel. If you’re in the market for a barrel, go check out the Barrel Guys at Tactical Kinetics.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Glock replacement threaded barrel

Target Market:

Anyone wanting or needing a threaded barrel that fits “Glock” style slides

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Completely made in house by Tactical Kinetics

  • 6 groove Button Rifling

  • 1 in 10 twist ratio

  • SAAMI 9mm chamber

  • 416R Stainless Steel

  • Polished feed ramp (before coating)

  • Target crown

  • Black Nitride coated

  • With or without TK logo

  • Threaded ½-28

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Stainless or TiN

What others are saying?:

Tom at RainierArms.com

Excellent drop in threaded barrel

Machining, fit, and finish are excellent. Drop fit nice and tight in a Swenson slide w/Burris Fastfire cut. Shot 100 rounds each of Rem and Win 115gn, and Armscorp and Browning 147gn, largest group at 25 yds was just larger than my palm. Groups better than my Glock factory barrel. Threading for an Omega 9K was excellent, cycled with no issues. Cleaned up with just a few patches after 400 rounds

Link to other reviews:

None found

Price point:

MSRP = $105.00 and $18 for the thread protector

I need it now! Availability:

Tactical Kinetics or Brownells

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Less expensive than competitor’s barrels

  • Quality

  • Made completely in house

  • Made in USA

  • Polished feed ramp

  • Black Nitride finish

Cons:

  • Lack of options (fluted, colors, etc)

  • Thread protector is extra

Score: 8.00 Great

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Favorite Link:   Gun and Gear Cult

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