Good ideas often start in the strangest places, like the middle of a ground blind amongst a swarm of hungry mosquitoes at a Texas hog hunt. That’s where Evin Galbraith of DPMS and Travis Noteboom of Crimson Trace decided that the smoke from a good cigar was preferable to donating blood to the ravaging mosquitoes. And with the inspiration of that cigar, they also decided that a pre-accessorized AR-style rifle was a pretty good idea.

dpms2The AR-15 and its variants are without a doubt the most frequently and heavily accessorized rifles in the world today. Even a casual look through a few catalogs or search on the Internet will yield a plethora of available accessories that you can use to trick out your rifle. For experienced shooters who know what they like, it’s like the proverbial “kid in a candy store.” However, for shooters new to the AR platform and law enforcement agencies searching for a functional “one-size-fits-all” patrol rifle, the wide selection of aftermarket accessories can be confusing if not downright overwhelming. As those of us with boxes full of accessories that didn’t quite work can tell you, trial and error can be an expensive way of figuring out what you really want on your black gun.

Thanks to Evin, Travis (and the mosquitoes) there is a solution to this dilemma: the DPMS RAPTR (Rapid Assault/Primary Tactical Rifle)—a “pre-accessorized” AR that provides everything you really need in a black rifle and nothing you don’t.

After defining the basic concept of the RAPTR, Evin and Travis approached some of their colleagues in the tactical industry to get their insights into the accessories that made the most sense and were most in demand by savvy shooters. With the help of Dave Biggers of XS Sights, Jason Harmon of ERGO/Falcon Industries, and Julie Knuth of US Peacekeepers, they methodically developed the ideal “turnkey” black-rifle package based on three primary objectives: meeting the needs of the law enforcement community for an out-of-the-box patrol rifle, providing a pre-accessorized solution for the commercial customer, and making the resulting package affordable for everyone. Based on the sample rifle that I reviewed, the RAPTR satisfies all these requirements exceptionally well.

It seems the overwhelming majority of tactical rifles available on today’s market are chambered in 7.62×51mm (.308), and it’s easy to understand why. The fact that it’s a NATO round generally means it’s readily available around the world and theoretically, one of the most accessible calibers here in the States. It is also a cartridge that has been carried in the US military’s logistical system for over 50 years, and since it’s adoption as the military’s primary sniping cartridge in the Vietnam War, the 7.62×51mm has reigned supreme in the tactical world.

However, I frequently find myself questioning the almost fanatical devotion to the 7.62mm as a sniping cartridge when there are many other cartridges better suited to the task of long range shooting. There are cartridges with higher ballistic coefficients, cartridges with higher muzzle velocities and, sometimes, there are commonly available cartridges that have both. One such cartridge is the .300 Win Mag, now chambered by the good people at Kimber in their Model 8400 Police Tactical.

kimber-8400-2Bullet Drop Analysis
The Model 8400 Police Tactical rifle from Kimber is new for 2009, and their decision to chamber the rifle in the .300 Win Mag is significant as it offers Law Enforcement professionals a tactical rifle that shoots flatter and hits harder than its 7.62mm brother. For example, the standard load for the military’s sniping round (M118LR) is a 175-grain Sierra MatchKing with a listed BC (ballistic coefficient) of .505. The common load for a .300 Win Mag is Sierra’s 190-grain MatchKing with a listed BC of .533. While the BC increase might not sound like much of an advantage, the bullet with the .533 BC drops 10.2 inches less at 1000 yards when fired at the same velocity. My issued M40XB rifle fires M118LR ammunition at 2716 fps (feet per second), whereas CorBon’s load for the .300 Win Mag lists a muzzle velocity of 2900 fps. When we look at the .300 Win Mag’s higher BC and higher muzzle velocity we find that it drops around 53 inches less at 1000 yards than the standard M118LR in 7.62mm.

Little guns seldom make big news, but the Ruger LCP .380 ACP changed the rules. Many wondered what direction Ruger would move after they entered the polymer-frame handgun arena with their 2007 introduction of the striker-fired SR9 9mm. That question was answered during 2008 with the introduction of the ultra-compact LCP (Light Compact Pistol) .380 ACP. A true “watch fob” pistol that can slip comfortably into even the tightest pocket, yet is
chambered for the .380 ACP, it was an instant hit.

ruger21The LCP .380 ACP is a recoil-operated, locked breech semi-auto, using a tilting barrel (no barrel bushing) design. Built on a glass-filled nylon composite frame, it features an aluminum sub-frame inner grip frame, hardened steel slide and a 2.75-inch steel barrel. The resulting pistol weighs in at 9.4 ounces empty, measures 5.16 inches in overall length, 3.6 inches in height, and is a scant 0.82 of an inch wide.

Magazine capacity is six (one magazine supplied, with additional magazines available) and is of a drop-free design. The magazine release button is located in the approved American-style, left side behind and below the triggerguard, and is quick and positive to use.

The slide does not lock back on an empty magazine after the last round, but it can be manually locked back via a slide lock lever on the upper left side. If the slide is locked back and a loaded magazine inserted, the slide lock lever can be used to send the slide forward and chamber a round. But retracting the slide slightly to the rear and releasing it is a quicker and more positive way to charge the pistol from slide lock.

Taking a quick trip over to the Cabela’s website I found that Remington UMC 9mm FMJ ammunition could be had for $78.99 for 250 rounds. By comparison, the .223 UMC ammunition was $154.99 for 300 rounds. This makes the 9mm essentially 30 cents a round while the .223 was about 50 cents per shot. If a person could train with an AR platform rifle chambered in 9mm, they could save 20 cents per trigger pull.

cmmg2Well, guess what? You can have an AR/M4 platform rifle that feeds 9mm and CMMG, Inc. is offering that carbine right now. The firearm is titled the “M4 LE 9mm” rifle.

This carbine-length gun has a 16-inch barrel made of 4140 Chrome-moly vanadium and it is coated in what CMMG calls their WASP (Weapons Armored Surface Protection) finish. It is in essence a treatment, not a plating, and gives a better protection than traditional chrome plating.

Rifling is a 1-in-10-inch twist with a muzzle brake that is of NATO style birdcage. The upper receiver is an A3 variety including a flattop rail. The standard “A frame” front sight housing has a bayonet lug and forward sling swivel. Handguards are typical M4 style.

Mimicking the M4, the lower receiver has a retractable stock, AR pistol grip and all the controls you would find on an M4 style carbine. The most notable difference between the M4 LE and a 5.56mm M4 is the fact that, unlike other 9mm converted lowers with plugs; the CMMG lower receiver was purposely machined from 7075-T6 aluminum to accept a 9mm stick magazine.

As for the action, the trigger assembly on this rifle is semi-automatic and the gun operates not by gas-impingement but with a straight blowback. The manual safety, magazine release button, charging handle, bolt catch, and both the pivot pin and takedown pin are stock AR.

Fitted onto the flattop rail was a fold-down/flip-up rear sight. This sight is adjustable for windage and has dual apertures; large and small, just like an A2 rear sight. The A2 front sight adjusts for elevation with quarter clicks.

Tactical Solutions has become the “go to” company for a variety of .22 caliber conversions, Ruger 10/22 barrels, and a host of accessories. In the past year I have had an opportunity to evaluate their 1911 and M4 conversion units, and both products represent the company’s commitment to quality. In a recent conversation with Chet Alvord, owner of Tactical Solutions, I learned of a mission-
specific rifle they are making for law enforcement.

tacThe Lights Out Rifle is the result of several requests for a compact .22 caliber rifle to be used in tactical situations. As the name implies, one use may be to take out lights that put a tactical team at jeopardy during a high-risk operation. The Lights Out Rifle is a short-barreled rifle that features an integral suppressor, making it a restricted NFA (National Firearms Act) weapon.

I first saw the Lights Out Rifle early on in 2009. While it looked neat, at the time I was more interested in some of the other products from Tactical Solutions. Nevertheless, I kept the little rifle in the back of my mind and was recently given one for evaluation.

The Lights Out Rifle is based on Tactical Solutions’ exceptional X-Ring receiver, a precision made receiver that is modeled after Ruger’s venerable 10/22. However, under close examination, the resemblance is only skin-deep. The X-Ring is machined from a solid block of aircraft grade 6061-T6 aluminum. Instead of a screw mounted scope base, the X-Ring has an integral Picatinny scope rail machined into the receiver. The bolt is precision machined from hardened steel and features an extra large charging handle that rotates on the mounting pin. A dual recoil spring allows the bolt to function smoothly without binding. A unique feature is the cleaning port in the rear of the receiver that allows the barrel to be cleaned from the breach end.

There was a day when customizing a shotgun meant sawing off the barrel (either double-barrel or pump), sawing off the stock into a pistol grip or both. The idea was to make the 18- or 20-inch police “riot gun” more tactical. The modifications seemed sound, that is until you fired a short-barreled double or pump or a pistol-gripped version. Notions of a sawed off shotgun being an alley sweeper were soon dispelled when you found out that without sights or aiming, you can actually completely miss a target at realistic combat ranges. Despite the lack of accuracy when bead or rifled sights were removed, pistol grips are not fun to shoot with full-powered street loads. All of a sudden, those saw-delivered “tactical” modifications weren’t such a good idea after all.

scatter2Shotguns have lagged behind with street or combat-enhancing design changes. Let’s face it, carbines have been getting all the attention with improvements in design and available accessories. That’s too bad, as a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with 00 buck or rifled slugs can be a devastating fight stopper. Shotgun-fired buckshot or slugs can be devastating against a human body – with the ballistic ability to create massive trauma.

Slugs and 00 buck can literally avulse (tear off sections of a suspect’s body) with impressive results. Case in point: I once responded to two shootings at the same housing project apartment. In the first shooting, a 16-year-old dope dealer was shot in the leg with a 9mm pistol round. Upon arrival, said doper was sitting on a sofa waiting for EMS. An entrance and exit wound were visible with minor bleeding observed.

One month later, same apartment/same doper got shot in the same leg with a 12 gauge but the resulting blood and gore were all over the hallway and the leg sustained so much damage that it had to be amputated. Considering that most suspects are stopped via blood loss (and resultant drops in blood pressure and heart rate) the bigger the hole, the more blood loss results and the quicker the stop in aggressive action.

M4 type carbines are a very hot ticket for law enforcement and civilian self-defense these days. They are light, handy, compact and offer a greater level of performance than any pistol caliber carbine. Due to this fact, many law enforcement agencies are changing over from pistol caliber submachine guns for SWAT use to M4A1 type carbines. For patrol, a semi-automatic version of the M4A1 is an ideal choice. Ammunition parts and accessories are plentiful and reasonably priced. In fact, one of the greatest strengths of the M4A1 type carbine is its modular capability.

The AR carbine wasn’t originally intended to be a modular weapon, but it became so in the early 1990s when the Special Operations thor2Command (USSOCOM) developed the SOPMOD (Special Operations Peculiar Modification.) There are actually two versions of the M4 – the M4 Carbine, basically a short barreled version of the M16A2 with fixed carry handle and three round burst in addition to semi-automatic fire and the M4A1 with a fully automatic capability and a flattop receiver with a MIL-STD-1913 rail. It is this version that is used for the SOPMOD conversion and in semi-automatic form the one most used by law enforcement.

In the department where I serve as a reserve officer, every full-time officer is issued a semi-automatic M4A1-type carbine for patrol carry. Several full-time and reserve officers have purchased carbines of their own for personal and duty use. Many officers have taken advantage of the M4A1 type carbine’s modular nature to customize their issue carbines to suit their personal tastes.

Cops are probably the most underpaid people on the planet, so very few can afford to buy a ready made custom M4A1 type carbine, which can cost well over $2000. But because of the simplicity of the M4A1 design and ready availability of parts, a custom carbine can be built a step at a time on a budget. Every feature in this article can be purchased and installed as a “stand alone,” usually using common tools and generally without the help of a gunsmith. We installed every custom part of the M4A1 carbine featured herein in the family kitchen, after first obtaining dispensation from a very understanding wife.

Imagine a young former US Marine, an end user, who designed a rubber-like gadget to help get a magazine out of its pouch and into his rifle faster, named his fledgling company after it and a few years later introduced a new rifle that shocked the industry. Hard to believe? Maybe, but that man was Richard Fitzpatrick and the name of the gadget and his company is Magpul.

massoud1Several years ago, Rich Fitzpatrick, showed me a prototype of a rifle he called the Masada, a weapon named after the great standoff made by the Jews thousands of years ago, the ultimate act of defiance. When Magpul unveiled the Masada “Adaptive Combat Rifle” rifle during 2007, all eyes were on it. Combining the most modern production methods with well-proven operating principles, this rifle seemed to combine the best of all worlds, but Fitzpatrick didn’t design it by himself. Putting together a brilliant team of Mike Mayberry, Eric and Brian Nakyama and Drake Clark, Fitzpatrick gives credit where it’s due.

Using a conventional short stroke gas piston to operate its rotating bolt group was just the beginning of this revolutionary rifle. The Masada was full of surprises and they were all good news for law enforcement, gun collectors and maybe even the US Military.

Between his Magpul and the Masada, Fitzpatrick had designed and produced a series of revolutionary buttstocks for the AR-15 platform, and a brand new patented adjustable stock was one of the hallmarks of the Masada. This straight-line, ergonomic stock complemented the modernistic silhouette of the Masada, but did not house any part of the recoil spring group, allowing the stock to fold. With lineage to the AR-18, Stoner 63 and L85, the bolt, carrier and recoil spring were all housed inside the upper receiver, which itself was unique.

Using a steel trunion, the upper receiver connected this with the right and left hardened steel (not aluminum) rails to guide the bolt, covered by an aircraft alloy housing with a full-length integral Mil-Std-1913 rail along the top. Mated to the upper receiver was a lower one made from the same reinforced, super strong polymer used in another Magpul innovation, the PMAG 30-round magazine also introduced with the rifle. The lower receiver housed a modular trigger pack and fully ambidextrous controls, all of which were comparable to those of the M16, except for its bolt hold-open/release, which operated like that of the FAL. The ambidextrous, non-reciprocating charging handle was also reminiscent of that used in the G3.

With a threaded extension, the upper receiver’s trunion accepted a barrel nut to retain the barrel extension, but the interrupted threads were large with a rapid pitch, and the nut had a folding handle and a ratchet lock. This system provided a fast and efficient quick-change barrel for the Masada. Above the barrel was a conventional AR-18 type short stroke gas piston reminiscent of those used in the 1934 Tokarev and the WWII German G43 rifles. Equipped with Mil-Std-1913 side and bottom rails, but the polymer handguard can be quickly removable by the same type pushpins used to connect the upper and lower receivers.

Only six prototype Masada rifles were made, two using different lower receivers with magazine wells to accept other calibers and magazines. In late 2007, Magpul licensed Remington/Bushmaster to fully develop and manufacture the Masada under its official and fitting name, the Adaptive Combat Rifle (ACR). With some subtle changes, the new Remington ACR should be available as you read this.

Massoud details
Not ready to rest on its laurels, Rich Fitzpatrick and his design crew were, in the meantime, busy designing another rifle. This was a slightly larger version in 7.62×51mm (.308) caliber. After Rich showed me the prototype rifle during early 2008, there was a lot of testing to be done. Although this is still ongoing, Drake Clark finally gave me clearance and I’ve just driven 700 miles to get a closer look at it and two more pre-production versions.

Called the Massoud, the rifle is named after Ahmed Shah Massoud, the “Lion of the Panjshir,” the Afghani leader of the Northern Alliance who stood as the pillar in the fight against oppression. Al Qaeda assassinated him on September 9, 2001. I wondered if it was just by coincidence that I had traveled to Magpul to see the rifle that bears this name on September 9, 2009.

The new Massoud is slightly (and I mean only slightly) larger than its petite sibling and it weighs exactly the same, but is 1.5 inches longer. Although describing the Masada is to describe the latest version of the Massoud, there are several distinctive exceptions. The newest Massoud uses a unique 4-lug bolt that allows a more efficient positioning of the AR-10 type extractor. The ejector is the standard plunger type housed in the bolt face.

The second exception is the Massoud’s new 20-round polymer magazine. Designed after Magpul’s now famous PMAG, this one is essentially a 21st Century SR-25 magazine and yes, it will soon be available separately for all rifles that use this magazine.

Although the Massoud’s barrel is easily changeable, it does not use the more rapid system introduced in the Masada. Instead, after pushing out the single handguard retaining pin and removing the handguard, a special wrench is used to unscrew the castle barrel nut in order to remove the barrel and its extension (with the bolt group locked back or removed).

Piston Operated
The last exception in how the Massoud differs from the Masada and even the first Massoud prototype is its gas system. Somewhat reluctantly, but knowing he could trust me, Drake Clark and Justin J., the designer of the interesting new gas system, removed the Massoud’s handguard to show it to me. Refraining from using the one word that would describe its operation, I will tell you that Magpul describes it only as “Piston Operated.” I can also tell you that I have never seen anything like it, but that it is utterly simple with a reduction in moving parts and weight.

The new system was designed specifically to enhance accuracy and to reduce weight. Just as important, it was conceived to increase reliability by prolonging dwell time before the bolt unlocks. Until this new system is fully patent protected, it will remain a closely guarded secret.

In comparing the first prototype Massoud to the two current rifles, I noticed little difference other than the departure from the early rifle’s Masada style short stroke gas piston system and some changes in the handguard. The new gas block is user adjustable via a unique pivoting lever with four settings: Normal, dirty, suppressed and off. All barrels are Krieger stainless steel and are match grade. Of course there was also the flat dark earth color of the early gun that showed the rigors of having fired more than 10,000 rounds (it has never been cleaned). The two new guns are black, but would be offered in different colors if they were mass-produced.

One aspect of the Massoud that helped reduce weight was its use of Magpul’s ambidextrous folding backup sights. Not BUIS, the generic acronym for such sights, as these are made from the same PMAG tough polymer with steel pins, blades and apertures. Magpul has appropriately named them MBUS (pronounced em-bus). Weighing almost nothing, these sights are super fast to deploy (even quietly) and are almost as fast to replace to their folded position. Designed for easy mounting on a receiver and handguard top rails, MBUS come in black, flat dark earth and foliage green. They cost a fraction of what steel BUIS do and have become my favorite backup sights.

In addition to barrel lengths and handguards, the Massoud’s lower receiver will accept any of three Magpul buttstocks designed for it and the Remington ACR. Two of these are based on current Magpul designs with the third being the one described above. The fully adjustable PRS (sniper) buttstock was designed for the main long-range precision version of the Massoud.

Range Time
One thing that surprised me was the total ergonomics of the Massoud, as well as how petite and lightweight it seemed. With an experimental carbon fiber barrel I was shown, the standard rifle is lighter than its Masada counterpart. All controls operated smoothly and were accessed easily. Like the Masada (now the Remington ACR) the Massoud’s controls are measurably superior to their AR-15/AR-10 counterparts.

Traveling to a private range, we shot all three Massoud rifles, either for groups or informally. Quite surprisingly, the modular trigger group produced an excellent let-off reminiscent of the Sig Sauer 550 Series, and far superior to any standard AR-15 type trigger I have used.

I shot the heavy barrel precision Massoud rifle prone off the bipod at 100 yards and had no trouble putting five rounds of Black Hills .308 Match into an inch using a Nightforce 5.5-22×50mm scope and LaRue Uni-Mount, but the rifle does even better from the bench, producing 5-shot groups of well under 1-MOA. The precision long range Massoud was equipped with a Gemtech Sandstorm 7.62mm caliber titanium suppressor and the carbine was tested with an AAC suppressor.

Both standard length Massoud’s were shot informally offhand using an Aimpoint CompM3 Red Dot Sight and I was surprised at how controllable they were on rapid fire, as well as the fact that that they seemed to recoil only a little more than a .223.

Final Notes
While the Massoud is essentially a 7.62×51mm rifle, as with all others of the breed, it could be had in virtually any caliber using a case based on the .308. These would include the .22-250, .243, 6.5mm-08, 7mm-08, .338 Federal and more, but here’s the frosting on this caliber cake. Any of these caliber changes would require only another barrel in the particular caliber. You can use the same bolt and same magazine, and only a small wrench to make the change.

While Magpul’s new SR-25 type magazine will surely be a huge success, what about the Massoud? The design is certainly high on the list in all categories. When you think about all the millions of dollars spent by big companies in designing and developing so-called “state-of-the-art” rifles, you wonder how such a rifle as the Massoud could come from a relatively small company. I believe it’s the result of a team composed not only of engineers, but also of real end users and “gun guys” thinking outside the box and welcoming input from others. Whether or not the Massoud goes into full production will depend on demand and the political climate, but more than one company has expressed interest.

There is no need to discuss the popularity of the AR-15 in its various versions. Anyone who has tried to purchase one in recent months has been confronted with this fact. High prices and limited availability have made the popularity of the weapon system obvious to all. Adding to this frustration is the short supply of ammo available in calibers 5.56 NATO and .223, the primary calibers the AR is chambered for. Rumors abound as to why there is a shortage; the military is buying it all, ammo plants in Europe have closed requiring NATO to buy here, people are hoarding ammo and components making it hard for manufactures to get supplies, concerns over weapon banning have driven a run on guns and ammo, etc… I don’t know why the state of gun and ammo supply is what it is…it’s probably a combination of many things, but I do know that it is reality and all of us who like to shoot will have to deal with it. Also, those whom require firearms because they go in harm’s way need to practice as trigger pulling is the best way to keep combative skills sharp, which says nothing about police agencies who just can’t get ammo.

ruger-backgdIf guns and ammo remain hard to obtain for the foreseeable future and if the cost of ammo continues to rise, how can the prepared police officer or armed citizen stay well prepared? One way is to utilize a clone of your carry gun chambered in .22 caliber. No, the felt recoil will not be the same and the reach will not be as far, but it is certainly better than no shooting at all. In recent months I have purchased a .22 conversion kit for my Glock 19 and was quite happy with the result. Yes, the cost of .22 has risen along with other calibers, but even at $30 for a brick of 500 rounds of .22, the cost is far less than 500 rounds of 9mm, if I can find 500 rounds of 9mm. While my Glock is my primary carry gun, I keep a Ruger SR-556 handy because a handgun is never a good as a carbine to bring to a fight. I’ve tried to stay sharp with the Ruger, but ammo has been scarce and expensive so I have used a lot of dry fire. Fortunately, Ruger has just introduced a new gun that will be an excellent companion for my SR-556. It is basically a clone of that excellent gun, but loaded in .22 LR, making it much easier and less expensive to train with.

Gun Details
The Ruger SR-22 rifle is an auto-loading, rimfire carbine that combines the reliability of the Ruger 10/22 with the ergonomics and configuration of the new AR-style Ruger SR-556. Additionally, the shooter enjoys the durability and reliability that many have come to appreciate from Ruger. Because it utilizes their unique rotary magazine supplied with the Ruger 10/22, the SR-22 rifle offers the same high standard of reliability in an autoloading rimfire rifle.

After looking the gun over, I see aftermarket magazines similar to those of the AR-15 being introduced by several accessory companies. If you are concerned that the 10/22 magazine will limit your ability to “mirror” AR training, don’t be. Like the 10/22, the AR-style SR-22 rifle also has an extensive array of accessories already available, allowing shooters to select a custom configuration that best suits their tastes and needs to mirror their larger gun.

The SR-22 rifle uses a standard 10/22 action inside a top-quality, all-aluminum chassis designed intentionally to replicate the AR-platform dimensions between the sighting plane, buttstock height, and grip. Like most quality AR-15 rifles and carbines, the SR-22 provides a Picatinny rail optic mount and includes a 6-position, telescoping M4-style buttstock on a Mil-Spec diameter tube. While the stock on the SR-22 is certainly functional, I prefer the Magpul CTR with its rubber buttpad and locking lever. The Mil-Spec stock tube will fit the Magpul CTR just fine. A Hogue Monogrip pistol grip is also supplied and is a nice addition. Like the grips used on Ruger’s wildly popular LCR snubby, the rubber Monogrip on the SR-22 offers superior grip capability.

The SR-22 rifle also features a round, mid-length handguard mounted on a standard-thread AR-style barrel nut. Picatinny rails, specifically designed for use on this handguard, are available from Ruger allowing the end user to configure it to accept any number of rail-mounted sights or accessories. A word of caution here — be sensible about accessories. Whether equipping your duty AR or a training gun like this SR-22, select aftermarket accessories with care. Take a moment to think, “Does this addition solve a real problem for me or am I just placing it on the gun because it looks cool?” Cool points do not win the fight.

A barrel support block is installed in the handguard to ensure greater accuracy and allowing the standard 10/22 V-block barrel attachment systems to be utilized. The SR-22 rifle is equipped with a precision-rifled, cold hammer forged alloy steel barrel. The 16.12-inch barrel is capped with an SR-556/Mini-14 flash suppressor. The Mini-14 flash hider is also used on the SR-556 and gives the gun a uniquely Ruger look.

Optics
If the SR-22 is intended to be a supplemental training aid, then it is important to equip it with similar accessories as found on your fighting gun. This should include a white light, a sling and some type of optic. There has been much debate over whether iron sights should be used in lieu of optics, but I have certainly come out on the side of optics. I have taken several carbine courses with irons only and have found them to perform much better when using some type of red dot scope. The ability to super-impose the dot on target, eliminating the “eye sprint” of front sight-target is huge. Dot optics allow the shooter to watch their opponent while placing the dot on them simplifying the process of sighting. They also allow the shooter to use “off-set” sighting while staying behind cover. What I mean by this is that I can remove myself from the rear of the gun and hold it off my shoulder, point it around cover, and as long as I can get my dot where I want it, the shot will be accurate. Do not be concerned with parallax as any optic with a tube of any length will have some degree of parallax. A quality scope will allow you to “shoot through” parallax because what you are seeing is just an image of the side of the tube due to misalignment. The red dot will still be in alignment with the target.

I have been working with the compact red dot optic from ITAC Defense for several months now and must admit that I am impressed. This compact optic is similar to the popular mini Aimpoint red dot but at a lower price. It is made in Israel and imported into the US by Sig Sauer. This red dot sight is a versatile and lightweight sighting solution for all types of firearms. A parallax free, 1x red dot with a 4-MOA reticle, coated glass lenses, and anodized aluminum construction ensures optimal performance in the most extreme conditions. It features a 12-position rotary switch that increases dot brightness, has windage and elevation adjustments protected by screw-on caps, a built-in Mil-Std-1913/Weaver rail mount and powered by a long-life CR2032 Lithium battery that offers a typical life of over 6000 hours.

The supplied mount will not permit the ITAC sight to line up with the tall sights that are standard on all AR-15 platforms, so some type of mount or riser is needed. I happened to have an ARMS throw lever mount that I drafted into service, which works quite well. Some will turn their nose up at this sight and say to me “Would you take that sight into Afghanistan or Iraq?” and my answer would be no. But then, I am not going to either place and neither are most of you. If I were, I would probably be using whatever kit I was issued, but since I am not issued anything for my personal gun, I shop around for those accessories that will serve me well here…and so should you. Base your gear decisions on the real world, not on some situation you will never face. In the case of the ITAC red dot, I would gladly place this on my patrol rifle or any other personal long gun and use it with confidence.

Range Time
Lets be honest, the .22 will not have the reach of a .223, so trying to shoot groups at extended ranges will not be a satisfying experience. I see the SR-22 as a reasonably priced training supplement, not a replacement for one’s battle rifle. This being the case, I decided to test it’s accuracy at 50 feet instead of the traditional 100 yards, though I also decided that it would be interesting to see how well it would group at 25 yards. I tested accuracy of the SR-22 by benchresting the gun on one of the new Giles AccuBags from The Wilderness.

The 50-foot accuracy test ended up being anti-climactic, because regardless of the ammo (Remington, CCI and Winchester) used, the SR-22 punched an inch (or less) sized hole in the center of the target. Interestingly, the SR-22 gave a good accounting at 25 yards, holding all of its rounds in the center of an 8-inch Birchwood Casey Dirty Bird bulls-eye target. I guess I under-estimated this slick little carbine. As .22 LR ammo is still inexpensive compared to other calibers I shot in excess of 500 rounds through the gun without a single malfunction. Like its older brother, the 10/22, the SR-22 turned out to be a very reliable performer.

Final Notes
Will the SR-22 be a good choice for low cost, supplemental AR-15 training? The gun has the look and feel of the AR-15 so the act of shooting will certainly be the same. Where the gun is different is in its controls. The SR-22 is a variant of the famed 10/22, Ruger’s best selling product for many years. In this regard, the gun is time tested and proven so it will run reliably for many years to come. However, the box style 10-shot magazine is nothing like an AR and neither is the release mechanism, so practicing reloading will not be the same. The crossbolt safety is more like a shotgun than an AR, and the bolt handle is on the right side like that of a .22 rifle. Again, I am sure than there will be aftermarket magazines that will better replicate the AR as the SR-22 grows in popularity. In addition, using the 10/22 system has allowed Ruger to hold the cost down keeping it affordable for many who would not otherwise be able to buy at AR-15 training supplement.

In the end, it is usually trigger control that needs the most work while reloads, malfunction clearances, ready positions and other related skills could be dry-practiced to near perfection. This being the case, the Ruger SR-22 will give a great deal of “AR-15-like” trigger time at a very reduced cost.

The one criticism that I often hear from officers is, “Why don’t you guys write about guns that everyone can afford?” It’s true that articles and sexy photographs of high-dollar handguns sell magazines but it is also true that these expensive guns are out of the reach of the majority of the readership. That’s why I jumped at the chance to write about American Tactical Imports (ATI) new HP9, a full-size DA/SA (double-action/single-action) autopistol with a suggested retail price of just $399 — a price that will put the gun within the reach most officers on a budget.

ATI is a relatively new company that is well-known for offering consumers interesting firearms from around the world. ATI’s President and CEO, Tony DiChario, told me in a recent phone interview that he has agents around the world looking for quality products at very affordable prices.

DiChario said, “I have an agent that lives in Turkey and is an ex-military man and he knew of this company called Trabzon that is renowned for their reputation for quality products built for military and police. I arranged to go over and was very impressed with their state-of-the-art machinery, and the hardness and quality of the steel that they use. There are many smaller European countries whose military and police use their pistols. So, the quality and design are there.”

Gun Details
ATI named their new autopistol the HP9, an obvious tip of the hat to the Browning Hi-Power. Examining the pistol, the only similarity I could find between this pistol and the Hi-Power is the relieved slide profile near the muzzle. But the HP9 had a strangely familiar feel to me and it took me a while to figure it out. Heading to my gunsafe and removing a Beretta 92FS, I soon realized why the HP9 felt so familiar.

The bottom half of the gun copies the Beretta pistol. Both guns share a DA/SA trigger system with a slide mounted manual safety/decocker. The HP9 has its magazine release, slide lock and takedown levers in the same places. Its triggerguard profile, tang and backstrap are also closely copied. In fact, the biggest difference that I see on the frame is the HP9’s inclusion of a finger-positioning groove on the frontstrap. While its addition is somewhat puzzling, I found that it really did not bother me or hamper my shooting with the HP9 as I predicted that it would have.

Though the slide features the Beretta style safety/decocker, the HP9’s similarity to the Beretta 92 ends there. The HP9 uses a different style of lock up that involves a squared breechblock locking into the ejection port in a manner similar to Glock and Sig Sauer pistols. This change also gives the gun a much slimmer slide profile, about 14% thinner, measured from the top.

Like the Beretta guns, the HP9 uses a frame machined from aluminum alloy. DiChario says that the frame is hard chromed after final machining and that process brings the frame’s surface hardness to an incredible 64 Rc Rockwell hardness. It’s an attractive finish that looks very much like stainless steel and is very easy to clean firing residue from.

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One feature that aids in the flawless functioning of the HP9 is the almost straight feed design. The barrel possesses a short, polished feedramp, but hand-cycling rounds through the gun showed that most rounds never even touched the feedramp as the round slid from the magazine into the chamber.

My test sample came with one 20-round magazine. The polymer basepad extends about 0.63 of an inch below the bottom of the frame and exacerbates the large size of the already full-size pistol. DiChario did tell me that flush fitting 18-round magazines are available for this pistol and those would probably be my choice if I were to carry this pistol. Beretta 92FS magazines, while close in dimensions, will not work with the HP9 as the magazine release cut is in the wrong position.
Shooting Impressions

I have to admit that I wasn’t prepared for the amount of accuracy that the HP9 displayed. I initially set my targets out at 15-yards thinking that a gun in this price range would probably be capable of printing 2- to 3-inch groups. In other words it would have accuracy that we have come to expect from most full-size service pistols. But much to my surprise, about half of the ammunition that I tried printed groups under an inch. I fired all groups from a seated position, in single-action mode, and used a Millett BenchMaster for support. My single best 5-shot group was recorded with CorBon’s +P 100-grain Pow’RBall loads and measured just 0.78 of an inch.

While recoil in the Pow’RBall is more substantial than ball loads, it does not feel unpleasant in the least to shoot and there was nothing to indicate that this particular load was unduly harsh on the HP9. The patented Pow’RBall load features a polymer ball crimped into the nose of the bullet. The ball gives the cartridge a FMJ profile and helps guide the bullet smoothly into the chamber. The jacketed bullet’s lead core is shaped into a specially designed cavity that promotes deep penetration and high weight retention. An advantage of this bullet is that it does not have an empty hollow point that can become plugged with clothing or other material and lose its effectiveness. It’s also not classified as a hollow point if you live in one of the jurisdictions where these types of bullets are prohibited.

I took two of my MGM steel targets out to do some field shooting with the HP9. Working from the Uncle Mike’s Kydex holster I found that I could easily lay controlled pairs on the steel. I’m hesitant to even mention my splits or time between shots as this is more a function of the shooter than it is the gun. Using the Winchester 115-grain FMJ rounds my average split was just 0.27 of a second. Controllability of the HP9 is exactly what you would expect of a full size service gun firing the 9mm cartridge.

Recoil even with the hotter defense loads was negligible and making successive hits on multiple targets was effortless. I found the safety to be somewhat stiff at first but it did smooth out considerably by the end of my evaluation. It was much easier to disengage the safety than to engage it and I often used my off-hand to reengage it.

You have probably heard it all to the point of nausea; the Stoner system runs too dirty, the 5.56mm is an anemic cartridge, all would be better served with a (take your pick) 6.5mm, 6.8mm, 7.62×39mm or 7.62×51mm, gas piston guns run cleaner, gas piston guns break down under use, on and on and on…okay I get it. Gun people like debate and everyone has opinions. There is nothing wrong with debate, provided those involved are trying to solve a problem. In regards to individual security, whether it is military, police or responsible citizens protecting loved ones, finding answers is critical. Where this breaks down is the person who forms an opinion and then defends it regardless. While our ability to voice opinions is a corner stone can be poured inside to “soften” the build up. I have been told that everything from motor oil to suntan lotion has been used for this purpose.

stag-3While this is certainly a concern for members of our military that are serving in combat outposts far from what we call “civilization,” is it a problem for American law enforcement officers? After all, most street cops have ready access to maintenance gear to keep their guns working like new. Also, cops are not bound by the Rules of Warfare that restrict certain types of ammunition. US police agencies can make use of the best ammunition available, so should cops be concerned about the current AR system? Provided they receive quality training on how to shoot and maintain their AR I would tend to think not. At the same time, I hate to clean my AR-15, so I, like many law enforcement officers, are interested in any system that is reliable and offers reduced maintenance. Lazy, you say? Maybe, but I think most of us would rather be doing other things besides weapon maintenance. Thus, I do have an interest in the gas piston-driven guns that are being manufactured. The truth is, some are better than others and those that have failed seem to be a direct result of components that are too small and feeble to stand up to the needed task.

Gun Details
Like many of you, I have watched new guns arrive on the market with interest…but I did not partake, not wanting to be the “guinea pig” for any new product. The lone exception to this was the Ruger SR-556 with its large, robust piston system which some feel is “over-built.” Beyond this I just watched and waited until Stag Arms announced the introduction of its new gas piston gun. I have never hid the fact that I am a Stag Arms fan. I have used a number of their guns over the years and continue to be impressed with the fit, finish and reliability. Sure, I’ve seen a few Stag guns choke, but not many. In addition, Stag Arms was in the business of building quality AR parts for other manufacturers long before they began building guns of their own. The folks at Stag truly understand what is needed in a quality AR-15 and when they introduced their version of a gas piston system, I knew that they had done their homework before they built the first part.

Upon initial inspection, the Model 8 looks like any other AR carbine. It has a 16-inch M4 style barrel that is chrome lined with a 1-in-9-inch rate of twist. The 5.56mm military spec chamber will accept both 5.56mm NATO as well as .223 ammunition. As most readers know the two ammo types are not identical with minor differences in internal pressure and case dimensions. Simply, it is okay to shoot .223 in a 5.56mm chamber, but not vice versa.

WHEN SMITH & WESSON introduced the M&P service autos, they found a 21st century pistol that did justice to its legendary namesake. The new pistol found an immediate following with the law enforcement community and the shooting public. My own department replaced our aging S&W M4586 autos with the M&P45. It has been well received by our officers who appreciate the reduced weight, smaller grip and improved trigger pull.

untitled-2The M&P also found a following with competition shooters. By 2008, several of the nation’s top action shooters and IDPA competitors were running the M&P and winning matches. This included Julie Goloski, Smith’s top lady competitor. Competitors liked the M&P for the same reasons as law enforcement. However, the M&P needed some tweaking. Many wanted an improved M&P with more friendly sights and a match trigger. The demand for a little something more reached the factory in Springfield. The S&W’s Performance Center answered the call with the M&P Professional Series.

I recently received the M&P9 Professional Series for this article. Opening the standard hard case, the first thing I noticed was the extended slide. The M&P Pro has a 5-inch slide as opposed to the 4-inch slide on the service model M&Ps. The slide has a Hi-Power style bevel on the front and a relief cut that runs from in front of the cocking serrations to the muzzle. This combination gives the M&P9 Pro a sleek and balanced appearance.

The M&P series is the culmination of a great deal of research, combined with S&W’s years of experience. The M&P has a Zytel polymer frame that features a removable backstrap, called Palmswells. Each M&P comes with three different sized backstraps to accommodate the individual user’s hand size. The backstrap and frontstrap are softly stippled to provide a positive purchase. This is not only attractive but provides a more comfortable grip than the traditional “grenade” style checkering. The rear of the frame has a broad beavertail that is similar to a 1911 and allows for a very high purchase on the pistol. I was pleased to see that the M&P lacks the squared off triggerguard of other service pistols.

The slide stop/release is ambidextrous but extremely low profile and lends itself to the slingshot method of dropping the slide during reloads. In keeping with the ambidextrous features, the magazine release is a traditional single-side design that can be reversed for left-handed shooters. A stainless steel chassis is set in the frame and provides a solid foundation for all four rails for the slide bearing surfaces. The design also prevents the frame from flexing and, should it become necessary, is easily replaceable. As with all modern service pistols, the dust cover is equipped with the obligatory accessory rail with three locking grooves.

The barrel and 5-inch slide are precision machined from a solid block of through hardened stainless steel and then coated with a Black Melonite, giving both a Rockwell Hardness of 68. Curiously, Smith chose to retain the captured recoil system from the 4-inch service model. As a result, the end of the recoil spring guide is recessed in the slide tube. A hole in the back of the barrel hood serves as a view-port that allows the user to assess the condition of the chamber without operating the slide. The ejection port is enlarged and low cut to ensure positive ejection with even the softest competition loads.

While the standard model M&P pistols feature low mount Novak sights, the Pro series is equipped with a low rake rear sight and a green fiber optic front sight. The cocking serrations at the rear of the slide can be best described as scales. They provide a solid gripping surface without being abrasive to clothing and gear. The M&P sits very low in the hand and has a grip-to-bore angle that is similar to a 1911. Two 17-round magazines are included with each 9mm pistol.

Having come from the Performance Center, the Pro 9mm trigger is a vast improvement over the standard production pistols. Using my Lyman electronic trigger gauge from Brownells, I found that my issued M&P45 trigger has some rough creep in it and broke at 7.8 pounds. By comparison, the Performance Center tuned M&P Pro broke cleanly at 4.8 pounds and, after the take-up, exhibited no creep. Just as important, the reset was positive with approximately 0.25 of an inch of travel. This really improves split times during fast stages.

Since this is a competition-designed pistol, it is not equipped with a magazine safety, and a warning printed on the right side of the slide notifies the shooter. A close examination found that the dimensions of the 9mm slide and frame are the same as the .45 pistol with the only exception being the magazine well. This allows the 9mm and .45 M&P’s to use the same holsters and magazine pouches making manufacturing significantly easier.

Range Time
On the range, the 9mm was well mannered, especially when compared to my stock M&P45. While I was not able to shoot any benchrest groups, single ragged holes were the norm from normal engagement ranges. During several drills, I was able to maintain 0.17 of a second splits between shots while keeping all the shots in the “A” zone from 7 yards. The long slide tamed even the hottest 9mm loads and the fiber optic front sight was easy to follow during recoil.

The factory specifications call for the Pro to maintain 3-inch groups at 25 yards. However, I have no doubt that the Pro will shoot sub-2-inch groups at 25 yards with the right loads. I also ran several drills using a BlackHawk SERPA holster. Myholster was for a 4-inch model so the longer slide extended from the end of the holster. This did not present any problems during the range time and, after warming up, I had no trouble with 1-second presentations.

Smith & Wesson’s Performance Center is known for their refined wheelguns, PPC autos and enhanced 1911 pistols. With the addition of the M&P Pro, S&W now offers an affordable pistol that a law enforcement officer can purchase straight off the shelf. Should you be in the market for a duty pistol, or just a great shooting 9mm auto, the M&P Pro 9 deserves serious consideration.

Remington’s Model 700 bolt action has been in production since the early 1960’s and has acquired a cult following in the 40+ years since. And not without reason — the Model 700 action is one of the most simple and robust actions ever produced.

untitled-1The 700 action is the foundation upon which the Marine Corps has been building its issued sniper rifles since the late 60’s. The Army was a little late to the game, picking up the Model 700 based M-24 in the late 80’s, which is still issued today. It’s hard to demonstrate a more decisive mastery of the bolt-action precision rifle than the production of two branches of service sniper rifles for a combined six decades.

Like any soldier, the Model 700 will one day retire after a long and distinguished career. The folks at Remington have used the time and experience of the very successful Model 700 to develop its replacement, the MSR (Modular Sniper Rifle). The MSR incorporates several decades of experience in manufacturing with the input of seasoned military snipers to create a rifle unlike any that have ever been issued before. The MSR is more adaptable, sustainable and manageable than any other rifle currently available.

The heart of Remington’s new rifle is the titanium triangular-shaped action. The bolt reflects an entirely new direction from Remington and a commitment to offer more than just a re-worked Model 700. Instead of just offering the traditional un-fluted round bolt that they’ve manufactured for so many years, Remington milled a small groove that travels the length of the bolt and mates up with lug at the rear of the receiver. Groove and lug work together to ensure that the bolt consistently rides down the centerline axis of the action. Rapidly firing the rifle, the lug and groove allow the shooter to smoothly cycle the action without any fear of it binding up mid-cycle. Long actions have always been problematic during rapid bolt manipulation, but Remington has apparently found the cure. Remington also chose to manufacture a titanium action for its added strength and rigidity, not to mention a substantial weight savings over conventional steel.

The action has the unique capability of hosting a bolt with interchangeable bolt heads. When combined with the interchangeable barrels, this allows the current rifle to chamber and fire 7.62×51mm, .300 Win Mag and .338 Lapua Mag. The three bolt heads also allow the user to chamber and barrel a wide variety of other cartridges. Remington recognizes this potential in the MSR and has discussed the possibility of chambering dozens of cartridges in one rifle. For example, the bolt head for the 7.62mm is sized to take a .473 in case head. Theoretically, the MSR owner could purchase barrels from Remington chambered in .243 Win, .260 Rem, 7mm-08 Rem, and .338 Federal. Once the barrel extension is attached and the rifle assembled, the magazine and bolt will work with all of the above to reliably chamber and fire those additional cartridges. And those are just the ones based on the 7.62mm case and bolt head.

The .300 Win Mag bolt head and magazine allow for additional chamberings in .264 Win Mag, .270 Weatherby Mag and 7mm Weatherby Mag. Finally, the .338 Lapua Mag can also be chambered in .416 Rigby and .460 Weatherby Mag. All of the chamberings listed here would also be capable of using one of Remington’s provided detachable box magazines, but would need inserts of various lengths to ensure reliable feeding.

Remington has only discussed the idea of more calibers for the rifle, but it would seem easy enough with a little help from their custom shop to have all of the above chamberings in one rifle. Remington has also indicated the possibility of producing a smaller version of the MSR that would chamber calibers between 5.56mm and .300 Win Mag. Such a rifle would be intended for the civilian market and would offer a wider selection of those bracketed calibers than the current MSR.

The MSR is one of the most configurable and user-friendly rifles currently produced. The rifle offers the shooter a variety of different calibers without requiring the purchase of additional optics and support equipment necessary for each when owning multiple rifles. With just one scope and sling, the MSR offers the shooter the ability to fire several different calibers based on the availability of ammunition and desired terminal ballistics.

Unique Features
Another prominent feature of the MSR is the chassis. It has a tubular forend and side-folding stock and represents one of the most comfortable systems I’ve had the pleasure to shoulder. The tubular forend can be changed to a variety of different lengths and has several attachment points for Mil-Std-1913 rails, enabling the shooter to mount lasers and illuminators. There are even channels cut into the chassis for cable management. When we attach lasers or illuminators to our rifles, there is often an issue with the cables that run between the actuator switch and the device itself. The cables hang from the rifle and frequently become entangled with each other and the shooter. Remington cut small channels in the chassis that allow the shooter to tuck the cables into them. There are even small screws to hold the cables in place.

The chassis comes with a round forend that makes for comfortable positional shooting. Rifles intended for shooting from the bench or off a bipod frequently have large square forends. While the square forends ride the bags well, they are painfully uncomfortable to use for positional shooting. The MSR’s round forend fits the hand well and is comfortable to carry and shoot.

The chassis has an adjustable length of pull and cheek piece. The adjustments allow the rifle to fit a wide variety of body types and shooting styles. The buttstock folds to the working side of the gun and encapsulates the bolt handle. When folded, the rifle is a joy to transport and store.

Remington made another bold design move when they decided to incorporate the recoil lug into the chassis instead of the traditional location, sandwiched between the action and barrel. The recoil lug is part of the bedding block and fits into a groove milled into the titanium action. Instead of the traditional approach of bedding the recoil lug into the stock, a process usually done by hand by persons of varying competence, Remington uses their CNC machines to mill both the chassis’ recoil lug and its corresponding groove in the receiver. This process enables Remington to hold tighter tolerances with recoil lugs than previously possible on production rifles.

Scope & Suppressor
The MSR sports Leupold’s newest offering, a 34mm tubed variable power scope. Leupold’s offering incorporates all of the latest technological and operational advances uncovered in the last ten years. The new scope is offered in 6.5-20 power with a Horus H-27 reticle on the first focal plane and a 50mm objective lens. The first focal plane enables the shooter to mill targets effectively regardless of what magnification level the scope is set at, a convenient feature when engaging moving targets at closer distances. The scope also has 1/10th mil adjustments and locking turrets. There are 40 mils of travel in the scope as well as a zero stop feature with two revolutions. A revolution indicator pops up after the first revolution so the shooter always knows the dope on the rifle.

The suppressor with the rifle is Advanced Armament Corporation’s (AAC’s) new Titan QD. Fabricated from titanium and weighing in at a svelte 20 ounces, it is designed for use with .338 caliber bullets but accommodates smaller caliber projectiles as well.

Remington liked the AAC can so much that they recently purchased the company. AAC will continue to operate as they have in the past, only now they will report to Remington’s Military Products Division. In return, AAC will draw off of Remington’s research and development facilities to gain use of Remington’s many manufacturing and production resources.

Shooting Impressions
The MSR is a pleasant rifle to shoot. Making adjustments to the stock was a quick and easy process. The stock has an adjustable cheek rest and length of pull, both were intuitive and easy to adjust. The horizontal surface area near the toe of the stock is perfectly sized for a sand sock or rear bag for those who shoot off a bipod as I did on the range.

The bolt has a short 60-degree throw thanks to the three recoil lugs and required minimal effort to cycle. I give the trigger pull high marks for having an acceptable weight and minimal creep. The magazines slid in and out of the magazine well without difficulty.

The barrel we had for the day of shooting was new and had yet to be broken in. However, this same rifle had on previous occasions averaged 0.3-MOA at 300 meters with the .338 Lapua and 0.5-MOA at 1200 meters with the .300 Win Mag. That was in the hands of Todd Hodnett from Accuracy First. Todd is a well-known instructor in the Special Operations and Marine Corps sniping communities and the most talented rifle marksman I’ve ever known.

The MSR I fired was chambered in .338 Lapua Mag. The rifle generated minimal recoil and posed no difficulties for extended range sessions. The monolithic rail running along the top of the receiver and chassis has a 20-MOA bias that is interchangeable to 40- or 60-MOA. There is no threat of running out of come-ups on your scope should you decide to shoot out to 1500 meters with this rifle.

Final Notes
Remington is focused on initially producing the MSR for the military’s Special Operation Command. The military is currently looking for a new sniper rifle and Remington feels obliged to first take care of the troops before going after the big money of the commercial market. Bravo. Remington will offer the MSR you see here to civilians in the future. There are also plans to offer a smaller version designed for calibers between 5.56mm and .300 Win Mag exclusively to the civilian market. The MSR is a mighty fine rifle and I look forward to soon seeing both at gun shops everywhere.

The shotgun has been a mainstay of LE for well over a century. In the earliest of days, it was a weapon that gave lawmen the upper hand in cases where drovers and other travelers would be armed only with pistols. Even in the days of the birdshot these early guns employed, the spreading pattern of shot was quite deadly at close ranges. Back then guns were limited to a two-shot capacity. The design of these weapons naturally progressed throughout the years to lever actions, pump, and eventually, semi-automatics.

mossberg2A number of firearms instructors and other pundits declare that the shotgun is obsolete. They have concluded that the tactical rifle has supplanted the shotgun due to its compact size, high capacity and the potential for surgical accuracy. While it’s difficult to find fault with this logic, there are a number arguments to be made in favor of the shotgun.

First, a shotgun is an extremely versatile weapon given the array of different loads it’s capable of firing including 00 Buck, slugs, sabots, incendiary rounds and less-lethal projectiles. Next, at close ranges, while a rifle certainly doesn’t lack potency, a shotgun blasting 9 to 15 pellets of spreading 00 Buck is devastating on a level unlike any other weapon.

Lastly, many agencies’ policies prevent officers from carrying rifles. For these officers, a shotgun doesn’t exactly leave them poorly armed. The shotgun can be pressed into service and fired like a rifle with the use of slugs, delivering impressive accuracy and hard-hitting stopping power by a skilled shooter. While effective range for slugs may be 125 yards at the outer envelope, few police shootings will occur at longer ranges, especially in urban environments.

Gun Details
Cognizant that some lawmen still want and need shotguns in today’s era, Mossberg has modernized their tactical line, the apex of which is their 930 Special Purpose shotgun. The 930 SPX (Special Purpose with extended magazine tube) comprises an autoloader with a black synthetic stock and forend, an 18.5-inch cylinder-bore barrel, ghost ring sights, and an integral Picatinny rail atop the receiver.

The 930 SPX receiver is made of forged aluminum alloy for high strength and reduced weight with a matte black finish. The rear sight is an LPA ghost ring, and the factory-installed Picatinny rail allows for quick attachment of a vast array of optics to augment the sights. Mossberg’s familiar thumb safety allows for ambidextrous operation.

The barrel and bolt are machined from extrusions of steel in 12-inch lengths, cut to the proper dimensions and machined to their final respective forms. Fixed into a sight tower atop the barrel is a wing-protected fiber optic front sight. Underneath the barrel resides a 7-round capacity extended magazine tube.

The gun was developed for use with 12 gauge, 2¾-inch chamber, and factory loaded shells, driven by a simple, reliable, easy to maintain gas system. A black synthetic stock offers a traditional look. A recoil pad is mounted on the buttstock.

A sling on a tactical shotgun is an absolute must, and a weapon-mounted light isn’t far behind. Any of you who are working cops know that after the threat has been dealt with, we often have to go “hands on” with a suspect. Worse yet, when the gun is no longer appropriate, sometimes the confrontation degenerates into a physical fight. Should these situations present themselves, (and they will) if you don’t have a sling to secure the long gun, you’re going to be in trouble in a jiffy.

Back when I started on the job, there were fewer options for mounting a light on a long gun, and to compound the problem, most of us used department-issued scatterguns. Consequently, using the shotgun in low light usually amounted to holding a foot-and-a-half long, heavy flashlight alongside the forend with the weak hand. It was a daunting task.

Finding a sling was the easy part. I ordered one of BlackHawk’s shotgun shell slings. Constructed of heavy ballistic nylon, the BlackHawk sling is fully adjustable, attaches by way of heavy steel spring hooks, and holds 15 shells.

Next came mounting it. While the 930 SPX had a mounting point under the rear of the stock, there was none up front. I learned that while Mossberg was working toward a solution for this model, they currently had no forward mounting hardware. A call to L&M Mounts was in order. They have been in the business of long gun mounting solutions for tactical lights and lasers for years. They had both a Double Ring mount that attached to the magazine tube and the light, and a 3-Rail Shotgun mount with Picatinny rails: one below and one on each side.

The Picatinny mount was more interesting since we could then use it to mount a light and the sling. The mount slid onto the magazine tube and was secured via a hex-head set screw.

A powerful 80 lumen 3-watt Luxeon LED weapon light from Insight Technology was selected along with a recently discontinued SSL-1 (now replaced by an improved version going by the designation WX150). Both instantly snapped onto the L&M Picatinny. We mounted the light on the side rail, the left side of the tube, which allowed manipulation of the paddle switches on the tail cap of the light with the support-hand thumb.

A call to Brownells led us to a Midwest Industries’ MCTAR 06 sling adaptor, which we attached to the bottom rail of our L&M mount. The MCTAR 06 is styled like the Mil-Spec AR15/M16 forward sling mount. This was an easy and effective attachment point for our BlackHawk sling. Now, we were in business.

Shooting Impressions
The day we had an opportunity to make it to the range for our tests was partly cloudy and about 65 degrees, almost perfect for shooting, however, we suffered from 25 to 30 mph wind gusts. Fortunately, these blasts of air were mostly at our backs, but the reader should still make some allowance for the effects upon accuracy.

We first fired some single shots of 00 Buckshot at 7 yards, simply to see how the gun would pattern with the loads. Most impressive with this test was Federal’s Power Shok 00 Buckshot, which punched a pattern in the paper substantially smaller than the size of my fist. After being followed by four more rounds, the pattern still was barely larger, at 3 inches. We tried this test also with five rounds of Remington’s 8-pellet Tac-8 00 Buck, and wound up with a pattern of 8.25 inches. Five rounds of Winchester’s Ranger load in 00 Buck rendered a 5.25-inch pattern.

Moving back to 15 yards, we repeated the five-shot tests, resulting in an 8.25-inch pattern from the Federal, 10.38 inches from the Remington, and 13.63 inches from the Winchester.

Our reserve of ammo on this occasion didn’t include slugs from Remington, but we did have 1-ounce loads from Federal and Winchester, which we tested by firing five-round groups from 50 yards. The Federal Tactical gave a group of 7 inches (which would have been about 2.5 inches smaller had the author not thrown a flier) while the Winchester Ranger shot a 7.31-inch pattern. All testing was done from a freestanding position.

We noted early on in our shooting with the 00 Buckshot that the gun seemed to be impacting high and to the right. Fortunately, the elevation and windage-adjustable rear sight made for easy correction.

The slugs seemed to impact much higher than the buckshot. Though we had the sights regulated where we wanted them for buckshot, the gun seemed to need a slightly low hold with slugs at 50 yards to impact where we wanted.

The gun handled and pointed well, and recoil was noticeably less than any pump shotgun. The checkering on the black synthetic forend and pistol grip afforded the shooter a good, sure grasp. Either thumb can easily operate Mossberg’s safety, mounted at the top-rear of the receiver. The charging handle of the bolt is slick in its action, and I reached over the top of the receiver to operate it with my left/non-dominant hand, because I prefer to keep a master grip on the weapon with my gun hand at all times. I did the same with the bolt release, which is located under the ejection port. This presented no real difficulty, though it might to some shooters.

After accuracy testing, we set up steel pepper-poppers and hammered at them with 1-ounce slugs from 20 yards, then moved in to 15 yards to fire at them with 00 Buckshot. The ghost ring rear and optic fiber front sights were conducive to quickly attaining a sight picture while moving from one target to the next, and the pepper-popper drills were easily the most fun of our testing.

The Mossberg ran smooth as silk, with no malfunctions of any load tried. The only problem we encountered was that the rounds were difficult to push into the magazine tube if one round was “combat-loaded” in the chamber first. This would only become a factor if one were to select a slug, for instance, and chamber it before loading other rounds behind it. Otherwise, with the bolt forward, the rounds tended to load smoothly into the magazine tube.

Final Notes
The Mossberg 930 SPX was a pleasure to shoot and handle. It demonstrated good accuracy, superb reliability, simple operation, and shouldered and pointed quite naturally. Its appearance is quite subdued in all black, and all business. The sights are quick and effective, and have the additional advantage of easy adjustment. We found the gun to be robust and reliable, familiar and easy to operate, fairly light for a tactical shotgun of this kind, and priced to sell.

MOST precision tactical rifles are in .308 caliber, but at the ranges typical of law enforcement SWAT engagements, a .308 is almost overkill, considering that the marksman is typically striving for a “head shot” at a distance that generally doesn’t exceed 100 yards and FBI statistics show that the average SWAT marksman engagement takes place at 51 yards. Thus, a .223 caliber rifle should be more than adequate given the relatively short engagement ranges. The argument can be made that the .223 isn’t as effective at longer ranges, but with the right ammunition, a rifleman with a .223 can accurately engage targets at surprisingly long distances using the right ammo.

fnh2Gun Details
There are a number of precision tactical rifles available in .223 and FNH USA’s latest offering is one of the best. The rifle is designated “Tactical Sport Rifle XP.” We should note that TSR XP rifles are available not only in .223, but in .308, .300 WSM and 7.62×39mm.

Whatever it is called, FNH-USA’s latest offering is basically the tried and true Winchester Model 70, which has

been a mainstay of civilian, military and law enforcement users since its introduction in 1936. The original controlled round feed rifle was modified to “push feed” in 1964 and has remained unchanged ever since, except for its name. Current TSR rifles, however, are controlled round feed, except for the .223 rifles that has what FNH calls “controlled round push feed,” a cross between controlled round feed and push feed.

What’s the difference between controlled round feed and push feed? Controlled round feed rifles have a “claw” type extractor and as the bolt is pressed forward to pick up a cartridge from the magazine, the case head slides up against the bolt face with the case held in exact alignment with the chamber and controlled by the extractor as the cartridge is chambered. In push feed, the bolt strips a cartridge from the magazine and pushes it up and partially into the chamber at an angle. The cartridge gets chambered, but since it is entering the chamber at a fairly steep angle, the possibility exists that the bullet may become misaligned in the case, especially if the bolt is forcibly slammed home. The extractor doesn’t snap over the case head until the bolt closes on it. Controlled round feeding is generally preferred by knowledgeable riflemen because the cartridge is in alignment with the chamber and the bullet never impacts the chamber wall.

FNH has combined both controlled round feed and push feed in its .223 caliber TSRs in a system designated “controlled round push feed” (CRPF). The CRPF bolt doesn’t have an external claw extractor, but a small claw integral to the right side locking lug. This smaller claw also captures the cartridge and aligns it with the chamber, although not as positively as a true controlled round feed because the CRPF claw controls only a quarter of the cartridge head as opposed to over half with true controlled round feeding.

Ejection is accomplished via a fixed blade ejector that allows the shooter to vary the ejection force, an important feature for precision tactical marksmen. Pulling the bolt vigorously to the rear tosses the spent case well clear of the rifle, while gently pulling it back allows the spent casing to either stay in the receiver or fall into the shooters hand, an important capability when conducting operations where leaving spent brass behind is not desirable.

The TSR XP USA in .223 came with what appears to be a Hogue OD green polymer stock, pillar bedded with the fluted barrel fully-free floated along its entire length. Pillar bedding is a method of stock bedding where steel or aluminum “pillars” of the precise length to ensure an exact fit are molded or inserted into the stock. The metal “pillars” ensure an exact fit between the receiver and floorplate, and the action is bedded to the pillars, not the stock, enhancing accuracy. The TSR XP’s steel floorplate is hinged to facilitate an immediate “ammo dump” should the need arise. The TSR XP can also be fed single rounds by just dropping the cartridge into the receiver and closing the bolt, an important feature for precision tactical marksmen. The selector has three positions; forward is “fire,” middle blocks the striker while allowing the bolt to be manipulated, and rear is “safe,” that locks up everything.

The forend is the classic semi-beavertail pattern that facilitates control with a thick rubber buttpad to absorb felt recoil. With the .223 cartridge’s light recoil, this isn’t really necessary, although the recoil pad has a “tacky” feel that enhances control by keeping the butt in place against the shooter’s shoulder. Also included was a Mil-Std-1913 rail for mounting a scope on the receiver. There are three sling swivel studs, with the forward one clearly intended for use with a bipod, although we opted to test fire our rifle off a bench rest.

The barrel is fluted along approximately half its length, which adds stiffness and helps dissipate heat under sustained fire conditions, although when barrels get hot, accuracy suffers. Free floating the barrel accomplishes a number of benefits. First, any time a bullet is fired, harmonic vibrations occur in the barrel. Free floating the barrel ensures that those vibrations do not affect accuracy because the barrel doesn’t touch the stock. Another benefit of free floating has to do with that old devil, heat. If the barrel isn’t free floated, as it is heated the barrel will expand, pressing against the stock, which affects zero, thus changing the point of aim. This is less critical in law enforcement situations where a single-shot to defeat a threat is the norm, but in the military, multiple shots are not only possible but more then likely. The bottom line is that any precision tactical rifle has to be built so that the components are as consistent in their relationship to each other as possible, regardless of the tactical situation.

The TSR XP trigger has zero creep or overtravel and breaks like the proverbial “glass rod” at exactly four pounds on our test rifle. FNH USA’s claims that the TSR’s trigger has out of the box performance on a par with many custom triggers initially aroused our skepticism, but after testing the TSR our skepticism evaporated. TSR XP specs state that triggers are set to a nominal pull weight of 3.5 to five pounds. “Out of the box” production triggers like that of the TSR XP are possible for a number of reasons. Most significant is improved manufacturing processes. Components can now be manufactured to much closer tolerances using computer numerical controlled (CNC) machinery. Because of this, the internal components of the TSR XP trigger have surface finishes that approach mirror smoothness and tolerances on a par with many custom triggers.

Optics
We used a LaRue Tactical Mil-Std-1913 scope base to mount our Leupold Mark 4 6.5-20×50mm scope. The TSR XP’s standard Mil-Std-1913 rail mount is too short to accept all of the modern accessories such as the AN/PVS-22 Universal Night Sight that mounts ahead of the day scope, so we also obtained one of LaRue Tactical’s Sniper Total Optical Mounting Package (STOMP) scope mounts that clamps to any Mil-Std-1913 rail and encloses the scope in a metal cage, protecting it from physical damage while allowing full access to the windage and elevation knobs. The LaRue mount also has a detachable cantilever arm on to that allows the shooter to mount an AN/PVS-22 night vision optic ahead of his day optic. There is a section of Mil-Std-1913 rail on top of the cantilever arm to allow other accessories, such as lasers to be mounted. For the precision marksman whose rifle does not have a “long” Mil-Std-1913 rail to allow mounting an AN/PVS-22, the LaRue STOMP mount is essential, allowing the night vision sight to be mounted with no gunsmithing.

The scope and night vision capabilities are essential components of the overall system, but there are several other elements that are necessary. Although most precision tactical marksmen are trained to use Mil-Std-Dots, several active duty Army individuals have told us that in operational conditions, they use laser rangefinders because they are just more accurate and faster on target. The latest laser rangefinders are more accurate and dependable than earlier versions. Moreover, laser rangefinders like Leupold’s RXB-IV, 1500-yard rangefinder do much more than just indicate range. They integrate the rangefinding capabilities of 9×32mm binoculars, eliminating the need for separate binocs and rangefinder.

The proof of any precision tactical rifle is in its shooting, and the FNH TSR XP is one of the most accurate “out of the box” rifles we have ever tested. Our TSR XP USA .223 was “box stock” and delivered sub half MOA groups right from the box. We can only imagine how this rifle’s accuracy will improve once it gets broken in. If all TSR XP .223 USA rifles are as accurate as ours, it is an absolute steal.

The bullpup rifle design is not all that new. I believe you could say that the bullpup rifle, carbine if you like, had its heyday in the mid-1980s. The British SA-80, the French FAMAS, and Steyr’s AUG all became vogue in the late seventies and early eighties.

While the United States moved from the M-16A1 to the improved A2 version, our European allies in NATO were switching from full-length battle rifles to stubby little carbines with the magazines located behind the pistol grips. Essentially that is what a bullpup is, a short rifle with the feeding mechanism and chamber located to the rear of the pistol grip and trigger. This configuration effectively gives you the same barrel length as a standard rifle but a more compact overall length. It’s the best of both worlds.

Of course, that last statement is open to debate. For some reason there are Americans that have serious issues with the bullpup design. I’m not really sure why. It could be a “Ford versus Chevy” thing or it could simply be that the bullpup has the stigma of being used by not so friendly nations, such as France.

Regardless of the personal likes and dislikes of many shooters, the bullpup design has caught on and for the foreseeable future is here to stay. That being said, I was still bit surprised a couple of years ago when I heard that Kel-Tec was designing a bullpup rifle.

I got a glimpse at the first prototype in early 2008. What caught my attention the most was not so much the bullpup style but the caliber of the rifle. The RFB was to be chambered in .308. If bullpup guns are unusual, those is .308 are very rare indeed.

I am well acquainted with Lew Bonitz’s work prior to his move to Montana and the establishment of Grizzly Custom Guns.

The 1* (One Ass to Risk) line of weapons has been well known for many years as well has his rather masterful work. Bonitz is known as one of the top gunsmiths around, and having the pleasure to own some of his work, I knew this to be a fact. It was pretty certain these would be incredible firearms. Upon their arrival I was not disappointed.

grizzly2Grizzly Custom Guns is a true custom gun shop. They can build to your specifications if you would like. But as is often the practice today they have a couple of standard packages. You can send them a gun or they can supply one as needed. These two Remington 870 Shotguns are examples of their 1* and Home Defense Package, both with 18.5-inch barrels. The 1* Package is a full ride tactical shotgun sporting all of the additions one would expect and that includes a pistol grip stock, full extension, tactical light, and ghost ring sights. The Home Defense gun had a shorter extension, and the Hogue short LOP (length-of-pull) stock and forend.

Both of these guns come with custom-made Picatinny rails with LPA ghost ring sights. The Home Defense has an optional full-length Picatinny rail and rail mounted LPA ghost ring sight, instead of its standard LPA Sight. With the 1* the sight is attached to a custom mount at the end of the rail putting the sights a bit lower. The Home Defense had a front sight with an optional tritium insert while the 1* had a black serrated sight, both are silver soldered to the barrel.

The 1* would be at home on any tactical team, but the Home Defense gun is about perfect for patrol work. I became quite fond of that Home Defense Package. By the end of the day it was affectionately termed the “little Griz.”

The first thing I noticed when handling these shotguns is the custom work. These are not simply Remington 870 shotguns with add-on aftermarket parts. They have that feel that comes with a well-made firearm that is sculpted by a professional as opposed to slapped together from parts. The fit and finish are excellent, and the attention to detail is clear. One quick operation of the action and you become keenly aware of the work that took place on the slide action.

grizzly3Each gun was equipped with custom-made magazine extensions and safeties. The magazine extensions are machined from solid barstock and they have an integral sling attachment that is incredibly strong. Both come with Wolff extra power springs and a follower machined from aircraft aluminum that has been hard coat anodized. It’s a bright green for clear identification when you reach the end of the tube. I liked these “button safeties” as they were not as big as others. My trigger finger wrapped around the safety without affecting my grip. Moving from on safe to off from any ready position became almost second nature. The rails look as if they are a part of the receiver, and they turned out to be flat, true and solid.

Both include complete dehorning, trigger jobs, barrel honing and a complete satin reblued. These are well built and thought out shotguns. All the custom touches enhanced how the gun worked.

Range Time
I started with the 1* shotgun and ran it in both my full tactical gear and what would be a typical felony enforcement attire. The adjustable stock came in handy since it could fully collapse with my tactical vest. It sports plates and soft armor so fixed stocks can be problematic. The action was incredibly impressive. Just a bit of pressure and you are bottomed out. It was smooth. The sights are fast and easy to see. The thinner blade allowed for far less of the target to be obscured. The trigger was crisp and again, the action was like glass. With pressure to the rear and the press of the trigger yielded an almost immediate ejection of the shell.

Having been running primarily semi-autos for awhile, the rust was evident. After only a few rounds this gun loaded incredibly fast. After a couple hundred rounds of practice ammo I never had a single issue with feeding or ejection. Using Federal Tactical Buckshot (LE127) I was able to get what are typical patterns for me. I was at about 7 inches or so at 25 yards. I was easily able to stay inside 6 inches at 20 yards — practical accuracy for a tactical shotgun.

Next I moved to the “little Griz.” The name was based on the lightweight and the short LOP stock. A side-by-side comparison with the 1* shotgun, made it look like 1*’s little brother. After running a fully equipped shotgun with the heavy stock, the Home Defense felt incredibly comfortable. After just a few rounds it became a part of me. I found myself going back to the ammo box time and time again.

grizzly4Running out of the ammo allotted for the test warranted a dip into the reserve. It was a blast to shoot. Just like on the 1* model the action was incredibly smooth. After 100 rounds or so, I was trying to remind myself why I use an autoloader. I shoot a ton of shotguns and this was the most fun I have had with a Remington 870 in a long time.

When you first look at the sight and rail, you may think it would pose a problem. I thought my eye was going to be too close to the sights, but that was not the case. They lined up easily and were incredibly fast. I did notice it worked better if I kept my strong hand thumb on the side instead of wrapping it around though. When running it with the tactical gear that was not an issue, but with plainclothes it was more comfortable. For a guy with short arms, this shotgun was perfect. For an officer with a vest on it should be equally squared away.

After a good solid day and lots of ammo there was never a failure to function. It does not have issues with different kinds of birdshot, which was surprisingly comfortable to shoot. This is where this gun really shined. Knowing the pattern of your shotgun at various distances is critical, especially in patrol work where you may encounter distances closer to the 25-yard mark.

This shotgun was put through a simple standard test. Using a standard B27 target, the head area was engaged at 5, 10, 15, and 20 yards. The idea was to provide some comfort that you can take an immediate incapacitation shot at typical patrol distances. The Federal Tactical LE 127 was used as our deployment round. Most shotguns do fine out to 15 yards, some even 20 yards. The patterning on this gun was so close out to 20 yards, I could barely perceive a pattern. The widest spread at that distance was 4 inches, well within the needed target area.

Lastly, I fired a single shot at 25 yards to center mass. It was pretty much dead on and measured at about 6 inches with the spread being up and down. I would not hesitate a second to engage someone with this gun at 25 yards with this buckshot. This is about as accurate as I have been able to get with any other shotgun and this ammunition. The practicality of this weapon for patrol use is without doubt. Add a simple and lightweight tactical light and you are good to go!

I took the time to install my Trijicon Red dot on both guns and test the consistency of the rails. The sight attached easily and moving it up or down the rail netted little change. The grizzly6rails are flat, true, and level. An Aimpoint Comp was added for a few rounds and that worked well also. Both of these guns will accommodate any sighting system you would choose to add.

Nothing shook loose after a day on the range. The only change to consider (for me) was the sling attachments on the Hogue. Although the Knoxx Spec Ops stock on the 1* can accommodate some tactical slings at both ends, the Hogue only sports a bottom mounted sling stud. A sling attachment that mounts between the stock and action would allow the gun to ride without rolling over. It also makes the beautifully made sling attachment on the magazine extension that much more useful.

Final Notes
As the patrol carbine and entry rifle continue to supplant the tried and true shotgun, fine examples like these become more rare by the minute. A well built and equipped shotgun in the hands of a practiced and competent operator is a fine thing to watch. In most cases 00 buckshot at the appropriate distance adds actual credibility to the one stop pseudo science that exists out there.

When struck with buckshot the threat pretty much stops what it is doing about immediately. With shotguns like these, built for true combat functionality, the increased accuracy of ammunition and a good operator, the shotgun is as practical as it has ever been. It simply should not be overlooked or dismissed in the tactical or patrol environment simply because it takes practice.

The guns as seen, built on your shotgun, are priced at $1395 for the 1* and $985 for the Home Defense Package. If you need all the goodies, don’t hesitate to go with the full tactical package. On the other hand, after a day with “little Griz,” sometimes less is better!