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.
arl_6566
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.