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Modular Duty with the Taurus TX9 9mm pistol

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Introduction

The market for modular 9mm duty pistols continues to diversify, and today I am here to bring you another. Our topic today is the new Taurus TX9 9mm pistol. We will test and review the pistol to see how it stands up to other duty pistols. 

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the TX9 (top) next to one of my TX22 pistols, you can see some similarities between them. The obvious difference of the interchangeable backstrap on the TX9 stands out.

I have been a big fan of the Taurus TX22 since it first came out years ago. So when I heard that Taurus had brought the TX design to a full-size 9mm service pistol design, I was curious for sure.

TX9 Specifications

Taurus USA TX9 
Caliber9MM Luger
Capacity17 Rounds
Barrel Length4.5 Inches
Frame SizeFull Size
Height5.2 Inches
Width 1.28 Inches
Length7.75 Inches
Weight25 Ounces (empty)
Barrel Twist 1:16.5
SafetyFiring pin block, trigger safety
Optics MountingWith Taurus T.O.R.O. system (mounting plates)
ActionSingle Action Only striker fired
Frame materialStainless Steel
Available Additional SizesCompact 4.0in, Sub Compact 3.4in
SightsDrift adjustable rear, White dot front
Magazines2 Included (Mec-Gar)

TX9 Background

Taurus has a rich history in firearms manufacturing dating back to pre-war times. Making parts and firearms for various countries over the last century. The company has changed ownership various times during that period, which is not uncommon in the firearm world. Ownership and partnerships over the years have resulted in popular products closely mimicking guns from Smith & Wesson and Beretta.

Like most new firearms, the TX9 is a combination of other designs merged into a new one. The Taurus TX22 has long been praised as a great rimfire pistol, with good ergonomics and other features. Some of these features were fused with other designs from the company’s popular GX pistols to create the TX9. In our review today, I hope to see if the best features from these two pistol families have been distilled into one.

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While the TX9 ships out of the Taurus USA Bainbridge Georgia factory, I expect at least some of its component parts are manufactured in their Brazilian factory. You can certainly feel better knowing that American hands are part of both production and quality control. 

While Taurus has produced service pistols for various agencies worldwide for many years, it seems that the TX9 is their most modern attempt. By incorporating their modular frame system and features very similar to the popular Sig Sauer P320, it seems they are onto something good.

TX9 Features

  1. Modular Frame – Removable trigger/sear pack allows user frame customization
  2. Ambidextrous Controls – Can be configured for both right and left-handed shooters
  3. Interchangeable Backstraps – Easily changed to enhance grip
  4. Optics Ready – Red dot sights can be added using the T.O.R.O. system
  5. 17+1 Capacity – Two included magazines provide 17+1 capacity
  6. Trigger and Firing pin block – For safe operation
  7. Picatinny Accessory rail – To add weapon light
  8. Loaded chamber port- to confirm round in the chamber

Taurus TX9 Models

The TX9 is available in various sizes besides the full-size 4.5-inch model we are testing today. There is also a Compact model that features a 4-inch barrel, as well as a sub compact model with a 3.4-inch barrel. There are also 10-round models for states that misunderstand the second amendment. All these models are available in any color as long as it’s black. Though it looks as though an FDE model is coming soon.

Shooting the Taurus TX9

With some excitement I headed to my shooting spot to get the TX9 on the firing line. I brought along a few accessories, and a broad selection of ammunition to see how finicky the TX9 might be. As always I brought a couple extra shooters and comparable pistols to evaluate differences. 

Shootability

Almost immediately I found something about this pistol that caught me off guard. While the trigger breaks much like you’d expect a duty pistol to feel, the reset was very muted. So much so that I had to double check. When compared to other striker pistols, the reset on the TX9 is barely noticeable. There is a click, but you can only feel it if you focus on it. And maybe if you turn up your ear pro you might hear it. This may be a concern for some, but I simply got used to it during shooting. 

The TX9 points extremely well, I love that everytime I present the pistol the sights are almost perfectly lined up. This makes aiming the gun very quick and natural. After very little time I hardly even needed to look at the sights because they lined up with my natural point of aim. 

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There isn’t a large flare on the magwell, but because the mouths of the Mec-Gar magazines are narrowed it doesn’t need much. Blindly seating magazines during reloads became second nature in no time. 

Reliability

As expected the TX9 functioned flawlessly for the most part. We had a single hiccup that manifested as a failure to go into battery. This happened in the first couple magazines, and I’m not even convinced it wasn’t induced by the shooter. It was a singular event that never recurred, so I think it may have been a fluke. 

Other than that, the TX9 ran like a typewriter for hundreds of rounds. As a new design I would probably hold my final judgement on its overall durability until I’ve surpassed a thousand or two additional rounds to get a better perspective.

Ergonomics

As an early adopter of the TX22, I was very pleased with its feel in my hand. And I was glad to see that this design feature made its way into the TX9 as well. It feels good in the hand, filling the palm nicely while also allowing your fingers to close tightly around it.

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The interchangeable backstrap of the grip area was icing on the cake. I swapped between a couple of the options until it felt just right. No special tools are required, just something narrow you can reach the anchor pin and push it through. It is retained by a spring under the backstrap that engages a groove in the pin.

There is a small shelf above either side of the trigger guard for you to rest your thumbs against. The textured surface gives additional purchase to help control the pistol. In general the TX9 had a general feel very similar to a Sig P320, actually more like a cross between the P365 and P320. 

Accuracy

I mentioned the TX9 points very well, and because of that it came as no surprise that I could hit what I was aiming at. The sights, while not particularly large, were perfectly serviceable and worked well. But I much prefer using red dots, so I installed the Gideon Optics Omega as soon as the T.O.R.O. system mounting plate arrived.  

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a typical five shot group from 7 yards

I found the accuracy to be perfectly acceptable for a duty pistol, with 7 yard groups averaging around 1.5-inches. And at 20-yards, even under rapid firing strings I could keep groups under 12-inches.

Modularity

With various TX9 models already available on the market, its nice to know that a guy can swap things around. I have a Ruger RXM that I frequently switch back and forth between a compact and full-size frame depending on the day’s activities. As soon as I find some different frames to buy, I look forward to someday doing the same with the TX9.

It is apparent that the TX9 is much easier and quicker to pull the trigger pack out. I have done both P320’s and RXM’s many times, and the TX9 is much quicker. Almost as fast as field stripping the pistol. To be completely honest, I’m unsure if thats a good thing, as I like how tight and snug the others fit into their grip frame. Adding to that concern is this one, the TX9 trigger pack has pins that are held in only by interference when inside the grip frame. So you have to be careful while the trigger pack is outside the grip frame to avoid knocking the pins out and losing them.

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here you can see how the backstrap is dovetailed into the grip frame, secured by a cross-pin, the cross-pin itself has a spring detent seen in the grip

The interchangeable backstrap of the grip on the TX9 is solid gold, perfectly executed, and barely noticeable if you aren’t looking for it. The whole grip frame feels like one solid piece.

I love that the TX9 is optics ready, but slightly annoyed that I had to get one of their T.O.R.O. optics plates to mount it. I get it though, they already had the system for their other pistols, so it made sense to make them all use the same system.

Value

Street prices for the TX9 hover just under and above the four-hundred dollar mark. Which seems pretty affordable compared to popular duty pistols like the Glock and Smith & Wesson. Some of the lower priced P320 pistols are still only a little bit higher priced than the TX9. Of course demand for them has gone down recently. 

Pros and Cons

ProsCons
LightweightSoft trigger reset
Modular grip frame systemRequires optics adaptor plate
Optics ready
Ambidextrous
Modular grip backstrap

Report Card

Shootability (B+) Excellent grip angle and controls, trigger could be better

Reliability (A- ) The only malfunction was insignificant and possibly shooter

Ergonomics (A- ) Great modular frame, feels good and controls to match

Accuracy (B+ ) Duty gun accuracy, no problem hitting where I aimed

Value (A) Very affordable compared to some other duty pistols

Ammunition Preference

I shot several hundred rounds of both Winchester and Remington branded 9mm, provided by Ammotogo.com. Both were the 115 grain variety, and worked flawlessly. I’m not sure if one of them was particularly more accurate than the other, but both of them were brass cased and cleaner than others I shot. I also shot a bunch of zinc plated ammo from Magtech, which also worked well. 

Taurus, tx9, 9mm, pistol, duty pistol, taurus usa, ammunition,

Must have Upgrades and Accessories

I was surprised how peppy this gun felt at first. Adding a red dot and weapon light definitely seemed to calm it down a little bit. I like the Surefire X300  for this purpose, but I’d say a duty pistol could use any good light. 

Taurus, tx9, 9mm, pistol, duty pistol, taurus usa, modular frame, gideon optics, Omega red dot, surefiire x300,

The T.O.R.O. system optics mounting plates are about $20 a piece, and are available for most popular red dot footprints. I went with an RMR plate so I could mount my Gideon Omega red dot. And that worked out to be a great option for me, the big window allowed rapid target acquisition and a fine aiming point. 

My Verdict on the Taurus TX9

Before picking this gun up, I didn’t even know that it was meant to have a modular frame. Which only adds to value for me with this pistol, as I can change out frames and slide to whatever combination I choose. All this without ever filling out another form 4473. 

My initial impressions of the Taurus TX9 are pretty positive, I love how the gun handles and it shoots great. As I mentioned, with any new design it may take a few more range trips before I am completely convinced of the durability of this design. But that is something I fully welcome and look forward to. Follow me if you’d like to see how that plays out.

-CBM

Check out more handgun reviews here

wolfpack armory, romulus, suppressor, silencer, 5.56 .223 rem, 3d printed, dmls, radial flow, low backpressure, remington 700, bolt action, chassis, discovery optics, atlas bipod,

Heavy on the Varmints: A Custom .223 Varmint Rifle

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A Man with a Dream

Many years ago, I was a much younger man with more hair and less money. But the burning desire within to have a fine selection of precision rifles was already there. I had just crossed the threshold of understanding that getting exactly what you want, can be done with enough money and effort. And today I am recounting the experience of how one of my all time favorite rifles came into existence. A custom Remington 700 .223 varmint rifle I put together, that has since dominated the rodents of the intermountain west.

It all started when I was on the road working in California of all places, and I laid eyes on fat barreled Kimber bolt action rifle. I didn’t buy it, but was instead inspired to build something better.

My Specifications

I knew that if I was going to go custom, I may as well go all the way. My decisions were affected by a few options, but here is the specs as they ended up:

ActionRemington 700  (1980’s vintage)
Caliber.223 Wylde chamber (throated for 75gr ELDM)
Barrel 20-inch Krieger Match 1.3-inch straight taper 12 flute
Twist Rate1 in 7.7 twist
Muzzle Threads⅝-24 TPI
MagazineAICS 10-round
TriggerTrigger Tech Special
Scope Base RailEGW 20 MOA
ChassisGB Rifleworks MARC Sport
ButtstockFAB Defense RAPS C adjustable 

The rifle was originally built as a set of twins, for myself and a friend. I had originally built two very custom stocks for the rifles, carved from wood and using my own improvised aluminum mini-chassis within.

custom rifle, remington 700, heavy varmint, varmint rifle,

The stocks used a DBM System from CDI, that used the AICS magazines which at the time were only available from Accuracy International. I built in a bipod spigot on the front to use Versa Pod bipods because I thought that would be cool.

custom rifle, custom stock, custom chassis, handmade,
some detail of the original stock and mini-chassis I made for this rifle.

I also initially had a few issues with the original Remington extractor, so I had the bolt cut for a Sako extractor which greatly increased the reliability. Of course bolt fluting and an extended bolt-knob were also part of the work.

remington 700, bolt, bolt head, sako extractor, extractor,

A New Chapter

As my tastes changed over time, I ended up putting the rifle into a GB Rifleworks MARC Sport Chassis. And because the rifle gets used for so many different projects, it frequently gets optics swapped out. Originally the rifle had one of the very first Vortex PST 4-16×50 scopes on it, I was on that preorder and ended up with Serial number 0000004 which was kinda cool. Later and for most of its life, the rifle had a Gen 2 Vortex PST 5-15×50 which served perfectly. Currently it has a Discovery OPT 5-25 scope which is big enough to match the attitude of this rifle. Mounted in an Anubis Defense one-piece mount.

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Here you can see the Wolfpack Armory Romulus suppressor up front

Accuracy

This rifle has always shot very accurately, and due to its fat girl profile it hardly moves when shooting. The very thick barrel makes a stable platform to launch bullets from. I had always planned on shooting heavy bullets from this rifle, making it not just a varmint gun, but an affordable long-range plinker as well.

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Most loads I have made for this rifle typically group under half an inch. Besides the always common 75 ELDM (I bought 3500 of them a couple years back), I’ve also shot hundreds of 80gr ELDM’s, and 80gr Match Kings. And way back in the old days she ate nothing but 75gr A-Max’s.

some of my favorite handloads; 75-grain ELDM bullets over 23-ish grains of AR-Comp

Over the last decade or so, I’ve made some pretty impressive hits with it. Keeping shots on an IPSC target at 1200 yards isn’t a huge challenge on a calm winded day. Taking a chucks head off from 454 yards in a pretty stiff wind is exactly the kind of shot this rifle is famous for. You can see more of the rifle in action in my video Major League Chucker’s 9.

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Over the last decade, the rifle has seen dozens of different suppressors. Seen here is the YHM Turbo

Some may wonder why I went with such a short barrel. Obviously if it was a 24 or 26-inch barrel it would be even heavier, but also I feel like I get plenty of velocity out of this 20-inch for my needs. Typical velocities from 75 and 80 grain bullets usually hover around 2800fps, which will carve a groundhog in twain even from a great distance. And when shooting lighter 55-grain bullets it is even faster.

the straight bolt handle and the smooth fit make this action feel like a custom

Hunting

As a hunter at heart, the majority of this rifle’s activities involved hunting of some kind. Mainly varmints like prairie dogs and marmots, but we have used them for other hunts as well. Deer sized animals are easily taken with heavy 223 loads like the 75-grain ELDM. Particularly when you have such a sharp shooting rifle and can place the shot perfectly.

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this doe Pronghorn antelope took a single shot to the goodies from 300 yards

Most of the shots this rifle has been involved in though are small animals. It loves the Hornady 55-grain hollow points, and the 50-grain V-max bullets. The 20-inch barrel still produces more than enough velocity to get that pop that varmint hunters crave. From the dry plains of Wyoming terrorizing dogtowns, to the alpine Rocky Mountain high’s taking squirrels, marmots and coyotes.

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using the Arca interface, the rifle sits neatly on my Two Vets Tripod

Compatibility

One of the best parts about this rifle is its compatibility. Being a Remington 700 action, I can use the huge aftermarket support. And the chassis allows me to use all my favorite Arca and M-Lok accessories. I usually run either a Harris bipod up front or an Atlas bipod mounted on the Arca rail. But it also allows me to shoot from a standing position off the tripod, which again is very stable because of the gun’s weight and low recoil.

DiscoveryOpt ED-PRS 5-25X56 Gen 2, Riflescope, discovery optics, remington 700, two vets tripod, anubis defense, suppressor, two vets, tripod, CMMG, zeroed 36 Suppressor,
that is the CMMG Zeroed 36 suppressor, mounted via 5/8-24 hub

Again, over the years I’ve run half a dozen different triggers in the rifle. X-Mark, Timney, Trigger Tech, and more. Honestly I haven’t had a complaint about any of them in this rifle. Even the old X-Mark has worked well for me. My little Cartridge Quiver from Hoptic USA fits neatly into this rifle, making for quick followup shots should the magazine run dry.

I had the muzzle threaded 5/8-24, this was because at the time of construction I had but one suppressor and she was a .30. These days its no big deal, as most of my suppressors use the hub system to adapt to whatever mounting system I want. That allows me to put a 5/8-24 breech hub on my 5.56 cans and run them here.

Additionally, when we discussed the chamber, my smith at the time recommended the Wylde chamber. This would make it easy to shoot 223 and 5.56 ammunition, and probably has been better at taking my reloads as well.

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Lessons Learned

Having built this rifle well over a decade ago, I’ve had ample time to reflect on it. The only real miss I think, was that chassis like this one weren’t as common or ready back then. While I still like the old custom stock I built for it, I like it better with my chassis. Other than that, I think 2009 me was spot TF on the rest. And I absolutely love this chunky little killer.

I think if I was to redo the project today, I would for sure have to use a different chassis since this one is extinct. I really like KRG chassis, so I’d likely go that way. And I would probably use a Tikka action, or maybe a Howa Mini action.

If you find yourself dreaming about a goofy project like I was once upon a time, chase the dream. There are few things finer than stacking bodies with a custom rifle you built first in your mind.

-CBM

Like custom projects? Check out this one

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Light in the Dark Storm Industries DS-25 Modern Fighting Rifle

Product review, Shooting hardware, , , , , ,

Introduction

Modernity has spawned some of the most interesting variants of America’s favorite rifle. With ever evolving purposes and more manufacturing technologies it should come as no surprise that the AR market is so deep. Dark Storm Industries (DSI) has been in the business for over a decade, both as a retailer of fine products and manufacturing their own. After relocating to gun friendly Florida, their manufacturing went into overdrive. DSI offers everything from compliant state firearms for their former home, to bolt-action and semi-auto high performance AR-style rifles. I was offered a look at one of their most recent products, and today I share that experience with you. Our subject is the Dark Storm Industries DS-25 Modern Fighting Rifle, a small framed SBR chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor.

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The DS-25 MFR

As a civilian, I’ve never had to actually fight with a rifle. But as a rabid firearms enthusiast, I have spent more time than most behind rifles. So I was very eager to see what the DS-25 offered over what I was used to. Since this rifle was designed as a rifle meant for defensive and duty use, that is the perspective I will approach it from. It could also be easily moved into other roles as well, which we may touch on.

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The DS-25 packs many features into its compact and lightweight frame. DSI not only built the rifle to be lean and mean, but apparently wanted to make it a bit posh at the same time. The receiver set are machined with robust facets where they are needed, and thinned out where weight can be saved. As an novice engineering student, I have been impressed with many of the small yet significant built-in innovations. Their M-Lok Multi-Lithic™ handguard is married to the upper receiver via index pins and fasteners. It also connects through the front take-down pin locking the whole upper assembly in with the lower. Take-down pins are extended for easy cleaning and maintenance.

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Note: easy-pull take down pins, right side bolt release, handguard/take-down pin interface

The upper receiver is also packed with little features. Starting with a 14.5-inch hand-lapped 416R stainless steel barrel, like something you’d see in a match rifle. The barrel is free-floated from the handguard, with no contact of the barrel nut. Made from an “aerospace alloy”, the barrel nut itself is made to greatly increase heat dissipation.

Also on the upper receiver, you will find a traditional forward assist. I am guessing this was included because of some kind of contract requirement. Most people I talk to dislike them and see them as superfluous. The only thing I have ever experienced with them is wedging a cartridge into the chamber that should have been pulled out not “assisted” into a hard jam.

I love the Primary Arms PLXc, and it might be the perfect companion for this rifle

DSI’s ATACH charging handle uses dual locking claws to prevent unwanted reciprocation. And the jaws lock against replaceable steel pins incorporated into the pic rail. With an extra shelf built-in, the tight-fitting charging handle is also built to keep gas from getting in your face when suppressed. It even has a vented buffer tube to allow water to drain out for you d*ck hunters out there.

Specifications

Precision Matched Receiver Set• Machined from US Produced 7075 T651 Aluminum
• Mil-Spec Type III Class 2 Hardcoat Anodized Finish
• Cerakote H-Series (Flat Dark Earth)
Billet Lower Receiver• Premium investment‑cast flat shoe DLC coated two‑stage trigger (3.5lb pull)
• Ambidextrous Magazine Release
• Ambidextrous 90° Safety Selector w/ Billet Arms
• Ambidextrous Bolt Catch and Release
• Threaded Bolt Catch Screw
• Extended Takedown and Pivot Pins
Billet Upper Receiver• Multi-Lithic™ Handguard Attachment with Twin Index Pins
• Chainlink™ Locks the Handguard to the Upper and Lower via the Pivot Pin
• ATACH™ Ambi Charging Handle with Duo-Lock™
• Dual Serviceable Steel Pin for Charging Handle Retention
• Mil-Spec Pinned (not glued) Forward Assist
• Threaded Forward Assist Retaining Screw
• Mil-Spec Dry Film Lubricant Applied to Bore
• Additional Rear Pic Rail Slot
DSI DS-25 Bolt Carrier Group• DLC Nickel Chrome TB42 Bolt Carrier Group per MIL-PRF-32711
• 8620AQ Bolt Carrier (Diamond‑Honed Bore)
• 9310AQ Dual Ejector Enhanced Profile Bolt for .308/6.5C
• 4130 Gas Key (Grade 8+ Torx‑staked)
• 8740 Steel Ground Chrome Firing Pin
• SpringCo XP 5‑Coil Extractor Spring
DSI 14.5″ Medium Taper Profile Barrel• 416R Stainless Steel, Lead Lapped
• 5R Button‑rifled; Twist: 1:7 or 1:8
• Mid‑length Gas System with Pinned Gas Block
• Mil-Spec Hard Chrome Bore and Chamber
• Optional Pin/Weld for Flash Hider
DSI Extended Buffer System• Extended 7075 7-Position Buffer Tube with Drain and Vent Holes
• Electropolished 17‑7 Stainless Extended 40 Coil Buffer Spring
• Neoprene‑Dampened 3.0oz Carbine Buffer with High Durometer Bump‑Stop
• Dry Film Lubricant in Tube Bore
• Dual‑staked QD end plate & castle nut
Included Accessories• 20‑round Magpul MCT magazine
• Keyed cable lock
Dimensions• Length (stock collapsed)
• Weight: 6.9 lbs (w/ Mag)
Primary arms

Rifle Setup

I decided to try several different setups with this rifle, as I expect it to shine in any of them. My first setup would be for all out accuracy, with a mid-power rifle scope and bipod to see what the rifle’s accuracy potential is. The 14.5-inch chrome-lined barrel is made to shoot well, and with some match grade 6.5 Creedmoor ammo I could expect to get the best of it.

I am a big fan of low power variable optics (LPVO), and would for sure install my Primary Arms PLXc 1-8 on the rifle. This would be great for short and mid-range shooting where a rifle like this should shine.

dark storm industries, ds-25, mfr, modern fighting rifle, 6.5 creedmoor, sbr, short barreled rifle, ar15, ar10, fde, primary arms, plxc, lpvo, loading magpul magazine

Lastly I would also use a micro prism/magnifier combo as I expect many folks out there might consider shooting it that way as well. For that I selected the Vector Optics Paragon line, an affordable brand that has performed well for me.

Suppressed

You can buy this rifle as an SBR, or you can order it with a pinned and welded muzzle device from either Huxwrx or SiCo. I used an ASR mount to use my Omega 36M on this rifle, and used it for most of the shooting. There was a bit of extra blowback when suppressed, I believe the above picture caught the very worst of it. To be fair to the rifle, I hardly noticed the gas at all while shooting.

suppressed semi-autos always dirty up brass a little bit, no exception here

Just for some variability, I also used my new CMMG Zeroed 36 suppressor. It also did a fine job at making the MFR pleasant to shoot. It is a little shorter than the Omega, making the overall package more compact.

Dark Storm Industries, DS-25, modern fighting rifle, MDR, 6.5 Creedmoor, short barreled rifle, sbr, mueller optics, cmmg, zeroed 36,
for additional accuracy testing I used the Mueller Optics TacHunter 6-24 rifle scope, you can see more on that scope here

On the Range

My initial impressions from the DS-25 were that it recoils more than expected. It feels like an AR15 in your hands, so its easy to forget you are shooting full-house Creedmoor loads from this small rifle.

In the Field

Federal Gold Medal Match 130 grain ammo was just shy of 2600 FPS, not bad for an SBR

Accuracy

Testing accuracy from this rifle varied depending on which sighting system was in use. With the 1x Micro prism, and together with its 3x magnifier I found accuracy to be minute of dude out to some pretty reasonable distances. Hitting a 10-inch target was doable out to three or four-hundred yards depending on how stable you could remain.

Dark Storm Industries, DS-25, modern fighting rifle, MDR, 6.5 Creedmoor, short barreled rifle, sbr, vector optics, micro prism, magnifier, silencerco, omega 36m, suppressor, silencer, FDE, shooting from the bed of a pickup truck,
shooting a little further with the Vector Paragon 3x magnifier

To get a realistic accuracy test I switched over to rifle scopes. Both the PLXc 1-8 and the Mueller TacHunter 6-24 gave much more precise shots. Shooting groups right around one MOA at 100 yards without trying particularly hard. Most of my shooting was done using one suppressor or another which also might help calm the rifle down.

Making sight adjustments between optics (middle), followed by a 5-shot group of Federal 130 grain Gold Medal Match (top right)

I kept forgetting that I was shooting an SBR here, with a can in place it felt more like a full sized rifle. But accuracy was pretty good in my opinion, and the velocity didn’t seem to suffer as much as expected. Typical 130 and 140 grain loads were running around 2550 fps which is pretty good compared to a typical 14-inch AR-15. Even if it was shooting 77-grain ammo at 27-2800, the MFR’s Creedmoor barrel has a hell of a lot more lead in its pencil.

Reliability

I only had a few issues with this rifle while testing, and it seemed to be related to ammunition. On a couple shots it seemed as though there wasn’t enough momentum to get the next round into battery. Again, this could be a little bit of break-in, or perhaps completely related to the ammunition. It wasn’t a recurring event after the first range trip, but I figured it was worth mentioning.

Dark Storm Industries, DS-25, modern fighting rifle, MDR, 6.5 Creedmoor, short barreled rifle, sbr, mueller optics, shooting an FDE ar15 with pine trees and mountains in the background,
removing the suppressor from this rifle quickly reminded me how short and quick to bear it was

Of the many little extras on this rifle, dual staking of important parts are part of increasing reliability. The DLC bolt-carrier has dual staked gas key screws, as does the castle nut on the buffer tube.

Ergonomics

I must start by saying this, I have had a few large frame AR10 rifles. And you can have them SOB’s, way to heavy and long. I can’t imagine having to use one for any kind of defensive or quick shooting, when there are so many better options like the MFR. This rifle is quick to maneuver and get on target, even with a suppressor.

dark storm industries, ds-25, mfr, modern fighting rifle, 6.5 creedmoor, sbr, short barreled rifle, ar15, ar10, fde, primary arms, plxc, lpvo, silencerco, omega 36m, shooting a flat dark earth suppressed AR15 rifle with clear skies and mountains in the background

The grip angle is great, and the narrow handguard is easy to manhandle. Though it might be nice to add a down-grip somewhere. Adjusting the length of pull is easy of course with the Magpul stock.

Interacting with the controls of the rifle feels excellent. One of my favorite additions to AR lower receivers is the right side bolt-release. I have them on several of my rifles, and this one also has the feature. It makes reloads faster, and better control for unloading a hot rifle.

Dark Storm Industries, DS-25, modern fighting rifle, MDR, 6.5 Creedmoor, short barreled rifle, sbr, controls, receiver profile,

The safety is ok, it wouldn’t hurt my feelings to put a 45-degree safety instead. But the trigger is fantastic, despite being a touch gritty at first, I think it just needed breaking in. Now it feels fantastic for an action rifle. And the dual claw locking charging handle is very robust and much smoother than many of the charging handles I’ve used.

Value

Dark Storm has packed this rifle with a bunch of small and large features that greatly increase it’s value for those looking. That is a thin line to walk, as AR people can’t wait to change out parts on a gun once purchased. And many folks are not going to want to pay the price for so many little parts and features that they might change out anyways. That said, this rifle is pretty immaculate. It has just about everything I would want a rifle like this to have.

Dark Storm Industries, DS-25, modern fighting rifle, MDR, 6.5 Creedmoor, short barreled rifle, sbr, vector optics, micro prism, magnifier,
Note: ambidextrous controls, QD sling cup under castle nut, gas reduction features on the charging handle

Looking at other 6.5 Creedmoor AR rifles that are comparable, the price is not that different. Peers for the MFR come from companies like Daniel Defense, JP, and Christensen Arms. But to be honest, unless they are small frame rifles I wouldn’t even consider any of those over this one. With an MSRP of $2995 it is certainly not for the casual shooter, but more for professional and dedicated marksmen.

Pros and Cons

I can start out by saying this is a very nice rifle, sure you could maybe upgrade the Magpul parts if you’re that kinda guy. But overall this rifle is very well put together and finished. With so many little niceties added up, it stands out. Everything from lightening cuts down to fasteners and finishes.

+Lightweight-Not inexpensive
+Accurate match grade barrel-The one minor short-stroking thing I mentioned
+Ambidextrous controls-Forward assist
+High Quality parts (inside and out)
+Excellent suppressor host
+Available as SBR or pinned and welded MD
+Handbuilt and tested

My Verdict

I really like this rifle, its a great blend of high quality and rich in features. Its the kind of rifle I would love to have after the inevitable collapse of society into a apocalyptic hellscape. At least it would be if I had enough Creedmoor ammo. It is accurate, compact and hard hitting. Allowing mobility in tight spaces without weighing a ton. And still bringing the downrange power and accuracy that the Creedmoor is known for.

-CBM

Check out more 6.5 Creedmoor rifles here

sig sauer, p230, 9mm, pistol, shooting a 0mm pistol with a bright muzzle flash

Sig Sauer P239: A Classic Compact

pistols, Product review, Shooting hardware, , , , ,

Preface

Sig Sauer pistols have been in the media a lot lately, and having been a Sigophant for decades I have been watching closely. As a giant in the firearms community Sig has an incredible diversity of products as well as the issues that might accompany such an extravagant position. But today we won’t be discussing problems, instead our focus is on something Sig Sauer got right. The P-Series of pistols have been around as long as me, originally coming from Swiss and West German craftsmen. For decades they were the gold standard used by law enforcement and those who’s lives depended on their tools. Today we are taking a look at a lesser known pistol from the P-Series, but one that certainly deserves your consideration. Join me as we dive into the Sig Sauer P239 compact, a single stack hammer-fired pistol trusted by professionals.

sig sauer, p239, 9mm, pistol, compact, magazine, single stack, magazine pouch,

The P239

Sig’s P239 incorporates all the same features as its popular and larger siblings. The P220 and P226 are popular with both professionals and enthusiasts alike. There are likely hundreds of law enforcement agencies using them in dozens of countries. And the US Navy SEAL teams adopted the P226 as their handgun (designated the Mk 24 and Mk25). The P239 was later developed to be a compact comparable handgun to be used either as a backup or as covert concealed weapon.

Much like its popular full-size equivalents, the P239 is made for action. Using the very same functions and features as the P226. It can be fired in both in single and double actions, allowing it to be carried with the hammer down. There is no safety but the one you pick your nose with, but it does have a de-cocking lever designed to safely lower the hammer.

sig sauer, p239, compact 9mm, magazine, ammunition, P239 pistol sitting on top of boxes of ammunition,
just some of the countless ammo types this little pistol has chewed through; Winchester, Federal Champion and a little Sierra Defense ammo

Single stack magazines are released using a traditional button on the left side of the grip. And there is a disassembly cam lever in the traditional location above the trigger area.

Specifications

Caliber 9×19, .40S&W, .357 Sig
Barrel Length3.5-inches
Length 6.5-inches
Height5.2-inches
Weight27-ounces
ActionSingle action/Double action
Capacity8 & 10 round mags (9×19) 7 & 8 round mags (.40 and .357)
Frame materialAluminum
Slide materialStainless steel
FinishBlack Nitron slide (PVD), black anodized aluminum

I purchased this pistol back in the 1990’s when they were more of a new item. It was my first compact pistol, and I was a brand new concealed carry permit holder. For nearly two decades this pistol was my go-to carry gun, and I learned many of the do’s and don’ts of CCW with it. But it also came out for other activities as well, and even pulled off some pretty impressive shots over the many years in my possession.

Shooting the Sig P239

Shootability

One of the first things I did with this pistol was to swap out the hard polymer grip panels for a softer set. I found a rubberized grip set from Hogue, that was much easier to hold onto in my opinion. I have average sized hands, and I feel the P239 fit just perfectly for a compact pistol grip.

sig sauer, p239, 9mm, pistol, compact

The trigger is pretty predictable for a service grade handgun. The double-action is obvious longer, but I have always found it to be fine for the first shot out of the magazine. Shooting the single-action is better, with a clean predictable break.

Looking down the semi-low profile sights gives a fine sight picture without making big snag points. The slide itself has gripping texture cuts along the back for drawing the slide. As a product of its time, there is no accessory rail on the frame which is a bit of a downer. All the controls are easily reached and actuated making it a smooth operation.

Reliability

In my near thirty years with this pistol, I’d imagine I must’ve had some kind of jam or malfunction. But to be completely honest, not a single memory of it comes to mind. Much like the proverbial Swiss watch, my P239 has long functioned as flawlessly as I could have asked it to. Unlike many of the guns I get to review, I have literally shot thousands of rounds over decades with this one. Giving about as good a perspective as you can get.

sig sauer, p239, compact 9mm, magazine

I’ve accumulated around half a dozen magazines over the years, both the 8-round and 10-round models. The 239 feeds perfectly from them, with a clean up and right ejection pattern. I’ve shot countless different ammunition types, everything from posh defensive loads to gun show bulk stuff and even my own handloads. The Sig P239 has always been a lead pump with no notable issues of any kind.

Accuracy

With its three and a half inch barrel, the P239 does pretty good. I’ve never had any issues hitting what I was aiming at. A typical shot group from the pistol at seven yards is between one and three inches depending on ammunition quality. Here is an example of a typical 5-shot group with some inexpensive bulk packed ammunition provided by Ammotogo.com.

sig sauer, p239, accuracy, groups, pattern, target,

Ergonomics

Like most P-Series pistols, the 239 fits my hand perfectly. I don’t usually care for the polymer grips, as they seem a little slippery. The textured ones on the other hand are quite nice, but I’ll stick with the sticky rubber ones.

sig sauer, p239, pistol, 9mm, compact, a woman shooting a compact pistol with bright muzzle flash,

The controls are all very intuitive and easy to reach and operate. I like that you can feel every movement of the controls, it gives a sensation of connection with every operation of the pistol.

Value

I honestly can’t remember what I paid for mine, and since their discontinuation in 2018 new ones are not available. But there are plenty of them on the used market available from anywhere between $400 and $1000 for some of the more rare configurations. For those prices I think the P239 is a great pistol, and a bit of a collectible for Sig Sauer enthusiasts.

Pros and Cons

I’ve gone over most of the pros already; its a very reliable pistol, with distinguished service. It’s built like a tank, and ready for action at any moment. Its controls are very functional and it shoots well.

sig sauer, p239, compact 9mm, magazine, disassembly
the easily disassembled P239, notice the full length rails to keep slide and frame tight

If I had to come up with some negative things to say about this old friend, it would be these; The Sig P239 is from an era long gone now, so you wont find many of our modern pistol features that we’ve taken for granted. Things like optics cuts, accessory rails and double stack mags are not options with this pistol. With the 10-round magazines it is a pretty decent defense, but most of the guns I carry now a days carry at least 15.

Verdict

The Sig Sauer P239 Compact is a classic pistol, in many ways. Mine will never go anywhere but in my safe or on my hip. But I can see that times have also brought some changes, and sometimes that’s a good thing. I would love to see Sig bring it back, and maybe even modernize it with like a 12-round magazine, an optics cut, and a weapon light suitable pic rail. But I doubt that will ever happen. But if you are looking for one of these handsome old Sig pistols, I can strongly endorse the P239. It is a reliable, straight shooting tool. And built like it came from a time where they knew what they were doing.

-CBM

Check out my other favorite Sig Sauer Pistols here

wolfpack armory, romulus, suppressor, silencer, 5.56 .223 rem, 3d printed, dmls, radial flow, low backpressure, desert tech, WLVRN, blk lbl, DMR rifle, bullpup, installing suppressor on plan b muzzle device, SBR, desert tech, quattro 15, eotech, vudu, lpvo, shooting a short barreled rifle suppressed with mountainous background,

Wolfpack Armory Romulus 5.56 Suppressor: Cutting the Edge

Product review, suppressors, , , , , ,

Suppressor Propagation

I’ve said it many times; 2026 has become the year of the suppressor. An unprecedented flow of new suppressors have poured into the market, so many that it might be tough to choose among them. If you are looking to get into a suppressor, I’ve made some suggestions here. But today we are talking about a specific suppressor, set apart by new technology and design. This new unit is the Wolfpack Armory Romulus 5.56 Suppressor, a printed inconel suppressor.

wolfpack armory, romulus, suppressor, silencer, 5.56 .223 rem, 3d printed, dmls, radial flow, low backpressure, box, packaging

The Romulus uses a radial flow design to reduce the flow of expanding gases, and venting them at a controlled rate. This design focuses on reducing the signature of a rifle both in sound and flash. As an aspiring silencer raconteur, I jumped at the opportunity to get deep in the baffles of this suppressor. And if you enjoy such a voyage, I invite you to follow along.

here you can see the curious texture resulting from the printing process

Divine Lineage

In perhaps a nod to their own design, the Romulus suppressor is named after the founder of ancient Rome, son of Mars, the god of war. In our modern world, the Romulus suppressor offers what some might consider divine design. The radial flow design is made possible only through modern metal printing (DMLS) technology. This design allows control of gas flow through the suppressor, and optimizing such to improve its report reduction.

wolfpack armory, romulus, suppressor, silencer, inconel, dmls, 3d printed,
You can faintly see the lines from the DMLS process

Manufacturing the Romulus from inconel makes it incredibly robust. Inconel is often used in suppressors due to its tough resistance to both heat and erosion. This allows the Romulus to take incredible abuse, and surely aids with its full-auto rating. Even using short barreled rifles wont break the Romulus’ lifetime warranty. The folks at Wolfpack Armory stand firmly behind this and other products they make.

Some video of the Romulus handling full-auto from an 11.5-inch 5.56

Romulus Specifications

Caliber5.56 Nato
Weight14.2 Ounces (without mounting hub)
Length6- inches
Diameter1.6-inches
Material718 Inconel
Minimum Barrel lengthNone
WarrantyLifetime
FinishCerakote (C Series)
Hub CompatibleYes- compatible with 1.375″x24 mounting hubs

With a build sheet like this, you can imagine that the Romulus was built for what has become known as a heavy use or fighting rifle. A 5.56 carbine as used by many in both civilian and military for both defense and duty purposes. The Romulus offers a compact size that is ready to be abused. And by incorporating the industry-wide hub mounting system, there are dozens of ways to affix the can to your host. The Romulus comes with its own Night Howler Plan B mount threaded 1/2-28 for mounting. You can also order the Romulus in either black or FDE C series Cerakote.

the included Night Howler Plan B pattern muzzle device

Lets Get it Hot!!

To test the Romulus, I gathered a small collection of rifles. A traditional sized AR I put together, with a 16-inch barrel, and another short barrel rifle built from a Desert Tech Quattro-15 using a 6.5-inch CMMG Dissent upper.

desert tech, quattro 15, ar15, sbr, cmmg, dissent, eotech, vudu, EFLX, red dot, wolfpack armory, romulus, suppressor, silencer, inconel, dmls, 3d printed,
one of the test rifles, kitted out with an Eotech VUDU 1-8

Additionally I would use the Romulus on one of my favorite rifles, my Desert Tech WLVRN. With both a 20-inch 5.56 barrel and a 22-inch 6 ARC barrel that I made for it. DISCLAIMER: I tested the 6mm ARC at my own risk after carefully measuring clearances. WolfPack Armory made no guarantee or recommendation that it would work safely.

first shots fired through the Romulus on my 6mm ARC WLVRN

And for fun I would also use the full-auto version called the Sabertooth with an 11.5-inch 5.56 barrel. With this variety of rifles, I could get a good feel for how the Romulus would work with most 5.56 carbines.

this is the 11.5-inch full-auto Desert Tech Sabertooth 5.56, seen here with the Elcan Specter

Sound Suppression

One of the very first things you notice when shooting with the Romulus is the difference in sound and tone. Most traditional suppressors have a higher pitch, a sound you can reproduce by pursing your lips and nearly whistle while reducing pressure. This is a sound we are all used to hearing when shooting suppressed, but the Romulus is built different. That texture you see in the front of the muzzle face, is not just for looks. It is a porous end cap. The Romulus internals route gas pressure through various channels, bringing them together at the muzzle. I speculate that the combination of gas flows interfere with each other reducing a singular flow.

you can see the diffusion

The resulting sound is different than the subdued whistle sound you can make with your mouth. It sounds much more like a blow snake hissing from under a hay stack, a lower pitch that sounds more diffused. It is a very pleasant sound both on the 5.56 rifles I used for a host, as well as on my 6mm ARC.

Recoil Reduction

Obviously for those that shoot, the 5.56 cartridge isn’t exactly a heavy recoiling cartridge. And as with almost every other suppressor I’ve used, the Romulus reduces felt recoil of the diminutive cartridge. Even shooting heavier loads like 77 and 75 grain ammunition, the recoil was minimal, allowing excellent target picture and follow up shots.

A closer look at the muzzle end of the Romulus

During testing with my 6mm ARC, I shot both 105 and 109 grain loads. And again, the recoil impulse on the rifle was very mild. Just as the gas blending muzzle diffuses pressure reducing noise, it also seems to diffuse the spike in the curve of gas released at the muzzle. Making a softer push into your shoulder.

Gas Blowback

But does it gas me out? I can hear you guys out there asking the question. One of the most commonly cited benefits of controlled flow suppressors is a reduction in back pressure. When the very first “flow-thru” suppressors came out, I was suspicious of their claims of no back pressure. And in my experience that suspicion has been warranted, because some of the different ones I have tried will make your eyes water as bad as a baffle-strike.

after swapping barrels in my WLVRN, shooting the 20-inch 5.56 barrel

The Romulus, as you can see in some of my pictures does cause some breech-farts. But not enough to give you pink eye. As you might imagine, the bullpups made it a little more noticeable since the port is closer to your face. But the overall impression wasn’t bad at all in my opinion. Having shot all these rifles with traditional baffle cans and a few flow-thru style cans, I can tell you the Romulus is better. At no point during my shooting (besides during full-auto mag dumps) did I even notice the gas enough to care.

there was no need to adjust the gas settings on any of the rifles

Two of the host rifles featured an adjustable gas system, and both of them worked on their normal unsuppressed setting without excessive bolt carrier speed. Additionally, short barreled rifles put off quite a bit of fire, even when suppressed. The Romulus did an excellent job at getting rid of flash, even on the 11 and 6-inch barrels.

Modularity

It wasn’t that long ago that suppressors lacked any modularity at all. By adding the hub compatible blast chamber to the Romulus, it allows you to use any kind of mounting system you choose. This is nice for those who have a large collection of any one system, be it from SiCo, Huxwrx, Q or otherwise. I also like that the Romulus is narrow enough that it can be easily tucked under a handguard if thats your style.

wolfpack armory, romulus, suppressor, silencer, 5.56 .223 rem, 3d printed, dmls, radial flow, low backpressure, desert tech, SBRTH, sabertooth, machine gun, MAWL, full-auto

Value

Perusing through dedicated 5.56 cans you can see a broad selection even among the printed cans. Comparing the Romulus to others like the SiCo Velos 556K, the Dead Air Lazarus 6, or the Huxwrx Flow 556 there is hardly enough difference in price to matter.

Wolfpack Armory’s lifetime warranty adds a great deal of value to this can. Especially considering some of the internet murmurings about 3D-printed suppressors having no warranty other than a discount on a replacement.

wolfpack armory, romulus, suppressor, silencer, 5.56 .223 rem, 3d printed, dmls, radial flow, low backpressure, AR15, quattro 15, vector optics,

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Excellent suppression and tone
  • Inconel construction for increased durability
  • Full-Auto rated
  • Hub compatible
  • Controlled flow design
  • Lifetime Warranty
  • No barrel restrictions
  • No need for gas system tuning
  • Plan B mount and tools included
  • Ladies love a man with class

Cons

  • Might be hard to get ahold of? Maybe?

My Conclusion

I’ve shot through a fair number of reduced back pressure 5.56 suppressors, enough to know that the Romulus is certainly as good as if not better than any of them. With its no BS warranty and bulletproof construction, I don’t know why you’d need look elsewhere. Especially if you are an SBR enthusiast. But like everything in life its all about preference.

after hundreds of rounds of testing

The Wolfpack Armory Romulus 5.56 is certainly worth your consideration if you are shopping for a hard use suppressor. If you see me on the firing line, hit me up and I’ll let you give it a try.

-CBM

Like inconel cans but looking for something more chode? Check out this one

wolfpack armory, romulus, suppressor, silencer, 5.56 .223 rem, 3d printed, dmls, radial flow, low backpressure, remington 700, bolt action, chassis, discovery optics, atlas bipod,
I also shot the Romulus on a 223 bolt-action rifle, incredibly pleasant and gentle report

C&H Slide cut, rmr slide cut, optics cut, glock slide, MOS, zro delta, fks 9, red dot, shooting pistol with cloudy white background

Does Your Pistol Need an Optics Cut?

blog, pistols, Product review, ,

An Idea

I love pistols, and I am one of those who tends to prefer red dot optics on my pistols. It would seem that I am not the only one, as there is an unbelievable amount of pistols available with an optics cut. With more and more options it is quickly becoming the norm. But what about those pistols that don’t accept optics? Are they doomed to be shot forever using only the sights? Today I am documenting my experience in; Does your pistol need an optics cut? We’ll walk you through the process of turning a featureless slide, into an optics ready roscoe.

C&H Slide cut, rmr slide cut, optics cut, glock slide, MOS, zro delta, fks 9, red dot, holding pistol at low ready,

Machining Slides

As I mentioned, optics cut slides on semi-automatic pistols have become very common. So common in fact that I frequently joke with Glock owners about having to have their slides machined to fit.

glock meme

But obviously there is a demand for it, and one of the many companies doing it is C&H Precision out of Georgia. I have been familiar with C&H for some time, having seen some their products like their in-house branded red dot sights and their optics mounting adaptor plates. I suppose they had enough demand for machining cuts into pistols, that they started offering the service. And since they offered me a discounted service, I figured I would give it a try.

ZRO Delta FKS 9, 9mm, glock clone, glock 19,
the pistol I chose to have altered is the Zro Delta FKS 9, a clone of the very popular Glock 19

The Process

I’ll admit that I was grossly unaware of how many options there were in this process. But luckily they had a nice step by step system that walks you though everything. First of all you select the pistol brand to be cut, I chose a Glock because I had a clone than needs a red dot.

C&H Slide cut, rmr slide cut, optics cut, glock

Footprint

You can then select what type of optic or more specifically what footprint to use. There is also an option for using Zev threaded posts if you like, as well as if you’d like a cover plate for when the optic is not used. I opted for the Trijicon RMR cut, as I have several red dots with that pattern.

C&H Slide cut, rmr slide cut, optics cut, glock slide, MOS, zro delta, fks 9, red dot, cerakote, machined,

Sights

They will ask if you plan on removing your sights prior to shipping, or if you would prefer they remove them (for a fee). They also give you the option of upgrading sights while they are off with a couple different options.

You can also choose to have the rear sight machined out and a new dovetail cut in front of your red dot if you prefer that look.

C&H Slide cut, rmr slide cut, optics cut, glock, aimpoint,

Cerakote

Custom Cerakote options are also available, with something as simple as having the raw cut steel coated or a whole custom job. This gives you the choice of various patterns and looks, of course there is an added cost but that should be expected.

Expedited Service

Rush orders can also be done, for a fee. And duty weapons also get the expedited service. And there are a few other parts upgrade options you can have done while your slide is disassembled.

The Results

After I shipped my slide off to C&H, I received an email a few days later confirming receipt and the services I asked to be performed. Once that was confirmed, a simple payment was made online. And a few days later I got a shipping notification.

C&H Slide cut, rmr slide cut, optics cut, glock slide, MOS, zro delta, fks 9, red dot,

When I opened the box, I was quite pleased at the look of my slide. As far as I could tell, it appeared the slide had always had an optics cut. Nearly indistinguishable from something done from the factory. I wasted no time reassembling the pistol, and installing an Apex Optics Atom red dot (an RMR pattern).

C&H Slide cut, rmr slide cut, optics cut, glock slide, MOS, zro delta, fks 9, red dot, footprint,

The footprint fit very snug, in a good way. Both the screws also fit tightly in their threaded bores. This made for a very good coupling, and a secure feeling that the red dot isn’t going anywhere.

C&H Slide cut, rmr slide cut, optics cut, glock slide, MOS, zro delta, fks 9, red dot, Apex optics, atom red dot,

My Conclusion

I am quite happy with this service to be honest. And I must say I am impressed with the quality finish and the quick service and communication. I guess I’ll quit making jokes to guys for sending off their pistols to get an optics cut. As it seems quite the quick turnaround and well worth it. There are plenty of other outfits that also offer the service, so do what works for you. As for C&H Precision, I can strongly recommend it to those interested.

-CBM

C&H Slide cut, rmr slide cut, optics cut, glock slide, MOS, zro delta, fks 9, red dot, quartering view from behind,
the Apex Atom red dot fit perfectly to the pistol, read more about it here

nutrek optics, silvermark, 1.7-10x40, riflescope,

Restraining Rimfire Racket: the Anechoic Anechox 22 Suppressor

Product review, suppressors, , , ,

Prologue

This is the year of suppressors, and like everyone else I decided it was a good time to enrich my inventory. Rimfire suppressors have been a bit of a weak spot for me, so adding another rimfire can was at the top of my list. Today I bring you that story, specifically a review of the Anechoic Anechox 22 rimfire suppressor. The Anechox 22 suppressor is a titanium and aluminum suppressor, rated for the popular rimfire cartridges like .22LR, 17HMR and .22 Mag. This would fit right into my collection of various rimfires.

Vortex Optics, Razor HD, Gen 3, gen III, 1-10x24, ffp, lpvo,
the Trek 22 rifle, seen here with the Vortex Razor 1-6 made an excellent host for the Anechox 22

The Anechox 22 Suppressor

This handsome little suppressor is incredibly lightweight, coming in at 2.6 ounces. Its titanium and aluminum construction is responsible for that. The suppressor is assembled with both the breech and muzzle caps threading into the tube, sandwiching baffles inside. But could this little suppressor compete with my others? Lets find out…

Anechoic, anechoic suppressor, anechox, anechox 22, rimfire, 22lr, .22lr,
I did extensive shooting with both the Anechox 22 and its Pipsqueek brother on the Taurus TX22

Continue reading here…

anechoic, anechox, .22lr, rimfire, suppressor, silencer,
this Trek 22 features a Primary Arms SLX-C and the Anechox 22
nutrek optics, silvermark, 1.7-10x40, riflescope,
Another 22 I used during testing, this is a Ruger 10/22 clone
armasight, thermal, contractor 320, thermal scope, digital, weapon sight, wlvrn, desert tech,

Looking Through The Armasight Contractor 320 3-12 Thermal Weapon Sight

Optics, Product review, , , ,

Introduction

For over a decade, Armasight has been manufacturing cutting edge night vision and thermal optics. With a diverse product line the company prides itself on products that are both designed and manufactured right here in the US. The Illinois based company is no stranger to me, as I’ve had the opportunity to use and test some of their other products. And today I bring you another one, a review of the Armasight Contractor 320 3-12X thermal weapon sight. The Contractor name seems to lean towards a military or private military application, which I am certainly not. However, I do enjoy shooting, and hunting in particular. And that seems to be what thermal sights are best for, so I am always excited to take a look at a new option.

my dog in the darkness

The Armasight Contractor 320

As is typical with thermal weapon sights, there is a lot to take in and learn after you open the box. Technology has been integrated to these products, which makes them more complicated than traditional sights. But that comes with some advantages obviously.

Lets start out simple, the Contractor 320 uses a thermal sensor to pick up heat, and shows the image on its small internal AMOLED display. So you aren’t looking through it like you would a traditional scope, you are basically looking at a tiny TV screen. You can focus the diopter to better see the display, just as you can adjust the objective (front) lens to focus the image.

armasight, armasight contractor, contractor 320, thermal, thermal scope, thermal weapon sight, profile view,
the accessory rail on the side can be used for mounting lights or other accessories

There are a great deal of internal features that can all be accessed by two turrets on the top of the housing. You can cycle through the various menus to access everything from color palettes to reticle designs and zeroing to your host firearm. The unit is powered by two CR123 3v lithium cells, and the power switch is a push-and-turn knob centered on top.

armasight, armasight contractor, contractor 320, thermal, thermal scope, thermal weapon sight, controls, turrets, power switch, record button,
the power switch requires you to push down, then turn

There are other neat features that can be used and selected from the internal menus. Video and image capture can be both manually activated to triggered by the recoil of a shot. You can also access the image stream using a USB cable or even it’s own Wifi to connect to your phone. The internal display feels like the heads-up display from a fighter jet, giving you an aimpoint, inclination and compass bearings and even rangefinding abilities.

armasight, armasight contractor, contractor 320, thermal, thermal scope, thermal weapon sight, controls, heads up display, menu,
scrolling through some of the menu’s

The whole unit mounts to your rifle using a cantilever mount than clamps to the picatinny rail of any firearm. Locking cams and steel wire tethers prevent unwanted movement or loss of caps and covers. There is also a picatinny accessory rail on the right side for attaching things like a laser or flashlight if needed.

armasight, armasight contractor, contractor 320, thermal, thermal scope, thermal weapon sight, battery compartment,
the cable tied battery cover holds two CR123 Lithium cells

Features

  • Multiple color palettes
  • Intuitive menus with turret controls
  • 8+ Reticle Types
  • (ESP) Easy Sight in Process
  • 4 hours runtime at 20° C 
  • Image Detail Enhancement
  • 1/2MOA Boresight 
  • Standard Picatinny Mount Included
  • Video Recording & Image Capture
  • Shot-Activated Video Recording
  • USB Video Stream
  • Wi-Fi Video Stream
  • Bluetooth 5.0 Capabilities
  • Application on iOS / Android Devices
  • USB-C Interface for External Devices
  • Integrated Stadiametric Rangefinder
  • Inclinometer
  • Levelometer
  • Graphic Compass
  • Picture in Picture Mode
  • Angle Cosine Indicator
  • Reticle ON/OFF Selection
  • Battery Status Indicator
  • Alloy Metal Body and Ergonomic Design

Package Includes

  • Contractor 320 3-12x25mm Thermal Weapon Sight
  • Quick Detach Mount
  • USB-C to USB-A cable
  • Thermal Zeroing Target
  • 2x CR123A Batteries
  • Product Manual
  • Lens Cloth
  • Soft Case

Specifications

Optical magnification3.2x
Dimensions7.38 x 3.48 x 3.42 in
Weight1.65 Pounds
Digital Zoom1x, 2x, 4x
DisplayXGA (1024 x 768) AMOLED
Field of view46.17ft x 34.6ft
Thermal DetectorArmaCORE™ 320×240 12um Thermal Core
Thermal SensitivityNETD < 40mK
Refresh rate60 Hz
Eye Relief45mm
ConnectivityWifi Bluetooth 5.0
LensF1.00; 25mm
Diopter adjustment-5 to 5+
Power Supply2 x CR123A (3V)
Battery Life4 hours at 20° C
Waterproof ratingIP67
Rated Operating temp-40° F to + 122° F
Recoil Rating.50 BMG
Manufacturer warranty3 Years
FinishMatte grey

Unboxing and Initial Impressions

Pulling the Contractor 320 from the box, I found the familiar zippered soft case. This is a nice feature that allows you to protect this little investment while in transport. I removed the rubber lens cover, and after adding batteries I powered up the unit. A quick adjustment of the diopter made the display clear, I then dove into some of the sub menu’s picking the reticle I liked best. I tend to be black and white palette kind of guy, maybe because the first thermals I used were that way, and everything else sends me into sensory overload.

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the USB-C jack for connecting the unit

I took the unit outside, in the evening cold air to see what the darkness looks like in black and white. Neighbors houses, parked cars and trees all show nicely. It was instantly apparent which cars had been recently parked and which had been there a while. The heat radiating under the cars warmed the asphalt beneath, and warm brake rotors glowed from behind wheels. As I walked the dog around the estate to do his business, I also caught some amazingly sharp images of his face so sharp I could recognize him in a line up. Of course I also caught the bright spots he left on the grass, which was helpful for safe navigation.

looking at the dog in the back 40

Mounting

With its QD clamps on the foot of the scope, it is quick and easy to install or move from one host rifle to another. This is also handy because you can remove the scope to be used as an observation device if needed. The clamps feature the hand adjustable tension, so you can adjust for a tight fit on any rail.

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note the locking QD clamps to attach the Contractor 320

I decided to use the Contractor 320 on a couple different host rifles, first off I would mount it on one of my 22 rifles. This has become a pretty standard practice for me for a couple reasons. Rimfire rifles are much more affordable to shoot, and it usually takes a bit of shooting to figure out thermal sights. I figure shooting cheap ammo like .22lr during the familiarization process keeps it reasonable. Then once I have a good handle on the scopes functions, I can move it to a centerfire rifle for different purposes.

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this smaller Contractor is compact enough for small guns like this custom 10/22

In the Field With the Contractor 320

I quickly found that I liked the controls of the Contractor 320. Zooming is done simply by tapping the left turret down, an the unit cycles through the zoom settings quickly with each tap. Video can be triggered by a shot, or you can just push the record button to start recording. Like most cameras, there is a blinking red dot on screen while you are recording to let you know you are capturing. Downloading the videos after the fact was as easy as plugging in a USB-C cord and connecting to my laptop.

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the Contractor 320 made a great companion for my Desert Tech WLVRN

Turning the left turret cycles through the various color palettes. This makes it simple to adjust on the go, particularly if you are having trouble picking out your target. The only thing I had a hard time with, if you can call it that, was focusing on the fly. As animals move and their distance changes, I found it a little more challenging to keep reaching up front and having to sharpen my focus. Obviously this depends on the range to the target, and how it might be moving so take that with a grain of salt.

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adjusting the Contractor 320 sensor focus for the best picture

Usability

Controls on this scope are very handy, its nice to be able to quickly tap the turret to adjust the zoom setting. Or turn the very same turret to change to a different color to better ID a potential target. Using the shot induced recording is nice, but I preferred simply pushing the record button myself. With supposedly 4hrs of video space in its internal storage.

The only thing I found slightly irritating when using the scope was feeling the need to refocus the image more often than I’d like. I think this might be more of a thermal scope thing for me, as I’ve had the same issue with other units. It wasn’t a huge deal, and one I could certainly work with.

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I also found it was very easy to get images out of the Contractor. Simply plugging in and moving files. With other units I’ve had, there seems to be file type disparities that make it a bit more challenging.

Optical Quality

Optical quality for thermals is heavily based on the sensor characteristics. I also have had a go on the Contractor 640 model, the big brother to this unit. I found the image quality to be better quality through that model. That is not to say this one is bad, just not as good I suppose. And for almost half the price I suppose that should be expected.

With much of nighttime hunting with thermal scopes taking place at relatively close distances, the image quality is fine. If a target was 300 hundred yards away for example, I might have a tough time telling my dog from a coyote. But at closer distances it wouldn’t be difficult.

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Reliability

The only issue I had with reliability was based on battery supply. It seems that different quality batteries did not play well with the Contractor 320. I would experience auto shutdowns at times, which was irritating. I’m not sure if this is an Armasight issue or just thermals in general.

Other than that, this unit seems very robust and well built. I understand that its hard to give more than a 3 year warranty on a piece of equipment like this. Surely, with so many electronics and optics crammed together, there will eventually be an issue. I would hope that even after the warranty period, companies like Armasight would still be reasonable with repairs.

Value

Professional grade thermal optics are not cheap, so if you are looking for the most inexpensive thermal you wont find it here. With a new company popping up every day it seems, selling thermals, there are many options. The presumed safety of buying from a reputable company comes with a price tag. This one sells for around $2000 from places like Optics Planet. A browse through competitive scopes can vary in price from $800 all the way up to $4000. Which makes the Contractor 320 3-12 a pretty reasonable buy.

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my 20-inch 5.56 WLVRN with the SilencerCo Omega 300 suppressor was a perfect host

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Great Controls- Easily adjusted on the fly and while in a high pressure hunting situation. Plenty of options for you to chose from. Even when wearing gloves.
  • Quality Construction- The well built Contractor 320 is fit for most any purpose. Good materials and tough finish to last.
  • Easy to use- Even newcomers to thermals can figure out how to use this scope effectively.
  • Connectivity- Controlling and adjusting the optic through the app is very nice, also allowing feature customization and recording. Streaming through the USB-C cable or the units Bluetooth/Wifi is another option.
  • Excellent HUD info- The Contractors heads up display gives you all the information you could want, battery level, angles, magnification, ranges and picture in picture.
  • Allows saving different host rifles- keeping the settings for each host rifle saved under a profile.

Cons

  • The battery issue I mentioned
  • The Armasight APP was unavailable for download while testing this unit. (if you are curious how the app works, go read my review of the Contractor 640)
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cable tethers keep all the important caps in place

My Results

Using the Armasight Contractor 320 for a short to medium range carbine would be an excellent combination. Whether its for hunting coyotes on your ranch, or exterminating other pest species, this little sight is packed with features. Its friendly design makes it quick to deploy, and easily adjusted. Built tough to last through cold and bad weather, and saving video clips along the way. It’s not the cheapest option, and if you’ve made it this far, you’re probably OK with that.

-CBM