Mueller Optics 6-24X50 TacHunter Rifle Scope

March 27, 2026Optics, Product reviewmueller, mueller optics, tachuntercoldboremiracle

Preface

I remember seeing Mueller Optics advertised for years, apparently as far back as 2007 when the company came to market. During all this time, I never took the chance to try one of Mueller’s products. For one reason or another I never got the chance, until now. And today I bring you a review of my first experience with Mueller Optics, with their Mueller Optics 6-24X50 TacHunter Rifle Scope.

Mueller Optics

I mentioned Mueller Optics has been around for nearly twenty-years, but it seems longer than that to me. Either way, the company has long had the mission to bring quality optics to consumers at a price that leaves room for other things.

California based Mueller Optics offers a variety of different scopes, from almost every different size and style. Everything from small low power variable optics (LPVO) up to high magnification long-range rifle scopes like the one we are looking at today.

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The Mueller Optics 6-24X50 TacHunter

Based on its name, I believe the TAC hunter line of scopes is directed towards tactical style shooters and hunters. It fits many of the features that both parties look for in a rifle scope. Built on a 30mm tube with a 50mm objective lens, the TacHunter has the right proportions. The 30mm tube allows for greater internal mechanical travel, making long-range corrections possible. And the large 50mm lens compresses light and imagery together for a crisp image.

Specifications

Eye Relief	4.13 – 3.75″
Length	14.25″
Weight	26.45 oz.
Tube Size	30 mm
Color	Matte Black
Lenses	Fully Multi-Coated
Magnification	6 – 24 × power
Objective	50 mm
F.O.V.	27 – 9 feet @ 100 yards
Parallax	10 Yrds Min
Click Value	1/4 M.O.A. (80″ @ 100yds over-all on both W/E)

When I opened the box I was initially concerned because I heard a rattle inside the scope. Thinking maybe something had broken I investigated, and found it was just the zero-stop ring hadn’t been tight enough. So the problem was short lived and easily remedied. The zero-stop functions by tightening against the turret stem, and it engages a post on the base of the housing.

Further inspection of the scope showed good tension on the turrets and magnification ring. Though there was a tiny touch of a rubbing sensation when adjusting the magnification. The SFP reticle was very sharp and clear. As I looked through the scope, I adjusted the parallax to get a very sharp image of both reticle and downrange.

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, riflescope, illumination, battery installation, — installing the CR2023 battery for illumination

Illuminating the reticle is done with a typical twist rheostat next to the parallax knob. There are 11 brightness settings but only one off setting, and the entire reticle lights up (except for the posts).

Matching to a Rifle

I went for a Primary Arms cantilever 30mm scope mount, because I planned on mounting the scope on an AR15 upper. This one is a little different than your typical AR though. The host rifle for this scope would be a hybrid of my Bear Creek Arsenal bolt-action 5.56 upper mated to my Desert Tech Quattro 15 Lower receiver. I mainly did this because it has a good trigger in it, and I’m a sucker for good triggers.

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The bolt-action AR upper has proven to be very accurate for me in the past, so I figured the combination would work great together with the Mueller TacHunter. It would make a nice little varmint rifle anyways. Once mounted and leveled it was ready for the range.

Shooting with the Mueller TacHunter

In the snowy spring mountains, I would do some exploring with the Mueller. It was a bit early for hunting my typical springtime marmots, so I would end up simply shooting at various targets within my range. The big spaces would certainly allow plenty of opportunity to look at things through the Mueller.

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, reticle, reticle against a blue cloudy sky,

As I lay on a shooting pad, settled in behind the rifle I began searching for suitable targets. I typically use first focal plane scopes, it’s been a minute since I had used a second focal plane scope. I’d forgotten how pleasantly simple they are, and this one in particular was very clean (if you wan’t to know more about FFP & SFP go read this next). My ability to focus both the image and reticle was impressive, making me really wish I was laying in front of a prairie dog town or something.

Removing parallax with this scopes turret felt very precise. Over the broad magnification range I found it was very easy to find a sweet spot where the fine reticle had sharp contrast over the target. This is a very useful feature when shooting long-range, as many looking at this scope might do. Removing parallax is simply part of long-range shooting, and if you need to learn more about the subject you can go read more about parallax here.

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, riflescope, quattro 15, bolt-action, bolt-action AR, 223, — this rifle uses a **Desert Tech Quattro-15** lower and a **Trigger Tech trigger**

Other Adjustments

On top of the Mueller TacHunter, there is an exposed elevation turret. With 1/4 MOA click values, the turret moves 15 MOA per rotation. That is approximately enough to take your average rifle out to about 600 yards. For that reason I like turrets with a touch more elevation per rotation. But the TacHunter redeems itself with a zero-stop. In the old days before zero stops we had to keep track of whatever revolution of the turret was zero for the rifle. This was further complicated by turrets with more rotations. For example if your scope has only two rotations, even if you guess which one you’re on you have a 50/50 chance. Zero-stops brought an end to this madness by making it easy to just turn in the down direction until it stops. And since you the user could set the stop, you could make it 100 yards or 200 yards or whatever you desire.

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, riflescope, quattro 15, bolt-action, bolt-action AR, 223, suppressed, yhm fat cat, coletac, over the shoulder shot of shooting ar15

Once you zero the rifle, you can remove the screw that secures the turret using a coin or something similar. Underneath you can set the zero-stop, and then reset the turret at zero before snugging down the screw again.

The windage adjustment is capped, which is not an uncommon practice these days. It is typically used less often than the elevation turret, normally just for zeroing the rifle. Opposite the windage is the elevation control on top of the parallax knob. It’s pretty self explanatory, especially if you are looking through the scope. The hollow posts of the reticle don’t light up with the reticle itself, I like that as it reduces too much light when the reticle is lit. And without illumination, the hollow posts allow you better perspective of the target area.

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, riflescope, quattro 15, bolt-action, bolt-action AR, 223, suppressed, yhm fat cat, coletac, shooting a precision AR15 rifle on a snowy mountain with overcast skies, — stunningly clear images seen at 9,000 feet

Tracking in the TacHunter

I measured the tracking of the turrets and reticle to see how they matched up on paper. Modern manufacturing techniques make it much easier to ensure a scope is actually moving the amount it says it does. Additionally, I wanted to make sure it not only moves what it says, but also returns to where it supposed to.

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, reticle, reticle, tracking,

In my examination, the Mueller TacHunter exhibited accurate and corresponding movements on both the turrets and the reticle. Measuring a distance with the reticle, and dialing that amount with the turrets would make a corresponding correction. Dialing the scope up and down during various shooting trips would show the reticle return to the same spot.

Pros and Cons

Let’s start out with a couple things I would change about this scope. I do like this second focal plane version, but I am more of a first focal plane kinda guy. So it would be awesome if Mueller would produce an FFP version of this scope. The exact same thing could be said about MOA versus MRAD, I’d like this scope even more if it was MRAD like my other scopes. And unlike making an FFP version of the scope, the cost differential would be minimal.

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, riflescope, quattro 15, bolt-action, bolt-action AR, 223, cole tac, yhm fat cat suppressor, — my bolt-action AR15 is a great match for the TacHunter, seen here with a **YHM Fat Cat suppressor** and **Cole-TAC cover**

The illumination might be a little better suited if less of it was illuminated. With the entire reticle being lit up, it can be a little overpowering to your eye in low light conditions where it will be used. I also wish there was more than one “off” position for the illumination.

On the plus side, this scope is very affordable, with nearly every model from Mueller being under $300. I will say that only a little more you can likely get something very comparable or perhaps better.

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, riflescope, quattro 15, bolt-action, bolt-action AR, 223, suppressed, yhm fat cat, coletac, walking through snowy woods, — this setup is great for a prowl through the woods

The high quality lenses that Mueller Optics uses in these scopes definitely shows, as the images are very bright and clean. And the sharp focus and parallax adjustments make it very easy to see fantastic images. The reticle is very fine and useful for precise shooting and measuring. I think this scope is going to stay on one of my varmint rifles for sure.

Conclusion

Despite the few things I would change about this scope, I still think it has great use on your precision varmint rifle or something comparable. It gives a fantastic view through the scope with great visual refinement. While its mechanical features might be a touch behind the times compared to the rest of the market, I still find it very useful in my collection. And I look forward to stacking piles of furry little bodies with it later this spring.

-CBM

Check out more scope reviews here

mueller, mueller optics, tachunter, 6-24x50, scope, riflescope, quattro 15, bolt-action, bolt-action AR, 223, cole tac, yhm fat cat suppressor, shooting an AR15 in the snowy rocky mountains,

Years of Suppression with the SilencerCo Omega 300 Suppressor

March 25, 2026Product review, suppressorsomega, omega 300, SiCo, silencer, silencerco, suppressorcoldboremiracle

Prologue

SilencerCo’s Omega has been a stalwart in their line up for some time, over a decade actually. The Omega offers a variety of modularity and adaptability, and its continuous manufacture would suggest that the shooting public likes what it has to offer. So today we are taking a look at one of SilencerCo’s most successful models; the SilencerCo Omega 300. It has seen some changes over its lifetime likely, but today we’ll see what makes it tick, and why shooters keep buying it.

silencerco, omega 30, suppressor, unboxing, packaging, hdb mount, thread cap, tools, disassembly tools, — fresh out of the box with its service tools

The SilencerCo Omega 300

One could argue the Omega has been the backbone of SilencerCo’s 30 caliber suppressor line. The Omega features a fully welded lightweight core, with a modular hub and muzzle cap. With its iconic anchor brake users can reduce recoil, or swap it out for a traditional muzzle cap. Various Bravo style mounting options allow you mount the suppressor however you see fit. Direct thread options or any of the ratcheting lock style muzzle devices can also be incorporated to the Omega’s breech.

silencerco, omega 30, suppressor, anchor brake, brake, end cap, disassembly, — removing the hub cap and anchor brake

Whether you use the Omega for a 5.56 full-auto carbine, or for your precision 300 Winchester rifle, there is great compatibility. Generous barrel limitations make the Omega a good choice if you are an SBR enthusiast. When you buy the Omega 300, it comes with a Bravo 5/8-24 threaded hub for direct threading to your muzzle. As well as the tools needed to change out the hub.

Specifications

Caliber Compatibility	.223 REM/5.56 NATO to .300 WM
Accessories	Bravo & ASR
MSRP	$699
Weight	12.6 oz
Length	6.98″
Diameter	1.57″
Materials	Cobalt-6, Inconel, 17 – 4 SS, & Titanium
Muzzle Average	5.56 NATO: 130.1 dB 300 BLK: 119.5 dB 308 WIN: 133.2 dB 300 WM: 140 dB
Ships With	.30 Cal Bravo Anchor Brake, 5/8×24 Bravo Direct Thread Mount, Bravo Basic tool, & (1) Bravo Multi Tool

silencerco, omega 30, suppressor, marmot, chuck, rockchuck, custome rifle, .223 remington, tract toric, suppressed, suppressed hunting, — the Omega pictured has done duty on varmint and deer rifles both for years

I am no stranger to the Omega 300, not only have I used them on various occasions but a good friend of mine has been using one for nearly a decade. It has been along with us on countless trips into the mountains hunting both deer and varmints. And it also been along on hunts in the sage covered plains of Wyoming. My experience shooting this suppressor has been pretty uniform over the years.

silencerco, omega 300, suppressor, cva cascade, 6.5 creedmoor, rifle,

Shooting The SilencerCo Omega 300

A good portion of my shooting with the Omega 300 has been done using the Desert Tech SRS as a host. Various different rifles and calibers that all functioned well with the Omega at the muzzle. Additionally, we’ve used it on various other bolt action rifles chambered in 308 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .223 Remington.

The Omega 300 can be used with or without the Anchor Brake installed up front. I found the brake to be effective in reducing recoil felt by the shooter. Even better than some other cans with brakes built into the muzzle.

silencerco, omega 300, suppressor, cva cascade, 6.5 creedmoor, rifle, shooting rifle supported by bipod on a shooting mat,

For a semi-automatic hosts we’ve shot the Omega using a Desert Tech WLVRN. This multi-caliber rifle would make another great host with its 5.56 and 6ARC barrels. The Omega was easily fitted to either barrel by swapping out the hub from 5/8-24 to 1/2-28. And to add some sport to the outing, I also mounted up the Armasight Contractor 320 thermal scope. Chasing some local coyotes in the dark would be a perfect use for the Omega.

armasight, thermal, contractor 320, thermal scope, digital, weapon sight, wlvrn, desert tech, silencerco, omega 300, suppressor, gps guncase, — transporting my rifle in a **GPS Riflecase**

Sound Suppression

The Omega does a great job of suppressing the report of .30-caliber and smaller rifles. With 308 sized rifles the sound and recoil was modest and very pleasant. Even smaller cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6 ARC and .223 Remington were even more mild. I expect with the smaller cartridges I would have preferred to remove the brake from the can. As the recoil was minimal, and the slight disturbance of dirt on the ground was just enough to make it annoying.

desert tech, srs SD, vortex optics, razor HD, 308 winchester, atlas bipod, carbon fiber, silencerco, omega 300, suppressor, shooting supported from the ground with cloudy background, — The SRS SD supported here by the Area 419 ARCA Rail and **Atlas Bipod**

Recoil Reduction

The large anchor brake that comes with the Omega 300 does a great job of reducing recoil. Suppressors in general reduce recoil already, but the added brake seems to help even more. When shooting the Omega 300 alongside an identical rifle outfitted with the SilencerCo Scythe Ti we could all feel the reduced recoil from the Omega.

But because of the modularity of the Omega, you needn’t use the brake if you don’t want to. Replacing it with one of the Bravo muzzle caps removed the brake, and I think makes it a touch quieter too. If you are shooting one of those calibers that doesn’t have heavy recoil in the first place, perhaps the Bravo cap is the way to go.

Modularity

SilencerCo’s Omega was at the beginning of the hub craze. With so many mounting options you can connect it to your host rifle however you wish. Whether it be a direct thread hub, or one of the locking QD brake options. I used it with both SilencerCo’s ASR locking mount, as well as with YHM’s Phantom QD muzzle devices.

All this can be done using the included tool set that comes with the Omega. It comes with the basic 5/8-24 direct thread mount, so any other options you wish to use would have to be purchased separately.

Value Proposition

With an MSRP around $700, the Omega 300 is an easy choice. These days there are so many options out there with prices jumping all the time. It’s very refreshing to see the good ol’ Omega 300 still available for prices that remind me of the good old days.

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armasight, thermal, contractor 320, thermal scope, digital, weapon sight, wlvrn, desert tech, silencerco, omega 300, suppressor, shooting bench,

Silence Everything with the CMMG Zeroed 36 Suppressor

March 23, 2026Product review, suppressorscmmg, silencer, suppressor, zeroed, zeroed 36coldboremiracle

Introduction

CMMG has been upping their game since I first heard about them years ago, the brand is famous for AR-styled rifles, and has developed various improvements on the design with their Dissent and Banshee models. But having just finished up SHOT Show 2026, one of the biggest themes of the show is that EVERYBODY seems to be jumping in on the suppressor game. And I find no fault in CMMG for joining in on the trend, which brings us to today’s subject. We will be taking a look at the new CMMG Zeroed 36 Suppressor. A full-auto rated 35 caliber suppressor for use with cartridges like 9mm 308 Winchester and 8.6Blk.

The CMMG Zeroed 36 Suppressor

With so many interesting and diverse caliber offerings, it came as no surprise that CMMG started out with a broad selection of suppressor options. From rimfire suppressors made for 22’s, and 5.56 suppressors for your carbine. Up to big 30 caliber cans made to run on their 308 rifles, and even into the 36 and 46 caliber cans for those big bores. Our Zeroed 36 suppressor today is perfectly fitted for a host chambered in nearly any of today’s popular carbine calibers.

cmmg, zeroed 36, suppressor, breek arms, tri-lug, suppressor mount, qd mount, cole tac, suppressor cover, ammunition, cartridges, — the Zeroed 36 with some of the cartridges and accessories used

The Zeroed 36 uses the very popular hub-mounting system that most manufacturers are moving to. I can’t explain how much I appreciate this trend. As one who is used to having firearms rethreaded in order to use with my suppressors, its beautiful to not have that concern moving forward. The Zeroed 36 came with both a 1/2-28 and 5/8-24 thread cap for mounting to various firearms.

Specifications

Caliber	.22 ARC, .300 BLK, .308 WIN, .338 ARC, .350 Legend, 4.6x30mm, 5.56x45mm, 5.7x28mm, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 Grendel, 6mm ARC, 7.62x39mm, 8.6 BLK, 9mm
Finish	Nitride
Weight	17.1 oz \| 15.1 oz w/o mount
Length	6.5″ \| 6.2″ w/o Mount
Diameter	1.58″
HUB Compatible	Yes
Material	Heat Treated 17-4 Stainless Steel
Attachment	Direct Thread
Minimum Barrel Length	8.6 BLK: 6.5″ \| 350 Legend: 10.5″ \| 300 PRC: 20″
Mount	(1) 1/2″-28 & (1) 5/8″-24 Direct Thread HUB Mounts
Full Auto Rated	Yes
Bore Diameter	.36 Caliber/9mm

All Zeroed suppressors feature laser welded 17-4 stainless steel. You can feel when you pick these up that they are built robust, which is why it weighs over 17 ounces. Recommended full-auto use suggests breaks every 240 rounds or so. Its hub mounted design is accented by a 3/8 square drive hole in the muzzle-end of the suppressor, which allows you a solid disassembly option. Keeping with its modular design, no special tools are required for assembly or disassembly.

Shooting with the CMMG Zeroed 36

My first test with the Zeroed 36 was an indoor range, testing how it performed with 11.5-inch 300Blk and 5.56 semi-auto carbine. For that I used a Desert Tech WLVRN bullpup, switching quickly between to two calibers in the same rifle.

cmmg, zeroed, zeroed 36, suppressor, silencer, srs, srs a1, covert, desert tech, sig sauer, tango 6, — the CMMG Zeroed 36 Mounted on my Desert Tech SRS A1 chambered in 8.6Blk

I also wanted to see how the Zeroed 36 would perform on bolt-action rifles. So, I would end up using it on several, my Desert Tech SRS in 6GT, and 8.6Blk. And I also brought along my Howa Mini and Taurus Expedition, chambered in 6ARC and 308 Winchester.

cmmg, zeroed, zeroed 36, suppressor, silencer, taurus expedition, riton, — for testing 308 application I fired the can on my Taurus Expedition

Shooting across all these host rifles, I used a variety of hubs to get the right thread pitch to fit each one. I even used my Breek Arms Tri-Lug mount, which makes a quick job of attaching and removal of the suppressor.

cmmg, zeroed 36, suppressor, breek arms, tri-lug, suppressor mount, qd mount, — QD mounting was quickly done using the Breek-LOC system

Modular Mounting

Making the Zeroed 36 a hub-compatible suppressor means there are countless ways to mount it. The can came with two direct-thread hub mounts, threaded 5/8-24 and 1/2-28 which will fit most firearms. I already had several other hub mounts already that I would also use. For shooting my Desert Tech SRS in 8.6Blk I would need a 3/4-24 threaded hub, I used a SilencerCo hub and it fit perfectly. Additionally I used my Breek-LOC QD tri-lug mount, which makes adding or removing the suppressor quick, sturdy and secure. The Zeroed 36 has a 3/8 square drive in the muzzle to give you a robust torque point for changing the hub system.

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, — this bolt-action host for the Z36, is a custom Remington, on top you’ll find the DiscoverOpt 5-25 scope

In total I ended up mounting the CMMG Zeroed to quite a variety of host firearms. A Desert Tech WLVRN SBR with 11.5-inch barrels in both 5.56 and 300Blk, and another WLVRN with 20-inch barrels chambered in 6 ARC and 5.56. To see how it did with 8.6Blk I fit the Zeroed 36 to my Desert Tech SRS A1 where it sounded great. For 308 I ran the suppressor on my Taurus Expedition 308 Winchester, a bolt-action featuring an 18-inch barrel. For 6.5 Creedmoor I installed the Zeroed can on a Bergara 22-inch HMR carbon.

Sound

Shooting a variety of firearms with the Zeroed 36 gave plenty of opportunity to evaluate its sound suppression. As you might imagine, it worked very well with low gas volume cartridges with big bores. When shooting the 9mm and 8.6Blk the Zeroed 36 can had more than enough volume to suppress the expulsion of gas to a reasonable level. Higher pressure cartridges like the 308 Winchester and .223 Remington gave the can a little more of a workout. Even so, the noise at the shooters ear was what I would consider hearing safe. Obviously according to authorities on the subject, you should always wear ear-protection, but the whole reason I own suppressors is to avoid that inconvenience.

cmmg, zeroed, zeroed 36, suppressor, silencer, srs, srs a1, covert, desert tech, sig sauer, tango 6, two vets tripod, tripod, cole tac, — shooting my SRS 8.6Blk off of the **Two Vets Carbon fiber tripod**

Bolt-action rifles were perfectly suppressed by the Zeroed 36 can, whereas some of the semi-auto rifles were a touch louder. For example, using a Zeroed 556 can would have likely given better results when shooting 5.56 rounds. The larger muzzle of the 36 is less restrictive for the tighter column of pressure. And as usual, having a semi-auto ejection port near your face also brings the noise closer to your ears.

My overall impression with the report of the Zeroed 36 suppressor was good. It’s hard to make a modular suppressor that is perfect at everything, there always seems to be one compromise or another. I think this suppressor does a great job of offering the user options for various hosts and calibers. In the open country where I shoot it sounds fantastic.

cmmg, zeroed, zeroed 36, suppressor, silencer, AR15, — the hub mount made this can easy to mount on so many different firearms

Gas Blowback?

In our modern suppressor market, we are spoiled for choice. There are so many manufacturers, designs, and features you can get nearly anything you want. A very popular topic when it comes to suppressing semi-autos is the topic of gas blow-back. Semi-autos tend to push exhaust from the chamber back towards the shooter when suppressed. Many suppressor manufacturers have worked to reduce this back pressure to enhance your shooting experience with their suppressor. I shoot outside mainly, and my typical shot string isn’t particularly long. So this is not as big a deal for me, and I found the back-pressure caused by the Zeroed 36 to be acceptable. Some folks seem to be much more susceptible to blowback, and they might want to spend more money on something different.

This is obviously greatly dependent on the host firearm, for example shooting the Zeroed 36 on my bullpup rifles brings the ejection port even closer to your face than conventional rifles. It doesn’t bother me as I prefer the advantages of the design, but I can see how it might bother others.

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cmmg, zeroed, zeroed 36, suppressor, silencer, AR15, cole tac, — the Zeroed 36 is seen here wrapped by a **Cole-TAC Python suppressor cover** (use my discount code to save)

For shooting the Zeroed 36 suppressor on a pistol, I chose my Ruger RXM 9mm. After installing a booster and piston into the back of the Zeroed can, it threaded nicely onto the pistol. It was a bit heavy for a pistol suppressor, but it worked great at keeping down the noise. There was of course a little added backpressure, but that is not uncommon.

ruger, rxm, 9mm, pistol, glock clone, magpul, vector optics, frenzy, red dot, surefire x300, cmmg, zeroed 36, — I tested the Zeroed 36 on my **Ruger RXM 9mm pistol** as well

Optimizing AR-15 Accuracy for Long-Range Varmint Hunting

March 20, 2026blogaccuracy, ar-15, ar15, long-range, varmint huntingcoldboremiracle

Written by Guest

Intro

Stretching an AR-15 past 300 yards on prairie dogs this spring sounds ambitious. True — but not crazy. The platform has come so far that varmint hunting at real long range is practical now, not just some YouTube fantasy.
Still, you can’t bolt a Vortex onto a stock Ruger AR-556 and expect half-MOA groups at 400 yards. Doesn’t work like that. Every component matters — barrel, trigger, optic, ammo. Let’s see what actually moves the needle when you’re building an AR for precision small game work at distance.

US Optics, SXR, 1-6, lpvo, USO, low power variable optic, ar15, ar

What You Need to Know About the AR-15 Rifle

The AR-15 is not a single rifle. It’s a system — and that distinction matters way more for precision shooting than people realize. So, you need to know how the AR-15 rifle works to make the most of it for varmint shooting.
Here’s where most guys go wrong first. Factory AR-15s ship with mil-spec triggers breaking at 6-8 pounds. Heavy. Gritty. Completely wrong for careful shot placement at range. Drop in a Geissele SSA-E or a LaRue MBT-2S, and you’ll wonder why you waited. Cheapest meaningful upgrade you can make.

Next up — the handguard. Free-floated rail, non-negotiable. When your barrel touches the handguard anywhere, harmonics go sideways, and groups open up. Aero Precision and Midwest Industries both sell solid free-float setups. Now, something people overlook: the AR-15’s direct impingement gas system actually helps accuracy. Sure, gas pistons — like on an HK MR556 — cut fouling. Yet DI vents gas straight through the bolt carrier, meaning less mechanical movement while the round fires. For varmint hunting specifically, where you shoot from stable positions at tiny targets, that consistency edge compounds over an afternoon. Finally, modularity. No other platform lets you swap uppers in thirty seconds — .223 coyote rig to a 6.5 Grendel setup. That flexibility is why the AR owns this space.

Caliber Selection for Long-Range Varmint Work

Caliber choice will make or break you out past 300. Period. Under 300 yards, .223 Remington handles prairie dogs and groundhogs just fine. Cheap, low-recoil, available at every Walmart in America. Beyond that, though… The round bleeds velocity fast, and wind drift gets ugly with lightweight 55-grain pills.

223, 223 remington, hornady, bullets, handloading, reloading,

So what do you actually run? The .224 Valkyrie deserves a serious look. Federal built it for long-range AR work, and the 90-grain Sierra MatchKing load stays supersonic past 1,000 yards.
Overkill for ground squirrels at 500? Maybe. But that flat trajectory makes first-round connections on small targets way easier. Meanwhile, 6.5 Grendel gives you heavier bullets with strong ballistic coefficients — plus enough thump to drop coyotes cleanly.
Also worth knowing — barrel life varies across these calibers. The .224 Valkyrie eats barrels faster than Grendel, noticeably quicker than .223. Naturally, if you’re doing high-volume prairie dog shoots — 200 rounds in one sitting — factor that in before committing to a caliber.

Barrel Upgrades That Actually Matter

Not every barrel upgrade is worth your money. Some are. Knowing the difference saves you hundreds of dollars and a lot of frustration. Start with barrel length. For most varmint calibers, 18 to 20 inches hits the sweet spot between velocity and portability. Go shorter, and you leave real fps on the table. Conversely, past 20 inches with .223, diminishing returns kick in, and you’re hauling dead weight.

Twist rate matters too — more than most shooters realize. A 1:8 twist covers the widest range of bullet weights in .223. However, heavy-for-caliber stuff in .224 Valkyrie needs 1:6.5 or 1:7 to keep those long 90-grain bullets stable. Criterion and Bartlein both make outstanding aftermarket options.
On material — stainless steel beats chrome-moly for pure accuracy. The tradeoff is durability; chrome-moly holds up longer under sustained fire. For varmint hunting, where precision matters more than barrel life in tens of thousands of rounds, go stainless.

Optics and Scope Setup

Glass matters more than the rifle itself. Yeah — hot take. Still true. For work past 300 yards, grab a variable-power scope in the 4-16x or 6-24x range. The Vortex Viper PST Gen II and Athlon Ares BTR both deliver without requiring a second mortgage. At those distances, though, magnification alone does not cut it — you need turrets that track and repeat.

ar15, ar 15, 6.5 Grendel, us optics, FDN17X, — this 6.5 Grendel rifle was unstoppable with the **US Optics FDN17X** on it

First focal plane holds the edge because your reticle scales with magnification, keeping holdover marks accurate at every power setting. The second focal plane works too — but only if you dial a set magnification before using subtensions. Otherwise? Your holds are off. MOA or MRAD — pick one, learn it properly. In practice, MRAD pairs better with metric-based ballistic calculators, and most competitive long-range guys have gone that direction already. Yet
plenty of accurate shooters run MOA without a single issue.

Besides parallax adjustment — don’t sleep on it. Past 400 yards, even a slight parallax error shifts your impact enough to miss a prairie dog entirely. Accordingly, check that your scope’s parallax knob dials low enough. Some budget glass bottoms out at 50 yards, which is useless for this kind of work.

Fine-Tuning Ammunition and Loads

Everything upstream — barrel, trigger, optic — only hits its potential when the right ammo feeds through it. Before you touch a reloading press, try factory match loads. Hornady V-MAX and Federal Premium’s Nosler Ballistic Tip offerings are proven. Test at least three loads in your specific rifle. Seriously — two guns off the same line can prefer completely different ammo. That’s barrels being barrels. Essentially, no two are identical. Handloading takes things further, though. Consistent charges weighed on a digital scale (not thrown volumetrically), proper brass prep, and careful seating depth work can shrink a 1-MOA rifle to half-MOA. Specifically, the Redding Type-S bushing die set earns every penny if you’re chasing sub-MOA consistency.
Brass lot consistency gets overlooked constantly. Mixing cases from different production runs introduces volume variations that change pressure and velocity shot to shot. Consequently, even a 15 fps spread shows on paper at 400 yards. Therefore, keep your brass sorted by lot number — no exceptions, no shortcuts.

ar15, quattro 15, desert tech, eotech, vudu, LPVO, desert shooting,

The Bottom Line

Building a precision AR isn’t about buying the most expensive parts. Your job here is to make the right parts work together. Get the right trigger, barrel, optic, and ammo, and 400-yard prairie dogs become routine. And you won’t need a $4,000 custom build, either. Smart upgrades for varmint hunting in the right order are what you should focus on — not throwing money at cool stuff from r/longrange.

Vortex Optics Defender CCW Enclosed Solar Micro red dot

March 18, 2026Optics, Product reviewccw, defender, micro, Red dot, rmsc, solar, Vortex, vortex opticswcoldboremiracle

Prologue

Enclosed red dot sights are becoming more and more popular, and I decided recently that I’d jump into them with eyes open. Today we are taking a look at the Vortex Optics Defender CCW enclosed solar micro red dot. Part of the larger Vortex Defender family, this model encloses the emitter and adds a solar power supply all in a micro red dot that drops onto the popular RMSc footprint. We’ll review this sight and give you some feedback on it and how it stands next to its competition.

the Defender CCW was a perfect fit for my Girsan 2311

The Vortex Defender CCW

I’ve had a couple other Vortex Defenders recently, and I quite liked them if I’m honest. So it was with some confidence that I decided to match this new Defender with my latest 2011 style pistol. My Girsan Witness 2311 has an RMSc footprint machined into it’s slide, so I wanted to put a good enclosed sight on the pistol, which led me to the Defender.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, safariland, als holster, — this **Safariland Holster** was a perfect fit with the Defender installed

The Defender CCW Enclosed Solar Micro Red Dot (ESMRD) is a tough built dual-powered sight. It’s large window houses a configurable reticle inside its protected weatherproof housing. This dot is made to fit large weapons down to sub-compact handguns.

Vortex, vortex optics, defender, CCW, red dot, solar, micro, packaging,

Like other Defender dots, this one came with an incredible selection of accessories. A great variety of mounting screws in various sizes, an one-degree angle shim, mounting and adjusting tools. As well as a picatinny mount, and a cute little rubber cover.

Specifications

Mounting Footprint	Shield RMSc
Dot Size	3 MOA Dot / 32 MOA Circle
Dot Color	Bright Red
Magnification	1x
Battery Type	CR2032
Battery Run Time	35,000 hrs. without solar / 150,000 hrs. with solar
Reticle	Multi-Reticle
Eye Relief	Unlimited
Adjustment Graduation	1 MOA
Travel Per Rotation	30 MOA
Max Elevation Adjustment	110 MOA
Max Windage Adjustment	110 MOA
Parallax Setting	Parallax Free
Deck Height	7.2mm
Length	1.59″
Weight	1.30 oz.

Mounting the Defender

After removing the sight from my pistol, I sat down to mount the Defender ESMRD. Using a set of screws that came with it, I did a few test fits to ensure it would be properly secured. I always like to put a touch of blue Loctite on the threads and under the screw-head. Nothing worse than your red dot coming loose while shooting, so I snugged it down nicely with the included tool. I love that Vortex red dots come with basically everything you need to mount them.

Powering up the Defender would require removing the battery cover to remove the battery isolation sticker. After which the reticle lit up and allowed me to give it a rough adjustment before heading to the range.

Range-time and Zeroing

Zeroing the Defender was easy, lining up the reticle with the sights as I torqued it down. After that, with a few shots I made some adjustments with the included tools. In no time the Witness 2311 was hitting my point of aim.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, zeroing, adjustment,

We would shoot quite a bit at an indoor range the first time. Getting a good feel for picking up the reticle and focusing on targets. Following the instructions I cycled through the three reticle configurations, this is done by pressing the + and – button together. You can select between a 3 MOA dot, a 32 MOA circle, or the two together. I am a bit of a circle dot kinda guy so that where it typically stayed.

You can also lock out the buttons to prevent unintended adjustments. Pushing the + button and holding down until the reticle blinks, and easily reversed by doing the same process till it blinks twice.

According to the manufacturer, the Defender Solar Micro will last approximately 35,000 hours on a battery, using the 3 MOA dot with no solar input. That might be the case, but I wasn’t going to find out. As I like the circle dot configuration, and there would certainly be some solar input since I usually shoot in the daylight. But furthermore I was going to engage the auto-shutdown feature that is a must for red dots these days. By holding both buttons down you can engage or disengage this feature.

Optical Performance

While I am not a huge fan of the “mailbox look” , this red dot is a bit larger than other options because it is an enclosed emitter. Its very comparable to other enclosed emitters of the same size, and has a large window. For a micro red dot It certainly felt like a big lens.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot,

I did feel like the Defender CCW Solar Micro had less color change when looking through it. And I also really liked how sharp and clean the reticle looked. No parallax made it easy to focus on whatever I wanted to shoot.

Usability

Adjustments and controls of this Defender were easy to understand and remember. Its included tools made it easy to zero the reticle and the included directions explained everything nicely. I like the dual power source, and the battery is easy to change without removing the unit from the host. I also like that they used the CR2023 battery which is more common than the other options typically used in micro sized red dots.

Value

MSRP on this red dot from Vortex’s website shows $400, but as usual you can find this red dot on places like Optics Planet for much less. I have other similar red dots that retail for more that I don’t like as much as this Defender. Even if you broaden the search to other larger red dots of different footprints, I still think this one offers more for less.

Pros and Cons

First off, this thing is handsome. And we can’t pretend that doesn’t matter, it looks like a great quality fit for nice handguns. The controls are easy and comprehensive, external battery mounting and the plethora of included accessories and mounting options make it a slam dunk. Its big clear window makes for quick finding and engaging of targets, and the reticle selection is a big plus. All this for a reasonable price when compared to others.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, reticle,

If there was anything I would change about this red dot, it would probably be a bigger circle option. Nothing wrong with the 32MOA, but I wouldn’t mind like a 50 or 60 MOA circle option too. But of course these are subjective preferences. I also wouldn’t mind if they incorporated a notch on the base to double as a rear sight if needed.

Concluding Thoughts

Every time I get a new Vortex red dot, my inventory of fasteners and tools is enriched. Vortex packs some great added value with their red dots, and that’s a pretty big feather in the cap for this sight. My selection of Defenders continues to grow, and this one is probably my favorite so far. The simple controls and all the options are what seal the deal for me. I am uninterested in red dots moving forward that don’t have auto-shutdown, this and other features make the Defender CCW Solar Micro very adaptable to various applications. I look forward to the bright future and reticle with this combination.

-CBM

First Shots with the Charles Daly 301 12-gauge Shotgun

March 16, 2026Product review, Shooting hardware12-gauge, charles daly, model 301, shotguncoldboremiracle

Prologue

Charles Daly has been manufacturing firearms for over a century, importing a variety of firearms to the United States market. And recently they have even moved to begin manufacturing some of their products domestically here in the US. Today’s topic is one of the company’s meat and potatoes products, we will be reviewing the Charles Daly 301 shotgun, chambered in 12-gauge. One of many different firearms including various shotgun types and handguns patterned after the 1911 and other 9mm firearms like their PAK-9.

charles daly, model 301, pump-action, 12-gauge, shotgun

Charles Daly 301

I purchased the Charles Daly Model 301 pump as a gift for my son; every kid needs a pump-action shotgun. As I was looking at the gun,, it looked like it was very closely patterned to the Remington 870 I bought as a kid myself. With hopes of a similar good experience in mind, I figured it was worth a try.

charles daly, model 301, pump-action, 12-gauge, shotgun, disassembly, field strip, cleaning, — the Stripped down model 301, note choke selection

The Model 301 uses a pump-action design to feed cartridges from the tubular magazine into its 3-inch chamber. It’s vented-rib barrel is 28-inches long, and compatible with the WinChoke system. At the tip of the rib there is a brass bead for aiming. Included with the gun is a set of three chokes (IC, M, F).

The shotgun is stocked with synthetic polymer furniture and features a rubber recoil pad at the back. The controls are all located in the trigger/sear assembly pinned into the receiver. There is an action-unlock button on the front of the trigger guard, and the safety is behind the trigger.

Locking the bolt closed is much like the 870 design. The bolt rides on top of a wedged carrier, and when the bolt meets the breech of the barrel, the wedge pushes a locking lug up through the 12 o’clock position. The locking lug engages a reciprocating cut in the barrel extension.

Specifications

Caliber:	12GA-3”
Action:	Pump-Action
Barrel Length:	28” (711 mm)
Capacity:	4+1 Rounds
Feed In:	Magazine Tube
Trigger System:	Single
Stock:	Chk. Synthetic – Black
Forend:	Chk. Synthetic – Black
Safety:	Manual
Chokes:	Beretta/Benelli Mobil Choke Threads, MC-3 (IC, M, F)
Total Length:	48.25” (1226 mm)
Material:	Aluminum Receiver, Steel Barrel
Net Weight:	7.40 lb
Finishing:	Matte Black
Extraction:	Auto Ejection
Ships Loose:	Manual
Ean/Upc:	8053800941037
Note:	Receiver Grooved For Scope Mount

Shooting the Charles Daly Model 301

Our initial test of the shotgun would be shooting clay targets thrown by hand in the nearby mountains. Anticipating a great deal of shooting, we brought a case of shells and clays both. Initial impressions of the Model 301 were like this; it seemed a touch bulkier in the grip areas than other shotguns. Not a big deal unless you have tiny hands. There was a ever so slight zipping sound when you run the pump back and forth. I attribute this to tiny tooling marks on the sliding surfaces of the magazine tube and action. A very small issue, and as far as I can tell it has no effects on function.

charles daly, model 301, pump-action, 12-gauge, shotgun, clay target, clay pigeon, — Junior had a great time shooting the 301

Swinging the Charles Daly 301 felt very familiar to my old Remington 870. The textured rib stands out against the dull sky, and the brass bead gives a clear aimpoint. The controls too are very familiar and worked flawlessly. I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that a gun at this price point has many plastic parts, but I was surprised to see the trigger/sear pack was made of plastic.

As I disassembled the gun for cleaning after a range trip I did notice how strikingly simple the design is. It was easy to take it down to component pieces for easy cleaning and lubricating.

charles daly, model 301, pump-action, 12-gauge, shotgun, shooting, ejection, — positive extraction and ejection were the norm

Our Experience

Both my son and I went round after round shooting clays in the clear mountain breeze. For me it was like a familiar memory shooting my 30-year-old Remington, and for my son it was his own beginning to a similar memory.

charles daly, model 301, pump-action, 12-gauge, shotgun, ammunition, shells, — we shot a variety of ammunition from **Federal**, Remington and **Fiocchi**

Both of us are around average height, and we found the length of pull to be forgiving. And the reach required to operate the gun’s action was also average. As usual, it took us a little bit to figure out the lead and feel for this gun, it was a little easier when we swapped out the Modified choke for an Improved Cylinder.

Operation was flawless as you might expect, I’ve found that pumps either work or they are visibly broken. With little room in between. The model 301 had no problem shucking shells through the action, with excellent extraction and ejection throughout our shooting. We shot a variety of ammunition from Federal and Fiocchi, both 1-1/8 ounce as well as some 1-ounce loads. We even shot a box of Remington steel loads to see how this gun would do for waterfowl hunting next fall.

charles daly, model 301, pump-action, 12-gauge, shotgun, loading, magazine, — feeding the magazine was a little touchy, but once you figured it out everything went smooth

Pros and Cons

Charles Daly’s Model 301 does a fine job of fulfilling our purposes. As I mentioned I think it’s a crime for a young man not to have an inexpensive pump-shotgun to follow him through life. This gun for sure will spend some time in this alpine wilderness pursuing grouse and other game. The operating action of the gun seems reliable and solid; I am unsure if it is a direct copy of the 870 or just similar. But it does have many of the same functions and features, and even has a couple things I wish my 870 had. The barrel-nut has a nice ball-detent, with a broad surface for turning by hand. The inclusion of a set of three chokes was a nice addition that not every shotgun at this price point offers.

Finish Reading Here

Shootability

As an entry level shotgun, this gun must have some good shootability atributes. And we found it to be very comparable to the other entry level shotguns we brought that day. The long textured rib made a nice non-reflective contrast in the sky, and the bead popped enough to be useful.

I’m not sure why but it felt like the grip areas were a touch thicker than they needed to be, but otherwise perfectly fine. Both me and the boys all had no issues getting comfortable with the gun, and getting it on targets. One of them is left-handed, which made figuring out the safety a little different. But he otherwise had no issues shooting the 301.

The weight of this gun makes it easy to get up and swing on targets fast. Its controls are simple and easy to operate, pumping through box after box of ammunition.

Reliability

We experienced exactly zero malfunctions while shooting the Charles Daly Model 301. Over the course of several days and rangetrips we put nearly a case of ammunition through the gun. Of various types but mostly 2-¾ rounds shooting 1Oz and 1-1/8Oz loads. The claw extractor worked great at pulling spent shells from the chamber, and they were thrown clear of the action flawlessly and consistently. Like any gun, the Daly 301 seems to have broken in a bit since we first pulled it from the box. And I expect it will continue to smooth up even more.

charles daly, model 301, pump-action, 12-gauge, shotgun, bolt, bolt disassembly, firing pin, — the disassembled bolt of the Model 301

Ergonomics

Gripping this shotgun gave a natural sight picture. The comb-height and rib lined up great for me. Again, as an entry level shotgun I wasn’t expecting anything extraordinary. The controls were all easily reached from the low ready and shooting positions. The rubber buttpad gave both ample softness as well as sticking in the right spot in your shoulder pocket.

charles daly, model 301, pump-action, 12-gauge, shotgun, bolt, bolt disassembly, firing pin, barrel extension, breech, — here you can see how the bolt engages the barrel extension

Accuracy

Hitting targets with shotguns is about knowing patterns and leads. We found the Charles Daly 301 to be consistent in its patterns, which in turn allowed us the ability to learn and institute proper lead on flying targets. We did change out the choke once to see if it better fit our shooting style, and were pleasantly surprised by increased hits. Not all guns in this price point come with a selection of chokes, which greatly increases your ability to customize the pattern.

Value

There is a lot of good competition for great shotguns in this price range, so the 301 has some adversaries. Among them there are some great values on pump shotguns under $300, and so far as I’m aware they are mostly manufactured overseas. All that said, I found the Charles Daly 301 to be worth what I paid for it. I think there might be a competitor with a slight dollar value edge, but we’re not talking about much. A few boxes of shells might cost you more than the difference between this gun and its competitors, so it basically comes down to which one comes with the features you prefer.

Savage Stevens 320 Field Combo 12-gauge Shotgun

March 13, 2026Product review, Shooting hardwarecombo, field grade, model 320, savage, savage stevens, stevenscoldboremiracle

Introduction

Pump shotguns are perhaps the backbone of the shotgun market.They offer reliable function for an affordable price while still taking on nearly every duty a shotgun might be charged with. Today we are taking a look at one of these affordable options, we will be reviewing the Savage Stevens 320 Field Combo. A combination shotgun that comes with both a 28-inch hunting barrel and an 18.5-inch security barrel.

Savage, stevens, savage stevens, 320, model 320, 12 gauge, shotgun, field grade combo, — the Stevens 320 was a joy to shoot

Savage Arms has a long history with American firearm enthusiasts. A popular brand for affordable firearms, which was further broadened with the purchase of Stevens Firearms some time later. These days it appears that the Stevens name has been brought back by Savage as a discount brand with firearms manufactured overseas. This may or may not be a big selling point for some, but in today’s example it was reason enough for me to purchase this firearm.

the disassembled 320 for cleaning

The Stevens 320

The Stevens 320 action is a rotating-bolt pump-action, the bolt-carrier changes the linear motion of the pump into a rotating action where the bolt engages the breech of the barrel. The gun is fed from a tubular magazine that holds 5-rounds when the plug is removed.

the magazine plug to reduce capacity to hold 2-rounds

While the 28-inch barrel has the traditional rib with a sight-bead at the front, the shorter 18.5-inch barrel has just a simple bead. The aluminum alloy receiver is drilled and tapped for mounting a sight rail to allow additional sight options.

receiver is drilled and tapped for mounting sights

The action is fed from a traditional tube magazine that gives the gun a total capacity of 5-rounds. This particular model is the Field Grade combo, that also includes an 18.5-inch security barrel. This gives you the option for a great 28-inch field gun for hunting upland game and waterfowl, as well as a compact choke-less barrel for investigating bumps-in-the-night.

easy controls make operation simple

The Stevens 320 uses simple and inexpensive polymer furniture, and also includes both a front and rear sling stud should you wish to install one. There is a safety at the front of the trigger-guard, and the bolt-release is just behind the trigger-guard. On top of the receiver, it is drilled and tapped for mounting a sight rail.

Stevens 320 Background

Savage has been around for quite some time in the American firearms market. The Stevens name comes from the late 19th century manufacturer that was later purchased by Savage. After the end of the Great War, Savage and Stevens continued making firearms as independent brands. In more recent times like the current century, Savage brought back the Stevens name, releasing several models branded so. It appears to at least the author that the Stevens name is being used to delineate between American made Savage products and foreign built Stevens models.

The Stevens model 320 copies much of the design from the very popular Winchester model 1300 shotgun. Using the same rotating bolt design and other features of the iconic Winchester who’s demise came a short few years before the Stevens 320 was released. I remember those dark times when Winchester died …

For now, the Stevens 320 shotguns are manufactured in China, and imported to the US by Savage for sale here. It’s a long way from Shandong Province to Westfield Massachusetts, but the popularity of this shotgun would suggest they are doing a good job there.

Into the Field

To give the Steven 320 Field Grade shotgun a good test, we took it for a round of hand-thrown clays. Together with a couple other shotguns for comparison, I figured it would be a great opportunity to get a feel for it.

Savage, stevens, savage stevens, 320, model 320, 12 gauge, shotgun, field grade combo, security barrel, — the field combo adds great value with two barrels

We brought a couple cases of White Flyer clay targets, as well as an assortment of ammo. I had brought both Remington Gun Club as well as Winchester Target both with 1-1/8 ounce loads. The 320 came with a Modified choke from the factory, and since it uses the Win Choke system (.812″-32 tpi), there are plenty of options you can change it to. With the Modified choke we would be fine for now.

Shooting The Stevens 320

It didn’t take long to get the Stevens 320 warmed up, we would take turns throwing clays for each other and rotate shooters. Loading the tube magazine is straight-forward, and allows 2-rounds with the plug installed. We did notice that at first there was a touch of a challenge to get the shells past the retaining clip. But this went away with some use.

Savage, stevens, savage stevens, 320, model 320, 12 gauge, shotgun, field grade combo, loading,

The sticky grip of the rubber recoil pad made it stay in place against your shoulder. And I found that I liked the angle of the grip area, giving great position for the trigger finger. The controls were simple and quick to operate, even the novice’s amongst us. Running the pump was smooth and easy, which only got better as the gun broke in a little bit.

Looking down the rib of the barrel to lead the clays reminded me of my early years of shooting my old Remington 870. The broad rib with the bead at the end makes a very familiar and clean sight picture.

Shootability

The Stevens 320 points very well, and I liked the stock angle and grip as mentioned. It shoots just like you would expect a classic pump-gun to shoot. The grip areas have texture and grooves to hold onto, the trigger feels fine, and its light weight make it an easy swing.

The added bonus barrel in the 18.5 Security barrel, gives you another option as well. The short barrel makes the gun even more portable and quick to get on target, both great features for a defense shotgun.

Savage, stevens, savage stevens, 320, model 320, 12 gauge, shotgun, field grade combo, bolt, bolt carrier, breech, bolt lockup, — details of the barrel breech where the bolt locks up

Reliability

We shot nearly half-a-case of ammo through the 320 that first trip. And we’ve shot easily another half through it since. Not once during our testing did the Stevens not function as expected. The simplicity of the pump-action manifests over and over, using a variety of ammunition of both 1-oz and various 1-⅛-oz loads.

Quality

Despite it’s low price, I found the 320 to have little to complain about. Perhaps the finish was a bit lower quality than I’d prefer, but it was fine. There were no obvious tool marks or flaws in the finish. And it was a touch sticky when it came to loading the mag for the first little bit. Not sure if we just figured it out or it broke in. As an entry level shotgun with an MSRP of $329, I was quite happy with the level of quality.

Value

This is where the Stevens 320 absolutely shines. With basically two shotguns in one, for a street price under $300, the Steven is an excellent buy. Despite being very inexpensive, this gun appears to be built just as well as the shotgun I bought 30 years ago. A shotgun that still performs perfectly today. The 320 offers a field shotgun for hunting birds and other game, as well as a home defense type shotgun. It does this with great reliability and comfortable performance.

Pros and Cons

If the great shooting, and economic price weren’t enough, the Stevens 320 also enjoys support from the aftermarket. With various stock configurations, magazine extensions, and other items. I’ve already mentioned it shoots well, and hasn’t malfunctioned a single time yet. It is affordable for even the most economically challenged amongst us, and it comes with some great features like the extra barrel. The drilled and tapped receiver allows you to mount a sight rail like this one from EGW, allowing installation of red dots or other optics. All this makes the 320 an easy choice for an inexpensive shotgun that you can customize to your needs.

As long as you keep in mind that this is an entry-level gun, and remember what you paid for it, I don’t think there will be many complaints. I do wish it came with a couple other chokes, but for those interested they can be had for under $25 on Optics Planet. The impression of an inexpensive shotgun manufactured beyond the reach of the health and safety department are fine with me. I don’t mind a little working around rough edges to save some money.

Pros

Inexpensive
Shoots great
Reliable function
Extra barrel
Drilled and tapped receiver

Cons

Made in China
Only comes with one choke

My Imported 2011: The EAA Witness Girsan 2311 CMXX

March 11, 2026pistols, Product review10mm, 2011, 2311, 45 acp, 9mm, CMX, CMXX, eaa, european american armory, girsan, witnesscoldboremiracle

Prologue

I speak to many folks in the firearms industry on a day to day basis. In one of those conversations somebody brought up Girsan 1911 pistols, and as the discussion continued my interest grew. So, when my opportunity to get one arose, I jumped on it. And that brings us to today’s review, and the model we are looking at is the EAA Girsan 2311 CMXX 9mm pistol. The CMXX is a double-stack 1911 style pistol chambered in 9mm, this style of pistol has colloquially become known as 2011 pistols. After the famed Staccato pistols that popularized the genre.

European American Armory (EAA) is the company that imports these pistols and distributes them in the US. Girsan manufactures a variety of firearms at their factory in Turkey and has done for over thirty years.

The Girsan 2311 CMXX

I said we often call them 2011 pistols, but it appears Girsan wanted to skip that and called theirs a 2311. There are some reasons I suppose behind that, and the CMXX definitely has some progressive features. Let’s get into this pistol and see what makes it tick.

Specifications

Caliber	9mm, .45ACP or 10mm
Magazine	Standard Double Stack 1911
Action	Single Action
Barrel	Bull Barrel Lock-Up with Compensator
Finish	Cerakote® Black
Optic Ready	RMSc Footprint
Grips	Improved High Texture
Sights	Removable 3-Dot Sights, Fiber Optic Front Sight
Slide	Lightening-Cut Slide
Safety	Auto Firing Pin-Block (No Grip Safety)
Thumb Safety	Ambidextrous Lever
Accessory Rail	Full Accessory Rail

I must start out by stating something obvious. As a happy owner of a Staccato XC, I find the Girsan CMXX to be so similarly styled that its impossible to ignore. So much so that the boys in the office and I have taken to calling the CMXX “the Turkkato”. Obviously I don’t mind, as I like my Staccato very much. Though it would be somewhat unfair to compare the two. That said, keep in mind throughout this review that this is coming from a guy who also shoots a Staccato.

A Different Grip

The Girsan CMXX follows the same pattern as many other 2011 style pistols. Using a polymer grip mated to a steel frame. The grip has an aggressive texture that makes it stick to your hand very well. At the base of the frame, you’ll find a magwell flare to aid in guiding magazines into the magwell. Above the grip area you’ll also find the typical dual safety levers on either side of the grip.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, grip,

Standing out from the crowd of other 2011 pistols, the CMXX does not feature a grip safety. The traditional 1911 feature that is depressed by the hand when you grip the pistol has been swapped for a firing pin block. Much like striker fired pistols, the CMXX firing pin is blocked from protrusion unless the trigger is pulled. When disassembled, you can see the very same features under the slide as you would on a Glock.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, optic, footprint, rmsc, firing pin safety, — here you can see the firing pin block safety that replaces the grip safety common on other 2011 pistols

Slide and Barrel

Moving our attention to the slide, it is more traditional 2011 design. Except for the firing pin block of course. The extractor is internal, and not visible when the slide is locked closed. Up front there is a compensator built into the 4.25-inch barrel, which also features the traditional link to attach to the frame. On the top of the frame there are some simple three-dot sights, the front one being a fiber optic orange.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, rear sight, — I removed the rear sight because I’m a red dot nerd

The rear sight can be removed using a couple center-aligned screws. Underneath you’ll find an optics cut with lugs for the popular RMSc red dot pattern. I would for sure use that very soon, since I’m a sucker for pistols with red dots. In fact, such a sucker that I tried various options. I used the Vortex Defender CCW, and the Enclosed Solar version, as well as the Holosun SCS Carry enclosed red dot.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, red dot, mounting, — installing one of the three red dots tested on the Girsan 2311

Range Preparations

Before I headed to the range with this pistol, I wanted to kit it out to my tastes of course. That would require a few accessories; the Vortex Defender would fit nicely on top for the initial trip, a Surefire X300 light, all tucked neatly into my Safariland ALS holster.

As I removed the rear sight, I found the firing pin block neatly tucked underneath. I had to carefully remove the sight and replace it with my red dot. It would be very easy to lose the pin-safety spring during this process so be careful.

the full picatinny accessory rail allows you to line up your weapon light where you choose

Under the front of the pistol there is a complete picatinny rail, giving you various positions to mount weapon lights. I like this feature as many other pistols don’t have it. I grabbed a few boxes of Magtech, Blaser, and Federal ammo before heading out to shoot the CMXX.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, CCW, enclosed, red dot, holosun, scs carry, magtech, ammunition, — the CMXX worked great with my **Staccato 20-round magazines** too

Shooting the Girsan 2311 CMXX

My very first shots through the CMXX were at an indoor range, weather required me to do my shooting under a roof. This quickly made me aware of the concussion from the compensator of the pistol. Its louder than un-comped pistols, but certainly not a problem. And the reduction in muzzle-rise is well worth the racket.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, muzzle, compensator,

I put several magazines through the 2311, and was quite happy with how it ran. In fact it seemed after just a box or so of shooting, the pistol seemed significantly smoother and softer. Over the course of several weeks, I spent several trips to the range and other places to pump ammo through the CMXX.

I used both the 17-round magazines that came with the Girsan 2311, as well as some of the 20-round Staccato magazines. All of them functioned flawlessly, and the CMXX churned through ammo. I even took the liberty of removing the flared magwell, just to see how my reloads went. Perhaps if you were going to carry this gun that would be helpful, but I ended up putting it back.

Reliability

During the course of my shooting, we only experienced one malfunction. One failure to go into battery that I can’t be sure was the fault of the pistol or some of the remanufactured ammo I was shooting that day.

hard to see, but the Holosun SCS Carry red dot was also a great choice and fit

The ejection pattern of the pistol was slightly different than expected. It seemed like most of the time brass would eject more in the up direction than to the side. It would occasionally get scooped forward by the red dot and thrown forward. But it never caused any problems.

Shootability

Standing alone, this pistol shoots great. It is smoother and flatter-shooting than my striker-fired guns. Of course it is very hard not to compare it to my Staccato, being as they are so similar. But that would be an unfair comparison as the Staccato costs four times more.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, surefire x300, Staccato, staccato XC, holosun, 507comp, — not comparable at all! 😀

The trigger has smoothed up a bit since it came out of the box, but it still has a very slight gritty-ness to it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still nice, just not as nice as it could be. The gun feels fantastic in my hand but for the cross-pin that secures the flared magwell. The texture is very grippy, and the controls are crisp. The safety detent is stiffer than I anticipated, hopefully it wears in.

I love the texture on the slide, it makes for excellent purchase when grabbing the slide. The flat-coil recoil spring is stiffer than I expected too, I wouldn’t mind putting a softer spring in it if I could get it to work.

Shooting with the iron sights was fine, but I prefer using a red dot. Even so, using the red dot’s built-in notch as a rear sight was still perfectly usable with the front sight.

Quality

I’ve handled quite a few 2011 pistols in the last year or so. At SHOT Show alone I grabbed way too many. Generally they feel fantastic, as do their nineteenth-century counterparts. The Witness CMXX feels well built, smooth fitting, and not sloppy. Its a touch stiffer than other 2011 pistols, but it still has that quality feel. For a pistol at this price point I feel its quality is more than adequate.

holosun, scs, carry, holosun red dot, solar, Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, — been using the **Walkers Game Ear Suppressor ear buds** too

Value

As the field of 2011 options continues to deepen, I see this as an excellent modest option. So many options are out there, and this isn’t even the cheapest one of them. But I can say it is certainly worth the price in my opinion. Girsan is no stranger to making 1911 style pistols, so I expect this gun will continue performing well into the future. I’m tempted to buy another in 10mm.