Benelli shotguns are famous for their quality and inertia driven operating systems. These popular autoloading shotguns have become a reliable standard on the racks at many gun stores, and with good reason. Today we are going to take an in depth look at one of the many options Benelli offers in their Montefeltro line of shotguns. Our review of the Benelli Montefeltro 12 gauge will take us from the trap range to the duck marsh, so grab your boots.
The Benelli Montefeltro 12 gauge
The Montefeltro design is a walnut stocked semi-automatic shotgun, it of course uses Benelli’s famous inertia driven loading system. This is a significant departure from the normal practice of using gas pressure from each shot to reload the gun. Instead, the inertia system uses captured spring tension coupled to the recoil of the shot to unlock the beech and cycle the action. The system has become incredibly useful and boasts cleaner operation than traditional semi-auto shotguns.
the heart of the inertia driven action
Montefeltro shotguns use a handsome cut of walnut for the furniture, which is very handsome. But perhaps makes you less likely to drag it into a duck blind or john boat. This might explain why the guns enjoy a strong following from upland bird hunters and clay target hunters alike. The glossy high polished finish also gives the Montefeltro shotguns a classy look.
The Montefeltro shotgun models can be had in either 20 or 12 gauge, with barrel lengths from twenty-four inches up to twenty-eight inches long. There are a couple different finish options on the guns as well. The Montefeltro line also uses Benelli’s Crio choke system, this treatment offers a consistently dense shot pattern which should result in more hits according to Benelli. The Montefeltro came with a standard set of Crio chokes to adjust the pattern for your purposes.
Initial Impressions
Because I’m more of a rifle guy than shotgun, it took me the typical few minutes to go over the disassembled Montefeltro and get it together. The glossy finish matched beautifully with the polished chrome bolt-carrier. With the barrel seated, I snugged tight the ratcheting barrel nut making it ready for use.
Running the action of the gun felt just as I’d expected. The smooth slap of the bolt closing was matched by the easy to operate controls. Like most of its competitors, the Montefeltro controls operate in the same fashion which made it easy to become proficient shooting the gun. The finish of the Montefeltro is fantastic, which I have come to expect. And once assembled the fit and function of the gun looked flawless.
I couldn’t wait to get the Montefeltro out and shoot it, sadly it would take a few days. A cold winter day shooting clays with my kids was a great start to feel out the Benelli. Followed by a trip into the muddy wetlands of the Great Salt Lake looking for ducks and geese.
Shooting The Benelli Montefeltro
I grew up shooting cheap pump-guns at ducks, geese and other game birds, so perhaps my taste is a little more Mossy Oak versus Sitka or KUIU. I’ve had many opportunities to shoot fine shotguns though, and the Montefeltro seems in line with other Benelli’s, Franchi’s and Beretta’s. The recoil seems absorbed a bit by the operating system, enough that my daughter who doesn’t care for recoil seemed to enjoy shooting the Montefeltro.
a beautiful little Greenwing Teal
The long barrel of the gun made swinging across flying clays very deliberate, and we quickly found a groove that was busting clays. Following both birds and targets with the bead felt natural like a favorite pair of boots. Comfortable follow up shots came as the smooth recoil impulse didn’t knock you off target much. Speaking of comfort, the Montefeltro has all the classic fit you’d expect. With a perfectly aligned comb and sight rib, as well as familiar operating controls. We tested the gun with both two and three-quarters shells, and three-inch magnum loads in anticipation of the next trip.
Some folks might tell you that the AR15 market has become somewhat stale, as many manufacturers struggle for attention. Today we are looking at a rifle from CMMG, a company who has done well at making their AR platforms stand out from the rest. Our subject for review is the CMMG Banshee Mk4 chambered in 300 Blackout. This isn’t my first encounter with a Banshee, so I was piqued to see what made this next Banshee scream.
The CMMG Banshee
The Banshee line of rifles and pistols has a breathtaking variety. They are divided into basically two groups, one using a fixed ejector to expel pistol cases and similar, and the other using a traditional bolt-face ejector. Many of the pistol caliber Banshees use pistol magazines, but the Mk4 9mm models use an altered P-Mag to run 9mm cartridges and others.
An incredible assortment of firearms can be had within the Banshee line. Whether it be a .22Lr or the heavy hitting 8.6 Blackout, you can find a model that fits your purposes. And configurations vary widely as well, with both short-barreled rifle and pistol options with and without the bureaucratically incorporated arm brace.
Aside from all the different configurations, CMMG has an interesting color palette as well. With a half dozen or more Cerakote colors you can pick something pretty standard or make a statement yourself. But colors and configurations aren’t the only thing that sets the Banshee apart.
CMMG Banshee Features
The Banshee comes with additional features that put it above other competitors. Some very useful things such as ambidextrous magazine release will be very nice for left-handed shooters. And an enlarged right side mag button also makes it easy to smash when you’re moving quickly. I actually like the 45-degree safety and the semi-low-profile selector, though some of my carbine comrades felt it was too low-profile. CMMG’s own Zeroed charging handle provides a dual locking feature, much like popular aftermarket models.
The lightweight handguard is M-Lok compatible and offers a variety of accessory mounting. The Fastback buttstock is quickly deployed when you want to extend it, more on that later.
The 300 Blackout
The 300 Blackout has become a very popular chambering, particularly in AR pattern rifles. Perhaps the most important draw of the cartridge is its utility in subsonic shooting. Subsonic cartridges operate below the speed of sound, and when suppressed it makes them movie quiet. Because of their low velocity when shooting subsonic, the 300BLK does very well with short barrels. This makes it a great choice for AR pistols and SBR’s like the many you will see in the Banshee lineup.
The model we are looking at today however, uses a full-length sixteen-inch barrel. This is likely due to nanny-state overreach from clowns in government. Using shorter than sixteen-inch barrels in conjunction with a stock is so dangerous it can only be made safe by paying extra money to the aforementioned government clowns.
My personal feelings for the 300 Blackout are pretty simple; the whole point of the cartridge was to shoot heavy bullets at subsonic speeds from a suppressed AR style rifle. Once you deviate from that specific purpose, it seems to lose a lot of its novelty. As shooting the cartridge without a suppressor or in its supersonic configuration, it has few advantages over ballistically superior options.
Prepping the CMMG Banshee for the range
Since the 300 Blackout isn’t what I would consider a long-range cartridge, and few people would, I would set the rifle up for short-range shooting. With a likely maximum shooting distance of two-hundred or less yards, I decided that mounting my Eotech Vudu 1-6 riflescope would be more than enough scope for the Banshee. I mounted it with a cantilevered mount for proper alignment.
As I mentioned, this gun would shine only with a suppressor involved. For that duty I grabbed my Anechoic 35 suppressor, despite its different shade of green I knew it would do a great job of diffusing the 300 Blackout gasses quietly. I threaded a 5/8-24 thread-cap into the breech of the suppressor and screwed the assembly onto the muzzle of the Banshee.
All that was left was to grab a few boxes of ammunition, for that I went with some Hornady selections of both super and subsonic. I know I mentioned that sub sonic is king, but there are some people out there who simply must know so I’m duty bound to try some supersonic ammo as well.
Firearm security has always been an important subject, but these days it is more than just a safety issue. Our society has become both more sick and litigious, with ambulance chasing lawyers going after gun owners and manufacturers alike. Nobody likes hearing about firearm related accidents or thefts, and the best way to combat these issues is security and education. Today we are going to talk about a security product that makes keeping your handgun both ready and secure. The Onnais Iron SE security safe is a lockbox to keep your handgun safe and secure without giving up readiness.
large handguns like this Staccato XC fit snuggly in the Iron SE safe
Having a quick access to your firearm can be a life or death situation, but so can having an unsecured firearm. Products like the Iron SE are made to balance that situation, making it both simple to access your gun, but extremely difficult for the wrong person to gain access.
The Onnais Iron SE Security Safe
The Iron SE safe from Onnais is a steel lock box that uses both a biometric fingerprint to unlock, or a code you can punch in to gain access. It also comes with a hard set of keys that can also be used. The steel box is lined with foam to prevent scratching your firearms, and also has a nice little built-in night light for when its dark.
The electronic parts of the safe are pretty simple, and easily set up using either the included instruction booklet or you can scan a QR code to watch a video on how to do it. Also included is a cable you can use to secure the safe to something to prevent it being moved. There are also holes through the bottom of the box, that allow you to attach the safe to another surface with bolts or something.
security cable allows you to attach the safe to something imobile
The box has a nice durable finish, and is fairly low profile. It would easily tuck under your bed or nightstand. Or anywhere else like a vehicle or tool box.
Security Safe Setup
It literally took me a couple minutes to get the safe programmed and setup to my liking. Following the directions to setup are simple, and there are audible beeps to let you know when you’ve done the process right or wrong. It requires installing four AA batteries inside for operation, but there is also a USB-C jack in the front that you can use to power the safe should the batteries go dead.
four AA batteries provide power
Having three ways to get into the safe is a good feeling, using your fingerprint is the fastest with just a beep before the lid slowly springs open. Or you can punch in a 5-15 digit code into the keypad with the same result. And the keys are always a failsafe option should the others fail.
the external setup controls
Once set up, I was quite pleased with how easy it is to quickly get into the safe.
Pros and Cons
As someone who has a lot of guns, (an indeterminant amount of guns for any ATF agent reading this) I can really appreciate having a safe like this around. If you have children or untrustworthy adults around, its nice to have the ability to quickly secure and gain access to your pistol. The Iron SE safe gives you the ability to have a pistol in firing condition handy and yet secure. If you are talking about Glock 19 size pistols or smaller, you can even fit multiple pistols in the safe.
The access and setup are easy enough for even folks without a lot of tech experience, but you’ll need at least one finger. I wouldn’t mind having the larger version of the safe, so there is room for both his and her pistols inside. But perhaps having more than one safe would be better.
If I had to critique anything on the safe, I’d first throw out this caveat. I’ve often heard people say; padlocks only keep honest people honest. And I think that’s the idea behind this safe. Anyone with time and a few tools could break into this box with enough effort. But it is more than enough to keep children or nosey adults out of your business.
All that said, I think for the $66 dollars that you can purchase this safe, its easily a good buy. Well worth the money knowing that your pistol is out of reach to casual passers by. The manufacturer was even kind enough to offer you a discount if you are reading this.
enter code: Thecoldboremiracle at checkout for a discount
Final Thoughts
Part of me wants to get a couple more of these safes, to be able to secure hot pistols wherever I want in my home and office. Easy and secure access to a pistol is a way of life for many people, and this safe makes it even easier. With various ways of access that are all pretty easy, and you can buy it at a very reasonable cost.
We’ve all seen the jokes and meme’s about the Colt 1911 winning multiple world wars. But for all the ribbing, the 1911 continues to be a popular choice for American gun owners well over a hundred years later. One of the companies keeping the 1911 relevant is Dan Wesson, and today we are taking a look at one of their Dan Wesson Heirloom 1911 models.
I’ve never been drawn much to the 1911, but my recent descent into 2011 pistols has made it easier to associate. Dan Wesson has been making great American firearms for decades, but the company was acquired by Czech firearms giant CZ. As was Colt, another American brand also famous for 1911’s. I’m sure I am not alone hoping that CZ’s ownership will only improve these two brands. Let’s get into this pistol.
The 1911 Pistol
With over a hundred years of manufacturing behind it, you might be asking a similar question to mine; How can this be made better after all this time? That’s not a rhetorical question but a literal one. Modern manufacturing and materials certainly can make some great improvements. And yet many modern 1911 pistols like the Heirloom model from Dan Wesson have very similar features and function as their century old ancestors.
The 1911 is a single-action recoil operated single-stack pistol chambered in .45 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP). The simplicity of the single action makes the operation of the pistol quite reliable, requiring very little time to familiarize oneself. The triggers in 1911’s are often impressive in both feel and break, a natural side-effect to its design. An intuitive safety is incorporated to operate with the thumb, and the famous grip safety adds another layer of security.
An impressively simple and cunning barrel lock design is one of the 1911 features that made it so successful. A hinge-link and locking lugs allow the barrel to securely lock into battery for fire and quickly disengage to reload itself after firing.
Another famous feature and perhaps for different reasons is the 1911’s single stack magazine. One drawback in the eyes of many handgunners is the 8-round capacity, which a hundred and ten years ago was a step up from the typical six-round capacity of most handguns. Despite only carrying eight cartridges, it carries them well and cycles them flawlessly through the gun.
the custom engraving is sharp, but gripping the slide is only achievable at the rear slide serrations
The Dan Wesson Heirloom 1911
Aside from the classic 1911 features, the Dan Wesson Heirloom model appears to bring a great deal of class with it. As it’s name implies, this pistol seems to be built to pass down from one generation to the next.
Smooth lines and high gloss finish polish on this pistol give it a very classy feel. And custom engraving throughout the gun set it apart from your typical 1911. The finish-work on the pistol is fantastic, with polished feed-ramps and perfectly machined barrel bushing for a tight fit and smooth operation.
We’ve brought you various different Glock pistol reviews over the years, as well as many of the new Glock clones. As a convert to the Glock cult, I often feel like a fresh set of eyes on most of their pistols. And today I bring you a fresh look at the Glock 47 Gen5 9mm pistol.
According to the manufacturer, the G47 was developed for US federal agent use by Customs and Border Protection. But don’t hold that against the gun, it also has great use for other people and patriots alike. The G47 is essentially a modified version of the prolific G17, perhaps one of the most used pistols in the world by law enforcement and other shooters.
The G47 has basic part interchangeability with the G17 and its siblings, the main difference is a shorter pic rail under the front of the slide. I wouldn’t consider this a downside since this is a full size pistol.
The Glock 47
Caliber
9mm Parabellum
Capacity
17 rounds
Barrel Length
4.5 Inches
Weight (unloaded)
25.93 Ounces
Weight (loaded)
34.29 Ounces approx
Trigger Pull Weight
5.8 Pounds
Length
7.95 Inches
Width
1.34 Inches
Height
5.47 Inches
I mentioned the G47 shares much of its features with the G17, to be honest I am not entirely sure why the separation between the two pistols even exists. According to those who know more than me, its to allow agencies to use both the G19 and G47 models without having to hold separate parts and service for both. The interchangeability is what they were after.
the Glock 47 boast front and rear slide serrations for easy manipulation
I really enjoy shooting full size pistols, one of them is a G17 clone, my Shadow Systems DR920. I’ve really enjoyed shooting this pistol over the years, and if the G47 is comparable I was sure to like it as well.
The full-size grip is very nice for shooting, it allows full purchase of the grip and helps manipulate the pistol better. It also allows for the seventeen-round capacity that gives this pistol such a commanding presence. The standard Glock grip texturing is ok in my opinion, and the other Gen 5 frame features are also welcome.
The rounded edges where it matters on the slide make it easier to pocket when you need to. And the optics cut on the rear of the slide is a must have these days, as red dots are taking over the pistol world. The addition of ambidextrous slide release is a breath of fresh air for left-handed shooters.
I mentioned I was a Glock convert, so I have a few things that will go with the G47. I would also incorporate one of my Surefire X300 weapon lights, in my humble opinion they are a perfect match for the pistol. In addition to lighting up your target area, they also bring some weight to the front of the pistol which reduces some muzzle rise.
Also while shooting the G47 I would be using one of my Safariland ALS holsters. In my limited experience these are excellent holsters which help you get the most out of your pistol shooting.
For ammunition, I would be using bulk packed 115 grain ammo from Mountain West Lethal Precision. As well as some 115 grain ammunition from PMC.
the Glock 47 uses the shorter recoil spring like the Glock 19
On the Range with the Glock 47
Shooting the Glock 47 was an outdoor adventure, my children and I went into the open country of the nearby mountains. I took several hundred rounds of ammunition of various types, as well as a few different magazine options to see how the G47 functioned.
The plan was to run through all the ammo, and get a good feel for how the gun draws, points, cycles, and reloads. Running through both 17 and 19 round magazines the G47 never skipped a beat. I regret that I was unable to get a red dot mounted during the review. It’s a shame the Glock doesn’t have the optics mounting built into the slide, like so many others have done.
But we still ran the G47 through quite a bit of shooting. I like shooting single rounds loaded in each mag over and over. It helps build muscle memory for reloads, and it also gives each magazine an opportunity to fail locking back the action. All three magazine types used worked great in that aspect.
Drawing and shooting the G47 from my Safariland holster felt natural and smooth. Reinforcing the excellent grip angle and point of aim of the G47, the whole experience was pleasant. This of course came as no surprise since I quite enjoy shooting my G17 clone.
The G47 has the Gen 5 features that many shooters enjoy, the removal of the finger grooves on the grip area make it a little more universal-fitting. The texture on the grip allows good purchase, though I feel like I prefer the more aggressive grip of other brands.
The sights are typical Glock sights, which in my experience are great for getting a quick sight picture. Again, I would have preferred a red dot though. That said, I had no issues hitting what I aimed at.
Adding a slightly flared magwell made it even easier to load magazines, not that it’s hard to hit them without it. The polymer frame makes it easy to drop and insert mags quickly while keeping eyes on the target. I found the grip to be more than adequate as is, but it’s nice to know that you can change the backstrap out to custom fit your hand.
The controls on the G47 are very Glock, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. They are exactly where and what you’d expect, making for smooth reloads and operation. The large grip area gives lots of room to hold on, keeping the gun secure through recoil impulses.
Ergonomics
Glock pistols have almost always seemed a little “no-frills” to me, the huge stippling aftermarket seems to support my theory. That said, the G47 is comfortable to hold on to. The large grip area and beavertail give very adequate hold of the pistol. The undercut trigger guard allows you to keep your fingers mostly together while gripping the gun.
The magazine release seems pretty low profile, staying out of the way while shooting and carrying. But it’s in just the right spot when the time comes to use it. And speaking of controls, the ambidextrous slide release must be great for the lefties out there.
The customizable backstrap is another great feature for those who need it. Adding both the ability to thicken the grip size, as well as add to the beavertail thickness should you desire.
Reliability
You’d expect a pistol from Glock to have legendary reliability. After all, that is what has made Glock the choice of countless law enforcement agencies and militaries. During the course of our shooting, the G47 performed flawlessly. No failures to fire, eject or any other flaws were experienced. The closest thing to a malfunction was when I found myself dropping the slide too early, but this is of course poor operation and not a malfunction.
All three different magazine types we used worked well with the G47. As did most of my G17 accessories. The G47 fit perfectly in my Safariland holsters bought for the G17. This is excellent news for G47 owners because the compatibility with its G17 sibling gives you many options.
Accuracy
With handguns I often feel a little out of place when it comes to accuracy. As a rifle junkie, shooting pistols accurately isn’t exactly my forte. And I’ll admit that using red dots has become something of a crutch for shooting more accurate shots for me. With all that said, I still found it easy to hit my targets with the G47. The sights’ vibrant contrast against the black pistol made them easy to pick up and center on the target. I’ll also mention that the G47’s trigger felt great, and its consistent break also helped shoot more consistently.
a typical pattern fired from the Glock 47 at 10 yards
Value
It seems that the street price for a new G47 hovers around the $630 mark at the point of writing this. That’s honestly a pretty fair price in my opinion. Looking at the plethora of Glock clones out there, the competition has gotten stiff. The G47 seems to function as well and shoot as reliably as my Shadow Systems DR920 which costs around $200 more, though I do prefer the vibe of the SS over the Glock.
And there are also much cheaper options, some better than others. You can get a BCA Grizzly 101 for under $300, which for some people is enough to make the difference. I guess I would say that bottom line, if you just want a gun that shoots those options will do. But if you want Glock perfection, the price of the G47 is fair.
After my time shooting the G47 I can say I feel every bit as positive about the gun as the G17 and its clones. The G47 does much of the heavy lifting in the full-size service pistol market. And for many good reasons as we’ve outlined here. Reliable operation is what these pistols are known for, and this one surely does. Not only are they reliable but they are comfortable, familiar and compatible with most of the ancillary equipment you’ll want to use.
The Mk3 rifle series from CMMG is based on a 308 Winchester sized AR action, allowing for similar cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor as well. Much of the same features of CMMG’s smaller rifles are built into the Mk3 making it familiar and simple to operate. Today we are taking a look at the CMMG Mk3 308 Winchester rifle, to see how it compares to other similar rifles I’ve shot. Based on my experience with other CMMG products I was expecting some great results.
The CMMG MK3
If you go to CMMG’s website, you will find a variety of MK3 rifles from their various lines. There are four different lines that all include MK3 variants, there is the Dissent line of which I am a big fan. The Dissent uses a buffer inside the upper receiver which means you no longer need a buffer tube opening the doors to a bunch of new stock options.
The Banshee line of firearms is mostly pistol and SBR type personal defense firearms, with shorter barrel lengths and appropriate accessories. The Resolute rifles offer rifle lengths and accessories for longer engagements. And lastly the Endeavor line of rifles which feature more of a marksman configuration built for long-range.
There is a MK3 version of all these rifles that you can select based on your needs. The rifle we are testing today is a slightly older MK3 that came out before these more modern lines from CMMG. While still based on the CMMG MK3 receiver set, this rifle features different furniture and handguard.
the CMMG Mk3 receiver set is well made
Outfitting the MK3
I wanted to see what this rifle was capable of, so I put a US Optics TXH 3-18×50 riflescope on it using a Zro Delta cantilever scope mount. With a 3-18 it would do well shooting targets at relatively close distances, and with a max of 18X it would also be suitable for distances at the end of the 308 Winchester’s envelope.
I grabbed a few different types of ammunition to test in the rifle, some PPU 150 grain ball ammo, as well as some 175 grain DTM match. I also grabbed a small tripod with a saddle to support the rifle for precision shooting.
I also wanted to see how the rifle faired as a suppressor host, so I grabbed my YHM R9 suppressor. It has never done me wrong when testing 308 chambered rifles, and now it was time to try it on the MK3.
AR ergonomics are hard to complain about, and you can always change themThe large bolt carrier adds to the weight of the rifle
Again, CMMG’s current production Mk3s have significantly better features like improved charging handles, triggers, and other controls. I have several new CMMGs that prove the company has stepped up its game significantly. Upgraded handguards and furniture are coupled with handsome Cerakote finishes and M-LOK handguards, while features like CMMG’s muzzle devices also improve the look and performance.
In the world of lightweight precision hunting rifles, there are a few well-known names. One of those big names is Fierce Firearms, I know them because they are located in my home state of Utah. Fierce has made a strong reputation for quality rifles purpose built typically featuring carbon fiber and other lightweight designs. Today I bring you a review of one of Fierce Firearms chassis rifles called the Fierce Mountain Reaper, chambered in 300 PRC.
The Fierce Mountain Reaper is packed with an impressive list of features, enough in fact that I’ll have to point them out in batches. When I first lifted the gun from its box, it immediately impressed upon me that this rifle was meant for hunters. Fierce has incorporated a great many steps to reduce the weight of this rifle, all while keeping true to its Mountain Reaper namesake. An impressively light rifle, that is both compact and accurate, and built to harvest the souls of whatever game animal its owner is after.
the Titanium Anechoic 35L also made a good choice for the 300PRC Reaper
The DLC coated bolt rides smoothly in the titanium action, the threaded bolt knob can be changed should you desire. Shouldering the rifle made the short overall length of the rifle very apparent. And the balance of the rifle was very even due to its incorporation of so many carbon fiber components.
Specifications
Action
Fierce Rival Titanium 2-lug
Chassis Material
Magnesium and Carbon fiber
Barrel
Fierce C3 Carbon fiber 1:9 twist 22-inch
Chamber
300 PRC
Trigger
Adjustable Bix’n Andy trigger
Weight
6.6 pounds (bare rifle)
Capacity
Accurate 5-round magazine
Stock
Adjustable and folding Carbon Fiber
Forearm
Carbon fiber M-Lok compatible
Muzzle
Threaded ⅝-24 includes NIX muzzle brake
Scope Base
NIX Zero MOA
Accuracy Guarantee
½ at 100 Yards
ARCA compatible
Short section at the chassis mid-point
It didn’t take me long to get deep into the Mountain Reaper. My initial thoughts were a little mixed, with a six-pound 300 PRC I figured this rifle might not be as pleasant to shoot as I am used to. But at the same time I was thoroughly impressed with so many of the rifles benefits.
Adding Accessories
I decided to add my Primary Arms GLX 3-18 riflescope, it too is pretty lightweight and a good match for a hunting rifle like this. It was mounted in an Area 419 one-piece scope mount which would firmly hold the scope under stiff recoil. I also attached a simple Harris bipod because they are simple, easy and familiar. Using the QD cups available on the rifle I also added a sling for carrying the rifle.
The Chassis
The process of outfitting this rifle made it quick to see all the little advantages of this design. The simple buttstock has a very robust hinging mechanism, that can be actuated with the push of a single button. The length of pull and comb-height can both be easily adjusted with an Allen wrench. You can tweak the angle, height and placement of these features to best fit you, and weight is further reduced by not using finger adjustable knobs to tighten.
Up front the lightweight handguard almost seems too thin, and yet it was perfectly stiff for handling and carrying the rifle.
Fierce Rival Action
The Fierce Rival action is smooth with its DLC finish, and the handsome lightening cuts and bolt-fluting.
The Rival action’s bolt design breaks down easily and without tools
The Reaper is available in both short and long-action, depending on the caliber you desire. And there is a great selection of calibers for this rifle:
Caliber
Barrel length options
Twist
22 Creedmoor
20”- 22”
1:8
6 Creedmoor
18”-20”-22”
1:8
6.5 Creedmoor
18”-20”-22”
1:8
6.5 PRC
18”-20”-22”
1:8
7 PRC
20”- 22”
1:8
7 Backcountry
20”- 22”
1:8
7 Remington Mag
20”- 22”
1:8.5
308 Winchester
18”- 20”
1:10
300 Winchester Mag
20”- 22”
1:10
300 PRC
20”- 22”
1:9
With the rifle ready to shoot and a few boxes of ammunition from both Hornady and Norma I headed into the cold and snowy Rocky Mountains. The very mountains this rifle was built to go after.
From the prone position, running the bolt was fantastic. Positive feeding and extraction just like you’d expect from a rifle like this. The trigger feels fantastic, and shot after shot broke predictably. I shot the rifle out to 1100 yards before I was done, which gave a great deal of satisfaction.
The Reaper was easy to adjust to fit me, and needed no further adjustment afterwards. The weight balance is also superior to many comparable rifles and while I don’t typically fold my rifles it is nice to have the option should you want to.
I keep coming back to Glock clone pistols, which is quite the 180 turn for me. Today I am taking a look at another something new, this time from one of America’s best known manufacturers and in part by another. Today I bring a you a review of the Ruger RXM 9mm pistol. The RXM is a recoil operated 9mm pistol that is fed by Magpul magazines in the very popular Glock pattern. Like many other pistol on the market today, the RXM is a clone of the extremely successful Glock. But it also has a whole new trick up it’s sleeve, and it’s sleeve is also made by Magpul.
the classic underbite of the Surefire X300, for dark places and flashes
It is hard to deny the success of the popular design of these kind of pistols, and the incredible aftermarket support already available makes it even more appealing. Not only do you get the famous reliability, but you can use the same holsters, and others accessories that you probably already have.
What is the Ruger RXM
For those who’ve been hiding under a rock (or behind a 1911), Glock clones have become extremely popular. Following the pattern of the Gen 3 striker fired poly-framed pistols has been very successful for quite a few manufacturers now. Ruger has partnered with Magpul to make the polymer frame for the RXM, while Ruger made the rest. There is a secret within the frame though, in a similar idea to the incredibly popular Sig Sauer P320the Ruger RXM has a removable Fire Control Insert (FCI). The FCI is the trigger and serialized portion of the firearm.
the removeable FCI, captured at the rear, and held in place by two pins at the front
This allows you as the user to swap from one grip frame to another. And with a partner like Magpul in this endeavor, I expect we will see an unprecedented flow of grip frame options come to market in the future.
So if you are wondering what makes the RXM so special, I can sum it up like this; it’s as though two of the most successful pistols of the past decades had a baby blessed by Magpul.
Ruger RXM Features
Caliber
9mm
Overall Length
7.15 inches
Height
5.31 inches
Barrel Length
4 inches
Slide Width
1 inch
Grooves
6
Twist
1:10 right hand
Weight
23.2 ounces
Optics Ready
yes
Front Sight
Tritium co-witness height
Rear Sight
Steel drift adjustable
Manual Safety
No
Barrel & Slide Material
Alloy steel
Capacity
15 + 1
Steel Finish
Black FNC Nitride
Grip Frame
Magpul enhanced grip
Magazines
Two 15 round PMAGs included
MSRP
$499.00
I was very pleased that the design team took the time to think this pistol through. It is apparent that they wanted to incorporate some of the better features in this pistol. Things like an optics cut slide and the tritium sights are definitely better than many standard features. Even my son noticed and mentioned the convenient load indicator slot so you can easily identify a hot chamber. And of course the Magpul frame that can be interchanged by swapping the FCI.
Note loaded chamber indicator
I was even more impressed when I pulled the optics plate off to see the semi-universal optics footprint. The RXM can take the RMR, Delta Point Pro, and RMSc optics, which covers a huge variety of optics. The footprint area of the RXM slide has various holes to accept screws but also comes with configurable pins to allow proper securing of your red dot.
mounting the red dot was easy using the provided alignment pins
The grip frame features Magpul’s TSP grip texture, and also has a pretty covert magwell flare. As well as an undercut trigger guard which is nice.
Unboxing the Ruger RXM
I’m always excited when I open a new gun, I’d already handled the RXM at SHOT Show 2025 but I was still excited to take it home. The hard plastic case carried the RXM and 2 fifteen round Magpul PMAGS, as well as the typical gun lock and other accessories. I will say that the case is bigger than it needs to be, allowing additional accessories and mags to be stored for transport. The box also has a cutout for an optic, whether for a user added optic or a later model including an optic is yet to be seen. You’ll also see room for a threaded barrel, giving away future options Ruger?
factory fresh
I lifted the RXM from its case, and felt that same familiar grip of the clones. It felt good and only got better as I played with the pistol further. All the controls felt just as you would expect, the trigger is crisp. The front and rear slide serrations make for easy gripping to pull against the stout spring. The sights line up nicely with my hold, and the front tritium pops against the dull winter overcast sky.
I ran the slide a few times against the empty magazine, and was pleased with how smooth and easy it was to actuate everything. The mag release is extended a bit, and at first I thought it might be too forward. But after all of my shooting it seemed it was perfect.
drawing the RXM from a holster helped illustrate its soft edges
I did a quick field strip to see the curious FCI and how it was secured into the frame by a couple push pins. The whole thing looked very nice, with a great finish and quality look.
Ruger RXM Setup
I was anxious to get this pistol shooting, so I wasted no time getting it ready for a range trip. I dug through my selection of red dots, and decided to grab the Vortex Defender CCW. It was a good fit for the RXM, and would be easy to mount as well using the supplied fasteners.
Including anchor pins to secure the red dot gives the RXM another leg up, by allowing you to configure the footprint to match the red dot. Instead of forcing you to change to a dot that fits the footprint.
Because I’d planned on carrying the pistol for a while, I decided to also install my Streamlight TLR8. It’s a handy light laser combo for CCW pistols and it fits perfectly on the Ruger RXM. And the whole conglomeration fit nicely into my Hidden Hybrid IWB holster.
The RXM fit in all my holsters
On the Range
All that was left was to head to the range and shoot this small wonder, I grabbed a few boxes of 115 grain ammo from MWLP for some initial testing. My first range trip would be a typical trip into the snowy Rocky Mountains, and both my son and I would enjoy the afternoon plinking away with the Ruger RXM.
I took the opportunity to try a bunch of different things like drawing from the holster, reloading after single shots and such. It didn’t take long to get comfortable with the RXM. The Defender red dot made it quick to bear and make clean shots on my targets.
I was very impressed with how easy reloads went with the gun. I am used to big guns with flared magwells, this little Ruger does have a flare but it’s hardly noticeable unless you look under the gun. It came very easy to me to stab the magazine even without looking, it felt much easier than other similar guns I’ve shot in the past.
Shootability
As you might imagine, a pistol modeled after one of the most successful pistols ever shoots very well. The RXM grip is very comfortable, and the angle lines up quite naturally with my aim. Recoil from the RXM is quite modest and keeping on target is akin to other similar pistols. Its also nice to be able to use a red dot, pushing your focus to the target.
The controls of the RXM are great. The trigger is a little longer than I would have expected but it is very smooth and breaks nicely. This allowed for great shot placement particularly when coupled with the fine aimpoint of the Defender.
At first, I did find one thing that bothered me. During the first few mags my thumb would push slightly up on the slide release causing the RXM to lock open between rounds. This was easily corrected once I realized it was just my thumb crowding the area. Even my kids had a good time shooting the RXM.
the kids had a great time learning to shoot the RXM
Ergonomics
Again, as a clone its hard to beat the time tested successful design. The grip angle is just right and feels natural. Slide cuts provide just the right amount of grip without being abrasive. The mag release is a touch further forward than expected but certainly caused zero problems during my reloads. The trigger blade safety isn’t even noticeable during shooting, which is the way it should be.
My hands are neither small nor large, and the grip area was just right for them. If I had larger hands I could see it getting a bit crowded, but I also anticipate that there will be additional grips available from Magpul in the near future that will solve that issue.
A little custom paint made the RXM even better looking
Accuracy
I’m a bit of an accuracy nerd when it comes to rifles. But when it comes to handguns I don’t consider myself anything but average, and I had no issues hitting what I aimed at. I don’t suspect this gun is currently going to be used for competition shooting (at least not yet), but more likely it will be used for typical semi-compact 9mm purposes. CCW use and general shooting are more likely in its future, and for that the accuracy was perfectly adequate.
Hitting paper plate sized targets from a quick draw was easy to do even at fifteen to twenty yards. I carried the pistol as my CCW for several days quite confident that should I need to use it I would be able to hit my target.
Reliability
I mentioned the occasional locking back caused by my imposing thumb, that was the only thing I could call a failure that we experienced while shooting the Ruger RXM. It has cycled through hundreds of rounds and many boxes of 115 and 124 grain ammunition now without any failures.
The Glock clone market is getting steep with competition. Many companies have brought some very affordable models to market to compete with this Ruger RXM, and this has brought the prices down. The RXM is more affordable than most of the original Austrian polymer pistols, depending on which generation you are looking at. And even among its clone peers the RXM is still quite competitive with street prices just under $400.
these clones are stacking up
For comparison, my ZRO Delta FKS9 can be had for around $350 but it will cost more than the RXM if you want the optics ready slide. I also have a PSA Daggerthat is very comparable to the RXM, but again if you want an optics ready slide it’s price goes up to within a carton of eggs price of the RXM. So there’s plenty of competition from other good products.
BUT, we haven’t addressed some of the RXM’s advantages. Not only is the RXM optics ready, its configurable footprint will take most optics. Additionally its removable FCI allows you to swap grip frame modules, none of the other clones do that at this price. I cannot fathom that Ruger and Magpul haven’t thought this through for years to come. I expect we will see a massive and steady release of RXM variants with various sizes, slides and barrels. Time will surely tell, but with all that in mind I think the Ruger RXM is a fantastic value, with a bright future.
I’ve kind of already gone over all the pros of this pistol. Its a comfortable shooter with clean lines and a nice fit. The customization and potential for future modification make it stand out against its competition. I was even impressed with how seamless and tight fitting the FCI fits into the grip module, at a glance you wouldn’t even think it was removeable. The edges of the RXM aren’t as hard as they could be, making it less likely to snag while drawing.
Since publishing this originally, I have acquired the full-size frame for the RXM as well. Broadening the application of this pistol
I’ve also thought quite a bit about what I would change on the Ruger RXM. And to be completely candid I could hardly come up with something to pick at, I’d almost have to put myself in the shoes of another to find something. For example, the RXM isn’t built for lefties. That doesn’t bother me, but it might turn off some left-handed shooters. Though I’d imagine they are used to it by now. Also, perhaps you’re a Gen 3 critic, and would prefer clones copied a different version of Gaston Glock’s family. But you’re diggin’ really deep if you want to call these liabilities to the Ruger RXM.
Again, if I was reaching real hard I could say I wish the magazine was a touch more snug in the frame. But who am I to question Magpul’s design, perhaps it works best that way.
Preferred Ammunition
Besides the MWLP ammo, I also shot a few boxes of AAC 124 grain ammo. Both of which functioned flawlessly through the Ruger. For carry ammo I would use something predictable like Hornady Critical Duty 124 grain defense ammo.
Accessory Options
The Vortex Defender red dot worked out great for the RXM, I had no reason to dislike it. But I also like the US Optics RISE red dot as it is a bit larger window and more refined dot on the glass. The beauty of the RXM is that just about any popular sight will drop on to the Ruger RXM.
The Streamlight TLR8 was also a great choice for a weapon light, particularly for CCW use. An obvious choice would have also been the Surefire X300, though it is a bit bigger and more cumbersome for a carry gun.
My hidden Hybrid Holster fit the Ruger RXM well, but as objective as holsters can be you might want to pick your own. I also carried the RXM in a 1791 Gunleather holster that was also pretty comfortable.
Coming from two big names like Ruger and Magpul it’s no surprise this went well
Last Thoughts
My initial thoughts on the Ruger RXM turned out to be pretty dead on. I have always liked Ruger’s firearms, they seem to be optimized for the average American gun owner. And providing them with a pleasant and affordable experience.
I was quite surprised just how much I liked the RXM and how well thought out it was. It is a step above your average Glock clone, with some great added value and features. I expect this gun has a vibrant future ahead, much like the P320 is currently living. And not unlike the Dagger’s explosive popularity. Perhaps someday in the future there will be a compensated competition long-slide version and micro compact CCW versions as well, all with interchangeability. Great job and a tip of the hat to the collaborative teams at Ruger and Magpul.
-CBM
2025 Update:
After nearly a year of shooting the RXM, I have yet to come up with a down side. I have swapped half a dozen red dots across the slide cut, and used every kind of magazine I can get hands on. Magpul released additional frames for it, I recently acquired the full-size frame. It’s fit is excellent, and converts my RXM to the full size frame while still using the compact slide.
