Category Archives: Product review

Products and equipment

MPA PMR Pro II 6.5 Creedmoor, A masterpiece indeed

May 10, 2023Product review, Shooting hardware6.5cm, curtis custom, masterpiece arms, MPAcoldboremiracle

If you haven’t noticed Master Piece Arms (MPA) over the last few years, you either don’t follow precision shooting, or you have found a very good hiding place. MPA has been absolutely dominant in the precision shooting world, even deeper than I thought. MPA manufactures a variety of products, Impressive competition pistols are one thing you’ll find on their website, but their competition chassis and complete competition rifles are certainly more commanding. Todat we are taking a look at the MPA PMR Pro II, a rifle built for PRS style competition.

The Rifle

The rifle we are reviewing today has a Curtis Custom Axiom rifle-action at its heart. The barrel is one of MPA’s chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor cut at twenty-six inches with a one-in-eight-twist. At the muzzle there is one of MPA’s competition muzzle brakes to help keep the rifle on target so shooters can spot their impacts.

The smooth stroke of the Curtis Action is immediately noticeable, with its three-lug bolt to reduce the bolt lift to a shorter throw. I have become a huge fans of custom actions like this one, the operation aside there is so much to appreciate about them. The robust bolt-stop that doubles as a release, and the very consistent extraction and ejection with very little effort makes them a pure joy to shoot.

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The PMR chassis is another work of craftsmanship, with cuts in all the right places to allow customization. Fully adjustable comb and buttstock make it easy to fit to any shooter, and the adjustable vertical pistol grip feels outstanding when you are in the shooting position. Little things like embedded bubble level at the rear of the tang take a lot of work out of shooting well, which seems to be what MPA was after. And it seems that shooters have responded.

Other features like a Trigger Tech Diamond and a built in ARCA rail and QD barricade stops that can be moved to wherever you need them. Various bipod mounting options and an night vision bridge make everything about this rifle desirable.

Rifle setup

Before taking the rifle to my mountain hide, I wanted to get it prepared for testing. For that I would need a good scope, and a bipod. My US Optics FDN17X was a perfect match for color, so that made my choice easy. I also grabbed an Atlas bipod on an AREA 419 ARCA clamp and attached it to the ARCA rail.

I grabbed some Hornady match 140 grain and a box of Federal Gold Medal Match 130 grain ammunition, as well as a few other items before heading out.

On the Range

I boresighted the rifle before zeroing it at one hundred yards, and after placing my target I settled in behind the rifle on my shooting mat.

As I loaded the AICS magazine I noticed the adjustment screws on the side of the chassis, this allows the user to customize magazine tension. With a handful of rounds in the rifle, I steadied the reticle on my target and fired the first shot. Like a true match gun, the rifle barely moved as I felt the gust of air move from the muzzle. The brake is extremely effective at reducing recoil, and the rifles impressive weight also helps keep it in place.

the very first group shot from the PMR using Hornady 140 gr Match

I made a couple adjustments to correct the impact, and then fired a quick five-shot group. I was immediately impressed, as I hadn’t even really been trying that hard. But quite literally the first group with the first ammunition I tried was sub-half MOA. I smiled to myself as I know there’s only one kinda rifle that does that; a damn good one.

Just to make sure, I continued shooting a few more groups, including both ammunition types with the same results. I’m not one to waste time and expensive ammunition at one-hundred yards, especially when I have targets all the way out to eight-hundred and twenty yards. The accuracy of this rifle was just outstanding, there are few things more satisfying than watching the bullet impact exactly where you want it to nearly half a mile away.

I kept shooting until I had no more ammo to spend, and I loved every single shot. Everything about this rifle was fantastic, running the bolt from the shooting position was superb. Spent cases went flying clear, and fresh rounds were chambered almost effortlessly. The comfort of the perfect fitting chassis made it even easier to make the hits. The US Optics Foundation 17X made a perfect companion not just because of its color, I was able to move back and forth quickly from one target to another adjusting the power of the scope on the way.

At one point I targeted a six-inch steel disc at four-hundred and thirty yards, and as fast as I could run the bolt and pull the trigger the plate would dance. It was exactly the kind of precision rifle shooting experience everybody should have.

Pros and Cons

I’ll start with the cons this time, because I’m gonna need a lot of space for the pros. This rifle is pretty heavy, but by design it’s supposed to be. The weight keeps it still while shooting, and it wasn’t made for hiking around through the rockies like I normally do so I don’t hold it against the rifle.

The rest of this rifle is obviously the result of years distilling the best features of a competition rifle. From the action to each end of the chassis this rifle is pretty close to perfect for competition shooting. The quick adjustments allow you make the rifle comfortable on the fly, while the forend accessories allow you to steady up the rifle in nearly any condition or obstacle. The ARCA rail built-in to the forend makes it quick and easy to change out bipod and tripod interfaces in seconds, and there’s really not enough room here to go into all the ways you can add weights, stops, and other accessories to the rifle.

The MPA muzzle brake would be a great addition to any rifle where you’re trying to reduce movement. And even little things like a temperature strip on the barrel, the rear bag-rider and the built-in bubble level are greatly appreciated. These and other accessories are made by MPA that will definitely help improve your rifle’s performance, just don’t expect it to make up for poor shooting.

The Curtis action is the jewel of the whole thing, it ran like a lead pump in slow motion and the extremely clean trigger break made it feel even better. And to top it off the whole thing was just sexy as a rifle can be.

Click here to read my Final Thoughts

Conclusion

I knew I was going to like this rifle from the moment I opened the box, but I didn’t realize just how much. It’s clear that MPA is at the top of the PRS game, because they understand what shooters need and want.

There are so many little games and tricks you can incorporate when shooting competitively, and the PMR seems to have everything you could use to produce the best shooting results in those scenarios.

With all that said, I found it quite astonishing that a brand-new MPA PMR Pro II can be purchased from MPA’s website for only $2,500. That may not be chump change, but in my estimation, it is an excellent price for what you get from these rifles.

If you are interested in a competition rifle, don’t overlook this one.

-CBM

Does Bipod Location Matter? Accuracy Solutions bipod EXT

May 9, 2023Ancillary gear, Product reviewaccuracy solutions, bipod ext, bipod extensioncoldboremiracle

INTRODUCTION

I’ve been shooting precision rifles for a few decades now, and I’ve seen a few things come and go. Many devices and technologies are introduced every year, and about the same amount are discarded from previous introductions. I was familiar with bipod extending and the stabilizers, though I wasn’t sure how valuable they were in practical use. Does bipod location matter when it comes to precision shooting? We are going to find out.

So when I was offered a chance to try the BipodeXt PRS Competition Pro Stabilizer from Accuracy Solutions, I figured it was worth my time to see once and for all if these things were worthwhile.

The BipodeXt stabilizer claims to greatly reduce the ‘wobble’ (my word) of the shooter and rifle while targeting a particular object.

It does this by extending the pivot point of the whole contraption further forward and thus widening the stance of the rifle and shooter combination. A simple physics analysis would likely prove that on paper it’s a great idea, but is the increased consistency enough to justify adding the apparatus to your rifle?

The BipodeXt is not a large piece of equipment, and adding it to your rifle can change more than just stability. With this premise, I decided to approach the project objectively to see if it was worth it for a shooter like me, a professional plinker of sorts.

BIPODEXT PRS COMPETITION PRO STABILIZER REVIEW

When the BipodeXt showed up at my house, I was quite excited to get it opened and inspected. The unboxing was actually pretty impressive for me, in just a few seconds I realized the quality of the manufacturing they maintain at Accuracy Solutions.

I lifted the stabilizer from its foam celled box. Initially, it seemed pretty light, considering its size. The stabilizer is built from multiple telescoping carbon fiber tubes that collapse into each other, each section of the tube secured by a clamp.

The largest tube serves as the base that mounts to your rifle, and it can be done by either connecting to a Picatinny rail or ARCA rail.

The stabilizer came with picatinny clamps installed already, but also included in the box were ARCA clamps. On the end piece of the telescoping tube there is a robust set of picatinny rails that you can use to attach a bipod and any other device you might need for way out there.

I was planning on running the BipodeXt on my Desert Tech SRS M2 which has a built-in ARCA lock rail along the bottom of the foregrip. So using an allen wrench I pulled the Picatinny rail clamps from the stabilizer and swapped them out for the ARCA clamps.

There were a few bipod options I could have used, but in the end, I chose to go with the Atlas 5H bipod. Since adding this device to my rifle would greatly reduce its mobility, I figured who cares if I use a big, heavy and stable bipod?

Adding the stabilizer and bipod to the rifle at a bare minimum would add a good deal of weight to the rifle, and that alone would probably help me shoot more consistently. All that was left was to get the gun in the field and see how stable it could become.

As I broke down the unit to mobilize, I was quickly confronted with one of what we’ll call a drawback. The SRS is a pretty compact rifle, but once you add the BipodeXt stabilizer, there is definitely an increase in mass.

This is obviously remedied quickly by flipping the clamps open and removing the stabilizer. That said, I imagine on a conventional rifle it would be even more awkward to try and maneuver the rifle without removing the stabilizer.

Either way, I don’t picture this to be for the guy who is moving around a lot, whereas if you are shooting from a static position and plan on doing it for a while, it seems like this could be a great asset.

Savage elite precision with accuracy solutions bipod EXT — The Savage Elite Precision and Bipod EXT

SPECIFICATIONS
WEAPON ATTACHMENT TYPE: Dual QD Arca Swiss, Dual QD Picatinny
MOUNTING REQUIREMENTS ARCA: 5 in / 127 mm, Picatinny: 13 Slots (5 in / 127 mm)
MAX CALIBER ARCA: .300 WM
MAX CALIBER PICATINNY: . 375 CheyTac
MAX RIFLE WEIGHT: 25lbs/11.34kgs
BIPOD MOUNT TYPE: ARCA Swiss, Picatinny, Harris
PRODUCT WEIGHT: 34 oz / 964 g
PRODUCT LENGTH CONTRACTED: 16.5 Inches
PRODUCT LENGTH EXTENDED: 31.5 Inches

PROS & CONS

PROS
High Quality construction
Carbon fiber and aluminum for light weight
High quality clamps and fasteners
Easily installed and removed
Onboard bubble level
Compatible with countless configurations

CONS
Adds weight and size to rifle
Not ideal for movement

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I must admit that I was quite impressed with the quality of the product right from the start. Quality carbon tubes and the well-machined aluminum parts make this thing just a handsome piece of kit.

The double clamps to attach it to the rifle ensure even better stability without any flex added. The little bubble level mounted at the bottom of the stabilizer can be used to ensure your whole rifle is level, and it’s out there far enough to ensure you can see it without having to get out of position.

The bipod mounting foot at the end is also pretty genius, allowing either Picatinny to be used or it can be flipped over to install a bipod mounted with ARCA. The additional pic rail sections mounted on the tube can be used for other accessories. It had occurred to me it would be a good place to perhaps mount a chronograph bayonet.

Once I had everything loaded up, I headed into the snowy mountains above my home. My Desert Tech SRS was currently configured as a 338LM instead of the 6GT it had been shortly before. This was by design because I wanted to see how well it worked with a heavy recoiling cartridge.

Once in my shooting position, I was quite pleased with how easy it was to quickly install the stabilizer. I left my bipod folded and attached, which made it a simple package to collapse and stash in my shooting bag.

Once I started shooting, I could definitely feel a difference in how the rifle moved. As I expected, the additional weight was definitely keeping the rifle from jumping as much.

I shifted my position to look at a distant ridgeline, something towards the end of the Lapua’s effective range. As I lay there breathing, I focused hard on my reticle to see just how much it moved. Sure, as the snow is white, it sure seemed steady. Now all I needed to do was test the difference between the extended BipodeXt and without.

I decided I would try shooting a group in the distant dirt, and see how good a group I could shoot, and then swap out the stabilizer and repeat the process to see if I could tell the difference and, if so, how much.

I also installed the BipodeXt on another rifle just to see how it felt and interacted with that one as well. The rifle was a Savage 6.5Creedmoor in an MDT chassis, which also included a built-in ARCA rail along the bottom of the handguard, making the install a piece of cake.

There was a slight difference in the feel between the two rifles, but the overall impression was about the same. They were both a lot easier to maintain steady, and both were just a little bit more challenging to move around and shift shooting positions.

The longer stance of the rifle using the BipodeXt adds stability, but it also increases the radius needed to pan the rifle. This may or may not be a big deal depending on what you are shooting at.

FEATURES

QUICK ATTACH/RELEASE
Perhaps one of the best functions of the stabilizer is the ability to quickly install or remove the product from your rifle.

EXTENSION/RETRACTION
The high-quality clamps around the carbon tube make the stabilizer easy to extend or retract as needed. The BipodeXt can be extended fully or at reduced lengths depending on your shooting real estate.

EASY LEVELING
With either of the extension clamps, it is easy to level the rifle by letting the carbon tube rotate until level, and the added benefit of the bubble level makes it easy to do without getting back on the gun.

STABILIZATION
The stabilization of the rifle is the main purpose of the BipodeXt, and it does a fine job of adding stability to the rifle to a degree that can be measured.

Read the Conclusion

Conclusion

After shooting with the BipodeXt, I was pretty impressed with how it aided in my static shooting.

Not only did it allow me to stay steadier on a distant target, but you could actually see it in your movements. Watching the reticle on my target, I would run the bolt to see how much the rifle would wobble as I ran it.

I could measure approximately 1-1.5 MRAD of movement around the target while running the bolt. And after installing the BipodeXt, I saw that amount cut in at least half, keeping me closer to my target. In this same way (but obviously at a smaller scale), the unit helps keep the rifle steadier while you target and press the trigger. The added weight is obviously another benefit for subduing the movement of the rifle.

The BipodeXt is very well made, and its quality components are quite apparent. It is not an inexpensive product, but I think the quality and finish are on par with the asking price.

The way I see it, this product is ideal for a particular group of shooters. Long-range shooting and particularly ELR shooters would greatly benefit from this impressive set of landing gear.

It strikes me as ideal for the kind of scenario where you shoot in a direction and don’t require a great deal of movement. The stability and sturdiness can greatly improve your shot placement and the ability to spot impacts.

-CBM

Maybe you need to look at some tripods while you are here

Howa Mini 6mm ARC

May 4, 2023Product review, Shooting hardware6 ARC, 6mm, 6mm ARC, howa, howa 1500, minicoldboremiracle

Introduction

The Howa Mini Action rifle offers a compact rifle for hunting or sporting purposes, the very short action is designed to run only the shortest center-fire rifle cartridges. With the extra short action, the Mini is designed for cartridges like the .223 Remington and 300 Blackout. As well as newer cartridges like the 6mm ARC model we are looking at today. The Model 1500 Mini is a push-feed two-lug bolt action, it is fed from a detachable box-fed magazine.

mule deer, deer hunting, howa, howa mini action, 6mm ARC, 6 arc, suppressed hunting, us optics, — 2025 update, the Howa Mini 6 ARC continues to perform. My wife took this handsome little buck with a single shot, read all about it in A Stalk to Die for

Howa has long been known as a very affordable and reliable rifle manufacturer. Their products have typically been marketed toward the hunting public. But in recent years they have also moved into the precision shooting competitive world as well.

My purpose for the Mini was along the same lines, I bought the rifle for my wife who is also quite petite. She needed a good rifle that shot well for all of our shooting adventures, and the Mini fit that niche quite well.

Its lightweight and soft recoil made it the perfect choice for someone like my wife. And since I already was quite familiar with the 6mm ARC, and had a great deal of components to load it. I figured it would be a great choice. I’m excited for this fall to see just how well it functions for her on the deer and pronghorn antelope hunts that we plan to do. After having spent a short time with the rifle, I expect we are going to enjoy it very much.

Howa Mini 6mm ARC Review

When I purchased the Howa Mini, it came with the option of an included riflescope from Howa’s sister company Nikko Stirling. I figured I’d give it a try, and see how the package performed.

As I lifted the package from the box I was immediately pleased with the weight, sure it would have been even better had it weighed less. But it was certainly not heavy at 7.4 lbs for the whole package. I lifted the bolt and ran it back and forth a few times, followed by pulling the trigger. I love two-stage triggers, and to be honest I’d forgotten the Mini came with one. It felt great, though I think I might lighten up the pull weight in the future.

The synthetic stock was another surprise to me. Typically the inexpensive polymer blend stocks that come with economy grade firearms are pretty flimsy. They flex far more than you’d want them to. I was genuinely surprised by the Mini’s stock, it actually felt quite rigid. Far better than most every other comparably priced rifle stock I’ve played with in the recent past. This would hopefully translate into better accuracy for us in the field.

I looked through the little 4-12×40 scope. To my surprise it had a milling type reticle and an exposed target turret with MOA markings. It looked pretty good, and made me even more anxious to get it in the field.

The Howa Mini looks to be a perfect little rifle for someone looking for a compact and inexpensive rifle in a small caliber, but one they could use in the deer woods.

Shope Howa rifles and barrelled actions here, ya thats right barrelled actions

Specifications

Caliber	6mm ARC
Capacity	5 or 10 round box magazine
Barrel length	20 inches
Weight	7.4 lbs as tested
Stock	Pillar bedded glass filled nylon
Safety	Three position
Trigger	Adjustable two stage
Calibers	6 ARC, 223 Rem, 6.5 Grendel, 7.62×39, 350 Legend

Pros & Cons

Pros

Lightweight ultra short action
Two-stage adjustable trigger
Pillar bedded glass-filled nylon stock
Detachable 5 or ten round magazine
Threaded twenty-inch barrel
M16 style extractor
Compatible with Remington 700 two-piece scope bases

Cons

Detachable box magazine is a little weak.

First Impressions of the Howa Mini 6ARC

My first trip to the range with the Howa Mini was pretty easy going. I had a great selection of ammo from Hornady. Consisting of the match 108 ELDM, the Black 105 BTHP, and Precision Hunter 103 ELDX. I was sure one of these would shoot well in the rifle.

Buy 6mm ARC ammunition

Upon arriving at the range I sat down with the little Howa at my bench and started stuffing cartridges into the magazine. That’s when I noticed more about the magazine design, it was a bit flimsy. I mean it works fine, and I’ve shot quite a few rounds through it without issue, but it’s awfully thin. And I feel like if I was to smack it hard into a tree-trunk or rock it would surely split apart and send my ammo all over. I also wish they made a flush magazine option that didn’t hang down out of the stock. Neither of these things are deal breakers for me, just something I’d point out.

I’d boresighted the rifle prior to arriving, so I immediately set to zeroing the rifle at the hundred yard target. In just a few shots I had a solid zero, so I fired a five shot group using the 103 ELDX load. The group measured just barely over 1 MOA, which isn’t bad but not as good as I’d hoped. Later shots would prove to group much better.

howa mini 6mm ARC — The Mini shot even better when suppressed by the **Yankee Hill Machine** Nitro N2.0

We then tried shooting the other two ammunition types I’d brought along. They averaged slightly smaller but not enough to matter much. Then I spent the afternoon shooting a few more targets and feeling out the rifle. I was actually quite liking the feel of the little Howa. The trigger felt great, the bolt was smooth and easy to run quickly. And despite my complaints about the magazine, it ran flawlessly. My next trip was a shooting hike into the snowy springtime Rocky Mountains. I’d brought my daughter along for company and to get her out of the house. And of course to try shooting the little Mini 6 ARC. I’d

Range Trip round Two

I’d taken the liberty of swapping out to a different scope and mounting system mainly because it was so easy to do so. After removing the Nikko Stirling scope and mounts, I dropped a two-piece Remington 700 base on the action, followed by some Warne steel rings to hold my US Optics TS25X. I felt a little bit more confident with this setup, even though it did add a little bit more weight. I felt it was a good trade up.

Again I had the rifle zeroed in just a few shots, and in no time we were smacking targets all over the mountain. For suppression I was running my Yankee Hill Machine Nitro N20 Titanium suppressor on the rifle, which made it even more pleasant to shoot.Both my daughter and I had a great deal of fun shooting the Mini. Picking out little specks of snow on the opposing side of the canyon for targets.

A typical group made from my 105 BTHP handloads

It was a great confidence builder everytime the snow would splatter leaving a dark spot in the moist mountain soil. I stretched the little rifle out as far as six-hundred and twenty yards, and it was still hammering with acceptable accuracy to hit a deer. After a few hours playing in the mountains I was very satisfied with the rifle. Knowing that we could have easily taken a deer in these same hills where we hunt every fall.

Shop Howa Mini models at Sportsmans Warehouse

Everything about the Howa Mini fit well into my activities. The size of the rifle is perfect for doing lots of hiking. Everything worked great on the rifle, and it was very effective at putting hits on target. I feel like adding the better scope and mounting system surely helped the rifle shoot better. Though I’m quite happy with it, I may do some additional tinkering yet to see if I can squeeze any more accuracy out of it.

Reliability

The Howa Mini functioned flawlessly during my testing, no malfunctions or issues.

Accuracy

Accuracy from factory ammo wasn’t bad, whereas my handloads turned out to shoot excellent. Typical groups with handloads were 1/2 MOA. For what it is and what it costs, I am quite happy with the Howa Mini.

Overall Feel

The Mini feels better than its price point in my opinion. I’ve spent more money on rifles that didn’t feel this good. It’s comfortable to handle and functions great.

Features

Mini Action-

The ultra-short Mini action is lighter and smaller than most rifle actions. It looks like a Model 70 that someone put in the dryer too long. This smaller action shortens the bolt-stroke, allowing you to repeat faster. The icing on the cake is the ability to use Remington 700 scope bases on the rifle.

Two-stage Trigger

I love the two-stage trigger of the Mini. After lightening up the pull weight a little bit it felt even better. It’s not a Jewel or Trigger Tech, but it feels great for a factory rifle two-stage. The safety is a three position that locks the bolt closed in the 3rd position.

Threaded barrel

Thank goodness the folks at Howa live in this century, and provide most rifles from the factory with threaded barrels. Suppressors are more popular than ever so this should be the norm. I ran my suppressor as well as a good muzzle brake on the rifle. And was quite happy with either option. Both greatly reduced recoil making it possible to spot my own impacts.

Detachable Magazine

This is the one weak spot for me on this rifle, but I’ll admit I may be looking a bit hard at it. I wasn’t surprised to see a plastic magazine and floor-plate based on the price of the rifle but I was hoping for a little bit better one. Regardless, I will happily run this mag until it falls apart, and then buy another for the $30 or so that they cost.

Synthetic Stock

The glass filled nylon stock of the Mini felt great. Not because I like nylon stocks but because it is one of the better ones I’ve ever used. And the fact that Howa included a pillar bedding system gives them extra points. The stock was very rigid and tough.

How We Tested

With intentions of keeping this rifle, I gave it a good wringing out to ensure there was nothing I couldn’t live with. I spent a great deal of time tinkering with the rifle, even taking it apart on to see what makes it tick. I ran the bolt just like every other rifle I own, only to find out that I didn’t need to. The smooth bolt fed and extracted cartridges with ease. It has a good strong ejection pattern to get spent cases out of the way. Shooting the Howa Mini from every different position, loading and reloading it all the while was great. Shooting supported from a bipod was where it shot best but that is pretty standard. It shot all the different types of ammo I brought just fine, including my 6 ARC reloads.

As I write this I just ordered some additional varmint bullets for it. We’ll see how they shoot for varmints here this spring. With either scope and mounting system the rifle functioned great, I may end up shooting this thing myself come hunting season, provided my wife will let me.

Ammo Used

I used all ammunition from Hornady, all three of Hornady’s lines of ammunition worked great in the rifle and only made me love the ARC even more.

Score Card

Reliability (10/10) The Howa Mini worked perfectly during my testing. I see no reason to anticipate that to change.

Ergonomics (8/10) I would like a more vertical grip. But I get that this is a pretty entry level rifle so I cant expect too much.

Customization (7/10) The Mini is a bit of an anomaly so there aren’t many things that will work with it. Most unfortunately a different magazine system. It’s great that it works with Remington 700 scope bases though. There are a few aftermarket stocks and such for it, which is great.

Appearance (7/10) It’s a generally good looking little rifle, I wish there was a flush mounted magazine option. There are other camo pattern finishes available, I think I’ll end up doing a custom Cerakote job on mine.

Value (9/10) I absolutely think this is an excellent value, for the few flaws I’ve mentioned I would 100% buy this rifle again. I’m already considering another in perhaps a 6.5 Grendel, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself. The scope that comes with it is nothing fancy, but to get a rifle and scope like this for the street price as little as 550 dollars is a good deal in my opinion.

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CONCLUSION

I have greatly enjoyed my time with the Howa Mini in 6 ARC. I think it fits perfectly into the niche spot I wanted it for.

It’s small and light enough for the more petite shooters in my house but still carries the accuracy needed to hunt the big game animals we hunt every fall. And I am pleased with the level of quality from the little Howa, as are both my wife and daughter.

The Howa Mini’s extra short action reduces weight and length and makes the rifle extremely easy to haul around and shoot. Whether that be for deer hunting, varmint, or predator hunting, I think the Howa Mini is a great option.

If you find yourself needing something smaller than the average rifle of the gun store rack, you should look into the Howa Mini in whatever caliber fits your fancy.

-CBM

2023 Update

We have hunted with the Howa Mini for a whole year now. Using it for hunting varmints, and mule deer. My opinion of the rifle has only improved with time, it has been very reliable and maintained its great accuracy.

My wife managed to smack a little mule deer buck with it from about 200 yards.

Taurus Defender 856 TORO 38 Special Revolver

April 28, 2023pistols, Product review, Shooting hardware38 special, 856, Taurus, torocoldboremiracle

Introduction

For years I’ve had a very challenging relationship with Taurus firearms, I have had in the past an experience that left me quite displeased. But after some time I have meandered back into a place where I would try again, the TX22 line of rimfire pistols got me quite hooked on 22’s. And years later I’ve got four of them. But today we are looking at a new product from Taurus, the Taurus Defender 856 TORO 38 Special Revolver. The TORO is according to Taurus the first ever optics ready revolver, and being a sucker for red dots and pistols I had to try it.

The Defender 856 TORO

The 856 model has been around for a few years now, and it seemed a good host for optics I suppose because that’s where they went with it. The Defender 856 is a double-action revolver that holds six rounds in its stainless steel cylinder. The pistol uses a three-inch barrel and a target-style trigger for optimal performance. I was expecting a 357 Magnum but the TORO comes with 38 Special chambers, which is fine because I was probably going to shoot a lot of 38 Spl anyways.

taurus 856 toro defender — the pistol worked great with the 407K red dot

What sets the TORO apart is its optics platform that mounts to the top of the sight rail and is affixed with two screws. The plate itself uses the Holosun K footprint, which is also good because I have a Holosun 407K that would fit perfectly. The TORO is finished in a matte black, which turns out is pretty sexy in my opinion.

Unboxing the Taurus Defender 856 TORO 38 Special Revolver

Upon opening the box I was surprised a bit, as I was expecting something a bit different like I’d seen on the floor at SHOT Show. This model actually looked better in my opinion and as I lifted it from the box my first thoughts were about how handsome a little gun it was.

After opening the cylinder and checking everything out, I held the gun and pulled the hammer a few times. Like most revolvers I’ve ever shot, I found something romantic about the drawing back of the hammer. The trigger felt good as well, nothing fantastic or extraordinary but certainly good. Everything fits tightly and rolled like it was on bearings.

I pulled the optics kit from the box, and found the plate and mounting screws. I took it to my bench to get it mounted using a drop of Loctite to secure the screws. I then installed my Holosun 407K and secured it with its own two screws. I again lifted the pistol into the shooting position to see how the Holosun showed; “pretty slick” I muttered to myself. So I grabbed a sack of 38 Spl hand loads I had sitting on my bench and headed out the door.

To the Range!

As I lined up at my shooting spot, I contemplated what this little revolver would be good for. It’s certainly small enough to easily conceal and use as a CCW, though I am one of those that feel much better about carrying 15+ rounds for such purposes. But it still would be a great little pistol to have in a pinch.

I loaded a handful of cartridges into the cylinder and snapped it closed. I like how tight and timed this gun feels, the cylinder doesn’t have any slop and locks securely closed. I tapped the button to power up the Holosun, and it looked close enough to not even mess with it until after shooting a few shots. So that’s what I did, I fired the first cylinder of cartridges and as I expected I loved every minute of it.

taurus 856 defender — I also installed the new **Vortex Defender red dot**, it was a perfect match.

The Holosun really needed no adjustment for now, so I let it be as I fumble another cylinders worth off cartridges out of my pocket. I also had brought a few boxes of factory ammunition, but I was lucky to have inherited my Grandfather’s supply of 38 Spl handloads. Grandpa was a huge fan of the little 38, and he cast thousands of 148 grain semi-wadcutters loaded into spent nickel cases he brought home from the police ranges back in the 80’s.

I spent the late afternoon and into the evening shooting the little TORO at just about anything I could. It seemed about as accurate as any other three-inch revolver I’ve ever shot, I can’t help but feel that the red dot allows some additional precision in aiming though that could just be my personal bias.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Comfortable grip
Light recoil
Quality fit and finish
Red dot sight easy to aim

Cons:

Larger grip would fit my hand better
Trigger slightly jumpy

I guess I am warming back up to Taurus after all these years, and I have certainly grown to like this little pistol. The grip is very comfortable, and the rubber texture does allow some additional purchase to hold it back. The 38 is not a large recoiling pistol but its not a 22 either. I would have liked a slightly larger grip to fit my hand, but of course that would have made it harder to stash. I let a few friends shoot it as well that had smaller hands than I and they didn’t seem to have any issues with it.

The quality of the TORO was great, the fit and finish looked quite handsome and well put together. The trigger was a little jumpy but I suppose it’s fine, by jumpy I mean there can be felt movements before it breaks sometimes. It seemed perfectly serviceable for a pistol of this type and price point. The added function of the red dot made shooting the TORO quite easy, instead of focusing on the sights I’d just cover the target with the dot as I squeezed the trigger. The red dot lined up pretty closely to the built in iron sights, which made it easy to co-witness and matched my natural aim-point.

Read Conclusion Here…

CONCLUSION

Taurus Defender 856 TORO .38 Special Revolver

The Taurus Defender 856 TORO has turned out to be quite a breath of fresh air for me. When I first saw a red dot mounted on a revolver, I thought maybe we’d reached the bottom of the barrel. I was happy to be proven wrong.

I think it’s a great little handgun. It’s fun to shoot and accurate enough to be useful, especially at the affordable price point. I’d like something a little bigger for my hand size, but I was still able to shoot it well. If you want to try something new, the Taurus TORO revolver is certainly worth a shot.

-CBM

CVA Cascade 350 legend

April 25, 2023Product review, Shooting hardware350 legend, cascade, cvacoldboremiracle

Introduction

CVA started out making muzzle-loaders back in the 1970’s, but has continued to grow into a much larger company with an ever expanding product line. Their muzzle-loaders have modernized the more primitive ancestor to our modern firearms, and have been among the top selling muzzle-loaders for some time. Today we are talking about one of their more recent developments, the CVA Cascade is the companies first venture into centerfire bolt-action rifles. The Cascade is a bolt-action rifle using a three-lug seventy-degree bolt, and fed by a detachable box magazine.

The Cascade is available in many different and popular short and long-action cartridges. It comes in a synthetic stock available in either a grey color or their custom camo pattern. The rifle I am reviewing today is chambered in the 350 Legend cartridge, a great choice for short range hunting and one I am familiar with already. What remained unknown to me was whether or not the Cascade would meet my needs in a deer rifle.

A first bolt-action

After some initial inspection of the Cascade, I came to the conclusion that CVA had done a little homework before making this rifle. The three lug bolt is indexed on the keyway-like bolt-catch on the left side. It works double time by keeping the bolt timed properly, and acts as a stop when pulled to the rear.

The action reminded me of the Ruger American action, they seemed quite similar though each has its benefits. The seventy-degree bolt-lift was very refreshing, I’m a big fan of easy to run bolts and this one is certainly that. The short lift and smooth stroke make the bolt very easy to run, and run fast.

The glass-filled nylon stock has a soft touch finish making it quite grippy and comfortable, the model I received came with the Veil Wildland camouflage pattern. Up front there are two sling sluds to instal both a sling and a bipod which is quickly becoming standard equipment. The safety is mounted on the right side of the action tang.

Underneath the rifle is the detachable box magazine, released from the front with a flush-mounted release lever to avoid accidental release. The magazine is made from a polymer blend, and holds five 350 Legend cartridges. I assume the other short action cartridge magazines are slightly different than this straight-walled 350 L magazine. The twenty-inch barrel is threaded 5/8-24 at the muzzle for those that want to add muzzle embellishments.

Range Prep

Before hitting the range with the Cascade, I needed to get a few things squared away. I mounted up a good scope from Crimson Trace in a set of Warne 30mm rings, I was pleased to find out that the Cascade is compatible with Savage 110 Accu Trigger Scope bases. This may not sound like much, but being a very popular pattern opens the door for you to use a wide variety of quality scope mounting components. Once I had everything mounted level and eye relief set, I torqued down the rings.

Next I installed a Harris bipod on the front sling stud, I rarely shoot without a bipod of one kind or another so I knew I may as well install it before leaving. I also grabbed my Yankee Hill Machine Nitro N20 suppressor, being a titanium 9mm suppressor and rated for the 350L I figured it would be a perfect companion for the rifle. All that was left was some ammunition procurement to make as many holes as I needed to.

Rangetime

It was time to have fun with this little rifle, so I loaded up my gear and headed into the snowy Rocky Mountains to see what it could do. I spend a lot of time hiking through these mountains, and I always have a rifle with, and they are usually much heavier than this one. It was very refreshing to feel the light weight of the Cascade in my hands, it was easily carried one-handed with the grippy finish of the stock.

This rifle would be excellent for deer hunting in near any country, but I think the 350 Legend cartridge is better suited for flatter country. For these big Rocky Mountain spaces I would feel better with the rifle chambered in 7-08 or 6.5 PRC, or one of the many other excellent cartridges you can get the Cascade chambered in. This 350 Legend is better suited for shots inside two or three-hundred yards where its energy is still high.

Shop CVA rifles here (even if its a muzzleloader I wont judge you)

I had bore-sighted the rifle prior to leaving the house, so I was ready to shoot the rifle on paper as soon as I’d setup my target. After adjusting a few shots to get a solid zero, I fired my first group to see if the Cascade lived up to its one MOA guarantee. The first two groups were not what I would consider acceptable, but I can assure you that can be squarely blamed on the ammunition. I was shooting Winchester 145 grain ammo, which is notorious for inconsistency. I would probably have thrown it out if ammo wasn’t such a hard thing to come by, instead I figured I would just harvest the brass from it by using it up. Once I switched over to a better ammunition type, things certainly looked better. Three shots were easily one MOA or better, which made me feel much better about the ability to hit a deer should I need to.

Shooting some Federal 180 soft point ammo definitely produced some better results, and being expanding bullets they would obviously be much better for hunting as well.

I spent the rest of the afternoon getting comfortable and familiar with the Cascade. I really like how smooth the bolt runs, and the polymer magazines are perfectly slippery to let the rounds slide into battery. The trigger feels great, and is easily anticipated to control where you place your shot. Adding a suppressor to the rifle was a brilliant move on my part, the Legend is a fairly tame cartridge, and once suppressed it is even more pleasant to shoot.

Pros and Cons

The Cascade does an great job representing CVA’s first bolt gun. The quality and finish of the rifle are commensurate to its price point, and it holds its own on the range. As I mentioned I think the only thing I would change about this rifle is the chambering, I would love to have it in the 7-08. The fact that it is compatible with Savage scope mounting adds value by vastly opening your mounting options. The nylon stock could be better but it could also be far worse, I wont complain about shooting with it. The detachable box mag while perhaps a little cheap feeling functions flawlessly, and the factory threaded barrel saves you time and money if you want to add a brake or suppressor.

And to top if of, it is simply a handsome rifle. The camouflage pattern looks great, and fits into a great many landscapes.

Read the Conclusion Here

Final thoughts

The CVA Cascade is a great venture into the bolt-action rifle world. I like that CVA didn’t start out with a no-frills bargain-basement rifle destined to sit behind glass in a Super Walmart sporting goods department.

The Cascade fits right into the large group of sporting rifles that perform well enough to make you wonder how we’ve come so far in firearms manufacturing. It wasn’t that long ago that bolt guns made inexpensively with cheap imported parts weren’t worth the ammo you’d waste shooting them.

But nowadays, it seems like you can get a great performance from what was once a bargain price. If you’re looking for your next deer rifle, the CVA Cascade won’t disappoint.

-CBM

Sig Sauer MCX Spear LT 5.56 SBR

April 21, 2023Product review, Shooting hardwaremcx, mcx spear, mcx spear lt, sig, sig sauercoldboremiracle

INTRODUCTION

There has been a lot of talk lately about the new Sig Sauer MCX Spear. However, there is also another version… Today, we are diving into a Sig Sauer MCX Spear LT review.

Having had a little experience with previous versions of the MCX I was excited to see this new variant. Today we will be looking at the Sig Sauer MCX Spear LT, which is an 11.5-inch 5.56 rifle, making it an SBR.

The Spear is a perfect candidate for the EOtech EXPS3

The MCX Spear is a short-stroke piston-operated carbine. It utilizes a spring and buffer system that is housed in the upper portion of the receiver. This has removed the classic AR-type rifle buffer tube where the butt stock was typically attached.

Do you need a Spear LT of your own? Click Here

By removing the buffer tube, the role of the Spear can be further adapted to different uses. It can be removed entirely to be used as a “pistol,” or it can be fired with its folding butt stock folded to the side.

The MCX Spear uses many features and familiar parts for AR-15 owners, but I was surprised to see how many differences there were, even with parts that are shared.

The Spear brings with it the incredible adaptability that MCXs are known for and the robust reliability that Sig has rightfully retained. This newest member of the MCX family brings a lighter handguard with improved fasteners to increase rigidity.

Within the handguard is a lighter profile barrel to reduce the weight of the rifle. Inside the rifle’s receiver, there are ambidextrous controls with both safety and bolt-catch on either side of the rifle, and seated in the bottom is Sig’s Flatblade Match Trigger.

I’ve been a little bit of a Sig fan for a few decades, so I was very excited to play with this rifle, and after just a few minutes of handling it, I was hooked.

The quality of the rifle was apparent in every little thing I inspected. Outstanding craftsmanship and perfect lines that all matched up made the rifle incredibly pleasing.

SIG SAUER MCX SPEAR LT REVIEW

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber	5.56 Nato
Capacity	30 rounds
Barrel Length	11.5 inches
Barrel Twist	1-7 inches
Overall Length	29.5 inches
Width	2.9 inches
Height	7.5 inches
Weight	6.9 pounds
Muzzle Threads	½-28 TPI
Color	FDE

PROS & CONS

PROS

No buffer tube, fires from folder or without stock
M Lok compatible
Short Stroke piston operating system
Very nice trigger
Quality controls all around
Adjustable gas block
Fully ambidextrous
Interchangeable barrel capacity
Multiple calibers (5.56, 300blk, 7.62×39)
Handsome as the day is long

CONS

Rokset muzzle device
SBR requires interaction with tyrannical government

ON THE RANGE TESTING

sig sauer mcx spear lt hands on test at range

The MCX Spear was begging to be shot, so I wasted no time.

We took the rifle to a local range which typically, for me, is a non-starter, but today I would make an exception. With an EOtech mounted on top, it was time to cook the tip of the Spear. Today we were shooting some Hornady Black 62 grain FMJ ammunition, which would work great in the MCX’s one in seven twist.

I played with the folding stock for a moment, if only to familiarize myself with it. Pushing on the button with a lifting motion released the dovetail lock of the stock.

With the stock folded off to the side, the rifle supremely compact; only a bullpup could have been much shorter and still maintain a reasonable barrel length.

Shooting the Spear like this would have been easy, but I couldn’t bring myself to shoot it like a pistol, especially after all the legwork of a form four.

With loaded magazines and open range I fired a few rounds, which were quite mild. Small caliber rifles of this size are a joy to shoot. I would have enjoyed it, even more, had Sig not used Rokset on the muzzle brake. Who would buy this thing only to run the factory flash-hider?

To be fair it would be someone with a Sig suppressor that mounts to the brake, but I am not that guy. So I was kind of chapped that it would have taken significantly more effort to remove the flash-hider, so I chose to leave it alone for now.

Shop Sig Sauer firearms here, you know you want one…

But I would have loved to shoot it suppressed to see how the rifle worked and if the dual gas settings were acceptable. The eleven-inch barrel definitely needed a flash hider because it launched some serious fireballs.

Shooting the MCS Spear was pleasant as can be, the Sig grip had a very comfortable angle, and the handguard filled the support hand too. The short size of the rifle can, at times, get your support hand a little close to the muzzle, another reason I would have liked to suppress it. The diminutive size of the rifle also made it easy to balance and maneuver.

sig sauer mcx spear lt hands on test at range jeff wood

The MCX Spear isn’t what I’d consider a precision rifle, nor would many folks imagine. That said it was easy to keep shots on target at one hundred yards with no magnification. After fudging with the EOtech holographic sight to get a dirty zero, it was easy to keep the shots within an inch or two of the point of aim.
I love the controls of the rifle. The safety was smooth and easily put into either position. The ambidextrous mag releases were right where I expected them and functioned with minimal effort. The ambi bolt-catch made for quick reloads using the trigger finger to send the bolt home after loading a fresh magazine.

It’s also handy for locking the bolt back for inspection or other purposes.

The other finishing touches of the MCX Spear were things like the steel QD sling cups that were fit into the different parts of the rifle. I even disassembled the rifle a bit to see how the piston system and barrel clamp worked.

The handguard was easily removed by two screws and a take-down pin. It slides on a tongue and groove with the monolith top rail of the upper receiver. Underneath, I found the barrel trunnion with two clamping screws; I tipped my hat clean off as I figured out the cunning design Sig had devised.
The two screws work dual purpose as they house a pair of jaws with a tapered face, and they marry an opposite tapered face on the front of the barrel extension. As the screws are tightened, the jaws draw the barrel extension tight into the barrel trunnion block.

Once snugged down, the screws’ second purpose begins to apply clamping force to each side of the split trunnion. Once tight, the barrel extension has been seated tightly against its mating face ensuring accurate head spacing. And the clamping force holds the barrel tight into place.

Besides its intricate manufacturing and design, the MCX Spear LT was just plain handsome! The Coyote finish is a beautiful shade, and the coatings of the other parts were equally immaculate. Every little thing seemed well thought out and executed, and after shooting over a hundred rounds on the first trip, I already loved this rifle.

RELIABILITY

During the course of several hundred rounds, the MCX Spear LT worked flawlessly. I experienced no malfunctions during testing.

ACCURACY

The Spear LT isn’t exactly made for precise shooting, but it is more than accurate enough for the typical duties of a short-barreled rifle.

OVERALL FEEL

You may have gathered by now that I am quite happy with this rifle. Everything about it feels good and aesthetically pleasing to my eyes. The coatings, finishes, and every little edge are cleaned up, and it functions as good as it looks.

FEATURES

BUFFER TUBELESS ACTION

The dual-spring buffer rides above the bolt carrier in the upper receiver, part of which hangs down to engage the top of the bolt carrier.

By moving the whole recoil operation into the upper receiver, the stock options of the rifle can be changed to near any configuration, or none at all. The already short Spear LT can be further shortened and fired with a folding stock.

AMBIDEXTROUS CONTROLS

The ambidextrous controls of the Spear LT are convenient regardless of your preferred shooting stance. My favorite part is the right-side bolt release, which makes it extremely easy to reload. As you insert a fresh magazine, you can immediately charge the rifle with your trigger finger while your support hand finds its way to the handguard.

With controls on both sides it makes the rifle even easier to operate and obviously much friendlier for left-handed shooters.

sig standard mcx vs mcx spear lt — *On top is the **SIG standard MCX** compared to the MCX Spear LT on the bottom.*

FOLDING BUTTSTOCK

The Sig folding buttstock attaches to a vertical pic rail at the back of the lower receiver. The simple construction of the stock appeals to the minimalist in me, with very few things to go wrong.

They even added a small polymer cover where your cheek might touch the stock, which was one of my complaints with the original MCX. Adding a steel sling cup to the back also gives you more sling options.

ADJUSTABLE GAS BLOCK

As I’d already mentioned, I wasn’t going to try and get the muzzle device off this rifle. Much to my dismay, as one of my favorite things to do is test suppressors on different rifles. I would have loved to see how the two-position gas block would have fared with a couple of different suppressors on it.

It is certainly nice to know that the option is there, though I don’t think it would be too hard for Sig to make a three or four-position to give a little more customization options.

LIGHTWEIGHT HANDGUARD

The lightweight handguard of the MCX Spear is comfortable and easy to work on.

MLok slots all over give the user many options to customize the rifle and put accessories where they want them. And if you choose to swap the barrel out of your rifle, the handguard is easily removed to allow access to the barrel trunnion and its clamping screws.

TRIGGER

The Flatblade match trigger in the Spear was outstanding. A much better trigger than I anticipated in an SBR, and it likely helped with accurate shooting.

This is the kind of trigger I would expect in a nice DMR-type rifle, and it was very welcome for me.

HOW WE TESTED

I shot the MCX Spear LT over a few range trips, using the aforementioned Hornady ammunition and some PMC Xtac 55-grain ammunition. For the majority of the shooting I used an EOTech holographic sight, which I might add is an excellent option to go with the Spear.

Shooting the rifle was mostly done at closer ranges, mainly because I think that’s where rifles of this configuration shine. Pulling the rifle out in a vehicle showed how handy the little SBR can be, and shooting it from the folded position also put its utility on display.

Reloading the rifle was smooth and seamless, mainly due to the ambi bolt-catch I already mentioned. The Pmags flowed in and out of the magwell through a great many reloads, and it felt like the kind of rifle you’d want in a gunfight, should such a thing happen.

AMMO USED

sig sauer mcx spear lt close up with Hornady black ammo

Hornady Black ammunition was used for the majority of my testing. The 62-grain load worked great in the rifle. I also used several boxes of the PMC Xtac 55-grain ammo and some Frontier 55 grain HP loads. All of them worked well, but the 62-grain load was for sure the best in this rifle.

SCORE CARD

RELIABILITY (10/10)

Rifle ran flawlessly for the duration of my testing.

ERGONOMICS (10/10)

With the customization utility of the MLok handguard, I think you could set this rifle up to be perfect for you. Out of the box, it is not bad at all, either.

CUSTOMIZATION (9/10)

The buttstock options, while awesome, are also slightly limited. I’m still mad bout the Rokset muzzle brake.

APPEARANCE (10/10)

Dead sexy. Nothing more to say.

VALUE (9/10)

The Spear LT is not inexpensive, with a street price of around $2500.00 it could be tough for many to justify. But if you were ever gonna splurge on an SBR, splurge here.

CONCLUSION

The Sig Sauer MCX Spear LT is an excellent choice for a defensive rifle, a sport rifle, or really for almost any other shooting activity suited for an SBR.

It brings Sig’s high quality and service standard to a very handsome and usable rifle without having the large footprint of a full-size rifle. If you are in the market for a good SBR that you’d want in a life-or-death situation, the MCX Spear LT would surely be at the top of my list.

-CBM

Read the conclusion here…

PSA Dagger 9mm

April 14, 2023pistols, Product review, Shooting hardware9mm, ccw, dagger, palmetto state armory, pistol, psacoldboremiracle

INTRODUCTION

Palmetto State Armory (PSA) has been a big name in the firearms industry for some time. Their mission of arming law-abiding Americans has brought affordability and options to many. Whether it be MSR rifles, parts, or accessories, PSA sells it, probably in seven different colors and calibers. Today we are going to review one of PSA’s own productions, the new PSA Dagger SW3 9mm pistol.

The Dagger is a polymer-framed striker-fired 9mm pistol with incredibly similar features to the venerable Glock 19. That is no mistake either. The popular pistol has been copied, cloned, and customized by countless manufacturers.

But what makes the PSA version different you might ask? Well, that’s what Gun Made is here for; we’ll show you.

The Dagger utilizes fifteen-round flush-fit Glock magazines and is available in too many different models to mention. There are threaded and non-threaded barrels, extreme carry cut slides, night sights, optic-cut slides and so on.

I would recommend you go browse their selection as there is surely one you will like.

There are many advantages to the Dagger, and most of them are related to its kinship with the Glock. Magazines and other parts can be used to customize the pistol if one of the many models doesn’t perfectly fit your fancy.

The polymer frame is textured nicely to give the shooter a good purchase on the grip area, and the undercut trigger guard allows you to ‘choke-up’ your hand into the grip and seat the pistol deep into your grip.

The trigger features a flexing shoe safety, similar to those I’ve seen on S&W M&P pistols.

The Extreme Carry Cuts and Gatormouth slide add some custom detail to the pistol, and add to the gripping area of the slide while reducing weight. The slide itself is stainless steel with a Cerakote finish and topped with Tritium Tru-Glow night sights.

The 1-10 twist barrel inside has a hard DLC coating for durability and long life.

Upon receiving the Dagger, I wasted no time in giving it a thorough look over. And I must confess I was quite impressed with the little pistol; not only did it feel quite robust and smooth, but I had no idea they could be purchased for as little as $259.

The model shown here goes for about $60 more, but if this thing lives up to my hopes, I’d consider it a steal for that price.

DAGGER 9MM REVIEW

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber:	9mm
Capacity:	15 rounds
Action:	Striker Fired
Weight:	22.4oz (unloaded)
Overall Length:	7.15″
Overall Width:	1.28″
Overall Height:	4.78″ (Without Mag)
Barrel Length:	3.9″
Twist Rate:	SAAMI Spec 1:10
Slide Finish:	Cerakote, Flat Dark Earth

PROS & CONS

PROS

Very Affordable
Lighter than a Glock 19
Magpul Magazines
DLC Barrel coating
Cerakote over stainless finish
Picatinny accessory rail
Included night sights
Striker block and trigger safety

CONS

I couldn’t come up with something to dislike

ON THE RANGE TESTING

With the Dagger in a holster and several boxes of ammunition I headed out into what we call springtime here in Utah. After a short ride on my snowmachine, I found myself at my spot, and after hanging a target, I started loading magazines. I’d never loaded a Magpul Glock magazine since I’ve never owned a Glock; they do feel stiffer than I expected.

With fifteen rounds in the magazine, I chambered a round and prepared to shoot. The lockup feeling as the slide closed felt great, and I tightened my grip around the pistol as I settled the sights on my target.

OVERALL FEEL

The Dagger felt great in the hands; it really does feel above its price-point.

The trigger isn’t anything out of this world, but I certainly wouldn’t expect it to be for a CCW pistol. I kind of expected it to be a little long, and a bit stiffer than I would normally like. Turns out I was pretty much spot on. I wouldn’t consider myself a trigger snob, but I do like a good trigger, and this one impressed me as pretty standard.

I broke one shot after another, listening to the trigger reset between shots. After emptying my first magazine, I gave the pistol a good look over to ensure everything was in place before reloading.

I carried on through magazine after magazine of Magtech 124 grain FMJ ammo. I was very pleasantly pleased with how the Dagger felt in my hands and how it pointed so well. Every time I’d lift the pistol, the sights were lined up on my target.

The snappy recoil was easily controlled, and follow-up shots came fast and accurately. I’m also not a competition pistol shooter, so I wasn’t expecting to be particularly accurate with the Dagger. And yet I felt quite confident at hitting what I aimed at after just a few magazines.

I holstered the pistol and drew it from retention quite a few times. Since this is sort of a CCW-focused pistol, I figured I would try and simulate drawing it. Again, everytime as I drew it from the holster, it would come up on target for a good clean shot. Well, almost every time.

Shop PSA pistols and accessories

RELIABILITY

The Dagger was very reliable during my testing; no significant malfunctions or jams occurred.

During my range time, I experienced no malfunctions other than one time the pistol failed to lock back upon emptying the magazine. The magazine appears to make good contact with the slide-lock, so I’m not sure if there was another issue or if maybe my thumb was riding the release. But I haven’t been able to repeat it yet.

ACCURACY

Accuracy was perfectly acceptable; I would like to shoot another one with the red dot sight.

The Tritium sights were great for targeting, even though I’m a bit of a red dot kinda guy. But the nice thing is that you can certainly get the Dagger with a cut slide for your red dot.

psa dagger hands on review and range test

FEATURES

POLYMER FRAME

The lightweight polymer frame with its grippy texture felt great in my hand; the slippery polymer allowed the magazines to drop free easily and seat properly as well. The mag release is not reversible.

TRITIUM NIGHT SIGHTS

The low-profile night sights work well for targeting, and they were unobtrusive. I think they could be improved by perhaps rounding off the edge to reduce the likelihood of snagging.

CARRY CUT SLIDE

The carry cut slide reduces weight and also gives an excellent grip area to cycle the pistol. I suppose it is possible that the large cuts allow more dust and debris to enter the pistol, but as long as you have it holstered, I don’t see a problem.

HOW WE TESTED

During the course of more than a couple of hundred rounds, I got a good feeling for the function of the PSA Dagger. Shooting many courses of double taps, reloads, and other typical pistol drills.

I carried the pistol as my CCW for the better part of a month in a compatible OWB holster.

Part of my daily interaction with the pistol included repeated drawing and presenting of the pistol, and when in the right kind of place, shooting a few rounds to see how well I could place them under time limits.

It didn’t take long to see why these style of pistols are so popular. It was relatively easy to get comfortable and present some modicum of proficiency.

Shooting the pistol on the range got me very comfortable with the Dagger, and after spending a few weeks and boxes of ammo shooting the pistol I was very happy with the performance.

AMMO USED

For this review, I used Magtech 124-grain FMJ ammunition, and it worked great.

SCORE CARD

RELIABILITY (9/10)

The Dagger worked almost perfectly and flawless during my shooting. The controls felt and functioned perfectly.

ERGONOMICS (9/10)

The Dagger felt fantastic in the hands. I think the only way you could improve it would be to add some kind of adjustable backstrap or grip.

CUSTOMIZATION (8/10)

The incredible custom options of the Dagger allow you to get almost anything you want in the pistol. The various colors, slide, and barrel options make it easy to please nearly any shooter.

APPEARANCE (9/10)

The Dagger is a handsome pistol; again the custom options make it more so. The finish and look of the pistol are every bit as good as the famous Glock pistols they mimic.

VALUE (10/10)

I was literally blown away when I saw the price of these pistols. I had played with and shot the pistol quite a bit before I looked and saw the street price of the pistol as tested was only $359.00

Continue Reading Here…

CONCLUSION

Palmetto State Armory has certainly hit a major goal in its mission of arming America.

The PSA Dagger is an outstanding value. I think it would serve as a perfect start for someone who is new to the firearms game and looking for an economical entry.

The great features and function of the Dagger come not just at a good price but with market compatibility and customizability.

I have no doubt these pistols will be very popular with the American shooting public. I myself look forward to seeing how this pistol continues to kick.

The only thing left to do is shoot a few thousand rounds through it. That might take a while, so follow along if you’d like to see how that goes.

-CBM

Check out our other pistol reviews here

Palmetto State Armory Rock 5.7×28 pistol

April 14, 2023pistols, Product review5.7, palmetto state armory, psa, rock, rock 5.7coldboremiracle

INTRODUCTION

Palmetto State Armory (PSA) has been a well-known supplier of many firearm parts and products. They live with the motto of selling as many guns to law-abiding Americans as possible. That’s something I can get behind! PSA has recently entered the polymer-framed pistol market, offering several PSA branded pistols. The Palmetto State Armory Rock 5.7 is one of those, and the subject of our review today. We are going to take a look at how it works and what it brings to the table.

psa rock 5.7 unboxing — The PSA Rock 5.7 is a polymer-frame striker-fired pistol

The PSA Rock 5.7 is a polymer-frame striker-fired pistol.

It is chambered in 5.7x28mm. It feeds from twenty-three round magazines to its 5.2 inches and 1-9 twist barrel.

The fluted barrel is also threaded to install a suppressor or other muzzle accessories. The Rock’s slide comes precut for adding optics and also includes suppressor height sights with the threaded barrel models.

The un-threaded models come with Ameriglow sights. The pistol operates using a delayed blowback system, making it a very simple operation.

The pistol is available in various color combinations, including black, FDE, grey, and combinations of the same.

I must have missed the Belgian 5.7 train years ago when it passed, as I never got too excited about it. And over the years, as other guns chambered in the diminutive cartridge popped up, I didn’t pay much attention to them either.

So being my first encounter with a 5.7×28 pistol, I encourage you to come along and discover the pros and cons with me.

The Rock comes in a nice little soft pistol case with one extra magazine and a few other accessories.

Excess Arms makes a +7 baseplate for the Rock to increase capacity to 30 rnds

My first impressions of the pistol were actually quite positive, the gun doesn’t impress me as heavy, and it felt comfortable in my hand. I ran the slide a few times and pulled the trigger to get a feel for it, and I was quite surprised at how good it felt to my finger.

There are only a few options currently for 5.7×28 pistols, and it seems that the PSA Rock is likely the most affordable one available. That being the case, I determined to find out if it deserves a place in the safe, and if its performance justifies the new 5.7×28 inventory I’d need to feed it.

psa 5.7 rock disassembly — The **Holosun 407K** made an excellent red dot for the Rock

PSA ROCK 5.7×28 PISTOL REVIEW

The 5.7×28 cartridge was developed by FN Herstal for several of their firearms, notably the P90 bullpup assault rifle. The cartridge shoots a .224 caliber bullet like other centerfire .22 caliber rifles.

The bottle-neck cartridge closely resembles a shrunk rifle round, and compared to other pistol cartridges, it performs like one as well.

With its forty-grain projectiles leaving the barrel well beyond supersonic velocities, the 5.7 acts more like a rifle cartridge than a pistol cartridge, which is likely why manufacturers are chambering additional firearms with the 5.7 cartridge.

The performance of the 5.7 lends itself to high-velocity and high-energy shooting and comes with the attributes of supersonic performance. Just how good a performance I was determined to find out.

psa 5.7 rock review with holosun 407k yhm suppressor and surefire light — My **Surefire X300 weapon light** fit nicely and the **YHM Phantom** was a perfect match

The Rock 5.7 carries twenty-three rounds, and with the extended capabilities of the cartridge, it could certainly be useful at carbine distances compared to normal pistol cartridge rounds.

This could be very appealing to shooters who need such a thing. Before I even got started with this review, I was confronted by one of the drawbacks of the 5.7, and that was the price of a box of ammunition.

The local Cabelas had many boxes labeled at $50 each, which for a rifle isn’t unheard of, but for a handgun, it seemed to be quite excessive to me. Granted, the Rock isn’t just a plinking pistol, so I bit the bullets and left the store even more curious to see if this project would serve my purposes.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber:	5.7x28mm
Capacity:	23+1
Weight with Empty Mag:	25 oz
Barrel Length:	5.2″
Twist Rate:	1/9″
Thread Pitch:	1/2×28 TPI
Magazine:	23rd Steel 5.7x28mm Magazine (Ships With 2)
Action:	Delayed Blowback Striker-fired
Mag Catch:	Reversible
Barrel Material:	Carbon Steel With QPQ Finish; Fluted

PROS & CONS

PROS

Comfortable grip
Quite affordable
Excellent trigger
23+1 round capacity
Factory threaded barrel
Suppressor height sights
Optics ready slide
Excellent accuracy
Includes soft-case and many extras
Double-stack magazine

CONS

Failure to lock back on empty
Slide-release is a little stiff

ROCKING THE RANGE

My first trip to the range with the PSA Rock 5.7 was on a snowy day in March. I had also acquired a couple boxes of American Eagle 5.7x28mm FMJ ammunition, and I started shooting with that.

After loading the double-stack magazines to their 23-round max, I seated my first magazine and dropped the slide.

I fired a few rounds and was immediately surprised by a couple of things; the recoil is quite mild, which is very nice, and the trigger in this pistol is very crisp. And the trigger reset is quite short as well.

These two attributes made it quite easy to do two things; shoot fast, and shoot accurately (not at the same time).

I continued shooting to see what else I liked with the pistol, only to be let down as the magazine emptied its contents.

The first hiccup I noticed was the failure to lock back when the mag went empty. I tried the second magazine and found the same thing happened. I even fired a single shot from both mags repeatedly to confirm.

It’s certainly possible that with some simple fudging of the magazine I could correct the problem, as it worked everytime when I ran the slide manually on an empty magazine.

With a target hung at 25 yards, I looked down the tall sights of the Rock and tried firing a group. To my great surprise, the shots were very consistent, and the group measured just under 2.5 inches.

I felt like it could easily be better if I used a red dot for a finer aiming point, something I was going to try for sure on my next range trip.

My next task was to try the pistol suppressed. I had brought along my YHM Phantom 22 suppressor to see how the Rock performed with a suppressor. The thread protector is secured with a small O-ring. I removed the protector and threaded it on my suppressor and loaded a magazine.

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RELIABILITY

The firing portion of shooting went fine, but the gun would not reliably lock back on empty.

ACCURACY

Accuracy when shooting the Rock was excellent, and exceeded my expectations

OVERALL FEEL

The gun felt great in my hand, I typically don’t like the wide grip of pistols because of the 5.7 length magazines housed inside, but it didn’t seem to affect my ability to grip it properly.

FEATURES

OPTICS READY

The Rock comes ready to install a red dot; I did so and found it quite easy and extremely useful to take advantage of its accuracy.

THREADED BARREL

The threaded barrel of the Rock fit my suppressor perfectly, it was a very nice add on to an already fun experience.

23-ROUND MAGAZINES

The 23-round double-stack magazines performed perfectly. It seemed like quite a shooting string to not have the magazine extended beyond the bottom of the grip.

According to PSA the magazines can be used in the Ruger 5.7 pistol, though they don’t guarantee function.

TRIGGER

I again wanted to mention how good the trigger felt when compared to other striker fired polymer pistols, it was definitely above average.

MAGAZINE RELEASE

The magazine release is reversible for left-handed shooters; I found it to be perfectly adequate and flowed perfectly with my shooting.

HOW WE TESTED

During the testing of the Rock 5.7, I shot almost two hundred rounds of ammunition through the pistol. I did a great many reloads during the process to see how the controls functioned.

I did notice that the longer 5.7 magazines are a bit tougher to hit the magwell that we are used to. I think perhaps a slightly more flared magwell would aid in this.

The other thing that I noticed while reloading the gun was the stiffness of the slide release. This may also have something to do with the gun not locking back on empty. I plan on breaking the gun in with a bunch more ammo. Follow me to see if it results in better function.

I only fired a couple magazines worth of ammo suppressed, just to see how it functioned. Recoil was slightly increased, and some additional blowback was noted, but it was still acceptable in my opinion.

I was surprised the suppressor didn’t heat up more than it did due to the higher pressure of the 5.7 cartridge.

AMMO USED

For the most part, I use the American Eagle 40 grain ammunition. The FN brand 40 grain ammunition also functioned flawlessly.

SCORE CARD

RELIABILITY (7/10)

Other than the issues I mentioned about not locking back, and stiff slide release, the gun functioned very well.

ERGONOMICS (9/10)

The Rock felt great in my hand, the textured grip makes it easy to hold onto, and the slide texture allows easy operation of the action.

CUSTOMIZATION (8/10)

I am unaware of any aftermarket parts for the Rock, as it is still quite new. But the threaded barrel and optics-ready slide give the user the ability to make it their way.

APPEARANCE (8/10)

The various color options are nice, and the Rock looks as good as any other comparable pistol

VALUE (9/10)

The Rock is significantly lower priced than the other options like the FN or Ruger 5.7 pistols. If the couple of slight issues I’ve had are easily worked out, I think it’s a steal by comparison.

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Conclusion

The PSA Rock 5.7 offers an affordable and accurate 5.7 semi-automatic pistol for those who are looking.

As I mentioned at the start, I was never a big fan of the 5.7, particularly in a pistol configuration. Having said that, I have definitely come around to the potential benefits of this pistol. I had never considered a small pistol like this so potent at distances more common for carbines.

I could easily see myself using this pistol as a hiking companion, taking small game inside 100 yards. And if you were ever unlucky enough to find yourself in a gunfight, twenty-three or 30 rounds of 5.7 would be an incredible advantage over traditional handgun cartridges. As would the added advantage of the Holosun 407K red dot sight.

Both the distance and accuracy would be very handy, and if distance wasn’t a concern, then you would definitely have velocity on your side.

The PSA Rock, despite my issues with it, is still a great little pistol, in my opinion, and has done far more to convince me towards a 5.7 pistol than against it.

The last hurdle I have is ammunition costs. Maybe PSA is currently working on removing that obstacle as well.

-CBM