Category Archives: Shooting hardware

Rifles and their parts

Savage Elite Precision 110 6.5 Creedmoor

May 30, 2023Product review, Shooting hardware6.5 creedmoor, mdt, modular driven designs, savage, savage 110coldboremiracle

One of the fastest growing sectors in the sport of shooting is that of precision rifle, organizations like the Precision Rifle Series (PRS) and the National Rifle League (NRL) has rapidly grown the sport worldwide. Today I present to you one example of the rifles that are driving this craze; the rifle is a Savage Elite Precision 110 chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, married to a Modular Driven Technologies ACC chassis. I say one example because there are so many great examples it would be daunting to list them all. Today’s subject is a great example to start with, precision shooting and long-range were once a rich man’s game using only custom built rifles. This rifle however is every bit as competitive, and is much easier to obtain for mainstream shooters looking for entry to the precision shooting circuit.

The Savage Model 110

Savage has been in the bolt-action rifle business for a long time, and in my opinion they have done a pretty good job of offering an affordable rifle that punches above its weight. Back when it was all custom rifles, Savage model 10’s and 110’s were often the choice for an effective donor action that wouldn’t break the bank.

The model we’re testing today utilizes Savages popular Accu-trigger, floating bolt-head, and tang-mounted safety. These are common and popular features for the Savage, and well tested over the past decade. On top of the tubular action is a 20 MOA scope mounting rail, also very common on long-range rifles. The base gives a canted starting point for your scope, which allows the internal movement of your reticle a wider range of travel, and helps keep it further from the extreme ends of its travel.

A twenty-six inch stainless barrel is mounted in the action, and it features a heavy profile and a one-in-eight-twist. The threaded muzzle carries a dual ported muzzle brake to help reduce recoil. Before the Fudd’s chime in about 6.5 Creedmoor’s being weak and not in need of recoil reduction, let’s make it clear; recoil reduction in competitive shooting isn’t about weakness, it’s about spotting your own hits and misses. Muzzle brakes keep you on target so you can hopefully see your impact.

The MDT ACC Chassis

MDT has been building precision rifle chassis for quite some time, and their ACC rifle chassis is one of their more popular competition models. The chassis is compatible with many of the more popular rifle actions, allowing users an upgrade. The chassis is built from aluminum, and features a skelotonized buttstock with completely adjustable positions. The adjustable pistol grip also allows customization for the user, making the rifle as comfortable as possible. The chassis is also compatible with the standard Accuracy International pattern magazines, which is a must have nowadays. The foregrip of the rifle is M-Lok compatible to allow adding accessories like weights and barricade stops, or any other ad-on that PRS type shooting utilizes. There is also a built in ARCA rail on the bottom of the foregrip, this allows the rapid attachment of other support accessories and mounting the rifle atop a tripod.

But how comfortable is it?

I wasted no time prepping the rifle to be range-ready, I added a Harris bipod mounted to an ARCA clamp for easy adjustment on the ACC ARCA rail. And for a scope, I wanted something that would match the rifle’s needs, so I mounted my Kahles 318i in a set of Vortex rings. Once everything was together, I laid behind the rifle to adjust everything to my taste and prepared for the range.

Ready for the range with Hornady Match ammunition

In the field

As I lay on the firing line, looking through my little Kahles, I couldn’t help but think; this rifle is quite comfortable. And in no time I would produce some great results because of it.

I loaded a magazine with my Hornady Match ammo, closed the bolt and focused on the target. I tightened up my grip against the trigger, and pressed till it broke. It felt great, the recoil was linear and even, I ran the bolt fast and fired another. And continued till the mag went empty.

The TiN coated bolt of the Savage 110 action was smooth as could be, but I did notice there was a slight hitch in the feed as the cartridges went forward. Every so often I would have to pause my push of the bolt and start again to get it to feed right. I think perhap it didn’t like that particular magazine because it seemed to go away when I tried it with a polymer magazine from Magpul.

The rifle shot great besides that, it was easy to keep shots on target though the best I could get the rifle to group was around 1/2 MOA but average was more like .75 MOA. Not bad but also not what competitors would look for, competition rifles often shoot sub .5 MOA and even as small as .4 or .3 MOA.

I ran the rifle through an afternoon of shooting, burning up my ammunition. It was very enjoyable and ended up teaching me a few things. I also added a Accuracy Solutions Bipod extender to see how it affected the rifle and its shooting, the results were steadier.

The MDT chassis played a big part in the comfort and ability to shoot the rifle well. I was quite pleased with how it felt in my shoulder, and adjusted properly it was a perfect fit for me.

Pros & Cons

I guess there are few things I wish were better, first and foremost would be accuracy. The rifle is apparently not new so I have no idea how many rounds it has downrange, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it was excessive.

The magazine hiccup was also a little disheartening, though I don’t think it’d be hard to correct with a little lip adjustment. But other than that I think the rifle is an outstanding piece of work, chassis and rifle both fit very well together.

The chassis is easily and quickly adjusted to fit any shooter, and its forend is easily adapted to accept accessories with its M-Lok slots and ARCA rail at the bottom. The feel of the chassis was excellent with a naturally occuring “gas-pedal” for the thumb (if you don’t know you gotta look that one up).

The Savage action is like every other savage action I’ve ever shot, not exactly tight but still runs like a sewing machine. All these years later I still don’t particularly care for the Accu-trigger. I usually take them off on personal rifles, but I must admit it is not bad. The muzzle brake was very effective at reducing recoil, and keeping the rifle on target.

In Closure

Despite being a little bit let down by this particular rifle’s accuracy, I still overall liked this setup. With a drop in barrel replacement it could be back in sub-half MOA accuracy if needed, and everything about it would help any shooter in a competitive shooting scenario.

Continue Reading Here

Tristar Arms Viper G2 PRO 12 gauge shotgun

May 30, 2023Product review, Shooting hardware12 gauge, 12g, shotgun, tristar, viper g2coldboremiracle

INTRODUCTION

Tristar is a manufacturer and importer of firearms. Their moniker of being the value experts suggests that their products offer a significant value over the competition.

I am more of a rifle junkie than a shotgun devotee, but like any true gun enthusiast, I do enjoy shooting them. Today I will be taking on the Tristar Viper G2 PRO, a 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun designed for sporting and hunting purposes.

It seems over the last few decades, there has been a large influx of Turkish-made shotguns brought to the market. Being a rifle addict, as I mentioned, I have been mostly unaffected by this trend.

But I am happy to take on almost any firearm, and those brought in from the Turkish market definitely seem to bring value.

After just a few minutes handling the Viper, I expected I was going to like it.

THE VIPER G2 PRO

The Viper G2 PRO features a twenty-eight inch barrel and is operated by a gas piston to cycle the action. Like most every other semi-auto shotgun, it uses a tubular magazine to carry up to four rounds plus one in the chamber.

The Viper utilizes a handsome blend of beautiful wood for the stock and a bronze color finished receiver mated to a blued barrel.

A push/push safety in the trigger guard will be very familiar to shotgunners, as are the rest of the controls. The bolt release is on the right side of the receiver, just under the bolt charging handle.

I was impressed with the presentation of the Viper, it is a handsome-looking shotgun, and it was time to see what it could do.

VIPER G2 PRO REVIEW

Tristar presents itself as a value option in shotguns. I wanted to see if that meant it was worth the money or if that just meant it was cheaply made. There are plenty of cheaply made options out there, and I have no interest in them.

After handling the Viper I think it was safe to assume it wasn’t slapped together by unskilled hands, the fit and finish of the shotgun looked very comparable to the competitive price.

The MSRP for the model tested is $990.00, but in a cursive search of the market, various configurations of the Viper can be had for as little as $460 to near the MSRP price. The majority of the ones I found were around the $600 mark, which isn’t bad for a good shotgun in my estimation.

To be fair, a guy like me would probably do well with the Viper. If you aren’t one of those haughty shotgunners looking down their nose through a strange shade of amber shooting glasses at non-Italian shotguns, you could also benefit from the Viper G2.

With a price like this, it could definitely be a winner for those looking to scatter shot on a budget.

tristar viper g2 pro bronze review and disassembly

The Tristar Viper G2 is available in a bunch of different setups, colors, and even a left-handed version. This is great for those looking, as it gives you more options at a decent price. Make sure you look at all of the models, as there may be one better suited for you than this model. Whether you are dusting clays on a range or seriously seeking turkeys, you have got some great options.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber	12 gauge three-inch chamber
Capacity	5 rounds max
Barrel length	28 inch
Caliber options	12g, 16g, 20g, 28g, .410
Color options	Bronze, Silver, Black, and three different camo patterns.
Models available	Right and left-handed
Weight	6.8 pounds
Length of pull	14.25 inches
Choke system	Beretta®/Benell® Mobil
Chokes included	Improved cylinder, Modified, Full

PROS & CONS

PROS

Very handsome shotgun
Reasonably priced
Functions excellent
Compatible choke system
Includes choke set
Feels very light
Cycled every kind of ammunition I tried

CONS

Not made in America (if that matters to you)
It bit my finger (obviously my fault)

tristar viper g2 pro bronze review and test in rocky mountains

FIELD TESTING

Enough chit chat about numbers and prices, it was time to get the Viper into action and heat it up.

For this, my brother and I ventured into the springtime Rocky Mountains, which are currently still stuck in February mode. But with a gorgeous day before us and several boxes of shells and clays, I knew we were going to have a good time.

Hand-thrown clays add an extra layer of fun to shooting shotguns, unless you bring my nephew, in which case it becomes a very hazardous two-way range. We took turns throwing targets for each other, running an assortment of shells from Remington and Fiocchi.

RELIABILITY

I had accidentally glanced at the manual that came with the Viper, and in doing so, I noticed that they recommend a break-in process using magnum loads. I was a bit concerned thinking there may be a reliability issue since my inventory was currently barren of any three-inch shells.

tristar viper g2 pro bronze review and test in rocky mountains with clay shooting

With that in mind, I approached the first few shots paying close attention to the cycling of the action. Whether it be good luck or simply the sunshine, the Viper ran like a typewriter despite my complete disregard for the break-in.

We cranked through several different boxes of ammunition to see how the Viper handled them. There were some light-weight 1oz. Sporting loads as well as some 1⅛ oz. loads, everything we shot was either 7.5 or 8 shot size.

During all of our shooting, we had zero malfunctions. The gun functioned perfectly and locked back every time.

ACCURACY

I usually don’t have much trouble hitting what I’m aiming at with shotguns. But it did take me a minute to get the flow right with the Viper, and once we did, we really hammered everything.

The fiber-optic front bead made it easy to see, and every time we lined it upright with the flight of the targets, we would be rewarded with a dark cloud of dust.

tristar viper g2 pro bronze review and test in rocky mountains with clay shooting 2

OVERALL FEEL

The Viper G2 felt excellent in my hands. Its lightweight made it quick to point and easy to keep on target. I say lightweight mainly because I am used to rifles; compared to those, the Viper is very light.

But it is lighter than some of its competitors, like the Beretta A300 or the Stoeger M3500.

I mentioned before that the fit and finish of the gun was great. It looks better than I expected it to, knowing that it was a “value” branded shotgun.

tristar viper g2 pro bronze review loading shotgun

The trigger and other controls were perfectly familiar and easy to operate. Almost too easy as I managed to get my finger bit by the bolt when I got too close to the bolt release.

The gun goes together easy enough, though I did have a bit of an issue getting the barrel seated properly. This was likely more my struggling than anything.

FEATURES

MOBIL CHOKE SYSTEM

The Mobil choke system used by both Benelli and Beretta is extremely popular, which makes it an easy choice for most folks to use. This will allow you to upgrade to aftermarket choke tubes if you’re into that kind of thing.

FIBER OPTIC SIGHT

The orange fiber-optic bead at the end of the vented rib gives an excellent point of aim while wing-shooting.

RECOIL PAD

The soft rubber recoil pad made the Viper feel great on the shoulder. We didn’t shoot any particularly heavy loads, but I am sure the recoil would have been soaked up by the Viper’s action and recoil pad

WALNUT STOCK

The beautiful Turkish walnut shows through the glossy finish on the Viper. The checkering gives great purchase for both hands to keep a good grip on the Viper.

tristar viper g2 pro bronze hands on test

HOW WE TESTED

For several hours, we ran the Viper through rounds of clays.

To make it fun, we changed position frequently, as well as the direction of targets. Switching back and forth between throwing and shooting made for great practice. Swapping chokes did seem to help somewhat for the different target presentations and distances. But it’s also likely that it was simply my perception that made it seem that way.

We shot three different types of ammunition during all this shooting, and for the most part, we didn’t notice any difference in operation or the ability to hit targets.

AMMO USED

In addition to the Remington Gun Club target loads and the Fiocchi dove loads, we also shot some Fiocchi Shooting Dynamics target loads.

tristar viper g2 pro bronze review with fiocchi ammo

SCORE CARD

RELIABILITY (10/10)

I experienced no malfunctions during testing of the Viper G2

ERGONOMICS (9/10)

As far as shotguns can be comfortable, this one certainly was. The only way I would improve it is perhaps with an adjustable cheek-riser.

CUSTOMIZATION (8/10)

Other than the included shims for the stock, and the Mobil choke system, I’m not sure what you would customize on this gun. Perhaps additional beads or something, but it’s fine as is.

APPEARANCE (8/10)

I found the Tristar Viper G2 to be quite handsome. The contrast of the Cerkoted receiver and the blued-barrel matching the glossy finished walnut made a very handsome gun.

VALUE (8.5/10)

I think the Viper is a good buy for many of the prices I saw during my internet search. The less expensive models appear to be an outstanding value.

READ THE CONCLUSION

The Tristar Viper G2 PRO actually surprised me. I was expecting something a little more economical. Something cheaper I guess, is a good way to describe it.

But it turns out I quite liked the shotgun, and at no time did I ever really feel like it was a cheap alternative to something nice. Keep in mind I am no shotgun aficionado; that would be my father.

And as such, I have been exposed to plenty of ostentatious and extravagant shotguns, I’m not suggesting that the Viper can stand alongside them but I think it is still a perfectly suitable alternative.

Fine shotguns seem to last a very long time. That is the only thing missing from this review.

A year or two of hard use or a couple of seasons in a duck blind would certainly give a better indication as to the Viper’s long-term durability. I wish I had a time machine to do exactly that, but for now, you’ll have to just gauge the Viper off what we know and have shared here today.

That said, I would happily take the Viper G2 into the field again; it’s grown on me.

Ashbury Precision Ordnance Savage 110 6.5 Creedmoor

May 19, 2023Product review, Shooting hardware110, 6.5cm, apo, ashbury precision ordnance, savagecoldboremiracle

Introduction

I’ve been a precision rifle junkie for over two decades now, and having been part of the community all these years I’ve seen a few things come and go. There has a been a great deal of equipment presented by a plethora of manufacturers, and today we are going to revisit a couple of those. Ashbury Precision Ordnance (APO) has been a big name in the industry for some time, manufacturing rifle chassis, and rifle systems. Savage Arms is another big name in the shooting sports that has been well known for making all kinds of firearms, but particularly as it relates to today’s subject. Savage is well known for making affordable precision for those that have perhaps a tighter budget. The rifle we are discussing today is a combination of the above two companies, it is a Savage Model 10 6.5 creedmoor rifle combined with APO’s Saber chassis system.

Ashbury Precision Ordnance

APO is an international manufacturer and broker of firearms and their accessories, offering high performance shooting equipment. I was made aware of APO years ago when I began to see more and more of their rifles and chassis systems show up in forums, competition circles, marketing material and elsewhere. My initial impression back then was that APO’s designs were specifically focused on shooting performance, by that I mean their rifles and chassis were built quite robust. Rigid and perhaps even overbuilt is one way you could describe them, for static accurate shooting, this is not a bad approach. But for fast moving competitive shooting styles it could be perhaps a little less ideal.

In recent years APO has all but disappeared from the places I remember seeing them so often before. So much in fact I wondered if they had moved on to another market. These are of course only one man’s opinions, and perhaps I am simply less observant than most.

Savage Arms

I bought my first Savage decades ago, I was already deep into the dark art of rifling and even had custom rifles built prior. But that old Savage 10FP just hit right, and I had to have it. It quickly because my favorite due mainly to its flat-out performance, I would make some of the best shots of my career with that rifle because of the consistent use and familiarity.

This is a common thread among Savage shooters, in my opinion, despite the lower cost of Savage barreled-actions they frequently punch above their weight. This has led to a cult-like following by many who have had the same experience I did. On many occasions I watched as my little Savage outshot rifles two and three times the cost (possibly due to the shooters skill). Today’s subject is a direct descendant of my old 10FP, the Savage model 110 being a more modern version of the same design.

Unboxing

When I first opened the box I wasn’t sure what to expect, I knew it was going to be an APO/Savage combination but of what generation I wondered. As I lifted it from the box my curiosity remained, as it appeared to be of a slightly older model.

The complete rifle was quite long, the twenty-six inch fluted Creedmoor barrel was tipped at the end with a three-prong suppressor mount. The large diameter M-Lok handguard filled my support hand , and the AR-15 styled pistol grip granted easy access to the trigger. The folding buttstock reminded me of times past, the stock was adjustable and mounted to an AR buffertube. The Savage action had the longer bolt handle and knob typically seen on the long-range models. It also featured Savage’s famous Accu-Trigger, and a tang-mounted safety. I ran the bolt a few times with the rifle shouldered, and everything felt right in the world. The rifle is fed by AI pattern box magazines, this rifle came with a Magpul version which was easily removed by the large mag-catch in front of the trigger-guard.

Everything looked right, so it was time to prep this rifle for the range. I would need just a few things to see how this rifle would perform, mainly a rifle scope and a bipod. I decided to put my US Optics FDN25X on the rifle, mainly because it was close and available. I installed a Magpul sling stud in the front of the handguard so I could install a Harris SL bipod. Once I had those two items installed on the rifle, I again tested everything for compatibility and found something I wasn’t prepared for. Even after mounting my scope as far back as I could on the scope rail, the length of pull was so long I couldn’t even get a good position to see through the scope. Despite all the adjustments on the buttstock it was incapable of getting any shorter than it already was. This was going to be trouble as I simply couldn’t shoot it as it, I could have mounted the scope differently or, or another scope but it wouldn’t have completely solved the problem. I ended up having to swap out the buttstock for a shorter collapsable type, not exactly my first choice but it would work to get the rifle on the range.

On the range

It was time to get this rifle on the range and see what it would do. I prefer testing rifles in the open country of the Rocky Mountains or the wide open deserts nearby, it allows for long-range testing and there nobody there to bother you.

Once I had this rifle on the firing line with a target setup at one-hundred yards, it was finally time to feed it. I loaded a few rounds of Hornady Match 140 grain ammunition. I’d boresighted the rifle previously, so I was expecting it to be on paper. I fired a few shots, and while they went where I expected them to on paper, there was another unexpected predicament. The ejector didn’t seem to be working on the rifle, it would pull the spent cases from the chamber, but would drop them shortly thereafter leaving me no choice but to finger the case out of the way. While this was an unfortunate and unpleasant development, it’s not a big deal either. The ejector spring is an easy repair to make, which I would have done if I’d had the parts. But without them I just moved forward with my testing.

The rifle shot ok, I would have liked it to shoot better for sure though. Groups averaged under MOA but barely, and a rifle like this should be shooting 1/2 MOA all day long.

The more I shot the rifle the more familiar I became with its functions, the rifle fed like a dream, especially with that long bolt handle to give more leverage. The low friction of the Magpul magazine were surely also to thank for it. The 6.5CM is not a big recoiling rifle, but competition rifles are typically built for as little recoil as possible and this rifle could have used a better brake towards that end.

The chassis of the rifle was a bit cumbersome for me, it folds to reduce the overall size of the rifle which is nice. But my complaints are more regarding use, the magazine well seemed entirely too narrow. I required significantly more focus when reloading than other rifle chassis I’ve used.

Pros & Cons

Three-prong muzzle device, perhaps a brake would have been better

Pros
-Solid and very robust design
-Compatible with popular designs and accessories
-Folding stock for reduced transport
-Accu Trigger feels good as always
-Extended bolt handle for extra leverage
Cons
-Buttstock was too long, couldn’t go short enough
-Magwell was finicky
-Accuracy had degraded to sub-par
-Ejector issue

Read the Conclusion Here

MPA PMR Pro II 6.5 Creedmoor, A masterpiece indeed

May 10, 2023Product review, Shooting hardwarecoldboremiracle

If you haven’t notice 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.

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.

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 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

Taurus Defender 856 T.O.R.O. 38 Special Revolver

April 28, 2023pistols, Product review, Shooting hardwarecoldboremiracle

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, their Defender 856 TORO. 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 ha 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.

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

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.

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

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…

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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 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.

Read the conclusion here…

PSA Dagger 9mm

April 14, 2023pistols, Product review, Shooting hardware9mm, 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 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 $299.

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.

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