Tag Archives: 9mm

Sig Sauer P320 X5 Legion

November 7, 2023pistols, Product review9mm, Legion, P320, sig sauercoldboremiracle

Statement of Facts

Today I come before you as an unrepentant Sigo-phant. By that I mean that I have been a big fan of the P-Series of pistols for as far back as I can remember. In one form or another I have carried a P pistol for almost twenty-five years now. Including today’s subject, the Sig Sauer P320 X5 Legion.

Sharing this perspective is only to clarify that I have a bit of a bias on today’s review. So keep that in mind as you read for the next few minutes.

Having said that, let’s get started. The P320 came to market nearly a decade ago, a cutting edge design many would say. This because of the P320’s ability to morph into any number of configurations.

At it’s heart, the P320 is a striker fired semi-automatic pistol. But there is more to the P320 inside, its serialized fire control unit (FCU) holds the trigger and sear mechanism. This allows the FCU to be swapped between different grip modules and used with what has become a plethora of different slide, caliber and barrel combinations.

All this modularity has resulted in an exhausting list of P320 options, including recently adopted military designated models.

P320 X5 Legion Specifications

Caliber	9mm
Capacity	17 +1 (3 mags included)
Sights	Dawson precision
Red Dot footprint	PRO (DeltaPoint Pro)
Length	8.5 in [216 mm]
Width	1.6 in [41 mm]
Height	5.8 in (147 mm)
Weight	43.5 oz (1.2 kg)
Sight Radius	6.8 in (173 mm)
Barrel Material	Carbon steel
Finish	Legion Gray Cerakote

us optics RISE red dot, sig sauer p320 X5 legion

Like all Legion series pistols, the P320 X5 Legion uses most of the popular features available. It is optics ready, though it often will require the use of Springer Precision mounting plates. An accessory picatinny rail under the slide fits all your weapon light options. And things like a flared magwell and skeletonized flat-shoe trigger add to the ensemble.

As the flagship of the P320 line of pistols, Sig has added some sexy slide cuts and balanced the pistol by adding weight to the grip frame. The tungsten infused polymer grip frame feels like its made from metal, which in my opinion adds to the quality feel.

The X5 comes with two recoil springs and a solid steel op rod, to allow shooters to customize the operation of the pistol. All the customization is part of the P320 family.

Pro & Cons

Pros

Modular design allows customization
Great trigger
Optics ready
Dawson Precision sights
17+1 Capacity (comes with 3mags)
Accessory Rail
Flared Magwell
Ambi slide release
It’s a Sig Sauer FFS!

Cons

Not lightweight
Limited holster options

First Impressions

Opening the box I knew exactly what I was getting, but I was excited none the less. The Legion came with all the traditional stuff in the box, including two extra mags which I thought was nice.

I lifted the pistol from the box and was immediately stirred by the feel of it. It reminded me of the P226 that I always loved. Excellent weight and balance let you know this thing was meant to shoot particularly hard.

Drawing the slide seemed easier than expected, probably due to the weight of the slide. Pressing the trigger proved to seal the deal for me, everything about this pistol felt as I had hoped it would.

Time to Accessorize

Wasting no time, I had pre ordered several great accessories for the X5. Because that is the American thing to do. Selecting a good holster for it from Safariland’s holster finder was easy enough, though I was a bit let down by how few options there were. Mainly due to the longer barrel configuration, but I ended up with a Safariland SLS holster that fit perfectly. Most P320 models have an incredible assortment of holster options.

Weapon lights are a must-have, and I ordered the holster to fit a Surefire X300. There are many great light options, but I went with a mainstream choice because it works and has history.

Even breaking out the credit card to order a custom threaded match barrel from Armory Craft wasn’t out of order. I wanted the ability to shoot the X5 suppressed, and the boys at Armory Craft know the P320 as well as anybody.

For a suppressor I usually shoot either my Yankee Hill Machine Nitro N2.0 or the Yankee Hill Machine R9.

Extra magazines are always nice, so I bought a few of those as well because you can never have too many. Topping off the slide with a US Optics DRS 2.0 Enhanced red dot made shooting the gun even more fun.

Field Testing the P320 X5 Legion

Traditionally I do reviews fairly early with new guns, but today I am writing this after having shot and carried this pistol for more than a year. So I can cut to the chase a little bit here. After thousands of rounds, weeks and months of carry, I am quite confident in the function and performance of the X5.

After all this time, it still feels fantastic in my hand. And having shot it countless times with very satisfying results keeps me sleeping very tight at night. And regardless of shooting the pistol suppressed or otherwise, I can’t remember much in the way of malfunctions. I have no doubt there have been some, but I can’t remember them.

Accuracy with the P320 X5 Legion has been fantastic, shooting better than I thought I could shoot. Once adding a red dot it seemed like I could hit anything a pistol would be shot at.

Breaking the trigger feels even better now, the ease of reloads and hitting the magazine just right every time. Its enough to make me feel like one of those hot chicks in the Taran Tactical videos. I’ve shot everything from steel and paper targets to charging badgers, and this X5 is just hot shit, I love it.

Score Card

Reliability (9-10)

As I just mentioned, I can’t even remember any significant malfunctions with the P320 X5 Legion. Though I think I had an occasional failure to lock back. For the most part it runs like a typewriter. Everybody laughs about the history of P320’s going off unexpectedly, but it appears that issue has been put to bed.

Ergonomics (8.5-10)

The standard X5 Legion grip module fits my hand perfectly. So I don’t really have any complaints, though I’d like it if there was an adjustable backstrap. The controls are in all the right spots, and it flows just right as you operate every function.

Customization (9-10)

I’ve already mentioned all the custom options with the P320 family of pistols. The incredible aftermarket support allows you to do near anything with this pistol.

us optics RISE, sig sauer p320 x5 legion — the X5 with the new **US Optics RISE red dot** and **Surefire X300 light**

Appearance (9-10)

Again, remember I am biased. But this is one of the best looking mainstream pistols out there in my opinion. Everything about it looks good; cuts in all the right places, the textures, and finish all look fantastic.

Value (8.5-10)

For the $1000 street price, the X5 Legion is not out of reach for serious pistol fanatics. Sure I wouldn’t call it cheap, but there is more value to be found over the lifetime of the pistol.

Final Thoughts on the X5

Like I said from the beginning, I am a registered Sigo-phile. But with experiences like Ive had with the P320 X5 Legion you can’t blame me. The pistol just shoots!

Its handsome and functional while bringing an incredible array of customization and aftermarket part options. If you too love the feel of P-series pistols, the X5 Legion will surely fit your fancy as well. As long as you keep in mind this isn’t a carry pistol, it’s a serious range gun. Or I suppose if you are a security or law enforcement professional it would also fit in nicely. Surely it won’t be long before I add another P320 to the family, stay tuned until then…

-CBM

If you like this review, check out our other pistol reviews

The Affordable CZex Appeal of the CZ P-10S Compact 9mm Pistol

October 13, 2023pistols, Product review, Shooting hardware9mm, ccw, Cz, P-10, P-10Scoldboremiracle

Introduction

With so many names in the firearms manufacturer world, it’d be hard to swing a dead cat in any gun store without hitting a good one. CZ-USA is another one of the big names in the gun world, and today we will take a look at one of their handguns for which they’re so famous; The CZ P-10S.

The P-10 series of pistols is a polymer frame striker fired line of 9mm handguns. Today we will take a specific look at the P-10S which is almost the smallest of the P-10 family, with a focus on use as a concealed carry weapon.

I am a bit of a CZenophile, and having been a fan of the European firearm manufacturer I was excited to get hands on the P-10S. And as soon as I opened the box I felt that old feeling coming back again. The initial impressions of the pistol are very positive; the trigger feels great, the sights pop and even with its small size it can carry a healthy CCW payload of 12+1 before any alterations. I expect I am going to enjoy shooting this pistol.

Unboxing the P-10S

I opened the polymer case that contained the pistol, and was greeted by a pretty familiar spread. The pistol laid in foam with an extra twelve round magazine, and a few other extras. There were two additional back-straps to change out to fit the shooters hand, and a couple extended magazine floorplates. There were also a few cleaning tools and allen wrenches for adjusting the pistol setup. And of course there was the typical cheap gun-lock forced upon gun manufacturers by our sophomoric legislators.

I lifted the pistol from the case, and started right into playing with it. The slide locks open quite easily on an empty magazine, perhaps it needs a little breakin as well. As the slide release is pretty stiff with an empty magazine in the gun, though it’s certainly easier with a loaded magazine.

I found the standard magazine floor-plates to be just a little bit small for my hand size. Certainly useable, but the extended floor-plates also included fit my hand perfectly. I suppose for ultimate concealability the standard length of the magazines might be beneficial.

Snapping the trigger a few times to see how it felt made me like the gun just a little bit more. The trigger has a blade safety, and it breaks quite consistently as far as my finger feels it. The reset feels good too, the whole operation got me eager to get this CZexy little pistol on the range.

I inspected the optics ready slide, a fantastic feature that more and more modern handguns are incorporating. I was for sure going to remove the base-plate to install a red-dot to see how I liked the P-10S with an optic.

Specifications

Rangetime

After getting hands on a case of 9mm 115 grain ammo from Ammo To Go, I grabbed a few other items and my range bag before Junior and I headed into the hills to shoot the P-10S.

With a few targets setup, we started stuffing magazines full of Federal Champion 115 grain cartridges. I am definitely going to get a good holster to use with this pistol, to see how well I can shoot it from the draw.

Shop all CZ P-10 Models at Palmetto State Armory

Loading mags was a lot more time consuming, and a chore compared to unloading them with the P-10S. We ran through several magazines of ammo so quickly I had to start keeping track.

The little CZ was a smooth shooter, I oftentimes find very small 9mm pistols to be a little more uncomfortable due to the reduce purchase on the smaller grip. The P-10S was not that way, it was quite comfortable and easy to keep on target.

My son also spent a great deal of time shooting the pistol, his hands are a touch smaller than my own. Which made the P-10S a perfect fit for him (and started a conversation about switching ownership of the pistol).

The factory sights were a great fit for my shooting style. I really appreciated the sights lining up almost every time I presented the pistol. It also made me anticipate adding a red dot even more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Great trigger
12+1 magazine capacity
Optics Ready
Chamber Indicator
Partially pre-cocked striker
Picatinny accessory rail
Reversible Magazine release
Ambi Slide-release
Included extended mag floor-plate
Interchangeable grip backstrap
CZex Appeal
Undercut trigger-guard
Trim & smooth edges to avoid snags

Cons

Grip is a bit small for bigger hands
Slide release is a tiny bit stiff

P-10S Reliability

One of the reasons CZ pistols are so popular is because of their long history of service. Many CZ pistol designs are working hard right now all over the world. The P-10S carries on this distinguished service history.

We shot several hundred rounds through the P-10S, and we will surely be shooting many hundreds or thousands more. The only malfunction experienced during my testing was a single case of stove-piping the last round on one occasion. I dont know the cause of this malfunction, but it was the only one we experienced.

P-10S Accuracy

The 3.5 inch barrel of the P-10S is more than accurate enough for CCW purposes. During the course of our shooting, we were easily able to keep shot groups under three-inches at 10 yards. As a CCW pistol I think that is plenty accurate enough, and that is without searching for other ammo choices. Perhaps with better ammunition selection the pistol may shoot even better.

Overall Feel of the P-10S

The overall feel of the CZ P-10S is fantastic. My initial feeling of the pistol was that it could use some improvement. But after shooting it significantly on the range I feel much better about it. The grip texture could maybe be a touch tougher, but that’s easily remedied.

The short grip space was also easily corrected by adding the extended magazine floorplates. The slide cuts made the pistol very easy to operate in most any condition. The great trigger and other functions of the P-10S added to the positive impression left on us by the pistol.

My son did mention that with the extended floorplates he did manage to pinch his finger a few times while shooting. This might be something easily corrected with practice.

Firearms Depot also has a great selection of CZ P-10 pistols

P-10S Features

Optics Ready Slide

The optics ready slide of the P-10S accepts the very popular Holosun 407, 507 and 508 patterns. This also makes it compatible with other red dots like the Trijicon RMR and the Riton X3 Tactix. The added capabilities of the red dot sight allow the shooter to keep their focus on the target instead of the sights.

Shop additional red dots on Scopelist

Ambidextrous Controls

For those with left-handed disabilities, the P-10 family of pistols is an excellent choice. The slide release is ambidextrous, and the magazine release can be reversed easily. This gives lefties a great option for a pistol without having to give up compatibility.

Picatinny Accessory Rail

The picatinny accessory rail allows quick and easy installation of a good weapon light. For a CCW pistol like this it is hard to beat something like the Streamlight TLR8 for a good fit and bright performance.

Report Card

Reliability (8.5-10)

Other than the one stovepipe, the P-10S functioned flawlessly. It seemed to get better with more use as well.

Ergonomics (8.5-10)

The ergonomics of the P-10S were very mainstream comfortable, by that I mean it feels like it will fit most shooters. The controls are easily operated (after a little break-in) and adapted to lefties too. The grip angle makes for great target acquisition and sight picture.

Customization (9-10)

The ambidextrous capabilities of the P-10S make it very convenient for most shooters. The optics ready slide makes it easily adapted for whatever sight option you chose. And with good aftermarket support, there are lots of good accessories and add-ons for the P-10S.

Appearance (8.5-10)

The P-10S has a fantastic CZ look to it. Despite its affordable price it looks like a higher priced pistol. The finishes and fitment of the pistol parts give a very professional appearance.

Value (9-10)

I was very surprised how affordable the P-10S is. For the street price you get a pistol that punches above its weight for sure. It does everything that more expensive pistols from other big names in the market accomplish, arguably better in many cases.

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Accessories

A holster for sure

Something simple like the Comp-Tac IWB holster would be a good way to keep the P-10S close and ready. Though to be totally honest holsters are so subjective you’ll really need to try them for yourself.

Weapon Light

A good weapon light would be an excellent companion for the P-10S, I think I am going to order a Streamlight TLR8 to go along with the P-10S. It has good light rating, and also includes a laser.

Alternatives

Sig Sauer P365

For a little more money than the P-10S, you can also get a Sig Sauer P365. I happen to belong to the Sig cult, so this would be an easy splurge for someone like me. The P365 also uses 12 round magazines and allows an incredible collection of aftermarket accessories.

Glock 43X

The Glock 43 is also an easy choice to make. While still a bit more expensive than the CZ, it does give up some magazine capacity. Though it is also a little bit more compact so you can pick your poison.

Conclusion

I think the CZ P-10S was definitely a solid buy for me, and I would do it again. In fact I may start thinking about getting a full size P-10 just to go along with this one.

The P-10S provides outstanding value, and brings with it a solid history of reliable service. This is a near perfect recipe for most American CCW enthusiasts looking to get a pistol.

I will continue to update this article as we gain more experience with this little CZ, with hopes of helping others find their best affordable CCW option. If you like this review of the CZ P-10S, check out one of our other Pistol Reviews Here.

-CBM

2026 Update: My son has been carrying this pistol for quite a while now. As his first concealed carry firearm, her has learned a few things about it. The only complaints he has had, are that he can occasionally pinch a finger while seating the magazine. It has concealed well, and no malfunctions to speak of. He brings out the pistol almost every time we go, and runs a few magazines through the gun with no issues.

A first look at the Canik METE MC9

June 7, 2023pistols, Product review, Shooting hardware9mm, canik, canik usa, mc9, metecoldboremiracle

INTRODUCTION

Canik has been knocking out one new model after another for the last few years; the polymer-framed striker-fired pistols have been received enthusiastically by the American shooting public.

Today we are looking at a new pistol from Canik, part of their METE lineup. The Canik METE MC9 is a micro-compact striker-fired pistol with an eye on the concealed carry market.

The MC9 uses many of the same stylings and features of Canik’s popular TP9 series of pistols. The micro-compact pistol promises to bring Canik’s performance and affordable quality to the average CCW enthusiast.

With both a twelve and fifteen-round magazines included and many other little extras that come with Canik pistols, it is very likely to be a big hit with consumers.

As a frequent carrier of pistols and a Canik owner, I was eager to see how this MC9 stacked up to other pistols I have used in the past. As a micro-compact pistol, I was immediately concerned about capacity, but with as many as fifteen+1 rounds in the gun, those concerns quickly dissolved. a case with canik mete mc9 and holster grips magazines unboxing

Canik pistols are frequently less expensive than their competitors, and when I saw the MSRP was only $419.99, I was even more interested in the pistol. This aggressive price definitely makes the gun more appealing to those with HK taste but a Glock budget. That wasn’t a direct comparison for you HK guys out there, so calm down and store your pitchforks…

The Turkish made Caniks are imported and sold as an outstanding value, giving a great deal of value-added features like coming optics ready.

They also typically include a great deal of accessories, cleaning tools, holsters, and other extras that really make you feel like you got something.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber	9mm
Capacity	15+1 rounds (comes with 12 rnd also)
Weight	21.27 ounces
Sights	Rear notch, front white dot
Barrel Length	3.18 inches
Overall Length	6.1 inches
Height	4.52 inches
Width	1.12 inches
Color Options	Black, FDE, two-tone combination

PROS & CONS

PROS

Economically priced
Compact size
Good trigger
15+1 capacity
Optics ready
Picatinny accessory rail
Interchangeable backstrap
Loaded chamber indicator
Flush magazine floorplate included
IWB holster included

CONS

Holster is kinda “meh”
I need one in each color
I couldn’t find any other downsides to the pistol

ON THE RANGE WITH THE CANIK MC9

Of course I couldn’t wait very long to try out this handsome little pistol, so literally the day after meeting it I ventured into the mountains to give it a good wringing.

I’d brought along a bunch of 124-grain reloaded ammunition that I’d produced on my brother’s Dillon 550. And I’d also brought along a couple of boxes of S&B 124 FMJ ammunition to try as well.

canik mete mc9 review with sellior bellot 9mm ammo

After familiarizing myself with everything I could, it was time to load up a few magazines. As is typical with Canik pistols, the magazines are quite nice, and have indication holes cut in the back to show capacity.

The twelve round magazine comes with an extension for the pinky. I found it to be a perfect fit for my hand.

Though if you are a really big-handed person you will probably prefer the fifteen-round magazine. Both of them loaded up nicely, and I snapped one into place securely as I stepped to the firing line.

The recoil of 9mm cartridges is not particularly significant, but I have found that with smaller pistols like this, they can frequently snap back a little more than expected. The first few shots through the MC9 were actually even more pleasant than I’d expected. Enough, in fact, that it didn’t even feel like a compact pistol.

I lined up the sights on my target and started stacking up the holes.

I can’t wait to get a red dot on this pistol, as I have quickly become a red dot guy. Not that there’s anything wrong with traditional sights, I have just grown to prefer them.

The white dot on the front sight must have slipped past QC, as they’d missed a little spot. But that didn’t stop me from hitting things with it. The pistol pointed nicely, and lined up with my natural aim, making the hit even easier to make.

We spent a few hours shooting, burning through the two boxes of ammo and about as many of my reloads. I would have loved to double or triple the amount of ammo we shot, as the little MC9 ran perfectly and proved to be very fun to shoot.

My second trip to the range with the MC9 included a Holosun 407K, which added another layer of ability to the pistol. The optics plate was a very tight fit, I needed to almost pry it off of the slide. I don’t think it was a big deal, but it gives me even more reason to leave the 407 in place because I don’t want to go through that again.

That said, the 407K is an absolutely perfect fit for the little Canik, literally like they were made for each other. The pins cut into the slide mated perfectly to the bottom, and there was no wiggle room for it to move even without tightening the screws.

Once installed, I didn’t even have to zero the red dot, as it lined up perfectly. Making my shooting even more fun. Using the red dot allowed me to focus purely on the target, and I didn’t even need to focus on the sights of the pistol. Just put the dot in place and squeeze.

RELIABILITY

The MC9 ran flawlessly for the most part. There were a couple of minor failures, but I am very confident the blame can be squarely placed on my reloading QC, I’m embarrassed to say. The feeding and function of the pistol were fantastic; the quality magazines fed perfectly.

Little things like the chamber-loaded indicator were a nice visual and tactile indication of a hot chamber.

Take the plunge, shop for your own Canik pistol here

ACCURACY

The short barrels of compact pistols aren’t particularly well known for great accuracy, but I had no problems hitting what I was aiming at. The adjustable backstrap ensured the pistol fit my hand well, which helped me shoot it better.

Despite its short 3.1-inch length, the barrel did seem pretty robust in its construction. Which probably helps keep bullets headed in the right direction.

The trigger in the little MC9 also felt great, which also aided in shooting the pistol well. The rounded and textured shoe of the trigger gave great purchase and control.

OVERALL FEEL

Like most Caniks I’ve shot, the MC9 felt great.

It was surprisingly light, and it filled my hand appropriately which is something I often complain about with compacts. The controls all felt smooth and easy to operate, and with a reversible mag release, it can work just as well for a left-handed shooter.

The ambidextrous slide release is just the right length to hit with my thumb without having to stretch.

canik mete mc9 review hands on test in mountains

The two magazines give you good options for avoiding the dreaded print of a CCW. The fifteen-round magazine is easily concealed if you’re a big person. While if you are a little more light in the frame, you may find the twelve-round magazine less obtrusive.

I am torn on the holster that came with the pistol. I understand that manufacturers like to offer accessories like these for added value. The problem is that holsters are subjective, and you either offer an inexpensive one that won’t break the bank, but many people won’t like or use.

Or conversely you have to research and see what most people want or like, and make the investment hoping it doesn’t go to waste. Either way, you run the risk of the holster being a dud.

The included holster will certainly work, though I would probably replace it with something better like the Hidden Hybrid.

FEATURES

MAGAZINES

The twelve and fifteen-round magazines give you the option for various concealment scenarios. And the included flat-base floor plate gives you yet another option

SIGHTS

The included sights are perfectly serviceable, but it’s also very nice to have optics mounting solutions included in the box. Mounting up the Holosun 407k was easy, and made a great upgrade.

AMBIDEXTROUS CONTROLS

With no safety, an ambidextrous slide release, and the ability to reverse the magazine release button, the MC9 can easily be configured to shoot right or left-handed.

ADJUSTABLE BACKSTRAP

canik mete mc9 backstrap replacements review

The various back straps that can be swapped out allow you to further customize the gun to fit your hand. This is becoming more and more common, and it is certainly a welcome change.

ACCESSORY RAIL

The accessory rail under the front of the pistol is a perfect place to add a compact weapon light.

HOW WE TESTED

The duration of my testing with the Canik MC9 was mostly range shooting. We tried a bit of drawing and firing, as well as some reloading drills.

There is a stark difference between the full-size pistols with big flared magwells and such, and a small micro compact frame. It’s not as easy to stab the magazine perfectly out the gate. I expect it will take some practice to get good at it, like anything else.

Using the included iron sights, I found the pistol to be very useful and easy to hit targets at typical CCW anticipated ranges. The MC9 might be useful at further ranges, but I didn’t find that as relevant to the subject.

With the red dot installed on the slide, I found it to be even more fun to shoot. Making transitions from one target to another without having to shift focus.

Using the included holster, we also tucked in the pistol to see how it felt to draw from concealment. While I personally didn’t find the holster to be particularly great, it certainly worked as intended. And it sure beats not having one.

After the several hundred rounds fired between several trips to the range, I was quite happy with the performance of the MC9. And felt I had gotten a proper understanding of its strong points and the few issues I encountered.

AMMO USED

Apart from my 124-grain FMJ reloads, I also shot several boxes of S&B 124 FMJ Ball ammunition. Everything we shot through the MC9 worked perfectly except for a couple of malfunctions that were reload issues.

SCORE CARD

RELIABILITY (10/10)

The only malfunctions were due to improperly seated bullets, which has nothing to do with the little Canik’s reliability. Other than that, it ran flawlessly.

ERGONOMICS (9/10)

Micro compacts tend to be a bit small for my hands. I wouldn’t mind having a bit more grasp. The adjustable backstrap and magazine floorplates are great for accommodating, however.

CUSTOMIZATION (8/10)

With an accessory rail, and an optics platform milled into the slide, the MC9 offers some great options to customize it. No doubt there will be other barrel options and such if there aren’t already.

APPEARANCE (9/10)

I’ve always been a fan of Canik’s styling. The METE MC9 is another good example of a handsome pistol. The finish and surfaces all look outstanding.

VALUE (10/10)

For the MSRP of $439.00, I think this pistol is an excellent value

CONCLUSION

After my time with the Canik METE MC9, I was not surprised by how much I liked the little pistol. Much like the last few Canik pistols I have been through, this one met every need I had in a pistol, and it looked good and functioned great. And to top it off, the price is outstanding.

The MC9 provides a solid CCW pistol with better than most capacity while still being small enough to carry around every day. With minimal accessories and some practice, you could find yourself being quite proficient, which is everything in a concealed carry pistol.

-CBM

For more information, accessories, and comparisons, click 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.

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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

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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

Shadow Systems DR920 9mm pistol

April 14, 2023pistols, Product review, Shooting hardware9mm, DR920, glock 17, glock 19, pistol, shadow systemscoldboremiracle

INTRODUCTION

When I first started showing my Shadow Systems DR920 around, lots of folks would respond with, “nice Glock sir, but this is a Wendy’s”. I know it looks like a Glock, and surely shares a lot with them, but I was determined to see it differently.

In the interests of full disclosure, I’ll give some background. I’ve been a Sig fan-boy for twenty years, and while it would be silly to deny the success of the large family of polymer-designed pistols, I just never really liked them. Friends would get one, I’d handle them at a shop, but I never felt like I needed one bad enough to spend my money on one.

Now to be fair, the Shadow Systems family of pistols (DR920, XR920, MR920) are not just Glopies of the Austrian pistol. Shadow Systems pistols utilize many interchangeable parts but are also their own, the DR model pistol is comparable to the Glock 17.

The DR920 pistol is made with law enforcement in mind and built for duty purposes. The frame features an oversized beaver tail and interchangeable grip backstrap to accommodate different-sized hands.

The grip is textured for additional grip and control while shooting, and the trigger guard is undercut to allow additional purchase for a better grip. The flat-blade trigger has a 4.5-5 lb break and feels pretty clean.

The DR920’s slide is aggressively cut to provide additional purchase both at the front and back of the slide. It’s also cut for optics, so you can add your favorite red dot. Most red dots can be mounted without the use of adaptor plates like many other pistols use.

After a fairly short time with the DR920, I was quite quickly enamored with it, despite my distaste for pistols of this type. But how far down the marriage aisle would I get with this polymer-framed beauty?

SHADOW SYSTEMS DR920 REVIEW

Let me backup a bit; there’s more to this story than I’d let on.

A few months prior to this event, I found myself in the freezing desert of Wyoming, shooting an assortment of pistols belonging to my baby brother. Among the many was another Shadow, a different model but close enough. I’d already explained to him that I wasn’t big on that particular type, but he was adamant that I try it.

After only a few rounds, I found myself quite surprised at how well I could shoot it, and how good it felt in my hand. So when the opportunity to get my own Shadow, I figured I better pick it up.

shadow systems dr920 hands on review in snow

The DR920 promises to bring service-grade reliability with superior quality to a 9mm polymer-framed pistol. They are marketed toward shooters needing a high-grade pistol for durable service in any condition.

While the pistol may share some features with other common pistols, it brings additional qualities which will demand a higher price. Let’s see if it’s worth it…

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber	9mm
Capacity	17 rounds
Action	Striker fired semi-auto
Length	7.75”
Height	5.25”
Trigger pull weight	4.5-5 lbs
Weight	22.4 ounces
Sights	Front dot, serrated rear
Barrel Twist	1-10

PROS & CONS

PROS

Same size and pattern as the Glock 17
Huge aftermarket support
Optics ready
Adjustable backstrap grip
Match Grade barrel

CONS

I’d like a more pronounced mag release
I wouldn’t mind a slicker trigger (less friction)
I’ll add a flared magwell

shadow systems dr920 hands on review range test

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

My first trip to the range with the DR920 was a quick one, and it didn’t take long to feel it out.

Running seventeen-round Magpul magazines, I stuffed a pile of cartridges in and loaded the pistol.

Cracking the first few rounds, I went slowly just to see how everything felt. To my surprise, the pistol recoiled a little more than I had expected. It wasn’t bad or anything, just a touch more than I had anticipated.

I ran through several magazines, running them dry til the gun locked open. I smiled a crooked smile to myself there in the pistol bay, and I thought to myself; I may end up loving this gun.

Those first fifty rounds went way too quickly, so I went to get more.

After several range trips and not as much ammo as I would have loved to shoot through this gun, I have gained a shine for it.

I’ve shot nearly five-hundred rounds through the pistol so far, and it hasn’t hiccuped yet. That should come as no surprise from a pistol with this pedigree. The natural aim of the pistol in my hand lined up very well; every time I presented the pistol, the sights were already on target. This made the pistol quite easy to shoot well, in my opinion.

During a later trip, I installed a Holosun 407K to see how I liked the gun with a red dot. It came as no surprise that I enjoyed it further still, as I prefer shooting pistols with red dots.

Shooting the Shadow was very comfortable and familiar. There are a couple of things I think I might change. I would like a flared magwell, and it looks like Shadow Systems has them for sale on their website, so I might get one on the way.

Not a huge deal, but it would probably help me stab magazines a little faster. And I’m definitely going to get some more magazines for it.

shadow systems dr920 hands on review close up

RELIABILITY

The pistol functioned flawlessly for the duration of my testing, with no malfunctions or failures.

ACCURACY

The DR920 was perfectly acceptable, in my opinion, as far as accuracy is concerned. Hitting 50% IPSC targets at 25 yards was easy; I don’t shoot pistols much further than that in any case.

OVERALL FEEL

The textured grip felt great in my hand, and the grip angle was perfect as well. Trigger and other controls were easily manipulated and comfortable. The adjustable backstrap made it easy to fit the hand.

FEATURES

FLAT-BLADE TRIGGER

The flat-blade trigger was smooth and clean to break. It’s a service pistol, so I wasn’t expecting it to be super light or short. I suppose I wouldn’t mind if it was a little lighter or less friction.

OPTICS MOUNT

The Shadow slides come pre-cut for optics. With threaded holes for various optical mounting patterns.

The idea is to be able to mount a red dot without needing a mounting plate. Instead, Shadow Systems includes a set of small polymer spacers that can be used to place in front of or behind the optic to fill any voids. I had no problem mounting red dots to it.

SIGHTS

When I first opened the box, I almost thought the gun came with suppressor sights, but they are just slightly taller sights than normal.

I actually quite like them as they always lined up with my target upon presentation. And once the red dot was added, they all co-witnessed, which I believe is a requirement for many LE agencies.

shadow systems dr920 mounted with red dot

ADJUSTABLE BACKSTRAP

The DR920 came with a baggie of different backstraps that are easily swapped out by simply pushing a pin out with their provided tool. The backstrap then slides down and off the frame. Then you reverse the process to install the backstrap of your choice.

TEXTURED MAG RELEASE

The textured mag release works fine, but I wouldn’t mind a slightly taller version. It seemed just a touch more out of the way for my thumb than I would have liked.

ACCESSORY RAIL

The pistol also features a typical accessory rail under the front of the pistol, perfect for mounting a weapon light. I installed my Surefire X300 with no problem; it’s pretty hard to mess this up.

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shadow systems dr920 with holosun 407k mounted and reloading

Staccato P 2011 9mm Pistol review

March 15, 2023pistols, Product review, Shooting hardware2011, 9mm, pistol, staccatocoldboremiracle

INTRODUCTION

The Staccato P pistol is a 2011 pistol built specifically for use as a service pistol for law enforcement, but the general shooting public has very well received it. The high quality and performance of the pistol have made it highly sought after by pistol aficionados in and out of the LE community.

The Staccato P is a 2011 model pistol. The 2011 design is a modern version of the 1911 design. Incorporating double stack magazines and chambered in 9mm has brought incredible versatility to the pistol. It comes in a custom soft case with three magazines.

STI was famous for making these pistols. They have since rebranded to the Staccato name and lead the way in the 2011 pistol market.

Being new to both 1911/2011 designs and the Staccato P, I was very excited to get familiarized with this pistol and see what all the hype was about and if it was well founded.

STACCATO P REVIEW

The Staccato P is a pistol designed for duty and anyone else who could use the features of the pistol. The manufacturer has gone to great lengths to get the pistol approved for LE service by at least 650 agencies, including the Texas Rangers.

With an MSRP of $2199.00, it is certainly not an entry-level pistol; however, to be fair to Staccato, it boasts professional-grade features to justify that price. The Staccato P has all the great benefits of the extremely popular and common 1911 design but also adds new technology and features to enhance the historical design with modern expectations. Pistol shooters who want exceptional quality and extremely smooth operation will be happy to feel the sticky Staccato stippling in their hands.

Much like buying a sports car, this pistol is not something you’d compare to the average 9mm pistol on the shelf at your local gun shop. And much like the sports car, you may want to get it purchased before the wedding and not after.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber	9mm
Capacity	17 rounds
Barrel length	4.4 Inches
Trigger	4-4.5 lb adjustable
Dimensions	Length 8.0 X Grip Width 1.3 X Height 5.5 – Width At Safeties 1.49
Weight	33 ounces (empty)

PROS & CONS

PROS

Outstanding SA trigger – adjustable and crisp
Optics ready – to add your favorite red dot
Ambidextrous safety- in case you’re wrong handed
Picatinny accessory rail- to mount accessories
Flared magwell- for enhanced mag changes
Heavy bull barrel- for enhanced accuracy
Dawson custom sights – fiber optic for better sight picture

CONS

Short slide release – hard to reach with my thumb
I need another one

ON THE RANGE TESTING

I was understandably excited to get the Staccato P to the range, I had already worn in the pistol quite a bit playing with it in my office. But with a few boxes of ammunition and a few targets, I headed to my shooting spot.

After loading a few mags, I loaded the pistol and made it ready to shoot. The feeling of the slide riding forward and chambering a round is addictive, smooth as glass, and locks up tight. I’m not a big manual safety guy, but the 2011 safety is so easy to use that it immediately became second nature. It is almost automatic that as the pistol comes up, your thumb moves it from safe to fire, and back to safe as you return the pistol to the holster.

The trigger was everything I’d hoped to be, clean and crisp. The short reset seemed to allow for incredibly rapid follow-up shots, allowing a massive amount of lead to be put downrange very quickly. And the clean break of the trigger allowed for accurate shooting on targets, and the hits just kept coming.

I found the large grip of the pistol to be very comfortable in my hand. The rough texturing and the full palm gave a great deal of purchase on the grip. And being a bit heavier than your average 9mm pistol, the recoil was very easy to control with this better and bigger grip area.

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The bright fiber-optic front sight was quick to find and easily aligned with the rear sight. I would love this pistol even more with a red dot mounted to it, perhaps next time.

As I plowed through the ammo, I quite enjoyed doing reloads. The Staccato P features a flared magwell to aid in rapidly seating new magazines. I found myself loading two or three rounds per mag just to get more reloads in.

The frictionless slide of the magazines against the polymer grip module made seating the magazine effortless, and empty mags drop free and clear with an appropriate press of the release. I was quickly becoming a fan of everything this pistol was, and deciding if I could justify keeping it.

RELIABILITY

The reliability of the Staccato P was immaculate. During the course of firing several hundred rounds, I experienced no malfunctions. That may not sound like much, but the way it just chewed through everything smoothly and without so much of a hiccup made it feel even more reliable.

Slow shooting cadences and rapid mag dumps all resulted in the same way, a locked open slide waiting for the next magazine to be loaded.

The cycling of the slide and the chambering of cartridges all worked so flawlessly that it felt like a well-oiled machine churning away in the palm of your hand.

ACCURACY

I am not what I consider a big pistol accuracy fanatic, nor do I consider myself exceptionally talented in accurately shooting pistols. As far as I am concerned, if I can hit what I aim at within the distance I typically shoot, then it’s good enough for my purposes.

The Staccato was certainly better than I was, as I found it easy to hit everything I aimed at. I did find that the sights aligned pretty naturally with my generic pistol pointing, which may have helped my shooting significantly. I think I might have shot even better had I installed a red dot on the back of the pistol, but that’s for another time I guess.

OVERALL FEEL

The overall feel of the Staccato P is outstanding. The perfectly filled hand with the perfect fit controls and trigger was missing only one thing for me. The slide release was a bit too far forward for me to reach with my thumb, making it necessary to break my shooting grip in order to do so.

I don’t know if they make an extended version, but if they do, I would certainly buy it, as it is the only thing I could complain about this pistol.

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FEATURES

HYBRID FRAME

The hybrid frame of the Staccato P uses either steel or aluminum for the upper portion of the frame to mate with the slide assembly, and the grip area of the frame consists of a polymer portion.

I actually really like this feature; it gives you the robust metallurgy you want to properly carry the slide assembly while still giving the versatile properties of polymer magwell and grip.

BULL BARREL

The Staccato barrel is quite heavy, or thick might be a better word to describe it. This extra barrel material likely makes it stiffer and a better shooter; it also adds weight to the overall firearm, which I don’t mind though others may.

DAWSON PRECISION TOOL-LESS GUIDE-ROD

The tool-less guide-rod has a spring-loaded lever built into it, which allows the guide-rod and barrel to be removed from the slide without any tools. You simply push the guide rod forward out the front of the slide, then depress the lever, which locks the spring in its compressed state.

You can then remove it from the slide, followed by the barrel. It’s a very slick system to use and goes a long way at adding value to the pistol.

PICATINNY ACCESSORY RAIL

Under the front of the frame, you will find a Picatinny accessory rail. It’s perfect for mounting your desired weapon light. I installed my Surefire X300, and it fits perfectly.

staccato p with surefire x300 weaponlight

OPTICS READY

The Staccato P can quickly be converted to shoot with a red dot sight by removing the rear sight mounting plate. It can be replaced with a Dawson Precision RDS mounting plate. These can be ordered on Staccato’s website for various optic configurations.

staccato p dissasembly — There are many good **magazine options** for the Staccato’s

HOW WE TESTED

I shot the Staccato P throughout several range trips. I also carried it as my main CCW for about a month. I fired several hundred rounds through the pistol, using repetition to see if my poor 1911 skills would cause issues to surface.

Shooting steel targets at ranges from fifteen to thirty yards was very enjoyable with this pistol. Maneuvering it from shot to shot and forcing repetitive mag changes made me like it more.

I also let other friends shoot it to see if it was simply my skirt being easily blown. But as I found with everyone who picked up the Staccato, they too were quite impressed with more than just its looks.

Do you prefer the Springfield prodigy?

AMMO USED

I used two different types of Winchester ammunition during testing. Both were from Winchester, one was a 124-grain load, and the other was a 115-grain load. Both of them shot flawlessly and with comparable accuracy.

I perhaps might give the 115-grain load the nod because it seemed faster to get from target to target.

FAQS

CAN A STACCATO P SHOOT 9 MAJOR?

The Staccato P is not recommended for 9 Major ammunition, but it will shoot +P ammunition.

WHAT DOES DPO STAND FOR IN STACCATO?

DPO stands for Dawson Precision Optics mounting system for mounting red dot optical sights.

IS +P 9MM BETTER?

+P is ammunition loaded to a higher pressure for more velocity.

IS 38 SUPER +P STRONGER THAN 9MM?

38 Super is a slightly longer case; this allows it to shoot similar velocities at lower pressure. Or higher velocities at similar pressures as the 9mm Luger.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STACCATO C2 AND P?

The Staccato C2 is a concealed carry version of the pistol. It features a shorter barrel and grip module and uses the aluminum upper frame to save weight.

IS THE STACCATO P POLYMER?

The grip module portion of the frame is polymer.

WHICH STACCATO DID JOHN WICK USE?

In the John Wick film, he used a Taran Tactical Combat Master version of the Staccato pistol.

CONCLUSION

After spending more than a month with the Staccato P, I have been able to develop a pretty good understanding of the gun. I believe the modern 2011 design brings all the best features of the original 1911 and so much more. It also allows modern technologies, materials, and practices to be applied to the time-tested pistol design.

If the only improvement was the double-stack 9mm cartridge capability, that would be a significant improvement by itself. But the added improvements and composite frame that come incorporated in the Staccato pistols bring so much more, and they do it with sex appeal and class.

I truly enjoyed the time with this pistol. Only days after I picked it up, I decided I needed to find a way to keep it. It crosses all the T’s and dot’s all the i’s for me as far as a pistol can. It feels well built and smooth as it could be.

The trigger is outstanding, as are the other controls but for the short slide release. The heavy barrel and quality sights make it easy to shoot well, the positive grip lets you know you’ve got something fantastic in your hands, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep holding onto it.

-CBM

Laugo Alien 9mm Pistol

September 6, 2022pistols, Product review9mm, alien, alien pistol, laugo, laugo armscoldboremiracle

Laugo Arms

The Laugo Arms Alien pistol has been turning heads since it was first shown to the public, I myself remember working through the crowd at SHOT Show to get hands on it. My first impression was and still is impressed with the design, the odd shapes and lines are combined with some of the most familiar and comfortable pistol features that many of us crave. Today we’ll take a closer look at this Xenomorphic Czech wonder.

Laugo Arms got its start working with Česká zbrojovka (CZ) working on the Scorpion EVO. The stated focus at Laugo is to move beyond conventional designs and to innovate new and better ideas. Their first product is the Alien pistol, named I assume due to its appearance and similarity to the protagonist in the 1980’s horror sci-fi films of the same name. But does this odd pistol design actually deliver enhanced performance, or is it just another gun fit for “the company”.

The Alien pistol

From a very objective look, the Alien is a semi-automatic nine-millimeter pistol. But there is a great difference between the way the gun operates, and what you might be familiar with. If you are a bit of a CZenofile like me, the grip and angle of the pistol will feel quite familiar. The pistol frame is actually two pieces bolted together, and the feel of the grip in my hand is a perfect match. The texturing feels very good and allows better control of the pistol. The all-metal construction of the pistol makes it feel a bit heavier than most, and at 2.4 pounds you know you’ve got something significant in your hand. The 4.8 inch 9mm barrel is nested low in the frame, giving the Alien one of its innovative claims of the lowest bore axis available. The full-sized pistol uses seventeen-round standard capacity magazines, and they are fed into the magwell by a smooth and contoured flare making reloads quick and easy. Other familiar features of the pistol you may expect are quality adjustable iron sights including a fiber optic front sight, and a 1913 standard pic rail for accessories (like a flamethrower) under the front of the gun.
The features you may not know about are where it gets quite interesting. The Alien utilizes a gas-operated piston delayed blowback system, this combined with the extremely low bore axis keeps the Alien more on target during recoil than traditional pistols. In addition, the iron sights or red dot optical sight (both are included) are mounted to the non-reciprocating portion of the pistol which allows the shooter to remain focused on targeting while the Alien reloads itself.

On the Range with the Alien pistol

I’ve had a couple opportunities to shoot the Alien, and I found it to be very interesting and entertaining. The pistol comes as part of a complete kit from Laugo, a very high quality polymer case, that includes both sight rails with iron and optical sight, extra magazines, a custom holster made by Elornis Industry and a few more extras.

After loading some magazines and feeling the pistol weight in my hand, I actually felt like I liked it more. This may not be the perfect gun to carry around on a daily basis, but it feels great to have it in the hand. The grip fills the palm of the hand perfectly for me, and feels outstanding much like the high-end pistols from CZ. The next thing up for touching was the trigger, which is again all metal and utilizes a blade safety like many modern pistols. Pulling the trigger there was a short take-up and a very clean break. It felt outstanding, comparable to the guns of professionals I’ve been lucky enough to shoot. The recoil of the pistol wasn’t significantly noticeable at first, I didn’t pay a lot of attention to it. But after shooting it for a while, I began to notice a different pattern. Also while watching others shoot the gun, it certainly seemed to have less muzzle rise than comparable pistols being shot side by side and using the same ammunition.

I did notice that after much shooting, the pistol did begin to warm up perhaps a little more than I had anticipated. Likely due to the gas being captured in the gas block and building heat. But it felt so good and was so smooth shooting I didn’t notice the heat for long.
With the pop of a single captured pin at the front of the pistol, the whole sighting-rail came right off, and it was switched out for the rail-mounted red dot. Easily switching back and forth between the two took only seconds. The removal of the rail allowed the shooter to see the cunning inner workings of the Alien, much simpler than a terraforming reactor. The hammer and sear are actually mounted in the bottom of the sight-rail, and swing down instead of up. The deeply mounted barrel was under the gas block, with the piston and recoil spring assemblies positioned in the block.
The pistol shot excellent with no failures, it was as pleasant to shoot as any pistol I’ve ever shot, I could feel a desire to keep it growing inside. Accuracy from the gun was what you would expect, easily stacking shots on top of each other up close. And predictably hitting targets further out.

Continue Reading Here…

PROS AND CONS

The performance of the Alien pistol in my opinion is outstanding, but with a street price varying between $5,200 and $6,999, it certainly better perform well. Varying configurations and included accessories determine those prices. It is obviously not marketed to your average gun owner, but more towards those looking for something unique and exceptional.

I found the claims of less muzzle rise and half the recoiling angle of other pistols to be well founded, though perhaps not as significant an advantage as it’s made out to be.
The trigger is excellent, and reloads were flawless because of the angles of the magazines and the flared magwell. The slide is serrated at both the front and rear of the chamber, giving you plenty of purchase, and the sight rail gives a generous sight radius for better acquisition. The magazine release is reversible, for those left-handed shooters, but the slide release is only on the left side of the pistol.

The only downside I can find to it is the cost, which is somewhat prohibitive to many. But once you get over that part of it, it is a beautiful piece of engineering.

CONCLUSION

The interesting design and inner workings make it an artistic piece as much as a shooting tool, and perhaps it will impregnate the minds of other designers with new ideas that will mature into aggressive new firearms designs. It certainly has a “cool factor,” but its distinctive design is not just for looks.

If you like guns that incorporate more than just function but innovation and a little bit of artistry, then the Laugo Alien will likely fit right into your collection.

-CBM

The CMMG Banshee 9MM Mk4 AR Pistol

August 1, 2022Product review, Shooting hardware9mm, ar pistol, banshee, cmmgcoldboremiracle

Introduction

Nine millimeter carbines have become extremely popular over the last few years, and with ammo prices maintaining their ridiculous highs it should come as no surprise that people are looking for less expensive range guns. Today we are talking about the CMMG Banshee 9mm Mk4 AR pistol, it is a nine-millimeter carbine that is a bit different than everything I’ve ever tried before.

The CMMG Banshee is a nine-millimeter AR style pistol, it features a five-inch Chromoly barrel with a 1-10 twist. A pistol brace is mounted at the back on the buffer tube, and using both 6061 and 7075 alloys for the upper and lower receiver help keep the weight of this little pistol down to four-point-seven pounds.

Overall length of the pistol is just under twenty-one inches, making the Banshee Mk4 a very mobile and handy weapon. Other features such as custom furniture and six different Cerakote colors to choose from put the Banshee on many shooters want list.

Many of the nine-millimeter carbines on the market today are of the blowback type. This simple design operates much like a semi-auto pistol. Utilizing the recoil and pressure generated at the breech of the barrel to open and cycle the action.

It is less expensive and requires fewer parts in most cases which makes it a good option for entry-level priced pistol caliber carbines (PCC’s).
More advanced designs like the MPX utilize a gas system like those seen in many AR pattern rifles for more reliable function. And still others like the old roller guns from HK utilize a different locking bolt and a gas-operated system for their legendary reliability.

What makes the Banshee scream?

The Banshee utilizes CMMG’s Radial Delayed Blowback system to improve several aspects of the carbine. One of the many complaints with blowback systems is the heavyweight that is typically required to hold back the bolt long enough for the bullet to get down the barrel. Heavy bolts made from blocks of steel are usually the culprit.

Another of the complaints heard about blowback-operated guns is the recoil impulse felt by the shooter. With nothing holding the bolt closed but its weight and spring pressure, a blowback gun begins moving and opening the action as soon as the shot is fired. This added to the heavy cyclic weight of the bolt increases the feeling of recoil and motion.

More advanced designs of the gas-operated systems don’t start operating the action until the bullet has left or nearly left the muzzle. And with their lighter bolt carriers they feel much smoother in operation.

The radial delayed system of the Banshee allows greater reliability than traditional blow-back designs. It also makes the weapon more stable and controllable by reducing the recoil impulse with its lighter bolt carrier group.

The Banshee

The CMMG Banshee has several features that will make it extremely popular for AR-style rifle enthusiasts.

-Radial delayed blow-back system. The flagship feature of the Banshee series of rifles is the CMMG’s patented radially delayed system. The beveled lugs on both the bolt and barrel extension cause the bolt to be pushed open as it pivots inside the carrier, the time it takes to rotate the bolt out of battery allows chamber pressures to drop to much lower pressures before opening. This feature also allows the Banshee to use much lighter carriers than traditional blow-back designs.

-Ripbrace “not-a-stock”. The pistol brace that comes with the Banshee has several locking points that are locked into position using the common rocker lever under the “stock”. The difference between this one and others is that the Ripbrace has beveled pin bosses in the rear-pulling direction. This allows the stock to be pulled as far to the rear as the user would like without the need to push any release rocker. It makes for fast and simple deployment of the weapon.

-Threaded barrel and compensator. The Banshee comes with a linear compensator to reduce muzzle rise, and underneath the muzzle was threaded 1/2-28. This is a must nowadays, as suppressor have become extremely popular.

-Standard AR mags with adaptor. The Banshee Mk4 utilizes standard AR 5.56 sized magazines. The 9mm cartridges are made to fit using a magazine insert that uses its own internal feed ramp and follower.

Controls

-Sixty vs. ninety degree safety. Most AR’s can take a an ambidextrous safety, but the ambidextrous safety provided by CMMG has a reversible center barrel that allows you to choose either sixty or ninety degrees of motion to safe or fire the weapon.

-Ambi mag catch. Magazine catch controls are located on both sides of the receiver, allowing ambidextrous control of the magwell and it’s contents.

-Extended mag release. The Banshee comes standard with extended magazine release buttons, I found them more than adequate and added ease when dropping the magazine.

CMMG has offered a wide selection of configurations for the Banshee. Including six different Cerakote colors; black, green, tan, bronze, grey, and titanium. The Mk9 series of Banshee utilizes pistol magazines, but that’s for another story.

On the range with the CMMG Banshee

After mounting up a Sig Sauer Romeo on top of the Banshee, and grabbing a few accessories for it, I headed out the door with great expectations. I don’t much care for proper ranges, and I avoid them as best I can. So into the mountains I fled with a Banshee under my arm.
I began loading the curious magazine, which was much easier than I had anticipated. The inner mag adaptor has feed lips that mate to the existing P-mag feed lips, the front of the magazine adaptor is a long feed ramp. Stuffing thirty rounds into the magazine went quick, and it was time to empty it.
Shouldering this tiny little pistol felt so easy. The lightweight and size of it make you almost ball up into a a solid mass of pistol, elbows and arms bones. I started popping off several rounds, and the bumping of this little banging Banshee felt like just like I hoped it would feel.

Light weight was matched by the CMMG Banshee’s light recoil, and before I knew it I was back to fumbling fresh cartridges into the magazines. I made a few adjustments to my Romeo, and went right back to shooting. The linear compensator wasn’t particularly noticeable. It’s hard to say how much of a difference it made with such light recoil anyway.

My nine year old had come along with me, and as kids often do he started hinting at interest in shooting the Banshee. He’s shot plenty of other guns so this wasn’t a big ask, but I was supremely pleased as I watched how simple it was for him to handle and manipulate the gun. I collapsed the brace to better fit his little stature and off he went.

Shop all the Banshee model here

Shooting the CMMG Banshee Suppressed

Since I am not one for making a racket, so it was time to see how this pistol would do suppressed. I had brought along my Yankee Hill Machine R9 suppressor. I knew it was up to the task and easily swapped out the muzzle threads to fit the Banshee.

Shooting 124 grain supersonic ammunition I wasn’t expecting it to be extremely quiet, but it did seem to be quieter than I expected. Most of the PCC’s I have shot in the past were blow-back designs. Delayed guns like this Banshee seem to be quieter still due to their breech staying closed longer.

The Banshee with the **Romeo red dot** and the YHM R9 suppressor

With the Romeo and the YHM R9 suppressor installed, we spent a good portion of the day making little piles of brass all over. I’m not sure what kind of accuracy you might expect from a 9mm carbine such as this. But hitting things like soda cans and six inch steel plates at fifty-yards seemed pretty easy. I would have liked to try some different ammunition in the gun to see if it had a preference for one over another. But the way things are at the gun counter right now I was lucky to get what I could.

Pros and Cons

There are quite a few pros when it comes to the CMMG Banshee, many of which I’ve already mentioned above. For me, the best pros of the Banshee are the weight and controllability. It almost felt like a toy compared to a CZ Scorpion or an MP5. It was easy to control with almost zero muzzle rise when suppressed.

The quality of the Banshee felt at or above its price point, with smooth fit and sexy finish. And all the little things like the extended mag buttons and such made this rifle feel perfect in my hands.

I suppose there are a couple things that I could call cons, but I’m not sure they can be blamed on the Banshee’s design alone. Short guns like this can be more than a little handy. But if you aren’t careful with your hand, you may find it has some new holes in it.

CMMG put a good little hook at the front of the handguard to keep you from getting your fingers to close to the muzzle. It is still close enough that a careless move could cost a finger though. This is of little concern to me as I will probably always use a suppressor on the gun. I’m still unsure if I would prefer the Mk9 Banshee over the need to put adaptors in several P-mags, but that is another thing to evaluate. Continue Reading Here…

Ammo Used with the Banshee

We shot quite a bit of 124 grain Hughes Precision ammunition through the Banshee, and it seemed to love every bit of it. I also shot some Magtech 115 grain ammo through it that also performed flawlessly.

If I had my choice I would stick with the heavier loads. I would even prefer some heavy sub-sonic ammunition to shoot the Banshee suppressed. The delayed operating system would be ideal for super quiet subs when used with a suppressor.

BANSHEE MK4 ACCESSORIES

I feel like the Banshee is a perfect place to use the Sig Romeo. I also used the US Optics TSR-1X which also was a good match for the Banshee. The suppressor was an absolute must-have for me. The R9 from Yankee hill was a great match for compact and quiet shooting.

Another great option to add to the Banshee is a good sling like the padded Magpul MS1 model. Since the Banshee is not a heavy load to carry, having a good sling to drop the gun in favor of a secondary weapon is a good option. I suppose the only other thing I would add to the Banshee is a good set of backup sights. I like the Magpul MBUS Pro’s for this purpose.

The Banshee functions like a standard AR-15

Conclusion

CMMG’s Banshee is an outstanding little AR pistol. It runs flawlessly and bring comfortable easy shooting to an extremely compact firearm. Simple and convenient operation as well as the magazine situation make the Banshee and excellent traing tool as well.

While it may be a touch expensive for a little 9mm pistol. I think it is well worth the price. Tell us what you think of the Banshee below!

-CBM