Tag Archives: pistol

A 2011 Out of Left Field: Bersa USA M2XI

April 29, 2026Product review, Shooting hardware2011, 9mm, bersa, bersa usa, m2xi, pistolcoldboremiracle

Intro

Bersa has been making firearms since 1958, perhaps the only well known manufacturer from the South American country Argentina. Bersa has manufactured a variety of handguns since its inception, but today we are looking at something very new from Bersa USA. And new seems to be the trend from the company, as new handguns, rifles, and even suppressors have recently become part of their offerings. Among these new products, is our topic for today: the Bersa USA M2XI. The M2XI is a 9mm double stack 1911 handgun, commonly referred to these days as a 2011. With many companies joining the trend of these types of pistols, I was somewhat surprised to see one from Bersa, and excited to get hands on it.

Bersa, Bersa usa, m2xi, 9mm, 2011, 1911, federal ammunition, Holosun, scs carry, red dot, — The Bersa M2Xi on the range, shooting **Federal Champion 115 grain**

The Bersa USA M2XI

I found this pistol while visiting the Bersa USA booth at SHOT Show 2026. As a bit of a 2011 fan, I had to get hands on one.

here you can see some of the M2Xi’s internal components, as well as it’s flared magwell

The M2XI uses many very familiar features for these guns. Like most other 2011 pistols, the M2XI has a polymer grip married to a steel frame. The double-stack magazines are compatible with most other 2011 options, and fit nicely into the textured polymer grip. The M2XI uses a traditional 1911 style grip safety, and has an extended beaver-tail to cover the hammer.

Bersa, Bersa usa, m2xi, 9mm, 2011, 1911, loading, magazine, magwell, surefire X300, — feeding from the **Mec-Gar magazines** was flawless

On top of the frame you will find a 416 stainless steel slide and barrel cut at 5-inches in length. The slide itself has cuts up front for gripping, as well as a rear grip area right under a Holosun K optics cut. A heavy profile ultra-match barrel shows through the slide cuts for those who like that look. The standard rear sight lines up nicely with a Tritium front sight easily seen through an optics as well.

Specifications

Bersa USA M2XI Specifications
Caliber	9mm Luger
Color	Black
Barrel Length	5-Inches
Action	Single Action only
Capacity	18/23 Plus One
Material	416 Stainless
Sights	Standard rear with Tritium front sight
Weight	30 Ounces
Finish	Nitride

Controlling the M2XI is done the same familiar way as other 1911/2011 pistols. Its single action operation is locked up with a dual manual safety on both sides of the frame. The slide release is located on the left-side for operating with the thumb, and it features an extended release. Making it easier to reach without breaking grip. A single mag release is located for thumb operation just behind the trigger guard.

A flat trigger is housed in the square shaped trigger guard, and in front of that you’ll find a picatinny accessory rail for mounting your favorite weapon light. I do like the full pic rail that allows you to mount a light wherever you see fit.

Unboxing the M2XI

Bersa’s M2XI comes in a nice Mission First Tactical soft pistol bag, including the typical manual, safety lock, and a couple extra Mec-Gar 18-round magazines. The soft case is a nice touch, giving a nice pistol a safe place to live and be transported.

The smooth lines on this pistol were immediately apparent. The nitride surface is very slick too, making the feel of this gun very nice. Drawing the slide gave the old familiar feeling that makes us keep coming back to this style of pistol. Its smooth operation and tight lockup felt fantastic, and only furthered my desire to get this gun on the range.

vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, reticle, holosun, scs, carry, holosun red dot, Bersa M2XI, EAA Girsan Witness 2311, 9mm, — the M2Xi next to my EAA 2311 4.25-inch

I like the aggressive texture of the grip, making the pistol easy to keep tightly policed in your hands. And while not heavy for a 2011 it is certainly not a lightweight pistol, so that grippy control is a good thing to have. At the bottom, the flared magwell aids in smooth reloads and has room enough for the large magazine extensions popular for these guns.

Mounting Accessories

I decided to mount a Holosun SCS carry optic, as it was the only available K footprint red dot I had at the moment. It dropped on the slide nicely, aligning perfectly with the recoil lugs. So with a touch of threadlocker I torqued the screws down. Everything lined up nicely, and I could easily see the iron sights right through the enclosed red dot.

Bersa, Bersa usa, m2xi, 9mm, 2011, 1911, meggar magazines, loading magazine, federal ammunition,

I use Safariland holsters for most purposes, and the M2XI fit perfectly in my 2011 holsters. They fit a bit loose without adding a weaponlight, and for that I added a Surefire X300. With everything attached, the pistol looked fantastic, and was ready to hit the range. I grabbed a few stacks of ammo, some PMC Bronze and some Federal Champion, both 115 grain loads.

Shooting the Bersa M2Xi

My first opportunity to shoot the M2Xi were indoors. I loaded up a few magazines and in a slow cadence I fired until the mags were empty. The trigger felt great, as good as most any production gun. Recoil was predictable, though my other 2011 pistols have compensators, and have less recoil. My first exchange with this gun went perfect, and only got me anxious to try again with more ammo.

Bersa, m2xi, 9mm, 2011, pistol, walkers game ear, razor slim muffs, holosun scs carry, surefire x300, shooting pistol at gun range with open valley and lake behind,

I have been shooting the M2Xi for over a month now, with various trips to the range. I have carried it daily as part of my gun belt, giving ample opportunities to draw and get plenty of handling practice. During the course of a typical day for me, I get lots of drawing and dryfire practice. As well as plenty of reloads.

Bersa, Bersa usa, m2xi, 9mm, 2011, 1911, holosun, SCS Carry, red dot, surefire X300, — the solar powered **Holosun SCS Carry red dot** was a good choice

That combined with a bunch of trips to the range to run ammo through this pistol have given me a great deal of familiarity with it. It wasn’t just me either, friends and family also jumped in to make sure the Bersa didn’t cool off.

Shootability

1911 pistols are well known for a near religious following. This is because of many things including the smooth reliability, grip angle, trigger pull and accuracy. 2011 pistols like the M2Xi inherited many of the same traits while actually improving other aspects. The double stack magazines that carry 9mm cartridges bring a big increase in capacity, with a very mild recoil impulse.

the Surefire X300 Weapon Light balanced the pistol nicely

The Bersa M2Xi is an excellent example of smooth and mild shooting. With its textured grip in your hand, it feels glued to your palm. And the large size of the grip gives plenty of room for even large hands to hold. Shooting 9mm cartridges out of a gun this size has some pretty modest recoil, allowing you to stay on target.

The clean trigger that makes these kinds of guns so popular feels great under the finger. Sharply aimed shots are placed accurately without a huge amount of focus needed. And the short reset of the trigger means you can run through targets both fast and accurately.

The slick Nitride surface of this gun makes it slippery, so I really appreciated the deep cuts in the slide for grip. And thank goodness they were wise enough to make an optics cut from the factory, such is becoming mandatory these days.

I really appreciated the extended slide release, as with most 1911’s I frequently need to break my grip in order to reach the slide release. With the M2Xi that wasn’t an issue.

Reliability

Feeding the M2Xi from the Mec-gar 18-round magazines went flawlessly. Because I also have other 2011 pistols, I tried using the 21-round Staccato magazines, as well as the 17-round Checkmate magazines. All of them ran perfectly, and through hundreds and hundreds of rounds now, I have yet to have any failures.

The internal extractor grips the case rims perfectly, and throws the cases well clear of the action.

Accuracy

With its heavy 5-inch Ultra-Match barrel, I was expecting great accuracy from the Bersa M2Xi.

this is a typical 10-shot group fired from 10 yards using the **Magtech 115 grain ammunition** groups were even better when shooting PMC Bronze

My expectations were met, as typical shot groups from the Bersa M2Xi were great. Not only did it pattern very tight, but I was able to hit targets much further away than I’d anticipated.

Ergonomics

Like all 2011 style pistols, the Bersa feels fantastic in the hand. You can really tell that this design has been perfected over its very long lifetime. And you can also understand why 1911 and 2011 pistols are still popular after all this time, despite very stiff competition.

The natural flow of this pistol as it comes from the holster and presented feels excellent. Disengaging the safety has become so natural that its second nature to remove as the gun comes on target. And putting it right back into safe as soon as it comes off target.

I love my **Safariland ALS holsters**, they fit the Bersa M2Xi perfectly

The traditional grip safety adds a level of security, which some folks might want considering this single action only handgun is designed to be carried with a hot chamber. The icing on the cake is the optics cut, allowing those of us addicted to red dots to stay that way. The narrow top of the slide does lend itself to the smaller footprint sizes like the Holosun K or RMSc optics. That might be a good or bad thing for some folks but it doesn’t bother me. The Holosun SCS Carry red dot I used on the Bersa lined up nicely. And allowed perfect co-witnessing of the iron sights.

Value

2011 pistols are typically a bit more expensive than what mainstream shooters are used to. You aren’t going to walk into a gun shop and drop six-hundred dollars and walk out with a typical 2011. Many of the M2Xi’s peers cost significantly more, even surpassing double the price of this one. But there are also cheaper options, some of which I’ve even used and quite like. But with an MSRP just under $1500 I find this pistol’s price quite tolerable. And you can also find it from various vendors online for closer to $1300.

In my opinion, if you are looking to get into the 2011 game, this would be a great place to start. The Bersa M2Xi is nice enough to be the last pistol you ever buy, and yet affordable enough to be the beginning of a greater collection.

Pros and Cons

There is a lot to like about this pistol, and honestly few things I could come up with against it. The M2Xi is built very well, everything about it seems quality sourced and made. From it’s 416R stainless materials out to it Nitride finish the fit and feel is tight and smooth. Its heavy ultra-match barrel shoots very well and again fits into the pistol as though it was hand-fit.

a pause between shooting, if you like those WGE Razor Slim ear muffs, read about em here

Easy controls are pretty standard with 1911/2011 pistols, and these ones are no exception. The trigger is crisp and clean, the safety has just the right amount of resistance. And the extended slide release was a favorite, making me want to add one to my other pistols.

**WGE Suppressor ear buds** are a fantastic hearing protection option, you cant tell in this picture but I am jammin out to my favorite tunes

The accessories you can add to this gun also add some value. Optics cuts are becoming more standard, and I am quite pleased they included on here. Perhaps in the future there will be other footprint options but I’m good with the Holosun one for now. The full length picatinny rail allows you to choose where to mount your weapon light, an option some other pistols don’t have. And flawless function with all kinds of magazines is yet another feather in the cap for the M2Xi.

looking down on the optics cut, also note extended slide release

My Conclusion

The Bersa M2Xi has done a lot to change my mind about the brand, what I once considered a bargain import brand. If they keep producing products like this, I expect they will continue grabbing more customers and market share.

Bersa’s introduction to the 2011 game is a great start, with an MSRP of $1475 it is not unreachable by many. And with street prices hovering closer to $1300 I would consider it a great value. I would love it if they produced a comped model like the ones I saw in the Bersa booth at SHOT Show 2026, but I suppose that’ll come in time.

If you are in the market for a pistol like this, I would count the M2Xi into the mix. It has great performance with accurate shooting and the aftermarket compatibility American gun owners crave. All together in a handsome, well-built pistol that feels as good as it shoots.

-CBM

Nightstick TWM-30-T Weaponlight

September 9, 2025Ancillary gear, Product reviewnightstick, pistol, pistol light, twm-30-T, weapon light, x300coldboremiracle

Introduction

I love a good pistol and light combination, especially matched with a good red dot. Such being the case I am always looking for additional light options. Several of my full size pistols use the popular SF X300, but when I spotted today’s subject I expected it would drop right in place of the X300. Today we are looking at another weapon light from Nightstick, this one is the Nightstick TWM-30-T weaponlight for handguns.

Nightstick weaponlight, Nightstick, TWM-30-T, pistol, shadow systems, dr920,

The TWM-30-T has a very similar presentation, with two CR123 batteries side by side. Mounted by a picatinny clamp to the accessory rail of most handguns, it comes with multiple spaced anchor plates to adjust where the light rides on the pistol. Adding features to the controls also gives the Nightstick unit a leg up over competitors.

Specifications

66,000 candela
Enhanced single-motion switches
User-selectable battery safe and strobe modes
Momentary or constant-on flashlight
Sharp focused beam for distance illumination
Aircraft-grade 6061-T6 aluminum housing
Type III hard anodized finish
Beam distance rated at 514 meters
IP-67 Waterproof
Impact & chemical resistant
Serialized for personal identification
2 CR123 batteries (included)
Limited Lifetime Warranty
Multi-Function: Yes
High Lumens: 900
High Beam Distance (m): 514
High Candela: 66,000
Drop Rating: 2 m
Water Rating: IP-67 Dustproof/Waterproof
High Runtime (h): 1
Strobe: Yes
Light Source: LED
Serialized: Y
Case Material: 6061-T6 Aluminum
Body Color: Black
Quantity of Batteries: 2
Power Source: CR123
Package Contents: Light, 4 cross-rail inserts, 2 cross-rail mounting cap head screws, Allen wrench, 2 CR123 Lithium batteries
US Patent(s) : 9713217
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Length: 3.5 in (89 mm)
Width: 1.5 in (38 mm)
Depth: 1.5 in (38 mm)
Weight: 4.5 oz (127 g)
Head Diameter: 1.2 in (30 mm)

In the Box

When you receive the Nightstick TWM-30-T, everything you need is in the box. There are batteries, tools, and a couple mounting solutions to customize how it rides on your pistol. An owners manual also comes tucked in so you can read up on it.

Nightstick weaponlight, Nightstick, TWM-30-T, pistol,

I really appreciated the fasteners that hold everything in place. Part of me dislikes having life saving equipment “snap on” or snap closed for example. I like that the battery compartment is secured by a screw, as is the the picatinny anchor. The light comes with four different options that you can change out to see where the light best fits on your pic-rail. I found it very convenient to remove the screw and just sit the various anchor plates in place until one of them lines up where you want it.

Programming Controls

The controls of this light are very handy, and easy to remember and understand. I found them to be way ahead of the competition I mentioned earlier. Most lights have a temporary illumination option as well as a full-on setting. The Nightstick TWM-30-T control module gives those settings and more.

Using both buttons in unison, you can press and hold to code in functions like a complete lockout to conserve battery. Or you can engage a strobe feature allowing the user to have a steady beam on command, or a strobe function to blind an opponent.

Nightstick weaponlight, Nightstick, TWM-30-T, pistol, surefire, x300t, — As you can see, the TWM-30-T is a touch shorter than the X-300 Turbo

Perhaps my favorite function is the temporary-on feature. If you push and hold either button, the light will stay on until you release it. Whereas if you simply push and release either button the light stays on. Once you’ve figured our all the functions its very easy to cycle through the functions and get the performance you want.

Compatibility

I found it was very easy to fit the TWM-30-T to a variety of handguns, using the different anchor plate wasn’t always necessary but it was helpful now and then. It seemed perfectly compatible with all my Glock clones, as well as my X5 Legion P320, as well as my Staccato XC.

Nightstick weaponlight, Nightstick, TWM-30-T, pistol, glock, ruger, rxm, staccato XC, shadow systems dr920, sig sauer, p320 X5, Legion, — Here you can see how the Nightstick fit on several popular pistols (clockwise from top left) the **Shadow Systems** DR920, the **Staccato XC**, the **Sig Sauer P320 X5 Legion**, and the Ruger RXM

Aside from fitting all the pistols (which was expected) the TWM-30-T also fit easily into all of my holsters. This was an incredibly welcome convenience, as I love my holsters. The Nightstick is also a little more compact than other popular competitor’s lights, which might be helpful in some scenarios.

Shooting in the Dark

Thankfully I don’t need to shoot in the dark often, but it’s always something to be prepared for. More than anything I spent a lot of time shooting at dusk as the sun went down. To see how the controls functioned in real time while drawing my pistols.

Nightstick weaponlight, Nightstick, TWM-30-T, pistol, surefire, x300, turbo, — for comparison, here are the two beams seen at approximately 15-yards

In the interest of comparison, I did put the beam of the TWM-30-T against others to see how it looks at night time in pure darkness. The 900 lumens of the Nightstick looked great in the darkness.

Pros and Cons

In favor of the Nightstick TWM-30-T, there is much to say. Being able to order it directly off of Amazon for the price of $139 is almost reason enough in my opinion to get one. The fantastic programmable control makes it a smarter choice than some others. And the final blow that would make this a slam dunk is its compatibility with so many guns and holsters. With so many great things going for it, the fact that it is produced in Texas by Americans is simply icing on the cake. (Edit: it would seem they are manufactured overseas for the Texas based company)

I really couldn’t come up with something about this light that was bad. It mounts better than many others, its controls are better and can all be done with a single finger. I guess the only thing that would make it better would be to incorporate a laser without changing the external dimensions. But I guess I’m reaching there.

Nightstick weaponlight, Nightstick, TWM-30-T, pistol, Vortex defender XL, sig sauer, p320, x5, legion, — the Nightstick made a perfect companion to the X5 with it’s **Vortex Defender XL**

Conclusion

I was very happy to find another weapon light with such great compatibility. Something I could use across various pistol and holster combination. Even more pleasing was finding how much I liked about this light in particular. Whether you are simply looking for a light for your CCW, or something for a duty pistol this is a great option. I suppose if the National Tactical Officer Association endorses and recommends these lights, they are good enough for me. If you also fall in that category with me, then give one of these a try. You can order the Nightstick TWM-30-T right here and have it shipped right to your door.

-CBM

Ruger RXM 9mm Pistol

February 15, 2025pistols, Product review9mm, glock, magpul, pistol, ruger, Ruger RXM review, rxmcoldboremiracle

Preface

I keep coming back to Glock clone pistols, which is quite the 180 turn for me. Today I am taking a look at another something new, this time from one of America’s best known manufacturers and in part by another. Today I bring a you a review of the Ruger RXM 9mm pistol. The RXM is a recoil operated 9mm pistol that is fed by Magpul magazines in the very popular Glock pattern. Like many other pistol on the market today, the RXM is a clone of the extremely successful Glock. But it also has a whole new trick up it’s sleeve, and it’s sleeve is also made by Magpul.

the classic underbite of the Surefire X300, for dark places and flashes

It is hard to deny the success of the popular design of these kind of pistols, and the incredible aftermarket support already available makes it even more appealing. Not only do you get the famous reliability, but you can use the same holsters, and others accessories that you probably already have.

What is the Ruger RXM

For those who’ve been hiding under a rock (or behind a 1911), Glock clones have become extremely popular. Following the pattern of the Gen 3 striker fired poly-framed pistols has been very successful for quite a few manufacturers now. Ruger has partnered with Magpul to make the polymer frame for the RXM, while Ruger made the rest. There is a secret within the frame though, in a similar idea to the incredibly popular Sig Sauer P320 the Ruger RXM has a removable Fire Control Insert (FCI). The FCI is the trigger and serialized portion of the firearm.

the removeable FCI, captured at the rear, and held in place by two pins at the front

This allows you as the user to swap from one grip frame to another. And with a partner like Magpul in this endeavor, I expect we will see an unprecedented flow of grip frame options come to market in the future.

Ruger RXM disassembly, streamlight TLR8, Apex Optics Atom red dot, — Visualization of the pistol broken down, note **Apex Atom red dot** and the **Streamlight TLR8**

So if you are wondering what makes the RXM so special, I can sum it up like this; it’s as though two of the most successful pistols of the past decades had a baby blessed by Magpul.

Ruger RXM Features

Caliber	9mm
Overall Length	7.15 inches
Height	5.31 inches
Barrel Length	4 inches
Slide Width	1 inch
Grooves	6
Twist	1:10 right hand
Weight	23.2 ounces
Optics Ready	yes
Front Sight	Tritium co-witness height
Rear Sight	Steel drift adjustable
Manual Safety	No
Barrel & Slide Material	Alloy steel
Capacity	15 + 1
Steel Finish	Black FNC Nitride
Grip Frame	Magpul enhanced grip
Magazines	Two 15 round PMAGs included
MSRP	$499.00

I was very pleased that the design team took the time to think this pistol through. It is apparent that they wanted to incorporate some of the better features in this pistol. Things like an optics cut slide and the tritium sights are definitely better than many standard features. Even my son noticed and mentioned the convenient load indicator slot so you can easily identify a hot chamber. And of course the Magpul frame that can be interchanged by swapping the FCI.

Note loaded chamber indicator

I was even more impressed when I pulled the optics plate off to see the semi-universal optics footprint. The RXM can take the RMR, Delta Point Pro, and RMSc optics, which covers a huge variety of optics. The footprint area of the RXM slide has various holes to accept screws but also comes with configurable pins to allow proper securing of your red dot.

mounting the red dot was easy using the provided alignment pins

The grip frame features Magpul’s TSP grip texture, and also has a pretty covert magwell flare. As well as an undercut trigger guard which is nice.

Unboxing the Ruger RXM

I’m always excited when I open a new gun, I’d already handled the RXM at SHOT Show 2025 but I was still excited to take it home. The hard plastic case carried the RXM and 2 fifteen round Magpul PMAGS, as well as the typical gun lock and other accessories. I will say that the case is bigger than it needs to be, allowing additional accessories and mags to be stored for transport. The box also has a cutout for an optic, whether for a user added optic or a later model including an optic is yet to be seen. You’ll also see room for a threaded barrel, giving away future options Ruger?

factory fresh

I lifted the RXM from its case, and felt that same familiar grip of the clones. It felt good and only got better as I played with the pistol further. All the controls felt just as you would expect, the trigger is crisp. The front and rear slide serrations make for easy gripping to pull against the stout spring. The sights line up nicely with my hold, and the front tritium pops against the dull winter overcast sky.

I ran the slide a few times against the empty magazine, and was pleased with how smooth and easy it was to actuate everything. The mag release is extended a bit, and at first I thought it might be too forward. But after all of my shooting it seemed it was perfect.

drawing the RXM from a holster helped illustrate its soft edges

I did a quick field strip to see the curious FCI and how it was secured into the frame by a couple push pins. The whole thing looked very nice, with a great finish and quality look.

Ruger RXM Setup

I was anxious to get this pistol shooting, so I wasted no time getting it ready for a range trip. I dug through my selection of red dots, and decided to grab the Vortex Defender CCW. It was a good fit for the RXM, and would be easy to mount as well using the supplied fasteners.

Including anchor pins to secure the red dot gives the RXM another leg up, by allowing you to configure the footprint to match the red dot. Instead of forcing you to change to a dot that fits the footprint.

Because I’d planned on carrying the pistol for a while, I decided to also install my Streamlight TLR8. It’s a handy light laser combo for CCW pistols and it fits perfectly on the Ruger RXM. And the whole conglomeration fit nicely into my Hidden Hybrid IWB holster.

The RXM fit in all my holsters

On the Range

All that was left was to head to the range and shoot this small wonder, I grabbed a few boxes of 115 grain ammo from MWLP for some initial testing. My first range trip would be a typical trip into the snowy Rocky Mountains, and both my son and I would enjoy the afternoon plinking away with the Ruger RXM.

I took the opportunity to try a bunch of different things like drawing from the holster, reloading after single shots and such. It didn’t take long to get comfortable with the RXM. The Defender red dot made it quick to bear and make clean shots on my targets.

I was very impressed with how easy reloads went with the gun. I am used to big guns with flared magwells, this little Ruger does have a flare but it’s hardly noticeable unless you look under the gun. It came very easy to me to stab the magazine even without looking, it felt much easier than other similar guns I’ve shot in the past.

Shootability

As you might imagine, a pistol modeled after one of the most successful pistols ever shoots very well. The RXM grip is very comfortable, and the angle lines up quite naturally with my aim. Recoil from the RXM is quite modest and keeping on target is akin to other similar pistols. Its also nice to be able to use a red dot, pushing your focus to the target.

the RXM seen here with it’s full-size grip frame, and outfitted with the **Vector Optics Frenzy red dot**

The controls of the RXM are great. The trigger is a little longer than I would have expected but it is very smooth and breaks nicely. This allowed for great shot placement particularly when coupled with the fine aimpoint of the Defender.

At first, I did find one thing that bothered me. During the first few mags my thumb would push slightly up on the slide release causing the RXM to lock open between rounds. This was easily corrected once I realized it was just my thumb crowding the area. Even my kids had a good time shooting the RXM.

ruger RXM, 9mm, vortex Defender, — the kids had a great time learning to shoot the RXM

Ergonomics

Again, as a clone its hard to beat the time tested successful design. The grip angle is just right and feels natural. Slide cuts provide just the right amount of grip without being abrasive. The mag release is a touch further forward than expected but certainly caused zero problems during my reloads. The trigger blade safety isn’t even noticeable during shooting, which is the way it should be.

My hands are neither small nor large, and the grip area was just right for them. If I had larger hands I could see it getting a bit crowded, but I also anticipate that there will be additional grips available from Magpul in the near future that will solve that issue.

Ruger, RXM, 9mm, streamlight TLR8, apex optics atom, — A little custom paint made the RXM even better looking

Accuracy

I’m a bit of an accuracy nerd when it comes to rifles. But when it comes to handguns I don’t consider myself anything but average, and I had no issues hitting what I aimed at. I don’t suspect this gun is currently going to be used for competition shooting (at least not yet), but more likely it will be used for typical semi-compact 9mm purposes. CCW use and general shooting are more likely in its future, and for that the accuracy was perfectly adequate.

Hitting paper plate sized targets from a quick draw was easy to do even at fifteen to twenty yards. I carried the pistol as my CCW for several days quite confident that should I need to use it I would be able to hit my target.

Reliability

I mentioned the occasional locking back caused by my imposing thumb, that was the only thing I could call a failure that we experienced while shooting the Ruger RXM. It has cycled through hundreds of rounds and many boxes of 115 and 124 grain ammunition now without any failures.

ruger RXM, 9mm, ccw, 1791 gunleather — The RXM fit perfectly into my **1791 Gunleather holster**

Value

The Glock clone market is getting steep with competition. Many companies have brought some very affordable models to market to compete with this Ruger RXM, and this has brought the prices down. The RXM is more affordable than most of the original Austrian polymer pistols, depending on which generation you are looking at. And even among its clone peers the RXM is still quite competitive with street prices just under $400.

Ruger RXM, Zro Delta FKS 9, PSA Dagger, comparison — these clones are stacking up

For comparison, my ZRO Delta FKS9 can be had for around $350 but it will cost more than the RXM if you want the optics ready slide. I also have a PSA Dagger that is very comparable to the RXM, but again if you want an optics ready slide it’s price goes up to within a carton of eggs price of the RXM. So there’s plenty of competition from other good products.

BUT, we haven’t addressed some of the RXM’s advantages. Not only is the RXM optics ready, its configurable footprint will take most optics. Additionally its removable FCI allows you to swap grip frame modules, none of the other clones do that at this price. I cannot fathom that Ruger and Magpul haven’t thought this through for years to come. I expect we will see a massive and steady release of RXM variants with various sizes, slides and barrels. Time will surely tell, but with all that in mind I think the Ruger RXM is a fantastic value, with a bright future.

ruger rxm, 9mm, safariland, — the Ruger RXM also fit perfectly in my **Safariland ALS holster** as well

Pros and Cons

I’ve kind of already gone over all the pros of this pistol. Its a comfortable shooter with clean lines and a nice fit. The customization and potential for future modification make it stand out against its competition. I was even impressed with how seamless and tight fitting the FCI fits into the grip module, at a glance you wouldn’t even think it was removeable. The edges of the RXM aren’t as hard as they could be, making it less likely to snag while drawing.

Since publishing this originally, I have acquired the **full-size frame for the RXM** as well. Broadening the application of this pistol

I’ve also thought quite a bit about what I would change on the Ruger RXM. And to be completely candid I could hardly come up with something to pick at, I’d almost have to put myself in the shoes of another to find something. For example, the RXM isn’t built for lefties. That doesn’t bother me, but it might turn off some left-handed shooters. Though I’d imagine they are used to it by now. Also, perhaps you’re a Gen 3 critic, and would prefer clones copied a different version of Gaston Glock’s family. But you’re diggin’ really deep if you want to call these liabilities to the Ruger RXM.

the Streamlight TLR8 and Vortex Defender CCW were great accessories

Again, if I was reaching real hard I could say I wish the magazine was a touch more snug in the frame. But who am I to question Magpul’s design, perhaps it works best that way.

Preferred Ammunition

Besides the MWLP ammo, I also shot a few boxes of AAC 124 grain ammo. Both of which functioned flawlessly through the Ruger. For carry ammo I would use something predictable like Hornady Critical Duty 124 grain defense ammo.

Accessory Options

The Vortex Defender red dot worked out great for the RXM, I had no reason to dislike it. But I also like the US Optics RISE red dot as it is a bit larger window and more refined dot on the glass. The beauty of the RXM is that just about any popular sight will drop on to the Ruger RXM.

The Streamlight TLR8 was also a great choice for a weapon light, particularly for CCW use. An obvious choice would have also been the Surefire X300, though it is a bit bigger and more cumbersome for a carry gun.

My hidden Hybrid Holster fit the Ruger RXM well, but as objective as holsters can be you might want to pick your own. I also carried the RXM in a 1791 Gunleather holster that was also pretty comfortable.

Ruger RXM, streamlight tlr8, apex optics atom, 9mm — Coming from two big names like Ruger and Magpul it’s no surprise this went well

Last Thoughts

My initial thoughts on the Ruger RXM turned out to be pretty dead on. I have always liked Ruger’s firearms, they seem to be optimized for the average American gun owner. And providing them with a pleasant and affordable experience.

I was quite surprised just how much I liked the RXM and how well thought out it was. It is a step above your average Glock clone, with some great added value and features. I expect this gun has a vibrant future ahead, much like the P320 is currently living. And not unlike the Dagger’s explosive popularity. Perhaps someday in the future there will be a compensated competition long-slide version and micro compact CCW versions as well, all with interchangeability. Great job and a tip of the hat to the collaborative teams at Ruger and Magpul.

-CBM

2025 Update:

After nearly a year of shooting the RXM, I have yet to come up with a down side. I have swapped half a dozen red dots across the slide cut, and used every kind of magazine I can get hands on. Magpul released additional frames for it, I recently acquired the full-size frame. It’s fit is excellent, and converts my RXM to the full size frame while still using the compact slide.

rxm, ruger, full-size, 9mm, pistol, vector optics, frenzy, — here you can see the **RXM with the full-size frame**

I have carried the RXM many different ways almost every week since I got it. I still feel it is an excellent value, and worth your consideration.

The Taurus USA TX22 Compact pistol

July 21, 2023pistols, Product review, Shooting hardware22lr, compact, pistol, Taurus, tx22, tx22 compactcoldboremiracle

Introduction

Semi-automatic 22 pistols have been a bit of a conundrum in the past. It seems every manufacturer has tried to make one that is both reliable and feature filled. But there always seems to be a shortcoming or compromise. When I first put hands on the Taurus TX22 years ago. I had a preconceived notion that it too would become another obligatory 22 pistol that was almost good enough. That was the initial TX22 pistol, but today we are going to look at one of the newest TX22 models. To see if it measures up, or exceeds what we are used to. I am happy to bring you a review of the TX22 Compact pistol from Taurus USA.

The TX22 Compact

The TX22 Compact is a polymer-frame striker fired pistol. It is fed from polymer magazines that hold up to 13-rounds. The compact version of the pistol also has some slide cuts to reduce weight. As well as an optics cut at the rear for mourning your favorite red dot sight. In a departure from the standard TX22, the compact features non-adjustable sights. That is probably because you can mount a red dot and adjust that instead.

The small pistol also features a standard picatinny accessory rail under the muzzle for attaching whatever light or aiming accessory you’d prefer. Like its larger sibling, the TX22 Compact also features a threaded barrel. And comes with a factory suppressor collar to install your favorite hush-tube. At the rear of the frame there is an ambidextrous safety that is easily manipulated with the firing-hand thumb.

Get bulk packed ammo from Ammo.com

Unboxing

My very first impression of the TX22 Compact was its weight, it felt incredibly light. This is surely due to the polymer construction and aluminum parts. And much the same way as the full size TX22, I immediately fell in love with the grip. It fits my hand perfectly and the texturing makes it very easy to keep hold of. The lightweight and comfortable grip had already hooked me, but would it perform as good as it looked and felt? If my initial feelings were right, I was pretty confident that this pistol would be a winner.

The TX22 has a relatively short history. The original model was released only a few years ago, and Taurus has since expanded the line with an assortment of models and colors. The competition model uses a cut slide with a reduced front end on the slide as well as an optics mounting platform. The Compact is the most recent development, though I’m sure there will likely be additional offerings.

Features

Lets go over some of the key features that set the TX22 Compact apart. Perhaps one of the most exciting developments with the TX22 is the magazines. For decades it seemed like 22 auto pistols had but one option for capacity, a single stack 10-round magazine. The TX22 uses what I guess you could call a double stack, in that the rims of the stacked cartridges are offset to the right and left as they are stacked into the magazine.

The original full-size TX22 holds 16-rounds, while the flush-fitting magazines of the Compact model hold only 13. But to be fair, 13 rounds in a pistol this small, and this light make it very appealing. Also, the 16-round magazines of the full size TX22 also fit into the compact, though they do hang out exposed.

The trigger of the TX22 is another fantastic feature, instead of using a blade-safety, the TX22 utilizes the entire shoe. As the trigger is pulled, the shoe pivots into its firing position where the sear can be activated. It feels quite good considering the inexpensive cost of the TX22’s. The trigger also has a pretty short reset which I find spectacular, and greatly increases your ability to shoot rapidly with minimal movement.

The threaded barrel of the TX22 is another fantastic feature that comes from the factory. And the included suppressor collar allows you to go straight to the range with suppressor in hand. The barrel comes with a thread-cap installed, it is easily removed with a wrench using the machined flats on the thread-cap. You can then install the shouldered suppressor collar, which just threads over the muzzle with a flush fit. The collar also had a nice shoulder to tighten your suppressor against.

the **Yankee Hill Phantom 22 suppressor** is a perfect companion to the TX22

Optics Cuts

The TX22 Compact slide comes pre-cut for optics, and it fits micro red dots like the Holosun 407K and the new Vortex Defender. This is such a fantastic feature, especially to me who has become more and more addicted to red dots on my pistols. The steel plate is easily removed with the two screws, and your micro red dot will take its place.

The controls of the TX22 are easy to operate and understand, the slide release is easy to press with the thumb to drop the slide while shooting. The safety is not obtrusive but easy to reach and activate when needed. And it’s on both sides of the pistol for those wrong-handed folks out there. The mag release button is small and very functional, it too can be reversed to the opposite side of the frame for left-handers.

suppressed taurus TX22 — the **YHM Phantom 22** was an outstanding addition

I guess my favorite feature of the TX22 family is that unlike most 22 auto-loading pistols, it doesn’t feel like a toy. While it is very light, even lighter than my son’s airsoft pistol, it still feels like a real gun. It doesn’t have the undersized grip that many others do, when you pick it up it feels like you’ve got a real gun in your hand. Add to that the dashing good looks of the pistol, and you’ve got a winner in your hand.

Performance and Precision

Accuracy (8.5-10)

Being a humble little 22lr pistol, I’m not sure what level of accuracy people will expect from it. But I find the pistol to be very accurate for the purposes that I would use a 22 pistol for. I have used it to train my kids a great deal for pistol shooting. Every one of them absolutely loves shooting the TX22. It never fails, every time we go shooting I hear: can we bring the Taurus?

Shooting inexpensive bulk packed ammunition is what I expect most other people to shoot, as do I. The TX22 Compact is easy to keep on targets as small as squirrels at distances like 15 to 20 yards. Dispatching small rodents and even rats in the shed is surprisingly easy with the little TX22.

In addition to its accurate shooting, the near lack of any felt recoil seems to help shoot the pistol even better.

Ergonomics (8.5-10)

As I mentioned above, the fit in my hand is one of the first things that sold me on this pistol. It feels comfortable, and fills a man’s hand. The texturing on the frame makes it easy to keep hold of when manipulating the pistol. And the slightly flared magwell makes reloading an easy and smooth operation.

The trigger feels great, and all the controls are right where they should be and easy to operate. Even my wife who has particularly petite hands finds the TX22 Compact easy to operate and shoot well.

Features (9-10)

The TX22’s features are outstanding. Not only does it have most everything a person could ask for, they are included from the factory. With a price this low you get quite a few features I am both surprised and happy to get.

The higher capacity magazines, the optics ready slide, and factory threaded barrel are probably my favorite features of this pistol.

The TX22 compact (L) shown next to the full size TX22 (R)

Fit & Finish (8.5-10)

The TX22 family of pistols all come with a pretty handsome look to them. The different color frame options are nice, and the pistol seems to be put together well. I know it’s only a 22, and most people aren’t going to be betting their life on the durability of the TX22. That said, I think there are just a few things that do give the impression of a “cheap” pistol, such as the plastic firing pin bushings. And as much as I like the magazines, they are all plastic, and they don’t feel like it would be hard to crush them if accidentally stepped on or something. I also noticed that the coating of the slide isn’t as tough as I would like it to be, but at this price I can’t complain.

Despite the few things that may make it seem cheap, I cannot find where the TX22 is flawed or poorly assembled. It’s a great looking pistol.

Reliability

I’ve been shooting the TX22 compact for nearly six months now, and I’ve lost track of how many boxes of Federal AutoMatch we’ve put through it. But at 325 rounds per box I’d estimate we have shot nearly two thousand rounds through the Compact TX22, this with a negligible occurrence of malfunctions. I was not surprised, as that was the same experience I had with the full size TX22, shooting through thousands of rounds with nearly zero issues.

Of course being a 22lr, the TX22 is going to be dirty, and will need occasional cleaning to keep it running in top shape. Particularly if you are shooting suppressed, which a great deal of our shooting has been.

I ran my Yankee Hill Machine Phantom 22 on the TX22 Compact, it was a perfect match that provided hours and hours of incredibly quiet fun for the family. Of course you should always wear eye protection when shooting, but it is an absolute must when shooting this pistol suppressed. There is a good deal of debris blown back when suppressed, so keep your glasses on.

Get the Yankee Hill Machine Phantom 22 suppressor here

Value (10-10)

With a street price just over $300, I think the TX22 Compact is an absolutely incredible value. There are other competitors like the Sig 322 that cost a bit more, and offer a higher capacity. The Keltec P17 is cheaper still, if you want a gun that looks like it was designed by a high school shop class.

I think the TX22 performance and features are well worth the asking price, and having spent a great deal of time shooting this and other TX22’s I am quite confident its performance is long term.

Pro & Cons

Pros

Excellent value
Reliable performance
High capacity magazines
Optics ready
Picatinny accessory rail
Ambidextrous controls
Suppressor ready from factory
Comes with 2 magazines

Cons

Magazines could be arguably fragile
I need more of them

Alternative Options

I mentioned the Sig P322 above, it would likely be a good alternative to the TX22. It carries a higher capacity magazine, and weighs a bit more but that is expected. It also comes with the big Sig Sauer name that so many crave.

The Keltec P17 is another option, with a comparable capacity to the TX22, and at an even cheaper price. It is also lighter than both the Sig and Taurus, but it also appears to come with fewer features.

FAQ’s

How much is the Taurus TX22?

The Taurus TX22 can be had for as little as $308 depending on where you buy

Is it safe to dry fire the Taurus TX22?

Many 22lr pistols are not supposed to be dry fired, but according to Taurus USA, the TX22 series is made to be safely dry fired

What red dot will fit the Taurus TX22 Compact?

The TX22 compact accepts micro red dots with the same pattern as the Holosun 407K, I installed that model, as well as the Vortex Defender red dot.

Is the TX22 Compact?

The standard TX22 is compact enough to conceal, and the compact model is even moreso. It is very comparable in size to the Glock 19.

For more information on the TX22 Compact Click Here

Conclusion

So if you haven’t gathered by now, I am a big fan of the entire TX22 family of pistols. I’ve spent the last 3 or 4 years shooting one version or another, and they have proven to be accurate, reliable, and incredibly fun to shoot. Compact pistols are typically designed for concealed carry purposes, which makes sense. I will say that I am not going to recommend carrying a 22lr as your concealed carry, but I will mention a few positive things for those that might. The TX22 Compact is very comfortable to carry, it’s both small and light so you wont notice it as much as other guns. And in the event that you should ever have to draw it, it can be emptied very quickly, and all thirteen shots can be dumped into a target with great accuracy and speed.

Other features like the threaded barrel and optics cut slide give you many of the more desired features of modern auto-loading pistols. It may not be some top tier handgun, but when it comes to 22’s I don’t know of one that I would say is top tier.

Check out more Vortex Optics

I would say that if you are looking for a fun, reliable, and accurate 22lr pistol, you will not likely find a better option. There might be one that is comparable, but it will be more expensive for sure. I must admit that I have found the TX22 to be well worth the asking price, so much in fact that I have returned to the TX22 again and again. I now own four of them in one configuration or another, if you need a good 22 pistol, buy the TX22 with confidence.

-CBM

PSA Dagger 9mm

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

INTRODUCTION

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DAGGER 9MM REVIEW

SPECIFICATIONS

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

PROS & CONS

PROS

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

CONS

I couldn’t come up with something to dislike

ON THE RANGE TESTING

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

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

OVERALL FEEL

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shop PSA pistols and accessories

RELIABILITY

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

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

ACCURACY

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

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

psa dagger hands on review and range test

FEATURES

POLYMER FRAME

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

TRITIUM NIGHT SIGHTS

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

CARRY CUT SLIDE

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

HOW WE TESTED

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

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

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

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

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

AMMO USED

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

SCORE CARD

RELIABILITY (9/10)

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

ERGONOMICS (9/10)

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

CUSTOMIZATION (8/10)

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

APPEARANCE (9/10)

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

VALUE (10/10)

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

Continue Reading Here…

CONCLUSION

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

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

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

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

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

-CBM

Check out our other pistol reviews here

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.

Shop all Staccato products here

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

Canik SFX Rival 9MM

July 27, 2022pistols, Product review, Shooting hardware9mm, canik, pistol, rivalcoldboremiracle

Introduction

Canik keeps throwing out one banger after another, I have followed them somewhat closely watching eagerly to see what comes next. I bought a Canik TP9 Elite Combat (EC) a year or two ago, and I was very pleased with how it functions. The latest thing from Canik to cross my path is the new Canik SFX Rival 9mm which is the subject today.

The SFX Rival

The Rival is being marketed as an IDPA competition gun, with both its size and weight restrictions meeting the standard for most competitive circles. The Rival does this while bring all the many features from all its Canik siblings, with things like ambi-slide release, reversible and extendable magazine release, flat trigger-shoe, undercut trigger guard, magwell-flare and a picatinny accessory rail up front. In addition to these features, the Rival has deeply cut slide serrations, as well as a fluted barrel. Like many of the TP9 family it also comes optics ready, with an assortment of baseplates and sight options. All this with two custom Cerakote color schemes, mine has the Rival grey with gold accents.
As usual with Canik, the pistol came in a hard plastic case with an assortment of tools for cleaning and maintenance. It also came with a Kydex holster and spare magazine pouch, as well as a couple magazines.

First Impressions

My very first initial thoughts of the Rival were pretty flashy, it seems quite busy to the eyes. But I wanted to find out quickly though if the busy looks matched up to a busy time shooting targets.
As I expected, the Rival felt nearly identical to my TP9 in the hand. A good thing in my estimation as both of the pistols feel great filling the hand and giving a good textured grip to control with. I actually rubbed the Cerakote off of my other Canik doing draw drills, shooting and reload drills constantly. And after all that, the Rival felt like an old friend. My fingers instinctively landed on every control with perfection, and it didn’t take long to notice just a couple things.
The first thing was the ambidextrous slide release, I think perhaps the Rival uses a stronger spring because there is more felt resistance on the slide than my other guns. This translated into just enough extra effort to annoy me, but that’s all.
I also noted that the extended magwell-flare seems to be a better fit than the one on my other Canik, this made reloading even easier than I anticipated. Magazines were easilly slid into place with little to no effort.
The trigger felt fantastic, which has been my typical experience with these higher grade Canik pistols.

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Once I was on the firing line with the Rival, I decided it would be a good idea to compare it to its well-known relative, the TP9 EC with a Vortex red dot. With a stack of ammo on the tailgate, we went to town. The first order of business was to adjust the Holosun red dot for proper impacts, which didn’t take very long. In less time than it took to empty the magazine, I was hitting my pop-can targets.

Going back and forth between the Rival and the Elite Combat, it didn’t take long to feel and see the differences between the two pistols. The triggers felt very comparable, as they should. It seems they are the same in everything but their colors. The grip area on the Rival was a bit more generous, allowing for more engagement with the grip.

The mag release on all of the TP9 family seem to be reliable and easy to manipulate. The Rival shared that trait, but it did feel ever so slightly stiffer than the others. This could have simply been that it was newer and not worn in. The dual slide-release levers on either side of the frame felt significantly stiffer than other TP9s I’ve shot.

Pick out your own Canik, because you deserve one

Then again, after shooting several magazines through the gun, that seemed to loosen up. One thing that I felt was a significant improvement on the Rival was its flared magwell. Blindly stabbing the magazine into the gun took nearly zero focus to get it right. I quickly became proficient at fast and smooth reloads. This was a definite improvement over the EC, and not an insignificant one.

The Rival plowed through an expensive pile of Magtech 124-grain ammunition and Winchester 115 grain, showing no failures or malfunctions during the shooting other than an ammunition malfunction confirmed in several other pistols. The bluish-grey Canik Rival finish was losing its shine in the afternoon sun, exchanging it for a powder-burned darker shade.

Pros & Cons

The overall experience shooting the Rival was an outstanding one. It offered flawless function and very predictable, accurate hits. The quality and just plain performance of this pistol is quite evident, as good as almost any striker-fired poly-framed pistol I’ve played with over the years. The aggressive serrations of the slide as well as the engraving details bring a bit of “noise” to the gun’s image, but for me, it just works. The ease of reloading the pistol, the filled palm with a great grip, the smooth trigger, and the short reset all just make this pistol feel like it truly is an excellent Rival for others.

Buying yourself a Rival is not, however, a sure shot to becoming the next John Wick. Still, at the price, it isn’t going to kill you either. The adjustable grip backstraps, extra magazines, and extra sight mounting options are also a fantastic value. The modularity of the mag-release buttons also help the shooter perfect their fit.

The Holosun 507 was a perfect companion for this pistol. I’ve used many slide-mounted optics now, and this one seems to be a great option for not just the Rival but any pistol. The various mounting plates that come with the Rival will allow you to mount whatever optic you choose.

There are a couple of things I would change about the Rival if given the chance. First of all, it seems like a chance was missed to port the barrel to match the fancy slide cuts. Not only would that have added to the mall-ninja factor, but it would also have helped a bit with the recoil. For a full-size pistol, the Rival did seem to climb a bit more than I expected from a ported slide. Even a built-in compensator up front would help with that. The fluted barrel itself seemed fine, and I expect that friction is reduced as well in that weight loss.

Conclusion

For a pistol directed at the competitive shooter, I feel like the many features of the Rival are an absolute win. It is affordable but feels like you are getting so much more for your money. The many extras just keep coming as you get into it, and those included extras allow many gun owners to do what they love most – customize their gun.

The beauty of this pistol is that it is flashy and handsome right out of the box, and it is indeed ready to lay out one target after another with speed and comfort. I have to say, Canik continues to bring us consumers new options, and the Canik Rival is a great option to consider.

-CBM