U.S. Military Sidearm UPDATE

Over a year ago, I wrote an article about the military's search for the next sidearm. Well now the Modular Handgun System is in full-swing and the options have changed quite a bit since I wrote about it last. I decided to compare my estimates from last year to what has been confirmed so far.
                                                             *Updates are in RED*

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*There is no particular order to this list. I will not pick favorites*

• Springfield XD - While I love a good all-metal design, I feel like the next generation pistol will favor polymer, mainly due to weight, ergonomics, and ease of production. The XD is similar to a Glock because of it's cult following. Not so easy on the eyes, but it offers many different models and calibers to choose from and includes an added safety feature that the Glocks don't have. I personally am not a huge fan of the XD, but it meets the specified requirements - all without breaking the military budget.
• UPDATE: The Springfield XDM 9mm and .40 is currently being tested

• Smith and Wesson M&P - Again, another pistol with adaptable ergonomics and slender frame. Comes in a variety of calibers and models. you can get these pistols with or without the frame-mounted safety. Either way, it is a very small safety that won't get in the way. Trusted by police forces all throughout the nation.
• UPDATE: The M&P .40 is currently being tested

• Beretta Px4 Storm - In the early 2000's, Beretta released their second full-sized pistol. Primarily for the purpose of becoming the next military sidearm for the now-defunct Joint Combat Pistol program. With it's polymer frame, interchangeable back straps, accessory rail, and adoption by numerous police forces in the U.S., the Px4 is building a solid reputation as a great all-around gun. It is a little thick, but its large, beefy external safety is not a mandatory option.
• UPDATE: No longer in consideration. Originally to be carried over from the Joint Combat Pistol trials, but it appears that the military wants a hammerless design.

• Glock - I cannot give an exact model that would be used, but I still believe that the military would value the capacity of the 9mm over a 45. So maybe a Glock 17 or 19? A valued feature of the Glock would be how flush the gun sits. It is a very "snag-proof" design. And now the 4th generation pistols have the ability to swap out the back straps. The biggest issue with the Glock is that soldiers will not have the ability to tinker with the gun to make it "perfect," therefore I feel like many military Glock fans would be upset with this.
• UPDATE: The Glock 17 and 22 Gen 4  are both currently being tested

• H&K 45c - Already used by several branches of the military. This has everything you could want in a new pistol design, including the long sought-after 45 caliber bullet. However, the price tag will be this weapon's downfall. I'm sure it'll be less under military contract, but I can't imagine the military paying close to $1,100 per handgun.
• UPDATE: No longer in consideration. H&K instead submitted their VP9 and VP40 instead of the 45c

• FN Five-Seven - I am adding this to the list only because it was designed to not only meet the requirements of the new military sidearm, but also be an alternative to the 9x19 NATO round. I feel like if the gun didn't cost an arm or leg to buy, our soldiers would already be carrying this weapon. The Five-Seven uses a unique cartridge, the 5.7x28 mm. It is a long and skinny round, designed to act like a rifle caliber, but for a pistol. It holds 20 rounds and has greater effective range and stopping power than a 9x19 NATO round. After holding this weapon, you can tell that this gun was built around ergonomics, it's possibly one of the most comfortable pistols I have ever felt.
• UPDATE: Status unknown. FN has reportedly entered a striker-fired design, but they have not officially announced a model or caliber. Could still be the Five-Seven...

• Beretta APX - Beretta has finally done it. After years of criticism of not making a striker-fire pistol, they finally have an answer. The Beretta APX. This pistol falls right into the "no external safety, split trigger, polymer, striker-fire" category. Price hasn't been announced yet but we could probably expect that it falls around the $600 mark. It's a little late to the game, but maybe it'll get some military consideration. Only time will tell.
• UPDATE: Still in consideration. Both in 9mm and .40

• FN FNP - The FNP is right there with the H&K 45c when talking about look and feel. But it's a little more reasonable when it comes to price. And talk about options! This pistol comes in about as many configurations as you can imagine. I feel like the military could have a field day just building what they want. This is one of the few pistols that have replaceable frame rails that allow it to be rebuilt after extensive use. This will drastically increase the gun's service life and end up saving money. 
• UPDATE: Probably no longer in consideration. This was a good option before I knew about the apparent striker-fire only rule.

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BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!
Since I wrote the last article, there are several new contenders to recognize. I'll give a one sentence opinion on each:

• Sig Sauer P320 MHS 
• I love this gun, I could see this winning easily.
• CZ P-09 MHS 
• Great gun! Cannot argue with this option. I feel that the only thing that could hold the CZ back from winning would be the overall size - it's rather large.
• STI-Detonics Defense STX 
• Another attempt to go back to 1911. Do we want that?
• Taurus PT24/7 OSS 
• I just don't see it passing the NATO endurance tests. Sorry Taurus. 
• Walther PPQ M2 
• Good option, but for some reason it's not compatible with standard PPQ mags already in production. Strange move on Walther's part.

I am also a little surprised that the military is conducting tests with the .40 S&W variants of the pistols. Especially after the FBI studies on the reduced lifespan of service weapons. 

I won't go into too much detail about each gun in consideration at the moment, but if we get a confirmed short-list of options, you better believe I'll have a lengthy opinion on the matter. 

Sig Sauer P238

I wish .380 ACP ammo was less expensive. The only thing I wanted to do after shooting a box through the P238 was to open up another and keep firing. This accurate little gun has got to be one of the most comfortable subcompact pistols I've ever shot. The single-action trigger is crisp and relatively light. I didn't have the extended 7-round magazine (with pinky extension) but the pistol was still very easy to control. After about 20 rounds, I even forgot that my little finger was hanging off the bottom of the gun. Just like with any new firearm, there was a suggested break-in period of a few magazines, but even during the break-in, it functioned perfectly and had no issues. The reviews on the P238 are stellar, but one cannot truly appreciate how comfortable it is until you shoot it for yourself.

Some people might be asking, 

    

 "Hey - why didn't you get the P938 and have the extra power of a 9mm and you could keep the sub-     compact size."

Well, I could've done that. But after reading hundreds of reviews and EVERYONE raving about how comfortable the .380 was, I just couldn't turn it down. It seems that this gun was built around the .380 ACP cartridge, just like the 1911 was built around the .45 ACP, so getting this Sig in 9mm would just be...wrong. Although I would enjoy the 9mm ammo pricing. Another added bonus of the .380 is the very light recoil spring. The slide operation is so light that anyone could rack it with ease.

Also, anyone saying that the .380 is not a good self-defense round can go jump off a cliff. Modern self-defense ammo in .380 has come a long way since it's introduction, especially in the last few years. Just a simple Google search for .380 ballistics testing will show that it can easily stop a threat when called upon. Now, is it as good as a .45 ACP for self-defense? Of course not, but the .380 allows me to be comfortable and confident when shooting, and that is more important to me than single-bullet stopping power. Especially since I'll be doing way more range shooting than protective shooting.

Back to the P238. It's got spectacular sights for a gun so small. Usually a tiny pocket pistol like this has microscopic sights, but not the Sig. The P238 has 3-dot tritium night sights which are extremely visible in low-light situations. The Nitron grips that came on my model gun are good but I'll probably be replacing them with a textured rosewood before too long. It does have a manual safety (like most 1911s) that can lock the slide, if it's not already been cocked, and disconnects the trigger. 

I'm going to have a hard time finding something that I dislike about the Sig. Like with any of my personal guns, I'll edit this post if any issues arise, but I'm sure I'll have many good years of service with the P238. It's certainly a welcome addition to my firearm family.

Review of Sig Sauer P238...Coming Soon

For the past year or so, I had been looking for a great concealable pistol. I wanted something that could easily fit in a pocket holster and/or not be uncomfortable to carry on a day-to-day basis. While I love the 9mm round, I wanted something that was as compact as could be, while still being comfortable to shoot. I had my heart set on the Walther PPK/S. With its timeless look and legendary reliability, I felt like it was the natural next step. It was also important that I could hold the gun comfortably with my little finger hanging off the bottom frame (which is almost an inevitability with a pistol this size). Well, I found myself wandering into a gun store like I frequently do, and this little guy caught my eye.

This is the Sig Sauer P238. It's a subcompact, single action, all metal pistol chambered for 380 ACP. I picked it up at the counter and was immediately impressed by its weight and how easy it was to rack the slide. I was also very impressed with the 3-dot tritium night sights that come standard. This particular model has what Sig calls a Nitron finish which helps prevent scratches. And one of the best things about it is that it's based on the 1911 platform - this means it has an external safety which allows it to be carried "cocked and locked." After several months of consideration, the Sig eventually took over as my number one option over the Walther. *It's worth mentioning that the Walther is incredibly hard to find due to the manufacturing changing hands this year.

As you can probably tell from the pictures, this will soon be my new concealed carry gun. I'll eventually be taking this out to the range and giving it a very thorough review. Normally, I would've taken this gun shooting immediately after I purchased it, but our local range is undergoing renovations for the next month. 

*Sigh* The review will have to come later.

She can't ban guns, can she?

I know that many of you don't care about politics. Honestly, I didn't used to. I felt like my opinion in politics fell on deaf ears, so why should I even bother? What's the point of voting in the state of Alabama when I already know it'll always be a red state? Because this year, there's someone who is running for office that will absolutely use every chance she gets to destroy the gun culture in America.

What is the "current gun culture" in the United States? It's getting up in the early hours of the morning in frigid temperatures to go hunting to put food on the table. It's taking a bunch of friends out to the range and enjoying a day of shooting sports. It's having long discussions over drinks about what caliber is best. It's what will keep you safe when everything else goes wrong. What makes the gun culture in America different from other countries? It's that it's guaranteed.

Or at least it should be. Most people in the U.S. agree that the Second Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the right of an individual to keep bear arms. This was verified in 2008 by the Supreme Court decision, District of Columbia vs Heller. However, Hillary Clinton disagrees with this. She has openly said "the Supreme Court got it WRONG on the Second Amendment." Why would she say that? Maybe she knows better than any of the Supreme Court Justices (sarcasm). She interprets the Second Amendment to apply only to the armed services (or "militia") and doesn't apply to the average citizen, even though the words say, "right of the people" and "shall not be infringed." So when a person says to me "Look, she said she's not 'coming for your guns'," I'm calling BS. Hillary has said multiple times that we need to "look to the Great Britain or Australia model" as an example for what we should have here in the United States. Have you looked at what happened in Australia? Gun ban and confiscation.
"Well she can't do that without going through the Congress." Haven't you heard of an Executive Order? President Obama has been abusing this power for the last year after he's been unable to do much about gun control during his term.

Now, I don't believe she'll just come in and confiscate weapons. Here in the U.S. (especially the south) that's a good way to start an uprising. But she'll find different ways around this. First thing is that she'll appoint her Justices to the Supreme Court and get the Heller decision reversed - so now the Second Amendment will only apply to the militia. What does this mean? This means citizens can keep and bear arms only as long as she says it's okay. That won't last long.

With the courts on her side, she'll then decide that gun manufacturers can be held liable for the actions of a killer. Once that decision is made, ALL of the gun companies in the United States will go out of business or move out of the country - which of course will prompt strict importation laws against guns and gun related products. No company would insure a gun manufacturer in the U.S. Scared yet? It gets better.

Re-instatement of the old Clinton Gun Ban from the 90's, except this time there will be no "work arounds" and no sunset clause. Semi-automatic weapons like the AR-15 will become illegal to own overnight (already happened in places like California and Massachusetts) and possibly even semi-automatic rifles in general because "you don't need a semi-automatic rifle to hunt deer." Magazines with over 10 rounds will also be banned - and magazine confiscation has already begun in California. But wait! There's more!

As the violent crime rate inevitably increases (Great Britain model), the Democrats will say "well it must be due to all of those semi-auto handguns because they kill faster." ......and I think you get the picture. It won't take long at all for someone like Hillary to change the gun culture in America. It certainly won't be for the better.

So now I bet you're wondering, "What can I do to change this?"
Unfortunately, there's very little only one person can do about this. The best thing you can do is inform your friends. Correct those who are uneducated about guns and make sure they know the facts. Educate anyone who wants to preserve their right to keep and bear arms and get them to vote in November. Yes - one vote doesn't do much, but what if everyone thought that way? What about 50 votes? 1,000 votes? You need to get to the polls and bring your friends. You don't like the choices on the ballot this year? Too bad. Unfortunately, Mr./Mrs. Perfect isn't running this year. If you're a one-issue voter and that issue is on guns, there's only one real choice.

CZ Scorpion Evo 3 (S1)

See... I'm not as boring as you thought.

As you probably already know, the Scorpion Evo 3 is a small, lightweight "submachine" gun chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum. I had the golden opportunity to shoot the Evo at one of my more recent range visits. Of course, this was a semi automatic variant (the S1). Don't be fooled, just because it's the civilian version, doesn't make it any less fun to shoot. This particular version also lacked the stock which did occasionally make it tricky to aim.

Now, I have been known to rant about an AR-style pistol. I don't like them, but this was different. The 9mm cartridge is perfect for this weapon. The gun weighs in at around 5 lbs. with a full magazine and you hardly notice any recoil. You better be careful though, it's very easy to lose track of how much ammo you've gone through. Before you know it, you'll be like me - reaching for another box of ammo that isn't there.

The trigger and grip are wonderful, the function is flawless, and the finish looks and feels extremely durable. The standard sights are okay - but if you were able to put a red/green dot on there, you'd have one amazing set-up. 9mm ammo is cheap nowadays (compared to .223 or most other rifle calibers) so you don't have to worry about draining your wallet every time you go to the range. You can also afford to fill up your magazines all the way!

*I don't usually fill up my AR mags to 30 when I shoot. Keeps me under control.

I can see why there's a bit of an internet obsession over this rifle. You CAN'T NOT fall in love with the Scorpion once you shoot it for the first time. There's a reason it's in the armory of so many forces all over the world. 

My Response To Academy Sports + Outdoors

The following is my reply to the absurd new policy Academy Sports + Outdoors that removes Modern Sporting Rifles (AR-15s) from public view. The rifles are still available, but you have to ask a person at the gun counter to retrieve them from the back. Academy is doing this so they don't "offend" any of their customers. Well... now they've offended more people than they ever would have if they left the MSRs on the shelf.


To whom it may concern,

Up to this point, I have always been a loyal customer of Academy Sports & Outdoors. My family and I have spent hundreds, possibly thousands, of dollars on ammunition and shooting supplies. However, after the stance that you have taken on Modern Sporting Rifles, I will be looking at alternative businesses when I need to make my outdoor/hunting purchases. Your new policy on "hiding" AR-15 rifles is not only confusing, it's just downright absurd. If you are doing this so that you don't offend customers, you are not succeeding in your goal. As a once regular customer, it makes me feel uncomfortable when I have to ask an employee to see items "from the back" -  like I'm participating in some shady dealings. I would like to thank you for years of quality products and service. I hate that my business with you has to come to an end... all because of outrageous policies that are designed cater to the nonexistent 1% and offend a vast majority of your customers.

Best Regards.


Feel free to copy some of this verbiage and send it to Academy's info desk on their website.
Remember to stay civil when commenting. Law abiding gun owners are above name-calling and swearing.

Gun Reviews - What I Look For

As I've said before - I love guns of all kinds. I feel like I've gotten past the "I hate all *insert manufacturer here* because they all *insert derogatory statement here."

Some might be saying "Not so fast! You've already said that you hate all GLOCKs!"
Wrong! I said that I hate the marketing of Glock being the "perfect pistol." As a weapon I believe that its a fine gun. Very reliable and very durable - but I personally wouldn't have one and the reasons change from model to model.

When I review guns, there are several key things that I look for.
First thing item is ergonomics. If a gun isn't comfortable to shoot, there's no point in purchasing it. For example, I've shot several small pistols where the pinky extension pinches your finger with every shot. It kinda ruins the experience if you have to wince in pain with every shot.

Second most important feature for me is the trigger. Not necessarily the weight, but how smooth it is. I also want to be able to easily predict the trigger break. Items like trigger weight and reset are important, but minor compared to how smooth the trigger is and breaks. Have you ever pulled the trigger on a Ruger American Pistol? Once you do that, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. It's even more impressive when you find a double action revolver that can do the same thing.

Third: Off-the-shelf features and value. First impressions are everything, and like a car, more features are always a plus. What comes with the gun? Not necessarily how many magazines come with the it, but what kind of sights come on it. Does it come with a rail? How about interchangeable grip options (see ergonomics)?

Fourth: You can't purchase a gun if it's unreliable. If a gun malfunctions while I'm testing it, I will mention it. A gun needs to be 100% reliable, and if it can't make it through the 100 or more test rounds I put through a gun, there's no reason to think it will last for thousands of rounds and it will not get a recommendation from me.

While there are still some other features I might look at, these are four items that are taken into serious consideration. Rest easy, if I can't shoot a gun long enough to write a thorough review, I won't write one. Simple as that.