The CLAW rear sight was designed to aid in one handed manipulations and it does just that. I've had it on my Glock 19 for a while and here's what I've found.
Pros:
-It really grabs onto hard surfaces to aid in one handed racking of the slide
-Standard heights for Glock (large and small frame), and M&P pistols
-Black nitrided finish for durability and hardness
-Cost. It's only $24 for the rear sight. Tough to beat that.
Cons:
-I'd like to see serrations on the rear of the sight but that would likely add cost. It's a trade off I suppose.
Here's a video with some shooting, close up shots of the sight on the gun, and my overall thoughts one the sight:
Lots of gun owners aren't a fan of polymer; bottom line. The merits of that mindset can be debated for days without reaching a conclusion but the fact remains. Magpul has released a set of all steel back up iron sights to satisfy the desires of those steel-loving devotees. Here's what I've found so far with them....
Pros:
-Priced lower than comparable competitors steel back up sights. MSRP is $105 for the rear, $85 for the front.
-They have a melonited surface finish treatment that hardens them for durability and also provides corrosion resistance.
-All adjustments can be made without tools but the likelihood of them being accidently moved is low in my opinion (see the video for a demonstration of why)
-Very slim and sleek design but they're still standard AR height.
-Front sight is a great option for those with a railed gas block.
-Can be mounted on any 1913/STANAG rail.
-Rear sight is 1.8oz, front sight is 1.5 oz.
-Dual apertures on the rear.
-Serrations around the rear aperture and on the sides of the front sight reduce the likelihood of glare impacting your sight picture when shooting in bright sunlight.
-Magpul is a company that stands behind their products and you can be sure great CS will be there if you ever need it.
Cons:
-Cost. $190 is a tough pill to swallow when many of us have never had the slightest issue with our MBUS Gen2s.
-They're MIM. I don't mind this but I know lots of folks do so it's worth mentioning.
All in all I think they'll sell well and they'll cause their competitors to re-consider their pricing strategies if they want to stay relevant in the marketplace. In the video below you'll see them in action, close ups of all the features, and a discussion of the pros in cons.
Finished up the testing of the Silver Bear 7.62x39 125gr soft point round. Lots of folks say Russian soft point rounds don't expand; well I figured I'd test them to see if that's the case. Here are the conditions and results. Test conditions: -16'' SGL21
-Test rounds fired from 15 feet -"FBI spec" (Their term, not mine...) Clear Ballistics gel block
Chrono Data:
-2403 feet per second
-1601 foot pounds of energy
Results:
-Expansion started at 1'' mark
-Pretty nasty wound track
-Steel jacket separated from the core
-20.5'' penetration
Here's the video showing the test, the permanent cavity, both shots into the gel, and a discussion of the results:
I've had the FNS since last November of last year and have been putting a good bit of rounds through it to date and here's what I've found.
Pros:
-100% reliable thus far
-Comes with 3x 17 round magazines
-I like the night sights with the wide "u" notch rear
-It's more accurate than I am
-Reasonably priced vs. its' competitors
-Low bore axis
-Cold hammer forged barrel
-Standard 1913 rail
-Ambi mag release and slide lock
-Great ergos
-Forward and rear cocking serrations
-Ease of maintenance
-Comes with interchangeable flat and arched backstraps
-Extractor doubles as a loaded chamber indicator like a Glock
Cons:
-I think the trigger's a little heavy (breaks between 6-7 pounds)
-FN seems to have fixed the initial trigger locking issues
-The standard model has an external safety. The LE restricted model doesn't. I'd like to see them offer both to everyone as many folks do not want an external safety.
-Aftermarket magazine availability is an issue compared to its' competitors
Here's a video with a little shooting, a demonstration of how to break the gun down, a size comparison with a G17/1911 for those unfamiliar with it, and a discussion of the features of the gun:
I recently tested the Guardian IV ceramic level IV plates from Midwest Armor. They were designed to be a reasonably priced plate while still maintaining level IV protection. They retail for $199 but Midwest Armor was gracious enough to offer my viewers with a discount code of "MGG" available on their website. With that code you'll get each plate for $125 (pretty good price for level IV protection). I shot them up with 9mm, 40 S&W, 5.56x45, 7.62x39, 5.45x39, and 7.62x54r. Here's what I found:
Pros:
-Stopped all rounds
-Made in the USA
-Guaranteed for 5 years
-10''x12'' and 1'' thick
-Curved for comfort
-The shoulder areas are cut for shouldering long guns
-Each plate weighs 7.3 pounds
Cons:
-Really the only one I can think of is the fact that it only comes in one size.
The Master Series grips operate similarly to the basic CT laser grips but they have a G10 pattern on them for a better grip, especially under adverse conditions.
Pros:
-You are able to see them in bright sunlight but they do jump out better in lower light conditions
-It helps when shooting from unorthodox/non standard shooting positions
-Adjustable for windage/elevation
-Instinctive activation
-Great for dry fire practice
-They do have an 'on/off' switch so you can save your battery when practicing
-Crimson Trace provides replacement batteries each year for as long as you own the grips
-Dot size is 1/2'' at 50 feet
-Available for several size 1911 frames.
Cons:
-Price. Generally the Master Series grips run $275 and up
-Can become a crutch; especially for new shooters.
Here's a video review with some shooting in bright sunlight, some night shooting, and a discussion of the pros/cons of the grips:
The H&K P7M13 (and all P7 variants) is a very interesting gun. I've had mine for a while and every time it makes an appearance at the range it always seems to draw a crowd. Here's a summary of my impressions of the gun:
Pros:
-Extremely reliable. This gun has never had a single malfunction in my hands
-Excellent trigger
-I'm a fan of the mag ambi mag release
-Very sleek lines and it's pretty slim overall for a 13+1 gun
-I have large hands and like how the gun feels in the hand but those with smaller hands may be better off going with the P7M8
-Very low bore axis combined with the piston system (more on this in the video below) make for a very, very light recoil impulse.
-Easy and fast reloads can be accomplished with the use of the squeeze cocker
-No magazine safety
-Excellent accuracy from the fixed, cold hammer forged barrel
-Fluted chamber for increased reliability under adverse conditions
-Top of the slide is milled to reduce glare
Cons:
-Cost. They're expensive and no longer in production. Mags aren't cheap either. The prices on gunbroker seem to be all over the place but they pretty much start at $1300 and go up a good bit for a good condition or rare model
-It gets hot after a few magazines of rapid shooting
-Cleaning the gas system is somewhat annoying but it's not a deal breaker in my opinion
All in all it's an excellent firearm as you'd expect from H&K. In the review below I do some shooting, explain/demonstrate the unique features of the gun, and go over the pros/cons of it overall:
