The students had all been indoctrinated in a rather unusual method of cleaning their rifles. It was unusual in that it was totally ineffective (more on this later). To make a bad situation worse, one of my students had recently attended a state sponsored “seminar” which took police snipers out to the 1000 yard line and had them shoot. In my usual sensitive manner, I pointed out … [Read more...]
Comparing the Beretta PX4C Storm and Nano Subcompact Pistols
Beretta now has two polymer and steel subcompact pistols – the Px4C Storm Subcompact and the Nano. The Px4C is the subcompact version of the Px Storm (now the Px4), introduced in 2005, which was followed by a compact and, now, this subcompact version. Both the Px4C and the Nano are offered in 9x19mm or .40S&W chambering. The samples discussed here are in 9x19mm. The Nano is … [Read more...]
Springfield XDS Review
In this Springfield XDS review, I take a look at the most recent version (and the smallest yet) of the XD pistols which is imported from Croatia by Springfield, with final assembly done in the U.S. The history of the XD pistol begins with IM Metal, Croatia, which, in 1991, began manufacturing a 9mm pistol (and a subsequent version in 1995) for the Croatian military and … [Read more...]
Micro-Nines: The Snubs of the 21st Century
Today, even the term “snub” may be unfamiliar to 21st century warriors. For those who came in late, it might be best described as a small or medium frame revolver with a short (two inch to 2 1/2 inch) barrel. A quarter of a century ago, “automania” took hold and cops everywhere were trading off their traditional revolvers for a self-loading pistol. In a few short years, the … [Read more...]
SIG Sauer P938 Nightmare Review
This new SIG SAUER Model P938 Nightmare, chambered in 9x19mm caliber, is an updated version of SIG’s Model P238, chambered in .380ACP, which was introduced in 2009. With the P238 being a locked breech, short recoil operated pistol, the action is more than sufficient to handle the more powerful 9x19mm round. In one sense, the original – the P238 – is overbuilt for the .380ACP … [Read more...]
Blackhawk Epoch Duty Holster
Editor's note: Nearly two years after initially being announced, the EPOCH holsters are now available for sale. Some things have changed on them, so scroll down to the updated section for the latest information. Blackhawk announced production plans for a new duty holster called the Epoch. The Epoch is a level 3 uniform holster that is designed for duty guns with … [Read more...]
Rusty’s Rags LE Pistol Care Kit Review
Rusty’s Rags produces a range of cleaning and care kits for pistols, long guns and knives that use sheepskin and a silicone oil to protect your gun’s finish. Recently the company introduced several new kits specially designed for the law enforcement and military communities. The good folks at Rusty’s Rags kindly sent me one of their 9mm pistol kits to test. Rusty’s Rags … [Read more...]
FN Special Police Rifle Review: Ready for Duty
Law enforcement agencies looking to equip their police snipers have an advantage these days. With the advent of contemporary police sniper training and a focus on better equipment, there is considerable competition coming forward from the factories to outfit the law enforcement professional. I recently evaluated the FN Special Police Rifle (SPR). My initial impression out of … [Read more...]
Springfield XD(M) 3.8 Review
The Springfield XD (X-Treme Duty) pistol continues to enjoy widespread acceptance among lawmen and legally armed civilians, as it offers a good combination of features most desired by the self-defense-minded. Along the way, the original standard full-size pistol has continued to evolve, going up in calibers from 9x19mm to .40S&W, then to .45ACP and then to .357SIG. XD … [Read more...]
ITW MagBoot Review
Aaron reviews the ITW MagBoot, which is a rubber sleeve that covers the lower portion of your AR15/M4 magazines. This gives you better grip purchase on metal mags, and some of the MagBoots have built-in Ghillie Tex IR signature reduction. … [Read more...]