ARE YOU READY FOR A RED-DOT SIGHT?

METAL 2.0
S&W’S NEW METAL-
FRAME M&P
SHADOW
SYSTEMS
THE ALL-NEW
FOUNDATION
ROCK ISLAND AL22
SPRINGFIELD XD-M
ELITE 10MM
TAURUS GX4 XL
SIG CUSTOM
WORKS P320
 CONTENTS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 | VOLUME 37, NUMBER 1 | PUBLISHED BIMONTHLY | www.handguns.com

FEATURES 24

24 METAL MADNESS
By KEITH WOOD
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34 BEAR ESSENTIALS
By BRAD FITZPATRICK
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By - 6&277 5833
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what if none of them is exactly the gun you want? SIG’s concierge ser-
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50 STEPPING INTO THE LIGHT 50

24
By BRAD FITZPATRICK
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DEPARTMENTS
6 FRONT FOCUS 22 EN GARDE
8 SPEEDLOADS
RICHARD NANCE
Why follow-through is such a FIRING LINE
• Are you ready for a red dot?
  FULWLFDO VNLOO
REPORTS
64 BACK PAGE
• Viridian RFX 15
• Savage Model 1907
BEAUTIES 58 TAURUS GX4 XL
16 ESSENTIALS STAN TRZONIEC
By BRAD FITZPATRICK

BRAD FITZPATRICK
Exercise while carrying with
Heritage Barkeep Boot
60 ROCK ISLAND
  6SULQJÀHOG [ $OH[R $WKOHWLF ARMORY AL22
By STAN TRZONIEC
2 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023
MOUNT
THE UPPER RXC-200
15MM LENS
HEIGHT

THE NEW RXC-200 & RXU-200 MICRO RED DOTS

From training to self-defense, there’s one rule to rule them all
— always keep the upper hand. Bushnell micro red dots are the
dependable tool for the job. Choose between two lens heights to
give you options for concealed carry — 15mm for the RXC-200 and
11mm for the RXU-200. The SHIELD RMSc mounting footprint and RXU-200
11MM LENS
available aftermarket slide adapters work across many popular
HEIGHT
compact pistols. The 50,000+ hour battery life and rugged durability
mean it will be ready to perform when you need it. The RXC-200
and RXU-200 are built to give you confidence when it counts.

BUSHNELL.COM/REDDOTS
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 E S T. 1 8 8 9

ON ALL ROSSI
RS22, GALLERY &
RIO BRAVO RIFLES

NOVEMBER 1, 2022 - JANUARY 15, 2023

 | FRONT FOCUS
A Model 27 Alternative
Enjoyed Trzoniec’s piece on the S&W Model 27. Love
those old N frames. For those not ready to pay big
money for a 27, may I suggest a Model 28? It was the
unpolished version of the 27. Known as the Highway
Patrolman, the 28 was carried by a lot of cops—car-
ULHGDORWDQGÀUHGLQIUHTXHQWO\,ERXJKWPLQHIURP
DUHWLUHGVKHULII·VGHSXW\7KHÀQLVKLVURXJKEXWWKH
action is a smooth as new.
JOHN SCHROEDER, WISCONSIN
The More You Know
I read with great interest your article on the Colt 357
in the October/November issue. I have a vintage 1966
Colt Trooper with a six-inch barrel. Your article and
picture of the 357 looks very much like mine, except
for the barrel length. Your article was very informa-
tive, and now I know a little more about my Colt 357.
KEN MURA
Mr. Rupp) when people train. Those who use the laser
cartridge have to cycle the slide after every ”shot,” and
,·YHIRXQGWKDWLQGRLQJOLYHÀUHWDSUDFNDVVHVVRUDQ\
sort of timed failure drill, folks go for the slide every
time the gun fails to go “bang.”
People will react under stress the way they train.
(YHQZKHQWKHJXQGRHVÀUHWKH\VRPHWLPHVWHQGWR
release the grip on their left hand as if to make a move
toward the slide. The laser cartridge is a great train-
ing tool, and using your real gun is a plus, but you must
PL[LWXSZLWKDEOXHODVHUJXQWKDWZLOO´ÀUHμPXOWLSOH
shots or some of the other great training systems on the
market.
MARC FULGHAM
One Reason the
Snubbie Rules
Just received the
December/January is-
sue, and I liked Richard
Nance’s “En Garde”
column about the contin-
ued viability of snubnose
revolvers for concealed carry self-defense. As an old
guy who is beginning to have trouble easily racking the
slide on my subcompact polymer pistol, I’ve reverted
to carrying a six-shot Kimber K6s revolver with Crim-
son Trace Lasergrips. The Kimber has great three-dot
sights and a great trigger.
DAVID LIVINGSTON, ALBUQUERQUE, NM
COMING NEXT ISSUE

Dry-Fire and Lasers

I read with great interest the April/May article by
J. Scott Rupp, “Making Dry-Fire Great Again.” I am
DELJVXSSRUWHURIGU\ÀULQJEXW,GRQ·WUHFRPPHQG
using the laser cartridge all the time (and neither did

Colt Stoeger STR-9 SC

Industry Snapshots Anaconda Optic Ready
• CCI recently noted the 20-year anniversary of its Velocitor .22 LR round.
This little screamer pushes a 40-grain bullet at 1,435 fps. “Products that
CONTACT US
don’t perform don’t last 20 years,” the company release read.
EMAIL Handguns@OutdoorSG.com
• WILSON COMBAT, which is celebrating 45 years in business, was plan-
INSTAGRAM, TWITTER @HandgunsMag
ning a grand opening for a new Lehigh Defense ammo plant in Texas as FACEBOOK facebook.com/HandgunsMag
we went to press. Wilson acquired Lehigh Defense relatively recently. SNAIL MAIL Handguns, P.O. Box 271245, Fort Collins, CO 80527
• Last issue we reported on SIG’S experience center. If you want to check SUBSCRIPTION ADDRESS CHANGES, PROBLEMS, QUESTIONS!
it out without having to travel to New Hampshire, there’s a very cool drone EMAIL, PHONE HGScustserv@cdsfulfillment.com, 800-800-4486
tour on YouTube. You can access it through SIGSAUER.COM. SNAIL MAIL Handguns, P.O. Box 37539, Boone, IA 50037-0539

6 HANDGUNS DECEMBER 2022/JANUARY 2023 WWW.HANDGUNS.COM

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 | SPEEDLOADS
ARE YOU READY FOR
THEY’RE UBIQUITOUS NOW, BUT THEY RAISE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, TOO.
By J. Scott Rupp
RED DOTS ARE A BIG THING THESE DAYS.
But many shooters have questions
about whether a dot sight is right
for them or unsure about what they
need to consider when looking for
one. Here are some considerations.
Should You Get One?
Red dots simplify the aiming
process and permit a target focus.
Rather than trying to align rear
sight and front sight and place that
proper alignment on the target—
while maintaining focus on the front
sight—a red dot allows you to just
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Plus red dots can be a godsend for
aging eyes that have lost or are los-
8 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023
A RED DOT?
ing the ability to shoot irons well.
But nothing comes for free. Red
dots can be slower to use because
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window. With practice you can be
faster than with iron sights, but
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though I’ve trained with them quite
a bit, I still have instances where I
lose or fail to pick up the dot.
Takeaway: If you’re willing to
train regularly, a red dot is superior.
If you’re not, maybe stick with iron
sights.
Type of Sight
In the beginning, all red dots were
what we call enclosed styles. At least
for handgun use, these were quickly
VXSHUVHGHGE\RSHQRUUHÁH[VW\OHRI
sights. However, the enclosed style
is making a bit of a comeback, as
they’re sometimes preferred by law
enforcement and the military.
5HÁH[VW\OHVKDYHWKHDGYDQWDJH
especially for concealed carry, of
being smaller and lighter. Their
windows offer nearly unobstructed
ÀHOGVRIYLHZDQGWKHLUORZSURÀOHV
conceal easier. On the downside,
especially those built on polymer
bodies are not super tough, and this
style is more prone to disruption
from moisture and dirt, which can
interfere with the dot being project-
ed on the window.
WWW.HANDGUNS.COM

Enclosed styles are on the whole
more rugged, and while their
lenses can be less than clear due
to moisture or dirt, that little dot
inside is still able to do its thing
inside the tube. Flip side is bulk.
Takeaway: Both types get the
job done. Enclosed styles perhaps
have the edge if your sight will be
subject to hard use in all kinds of
weather.
Dot Size
Dot size is expressed in minutes
of angle, and manufacturers offer
dot sizes that generally run from
two m.o.a. to six m.o.a.; some mak-
ers give you different size options
in the same sight model. A small
dot will cover less of the target and
allow for more precise shot place-
ment. A big dot covers more of the
target and can be faster when you
just want to get a center-mass hit.
There’s another option, and that’s
the circle/dot. It combines a large
circle that doesn’t obscure the tar-
get with a small dot in the center.
The circle provides a super-fast
way to get on target, with the dot
giving you precision aiming.
Takeaway: For defensive uses, I
think bigger is better when it comes
to dots, but that’s subjective. The
circle/dot may represent the best of
both worlds.
Power Stuff
Battery life matters. Many hand-
gun red dots these days feature an
auto-shutoff/auto-on feature, the
sight powering down after a certain
period of time when it’s motionless.
When it senses motion, the sight
powers back up.
Other sights may not offer a shut-
off but have long runtimes, some
measured in years. That’s a plus
should you forget to turn off the
sight when you’re not using it. Just
WWW.HANDGUNS.COM
< Springfield’s Hex Wasp is designed for micro compacts like the Taurus GX4
and shares the same footprint as several other sights. Steiner’s new MPS
(l.) is an example of an enclosed red dot, while the Ameriglo Haven is a reflex.
pay attention to what power level
the advertised runtime is tied to. If
you have a sight powered up to full
but the promised runtime is given
at half power, you’re not going to
get the life you thought you would.
There are a few sights that offer
either dual power sources, a combi-
nation of battery and solar, or dual
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can add peace of mind.
On some types, the battery can
be accessed without removing the
sight, which means you can change
the battery and not have to rezero.
I prefer this style, but these tend to
be a little more expensive because
they require extra parts and ma-
chining.
However, for sights that have to
be removed, I’ve not experienced
VLJQLÀFDQW]HURVKLIWVDIWHUFKDQJ-
ing out a battery—although you still
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Many sights offer auto intensity;
the dot gets brighter in bright en-
vironments and dimmer in darker
environments. The obvious advan-
tage is you don’t have to remember
to adjust a dot based on current
lighting conditions.
Takeaway: I like auto shutoff and
auto intensity in a defensive hand-
gun sight, and I’m willing to pay the
THE FOUR BASIC GUN SAFETY RULES
RULE 1: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED
<
extra to swap out batteries without
removing the sight.
Footprint
Some pistols offer interchange-
able plates that allow different
sights to mount to the gun. Some,
especially today’s microcompacts,
have settled on a single attachment
footprint. The latter is going to
limit your sight options if you’ve got
your heart set on a particular gun,
although perhaps not as much as
you might think since many sights
share the same footprint.
However, just because a sight has
a particular footprint that should
match your slide cut or adapter
plate, that doesn’t automatically
mean the provided screws are
going to work. Research ahead of
time—or asking a knowledgeable
counter person at your favorite gun
shop—will save you headaches.
The compromise is to go with a
combo deal where the gun and the
sight are sold together. You may not
get every single feature you want,
EXWDWOHDVW\RXNQRZWKHVLJKWÀWV
Takeaway: Unless you go the
combo route, putting the sight you
want on the gun you want isn’t au-
tomatically plug and play. Do your
homework.
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 HANDGUNS 9
 RULE 2

| SPEEDLOADS NEVER LET THE MUZZLE POINT AT

ANYTHING YOU’RE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY

VIRIDIAN RFX 15
VIRIDIAN WEAPON TECHNOLOGY’S RFX
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base for a Picatinny rail. The sight features a green three m.o.a. dot and has
auto-off/motion-on.
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\RXWDNHWKH$OOHQZUHQFKZLWK\RX
IRU]HURLQJ³Jeff John
VIRIDIAN
RFX 15
TYPE: reflex, green 3-m.o.a. dot
ACTIVATION: ECR instant-On
SIZE: 17x24mm window, 7/8 in. height
WEIGHT: 0.65 oz.
BODY: black 6061-T6 aluminum alloy
BRIGHTNESS SETTINGS: 8 visible, 2 night vision
BATTERY: CR2032, 30,000+ hours runtime;
auto off 2 min.
MOUNT: Shield standard footprint; Picatinny
mount included
PRICE: $289
MANUFACTURER: Viridian Weapon Technol-
ogy, VIRIDIANWEAPONTECH.COM

10 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 WWW.HANDGUNS.COM

 ® ®

YOUR NE X T HANDGUN ™

The MAX-9® is Your Next Handgun™ - slim, lightweight and compact for personal protection
while still providing a capacity of up to 12+1 rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition.

LEARN
The acquisition, ownership, possession and use of firearms is heavily regulated.

MORE
Some models may not be legally available in your state or locale. Whatever your purpose
for lawfully acquiring a firearm – know the law, get trained, and shoot safely.
 RULE 3
| SPEEDLOADS KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER
UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON TARGET

OLD SCHOOL | BY JIM DICKSON

SAVAGE MODEL 1907

DESIGNED BY ARMY ORDNANCE MAJ.
Elbert Hamilton Searle under pat-
HQWVLVVXHGWRKLPLQWKHÀUVW
Savage .32 ACP guns were designat-
HGWKH0&ROOHFWRUVZLOOÀQGDW
least 12 variations thereafter. They
all featured Searle’s locking system.
He used the torque of the bullet
JRLQJWKURXJKWKHULÁLQJWRVORZWKH
rotation and unlocking of the barrel
lug a bit—enabling the recoiling
parts to be made two ounces lighter
than on a pure blowback-operated
gun. He also used this system on his
Savage’s 1907 was designed by Army Maj. Elbert Hamilton Searle, and in .32
<

.45 automatic that competed with

Colt in the Army trials that led to
the M1911 being adopted.
It was available in both .32 and
.380. The former fed from a dou-
ble-column, single-position-feed
10-round magazine, providing a lot
RIÀUHSRZHURXWRIDJXQWKDWZDV
just seven inches long and weighed
19 ounces. The 1910 price was a
reasonable $15.
,WKDGH[FHOOHQWEDODQFHDQGDÀQH
trigger pull, and more than 270,000
were sold by 1928 when production
was terminated. Among these were
a lot sold to France for use in World
War I. The Europeans always con-
sidered the .32 ACP full metal jacket
with its excellent penetration a sat-
isfactory military and police round,
it was a 10+1 gun that proved especially popular in Europe.
and it remained popular there as
such until NATO standardized the
9mm Luger.
Bat Masterson, the famous Old
:HVWJXQÀJKWHUFDUULHGD
Savage when he went East to be a
sportswriter for the newspapers.
He made the extravagant claim that
anyone with a Savage .32 automatic
FRXOGEHDWDQ\2OG:HVWJXQÀJKWHU
LQDJXQÀJKWDIWHU6DYDJHSDLGKLP
for an endorsement.
%DFNZKHQLWÀUVWFDPHRXWDORW
of trappers used .32 pistols to kill
what they had trapped as it worked
EHWWHUWKDQWKH/RQJ5LÁHDQG
thus it came about that the Savage
.32 with full metal jacket ammo ac-
counted for some bears killed when
it was the only gun at hand when the
trapper had bear trouble. Savage
was quick to trumpet these success-
es in its ads.
7KH6DYDJHZDVWKHÀUVWSRFNHW
automatic I ever had, and it has
never jammed or failed me through-
RXWWKH\HDUV,ÀQDOO\KDGWRUHSODFH
the shot-out barrel, but the rest of
the gun is still all original and going
strong. The Savage does everything
you can ask a .32 ACP to do and does
it well. It is a timeless classic.
The .380 version commands a pre-
PLXPEXW\RXFDQÀQGWKHLQWKH
mid-$400 range for guns in decent
condition.

1791 LIGHT-BEARING HOLSTER

The new 1791 Gunleather Ultra Custom light-bearing outside-the-waistband rig (available in three sizes,
$100; 1791GUNLEATHER.COM) comes with everything you need to mold it to your gun/light. Heat water between
155 and 175 degrees and submerge the holster in the supplied sealed bag for eight minutes. Weighting the
bag helps, as does bleeding it of excess air, but you’ll still want a pair of tongs or long-handled cooking spoon
to hold it under. When time’s up, insert your unloaded gun/light into the holster, with the sight channel tool up
top, and mold the holster for a custom fit. My S&W M&P Compact took almost no work as the fit was close to
start with, and now I can finally carry this pistol with its Streamlight TLR-8G in place. And if I decide I want to
change to a different gun/light with similar dimensions, I can remold the holster.—JSR

12 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 WWW.HANDGUNS.COM

 AMBIDEXTROUS MAGAZINE
RELEASE & SLIDE CATCH
9MM / micro-COMPACT

AVAILABLE IN
SINGLE STACK
FOR 9MM

STIPPLING GRIP TEXTURE FOR

360° SECURE FIT WITH
FINGER INDEXING

AMBIDEXTROUS MANUAL
SAFETY AND NIGHT SIGHT
MODELS AVAILABLE

Grab hold of Stance, the first in an all-new line of handguns from Savage. Built upon a proven path of American
strength, Stance puts our relentless pursuit of accuracy and dependability in the palm of your hand. Stance embodies
Savage innovation with an ambidextrous design, adjustable grip, and exceptional balance in a micro-compact that’s
easy to control, carry and conceal. Visit your local Savage dealer and protect what matters with Stance.

LEA RN M O RE AT SAVAGEARMS.COM
 RULE 4

| SPEEDLOADS BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

AND WHAT’S BEYOND IT

GUNS & GEAR |

< SPRINGFIELD HELLCAT COLORS
If you like the Hellcat but want one with a little
pizzazz, Springfield has you covered with a new
robin’s egg frame with a stainless slide and a
bronze Cerakote slide with a black frame. The
robin’s egg/stainless is offered in the standard
Hellcat as well as the optic-cut OSP and the Pro,
the latter featuring a longer 3.7-inch barrel and
15-round standard-capacity magazine. The bronze/
black is offered in OSP and Pro versions. The stan-
dard and OSP versions come with an 11-round and
an extended 13-round magazine.
{$635–$677, SPRINGFIELD-ARMORY.COM}

< STEINER MPS

withstand submersion down to 10 meters. It features a 3.3-m.o.a. dot powered by a CR1632 battery. Runtime is 13,000 hours
on medium, and it automatically shuts off after 13 hours. It has eight brightness levels, six day/night modes and two night-
vision modes. The MPS is 2.2 inches long, and the window is 0.6x0.8 inch.
{$575, STEINER-OPTICS.COM}

< RCBS .30 SUPER CARRY DIES

The three-die set for the new .30 Super Carry includes a carbide sizer die—which means you don’t
have to lube the case to size/decap—an expander die and a seater die. The dies are precision engi-
neered from quality steel. They’re made in America and hand-inspected before leaving the factory. (In
other news, these same dies are also available for the .44 Auto Mag.)
{$109 ($130 for .44 Auto Mag), RCBS.COM}

< SAFARILAND SCHEMA

Designed for optics-ready subcompacts, this minimalist holster has a smaller footprint
than traditional inside-the-waistband rigs. While it’s skeletonized to reduce size and
weight, it has a reinforced mouth for sure holstering. The Schema has passive trigger
guard retention. Current fitments include SIG P365, Taurus G2C and G3C, Glock 43 and
43X, and Springfield Hellcat.
{$40, SAFARILAND.COM}

< XS NIGHT SIGHTS FOR S&W CSX AND M&P OR

XS Sights has introduced a DXT2 Big Dot for both the Smith & Wesson CSX and M&P
2.0 Optics Ready pistols. The Big Dot has an orange or yellow front Glow Dot—which
absorbs ambient light and is constantly charged by a tritium center—while the rear sight
features a shallow V with a vertical white stripe for a “dot the i” sight picture. There’s
also the R3D for the M&P OR full size and compact. It has a traditional notch/post sight
picture with a Glow Dot front in green or orange and a blacked-out rear notch that’s 15
percent than the front blade for easy, fast acquisition and alignment.
{$116–$144, XSSIGHTS.COM}

14 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 WWW.HANDGUNS.COM

 THE ULTIMATE
DEFENSIVE HANDGUN
Learn more about the Wilson Combat ®
SFX9 4” Series at www.wilsoncombat.com

Ultra thin 15rd solid aluminum frame

4" Fluted stainless match grade barrel
DLC coated tri-top stainless slide
1911 style controls
Extremely easy to shoot well

Designed for everyday

defensive carry, the SFX9 has
the same superior trigger
pull, guaranteed accuracy,
and unmatched quality the
EDCX9 series is known for.
 | ESSENTIALS | By BRAD FITZPATRICK
WORK IT OUT
SPRINGFIELD/ALEXO GEAR LETS YOU CARRY SECURELY WHILE EXERCISING.
IN AN ISSUE OF HANDGUNS A COUPLE
years ago, I wrote about the best con-
cealed-carry holsters and garments
designed for runners. That article
led me to try just about every popular
product available at the time for
FDUU\LQJDFRQFHDOHGÀUHDUPZKLOH
exercising. The clearest takeaway
was this: Those who wanted to carry
a gun comfortably while running had
limited options.
Alexo Athletica is seeking to
change that. The company is the
product of one woman’s desire to de-
sign athletic clothing that is comfort-
able enough to wear while exercis-
ing yet offers a stable, secure place
WRVWRUHDÀUHDUP6HYHUDO\HDUV
ago, while training for a marathon,
founder Amy Robbins discovered
what many other CCW permit holders
have found out along the way: You
can either exercise comfortably or
exercise with a gun, but you can’t
exercise comfortably with a gun.
Now Alexo Athletica is teaming
up with one of America’s favorite
ÀUHDUPVPDQXIDFWXUHUVWRRIIHUWKH
6SULQJÀHOG$UPRU\[$OH[R$WKOHWLFD
FROOHFWLRQZKLFKPLJKWÀQDOO\RIIHU
a solution to the problem of carrying
DÀUHDUPZKLOHUXQQLQJ<RX·OOÀQG
these offerings at A LEXOATHLETICA.COM;
FOLFNRQ6KRSWKHQVHOHFW6SULQJÀHOG
Collection.
7KHQHZ6SULQJÀHOG$UPRU\E\
Alexo Athletica line offers clothes
for both men and women that are
suitable for concealed carry. On the
PHQ·VVLGHWKH\RIIHUWKH6SULQJÀHOG
Performance CC jogger ($89), which
is constructed of a polyester/rayon/
spandex material that offers light
weight and breathability. The athletic
WDSHUHGFXWORRNVPRGHUQDQGÀWV
16 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023
Springfield Armory x Alexo Athletica offers a full line of active wear that’s
<
designed specifically for concealed carry. Shown here are the women’s
leggings and cowl hoodie. There’s also a complete line for men.
close to the body, and there’s a zip-
SHUHGÁ\VLGHVOLSSRFNHWVDQGEDFN
welt pockets plus a hidden phone
pocket.
$WÀUVWJODQFHWKH\UHVHPEOHPRVW
high-end athletic joggers, but there’s
an elastic band stitched into the
pants that offers holster pockets at
the appendix, four and eight o’clock
SRVLWLRQV7KHGHVLJQKROGVWKHÀUH-
arm close to the body for maximum
concealment and easy access, and the
6SULQJÀHOG3HUIRUPDQFH&&MRJJHU
comes with Alexo Athletica’s Tuck
and Carry technology that allows
you to tuck a shirt into these pants
while maintaining quick access to the
ÀUHDUP
7KHUH·VDOVRD6SULQJÀHOGIXOO
length CC legging ($99) for women
that is made from nylon and spandex
and comes with ambidextrous appen-
dix carry stitched-in holsters and ad-
ditional pockets at the four and eight
o’clock positions. Like the CC jogger,
it offers a tapered, athletic look and a
breathable construction for maxi-
mum comfort while exercising. In
DGGLWLRQWKH6SULQJÀHOG$UPRU\[
Alexo Athletica brand is also offering
branded sweatshirts that serve as the
perfect complement to its pants.
Alexo makes it clear that these gar-
ments are designed for use with prop-
er trigger guard protection. You can
SXUFKDVHD'H6DQWLV)OH[WHFKSRFNHW
holster ($29) through the Alexo
Athletica website. The exterior of the
)OH[WHFKKROVWHUKDVDJORVV\YLVFRXV
textured surface that is designed to
keep the holster in place when the
gun is drawn, but the leather interior
RIWKHKROVWHUSURWHFWVWKHÀUHDUP
and molds to the gun.
6SULQJÀHOG$UPRU\[$OH[R$WK-
letica also offers sweatshirts for both
men and women. The men’s version is
made from four-way stretch fabric so
LWÀWVFRPIRUWDEO\RQWKHERG\ZKHQ
you’re active and dries quickly. The
UHÁHFWLYHVXUIDFHHOHPHQWVKHOSSUR-
tect you when exercising in low
WWW.HANDGUNS.COM
800 -338 -3220 | HORNADY.COM

WHEN
TROUBLE
COMES
CALLING
CRITICAL DEFENSE ANSWERS ®

The Critical Defense line of ammunition puts

®

personal protection and concealed carry

Vw`iViÌi«>vÞÕÀ>`°
The Flex Tip of the FTX bullet keeps the
® ®

nose cavity clear when passing through

i>ÛÞVÌ}]>`Ü y>ëÀ«i>ÌÃ
ܽÌi>ÛiÞÕL`Üiv>V}>ÌÀÕ`iÀ°

Critical Defense — Your Best Defense for Personal Protection.

®
 | ESSENTIALS
light, and the kangaroo pocket is
great for storage and reduces print-
ing.
The women’s terry cloth hoodie
($69) is slightly shorter in length
than traditional sweatshirts. This
improves the aesthetics and provides
HDVLHUDFFHVVWRDÀUHDUP
I’ve tried multiple methods of car-
U\LQJDÀUHDUPZKLOHH[HUFLVLQJRXW-
GRRUV)DQQ\DQGKLSSDFNVDUHÀQH
but most aren’t comfortable to wear
during strenuous activity, and you
lose much of the concealment factor.
Belly bands work, but they offer little
cured close to the body. This prevents
WKHJXQIURPÁRSSLQJDURXQGZKLFK
QRWRQO\FDXVHVWKHÀUHDUPWRSULQW
EXWLVDOVRH[WUHPHO\XQFRPIRUWDEOH
That’s to say nothing of the risk of the
gun falling free from the holster when
WKHUH·VH[FHVVPRYHPHQW
7KH&&MRJJHUV,ZRUHÀWWLJKW
around the waist and allowed the
gun, a Remington RM380, to ride
close to the body. That pistol weighs a
bit over a pound loaded, less than the
PD[LPXPZHLJKWRIRXQFHVWKDW
$OH[R$WKOHWLFDUHFRPPHQGVIRUJXQV
To test the performance of these
While the clothing line is designed

VXSSRUWIRUWKHÀUHDUPDQGDUHQ·W
good with heavier.
6SULQJÀHOG$UPRU\[$OH[R$WKOHW-
ica clothing addresses many of these
issues. For starters, the heavy-duty
nylon stitching in the men’s and wom-
en’s CC joggers helps keep the gun se-
joggers, I ran a minimum of a mile a
day on 10 occasions, and I made notes
each time I ran.
$OOWROG,FRYHUHGPLOHVZHDU-
LQJWKH6SULQJÀHOG$UPRU\[$OH[R
$WKOHWLFDMRJJHUVZLWKDÀUHDUP
First, I noted it’s not necessary to
<
specifically for carry, you still want a
holster, which is why Alexo sells rigs
like this DeSantis Flextech.
wear an undershirt, but it is more
comfortable, especially when the gun
is in the front holster pocket. This

WHO’S WEARING BODY ARMOR?

A B C D

Answer: All of the above

Made in the USA

Scan for more
information
and a discount
PIONEERS IN CONCEALABLE BODY ARMOR
WWW.PREMIERBODYARMOR.COM
 NEW

It’s our duty to build the best performing firearm...

IT’S YOUR DUTY

TO BE READY

PDP F-SERIES 4”

Reduced Grip Reduced Trigger Reduced Slide

Circumference Reach Force

PDP F-SERIES 3.5”

Red Dot Performance Duty Red Dot Ready What does it mean to be ready?
Ergonomics Grip Texture
waltherarms.com
© 2022 Walther Arms Inc. | All Rights Reserved
 | ESSENTIALS
is less a function of the pants and
more product of the gun’s grip design.
I found it more comfortable to car-
ry in the back pocket of the joggers,
and though an undershirt isn’t neces-
sary, I’d still wear one for comfort.
The CC’s ability to tuck your shirt
into your pants is a nice addition,
DQGVRLVWKH]LSSHUHGÁ\'UDZVWULQJ
FORVXUHHQVXUHVDWLJKWÀWDURXQGWKH
waist, and the large front pockets are
well-positioned and offer plenty of
room.
These pants are well thought out
and comfortable, although they are a
bit heavy for midday summer run-
ning. For running and hiking the rest
of the year, though, these pants are
well designed and functional. They
GU\TXLFNO\DQGÀWZHOO³DOWKRXJK
WKH\FRPHZLWKDUDWKHUDWKOHWLFFXW³
and these joggers are stylish enough
that you could wear them in public
without anyone suspecting that you’re
carrying.
My wife experienced similar
results. She found she could com-
IRUWDEO\FDUU\DVPDOOÀUHDUPLQWKH
waistband of her CC leggings and
exercise without any discomfort.
After she’d worn her CC leggings off
and on for a couple of weeks, her take
on this clothing was similar to mine:
The sturdy stitched-in belt design
KROGVWKHÀUHDUPVRVHFXUHO\DQG
comfortably that you soon forget it’s
even there.
That is, of course, until you need
WKDWÀUHDUP:LWKWKH5HPLQJWRQOR-
cated in the four o’clock position and
the grip extending behind the crest of
my hip, I could quickly lift my cover
JDUPHQWZLWKP\QRQÀULQJKDQGDQG
draw the gun in seconds.
5HWXUQLQJWKHJXQWRWKHKROVWHU
is a bit more complex since you’ll
have to expand the interior pocket,
either by forcing the gun down into
place or opening the pocket manually
DQGVOLGLQJWKHÀUHDUPLQWRSRVLWLRQ
But there should never be cause for
holstering in a hurry.
Comfortable athletic clothing
WKDWVHFXUHO\KROGVDÀUHDUPDQG
looks good enough to want to wear
LQSXEOLF"7KDW·VZKDW6SULQJÀHOG
Armory x Alexo Athletica now offers
buyers. Odds are you’ve got a favorite
pair of athletic pants you wear a lot.
Shouldn’t that favorite pair of pants
have a holster that allows you to
FDUU\DÀUHDUP"
For years we thought comfortable,
stylish, practical athleticwear for
concealed carry wasn’t possible. Not
anymore.
 ©2022 AMERIGLO Holdings, LLC | Roswell, GA USA | 470-223-4163 | 22AMERIGLO15400-R22 | AMERIGLO.com
When it’s critical,
accuracy is everything.
AMERIGLO® exists for one reason:
to help protect hardworking, law-
abiding men and women from harm.

AMERIGLO® Trooper Sets Available in a

LumiGreen or Orange Front Outline with
Front and Rear Green Tritium
VISIT AMERIGLO.COM FOR MORE
 | EN GARDE | By RICHARD NANCE

FOLLOWING THROUGH
WHY THE MOST UNDERRATED SHOOTING FUNDAMENTAL IS CRUCIAL.
THE FIRST SIX OF THE WIDELY ACKNOWL-
edged fundamentals of marksman-
ship—stance, grip, sight alignment,
sight picture, trigger control and
breath control—are relatively
straightforward. But the seventh
DQGÀQDOIXQGDPHQWDOIROORZ
through, isn’t as easily understood
and therefore tends to be deempha-
sized.
Since it occurs after the shot is
ÀUHGPDQ\YLHZIROORZWKURXJKDV
merely an afterthought. However,
follow-through matters. In armed
FRQÁLFWODFNRIIROORZWKURXJKPD\
cause you to miss your adversary,
fail to stop him or fail to detect an
additional deadly threat. Follow-through has both a mechanical and a mental component. Under-
<

There are two components to
follow-through: mechanical and
mental. Mechanical follow-through
means ensuring your gun is ready
WRÀUHDQRWKHUVKRW7KLVHQWDLOV
resetting the trigger and reac-
quiring your sights. If your gun is
empty, mechanical follow-through
encompasses reloading. If your gun
has malfunctioned, follow-through
mandates you clear it and be ready
WRÀUHDGGLWLRQDOVKRWVDVUHTXLUHG
Mechanical follow-through is a
“hard skill”—one that’s not overly
dependent on outside factors. In this
FDVHWRÀUHDQRWKHUURXQGWKHUH·VD
ÀQLWHQXPEHURIRSWLRQV5HVHWWLQJ
the trigger is step one. Then, if the
SLVWROGRHVQ·WÀUH\RXQHHGWRWDNH
remedial action to get the gun back
into action—although with a re-
volver the solution is to simply press
the trigger again.
While hard skills require a
degree of attention, with practice,
you should be able to perform them
virtually on autopilot.
standing what these require can help you prevail in a fight.
The second half of follow-through
is mental. It requires assessment,
decision making and adaptation.
These are considered “soft skills,”
and they are far less predictable
than hard skills.
You must master the mechanical
aspects of follow-through to free
your mind for the harder-to-solve,
soft-skill problems you may encoun-
ter. After all, if your brain is overly
focused on making your pistol run,
how can you expect to make appro-
priate split-second decisions during
a deadly force encounter?
Just as mechanical follow-through
ensures your gun is always ready to
ÀUHPHQWDOIROORZWKURXJKHQVXUHV
you are poised to deliver additional
shots on target. This starts with
staying on your sights after each
shot.
,I\RXÀUHRQFH\RXVKRXOGDF-
quire two sight pictures: the initial
sight picture you used to take the
shot, then another sight picture as
the gun comes out of recoil. If you
ÀUHWZLFHLW·VWKUHHVLJKWSLFWXUHV
and so on.
Staying on your sights is not only
important for follow-up shots, but
it also helps ensure you hit with
WKHÀUVWVKRW,I\RXVWDUWWRORRN
over your sights to see your rounds
impact, there’s a chance you will
alter the orientation of your muzzle
enough to miss.
Nowhere is this more evident
than on a steel plate rack. A shooter
who wants to see the plate fall will
often bring his head slightly up and,
subsequently, his muzzle down. De-
pending on distance from the target,
the size of the plate and the degree
to which this occurs, shots tend to
impact just below the plate.
Staying on your sights helps to
HQVXUH\RXUÀUVWKLWDQGVHWV\RXXS
for additional hits. But let’s consider
the notion of mental follow-

22 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 WWW.HANDGUNS.COM

 | EN GARDE
through in real-world defensive
application.
Handgun rounds, regardless of
caliber, aren’t likely to immediately
incapacitate unless they are excep-
tionally well-placed. You need to
EHUHDG\WRÀUHXQWLOWKHWKUHDWKDV
stopped.
There’s no way to predict how
many rounds that will take. A good
indication that your hits are effec-
tive is when the assailant’s body
crumples, but even that doesn’t
PHDQKH·VRXWRIWKHÀJKW
Even if he’s fallen and has sus-
tained a wound that will eventually
be fatal, that doesn’t preclude an
assailant from shooting you from the
ground before he succumbs to his
wounds.
Another component to mental
follow-through is tracking the assail-
¸ìőŦ×ĻŜƠĖƌ/ďĻƠĻŦŜ
fffCP[^8]RR^\
ant to the ground to assess whether
he still poses a deadly threat. If he
GRHVEHSUHSDUHGWRÀUHDGGLWLRQDO
URXQGV:KHQ\RX·YHFRQÀUPHGKH
no longer poses a threat, it’s time to
scan for additional threats.
There are several schools of
thought regarding the best way to
scan. Some scan with their eyes
and gun moving together so that if a
deadly threat is detected, it can im-
mediately be engaged. Others prefer
to keep the gun in a neutral orienta-
tion, like a High Ready position, and
scan moving only their head and
torso.
There are pros and cons to each
of these methods, but what’s most
important is that you actively look
for additional threats to break up
the tunnel vision that’s likely to
manifest because of your body’s
rɭǢǢpɭ¸×/
ǡŦĮǡ ǠǠǠ
"WBJMBCMFUIJT8JOUFSǢ
.BHOVN
ǡ#BSSFM
8IJUF1FBSMHSJQT
1PMBSCMVFDFSBLPUF
%F4BOUJTDSPTTESBXIPMTUFS
physiological reaction to having
been involved in a shooting. Turning
your head enables you to compen-
sate for the diminished peripheral
vision from which tunnel vision gets
its name.
While follow-through is the last of
the seven marksmanship fundamen-
tals, it’s not necessarily the least im-
portant. If you don’t follow-through,
you could miss your target. Even if
you hit, statistics bear out that it will
likely take more than one hit with a
KDQGJXQURXQGWRHQGWKHÀJKW
During a deadly-force encounter,
you and your gun need to be ready
WRÀUHDGGLWLRQDOURXQGV:KHQ
\RX·UHFRQÀGHQWWKHWKUHDWKDVEHHQ
stopped, scan to make sure your
world is safe. These are elements of
follow-through, the most underrated
marksmanship fundamental.
 BY KEITH WOOD

24 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 WWW.HANDGUNS.COM

 hanks to the widespread
use of polymer and alumi-
WITH THE NEW M2.0 METAL num in their construction,
SERIES, SMITH & WESSON modern handguns have

OFFERS A HEAVIER OPTION become lighter than ever.

Lighter is always better, right?
FOR M&P FANS. Well, not always. Lighter guns are
certainly more comfortable to
carry, but they’re not always an as-
set when it comes to putting rounds
on target. The fact is that, within
reason, heavier guns are more
forgiving to shoot than lighter ones.
It’s pure physics.
Simply adding weight to a
handgun can reduce felt recoil and
muzzle rise and result in faster
hits, and for those who value shoot-
ability over portability, Smith &
Wesson has developed the M&P9
M2.0 Metal Series handgun. This
steel and aluminum-frame hand-
gun combines the best elements
RIDPRGHUQVWULNHUÀUHGKDQGJXQ
with metal construction.
The Smith & Wesson M&P has
been one of the top-selling and
top-performing polymer-frame
VWULNHUÀUHGKDQGJXQVVLQFHLWV
introduction in 2005. Numerous
U.S. and foreign law enforcement
agencies have adopted and used
the M&P series of handguns, and
it’s a popular choice with civilian
shooters as well.
0DQ\ÀUHDUPFRQVXPHUVÀQGWKH
M&P to be an attractive alternative
to other polymer-framed handguns
on the market. One might argue
that Smith & Wesson’s engineers
took a close look at the Glock and
À[HGDOOWKHHOHPHQWVVKRRWHUV
didn’t like. Many individuals who
JUHZXSZLWKVÀQGWKH0 3WR
be among the most shooter-friendly
of polymer handguns, perhaps due
to the 18-degree grip angle shared
by both designs.
The M2.0 Metal Series is built on
the full-size M&P frame and slide,
and it’s currently offered only in
9mm. The most glaring difference
between it and the standard model
is that the frame is machined from
7075 T-6 aluminum instead of being
molded in Zytel polymer.

WWW.HANDGUNS.COM FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 HANDGUNS 25

METAL MADNESS
For starters, this material
adds 5.3 ounces of recoil-tamping
mass to the handgun. Empty, the
M2.0 Metal Series weighs about
as much as a polymer M&P does
loaded with a full magazine. No, it’s
not a ton of weight, but it’s enough
to be noticeable.
Beyond adding mass, the alumi-
num frame also provides a more rig-
id foundation for the slide assembly,
which potentially could increase
accuracy. Finally, aluminum isn’t
polymer, and let’s face it, plenty of
shooters prefer a metal handgun.
The Metal guns currently don’t offer a manual safety. The upgraded Is there a demand for heavier
<

semi-flat trigger broke consistently at 4.5 pounds, and the reset was short. guns? Weight-obsessed doubters
should look no further than the
success of CZ’s all-metal Shadow
2 handgun, which quickly became
one of the most popular handguns
in practical competition thanks to
its weight and shootability. That
all-steel handgun is a full pound
heavier than the M2.0 Metal Series,
though, making it a competition-
only proposition. To put things in
perspective, the M2.0 Metal Series
is nearly identical in weight to the
classic Colt Lightweight Command-
er 1911, once considered the “sweet
spot” for a portable but shootable
carry gun.
Back to the frame. It is milled to
the same dimensions as the polymer
variants, so holster compat-

SMITH & WESSON

M&P 2.0 METAL SERIES
TYPE: striker-fired semiautomatic
CALIBER: 9mm Luger
CAPACITY: 17+1
BARREL: 4.25 in.
OAL/HEIGHT/WIDTH: 7.4/5.5/1.3 in.
WEIGHT: 30 oz.
CONSTRUCTION: Armornite-finished stain-
less steel slide, 7075 T-6 aluminum frame
GRIPS: textured polymer
SIGHTS: white three-dot, drift-adjustable for
windage; optics-ready
SAFETIES: trigger
TRIGGER: 4.5 lb. pull (measured)
PRICE: $899
MANUFACTURER: Smith & Wesson;
The magazine well on the aluminum-framed M2.0 is beveled 360 degrees SMITH-WESSON.COM
<

and has subtle thumb cutouts for help in stripping a stuck magazine.

26 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 WWW.HANDGUNS.COM

METAL MADNESS
ibility should not be an issue.
One of the attractive features of the
M&P series is the interchangeable
backstrap system. The M2.0 Metal
Series maintains this ability to
FXVWRPL]HJULSÀWDQGIRXUGLIIHUHQW
backstraps with integral palm swells
DUHLQFOXGHGODUJHPHGLXPODUJH
medium and small.
Swapping backstraps requires
no tools and can be completed in
seconds. The lanyard extension/
frame tool that sits at the rear of the
magazine well is rotated 90 degrees
and extracted. The backstrap can
now be removed and replaced. It’s
quite painless but plenty secure. I
IRXQGWKHPHGLXPODUJHEDFNVWUDS
ÀWPHEHVW
The backstraps are stippled for
DQRQVOLSJULSDQGDQLGHQWLFDOO\
textured polymer panel is embed
ded into the frontstrap as well. A
ÀQJHUJURRYHLVPDFKLQHGLQWRERWK
VLGHVRIWKHJULSSURYLGLQJDWKXPE
relief as well as a spot for the trigger
ÀQJHUWRULGHRQGXULQJWKHGUDZ,W·V
The M2.0 Metal Series comes optics-ready. An adapter kit is included that
<
allows six different mounting options for various sights.
ACCURACY RESULTS | SMITH & WESSON M&P METAL SERIES
Bullet
9mm Luger Weight (gr.)
Norma MHP JHP 108
Hornady Critical Defense FTX JHP 115
Federal Syntech Range FMJ 124
Notes: Accuracy results are averages of four five-shot groups fired at 25 yards from a Target Shooting Inc. Model 1500
rest. Velocities are averages of 10 shots using a LabRadar chronograph placed adjacent to the muzzle. Abbreviations:
FMJ, full metal jacket; JHP, jacketed hollowpoint
28 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023
easy to get a fast but secure grip on
this handgun.
The magazine well is beveled
RQDOOIRXUVLGHVDQGVRPHIDLQW
grooves are milled into the frame
for stripping a magazine manually.
%RWKWKHVOLGHDQGIUDPHDUHÀQ
LVKHGZLWK7XQJVWHQ*UH\&HUDNRWH
ZKLFKFUHDWHVDWZRWRQHÀQLVK
WKDQNVWRWKHEODFNFRQWUROVEDUUHO
and grip panels. An integral Picatin
ny rail is machined into the frame’s
dust cover for accessory mounting.
7KHWZRLQFOXGHGURXQGPDJD
zines use steel bodies with polymer
base pads and followers. These mags
WDSHUWRDVLQJOHFROXPQDWWKHWRS
aiding reliability as well as rapid
reloads.
,QWHUPVRIFRQWUROVWKH0
Metal Series has an ambidextrous
slide stop and a reversible magazine
release. Both are easy to manipu
ODWHZKLOHPDLQWDLQLQJDÀULQJJULS
Although Smith & Wesson does offer
manual safeties on some of its M&P
PRGHOVWKHUHLVQ·WRQHRQWKLVSDU
Muzzle Std.
Velocity (fps) Dev. (fps)
1,160 19
1,111 11
1,161 13
ticular pistol. The takedown lever is
on the left side of the frame.
The M&P series has built a repu
tation for having one of the better
triggers in the polymer world. In
WKHRU\WKLVVKRXOGEHLPSURYHG
further thanks to the rigidity of the
aluminum frame because the trigger
DVVHPEO\LVOHVVOLNHO\WRÁH[RUVKLIW
during the trigger press.
7KHVHPLÁDWWULJJHURQP\WHVW
VDPSOHEURNHULJKWDWSRXQGV
thanks to the enhanced sear.
$OWKRXJKWKHWDNHXSZDVDOLWWOH
URXJKWKHEUHDNLWVHOIZDVFOHDQ
with no sign of creep. Reset was
short and tactile. A polymer pad
VHUYHVDVDQRYHUWUDYHOVWRS2YHUDOO
I would rate the trigger pull’s char
acteristics and feel as being on the
better end of the polymer handgun
spectrum.
The slide on the M2.0 Metal Se
ries is more or less standard M&P.
0DFKLQHGIURPVWDLQOHVVVWHHOWKHUH
are generous scalloped cocking ser
rations at the front and rear. There
LVDQH[WHUQDOH[WUDFWRUDQGDÀ[HG
steel ejector that sweeps upward
from the frame’s internals. The
ejection port is generously cut and is
ÁDUHGEDFNIRUUHOLDELOLW\
The slide on this model comes
RSWLFVUHDG\ZLWKDFRYHUSODWH
LQVWDOOHG$VFUHZDQGSODWHNLW
identical to the one issued with the
ROG&25(VHULHVRIKDQGJXQV
ships with this handgun and gives
the user six different mounting op
tions. I remain an iron sight fan and
chose not to mount an optic during
my testing.
The barrel on the M2.0 Metal
Series is 4.25 inches long and con
structed from stainless steel. The
WZLVWEDUUHOXVHVWUDGLWLRQDO
ODQGDQGJURRYHULÁLQJPDNLQJLW
compatible with lead bullets. The in
Avg. tegrally ramped barrel wears Smith
Group (in.) :HVVRQ·V$UPRUQLWHÀQLVKZKLFK
1.7 is essentially a black nitride surface
2.9 treatment. A semicircle machined
2.4 into the rear of the barrel hood
serves as a visual loaded chamber
indicator. The recoil spring
WWW.HANDGUNS.COM
METAL MADNESS
guide is made from stainless
VWHHODQGXVHVDFDSWLYHÁDWUHFRLO
spring secured by a hex screw.
One of the selling points of the
M&P series overall is there’s no
QHHGWRGU\ÀUHWKHKDQGJXQLQ
order to complete the disassembly
process.
There is a trick to completing
this process, though. With the slide
locked to the rear and the takedown
lever actuated, the sear lever must
be pushed downward via the ejec-
tion port—you can use the frame
tool, a pen or a similar object—to
allow the slide to be removed. If you
prefer the faster route, simply dry-
ÀUHWKHJXQLQDVDIHGLUHFWLRQDQG
remove the slide.
The iron sights are dovetailed into
the frame and use a simple three-
dot arrangement. The rear is drift
adjustable for windage. The sight
picture provided was good, and the
sights came perfectly regulated for
25 yards.
,ÀUHGQXPHURXVÀYHVKRWJURXSV
with three types of factory am-
munition to establish mechanical
accuracy potential. Accuracy from
the bench was more or less average,
with Norma’s 108-grain Monolithic
Hollow Point producing the tightest
The M2.0 Metal Series comes with four interchangeable backstraps for a
<

groups by a healthy margin. I saw
no sign that the rigidity of the metal
frame had any real effect on accu-
racy when compared to the polymer
M&Ps.
The test gun was 100 percent
reliable with all four loads I used. I
ran some remanufactured full metal
jacket ammo through the handgun
IRUUDSLGÀUHGULOOVRQVWHHOWDUJHWV
but did not include it in the formal
accuracy testing.
It was not until I vacated the
bench and began shooting at steel
that I really began to appreciate this
handgun. Recoil was extremely soft,
and muzzle rise was controllable.
Shooting at a 10-inch plate at 30
yards, I was able to make hits as fast
DV,FRXOGDFTXLUHDÁDVKVLJKWSLF-
ture. I feel like I shot this handgun
better offhand than I did from the
custom fit. Changing them takes only seconds and requires no tools.
bench, which, in practical terms, is
far more important.
The M2.0 Metal Series really does
encompass some of the best quali-
WLHVRIVWULNHUÀUHGKDQGJXQVEXW
with a more traditional overall feel.
Given the out-of-the-box shoot-
ability of the M2.0 Metal Series, it
would be a very attractive choice for
the Production and Stock Service
Pistol divisions of USPSA and IDPA
matches respectively.
The standard full-size polymer
M&P 2.0 retails for $629, and buyers
of the M2.0 Metal Series will pay
a $270 premium for the aluminum
IUDPHWKH&HUDNRWHÀQLVKDQG
upgraded trigger. Given the cost and
logistics of machining aluminum
versus molding polymer, this strikes
me as reasonable. Honestly, when
I was introduced to the M.20 Metal
Series, I assumed the price tag
would be well north of $1,000.
If you’re old school and can’t
warm up to polymer but are at-
tracted by the many great features
available on modern handguns, the
M2.0 Metal Series is the handgun
you’ve been waiting for. Likewise,
if you’re looking for a handgun for
practical competition or simple
target shooting, this model also has
a lot to offer. With comfortable and
FRQÀJXUDEOHJULSVJRRGVLJKWVDQG
decent triggers, M&P handguns are
shooter-friendly in general. With the
added mass of the aluminum frame,
the M2.0 Metal Series takes a good
thing and makes it even better.

30 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 WWW.HANDGUNS.COM

Proudly fully machined and hand
crafted in
Berryville, Arkansas

ONE GUN, ONE GUNSMITH

The World’s Finest 877-268-4867

Custom 1911s WWW.NIGHTHAWKCUSTOM.COM
 THE NEW

WORLD-CL ASS FIRE ARMS

DES IGNED & MANUFACTURED DANIELDEFENSE.COM/RIII
IN BLACK CREEK, GEORGIA, USA
TAKING OUR SOCOM RIS II
LEGACY INTO THE FUTURE

+ FULLY-AMBI CONTROLS
More flexibility and greater control of your rifle for greater
control of the situation at hand

+ LIGHTER RAIL THAT’S HEAVY DUTY

Same robust design as our RIS II, built for US Special Operations
Command (SOCOM), with M-LOK attachment for less weight

+ PATENTED BOLT-UP SYSTEM

6-bolt Bolt-Up System withstands the rigors of hard use,
protecting accuracy while free-floating the barrel

+ GRIP-N-RIP® CHARGING HANDLE

Independently ambi charging handle with anti-gas features
for a better shooting experience
 BY BRAD FITZPATRICK

34 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023

 ust when you think that
6SULQJÀHOG·V;'IDPLO\RI
THE NEW XD-M ELITE OSP VHPLDXWRVLVFRPSOHWHD
10MM IS WELL SUITED FOR QHZDGGLWLRQDUULYHV7KH

BRUIN DEFENSE, BUT THAT’S ODWHVWPHPEHURIWKH;'

FODQLVWKH;'0263(OLWH
HARDLY ALL THIS SPRING- LQFKPP$XWRZLWKD+H['UDJ

FIELD CAN DO. RQÁ\RSWLF(YHQWKRXJKWKHPRVW

REYLRXVXVHIRUVXFKDSLVWROLVIRU
GHIHQVHDJDLQVWWKHODUJHVWSUHGD
WRUVWKH;'0PPLVDVXUSULV
LQJO\YHUVDWLOHÀUHDUP6XUHLW
JLYHV\RXDÀJKWLQJFKDQFHDJDLQVW
DQLUDWHJUL]EXWWKLVPPLVDOVR
VXLWDEOHIRUVHOIGHIHQVH$QGLW·V
MXVWSODLQIXQWRVKRRW
1RWDOOPPVIDOOLQWKH´IXQ
WRVKRRWμFDWHJRU\EXWWKH;'0
(OLWH263LVDQH[FHSWLRQ
7KHDUFKLWHFWXUHWKDWXQGHUSLQV
WKLVSLVWROLVQRWKLQJSDUWLFXODUO\
QHZIRU6SULQJÀHOG,W·VEDVHGRQ
+63URGXNW·VVHULHVRISRO\PHU
IUDPHSLVWROVWKDWKDYHEHHQPDGH
LQ&URDWLDVLQFHWKHVDQG
GLVWULEXWHGLQWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV
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WKLQJIURPFRPSDFWPPVLQJOH
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7KH\DOOLQFOXGHDSRO\PHUIUDPH
ZLWKDVWHHOLQVHUWDQGDIRUJHG
VWHHOVOLGHZLWKWKH0HORQLWHEODFN
QLWULGHVXUIDFHWUHDWPHQW
263VWDQGVIRU2SWLFDO6LJKW
3LVWRODQGLQWKHFDVHRIWKH
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WKHUFRPHZLWKWKHFRPSDQ\·VRZQ
+H['UDJRQÁ\UHGGRWLQVWDOOHGRU
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WKDWXVHWKH6SULQJÀHOG6WDQGDUG
RSWLFIRRWSULQW7KLVLQFOXGHVWKH
+H['UDJRQÁ\RIFRXUVHEXWDOVR
UHGGRWVOLNHWKH9RUWH[9HQRP
DQG%XUULV)DVW)LUH
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ZKLFKFRQVLVWRID8QRWFKUHDU
DQGDUHGÀEHURSWLFIURQWVLJKW
DUHYHU\JRRG%RWKWKHIURQWDQG
UHDUVLJKWVDUHGRYHWDLOHGLQWR
WKHVOLGHDQGWKHUHDU8QRWFK
IHDWXUHVDZKLWHRXWOLQH7KHOHDG
LQJHGJHRIWKHUHDUVLJKWULVHV
SDUDOOHOWRWKHERUHZKLFK

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 HANDGUNS 35

BEAR ESSENTIALS
allows for one-handed cycling
of the pistol.
Aggressive angular slide cuts on
the slide—three front, four rear—
allow for control when operating
the pistol. The slide is machined
so it narrows toward the top,
reducing weight and increasing
comfort while also giving the gun
a less boxy look than some compet-
ing 10mm semiautos.
As the name suggests, the
hammer-forged steel barrel mea-
The XD-M Elite’s controls include an ambidextrous slide stop and mag
<
release, and it incorporates a grip safety. The grip is aggressively textured for
a secure hold on the gun.
The gun is available with a Hex Dragonfly red dot right out of the box or just
<
red dot ready. The drift-adjustable rear sight’s U-notch design is faster to use
than competing notch sights.
36 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023
sures 4.5 inches long, and it is also
treated with a Melonite nitride
ÀQLVKWRSURWHFWWKHPHWDO7KH
10mm’s barrel features a 1:16 twist
rate.
Anyone familiar with Spring-
ÀHOG·V;'0(OLWHOLQHRISLVWROV
will immediately recognize the
aggressive tread pattern on the
grips. They’ll also recognize the
grip safety that has become a
KDOOPDUNRI;'JXQV7KHVHSLV-
tols lack a thumb safety, although
it does include trigger and drop
safeties, so there are few controls
to master.
Both the slide stop and round
magazine release button are ambi-
dextrous, so this gun suits left-
handed shooters as well as right-
ies. There’s a rotating takedown
lever on the left side of the frame
just ahead of the trigger guard.
6SULQJÀHOGDOVRHTXLSVLWV
;'0(OLWHSLVWROVZLWKDORDGHG
chamber indicator. Located on
the top of the slide just behind
the chamber, the indicator offers
both a visual and tactile reference
regarding the condition of the pis-
tol. Additionally, there’s a cocking
indicator that protrudes through
the rear of the slide.
If you like to mount lights or
lasers on your gun, a three-slot
rail on the dust cover will accom-
modate those accessories. These
can be particularly handy for a
backcountry gun when you might
be investigating noise outside your
tent in the middle of the night.
;'SLVWROVKDYHDOZD\VRIIHUHG
VHUYLFHDEOHWULJJHUVEXWWKH;'0
(OLWHLVHTXLSSHGZLWK6SULQJ-
ÀHOG·V0(7$ 0DWFK(QKDQFHG
Trigger Assembly) trigger. It
IHDWXUHVDÁDWIURQWGHVLJQZLWK
a blade and offers a light, clean
take-up and a crisp, predictable
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY
XD-M ELITE 4.5 OSP
TYPE: striker-fired semiauto
CALIBER: 10mm Auto
CAPACITY: 16
BARREL: 4.5 in.
OAL/HEIGHT/WIDTH: 7.6/5.8/1.2 in.
WEIGHT: 32 oz. w/optic
GRIPS: 3 backstraps, Elite short mag well
FINISH: Melonite
TRIGGER: META, 4.8 lb. pull (measured)
SIGHTS: U-notch drift-adjustable tacti-
cal rear, fiber-optic front; Hex Dragonfly
3.5-m.o.a. red dot (as tested)
SAFETIES: trigger, drop, grip
PRICE: $837
MANUFACTURER: Springfield Armory,
SPRINGFIELD-ARMORY.COM
WWW.HANDGUNS.COM
break. The test gun’s trigger broke capacity of either the Glock G20 or a zippered black range bag with an
at 4.75 pounds on average for 10 the Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0. internal pocket. Suggested retail
pulls on a Wheeler gauge, which 7KH6SULQJÀHOG·VLQFKEDUUHO is $837 for the package, but you can
LVOLJKWHUWKDQPRVWVWULNHUÀUHG makes it the shortest of those three also purchase the XD-M Elite OSP
guns. Reset is very short—about pistols at 7.6 inches overall, but not 10mm without an optic for $653.
0.125 inch—so you can shoot this by much. It’s also slightly the tall- The latter gives you the option of
gun quickly and accurately once est of the bunch at 5.75 inches as adding a sight later.
you learn how to manage the well as the heaviest. Why would anyone want a
10mm’s recoil. $WRXQFHVLW·VDERXWIRXU VWULNHUÀUHGPP$XWRSLVWROZLWK
Recoil is substantial even with ounces heavier than the Glock DUHÁH[VLJKW"7KHREYLRXVDQVZHU
mild loads, which is why the FBI and three ounces heavier than the is for defense against big bears,
dumped the 10mm in favor of the S&W. For most practical applica- and in that role the XD-M Elite
.40 S&W years ago. The Spring- tions the three guns are the same OSP 10mm shines.
ÀHOGJULSLVZHOOGHVLJQHGDQG VL]HEXWWKH6SULQJÀHOG·VH[WUD 2QP\ODVW$ODVNDQKXQWLQJWULS
will accommodate large hands for quarter-pound of weight may help every hunter and guide carried a
complete control of the gun. reduce the sting of hot 10mm loads 10mm semiauto, and these guns
It features the Elite short mag without adding excessive bulk. have become the bear defense
ZHOOZKLFKLVH[WHQGHGDQGÁDUHG 6SULQJÀHOG;'0(OLWH263 weapon of choice because they
Two 16-round metal magazines inch 10mm pistols with Hex Drag- offer more rounds than a big
come with the pistol. That’s one RQÁ\RSWLFVKLSZLWKWZRPDJD]LQHV revolver. Plus, they offer very fast
more round than the standard and interchangeable backstraps in follow-up shots and are easier to
carry, all while generating enough
punch to make an aggressive griz
pack it in.
In this role the XD-M Elite will
shine. I’m certain its tough exte-
ULRUÀQLVKDQGSRO\PHUIUDPHZLOO
stand up to the elements. I’ve car-
ried an XD-S 9mm as my everyday
carry gun for years, and it has
stood up well to repeated daily
use and still looks as though it just
came out of the box.
The grip is large, and the textur-
ing is aggressive, and the trigger
guard offers ample room for gloved
ÀQJHUV7KHPRGHUQWUHQGWRZDUG
minimized controls has made
some guns hard to operate, but the
6SULQJÀHOG·VVOLGHVWRSDQGPDJ
release are easy to use even while
wearing gloves.
Springfield’s META is one of the best triggers in the striker-fired market. $JJUHVVLYHWH[WXULQJRQWKHIURQW
<

Take-up is light and smooth, the break is clean, and a short reset allows you and rear of the slide also allows
to fire accurate follow-ups in a hurry.
IRUTXLFNRSHUDWLRQDQGWKHÁDUHG
magazine well makes reload-
ACCURACY RESULTS | SPRINGFIELD XD-M ELITE 4.5 OSP ing simple. That’s a good thing if
Bullet Muzzle Std. Avg. you’ve just emptied 16 shots into a
10mm Auto Weight (gr.) Velocity (fps) Dev. (fps) Group (in.)
charging bear.
SIG Sauer V-Crown JHP 180 1,236 9 2.0 6SULQJÀHOGVL]HGWKLVJXQZHOO
Armscor JHP 180 1,180 12 2.5 for backcountry carry. It’s light
Winchester USA Ready FMJ 180 1,221 14 2.6
enough to carry on your hip, but
Federal Syntech Solid Core 200 1,132 10 1.4
if you prefer a chest holster—and
Speer Gold Dot 200 1,051 9 2.1
PDQ\$ODVNDQKXQWHUVDQGDQJOHUV
Notes: Accuracy results are averages of four five-shot-shot groups at 25 yards from a fixed rest. Velocities are averages
of 10 shots recorded on a LabRadar at the muzzle. Abbreviations: FMJ, full metal jacket; JHP, jacketed hollowpoint do because they spend most of

WWW.HANDGUNS.COM FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 HANDGUNS 37

BEAR ESSENTIALS
their time wearing waders—
WKH6SULQJÀHOGLVQRWVRODUJHDQG
KHDY\WKDWLWVEXUGHQVRPHRQORQJ
hikes. I much prefer a bear defense
JXQZLWKRXWDWUDGLWLRQDOPDQXDO
VDIHW\IRUWKHVLPSOHUHDVRQWKDW
LI,·PHYHUIRUFHGWRVWRSDFKDUJH
,ZDQWWRPLQLPL]HWKHHIIRUWUH-
TXLUHGWRPDNHWKHJXQJR´EDQJμ
7KURXJKURXQGVRIWHVWLQJ
WKH6SULQJÀHOGKDG]HURIDLOXUHV
WRORDGIHHGÀUHH[WUDFWRUHMHFW
:KDW·VPRUHWKHVOLGHVWRSORFNHG
RSHQDIWHUWKHÀQDOURXQGLQHYHU\
PDJD]LQHZDVÀUHG
:KHQ\RXUPDJD]LQHUXQVGU\
LQDUHDOVHOIGHIHQVHVLWXDWLRQ\RX
KDYHDQLPPHGLDWHSUREOHPDQG
WKHWLPHUHTXLUHGWRUHFRJQL]HWKH
LVVXHUHORDGDQGF\FOHDURXQG
might be the difference between
OLIHDQGGHDWK,ZRXOGQ·WFDUU\D
GHIHQVLYHSLVWROWKDWGRHVQ·WFRPH
WRVOLGHORFNDIWHUWKHODVWVKRWEXW
WKDW·VQRWDQLVVXHZLWKWKH6SULQJ-
ÀHOG
$FFXUDF\LVDOVRDQLPSRUWDQW
FRQVLGHUDWLRQLQDVHOIGHIHQVH
SLVWRO7KH6SULQJÀHOGPDQDJHG
ÀYHVKRWJURXSVXQGHUWZRLQFKHV
DW\DUGVDLGHGODUJHO\E\DTXDO-
LW\RSWLFDQGDJUHDWWULJJHU7KH
VPDOOHVWJURXSVZHUHSURGXFHGXV-
LQJ)HGHUDO·V6ROLG&RUHJUDLQ
DPPXQLWLRQDQGZLWKWKDWORDG,
FRXOGFRQVLVWHQWO\NHHSÀYHVKRWV
LQDJROIEDOOVL]HFOXVWHU
7KHSLVWRODOVRSHUIRUPHGZHOO
RIIWKHEHQFK7KHJULSGHVLJQ
PLPLFVWKHDQJOHRID³QRW
E\DFFLGHQW³DQGSURPRWHVDKLJK
KDQGKROGWKDWPDNHVPX]]OHULVH
YHU\PDQDJHDEOH:LWKOLJKWHU
ORDGVGHVLJQHGIRUVHOIGHIHQVH
WKHSLVWROLVOHVVDEXVLYH,EHOLHYH
WKDQWKLQOLJKWFDUU\PPV7KDW
VKRUWUHVHWDOORZV\RXWRVWHSRQ
WKHDFFHOHUDWRUDQGÀUHDOOVKRWV
LQDKXUU\:LWKSURSHUIRUPDQG
WHFKQLTXH\RXFDQGRLWDFFXUDWHO\
WRR
,LPDJLQHPRVWEX\HUVZLOORSW
IRUWKH+H['UDJRQÁ\HTXLSSHG
;'0(OLWH263PPEXWWKLV
JXQ·VLURQVLJKWVDUHYHU\JRRG
38 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023
With its 16-round capacity of 10mm Auto, the gun has great bear-stopping
<
capability, and the short mag well aids in fast, sure reloads.
7KH8QRWFKUHDULVGXUDEOHDQG
PXFKHDVLHUWRXVHWKDQWKHEORFN
RXWOLQHUHDUVLJKWRQVD\D*ORFN
*8OWLPDWHO\WKRXJKWKHIURQW
VLJKWVKRXOGEHWKHIRFXVRIWKH
VKRRWHU·VLQWHQWLRQDQGWKHÀEHU
RSWLFGRWRQWKH6SULQJÀHOGLVHDV\
WRVHHDQGXVH
7DNHGRZQDQGPDLQWHQDQFH
DUHVWUDLJKWIRUZDUG5RWDWLQJWKH
WDNHGRZQOHYHURQDQXQORDGHG
JXQZLWKRXWDPDJD]LQHDOORZV
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WWW.HANDGUNS.COM
The STRIKER-FIRED
PISTOL FOR
1911 Fans
some call it a miracle. we call it the stk100.
You don’t know us for our
striker-fired pistols. But you
will. The STK100 is made of
aluminum with just enough
weight to reduce felt recoil. It
comes in 10- or 17-round
capacity with an optic-ready
slide. It works with the most
aftermarket parts, and boasts
a grip angle like a 1911 for
greater control. Shoot
comfortably. Shoot accurately.
Shoot the STK100.

STK100
sku CALIBER CAPACITY BARREL
56625 9MM 10 or 17 4.5”

//ARMSCOR.com/STK100
 BY J. SCOTT RUPP

40 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 WWW.HANDGUNS.COM

 he SIG Sauer P320 is argu-
ably the most successful
THE COMPANY’S CONCIERGE VWULNHUÀUHGGHVLJQWKH
SERVICE LETS YOU BUILD 86PDUNHWKDVVHHQLQWKH

THE P320 OF YOUR DREAMS. SDVWGHFDGH$IWHUDOOD

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WWW.HANDGUNS.COM FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 HANDGUNS 41

ONE SWEET SIG
a cutout in the grip module, just
below the right-side slide-lock lever.
In the case of the Custom Works
guns, you’ll see the special FCU se-
ULDOQXPEHUSUHÀ[
Again, the FCU is the common
starting point for the build. From
here the world is your oyster. SIG’s
Michael Marotte suggested I go
with the Carry size, which suits me
because I love the middle road. The
Carry size sits between the 320’s
Full-Size and Compact versions.
For the grip module, I chose the
AXG for a couple of reasons. AXG,
which stands for Alloy X-Series
Grip, is aluminum versus the stan-
dard-issue polymer. There’s nothing
wrong with polymer-frame semiau-
Rupp went with a two-tone look, a black slide contrasting with the titanium
<
Cerakote finish on the alloy grip module. It blends nicely with the black/gray
grip panels and is set off by the gold trigger.
The Custom Works 320 FCU has a gold titanium nitride finish and a flat,
<
skeletonized finger lever. Trigger pull weight was excellent.
42 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023
tos—I own several—but I do prefer
metal, and an alloy frame results in
a gun that’s more controllable while
still being light enough to carry.
For years I struggled with SIG pis-
tols because their grip styles never
suited me. That’s one of the things
SIG changed in the X-Series P320s,
providing a less chunky grip and a
grip angle that’s closer to the 1911.
,W·VQRWH[DFWO\XQGHUFXWEHKLQG
the trigger guard, but it is relieved
WKHUHDQGRYHUDOOLWÀWVPHZHOO$
minor change you may notice is that
the AXG frames employ a rounded
magazine release, as opposed to the
triangular release that is the hall-
mark of other P320s.
The AXG grip module is available
LQEODFNÁDWGDUNHDUWKDQGP\
FKRLFHDWLWDQLXP&HUDNRWHÀQLVK
that I chose for purely aesthetic rea-
sons. All told, the AXG frame added
$400 to the base price at the time,
but the AXG frames are currently
listing at $300. Your other choices
are the titanium-infused polymer
TXG ($250) and various polymer
frames ($90).
I should note that as you drag your
cursor over the various choices,
an image of how the gun will look
changes. When you make a selection
DQGPRYHWRWKHQH[WFRPSRQHQW
your gun shows on the screen as
LW·VFXUUHQWO\FRQÀJXUHG6RDWWKLV
point in the build process, on my
computer screen I’m seeing the
gold FCU housed in the titanium-
ÀQLVKHG$;*JULSPRGXOHDQG,·P
happy.
1H[WXSLVJULSSDQHOVDQGKHUH
is where you can really make your
pistol stand out—or not. I went with
a simple black/gray G10, but you
FDQVHOHFW*ÀQLVKHVLQZDOQXWRU
a veritable rainbow of color pat-
terns—as well as several options
from well-respected maker Lok
Grips. Grip options tack on between
$115 and $170, with my choice add-
ing $120.
There’s a lot to consider when
it comes to slides, and the system
prevents you from making incompat-
ible choices. Lengths include 3.6,
SIG SAUER
CUSTOM WORKS P320
TYPE: striker-fired semiauto
CAPACITY: 10+1 (tested), 17+1, 21+1
BARREL: 4.6 in., threaded 13.5x1 left-hand
OAL/HEIGHT/WIDTH: 8.1/5.5/1.3 in.
WEIGHT: 32 oz.
CONSTRUCTION: nitron-finished stainless
steel slide; titanium Cerakote-finished AXG
alloy grip module
GRIP PANELS: black/gray G10
TRIGGER: Custom Works 320 FCU; gold
titanium nitride finish; flat, skeletonized
finger lever; 3 lb., 4 oz. pull (measured)
SAFETY: striker, disconnect
PRICE: $1,570 (at time of build)
MANUFACTURER: SIG Sauer, SIGSAUER.COM
WWW.HANDGUNS.COM
The Carbine

Model 995 & 4595

OD and FDE

Threaded barrel - 1/2x28 (9mm)

.578x28 (45Auto)
10 round magazine (9mm)
9 round magazine (45Auto)
20 Round Available
AMERICAN MADE
See them all at HI-POINTFIREARMS.COM AMERICAN PROMISE

HURRICANE
BACKPACK
With a water resistant
exterior and softly padded
shoulder straps, this
backpack will go anywhere
you want to go.

The Torrent’s MOLLE webbing

exterior allows you to
configure your accessories
and attachments so they’re
right where you need them.

Whether you’re hiking or

going to the range, the
Hurricane backpack has you
covered.

FULLFORGEGEAR.COM
ONE SWEET SIG
3.9 and 4.7 inches, and there are
EODFNFR\RWHWDQDQGVWDLQOHVVÀQ-
ishes as well as different slide styles.
As to the latter, you can select from
the unique Spectre to the race-gun-
looking Pro-Cut in addition to more
basic slides.
I opted for simple here and chose
an X-Series in plain ol’ black and
the 3.9-inch length. It comes with
suppressor-height sights in the
H[FHOOHQW;5D\GD\QLJKWFRQÀJX-
ration: twin tritium lamps on either
side of the rear notch and a tritium
lamp surrounded by a high-visibility
green dot on the front blade.
Slide charges run from $280 for
the standard slide to $450 for the
Pro-Cut and Spectre. My choice
added $350 to the bill.
%DUUHOVFRPHQH[WDQGDVFRQÀJ-
ured, I was presented with only a
few choices—the main being to go
the threaded-barrel route or a plain
barrel. I went with threaded ($230),
13.5x1 left-hand threading. The
1/2x28 pattern is also an option. It’s
a 4.6-inch barrel, necessarily being
longer to accommodate the threaded
portion. Standard 3.9-inch barrels
are available in black ($180) or gold
 ÀQLVK
You don’t get a choice on recoil
Rupp opted for a 4.6-inch threaded barrel on the 3.9-inch X-Series slide.
<
Customized slide engravings on the left and right—“HANDGUNS” in this
case—really personalize the pistol.
44 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023
assembly, as it must match the slide/
barrel length you’ve already chosen.
In the case of the 3.9-incher I built,
it’s $40.
Magazines are another matter.
If you live in a restrictive state, as
I do, your options shrink, but they
still exist. You can go with the basic
10-rounder ($50), which is a standard
mag that’s “dimpled” so it won’t ac-
cept more than 10 cartridges. For
another $10 you can select a Legion
mag, which sports a bumper with the
Legion logo.
In the standard-capacity realm,
you can opt for 17- or 21-round maga-
zines, in black or coyote. These are
$50 as well, except for the 17-round
Legion, which again comes with a
$10 upcharge.
All slides are cut for optics, and
you also have the option of having
the gun ship with a SIG Romeo 1 Pro
in either three or six m.o.a. I didn’t
add this, but if I had, it would run
$440.
And since you’ve gone through this
process to build a pistol with your
personal stamp on it in terms of fea-
tures and looks, it only makes sense
to get an extra personalized touch.
7KHÀQDOVWHSLQWKHEXLOGLVHQJUDY-
ing, provided at no charge. You can
get different lettering engraved on
the left and right sides, or you can
do as I did and have them the same.
Both engravings are limited to 20
characters.
There’s even a font choice: Arial
or Garamond. As an old print guy, I
could go on and on about fonts, but I
won’t. Just experiment by typing in
your choices in the boxes and then
switching fonts back and forth to
judge them on the screen.
If at any time during the
P320 ASSEMBLY/
DISASSEMBLY TIPS
The P320 was designed to be incredibly
safe to disassemble. For one, you have
to eject the magazine, otherwise you
can’t rotate the takedown lever. Yes,
dropping the mag should always be the
first step to unloading or disassembling
any pistol, but here you have no choice
if you’re going to take it apart. Second,
it’s not necessary to pull the trigger to
remove the slide/barrel.
There are a couple of tricks to reas-
sembly, and one applies to the Carry,
Compact and Subcompact models.
At the rear of the recoil spring guide
assembly you’ll see two flats with small
holes. The flat/hole side must be posi-
tioned vertically in order to reassemble.
The second applies to all P320s and
involves the final step where you’re slid-
ing the assembled slide back onto the
frame. If you “cheat” and simply rotate
the takedown lever without locking
back the slide, the gun won’t function.
You’ll get no trigger pull. You must lock
back the slide with the slide-lock lever.
Once you’ve done so, you can rotate the
takedown lever to its horizontal position
and you’re good to go.
If you want to remove the fire-control
unit to swap out a grip module, the
manual says pull out on the takedown
lever while rotating it. At least the first
time you do this you’re going to need
to use some force. Just wiggle and
pull hard until it comes out. Then push
forward on the fire-control unit and tilt
up to remove.—JSR
WWW.HANDGUNS.COM
 MC2 ® PISTOLS
OPTIC-READY. CARRY-READY.

features such as optic-ready slides for easy direct

mounting of micro dot optics, MC2 pistols can help
MC2c®
Compact provide peace of mind when you need it most.
14+1/16+1 Capacity
Mossberg — Makers of dependable, hardworking
firearms for more than a century.
LEARN MORE AT MOSSBERG.COM

MC2sc®
Micro-Compact
11+1/14+1 Capacity

©2022 O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc.

SAFETY TIP: Store firearms securely, inaccessible to children and unauthorized users.

Consult and comply with any and all applicable federal, state, and local: laws, regulations, requirements, and/or
restrictions, including but not limited to those regarding the purchase, ownership, use, transport, and carrying of a firearm.
ONE SWEET SIG
process you get a little lost or
you think your build has gotten out
of hand, you can reset to the base
FRQÀJXUDWLRQ:KHQ\RX·UHVDWLV-
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Suppressor-height X-Ray 3 day/night sights—tritium lamps in the rear and a
<
tritium/green dot front—pair up with a SIG Romeo 1 slide optics cut.
46 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023
\RX·UHJHWWLQJH[DFWO\ZKDW\RXZDQW
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OUR PRODU CT HAS BEEN COMP
ARED TO
HANDM ADE JEWEL RY, BECAU SE
IT’S MADE BY PEOPL E
WHOS E CRAFT TOOK YEARS TO
DEVEL OP. AND YOU CAN’T
recreate craft in any kind
of artificial way.
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all-around pistol that looks ter-
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sent along a test target that has a
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anything close to that off a benchrest
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you can see in the accompanying ac-
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WWW.HANDGUNS.COM
 ACRO P-2™
Professional grade pistol optic
CR2032 battery – 5 year life, constant-on
Fully enclosed optical channel
Compatible with night vision
Withstands extreme G-force vibration &
temperature changes
Legendary Aimpoint ruggedness

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 ONE SWEET SIG
outstanding. It’s easy to track slide-lock lever looks like it’s on the
the sights through recoil, and they small side, its design is such that it’s
come back on target fast. I’d tested easy to use for locking the slide and
the M18 version of the P320 a year or as a slide release.
so ago, and my one criticism was the 7KH*JULSSDQHOVZKLFKLQFOXGH
DPRXQWRIPX]]OHÁLS7KLV&XVWRP DVHFWLRQRQWKHEDFNVWUDSDORQJ
Works gun—which has essentially ZLWKWKHVHUUDWLRQVRQWKHIURQWVWUDS
the same overall length—was a lot NHHSWKHJXQDQFKRUHGLQWKHKDQG
better in this regard, thanks to the 7KHJXQZDVXWWHUO\UHOLDEOH,W
DOOR\$;*JULSPRGXOH never malfunctioned in my testing
%UHDNLQJJRRGVKRWVLVQRSUREOHP RURQWKH79VKRZ7RJHWKHUZLWKWKH
thanks to the light, straight trigger 0,VKRWZKLFKZDVDOVRFRPSOHWHO\
SXOO7KHPDJD]LQHUHOHDVHLVHDV\ UHOLDEOH,·YHFRPHWRDSSUHFLDWHZK\
WRDFWLYDWHDQGPDJVGURSIUHHZLWK WKH3LVVRSRSXODUDQGZK\WKH
QRKDQJXSV6SHDNLQJRIFRQWUROV PLOLWDU\FKRVHLW$VEXLOWWKH&XVWRP
there is no manual safety. While the Works gun was great on the range,
ACCURACY RESULTS | SIG CUSTOM WORKS P320
Bullet Muzzle Std. Avg.
9mm Luger Weight (gr.) Velocity (fps) Dev. (fps) Group (in.)
Fiocchi FMJ 115 1,118 20 3.3
Hornady Custom XTP 124 1,110 11 3.5
Federal American Eagle FMJ 147 1,014 11 2.6
Notes: Accuracy results are averages of four five-shot groups with iron sights from an MTM Case-Gard rest at 25
yards. Velocities are averages of 20 shots recorded on a ProChrono DLX 10 feet from the muzzle. Abbreviation: FMJ,
full metal jacket
and while it’s no micro 9mm, at 32
RXQFHVLW·VOLJKWHQRXJKDQGFRPSDFW
enough that I can carry it if I want to.
,VWLOOQHHGWRJHWDVXSSUHVVRU
IRULWDQGDWWKDWSRLQWZLWKDOLJKW
laser added to the gun’s three-slot
accessory rail, it will become our
SULPDU\KRPHGHIHQVHJXQ)UDQNO\
it’s why I went with the threaded
barrel. Having a can on a home
defense gun makes so much sense, as
you won’t be subjected to the highly
GLVRULHQWLQJQRLVHRIJXQÀUHLQD
closed environment.
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WKHUH·VQRGHQ\LQJLW·VDQH[SHQVLYH
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dred bucks off that by making differ-
ent choices, but if your goal is to have
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ZDQW³RQHWKDWZLOOÀOO\RXZLWKVRPH
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worth investigating.

R3D Tritium
Night Sights
Fast and accurate
sight picture, when
seconds count.

xssights.com | 888-744-4880 | tech@xssights.com

NEW
The New Smith & Wesson EqualizerTM – everything you need to take control and carry the day.
• Easy-to-Rack™ slide requires 35% less force than standard sub-compacts
• A crisp light trigger maintains accuracy with a lighter pull
• New 10, 13 and 15+1 magazine options provide more 9mm capacity
• The red-dot-ready slide mount aids in quicker target acquisition
• Optimized grip texture provides comfortable, confident handling

smith-wesson.com
Racking force claim based on factory tests with competitors’ similarly sized pistols. ©2022 Smith & Wesson Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 BY BRAD FITZPATRICK

50 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 WWW.HANDGUNS.COM

 here’s no more cramped seg-
PHQWRIWKHÀUHDUPVPDUNHW
SHADOW SYSTEMS’ NEW WKDQVWULNHUÀUHGPP
FOUNDATION SERIES OF pistols. It seems every gun

OPTICS-READY PISTOLS manufacturer has launched

one, and sorting through the varied
ARE FEATURE-PACKED AND PDNHVDQGPRGHOVDQGDOOWKHLURYHU-

PRICED TO MOVE. lapping features can be a chore.

Why, then, am I excited about
Shadow Systems’ new Foundation
Series line of pistols? For start-
ers, even though these guns are
entry priced by Shadow Systems
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Shadow Systems guns different from
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different than other gun manufac-
turers. The company was founded
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person on Earth to design his own
line of handguns.
Roe became interested in shoot-
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become the youngest-ever Master in
USPSA’s Limited division at the age
RI
“I grew up in southern California,
which was the epicenter of competi-
tive shooting at the time,” Roe said.
He attended West Point and compet-
ed on the school’s Combat Weapons
team and won the Joint Service
Academy Combat Shooting Champi-
onship all three years he competed.
Roe later served as an infantry
soldier in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Having shot more rounds before
KHFRXOGGULQNDEHHUOHJDOO\WKDQ
PRVWVKRRWHUVÀUHLQDOLIHWLPH5RH
was well positioned to improve upon
VRPHRIWKHVWULNHUÀUHGJXQVWKDW
existed at the time. Until recently,
polymer-frame pistols weren’t
FRQVLGHUHGSUHPLXPSURGXFWVOLNH
KDQGWXQHGDQGKDQGÀWWHGV
In the last few years, however,

< The Shadow Systems Foundation

Series consists of (from l.) the
MR920 FS, XR920 FS and DR920 FS.

WWW.HANDGUNS.COM FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 HANDGUNS 51

STEPPING INTO THE LIGHT
there’s been an increased avail-
ability of premium polymer guns,
and Shadow Systems is the leader in
WKLVQHZVXEVHJPHQWRIVWULNHUÀUHG
pistols.
With guns like its DR920P costing
just under $1,300, Shadows Systems
was playing at a higher price point
than most polymer guns. However,
we’ve learned that many Glock own-
ers immediately start tuning their
pistols with improved slides, barrels,
triggers, controls and other features.
What Shadow Systems offers is
a tricked-out polymer pistol that
doesn’t require any gunsmithing or
add-ons. These guns are a cut above
right out of the box.
With the Foundation Series, shoot-
ers are getting that same attention
to detail and American-build quality
at a substantially reduced price.
Controls will be familiar to Glock shooters, but they’re slightly bigger and
<
easier to operate. The beavertail extends well beyond the tip of the grip for
added control.
The trigger breaks between 4.5 and five pounds, but the striker springs
<
aren’t extremely light, which improves longevity.
52 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023
Although these guns don’t offer the
premium slide and barrel treatments
you’ll get with the company’s higher-
priced guns, the foundation (hence
the name) of this new line of pistols
remains the same, and they offer
the same reliability and function as
their higher-priced Shadows Systems
counterparts. You’re giving up some
of the bling with Foundation pistols,
but none of the bang.
Let’s begin by examining the three
members of the Foundation family.
First, is the MR920 FS, which sports
a four-inch barrel and boasts a maga-
zine capacity of 15. The “MR” stands
for “multi role,” meaning this pistol
can serve as a primary duty pistol,
a backup gun or even a concealed-
carry pistol.
The Foundation XR920 FS is a
crossover pistol that shares the same
barrel and slide as the MR920 FS but
features a larger polymer frame with
a capacity of 17 rounds.
The DR920 FS (for duty ready) has
a 4.5-inch barrel and a larger grip
that holds 17 rounds.
The MR920 FS, XR920 FS and
DR920 FS pistols bear a resemblance
to the Glock G19, Glock G19X and
Glock G17 respectively. That’s no
accident.
For years pistol manufacturers
KDYHEHHQEXLOGLQJVWULNHUÀUHGJXQV
on their own proprietary footprints,
and these footprints don’t vary all
that much. But, of course, when
you’re trying to purchase a holster or
replace the gun’s sights, you’ll have
WRÀQGPRGHOVSHFLÀFDIWHUPDUNHW
accessories. If there isn’t a robust
PDUNHWIRU\RXUÀUHDUPWKRVHDFFHV-
sory options will be limited.
Not so with the Shadow Systems
Foundation guns because all the
essential stuff—sights, holsters,
lights, and so forth—match the Glock
footprint. There is one exception.
Roe told me the unique position of
the Foundation dovetail, which sits
farther back to accommodate the op-
tics cut, may make some Glock sights
hang over the rear of the slide.
I received all three Foundation
SHADOWS SYSTEMS
FOUNDATION MR920 FS,
XR920 FS, DR920 FS
TYPE: striker-fired semiauto
CALIBER: 9mm Luger
CAPACITY: 15 (MR), 17 (XR, DR)
BARREL: 4 in. (MR, XR), 4.5 in. (DR)
OAL/HEIGHT/WIDTH: 7.1/4.8/1.2 in. (MR),
7.4/5.3/1.2 in. (XR), 7.6/5.3/1.2 in. (DR)
WEIGHT: 22 oz. (MR, XR), 24 oz. (DR)
GRIPS: textured polymer w/three inter-
changeable backstraps
FINISH: black nitride
TRIGGER: 4.8 lb. pull (DR, measured)
SIGHTS: notch black rear w/serrations and
tactical ledge, post white dot front; optics
ready
SAFETY: trigger
PRICE: $679
MANUFACTURER: Shadow Systems,
SHADOWSYSTEMSCORP.COM
WWW.HANDGUNS.COM
models for testing, and because I
DOUHDG\KDGKROVWHUVWRÀWD*ORFN
DQG*ORFN,GLGQ·WQHHGWRRUGHU
DQ\WKLQJWRÀWWKH6KDGRZ6\VWHPV
JXQV$QGEHFDXVH*ORFNSLVWROVDUH
VRSRSXODU\RXFDQSUREDEO\ÀQGMXVW
DERXWDQ\KROVWHU\RXOLNHWRÀW\RXU
)RXQGDWLRQPP
7KHGRYHWDLOHGUHDUDQGSRVWIURQW
VLJKWDOVRÀWWKH*ORFNIRRWSULQW³
ZKLOHQRWLQJWKHIRUHJRLQJSRWHQWLDO
LVVXH³VR\RXFDQVZDSRXWVLJKWVLI
\RXOLNH,PXVWVD\KRZHYHUWKDWWKH
EODFNHGRXWS\UDPLGDOUHDUVLJKWVRQ
WKH6KDGRZ6\VWHPVSLVWROVDUHEHW
WHUWKDQWKHFKHDSDQGXQFRPHO\UHDU
VLJKWRQD*ORFN
6RZKDWH[DFWO\KDVEHHQFKDQJHG
RQWKH)RXQGDWLRQJXQVWRNHHSFRVW
ORZHUWKDQ6KDGRZ6\VWHPV·RWKHU
SRO\PHUSLVWROV"3ULPDULO\WKHFRVW
VDYLQJVDUHDUHVXOWRIIHZHUPDFKLQ
ing cuts on the slide.
Instead of the more elaborate ma
FKLQLQJZLWKSRUWVDQGRWKHUDUWLVWLF
WRXFKHVRQ6KDGRZ6\VWHPV·JXQV
that cost over a grand, the Founda
WLRQSLVWROVIHDWXUHPRUHVHGDWHPD
chining. These guns are austere by
6KDGRZ6\VWHPVVWDQGDUGVEXWWKH
DQJXODUSLOOVKDSHGIURQWDQGUHDU
VOLGHFXWVDUHVWLOOPRUHWKDQ\RX·OO
W\SLFDOO\ÀQGRQDSRO\PHUIUDPH
VWULNHUÀUHGSLVWRO
7KHUH·VD´SRFNHWμPDFKLQHG
around the front slide serrations, and
WKLVLVGHVLJQHGWRKHOSPDNHKROVWHU
LQJWKHJXQVDIHUDQGPRUHHIÀFLHQW
$OVR)RXQGDWLRQJXQVFRPHZLWKRXW
WKUHDGHGPX]]OHVRUWKHVSLUDOÁXWLQJ
IRXQGRQVRPHRIWKHFRPSDQ\·VRWKHU
models.
)RXQGDWLRQSLVWROVODFNVRPHRIWKH
IULOOVIRXQGRQRWKHU6KDGRZ6\VWHPV
RIIHULQJVEXWWKHSUHFLVLRQPDFKLQHG
VOLGHUHFHLYHVDQLWULGHÀQLVKDQGWKH
SRO\PHUIUDPHDQGWH[WXULQJUHPDLQ
XQFKDQJHG$ÁDWIDFHEODGHGWULJ
JHUWKDWEUHDNVEHWZHHQDQGÀYH
SRXQGVFRPHVVWDQGDUGRQWKHVH
guns, and Roe told me that because
these guns are built for reliability
DQGGXUDELOLW\\RXZRQ·WÀQGWKHYHU\
OLJKWVWULNHUVSULQJVLQFOXGHGRQVRPH
other models.
ACCURACY RESULTS | SHADOW SYSTEMS DR920 FS
9mm Luger
Norma MHP
Hornady Critical Defense
Blazer FMJ
Federal Punch JHP
Speer Gold Dot BJHP
Notes: Accuracy results are averages of four five-shot-shot groups at 25 yards from a fixed rest. Velocities are averages
of 10 shots recorded on a LabRadar at the muzzle. Abbreviations: BJHP, bonded jacketed hollowpoint; FMJ, full metal
jacket; JHP, jacketed hollowpoint
7KHRSWLFFXWIHDWXUHVDXQLTXH
PXOWLIRRWSULQWGLUHFWPRXQWGHVLJQ
VR\RXZRQ·WKDYHWRÀGGOHZLWKD
EXQFKRISODWHV6SDFHUVWKUHHVHWVRI
VFUHZV³WKHORQJHVWLQWKHLQGXVWU\³
DQG/RFWLWHDUHDOOLQFOXGHGDQGZLWK
WKHVHFRPSRQHQWV\RXFDQPRXQW
MXVWDERXWDQ\UHÁH[VLJKWRQWKHVH
SLVWROV7KHRSWLFVHWXSLVGXUDEOH
DQGDVFORVHWRDIRROSURRIGHVLJQDV
\RX·OOÀQG
7KHSRO\PHUIUDPHXVHGRQWKH
Foundation models has the same
ZUDSDURXQGWH[WXULQJ\RX·OOÀQGRQ
6KDGRZ6\VWHPV·SUHPLXPSLVWROV
7KUHHEDFNVWUDSVDUHLQFOXGHGEXW
LQVWHDGRIGLIIHUHQWVL]HVWKHEDFN
VWUDSVPLPLFRWKHUSRSXODUSLVWRO
GHVLJQV*ORFN6PLWK :HVVRQ0 3
DQGÁDWPDLQVSULQJV
7KHVHEDFNVWUDSVDFWXDOO\FKDQJH
WKHVKRRWHU·VZULVWSRVLWLRQUHODWLYH
WRWKHERUHZKLFKDOORZV\RXWRFRQ
ÀJXUHWKHJXQWRÀW\RXUQDWXUDOKDQG
SRVLWLRQ7KLVLQWXUQKHOSVVKRRWHUV
ÀQGZKDW5RHFDOOHGD´QDWXUDOSRLQW
RIDLPμDQGDLGVLQIDVWDFFXUDWH
shooting.
7KHEDFNVWUDSVDUHTXLFNDQGHDV\
WRUHSODFH5HPRYHWKHUROOSLQDW
WKHEDVHRIWKHJULSXVLQJWKHVXS
SOLHGSXQFKWRROWKHQVOLGHRIIWKH
EDFNVWUDS2QFH\RXGRWKDW\RX·OO
VHHWKHEDFNVWUDSVDUHDWWDFKHGYLD
DGRYHWDLOWKDWUXQVDORQJWKHEDFNRI
WKHJULS³QRVPDOOJURRYHVRUIUDJLOH
WDEV6OLGHDGLIIHUHQWEDFNVWUDSRQWR
WKHGRYHWDLOUHLQVWDOOWKHSLQDQG
\RX·UHGRQH
7KH;5DQG05JXQVZHLJK
DURXQGRXQFHVXQORDGHGZKLOH
WKH'5YHUVLRQZHLJKVRXQFHV7KH
URXQG05PHDVXUHVLQFKHVWDOO
Bullet Muzzle Std. Avg.
Weight (gr.) Velocity (fps) Dev. (fps) Group (in.)
108 1,178 18 2.3
115 1,131 8 2.7
115 1,139 10 3.1
124 1,146 10 2.0
135 1,110 7 1.9
The optics-ready slide features a
<
durable, direct-mount design. The
Foundations ship with long optics
screws for rock-solid attachment.
ZKLOHWKHWZRURXQGJXQVPHDVXUH
LQFKHVWDOO2YHUDOOOHQJWKUDQJHV
IURPLQFKHVWRLQFKHVDQG
WKHVHJXQVPHDVXUHMXVWRYHUDQLQFK
ZLGHVRWKH\·UHDOOWKLQHQRXJKWR
carry.
7KHFRQWUROVDUHZHOOODLGRXWLQD
SDWWHUQWKDWZLOOEHIDPLOLDUWR*ORFN
IDQV7KHUH·VDVOLGHVWRSDQGPDJD
]LQHUHOHDVHDVZHOODVDWUDQVYHUVH
WDNHGRZQSLQWKDWPXVWEHGHSUHVVHG
for the slide assembly to be removed
from the frame. The beavertail is
H[WHQGHGZKLFKLVQLFHDQGWKHSUL
mary controls seem a bit larger than
WKRVHIRXQGRQ*ORFNSLVWROV
7KHFRQWUROVRQWKH6KDGRZ6\VWHP
SLVWROVDUHPRUHXVHUIULHQGO\WREH
VXUH,KDGDQDIWHUPDUNHWVOLGHVWRS
and mag release button added to my
ÀUVW*ORFNWRDOORZPHWRUXQLW
PRUHTXLFNO\LQFRPSHWLWLRQVDQGWKH
DIWHUPDUNHWVSHHGHQKDQFLQJFRQ
WUROVIHHOYHU\PXFKOLNHZKDW\RX·OO
get standard on a Foundation gun.
,·YHVSHQWPDQ\\HDUVVKRRWLQJ
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 HANDGUNS 53
STEPPING INTO THE LIGHT
Glock pistols, so I noticed the
areas where Shadow Systems has
improved upon the G19 and G17 de-
signs that have become the standard
EHDUHUVRIWKHVWULNHUÀUHGPDUNHW
Foundation pistols have recesses in
the slide into which angular slide
serrations are cut, and the layout is
far more aggressive and functional
than the thin, shallow serrations on
IDFWRU\*ORFNV$VVWDWHGWKHFRQ-
trols are better and the sights are an
LPSURYHPHQWWRR
,W·VGLIÀFXOWWREHDW*ORFNUHOL-
DELOLW\WKRXJK,I\RXKDYHWLPHWR
kill, you can watch all sorts of videos Unlike traditional backstraps, the Foundation inserts change grip angle to
<

where social media gun gurus
subject Glock pistols to all manner
of abuse, and the Glocks always
FRPHRXWÀULQJ,·YHQHYHUEDNHGD
Shadow Systems gun in a cake in the
oven, but based on what I’ve seen
IURPÀHOGWHVWLQJWKHWKUHHJXQV
that were sent to me, I’ll say that
you won’t wear out one of these guns
LQDQDYHUDJHOLIHWLPHRIVKRRWLQJ
mimic other popular pistols, and the dovetail setup is strong and easy to use.
Everything on this gun comes out inches at 25 yards, and a couple of
of the box slick and remained so those groups would have measured
throughout hundreds of rounds of around an inch had one round not
WHVWLQJ VWUD\HGDZD\IURPWKHUHVW2YHUDOO
For accuracy testing, I chose the WKDW·VVXSHUEDFFXUDF\IRUDLQFK
DR920 FS and mounted a Leupold VWULNHUÀUHGJXQ
'HOWD3RLQW3UR:LWKWKDWVHWXS, The trigger was very clean and
routinely shot groups under two crisp, the high undercut allows

TRAIN FOR PENNIES

NOT DOLLARS
© 2022 UMAREX USA, INC.

PLINK, PRACTICE, AND TARGET

SHOOT WITH REPLICA AIRGUNS
UMAREXAIRGUNS.COM

54 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 WWW.HANDGUNS.COM

 RDO READY

IMPROVED
SLIDE

BEST-IN-CLASS
TRIGGER

ERGONOMIC GRIP

FORM. FUNCTION. FORTITUDE.

The next evolution of striker-fired pistol comes from the longest-standing
name in firearms — the Beretta APX A1. With a crisp, class-dominating
trigger, optics-ready slide, and enhanced ergonomics, making it fast, smooth,
accurate and ridiculously comfortable in your hand. The APX A1. Only from
Beretta. The ultimate convergence of FORM. FUNCTION. FORTITUDE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT BERETTA.COM

STEPPING INTO THE LIGHT
for maximum control, and the The backstraps swap out eas- the best all-purpose polymer pistol
beavertail is extended to prevent ily, and their robust design doesn’t available today.
VOLGHELWH7KHVHJXQVVKRRWÁDWDQG leave you wondering whether you’re It must be paying off, because it
that promotes fast follow-ups. going to snap the thin polymer isn’t just a handful of gun writers
2IIWKHEHQFK,ÀUHGURXQGVDW WDEVRIIHYHU\WLPH\RXUHFRQÀJXUH who are taking note of the success of
defensive distances with all three your gun. The polymer frame and Shadow Systems. Major law enforce-
pistols. Although the Foundation QLWULGHÀQLVKVOLGHZLOOVWDQGXSWR ment agencies are adopting these
guns feature sights more basic than excessive abuse, and all those Glock pistols as their duty weapons, and
the company’s more expensive pis- sights, lights, lasers and holsters Shadow Systems is one of just four
tols, I like the layout. will work perfectly with your Foun- handgun manufacturers that are
The steel rear trapezoidal sight is dation pistol. FHUWLÀHGE\WKH1DWLRQDO,QVWLWXWHRI
blacked out, and that drives atten- With a price tag of $679, they cost Justice.
tion to the white front-dot sight. I more than what you’ll pay for other “We are here to stay,” Roe said.
could get on-sight quickly with the VWULNHUÀUHGJXQV%XWWKH)RXQGD- Shadow Systems manufactures their
gun and deliver fast follow-ups, and tion pistols offer more features than guns and parts, so they have com-
even though these sights are rather \RX·OOÀQGRQWKHDYHUDJHSRO\PHU plete control over their products,
austere, they are functional. You 9mm, and that’s because of the at- and the company prides itself on
can swap them out for other sights tention to detail that goes into the offering the best customer care. Roe
if you’d like, but I don’t think that’s ÀUHDUPVWKHFRPSDQ\PDNHV said that he’s gone as far as calling
necessary since the stock sights are Unlike a lot of other handgun a customer on Facetime about an
serviceable and robust. manufacturers, Shadow Systems is issue on Christmas Day.
These guns are well built with staffed largely by competitive shoot- That type of commitment leaves
tight tolerances and very clean ers and current and former law en- little doubt that Shadow Systems is
lines. I appreciate that Shadow Sys- forcement and military profession- indeed poised to become one of the
tems has made things easier on us als. It’s clear that time and energy PDMRUSOD\HUVLQWKHVWULNHUÀUHG
shooters. Mounting an optic on this have gone into the design and layout SLVWROPDUNHWSODFH%DVHGRQZKDW
gun is straightforward, and I like of these guns, and Roe said he’s lost I’ve seen, this company and their
that Shadow Systems includes a tube sleep worrying about minor nu- quality American-made guns won’t
of gun grease and Loctite. anced features in his effort to create be a secret much longer.

NEW
DOT
SIGHTS
7xRGB20 RGY Dot Sight 3xRDS MDPR1
5 MOA Red/Green/Blue Dot 5 MOA Red/Green/Yellow Dot 5 MOA Dot 3 MOA Micro Dot
© 2022 UMAREX USA, INC.

AxeonOptics.com
When Technology
Meets Affordability,
You’re Clearly On Target.

56 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023

UPGRADE YOUR EQUIPMENT
AND YOUR SKILLS
Even after you upgrade to a new HK VP9, with

its best-in-class trigger pull and ergonomic,

customizable grip, you’re not quite done yet. You

still need a couple of important accessories. And

we’re not talking about holsters, lights and optics

either. Training and Practice – They are two different

things and we all need more of both. Look into it

… and go do the work! www.hk-usa.com • 706-701-5554

 | FIRING LINE REPORT | BY BRAD FITZPATRICK
TAURUS GX4 XL
WITH SO MANY NEW MICRO 9MM PIS-
tols on the market it can be difficult to
choose which gun is right for you, but
one pistol that caught the attention
of lots of folks was the Taurus GX4.
The gun was a success right out of
the gate, and it didn’t take long for the
GX4 family to grow—figuratively and
literally.
The GX4 XL, the newest member
of the GX4 line, comes with a 3.7-inch
barrel. That’s considerably longer than
the 3.06-inch barrel on the standard
GX4, but at 6.05 inches long, the new
XL version of the GX4 is hardly dif-
ficult to conceal, and the extra barrel
length is designed to extend the sight
radius and help control muzzle rise.
Width stays the same at 1.08
inches, so the XL version tucks close
to the body just like the original. The
58 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023
GX4 XL comes with one 11-round and
one 13-round mag. For those who live
in restrictive states, there’s also a ver-
sion that sells with a pair of 10-round
magazines. It’s available with an uncut
slide or a Taurus Optics Ready Option
(T.O.R.O.) slide. I tested the latter,
and this slide is cut for sights built on
the Shield RMSc footprint, and it’s a
direct attachment—no plates.
The 3.7-inch barrel is treated to a
DLC coating, and the internal frame is
stainless steel.
The polymer grips have fine textur-
ing on the frontstrap, backstrap and
grip panels, and it also has a feature
you don’t see on other micro com-
pacts: interchangeable backstraps.
There are two, and they offer a slight
or pronounced palm swell. The larger
of the two inserts worked best for me.
TAURUS
GX4 XL
TYPE: striker-fired semiauto
CALIBER: 9mm Luger
CAPACITY: 11, 13
BARREL: 3.7 in., DLC coated
OAL/HEIGHT/WIDTH: 6.4/4.4/1.1 in.
WEIGHT: 20 oz.
CONSTRUCTION: gas-nitride carbon steel
slide, stainless steel internal frame, polymer
grips
TRIGGER: flat-face, 6 lb. pull (measured)
SIGHTS: serrated, plain black drift-adjustable
rear, white dot front post; T.O.R.O. optics-
ready slide (as tested)
PRICE: $459 (as tested)
MANUFACTURER: Taurus USA,
TAURUSUSA.COM
They’re easy to swap by knocking out
a pin.
The pistol has no manual safety, but
WWW.HANDGUNS.COM
it does come with a striker block and
a trigger safety. There’s also a cutout ACCURACY RESULTS | TAURUS GX4 XL
in the rear of the chamber that allows Bullet Muzzle Std. Avg.
9mm Luger Weight (gr.) Velocity (fps) Dev. (fps) Group (in.)
you to visually inspect the chamber.
Black Hills HoneyBadger +P 100 1,147 12 3.4
The GX4 XL’s bladed trigger has a flat
Norma MHP 108 1,092 15 2.9
front. Take-up was light and short,
Hornady Critical Defense FTX 115 1,071 21 3.2
and the break weight was just above
Federal Punch JHP 124 1,092 11 3.2
six pounds. Speer Gold Dot Carry Gun JHP 135 1,036 10 2.7
The GX4 XL proved to be very reli- Notes: Accuracy results are averages of four five-shot groups at 25 yards from a fixed rest. Velocities are averages of 10
able during testing, and after 200-plus shots recorded on a LabRadar at the muzzle. Abbreviation: JHP, jacketed hollowpoint
rounds there wasn’t a single stoppage
when using the five test loads. That’s
consistent with the level of perfor-
mance seen in current GX4 and G3
pistols.
Slide operation is relatively smooth,
although not, I would say, as smooth
as that on competitors like the Spring-
field Hellcat or SIG P365. During
testing, and after a few applications of
lubricant, the gun ran noticeably more The GX4 XL doesn’t offer a manual
<

smoothly than when it came out of the
box. The stainless frame was clean
and free of machining marks, and
slide-to-frame fit was good.
With a SIG Romeo Zero optic in
place, the GX4 XL managed groups in
the 2.5- to four-inch range from a fixed
rest at 25 yards, which is suitable for
self-defense.
Recoil is still stiff with this 20-ounce
pistol. The magazine texturing and de-
sign do a pretty good job of managing
muzzle rise and pushback, though.
Molded finger rests on the polymer
frame provide landing points for your
fingers and thumbs and promote a
safety. The slide stop and magazine
release are well designed and easy to < The GX4 XL magazines and frame
operate. The flat-face trigger had a have cutouts to help strip out a
nice, short six-pound break. stubborn mag. The 13-rounder also
ensures that shooters with large
hands can get a solid grip on the gun.
under light clothing. With a belly band
or minimalist inside-the-waistband
holster, the gun virtually disappears,
and it’s light enough to wear during
exercise. The gas nitride coating holds
up well, and the GX4 XL would make a
very affordable trail or everyday carry
pistol.
There’s little doubt that Taurus
with its GX4 XL is coming after the
SIG P365 XL. In profile the guns look
very similar, and both share the same The gun is available with a T.O.R.O.
<

high handhold, as do the grip and trig-
ger undercut.
GX4 XL pistols have a user-friendly
control layout. The magazine release
is trapezoidal in shape, and the slide
stop is minimized but still functional.
I found I could drop the locked slide
without a lot of twisting and finagling.
Unlike the larger G3 pistols that offer
transverse takedown pins, the GX4 XL
uses a rotating takedown screw.
The gun is comfortable to carry,
with rounded and beveled edges that
neither dig into the flesh nor print
barrel length. Width is a wash, and
the SIG is almost a half-inch taller.
The GX4 XL has an edge with its
13-round magazine, while the SIG has
a stainless steel versus carbon steel
slide and day/night sights compared
to the Taurus’ rather basic black rear/
white dot front sights. However, P365
XL pistols carry a price tag of more
than $600 while the Taurus GX4 XL is
priced at $459 for the T.O.R.O. version
($429 without optics cut).
Taurus has ambitious plans for the
GX4 XL, but this gun has proven to be
slide, which is cut to accept a variety
of optics like the SIG Romeo Zero.
The iron sights are functional, with
serrations that cut glare.
capable and well designed. With so
many options available, you’ll have a
tough time choosing the right stack-
and-a-half micro 9mm, but the Taurus
GX4 XL deserves a spot on that list
and not just because it costs less than
the competition. Tired of being bullied
by more established brands, Taurus
has lowered its horns and is charging
toward the competition.

WWW.HANDGUNS.COM FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 HANDGUNS 59

 | FIRING LINE REPORT | BY STAN TRZONIEC

ROCK ISLAND ARMORY AL22

FOR SMALL GAME HUNTING, SURVIVAL,
plinking or just good ol’ target shoot-
ing, while still offering some personal
protection, a good .22 rimfire revolver
is a good bet. While there are plenty
on the market today to satisfy most
gunsmiths combined the fine shoot-
ing qualities of the Colt Python bar- ROCK ISLAND ARMORY
rels with a Smith & Wesson medium-
frame gun for competition and called
AL22
TYPE: single-action/double-action revolver
it a “Smolt” (Smith-Colt). CALIBER: .22 Long Rifle
The gun checks in at 2.25 pounds, CAPACITY: 9 rounds

shooters, occasionally one comes
along that just says, “Buy me!”
The new nine-shot stainless
revolver from Rock Island Armory is
one such gun. From its clean lines to
its fine fit and finish, the gun has the
and while some may consider that a
bit much for a rimfire revolver, it feels
good in the hand. With the rubber
grips, the larger cylinder and underlug
barrel, the balance is spread over the
entire gun.
BARREL: 4 in.
OAL/HEIGHT/WIDTH: 9.75/4.0/1.5 in.
WEIGHT: 36 oz.
FINISH: polished stainless steel
GRIPS: textured rubber w/finger grooves
SIGHTS: red-ramp front, fully adjustable rear
TRIGGER: SA pull, 4 lb.; DA pull, 13 lb.

feel and heft of a larger gun. And it
should, as it’s built on the same frame
as its .357 Magnum cousin. In fact, in
its overall profile, it reminds me of the
semi-custom guns of years past when
Overall, the final finish is well done (measured)
SAFETY: transfer bar
with a satin patina on the stainless
PRICE: $659
with no burn marks on any part of the MANUFACTURER/IMPORTER: Armscor USA,
gun, especially on the barrel/frame ARMSCOR.COM
juncture. That means both were

60 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 WWW.HANDGUNS.COM

 | FIRING LINE REPORT
polished separately and attached
later for that custom look.
Additionally, all the hard-to-reach
places for a polishing wheel to at-
tack—like behind the recoil shield, trig-
ger guard, top rib or cylinder flutes and
crane—are done with precision. The
only thing I object to is how prominent
the names of the distributor and man-
ufacturing locations are. In my opinion,
this laser engraving below the cylinder
release does not complement what is
otherwise a handsome revolver.
The cylinder release has been
improved with a bit of a curve on the
forward part, which aids purchase—
as do the serrations on its face. The
cylinder measures 1.47 inches in
diameter by 1.62 inches in length.
Considering the average length of
a .22 Long Rifle is only 0.975 inch,
the cylinder is plenty long for the .22
Magnum, and such a gun is available
as the AL22M. All the charge holes
are recessed, allowing the rims to fit
flush with the back of the cylinder.
The crane is well fitted. The ejector
rod allows the spent cases to eject
fully with ease, and the lockwork
is well timed, as evidenced by the
absence of a drag mark round the
periphery of the cylinder.
The leading edge of the cylinder
has been polished for easy holster-
ing, and the cylinder spins easily and
closes as solid as a bank vault. The
cylinder bolt is off-center, allowing for
smooth rotation during double-action
trigger pulls.
The hammer is serrated for sure
purchase, and under the hammer is
the traditional transfer-bar arrange-
ACCURACY RESULTS | ROCK ISLAND ARMORY AL22
.22 Long Rifle
Armscor High Velocity HP
CCI Standard Velocity Target
Winchester Power-Point
Notes: Accuracy results are averages of five five-shot groups at 25 yards from a Ransom pistol rest. Velocities are averages
of 10 shots recorded on an Oehler Model 35P chronograph. Abbreviation: HP, hollowpoint
62 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023
The adjustable rear sight is
<
serrated and milled into the top of the
frame, and the hammer is serrated.
Finish was well done on all parts.
ment that rises when the hammer is
cocked for ignition and drops down on
the release of the trigger.
Single-action trigger pull registered
four pounds with a minimal take-up;
double-action broke at 13 pounds and
is adjustable via a cam screw under
the right grip panel. The trigger face is
serrated and has the width and curva-
ture of a service-type gun. The trigger
guard has enough room to accommo-
date a normal-size winter glove.
The fully adjustable target-style rear
sight is plain black. Again, precision in
machining is shown here, as the tang
of the rear sight fits extremely tight
within the top frame and should hold
this position for years. The notch is
just right and frames the red insert on
the front sight with just a bit of light
on each side when positioned cor-
rectly. The top of the barrel is serrated
to help keep reflections at bay on
bright, sunny days.
The barrel and shroud are two
pieces that are secured at the barrel/
frame juncture. The diameter of the
host barrel is 0.668 inch; the shroud
Bullet Muzzle Std. Avg.
Weight (gr.) Velocity (fps) Dev. (fps) Group (in.)
36 1,049 11 2.2
40 955 15 1.9
40 1,055 21 2.3
WWW.HANDGUNS.COM
 The gun holds nine rounds, and
<

cylinders are countersunk. Ejection

was smooth and trouble-free.

WWW.BRAVOCONCEALMENT.COM
The barrel is a two-piece affair
<

consisting of the barrel itself and a

shroud that also protects the ejector
rod. The red-ramp front sight is
serrated to reduce glare.

is 0.745 inch. The heavy 0.558-inch

underlug is relieved to house and
NOW YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL
protect the ejector rod. Reliable and Consistent Terminal Performance
My sample came with rubber
finger-groove grips with a knobby Consistent performance under all impact conditions
texture and a palm swell that will
Optimal penetration based on FBI criteria
work for both right- and left-handed
shooters. Both sides of the grips have Large temporary and permanent wound cavity
their own individual screws to secure
No loss of performance if shot
them to the frame. through common barriers
Accuracy results are shown in the
accompanying table. The best group High velocity: 90 gr
9mm 1325fps, 135
of the day went to the 1.4-inch group gr .45 1225fps
produced by Winchester Power-
Point.
While some may opine about the
weight of this gun, overall I had no
problems with gun in looks, finish,
shooting handling and accuracy. I’ve
always liked rimfire guns, and this Rock
Island Armory AL22 is a quality revolver
that certainly qualifies as a “real gun.”
Try it. You’re gonna love it!
Learn More About Lehigh at www.lehighdefense.com
WWW.HANDGUNS.COM
 | BACK PAGE BEAUTIES | By STAN TRZONIEC
HERITAGE BARKEEP BOOT
SO-CALLED “POCKET GUNS” CAN BE
mighty handy, and one that has re-
cently crossed my desk is a cleverly
designed single action handgun
made by Heritage Manufacturing
of Bainbridge, Georgia. Called the
Barkeep Boot, this downsized gun
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may be just the answer for pocket
or purse. With its one-inch barrel
it checks in at under two pounds
with an overall length of a curt 6.5
inches.
On this particular model, the
round butt features a custom-
engraved “snake” laminated grip;
plain black or gray pearl grips are
available as well. With this type of
grip, I found it much easier to cock
the gun because the hammer was in
comfortable reach of the thumb.
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bright and serrated. The smooth
trigger gave me a reading of four
pounds on the nose, with hardly any
64 HANDGUNS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023
take-up before the sear broke. The
squared-off trigger guard makes a
handy rest for a weak-hand shooting
position if needed.
For a gun at this price ($205), it’s
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the frame is aluminum, the cylinder,
barrel, knurled base pin and screws
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Since this is a no-frills gun, don’t
look for fancy sights. It has a gutter
milled into the top frame, machined
out to the barrel/frame juncture.
There is a swing-out loading gate
on the right side that is easy to open
and close. Pulling the hammer back
to half-cock allows the cylinder to
rotate for loading and unloading.
The transfer bar is engaged by the
safety lever on the left side when
pushed upward. The safety lever is
disengaged when in the rearmost
and down position.
With such a short barrel, there
is no room for an ejection rod, so
Heritage supplies one in the form of
a rod with a wooden handle. When
\RXKDYHÀUHGRIIWKHVL[URXQGVVHW
the gun to the second notch, open
the loading gate and push the spent
cases out of the cylinder from the
forward end.
Overall, I found the Heritage
Barkeep Boot a great value. Rugged
LQDSSHDUDQFHLWH[KLELWHGVPRRWK
operation throughout its cycles
considering its moderate cost. The
gun locked up tight every time, with
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without a ring around the cylinder
periphery.
Heritage Manufacturing offers a
IXOOOLQHRIULPÀUHUHYROYHUV³DOPRVW
PRGHOV³DQG,WKLQNWKHFRPSDQ\
knows what it’s doing. If you feel you
would like something with a slightly
longer barrel, the Barkeep is avail-
able with a two- or three-inch barrel
complete with a front sight blade
and a more traditional grip frame.
WWW.HANDGUNS.COM
 AF-C
Forged 7075-T6 Aluminum Frame
Compatible w/ G19® Components
Polished Black DLC Slide & Barrel
Type III Hardcoat Anodized
Threaded & Standard Barrel Models
RMR Cut

AF1911
Forged Slide Barrel Frame
9MM / 10MM / .45ACP
3.25” / 4.25” / 5” Barrel Models
Polished Black DLC Slide Barrel Frame
Ambidextrous Safety
Threaded & Standard Barrel models
Optics Cut Available

Alpha Foxtrot
2400 Main Street Duluth GA 30097
770-623-6722

www.AlphaFoxtrot.US
 performance carry

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