Start with the Obvious

Let’s start with these magazines’ biggest selling feature: transparency. Yes, they say they are “translucent,” but that’s incorrect. Allow me to digress for a moment while I take the industry to task. It’s not just Mission First Tactical’s fault that they mislabeled their magazines. I’ve seen this with plenty of other non-opaque magazines from various manufacturers. The word is not “translucent.” It’s “transparent.” Translucent means light passes through, but you can’t make out any details about what’s behind the surface.

On the other hand, transparency lets light through and lets you see details of what’s on the other side. If you can see that there is ammunition inside the magazine, then the magazine is transparent, not translucent. But, as I said, I’m not trying to beat up Mission First Tactical for this oversight, as it seems to be an industry standard that is wrong across the board. Okay, with that off my chest, let’s dive into the magazines themselves.

Being able to see inside a magazine is huge. Opaque mags are either completely closed off or have tiny windows where you can see how many rounds remain, but some guesswork is involved. But with the Mission First Tactical magazines, you know exactly how much ammo you have left at a glance. This can be especially helpful to a shooter who needs to know his ammo status and instructors who might want to keep tabs on student round counts.

Color Selection and Practical Use

The availability of five colors is more than just a cosmetic choice; it also has practical implications. For those who train in different environments, having color-coded magazines can be a great way to quickly identify which magazine is loaded with a specific type of ammunition. For example, you might reserve red for standard ball ammo and yellow for hollow points. The cobalt blue could be used for training rounds, while the smoke and clear could serve as your everyday carry mags. Set them up however you like. It’s just nice to have the option.

This color-coding system can be especially useful in high-stress situations where you don’t want to waste time figuring out what’s in your magazine.

First Impressions

Straight out of the box, the Mission First Tactical EXD 30 magazines felt slightly iffy but not cheap. The polymer felt thinner than similar polymer magazines I’ve tried, so I was concerned they wouldn’t hold up. The translucent finish is immediately striking. I could see the appeal of each color depending on the situation or environment. The smoke and clear options are great for anyone who prefers a more tactical, low-profile look, while the other three colors are fun but can also serve a real purpose.

No-Tilt Follower

The Mission First Tactical EXD magazines have a no-tilt follower that ensures smooth feeding every time. I ran a few drills, deliberately trying to induce failures by loading rounds at odd angles or jostling the magazine as much as possible. The follower stayed in place, keeping the rounds aligned perfectly and feeding them into the chamber without issues.

The peace of mind that comes with a no-tilt follower is priceless, particularly in a defensive or competitive shooting scenario. There’s nothing more frustrating—or dangerous—than dealing with a malfunction at a critical moment, and the EXD 30s virtually eliminate that concern.

Easy Baseplate Removal for Maintenance

One of the most overlooked parts of magazine ownership is maintenance. We clean the gun, but what about the magazines? They don’t get as dirty from shooting but can pick up dirt and debris from being dropped and repeated use. So they need periodic maintenance.

The baseplates slide off with minimal effort, but they’re secure enough not to worry about them coming loose during use. Two small tabs on the bottom allow the plate to slide off smoothly when pressed. Reassembly is just as straightforward, making cleaning quick and painless.

Many magazine failures are due to dirt, debris, or lack of lubrication, so being able to clean your mags thoroughly and efficiently is a big plus. The EXD 30s make this process so simple that there’s no excuse not to keep them in top condition.

Rugged Durability

One of the most important aspects of any magazine is durability. No one wants to invest in gear that will break after a few uses, especially when that gear could potentially save your life. I subjected the Mission First Tactical EXD 30 magazines to rough treatment to see how they’d hold up.

First, I repeatedly dropped them on various surfaces—concrete, dirt, and gravel—loaded and empty. The magazines held up remarkably well. The polymer construction is tough, absorbing impacts without cracking or deforming.

I also left them loaded for an extended period to test the spring tension and follower integrity. After several weeks of being fully loaded, the springs still had plenty of life, and the followers remained perfectly functional. There was no noticeable difference in feeding performance, which speaks volumes about the long-term durability of these magazines.

Parting Shot

The Mission First Tactical Translucent EXD 30 Polymer Magazines offer the perfect blend of functionality, durability, and aesthetics. The no-tilt follower ensures reliable feeding, while the translucent design allows for quick round count identification. Maintenance is made easy with a baseplate that’s simple to remove, and the rugged polymer construction stands up to the rigors of hard use.

The range of colors available isn’t just about looks. It can be a practical tool for organizing your gear and ensuring you’re always prepared with the right ammo for the situation. Whether in the field, on the range, or relying on these magazines for home defense, you can trust that they’ll perform when you need them most.

If you want to upgrade your AR-15 magazine selection, try the Mission First Tactical EXD 30 magazines. With their combination of innovative features and reliable performance, they’ve quickly become a favorite in my gear lineup.

The post Mission First Tactical Translucent EXD 30 Polymer Magazines: Do They Complete the Mission? appeared first on The Mag Life.

It might explain why I just acquired a pistol that was released way back in 1988: the Glock 19. Why in the world would I get a pistol that was released so long ago? Aren’t there newer designs that are more trendy and modern? Can the Glock 19 really hang with the younger kids? And how many Generations of the Glock 19 are there?

I’ll answer that last question right now; as this is written, Glock is on the fifth generation of their Model 19. Each generation offers features that add to the last generation. I won’t bore you by rehashing each generation, but we’re going to take a look at the differences between the Generation 3 (Gen 3) and the Gen 5 pistols.

A Big Splash

In 1986, the Glock 17 made possibly the biggest splash the handgun market has ever seen. If there was a bigger upset, I can’t recollect it.

Glock brought many revolutionary concepts to the table, which undoubtedly stemmed from the fact that he wasn’t a “gun guy.” He set out to design a pistol for the Austrian military with no preconceived notions, and I believe that’s what set the Glock apart from other pistols.

People either loved or hated the Glock 17, and that’s still pretty much true today. Even by 1980s standards, the Glock 17 was a pretty large handgun. In response to that criticism, Glock chopped a little off the barrel and shortened the grip to a more compact size, and voila, the Glock 19 was born. When this happened, I suspect that the heavens parted and angels sang, as it was an instant hit. Slightly smaller and lighter than the Glock 17, it’s just easier to carry.

Wide Professional and Civilian Use

In addition to millions of civilian users, many law enforcement agencies and military units still use the Glock 19. These include the US Army Special Forces, SFOD-D (Delta), Army Rangers, Navy SEALs, FBI, and CIA.

Evidently, despite being out since 1988, the Glock 19 is still monumentally relevant in today’s world, and that does not appear to be changing any time soon.

Those organizations have access to any firearms that they want, and they specifically went with the Glock 19, which says quite a bit about the platform. It’s a very simple handgun, and simple often equates to better.

Gen 3 vs Gen 5

Let’s examine some of the differences between the two generations. I’ll tell you now that there isn’t really anything earth-shatteringly different between them. However, there are some subtle differences that are immediately apparent.

That said, I do like the changes that the Gen 5 Glock 19 incorporates. There are things that the Gen 5 has that the Gen 3 does not.

Finger Grooves

Shooters will notice that the finger grooves on the Gen 3 pistols are not included on the Gen 5 pistols. This is generally seen as a positive thing, as many shooters expressed unbridled hatred toward the finger grooves. They never bothered me, and I found them to be functional and helpful on the Glocks that I’ve owned over the years. But then, I have very average, medium-sized hands, which is what the Glock grips are mostly geared for.

Personally, I like the straight front strap a little bit more because it feels closer to the classic Glock 17 and 19 that I owned so many years ago when they first came out. Further, Glock now uses their RTF (Rough Texture Finish), which is a decent gripping surface that helps to ensure a grip under slippery conditions.

Flared Mag Well

Gen 5 Glock 19s now have a flared magazine well, which facilitates faster reloads under stress. Granted, it’s subtle and not wildly flared like some competition pistols, but it’s enough to be beneficial when doing high-speed drills or engaging bad guys in a firefight, which is a big win for LEOs.

Aside from delivering faster reloads, that outward flare at the bottom of the grip helps to enhance the grip a little bit. It offers a sort of little ridge at the bottom of the grip that I find appealing. Again, the flare is subtle, but it’s there.

I find this feature to be slightly superior to the Gen 3 non-flared mag well.

Widened Rear Sight

The rear sight notch has been widened so that there’s more daylight on either side of the front sight base when it’s centered in the sight. It’s not drastic, and you might not have even noticed had I not mentioned it. But it’s designed to be a little more forgiving for speed/combat shooting. Of course, Glock still uses the “goal post” white outline, which I like. Many shooters hate them, but I see nothing wrong with them (other than the fact that they’re polymer).

New Mags

Beginning with the Gen 5 guns, Glock started using orange followers in their magazines. These function just like all the other mags, but the orange follower is nice. It serves as a clearer indication of an empty magazine, helping shooters discern an empty mag from a malfunction. Also, as the follower moves through the magazine, whether it’s loading or unloading, the orange follower shows up through the witness holes on the back of the magazine very well.

From my experience in training and shooting classes, Glock magazines have proven to be the very best in terms of durability and reliability. No other magazines can beat them, and I’ve seen them take some serious abuse and keep running strong.

Ambidextrous Slide Stop/Release

I find the Gen 5’s ambidextrous slide stop/release to be a slight advantage over not having one, but it’s far from a deal breaker. It’s nice to have, but since I’m right-handed, it’s not overly necessary. Still, it makes the pistol more versatile for lefties and the times when we’re shooting with our offhand. The magazine release can be switched to either side.

This is a major win for left-handed shooters and those of us who like to train with our weak hand. I’m not sure why it took Glock so long to make this upgrade, but I won’t complain too much.

Forward Serrations

Initially, the Gen 5 Glocks didn’t have forward serrations on the slide, which left some to be desired. While they are useful, I rather like the front of the slide to be “slick,” so from an aesthetic sense, I’d prefer they not be there. Of course, they make press checks easier, and they also offer more intuitive slide manipulations for weak-handed shooters, so they have a function. The Gen 3, of course, does not have them at all. It’s not a deal breaker for me either way.

Backstraps

While the Gen 3’s back strap is plain, the Gen 5 comes with four added back strap options. There are a couple to make the grip larger and two that not only make it larger but also add a beavertail. Many people have observed that adding the beavertail allows the shooter to get a higher grip on the pistol without running the risk of slide bite.

Personally, I just run it without any of the backstraps added, giving me the smallest grip size possible. Given that my hands are medium-sized at best, I like grips that are small. Even so, the 19’s grip is about as large as I care to go on a pistol.

Dual Recoil Spring

While Gen 3 Glocks utilize a single recoil spring, the Gen 5 series takes advantage of a dual recoil spring. Both seem to do a nice job of dampening the recoil of the 9mm cartridge. I do like the metal construction that the dual spring uses, and that one gets the nod from me. Plus, it would be no trouble to order one of the latest recoil springs and pop it into your Gen 3 (or any generation) Glock.

Trigger

Glock triggers notoriously vary from very good to mushy and gritty. The triggers of the Gen 5 guns that I’ve handled have been very good. Mine has the usual take-up, followed by the wall and a crisp break without much creep. I actually like it.

In my experience, the Gen 3 triggers aren’t terrible but don’t seem quite as consistent as the newer triggers. I think Glock stepped up its game as far as triggers are concerned. I’ve never really had too much of a gripe about Glock triggers, although I know that opinions vary greatly on the subject. My philosophy is that I need to adapt myself to whichever trigger I happen to be using. That means dry fire and live fire practice.

Finish

While the Gen 3 Model 19 has the Tenifer finish, the Gen 5 uses a more durable nDLC finish. Glock states that this is an improvement and that it will resist scratching and corrosion, as well as help the pistol function in adverse conditions. So far, the finish is living up to its reputation. I’ve been carrying the Gen 5 G19 in a Kydex holster, and normally, that would cause wear on the slide of a pistol, marring the finish. However, the Gen 5 model is shrugging it off and still looks like new.

The nDLC finish has a deeper black appearance while looking slightly glossy. It’s not shiny, mind you, but it’s just a little glossier than previous slide finishes.

At The Range

We retired to the range to compare both pistols with live fire. As expected, reliability was perfect. We ran Nosler 9mm ASP 115-grain JHP, Nosler Defense T-BND 124-grain, Federal 124-grain HST +P, and a few other types of ammo through both Glocks, and they worked perfectly.

Accuracy was virtually the same with both the Gen 3 and the Gen 5 models, and we couldn’t discern a noticeable difference in either. Honestly, despite the Marksman barrel in the Gen 5, both pistols can shoot more accurately than we can, so there’s no way we’re going to shoot them to their maximum accuracy anyway.

The two pistols’ recoil was also very similar, which is not surprising. I did prefer the Gen 5 without the finger grooves, but that’s just me.

In Summation

Is one generation drastically superior to the other? I would say no. However, the Gen 5 does have some attractive features that the Gen 3 does not. If I were restricted to using a Gen 3 Glock 19, would I feel disadvantaged? Not at all.

While there might be more accurate pistols out there, the Glock’s attributes, taken as a whole, make it a superior pistol.

Further, many people in the gun culture still use the Glock 19 as a yardstick with which to compare newly introduced pistols despite it being around since 1988. And yes, this pistol can hang with any of the newer pistols that are being introduced.

So, is the Glock Gen 5 Model 19 the best version yet? I think so. Each generation becomes a little more refined and well thought out, and I have to say the extra features that are found on the Gen 5 set it at the front of the pack. If I had an older generation of a Glock 19, would I run out and sell it to get the Gen 5? I wouldn’t call you crazy if you did. The accuracy didn’t seem drastically different between the generations, but the Gen 5 does have great features that I like. Overall, it’s a great pistol.

The post The Glock 19 Gen 3 vs. Gen 5 Comparison: Are They Really Any Different? appeared first on The Mag Life.

The company produced three distinct generations of metal-frame, hammer-fired, semi-auto pistols from 1954 until 2006 when they were removed from the standard catalog but remained available to law enforcement customers until 2010. In 2014, S&W stopped supporting the third generation of handguns. These guns were extremely popular with law enforcement and occupied the holsters of police forces like the NYPD, the LAPD, and the California Highway Patrol, among many more.

Talking About My Generation

Today, we will discuss the various Generations, their history, models, and ultimately, their fate. These generations are divided into the First, Second, and Third generations. This can be somewhat confusing since the first generation of pistols isn’t the first semi-autos produced by S&W.

S&W’s first semi-autos were produced in 1913. The S&W Model 1913 used a design created by Charles Clement and was available in .32 ACP and .35 S&W Auto. There were eight different variants of these pistols with small redesigns.

There are also S&W semi-autos produced during the ‘Generation’ pistol era that didn’t fall into a particular generation. These are rimfires like the very cool Model 61 Escort and the superbly accurate Model 41 Target pistol.

The First Generation of Smith & Wesson Automatics: 1954 – 1982

The first generation of Smith & Wesson automatics uses a two-digit numerical model number. Smith & Wesson has the distinct honor of producing the first double-action 9mm pistol, the Model 39. S&W produced the gun in 1954 as a competitor to replace the M1911. The Army kept the M1911 in service, but S&W released the Model 39 to the general public. The Model 39 laid the groundwork for what would become the future of the Generation series.

The guns were designed as double-action/single-action firearms with a short recoil system. They were hammer-fired with safeties that often doubled as decockers. There were some variations throughout the varied generations, but that was the basic overview of these guns.

The Model 39 saw ample military service and was preferred by Naval Special Warfare units like the SEALs. This includes the Mk. 22 Mod 0 suppressed pistol. Model 39s were modified to function with 14-round double-stack magazines, which became the basis for the Model 59.

In 1967, the Illinois State Police broke ground by adopting the Model 39 and becoming one of the first police forces to use a semi-auto instead of a revolver. The Rhode Island State Police adopted the S&W Model 39 for their detectives.

The Model 39 became a gunsmith’s favorite, and custom guns were produced like the ASP, the Devel, Trapper, and Behlert. These were high-end custom guns that sought to create a smaller, more concealable model of the S&W Model 39.

As mentioned, the Model 59 was a 39 with a 14-round magazine. There was also the Model 44, a scarce variant of the Model 39 that was single-action only. S&W also produced the Modle 52, a .38 Special semi-auto designed for marksmanship competitions. These guns could only fire wadcutter .38 Special. Another scarce first-generation pistol is the 147A. It’s a 14-shot all-steel gun similar to the Model 59.

The Second Generation: 1979 – 1988

The second generation of S&W pistols began in 1979 and used a three-digit numerical code to designate the model. These guns represented a series of improvements standardized over the first-generation guns. S&W also introduced its first .45 ACP variant and compact options in the second generation.

The original second-generation guns were the 439 and 459. They were improved versions of the Model 39 and Model 59, respectively. Over time, various frame materials and finishes were used, and steel models with blued finishes gained a 5 to the model number, i.e., 539. Stainless variants gained a six, i.e., 659. The 459 shrunk to more compact variants, which became the 469 and 669.

S&W entered the 459 into the XM9 trials, but the Beretta 92 ultimately won. The FBI later purchased 803 of these guns with a special brush finish.

In the mid-80s, S&W produced their first .45 ACP automatic, the 645. This was a full-sized, double-action gun with a single-stack eight-round magazine and a stainless steel finish. They later produced a compact variants known as the 745. Miami Vice character Sonny Crockett carried a 645 after retiring his Bren Ten.

Third Generation: 1988 – 2006 (Catalog); 2010 (Law Enforcement Sales)

The third generation of S&W pistols exploded into a couple dozen model numbers and a variety of calibers. Most third-generation pistols have four-digit model numbers, but not all of them. A value line of guns featured three-digit numbers, and Chief Special models used the CS initial with a numerical designation indicating the caliber.

The third generation expanded into .40 S&W and 10mm and continued with 9mm and .45 ACP. The four-digit numerics indicate the weapon’s caliber, size, action type, finish, and material. The first two digits were caliber, the middle digit was size and action type, and the final digit was finish and material.

Action types included DA/SA and DAO with slide-mounted safety/decockers. There were also models with frame-mounted decockers. S&W uses steel and alloy designs with black, stainless, and two-tone finishes.

The value line of firearms with three initials was separated into the 9mm, 908, 909, 910, and 915, the 457 in .45 ACP, and the 410 and 411 in .40 S&W. These guns aimed to compete with Glock pistols and featured various value-based changes like polymer sights and cheaper finishes.

Some of these numeric model numbers have a series of initials attached. These initials signify something a bit different about the gun. The TSW nomenclature meant the gun had a Picatinny rail for accessories. The LS stands for Ladysmith and represents firearms specifically advertised to women, and NL and NS notations meant the gun used Novak Sights. Further, M stood for military, and the gun featured a Melonite finish and lanyard stud.

The Last Generation

The third generation was the last of the generation series. Smith & Wesson moved into polymer-frame striker-fired pistols. They had the Sigma and SD series, as well as the Walther and S&W SW99, and now the M&P Series. Interestingly, the M&P series introduced metal-frame models.

Depending on the model, these varied-generation guns can fetch a pretty penny, but many still offer good value. Third-generation .45, 9mm, and .40 S&W guns can often be had for a great price and are competent weapons. I’m a fan, but what about you folks? Do you like the metal-frame S&W pistols? Do you own any? Let us know below.

The post The Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Generations: Decoding the Classics appeared first on The Mag Life.

One handgun that stands out to me is the Sig P320 XTen, which has been a great handgun for me for years. For those who like to carry a sub-gun and handgun in the same caliber, the Grand Power Stribog SP10A3 is a perfect match.

I got my hands on one at SHOT 2024 last January and ordered one shortly after. It makes shooting a 10mm feel like a .22 plinker. So, whether you’re looking for a self-defense setup, a hunting companion, or a range-ready powerhouse, this is a pair worth considering.

Here’s a quick rundown of the Sig XTen, the Stribog, and a few of my favorite 10mm loads.

Sig P320 XTen

The Sig P320 XTen is built on the highly popular P320 platform, making accessories easy to find. It is designed to handle the high-pressure 10mm cartridge while still being comfortable to shoot.

The XTen has a 5-inch barrel, which helps with accuracy at longer distances. It’s built with a full-size X-Series frame, which is optimized for recoil control, making the heavy recoil of 10mm rounds more manageable. This pistol holds 15+1 rounds, which is great for a 10mm. It’s equipped with X-RAY3 Day/Night sights, which provide clear sighting in all lighting conditions.

I’ve been using mine for some time now and haven’t had any issues with it. The recoil is obviously much higher than a 9mm, but it’s balanced well enough that my kids can even shoot it. Further, you can use it for home defense, or some like to carry it for safety on hunting trips. I read a story recently where a guy was attacked by a bear and used his 10mm to dispatch it. If it stops a bear, it’s good enough for me.

Sig P320 XTen Specs:

• Caliber: 10mm Auto
• Capacity: 15+1 rounds
• Barrel Length: 5 inches
• Sights: X-RAY3 Day/Night Sights
• Trigger: Flat X-Series, 4.5 to 5.5 lbs
• Overall Length: 8.5 inches
• Weight: 33 ounces

Grand Power Stribog SP10A3

My first Grand Power firearm was the original SP9 A1. I was excited when Grand Power released a 10mm updated version of the Stribog. The SP10A3 is underrated and retails for a great price. I’ve had mine for a while now, and it’s a great shooting gun.

What’s surprising with this model is the low recoil. You can shoot as fast as you want without any trouble staying on target. Of course, shooting fast will cost you with the price of 10mm ammo these days. But it can do it if you need it too. This low recoil is probably attributed to the roller-delayed blowback Grand Power uses. You don’t really feel the bolt hitting the back of the gun as you would on some other models chambered in 10mm, which is a nice touch.

Another nice feature is the non-reciprocating charging handle and ambidextrous safety, which make it user-friendly for both left—and right-handed shooters. I’ve got an SB Tactical side-folding arm brace on mine right now, and it’s just about a perfect setup for this size of gun.

Grand Power Stribog SP10A3 Specs:

• Caliber: 10mm Auto
• Capacity: 30 rounds (standard magazine)
• Barrel Length: 10 inches
• Overall Length: 21 inches
• Weight: 5.5 pounds
• Action: Roller-delayed blowback
• Features: Non-reciprocating charging handle, ambidextrous safety, Picatinny and M-LOK mounting options

Best 10mm Ammo For Your Gun Combo

Now that we’ve covered my two favorite 10mm handguns, let’s talk about ammunition. I’ve tried many different types and have come up with two that work great for range and two for self-defense.

Sellier & Bellot 180-Grain FMJ

Sellier & Bellot’s 180-grain FMJ round is perfect for range practice with both the Sig and the Stribog. Known for their reliability and consistency, Sellier & Bellot produces high-quality ammunition at an affordable price—at least when you’re talking 10mm prices. Both guns cycle this ammo without any issue, and it’s one of the cheapest on the market.

• Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
• Bullet Weight: 180 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,165 fps

Blazer 180-Grain FMJ

Another great brand for range practice is Blazer 180-grain FMJ by CCI. It runs about the same price as the Sellier & Bellot and shoots just as well. Like the Sellier & Bellot load, it’s designed to provide reliable performance without breaking the bank. The 180-grain bullet weight is optimal for getting used to the recoil of the 10mm round. I haven’t noticed any accuracy issues with it, either. It’s a dependable choice for FMJ ammo.

• Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
• Bullet Weight: 180 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,200 fps

Sig Sauer Elite Defense

For defensive rounds, Sig Sauer’s Elite Defense ammo, featuring the V-Crown 180-grain JHP, is a great choice. Sig made this round just for self-defense, so it has a reliable expansion and penetration. It has a muzzle velocity of 1,250 fps and is a jacketed hollow point design to make sure it expands on impact.

I’ve fired this ammo through both the Sig and Stribog, and they feed without any issues.

• Bullet Type: Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)
• Bullet Weight: 180 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,250 fps

HSM Bear Load 200-Grain Lead RNFP

For those who want a heavy-hitting round for hunting or dealing with large predators, the HSM Bear Load is a monster round. This 200-grain Lead RNFP (Round Nose Flat Point) bullet is designed to penetrate deeply and deliver maximum stopping power.

It’s ideal for use in the wilderness or when facing dangerous game, which is probably why they call it “Bear” ammo.

• Bullet Type: Lead Round Nose Flat Point (RNFP)
• Bullet Weight: 200 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,200 fps

Are you a 10mm lover?

This isn’t a round for everyone, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Like I said before, everyone has their own likes and dislikes with guns and the ammo they carry in them. I carry a lot of 9mm handguns for work and self-defense, but I also like to carry my .45 1911 from time to time. A 10mm is a great option to have and the Grand Power Stribog makes it even that much more appealing. It’s a great combination for a cartridge I’m starting to grow fond of.

The post 10mm Power: Perfect Handgun and Sub-Gun Combo appeared first on The Mag Life.

What’s a shotgun choke tube?

The choke tube on a shotgun is a cylindrical piece of metal that screws into the muzzle end of the barrel. The exact length of the choke depends on the model. Its purpose is to affect the spread of the pellets. Basically, chokes that are wider open allow a broader pattern on target faster. However, that doesn’t automatically mean open is better or worse. Many factors come into play, such as distance and application.

What do shotgun choke measurements mean?

At its simplest, the choke measurement isn’t about the size of the actual bore of the barrel. Instead, shotgun choke measurements list the difference their use will make in inches. For example, a 12-gauge shotgun has a .730-inch bore. An Improved Cylinder choke will be marked with a 0.010, meaning it will restrict the bore of the 12 gauge by 0.010 inches. That turns your 0.730-inch bore into a 0.720-inch bore. It might not sound like much, but those changes in bore size can make a significant difference in how quickly your pellets spread and what the resulting pattern looks like.

What sizes of shotgun chokes are there?

The most common chokes are Full (0.30 inches), Improved Modified (0.025 inches), Modified (0.020 inches), Light Modified (0.015 inches), and Improved Cylinder (0.010 inches). Some of the other types include Skeet (0.005 inches) and XX-Full, the latter of which comes in numerous sizes.

The Mossberg X-Factor Ported Turkey Choke, which is an XX-Full, restricts the bore all the way down to 0.670 inches (meaning the choke itself is a 0.060 inch). XX-Full chokes generally restrict between 0.040 inches and 0.090 inches. Be aware that some manufacturers will label a choke tube using common names, but the exact size will be different than what is considered the classic sizing or standard sizing method. Never assume you know the size of a choke based on its name. Instead, read the specifications and find out for sure.

What do different-sized shotgun chokes do?

Full chokes are commonly used by shotgunners looking for a wider pattern at a greater distance. A Full choke is a more restrictive choke size, meaning the payload will spread at a slower rate. XX-Full chokes are extremely restrictive, which is fantastic for shots taken at longer distances like you do while turkey hunting.

In contrast, an Improved Cylinder choke isn’t that restrictive and allows the pellets to spread out at a faster rate, enabling a greater number of pellets to hit a broader area at closer distances. That’s particularly useful for dove hunting—they’re tiny, fast targets typically hunted at relatively close range—and upland bird hunting.

Of course, there are many other choke sizes to consider. Here’s a basic rundown of the common sizes. It’s not a complete list; it’s just generalities to give you an idea of how they work.

• Improved Cylinder (IC)
  • Hunting dove, upland birds, rabbits, and deer (with slugs). Sometimes used by waterfowl hunters in flooded timber. The ideal effective range is between 20 and 30 yards.
• Light Modified (LM)
  • Sporting clays, dove, and waterfowl hunting. Often late-season goose. The ideal effective range is between 20 and 35 yards.
• Modified (M)
  • Trapshooting, goose hunting, and other bird hunting where longer shots may be required. The ideal effective range is between 25 and 45 yards.
• Improved Modified (IM)
  • Trapshooting, waterfowl over rice fields or open water, squirrels, and turkeys. The ideal effective range is between 25 and 50 yards.
• Full (F)
  • Waterfowl, turkey, crows, rabbits, and deer (with buckshot). The ideal effective range is between 40 and 50 yards.
• XX-Full
  • Turkey, although it can be used for any target at significant distances. The ideal effective range is 40 yards and beyond, with the outer yardage depending on the specific choke size.

Something to remember is that the specific load you’re using matters, too. Steel shot will give you greater distance than lead. In fact, if you’re using lead shots, you might lose up to 10 yards of effective range (all numbers listed above are for steel shots). Also, certain loads will allow you greater distances beyond the listed ranges. Pellets, buckshot, and slugs all offer different results.

What choke for self-defense?

If your shotgun is specifically designed for self-defense use, it will have a cylinder or open choke. That means there’s no restriction to the bore size, and the pattern will open up faster than it would if the bore were restricted. Some defensive-use shotguns are manufactured with the bore threaded for choke tubes. If yours is, you might be wondering if it could benefit you to put a different choke in it.

The answer is that it depends on the distance of your most likely shots to be taken with that shotgun and what ammo you’ll be using. Incidentally, that’s true for all choke tubes. But back to home defense.

If you’re going to run a shotgun or home defense—or self-defense in your truck—you’ll usually be fine without changing the choke if it’s made for that purpose. Further, it’s important that you pattern your shotgun. Many gun owners don’t understand how the payload from a shotgun patterns on target, meaning they fail to realize their shotgun isn’t likely to have time to spread out in a defensive situation. That is also why shotguns designed for defensive use have a cylinder or open chokes, which allows for a faster spread. Shotguns can be great tools for self-defense as long as you understand and work within their limitations.

How do you choose a choke tube?

Your choice of choke tube involves figuring out what your target is, the distance at which you expect to shoot it, and what ammunition you’re using. Ammunition comes into play more after you’ve figured out targets and distance. There’s also an exception where certain chokes—often Full—can’t be used with steel shot. That detail should be noted by the manufacturer. Not all choke tubes can be used with all types of ammo or for all applications, although some are more versatile than others.

If you’re a hunter—and you probably are if you’re reading this—you’d benefit from having more than one option for chokes. Odds are you’ll be hunting different birds at varying distances, and that means changing choke tubes.

Once you’ve chosen your choke tube and ammo, you need to take the time to pattern it. Understanding the spread at various distances is important, and it varies depending on factors like barrel length, choke size, and ammunition. Change any one of those details, and your results can change, too. It’s never a waste of ammunition to familiarize yourself with the ammo’s performance on target.

How do you install a shotgun choke?

Shotguns that ship with a threaded bore typically also ship with a small choke tool that can be used to remove and install choke tubes. It’s also usually possible to do it by hand with no tools, but having the right tool can help with stubborn chokes and also make it easier to tighten it as needed. There are also tools available for different brands of chokes. The good news is that it only takes a matter of moments to swap out chokes, and you don’t need a gunsmith.

Do shotgun chokes really matter?

Yes, the choke tube on your shotgun matters. It affects how the shotgun patterns are shot and at what range they are most effective. When you’re new to shotguns, you might ignore the chokes in favor of getting used to the platform, but before long, you need to learn about choke tubes. Experience is a great teacher, but so is doing your research in advance.

The post Shotgun Chokes: How They Work appeared first on The Mag Life.

Notable is the fact that the primary weapons employed by each side in the two conflicts were bolt-action rifles that had evolved only slightly. A case could also be made that it was German engineering and design going against Russian ruggedness and reliability.

The First Showdown: The Mauser Gew98 vs. the Mosin Nagant Model 1891

“Mauser” and “Mosin Nagant” are practically synonymous among collectors and firearms enthusiasts for Germany’s and Russia’s respective rifles of the two World Wars. But the devil is truly in the details.

Both stories can rightfully be described as “complicated.”

From the Gewehr 88 to the Gewehr 98

The Mauser-made Gewehr wasn’t actually the first German-made military bolt-action rifle, as that distinction goes to the Gewehr 88—also known as the Model 1888 commission rifle. Of course, a case could be made that the Dreyse needle gun was a German rifle, but it was designed in the Kingdom of Prussia before the unification of Germany.

By the early 1880s, the Dreyse was outdated, which led to the development of the Gewehr 88. This weapon was adopted in 1888 as the result of an arms race between Germany and France. It was not developed by Mauser; instead, it was the result of the German Rifle Commission. Notably, Mauser was also one of the few major German arms makers that didn’t produce any Gewehr 88s.

However, Paul Mauser continued to refine his design and patented a bolt-action design as the Mauser Model 1895. It was soon adopted by several nations in South America and later purchased by Spain, which used the rifle during the Spanish-American War. It helped influence the design of the American military’s Springfield Model 1903.

Berlin saw that it was quickly being outclassed by a German-made rifle employed by other nations, which led to the development of the Gewehr 98.

As stated by Robert W.D. Ball in his epic tome “Mauser: Military Rifles of the World,” the Gewehr 98 was adopted on April 5, 1898, and it was truly the finest in German engineering at the time. Ball noted that the first troops to receive the rifle were those of the East Asian Expeditionary Force, followed by the Imperial German Navy and three premier units of the Prussian Army Corp. The Gewehr 98 had its baptism of fire during the Boxer Rebellion (1898-1901) and then in the colonial conflict/genocide in German Southwest Africa against the native Hereros.

In 1904, contracts were placed with Waffenfabrik Mauser for 290,000 rifles and with Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) for 210,000 rifles. Total production of the Gewehr 98 by the end of the First World War exceeded five million.

Enter the Mosin Nagant Model 91

While not as common as even a decade ago, it is hard not to find a Mosin Nagant at the local gun show. As one of the most produced rifles of all time, vintage rifles from old Soviet stocks were commonly sold for little over $100, and oftentimes with Cold War-era ammo pouches or other accessories.

However, those were the later models, and the story of the Mosin-Nagant dates back almost half a century. While it was a firearm that was almost ideally suited to the Russian peasant, it wasn’t a wholly Russian design. It incorporated designs and features from two different designers: Sergei Ivanovich Mosin, a captain in the Imperial Russian Army, and Belgian gun designer Leon Nagant. Each submitted their rifles for testing, and while Mosin’s rifle was selected, the modified version featured key details of the Nagant design, including the fixed box magazine and the magazine spring.

The first fight involving the rifle wasn’t even on a battlefield but in the courts—both legal and in the Russian Imperial Court of the Tsar. To sum up a complicated situation, Nagant claimed patent protection despite borrowing the idea from Mosin, who couldn’t file a patent as he was an officer in the Russian Army. This made the design property of the government and a military secret. In the end, Nagant was paid off and continued to design weapons for the Russian military, notably the Nagant M1895 revolver.

Moreover, in addition to incorporating design aspects from the Belgian maker, the first 500,000 rifles were produced by the French arms factory, Manufacture Nationale d’Armes de Châtellerault. It wasn’t the only time the most famous of Russian rifles was produced in a foreign land.

The Mosin-Nagant entered service officially as the Russian 3-line rifle M1891, and domestic production began in 1892. The gun fired the 7.62x54mmR cartridge, a round that remained in service for more than 130 years!

Russia’s new battle rifle first saw combat during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05), and by that time, some 3.8 million rifles were already in service. Its combat results were mixed, but gun historians say a larger part of this is that the infantrymen were not properly trained with this new weapon.

Millions more were made during the First World War, and in another unique twist, the Russian demand far outpaced the supply, so much so that 1.5 million rifles were ordered by the Russian government and produced by Remington Arms in the United States. An additional 1.8 were further produced by New England Westinghouse. Many of these rifles didn’t make it to Russia before the Revolution and Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and thus were never delivered to the Russian government. Some were supplied to American and British expeditionary forces sent to Russia in 1918 and 1919, but many were later used by U.S. National Guard and ROTC units.

The Rifles Compared

As Terence W. Lapin described in his book “The Mosin-Nagant Rifle,” the Russian-made weapon “is not an attractive firearm. It has none of the elegance of, say, the 1903 Springfield, nor is it particularly arresting in appearance. The venerable rifle is, however, robust, dependable, and reasonably accurate.” That could also sum up the differences between Russia’s peasant army and the more refined German military.

Yet, from a cursory glance, the rifles are quite similar. Each weighs around nine pounds empty, holds five rounds, and is chambered for similar cartridges—the 7.62x54mmR for the Mosin-Nagant and the 7.92x57mm round for the Gewehr 98 (in post-1903 versions). With similar effective ranges of about 500 meters (550 years), it is hard to suggest one is better than the other.

Mauser fans will certainly disagree, and fair competition is challenging as many of the Russian rifles sold as surplus have been reworked and certainly used and abused. Those who favor the Mosin-Nagant will argue it can take a bit more punishment and keep working.

Round Two: The KAR98K vs. the Mosin Nagant Model 1891/31

The Second World War saw a de facto rematch between the Mauser and the Mosin-Nagant, but it was with new versions of each respective rifle. Following a trend that had begun with the British Army’s Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE), which proved better suited to the trench warfare of the First World War than the longer rifles of the era, and without compromising range or accuracy – the length of both the Soviet (Russian) and German rifles decreased.

The Mosin-Nagant Model 91/30

Production of the Mosin-Nagant continued in the Soviet Union, but in 1930, the rifle underwent some notable changes. The basic M1891/30 saw the barrel shortened by about 3.5 inches to the length of the “Dragoon variant” produced for the Imperial Russian Army’s cavalry before the First World War.

The M91/30 was the standard issue weapon of Soviet troops when the nation was invaded by the Germans in 1941, and it remained in production throughout the war. As the manufacture of the semi-automatic Tokarev SVT-40 was disrupted following Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union, emphasis was placed again on the Mosin-Nagant, which was easier to produce. It also proved to be more reliable and rugged, both necessities as the Motherland was fighting for her very survival.

Millions of Soviet rifles were made during the war, and they remained the main small arm of the largest mobilized army in history, with some 17.4 million being manufactured from 1941 to 1945. Numerous variations were produced, notably a sniper version and a carbine version introduced in 1944. Arguably one of the most widely produced firearms ever (with the possible exception of the AK-47 assault rifle), some 37,000,000 were made between 1891 and 1965.

The Karabiner 98 Kurz

Officially designated the Karabiner 98 Kurz or Kar98K, it wasn’t technically a “carbine” in the traditional sense, although there had been a carbine version of the Gewehr 98. Rather, it was a short rifle and became the standard service rifle of the German military when it was adopted in 1935.

Why it wasn’t the Kar35K comes down to restrictions placed on Germany under the Treaty of Versailles. The development of a new rifle was concealed, but it was a direct descendant of the Model 98 rifle. The new model resembled its preceding version in its basic shape, except for being almost six inches shorter while also incorporating a few design improvements.

The Kar98K used the same controlled-feed bolt-action system of its predecessor, while the most immediate difference is the straight bolt handle of the Gewehr 98 that was replaced by a turned-down bolt handle that made it easier to rapidly operate, and reduced the amount the handle projected beyond the receiver. That enabled the mounting of options directly above the receiver. The Langevisier – rollercoaster – rear sights were also replaced with a more conventional tangent leaf sight.

Though it was the standard infantry weapon of the Wehrmacht at the start of the Second World War and continued to serve in that role until Germany’s defeat in May 1945, it was gradually supplemented by the semi-automatic Gewehr 43/Karabiner 43 (G43/K43), which almost ironically incorporated an improved short-stroke pistol gas system employed in the aforementioned SVT-40. Yet, while more than nine million Kar98Ks were manufactured by the war’s end, only around 402,000 K43s were produced.

As the war was drawing to a close, Germany was in the beginning stages of slowly replacing its bolt action rifle with the Sturmgewehr 44 (StG44) assault rifle designed by Hugo Schmeisser – and that weapon would go on to influence the AK-47 and other post-war assault rifles.

The Rifles Compared (Again)

So, is one better than the other?

Now, with nearly 80 years of hindsight, it may come down to collectability. In the immediate aftermath of World War II, Kar98Ks were so common that tens of thousands (perhaps more) were “sporterized” and converted into a poor man’s hunting or target rifle. Throughout much of the Cold War, Mosin-Nagants weren’t exactly rare, but certainly not as widely available as they are now.

Then, in the 1990s and early 2000s, the Mosin Nagant flooded the market. As noted, those are still collectible, but not quite in the same way as the Mauser that the Doughboys brought home after the Great War or the Greatest Generation came back with following World War II. It should be noted that Mauser collectors can look to countless variations made for countries around the world, while Mosin-Nagants were made in far fewer flavors.

As the better rifle, it may be a matter of personal preference, but both will have a legacy that lasts for eons to come!

The post Mosin Nagant vs. Gew 98/Kar98K: Weapons of War appeared first on The Mag Life.

What tools do you need to disassemble a Glock?

You don’t need a wide array of tools to disassemble your Glock. There are Glock tools specifically made for taking these guns apart. They’re affordable, simple, and easy to use. But if you prefer to use tools other than a Glock-specific multitool, here’s what we suggest:

• 3/32 punch
• Gunsmith hammer (one end brass and the other, some kind of polymer)
• Flathead screwdriver
• Armorer’s block or vise
• Gunsmith tray

We’re not getting into cleaning, but if you’re going to clean, consider a good bore brush for the barrel, some patches, a cleaning brush or toothbrush, and some Q-Tips. Add those things to your preferred cleaner and lube, and you’re good to go once the gun is disassembled.

Step One: Clear Your Glock

It doesn’t matter if you’re swapping out iron sights, cleaning your gun, or looking for worn-out components. You need to respect the four golden rules of gun safety. That includes clearing the gun with visual and tactile inspection. That chamber isn’t empty until the magazine is dropped, and you’ve both seen and touched an empty chamber. Even then, take care to keep the gun aimed in a safe direction. It doesn’t matter if you’ve touched an empty gun—always follow the rules of safety.

When your Glock is confirmed empty, it’s time to move on to the actual disassembly. It’s up to you whether you do this sitting at a table, or put the gun on a block, or in a vise.

Step Two: Remove the Slide

The first step in removing the slide from your Glock pistol is to pull the trigger. That might feel counterintuitive to gun safety, but that’s why you’ve taken care to properly clear it and continue to aim in a safe direction. Next, grip the gun in one hand and move the slide rearward about one-half inch. I accomplish this by holding the gun upside down in my left hand, with the beavertail portion of the grip pushed into the thenar spaced of my hand. That’s the skin between the thumb and index finger. I then use my four fingers wrapped around the slide to manipulate it (see image).

If you move the slide back too far, you won’t be able to activate the mechanism that allows you to take it off because the trigger will reset and need to be pulled again.

If you’ve pulled the trigger before manipulating the slide, you should find it simple to hold the gun in one hand while pulling the slide locks toward the bottom of the gun simultaneously. It sounds tough, but when done properly, the locks move down smoothly, and the slide will shift forward so it can be quickly removed. I use my right hand thumb and index finger to pull the slide locks downward simultaneously.

Once they’re moved down, I use the thumb of my left hand to push the slide forward for removal. The locking levers must be held down as you push the slide forward to take it off. There are different ways to manage this, so if you need to grip it differently, that’s fine.

Step Three: Disassemble the Slide’s Basic Parts

If you’re just doing basic cleaning or inspection, you can stop your disassembly by taking the slide apart. That can be done with your bare hands; no tools are needed. Just remove the spring, pull out the barrel, and you’re done. Those two pieces can be removed by looking at the slide and seeing how they fit into it.

Taking the slide apart in significant detail requires a far greater number of steps and isn’t recommended for basic cleaning or general inspection of parts. It also isn’t recommended unless you’re more than passingly familiar with Glocks because accidents and broken parts happen. For our purposes, we’re sticking with the removal of the major parts.

Set aside the spring and barrel alongside the slide.

Step Four: Remove the Pins

Now, we are going to get into removing the three pins holding the action together because you’re a lot more likely to need to take those out in order to replace a trigger or locking block. They’re also simpler parts that are straightforward to tap and easy enough to replace. All three pins should be removed from left to right and replaced right to left.

First, you’ll remove the locking block pin, which is the topmost pin located above the trigger guard. Next up is the trigger pin, which is immediately below the locking block pin. The trigger pin has grooves in it that can make it more challenging to tap free, so take your time. If it gets stuck, manipulating the slide stop can help it work loose.

With the first two pins out, you can easily remove the slide stop, spring, and locking block. To get the locking block out, you might need to use a flathead screwdriver or the 3/32 punch to lever it upward, out of the frame. Set those parts aside along with the first two pins.

Finally, remove the third pin. This is the trigger housing pin located at the top of the gun’s grip. It’s important to be aware that this is a plastic pin that can be easily broken, so don’t get rough with it. Tap it out carefully.

Now that Your Glock is Apart

At this point, you can either thoroughly clean your Glock or replace whatever parts you need to access. As you work, watch for signs of stress and excessive wear on parts. Although Glocks last for quite a while, and you’re not likely to wear it out, it’s certainly possible to eventually need to replace a part. It’s always a good idea to take excellent care of our firearms, whether they’re used for self-defense, hunting, or fun on the range.

The post Gunsmithing 101: How to Disassemble Your Glock appeared first on The Mag Life.

Colt wasn’t helping a whole lot. When someone wanted a submachine gun, they tended to refer to the 5.56-chambered Colt Commando. Luckily, Colt broke down and developed a submachine in the 1980s for the glory of American submachine guns. Since then, they’ve kept the Colt SMG in the catalog, upgrading it, making advancements, and keeping the weapon up to date.

Today, we’ll explore the history of the Colt SMG, from the first Department of Energy Compact to the most modern variant on the market.

The First Colt Submachine Gun

Alright, let’s take a quick detour to 1959. Colt developed an ultra-small CAR-15 variant known as the CAR-15 Model 607 and called it the Colt Submachine Gun. The definition of SMG seemed a little looser back then, and this gun still chambered the 5.56 cartridge.

It featured a two-position stock, a 10-inch barrel, and carry handle sights. They produced a variant until at least 1965 when it was seen in the SAWS program. I only mention this gun because they called it the Colt Submachine Gun. It’s not tied to the 9mm Colt SMG we’re discussing today.

The Real Colt Submachine Gun

Colt might have kept suggesting the Commando, but not everyone was buying it. They saw they were losing out on an important market and wanted a piece of the SMG market. Their brand was the AR-15 or, excuse me, CAR-15. Naturally, they wanted to stay on brand and keep the CAR-15 layout, but they revised the gun into a 9mm submachine gun.

Colt chose the 9mm round since it was the NATO pistol round in the 1980s. According to Christopher Bartocci of Small Arms Review, the project was given to Colt Senior Engineer Henry Tatro.

The straight blowback system was chosen, the gas system was ditched, and the bolt was modified. Early prototypes were open-bolt guns, but Colt wisely moved to a closed-bolt format for better accuracy, safety, and reliability. In 1985, the first Colt SMG hit the market.

They based the design on the Colt Commando. The gun wore a 10-inch barrel and used a standard upper and slightly modified lower. The lower used a magazine block to shrink the 5.56 magwell to accommodate the 9mm magazine. Colt modified Uzi mags for their SMG, incorporating a left-side cut for the AR mag release.

The Colt SMG used collapsing stock, an A2-style bird cage flash hider, a slab-side upper, a carry handle, and a fixed front sight. The initial rate of fire was excessive, so heavy buffers were used. Hydraulic buffers were offered to reduce the rate of fire even further.

Ultimately, this became the base-level Colt SMG on which all would be built. The model number is 635.

Early Success

The Colt SMG saw early success with various American police forces, including the DEA, the Marshals Service, the LAPD SWAT department, the DSS, and even the United States Marine Corps. This is a partial list but covers some of the largest adopters.

The 1980s and 1990s were the age of the police submachine gun. Short carbines wouldn’t replace submachine guns until the early days of the GWOT. The Colt submachine gun offered a domestically made, affordable, and ergonomic one.

The weapon was used in various roles, including embassy and ambassador protection, raid teams, and fugitive recovery. Let’s not forget drug raids that became popular during the War on Drugs. The weapon proved to be successful and capable. Enough so that numerous special models were requested for niche uses.

The Small One

The Colt 633 submachine gun only exists because the Department of Energy wanted an ultra-small weapon for the law enforcement officers who protect America’s nukes. These guys have a mix of weaponry, including rifles, shotguns, and light machine guns. They seem to try their hardest to fill every niche possible.

The DOE wanted an ultra-small, highly portable submachine gun, something smaller than the Colt Commando. DOE Security forces have many roles, including the Office of Secure Transportation. I imagine a gun this small would be perfect for use around and even inside vehicles.

Colt modified the 635 to have a 7-inch barrel, a folding front sight, and highly modified handguards. The 633 beat the HK MP5K for the contract. I imagine it was the cheaper option but also the lighter, more ergonomic option that matched the DOE Colt rifles to a T.

The Quiet One

The DEA liked the Colt SMG enough to want a specific model for its Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team. The CLET guys raided drug labs, and that often meant meth labs, but plenty of drugs need labs.

These guys didn’t just face off with bad guys but all sorts of hazardous chemicals. Imagine room clearing in a hazmat suit, and you guys know what they dealt with. They requested a special model of the Colt SMG that became known as the 635SD. The 635SD featured an integrally suppressed barrel. Submachine guns are super easy to suppress, so it was a natural pairing.

There is a theory that the CLET guys needed suppressors to avoid setting off hazardous fumes with muzzle flash, but I don’t buy it. I think these guys just raided small buildings, and guns are noisy, so a suppressed, short SMG makes a lot of sense.

Colt teamed up with Knight’s Armament to produce these weapons. The DEA Colt SMG was famous enough to be on the CLET patch.

The New(er) Colt SMGs

ARs evolved, and so did the Colt SMG. They don’t have as many customers these days, but they did evolve alongside most AR-type rifles. They ditched the plastic handguards for KAC RAS rails and lopped off the carry handles for flat-top optics-ready uppers.

These guns became model numbers 991/992, the difference between model numbers relating to burst and auto functions. They keep the same barrel length and collapsing stock, etc.

The M5

Colt invented the M4 for the military and liked that branding enough to develop a new rifle and call it the M5. The M5 became a family of rifles, and Colt expanded that to the Colt SMG platform. The Colt M5 submachine gun saw a few changes worth mentioning.

They moved to an M-LOK handguard system rather than a quad rail. They went with a Trilug muzzle device over an A2 flash hider. The barrel is shrunk to 9 inches, not counting the Trilug device. The gun uses a Magpul stock and flip-up sights. It’s as modern as the Colt SMG can get.

Why Colt Mags Are Better

Before we go, let’s talk about magazines. For a long time, they were the only option for 9mm AR magazines. Glock has gained ground on Colt, but I think the Colt mags are still better. They are double-stock, dual-feed designs that are a little shorter and easier to load. They are also made from metal and designed for long gun use.

Unlike Glock, which has a rearward rake, the magazines insert straight up and down. Reloads are more intuitive and more ergonomic. The heavy metal mags also drop free a lot easier than Glock mags. Oh, and did I mention they all have a last-round bolt-hold-open device?

Colt mags are better!

The Colt SMG – Decades later

SMGs are on the way out. It’s sad, but they just don’t function like a short carbine with a proper rifle round. As a PCC fan, I still love the little guys and the PCC/Subguns they inspire. If you’re looking for an AR-type PCC, it’s tough to go wrong with a Colt clone. Are you a Colt SMG fan? If so, let us know below!

The post A History Of The Colt Submachine Gun appeared first on The Mag Life.

In short, the .32 is efficient. .32s are a niche round making something of a comeback today, but if we rewind the lock, these rounds were the de facto defensive rounds of their time. Indeed, entire platforms would not have gotten off the ground without them. Case in point is the .32 ACP. The .32 ACP is encountered sparingly today, yet it is a round by many names and is denoted as a round that started one world war and ended a second. But more consequential is the fact that the .32 ACP legitimized the semi-automatic pistol as a defensive and military option. Further, it is an efficient round for personal protection.

.32 ACP: What came before?

These smaller caliber guns needed smaller barrels, smaller cylinders, and smaller firing mechanisms to work with. Let’s take Colt as an example. In the 19th century, Colt manufactured a number of legendary big-bore handguns like the 1851 Navy, 1860 Army, and 1873 Peacemaker. But the company’s bestselling gun for that century was the 1849 Pocket Model, which fired a .32 caliber bullet.

That popularity translated over to cartridges. .22 rimfire guns were around in pistols like the S&W No. 1, but .32 caliber rimfire and centerfire guns were even more popular. For every big bore .44 or .45, many more .32 caliber revolvers and derringers were sold. At the turn of the century, Colt, Smith & Wesson, Iver Johnson, and Hopkins & Allen dominated the concealed carry market with small revolvers chambered in .32.

The most popular cartridge was the .32 S&W. This rimmed revolver cartridge was fed by a few grains of black powder and hurled an 88-grain bullet at about 650 feet per second. .32 S&W is grossly underpowered today, but at the time, it was considered sufficient. The invention of the semi-auto pistol marked a transition from that round to the .32 ACP.

The .32 ACP and the Browning Model 1899

Often, a cartridge is born before the gun. But in this case, the .32 ACP was developed after the semi-auto pistol beyond a proof of concept. It would make the semi-auto explode onto the scene.

In 1893, the Borchardt automatic pistol hit the market. This toggle action monstrosity fed from a detachable box magazine and reloaded itself using the recoil force of the ammunition. It was ungainly and fired the 7.62 Borchardt cartridge, one too powerful for something that could go into a conventional handgun. Indeed, the Borchardt was probably best suited with its optional shoulder stock. But this model set the gears in motion to produce something more practical. Luger sought to simply the Borchardt directly, while Mauser had its own construction in the C96. John Browning had the idea of a slide-actuated pistol and created the .32 ACP cartridge to suit that design, which would become the Browning Model 1899.

The Design Takes Hold

The .32 ACP had a smaller rim than the .32 S&W but was a smokeless cartridge and used a full metal jacket bullet, all of which made it more practical for an auto pistol. It also happened to be more powerful, but not so powerful that it could not be used in Browning’s pistol. The M1899 had a fixed barrel and relied on slide weight and spring pressure to cycle. It was a simple blowback design, yet it worked well. After some internal improvements, the M1900 entered production with FN in Belgium. The new pistol’s decent power, eight-round capacity, and ability to get quick follow-up shots endeared it to ordinance officers throughout Europe.

Although Luger holds the distinction of having his semi-auto pistol adopted first by the Swiss in 1900, the Belgians had the M1900 in a matter of months. The M1900 would go on to be adopted by a number of other European nations, including Greece and Serbia.

Browning’s pistols also fell into the hands of militant groups fomenting unrest through protest, crime, and assassination. Serbia covertly procured several Browning pistols for use by the nationalist Black Hand. Tragically for the world, the Black Hand successfully targeted Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in the summer of 1914, sparking the First World War. The teenage assassin, Gavrilo Princip, was alleged to have used a Browning M1900 in .32 ACP, but the actual pistol was the newer M1910 in the then-new .380 ACP cartridge.

Growing Popularity

Nonetheless, the .32 ACP’s popularity grew with the war years as pistols became more instrumental in the trench fighting that characterized the war. It also happened to be the most popular round at the time, and demand for arms could be satisfied. Small Pieper, Browning, and Mauser .32 ACP satisfied German demand, while the French opted to import huge quantities of Ruby pistols from Spain.

The sheer number of .32 caliber revolvers on the market in the US kept demand for the new .32 ACP at a low ebb, but not enough for fabled handguns like the Colt Model 1903 to make their debut. Another interesting design is the Savage Model 1907. Savage ultimately failed to beat Colt in the 1911 pistol trials, but they found success with their smaller double-stack Model 1907 in .32 ACP. Despite the relative success of these models, the .32 ACP would not find much popularity.

World War II and the Decline of the .32 ACP

Although the 9mm Luger became more popular in military circles after the First World War, the .32 ACP continued to thrive as a concealable pistol option for staff officers and as a sidearm for policemen. World War II saw the .32 ACP on both sides of the conflict. The US Army’s general officer’s sidearm was the Model 1903 in place of the heavier Model 1911 in .45.

The British adapted the subsonic .32 ACP for its suppressed Welrod pistol. However, the .32 ACP was most commonly fielded by Europe’s combatants. The Walther PP and PPK feature prominently on the German side. Although not standard military issue, these pistols were the latest in police gear and a favorite of party officials and front-line officers alike.

Postwar Service

After the war, the .32 ACP cartridge continued in police service in a divided Europe. Western Europe turned away from it completely after the 1972 Munich Hostage Crisis forced a reevaluation of police gear and tactics. In the Communist bloc, PPK-like pistols in 9×18 Makarov were military issue, and handguns like the CZ-50 and PA-63 in .32 ACP were still common in police work until the Berlin Wall fell.

Veteran bringbacks of Sauer, Walther, and Mauser pistols led to some renewed interest in the US in the .32, but it remained a niche cartridge like .25 ACP and .380 ACP. As shall-issue carry laws began to be passed in the 1990s, the .380 remained the bigger bore round that could be chambered in simpler blowback-operated pistols and, later, small polymer-framed locked-breech pistols.

The Modern Era

In 1999, KelTec debuted the P32. This single-stack polymer framed pocket pistol is as small and light as any pistol and is the oldest in Keltec’s lineup. Yet the P3AT in .380 debuted a few years later and led to a spat of .380 designs that have dominated the market. Today, the .32 ACP is the bane of older handguns, save for a few holdouts. These include the P32 and Beretta Tomcat. Also among them is the Seecamp LWS 32 and its copy, the NAA Guardian. In 2024, Walther reintroduced the PPK/s in .32 ACP. All major manufacturers continue to make loadings for the .32 ACP, but both the ammunition and the available firearms live in the shadow of the bigger .380.

The .32 ACP Today: Pros and Cons

The cartridge never really caught on in the United States, and part of it was likely the sheer number of competing options on the market. But there are some good reasons to pick the round for carry, as well as some aspects of the round that might guide you to steer clear.

The .32 ACP is a low-pressure round capable of chambering in the most diminutive pistols. It is also centerfire, which is more reliable than smaller .22 rimfire rounds you might encounter in pocket guns. But that capability is seldom realized. The Seecamp remains one of the smallest handguns on the market, but it also has a dated all-steel design.

Viable Options

The ultimate .32 might be the KelTec P32, which boasts a polymer frame and weighs under 9 ounces. Otherwise, the .32 is going to be encountered in even older and larger frame designs like the Walther PPK. These designs are deceptively easy to shoot and shoot well, as their all-metal frames soak up what little recoil the .32 produces. In general, the .32 recoils considerably less than comparable pistols in .380.

While the .32 has the potential to make for a very small carry package or a very shootable one, the cartridge itself has its own limitations. .32 is considered somewhat small by today’s standards, and .32 ACP is slower compared to more recent .32 caliber rounds like the .32 H&R Magnum and .327 Federal Magnum revolver cartridges. Buffalo Bore, Underwood, and Corbon have come to the rescue with high-velocity loadings for the .32, but most .32 ACP loadings consist of either a 60-grain hollow point or a 71-grain full metal jacket bullet traveling no faster than 900 feet per second.

Conventional wisdom states that numbers this low are too low for hollow-point expansion, and shooters are best advised to use the old-school full metal jacket to ensure good penetration should a hollow-point expand and not penetrate enough.

Although it has the virtue of being centerfire, the .32 ACP sacrifices some potential reliability because it has a rimmed case. Most of the first-generation auto pistol cartridges come with a small rim that will work well with a magazine but be reliable in terms of extraction. Later rounds, like the 9mm Luger, have rimless or rebated rims that are flush with the case. Like .22 LR or .25 ACP, it is possible to load the magazine of a .32 ACP pistol with the rim of one round overlapping with the rim of the previous round, leading to a failure to chamber.

The Bottom Line

There is no getting around the fact that the .32 ACP has its issues. On paper, it doesn’t have much power, and the rimmed case can be an issue. It also does not help that it is mostly older designs that use it. With all that in mind, the .32 ACP can’t help but seem antiquated. But that might be a virtue of its merits rather than its detriments. The .32 is a joy to shoot and has more punch than some would give it credit. For a round that started the modern semi-automatic pistol, the fact that a case can still be made for it and that manufacturers still produce pistols for it speaks to its longevity and positive attributes.

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What’s a Derringer?

There has never been a firm definition of what a derringer is. It’s an amorphous term that’s grown and expanded over the years to include a fairly wide variety of guns. What they all have in common seems to be that they are all ultra-small. They aren’t just pocket guns, but guns you could nearly fit in a coin pocket. Derringers have always been small, and these days, they are most often guns with two barrels arranged in an over/under combination.

The Early Days of Derringers

The history of the derringer officially starts in the United States, specifically in Philadelphia. Much like the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, they were born and raised in Philly but caught on quite quickly. While derringers started in the United States, some historical context of small firearms predates the Philadelphia derringer.

Ever since the advent of firearms, there have been two running themes. First, make them shoot faster, further, and with greater accuracy. Second, find a way to make them smaller. The latter guided pistols from the 18th century into a smaller platform.

The pre-derringers had several different names, including boot pistols, vest pocket pistols, muff pistols, and more. They were designed to be easily carried and concealed by the average civilian. These guns had several designs, but the Queen Anne pattern flintlocks were the most popular.

A Queen Anne is a pistol with a screw- or turn-off barrel. Shooters removed the barrel to load the chamber directly. This meant it wasn’t a muzzle-loading design. Queen Anne pistols were available in several sizes, including ultra-small designs that were made easily hidden in vest pockets and hand warmers. These single shots predate the derringer and were typically larger, but they had the same idea.

The Philadelphia Derringer

The first derringer came from Henry Deringer. That’s Deringer with one “R.” Mr. Deringer first produced the gun in 1825. The platform became very popular firearms, first, interestingly enough, amongst military officers. The popularity spread to the civilian market, and roughly 15,000 were produced.

The Philadelphia derringers were .41 caliber and featured rifled bores. Barrel lengths could be as short as 1.5 inches but also as long as six inches. They were most commonly sold in pairs. If you only have one shot with a muzzle-loading percussion pistol, maybe you’d want one extra pistol.

These pistols varied in design. Some had front sights, but rear sights were rare. Some guns had no sights and were designed as point-and-shoot guns. The most infamous use of a Philadelphia Derringer was by John Wilkes Boothe in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

The news coverage of the assassination misspelled “Deringer” as “derringer,” and the latter spelling became the norm.

The Sharps Derringer

Christian Sharps designed and patented his first derringer in 1849 but didn’t produce one until 1859 when Sharps was able to patent an even smaller design. Unlike most derringers, the Sharps derringer was a four-shot pistol. It combined the firepower of a pepperbox with the small size of a derringer. The gun featured barrels that slid forward to unveil the chambers.

Once loaded, the user manually cocked the single action hammer to fire the gun. The firing pin rotated with each pull of the hammer. Sharps produced four derringer models in .22, .30, and .32 rimfire cartridges.

The Colt Derringer

As firearms evolved, so did derringers. In 1861, Daniel Moore patented a single-shot .38 Rimfire pistol. Metallic cartridges were the future, but Smith & Wesson and Rollin White kept the future to themselves with revolvers. Moore’s gun was super small and fit the derringer category.

Moore produced them until 1865, when he sold the design to the National Arms Company. They produced a .41 caliber rimfire version of the gun. In 1870, Colt purchased the National Arms Company and maintained production of the derringers. Colt produced three different derringer models, each with slight changes and improvements.

All of these guns used .41 caliber rimfire cartridges. During the cowboy craze of the 1950s, the fourth model derringer arrived. This time, it was a little .22 Short single shot. It was a replica that cashed in on the cowboy craze.

The Remington Model 95

When you hear the word “derringer,” you likely picture the Remington Model 95. This two-barreled pistol has become the stereotypical derringer with its over/under barrel combination, exposed hammer, and bird’ s-head grip. Remington began production in 1866 and produced the guns until 1935. The cartridge of choice is the .41 Short.

These guns were single-action, break-open designs. The user simply loaded both barrels and, when needed, could cock and fire the gun twice before going Winchester. Remington produced over 100,000 of the guns with only minor changes throughout the years.

They did make several finish and grip options. There were engraved models, blued models, nickel-plated models, grips of various wood types, and even ivory or pearl. Throughout the years, they’ve become popular in movies. They are seen in various Westerns, including “The Shootist,” “Wild Wild West,” and “A Few Dollars More.”

These guns were a massive success, and to this day, various companies produce replicas. Whether people know it was a Remington design or not, the two-barreled Remington derringer is the most famous of all derringers.

Into the Modern Era

Derringers have faded slightly from popularity. The advent of ultra-small guns like the Ruger LCP kind of killed the market for them as serious defensive firearms. That doesn’t mean that there haven’t been modern attempts. One of the last few genuine attempts to produce defensive derringers came in the 1980s and 1990s.

The COP 357 derringer was produced in 1983. This little four-barrel weapon looks like a semi-auto pistol. However, the gun’s four barrels give it away. The gun used a double-action trigger with a rotating firing pin. The intention was to provide a backup gun to the police. Later, a Mini Cop in .22 Magnum was produced. The gun was never successful. The gun was heavy, the triggers were excessively heavy, and the recoil was rough.

In the 1990s, High Standard produced the famed DS22 and DS38 derringers. These were more traditional micro-sized two-shot guns. However, the guns had a double-action design. They were moderately successful and still common these days.

Nowadays, companies like Bond Arms produce modern two-barrel, single-action derringers in a wide range of calibers, from .410 to 9mm Luger. Some are extremely powerful, and I wouldn’t want to shoot them. These guns aren’t typically chosen for self-defense but rather for their exquisite quality, engineering, and fun factor.

These days, the closest we have to a modern self-defense derringer is the NAA Micro Revolvers. You can argue they aren’t derringers, but they match the uber-small design and do offer a repeating five-shot option.

Derringers have long been a part of the American concealed carry market, and they don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. These micro-sized guns are still produced well over a century after their advent. That’s a testimonial to their stay power and an inherent enjoyment of the design.

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