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Bersa Thunder 380 pistol review

This is a review of The Bersa Thunder 380 pistol.

Desert Eagle micro 380 ACP Review

Let’s face it: the firearms market has been absolutely saturated with concealed carry guns chambered in the feisty little .380acp. The most popular thus far has been the inexpensive Ruger LCP. Unfortunately, the LCP has been affected by a safety recall. Some early units were not drop-safe– not exactly a good proposition for a gun that is supposed to hurt the bad guy and not you or a friendly in the process. My personal experience with the LCP is that it does not reliably feed the 6th round from the magazine. Lightly coating my rounds with CLP was an easy stopgap solution, but I want bulletproof reliability in a concealed carry weapon. So, I passed on the LCP.

And Ruger is not the only resident of 380 Recall Land. Sig Sauer’s new P238 hasn’t been on the market for long and is already on recall– and the situation is even more dire. Deactivating the safety lever may cause the gun to fire! Thousands of P238s recently arrived at one of our suppliers and every unit had to go back to Sig as a precaution. Also, the aluminum grip panels that were shown on the gun at Shot Show are now made of plastic– causing an uproar among buyers. Frankly, once a gun has been involved in a safety recall, especially of this magnitude, I can no longer trust it for defensive carry. So, the Sig Sauer P238 is off my list too.

Kahr’s new PM380 is ultra compact and easily has the best trigger of the bunch. Kahrs have always been known for their buttery smooth double action trigger pulls. Reliability will probably be ahead of the curve too. Once we get one of these in, we’ll certainly take it out for a range test.

Walther debuted its new PK380, but it’s rather large for a .380acp. In this form factor, you’re probably better off with the excellent and super slim Walther PPS in the more potent 9mm cartridge. This leads us to what is, in my opinion, the best new .380acp on the market: the Micro Desert Eagle by Magnum Research.

The Micro Eagle is the only steel gun in the group and a stunning piece of engineering artistry. The proprietary nickel Teflon finish that Magnum Research uses is very attractive, slick, and resistant to corrosion– not unlike hard chrome. Of course, this is an important attribute for a concealed carry firearm considering the amount of sweat the gun will be exposed to during its service life.

I took the Micro Desert Eagle to the range this morning with 50rds of ancient ammunition that I found at the shop. Recoil is refreshingly light thanks to its robust steel construction. However, the trigger is 14 days long and over 8 pounds– something you’ll have to learn to live with it. My accuracy at 25ft is on par with other micro .380acps that I’ve fired (see target) and nothing to brag about. I’ve found it best to shoot the Micro Eagle single-handed because the large trigger guard makes your weak hand placement incredibly important– lest you want to lose a digit during fire. In fact, the slide had a big orange sticker from the factory reminding you of this potential danger!

The Micro Eagle’s sights are miniscule, but useable. Although the price point seems high ($431), you’re getting a steel-framed handgun and you get what you pay for. Take down is fascinatingly elegant. Simply drop the magazine, clear the weapon, move the slide to the rear so its takedown line synchs up with the takedown line on the frame, rotate the barrel clockwise, and the slide comes forward off the frame. It’s actually pretty fun to field strip the little bugger! And its most important feature of all: the Micro Eagle is not on a safety recall– which seems like a rarity when you consider the woes Sig Sauer and Ruger have shared lately.

Rock River Arms Entry Tactical AR-15 review

Review provided by a lawyer in Iowa

Basics

The Rock River Arms Entry Tactical AR-15, or more precisely the RRA LAR-15 Entry Tactical, an AR-15 pattern rifle. My particular rifle (as pictured above) has a 16″ barrel with a 1:9 twist. I wanted an AR-15 for a while, and was always partial to the Rock River Arms models, but sadly I lived in Cook County, IL, where a ban on so-called “assault weapons” prevented me from lawfully owning one. Luckily, after law school, I found a job in Iowa, where AR-15s are lawful to own, and found one in stock at my local gun store. As soon as I saw it, I could see that it was truly a beautiful, well designed & built rifle, and this AR-15 has since become one of my most favorite firearms.
The AR-15 design was created by Eugene Stoner when he worked for Armalite (hence the “AR”). Armalite sold the AR-15 rights to Colt about 50 years ago, and nowadays AR-15 pattern rifles are manufactured by quite a few companies, including Rock River Arms (although Colt still holds the “AR-15″ trademark.)
The AR-15 is a gas operated, semi-automatic rifle chambered for .223 and/or 5.56mm., and its design was groundbreaking when created by Eugene Stoner. The use of composites to reduce weight while maintaining strength, and the use of a relatively small caliber round both stand out. Similarly, the positioning of the stock level and in a straight line with the barrel, so as to reduce muzzle flip, also show Stoner’s skill as a firearms designer. Perhaps most notable about the AR-15 is its direct gas impingement system, whereby some of the gases produced by the burning gun powder are diverted through a tube beneath the front sight and sent directly against the bolt carrier. This design does away with the need for a gas piston, as used in many other gas operated firearms, reducing complexity and felt recoil. This system also means that the “dirty” gas is sent back into the receiver. However with proper cleaning, this really isn’t a reliability concern.

AR-15 vs. M-16

As I mentioned above, the AR-15 is a semi-automatic firearm. This means that it fires one round for each pull of the trigger. The M-16, the main battle rifle for American armed forces, is quite similar in design to the AR-15, with one critical and ever so important difference: The M-16 is a machine gun. It can fire more than one round with each pull of the trigger. In other words, while the AR-15 and M-16 look quite similar, they are worlds apart because the AR-15 is functionally no different than any other semi-automatic rifle, while the M-16 is a machine gun. Those opposed to gun rights like to play on the visual similarities in order to push for pointless bans on rifles like the AR-15, while ignoring the fact that the AR-15 is not a true military weapon and is rarely used by criminals anyway.
Mechanically speaking, the M-16 and AR-15 have different triggers, disconnectors, selectors, bolt carriers, and hammers, so despite persistent urban legends, it is not all that easy to take an AR-15 and convert it into an M-16.

Supported Calibers

The AR-15 is chambered for .223 and/or 5.56mm. Most AR-15 can handle both .223 and 5.56mm, but some are able to safely handle only .223 (although I’ve never personally seen such an AR-15). There are also conversion kits available to transform an AR-15 so that it can fire a wide range of calibers, ranging from .22 long rifle to .50 Beowulf. The AR-15 is an incredibly versatile platform, and as a coworker of mine once said, “if I could only have one rifle, it would be an AR-15.”
Ergonomics
Eugene Stoner’s brilliance as a small arms designer can really be seen in the AR-15’s ergonomics. Out of all the firearms I’ve held, I’ve found none to be more comfortable to hold than the AR-15 (although the Beretta CX4 Storm is a close second). The pistol grip and the hand guard are perfectly placed. The stock, which is in a straight line with the barrel, is also perfectly placed, helping to reduce muzzle flip when firing. The controls are well placed too (although if I were left handed, I might complain.) The light weight of the AR-15 makes it easy to hold and carry. On a related note, it is one of the more beautiful rifles I’ve ever seen, although to be fair I prefer black plastic over wood any day.

Reliability

During the early days of its use in the Vietnam war, the M-16 gained a reputation for unreliability. However this wasn’t really the fault of the M-16/AR-15 design. Instead, soldiers were not properly instructed on cleaning their rifles, with some being (quite incorrectly) told that no cleaning was necessary at all. The M-16 was also sent into battle without a chrome plated chamber, which really hurt reliability. Finally, the wrong type of gun powder was placed in the round given to soldiers, exacerbating the above problems. The result was was solder’s weapons would jam in battle.
Such problems are a thing of the past, and have been for decades. The AR-15 is currently quite reliable, especially when property cared for. While I still have the highest confidence in pump action guns, when I pull the trigger on my AR-15, I don’t wonder whether it will fire and cycle properly. The forward assist, which helps the shooter to close the action if it were to become jammed partway open, also adds to reliability, although it is a control on the rifle that one seldom has occasion to use these days.
Build Quality and Rock River Arms as a Company
Rock River Arms is known as a one of the best manufacturers of AR-15 pattern rifles, with good reason. The fit and finish on my AR-15 is superb, and the first time I took it to the range, the other 3 shooters took a break to come admire it. I was debating buying a Bushmaster AR-15, but after handling the Rock River Arms model, my mind was made up. Interestingly enough, three other coworkers of mine all bought AR-15s within a week of when I bought mine, and we all chose Rock River Arms, without discussing it with each other before we each made our respective purchases.
I’m also pleased to say that Rock River Arms is a great company to deal with. I called them to inquire about different stocks and to get answers to a couple of technical questions, and they were quite helpful. Even though they are cranking out AR-15s as fast as they can, given the gun buying boom caused by Obama’s election, they still had time to politely and correctly answer my questions over the phone. Since they did such a good job manufacturing my rifle, I can’t personally speak about their servicing of rifles under warranty, but what I have heard from others makes me believe they are top notch in that regard too.

Accuracy

Rock River Arms promises 1 MOA at 100 yards, and I’m inclined to believe them. I haven’t had as much time to shoot my AR-15 as I would have liked, due to studying for the bar exam, but I am looking forward to doing at lot more shooting in the coming weeks and months. That said, accuracy is great, and my long range shooting skills are currently the limiting factor, rather than the rifle.

Accessories

Pretty much every accessory one could want or even imagine exists for the AR-15. These include higher/lower capacity magazines, sighting options, tactical lights, different grips and handguards, different barrels, different flash suppressors, etc. One could spend a lifetime (and a lifetime’s income!) customizing an AR-15.
Why I bought an AR-15
I was asked by an anti-gun relative why I bought an AR-15. I have several reasons, each of which would have been enough to justify the cost in my mind. Firstly, it is simply a nice rifle to own and shoot. I enjoy firing it, and I correctly guessed that my fiancé would enjoy it. I’ll never forget the second time we went to fire it, and a fellow shooter at the range asked her if she just watched or if she was a shooter herself. My fiancé, for the first time, classified herself as a shooter, rather than as a bystander who just happened to come with me and fire my guns from time to time. Secondly, I was worried about Obama’s openly stated gun control plans, and how if they came to fruition, I might never be able to buy an AR-15 in the future. Thirdly, given the possibility of future gun control laws that might ban manufacturing of the AR-15, and even the current run on AR-15s as people buy them out of fear of such possible gun control laws, it seems that the AR-15 is going to hold its value. While I have no intentions of selling mine, it is good to know that it is a decent investment that is rather secure. Finally, I recognized that while my shotguns and handguns might be effective at fending off a home invader or armed robber, their lower magazine capacity wouldn’t do me as much good during periods of prolonged civil unrest (e.g. the LA riots of the 1990’s, the Chicago riots of the 1960’s, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina). While I hope that I never face violent attack by a mob during civil unrest, and hope to never fire a gun at another human being, having the AR-15 and a few loaded magazines on hand is a rather cheap insurance policy.

Conclusion

If it isn’t obvious by now, I’m quite a fan of the AR-15. It is a versatile rifle that is well designed and enjoyable to shoot. I find the quality of the Rock River Arms AR15s to be exquisite. Perhaps best of all, my fiancé actively enjoys shooting the AR-15, due in no small part to its low recoil.

Walther P38 9mm Semi Automatic Pistol Review

The Walther P38 was the first true double-action pistol in 9mm, and was the only one for a good while. It’s a fine piece of engineering, and its staying power has proven that. At press time, the P38 continues to be available in the USA via imported West German police “trade-in” guns.

The P38 was originally a German military pistol, chambered for 9mm Luger (9mm Parabellum; 9x19mm), which at that time had been in German military use for more than three decades. The P38 saw much wartime use during World War II, and was subsequently produced commercially in West Germany for export and police use.

Many, if not most, commercially-made P38s have alloy frames. WWII military P38s had steel frames. The subject of this article is a commercial model with an alloy frame.

The photo shows the left side of the P38. This a “police trade-in” gun of recent import (though not of recent manufacture).

Stamped on the left side of the slide: Walther banner logo; “Carl Walther Waffenfabrik Ulm/Do;” “P38 Cal.9mm;” and a poor stamping of three numbers.

Also: A simple dot inside a circle; a stylized four-pointed star above it; “165″ inside a three-sided box. Research shows the “box” to be an eagle whose downswept wings form the box’s sides.

Springfield Armory 1911 Operator Pistol Review

We found this review of the Springfield 1911 Operator and felt we should share it with you. While we do not agree with all of this gentleman’s talking points we still felt you should see it.

A shotgun review for the smaller petite person, the Remington 870 Express Youth 20 gauge shotgun

My wife, bless her soul, already enjoyed shooting before I met her. In fact, she even owned her own pistol at the time. But when it came to long guns, she had a problem – she is very petite, and holding and swinging field-length shotguns was difficult for her.

Overall weight is not so much a problem for her, but overall length is VERY important. After looking around, I bought her a Remington 870 Express Youth 20 gauge shotgun. While it is about the same weight as my field gun, it is nearly a foot shorter. Because of that, she is able to use it quite comfortably and effectively. We have several friends (including members of both sexes) who prefer this exact shotgun, and it is always well-used when we go out.

The stock is somewhat plain, but perfectly fine and functional. It includes a recoil pad of approximately 1″ thickness. The finish on the receiver and barrel is quite good, it is a thick, heavy finish that resists scratches incredibly well.

The action was a small bit rougher than I would have expected when purchased, but it smoothed out very quickly. Considering the price point of the gun, the action is what you would expect, perhaps a bit better. The trigger is also quite decent.

Overall, this shotgun is a large success. MSRP is, at the time of this writing, $385. I believe that I spent approximately $330, and the shotgun has more than lived up to the price tag. I have found no downsides, and am completely satisfied.

If you are smaller of stature, or are shopping for such a person, take a look at this shotgun – I think you’ll be very pleased.

Smith and Wesson Model SW40VE Pistol Review

The Smith and Wesson Model SW40VE was first brought out into the market in 1994. For a couple years after release, some owners of this pistol had jamming and clipping issues. The late models, though, no longer have these problems. This review is staying away from the earlier model years.

and concentrating on the most recent years’ production of this pistol.

Of course, most items sold get better with newer releases because problems and flaws are fixed as they arise. This pistol is a prime example of this. Buying a used sw40ve may not be a wise idea for this very reason. But as a consumer, if you were looking to buy a used model of this pistol, make sure you purchase a model with the accessory rails molded into the frame. This will limit some of the problems you could run into. The rails began appearing in 1999 and are primarily made for attaching accessories such as a laser sight or a lightweight tactical light. Of course, to avoid worrying about these annoyances, you can purchase a new pistol. The price on a brand new Smith and Wesson model SW40VE is still extremely reasonable.

Smith and Wesson Sigma sw40ve Pistol Review – The accuracy: Most gun owners that have had a chance to shoot this pistol agree that the accuracy is point on, for a short barreled gun. A long barreled gun will almost always have better accuracy, but that isn’t something that can be changed. Physics and ballistics come into play when you take barrel length into consideration, so to speak. As far as a short barreled gun goes, this pistol does what it is supposed to do, and does it well. The sigma sw40ve features a sleek 4″ barrel that looks excellent and is accurate. In the hands of a competent shooter, this pistol has top notch accuracy.

Ruger PC4 carbine rifle review

Basics
The Ruger PC4 is a semi automatic pistol caliber carbine – a rifle that fires a pistol cartridge. The PC4 is chambered for .40 S&W, and there is also a 9mm version available (the PC9). The PC4 (and the PC9) use Ruger pistol magazines, which is especially nice for those who already have Ruger pistols. Both the PC4 (sometimes called the PC40) and PC9 weigh in at about 6.5 pound, with barrels that are just over 16″ in length. The PC4 and PC9 are blowback operated, which is somewhat rare for such carbines. Sighting options include standard iron sights, or ghost ring sights. The standard proprietary Ruger scope mounts are also built in to the receiver. Production of the PC4 and PC9 was stopped a few years ago, after Ruger decided there wasn’t enough demand to justify continued production. However they can still be found at gun stores and online. I found mine at a local gun store for under $600.

Safety Features
The PC4 and PC9 have automatic drop and firing pin safeties, along with a manual safety in the rear of the trigger guard. One interesting feature related to how these carbines are blowback operated. One of the downsides to blowback operation is that the action is not usually locked closed, but is instead only held closed by spring pressure. If the firearm is dropped or jarred, it is possible for the action to partially open, preventing proper operation of the firearm until the user notices those problem and closes it back up. Ruger fixes this by having the action lock closed, and then unlock as either the trigger is pulled, or as the action is manually operated. This feature is very well done, and I didn’t even notice it at first until I read more about the PC4 online after I bought it.

Ergonomics
The PC4 feels great to hold, and is pretty well balanced. Balance can be a problem with blowback operated firearms, due to the need to have the action be heavy enough to stay closed as the bullet travels down the barrel, leading to too much weight in one place. Ruger avoided this problem as well, by using weights on the end of a light weight bar to better distribute the weight. The result is a well balanced carbine that is comfortable to hold and shoot. The one thing that I don’t like is the recoil pad. It is made of a rather rigid rubbery material, with ridges in it. I would have preferred a recoil pad that was either a bit softer, or that didn’t have those ridges. I don’t care enough to change the recoil pad, but I thought I would still mention this.

Firing the PC4
This is a fun carbine to shoot, and accuracy was great. I was firing offhand on a 50′ indoor range, and managed to shoot 1″ groups pretty easily. I look forward to going to an outdoor range to see how the PC4 does at longer distances. I will say that recoil was a bit heavier that I expected, given that I was only firing .40 S&W pistol cartridges, although the recoil was by no means unpleasant. I’m guessing the recoil felt heavier than I expected because this carbine is blowback operated, meaning that the action does very little to soften the felt recoil. That said, I do want to be clear that this recoil was quite light compared to any shotgun or centerfire rifle I’ve ever fired, and should not pose a problem for even the most recoil sensitive people.

Conclusion
The PC4 is a nice carbine, especially for those of us who already have pistols chambered for .40 S&W (or the PC9 for those who have pistols chambered for 9mm). Accuracy is good, recoil is light, and a variety of hard-to-notice features relating to safety and the blowback action are nice touches as well. The blowback operation is simple and reliable. Since this carbine is no longer in production, finding one may be slightly difficult, but is worth the effort.

The Webley & Scott 912G (900 series 12-bore game model) shotgun review

The Webley & Scott 912G (900 series 12-bore game model) is part of an expanding selection in a broad price range.

In the 900 range there are game and sporter models, barrel lengths from 26in to 32in, 12- or 20-bore versions and internal or external (protruding) chokes to choose from.

All are supplied with cases, a selection of choke tubes, a key and owner’s manual.

The first impression of the game model on test is of a cobby, handy gun, enhanced by its 26in barrels. Interestingly, even at 26in, the weight distribution has a positive bias towards the barrels, giving a firm feel.

The chunky fore-end and a good handful of stock combine to make a useful general-purpose gun.

Well thought-out safety
The 912G’s appearance is one of contrasts – silky black barrels against reddish-brown wood and a striking light-coloured action boldly bearing the Webley & Scott name.

The action body is machined from a substantial piece of steel incorporating hinge discs for the barrels to pivot and lockwork of a design which is the norm for a modern over-and-under.

The barrel selection is operated from a button in the middle of the ramped safety catch and the changeover is mechanical rather than relying on an inertia block. The cranked arm, which operates the automatic function of the safety, is well designed. The helical mainsprings are conventional for this design and though these seem a little on the small side, they are good quality.

Attention to detail
Proofed in Birmingham for steel shot and a 76mm (3in) cartridge, the barrels are assembled on the monoblock system. There is extensive jewelling around the sides of the block where it fits into the action and the sprung ejectors.

The proof sizes on the two barrels are 18.3mm and 18.4mm. In old British Imperial measurements both qualify as ‘tight’ 12. They were both exactly in the middle of the size range.

The barrels’ exterior is true with well-laid side ribs and a slim non-glare top rib fitted with a conventional brass bead foresight.

Very good attention to detail has been applied to the finishing at the muzzles – something users now notice with screw-in chokes. The bores are flawless inside as indeed they now need to be to pass the viewing stage of the UK Proof Houses.

Five internal chokes are provided. Two are already fitted and the others come in separate containers for protection. They are all well marked, including those not for use with steel shot, and have a notch-mark at the muzzle for quick reference.

They are easily interchangeable and sizes range from cylinder to full choke, so there is something suitable for most purposes.

The length of pull is 14¾in and combined with its other substantial dimensions this makes the 912G a man-sized gun.

Drop across the comb is 1½in at the tip and just over 2in at the heel. These dimensions and the fairly wide comb follow a trend among major manufacturers. I normally find such dimensions a bit high for a game gun, but the results showed up on the pattern plate.

The laser-produced chequering is uniform and deeply cut, giving an outstanding grip. This is not an expensive gun so one cannot expect superb-grade walnut. However, the fore-end had some attractive dark veining and fiddleback.

Even the stock – a plainer piece of wood – had some nice fiddleback around the pistol grip.

An oiled finish is always a good idea, though at first the stock felt a little sticky. It may have been too fresh from fi ishing, but with a bit of handling it soon felt as dry as the fore-end. This type of finish is a boon to the enthusiast who likes to do some palming-in of stock oil.

Impressive shot patterns
On test, the 912G showed another side of its character. The trigger pulls are almost 6lb and a little long but even. This is the norm and a legacy of the ultra-safety conscious approach manufacturers have to take nowadays. The ejection of fired cases was crisp and clean and the timing of double ejections was spot-on.

The safety button snicked back into place each time the gun was opened. Initially the primer strikes were a bit lighter than expected but got better as the gun was used.

Surprise patterns
The biggest surprise of all was to be found on the pattern plate. The shot patterns with the cartridges I used were most impressive and on a par with some much more expensive guns.

However, with my shooting style it threw the patterns rather high. Though well-centred on the plate, due largely to a reasonable amount of cast-off on the stock, the bottom of the patterns from more open chokes was only clipping the aiming mark by 2in or 3in.

With full choke it was possible to place the pattern a little above the mark – good for more traditional shooters who like to see the bird as though perched on the foresight bead. This is not a problem for someone whose sight picture is the target in full view above the rib.

Results that count
The 912G is an interesting gun as you get more than you might think. At 26in the barrels might be thought short and yet they are entirely suited to the gun on test and they look right. Having had the chance to try a longer-barrelled model, I would have no hesitation in choosing this gun.

If there is a modern advertisement for the benefit of shorter barrels the 912G 26in is a worthy contender.

As for the shot patterns, it is important to remember it is good shot patterns and pellet energy that make consistent clean kills possible – not fancy wood or engraving. In the end, with any gun, it is the results that count.

Springfield 1911 45ACP Pistol Review

Basics
The Springfield 1911 45 ACP is a short recoil operated semiautomatic (autoloading) pistol. The full name of this pistol is the Pistol, Caliber .45, Automatic, M1911A1. The 1911 was developed during the first decade of the 1900’s, and officially adopted by the United States military as an official side arm in the year 1911, hence the name. It was originally chambered for .45 ACP only, however it is now available in a variety of other calibers as well (though .45 ACP remains the most popular by a wide margin). The Springfield 1911 combines a metal frame, a proven effective caliber, and a dependable design with safety features such as an innovative grip safety.

Build Quality & Features
The Springfield 1911 45 ACP is a finely constructed pistol. It is available in a variety of models, whose prices can range from just over $500, to well over $2,000. Regardless of the model selected, the buyer will have a high quality pistol whose parts fit together well and look great. It is no wonder that this design has endured for nearly 100 years, and been copied by many manufacturers.
The 1911 also features an innovative safety, located on the back of the pistol grip. When the gun is held normally, the grip safety is automatically disengaged, and the gun can be fired. When the gun is not being gripped by the shooter, they safety is automatically engaged, and the 1911 cannot be fired. This unobtrusive safety can go a long way to prevent unintentional discharges of the gun.

Reliability
The 1911 45 ACP is a durable handgun, with a strong metal frame. It will fire round after round after round for years to come. A well cared for Springfield 1911 that was produced in the year 1911 can still be used today, and most people wouldn’t even notice age of the gun. I have yet to experience a failure to feed or failure to fire, nor do I know of anyone who has experienced one that was the fault of a 1911, rather than bad ammunition.

Effectiveness of the .45ACP
The .45 Automatic Colt Pistol (.45ACP) cartridge, which was developed right around the time the Springfield 1911 was introduced, has been proven effective for self defense. Although I personally prefer .40 S&W, I have plenty of respect for the .45ACP. Since the 1911 has a relatively heavy metal frame, the recoil from firing a .45 ACP round from the 1911 feels softer than firing a (much smaller) 9MM round from a lightweight polymer framed handgun, such as a Glock or subcompact Springfield XD. Indeed, a co-worker of mine was able to handle a 1911 within a few minutes of firing a gun for the first time.