Smith & Wesson J-Frame Revolvers

For more than a hundred years Smith & Wesson has been building revolvers and for six decades the J-frame models have been in production.  During this time they have been - at times - the preferred choice of many law enforcement professionals and civilian gun owners to serve the mission of a light weight, dependable, very concealable defensive handgun or BUG (back up gun).  These guns have proven themselves to be both rugged and reliable, and despite the evolution of modern manufacturing and metallurgical technology, the basic design remains the same.  When the “fit hits the shan,” an idiot-proof 5-shot 38 spl revolver in a pocket or purse, or perched stealthily at the waist or ankle, brings plenty of firepower to the fight.

Most S & W revolvers have been for a long time - and still are - built on one or another of a series of common frame sizes – J, K, L, M, and X – which differ primarily in their size, trigger systems, and suitability for increasingly more powerful cartridges.  The most common revolver cartridge these days is the 38 Special (38spl) and its more powerful younger sibling, the 375 Remington Magnum (357mag), and these rounds are also very suitable for small personal defense weapons. Being the smallest and lightest of the S&W revolver series, the J-Frame is the natural choice for a concealed carry weapon.  Modern variants of the model even have a shrouded (enclosed) hammer or “hammerless” profile to make the gun snag-fee when withdrawing from clothing concealment.

Before we discuss accuracy and ergonomics let’s remember that the primary, perhaps sole, mission of this gun is self-defense.  A shooter would not buy a J-Frame for use in marksmanship competition, nor would the little beast be very comfortable for an all-day recreational shooting session.  With some practice, however, almost any shooter can handle the short grip length and sight radius well enough to place bullets regularly on center-mass of a man-sized target at normal self-defense distances.  

As with most concealed carry revolvers, the sights on the J-Frame variants are optimized to the anti-snag profile, meaning that the front sight is relatively short and rounded while the rear sight is actually a square groove cut in the top of the frame at the rear.  There is no adjustability but none is necessary to permit acceptable accuracy at distances within the mission specs. The quick “draw-point-shoot” mission and short sight radius of an ultra-concealable defense weapon renders sight adjustability superfluous. The gun, however, is absolutely capable of placing bullets on target whether the shooter is or not. In fact, we’ve demonstrated that a highly competent marksman, with a little practice, can achieve surprisingly tight groups from the little J-frame even out to 25 yards. Simply put, bullets from a J-Frame absolutely will go where the gun is pointed.

On a related subject, ergonomics is an important factor in a shooter being able to successfully utilize a gun’s inherent accuracy. When potential purchasers pick up the J-Frame – or any of its similarly sized competitors – “too small for my hand” is a frequent first comment from those with medium or large hands. With the J-Frame, however, a bit of practice at the range and/or “dry firing” at home will usually allow those folks to find a grip method that suits them, allowing the shooter to effectively deploy the gun as a self-defense tool.  Aside from the dimensions, the J-Frame design is well designed to interface all of its controls to the human operator.  The mere fact that it has been selling well for over sixty years speaks volumes about its excellence in all facets of its design.

This may seem to be a rather short review but the simplicity and excellence of the J-Frame design leaves little else to be said.  It’s idiot-proof. Bullets go where the gun is pointed. It's reasonably priced and easy to conceal.  S&W offers a multitude of variants to closely fit the gun to a personal preference. There are several other manufacturers offering revolvers in this class and some are quite good but the S&W J-Frame is one of the two or three we would classify as “The best of the bunch.”

Respectfully submitted
The Bunker Bunch
September, 2014

Beretta CX4 Storm

Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta S.p.A. (aka Beretta), headquartered in Italy, is the world’s oldest firearms manufacturer – in continuous operation since 1526.  Rather than resting on its ancient laurels, Beretta is known today for its frequently quite successful implementation of cutting edge technology while preserving old-world standards of high-quality craftsmanship. The CX4 is a recent example of this corporate commitment. 

"Pistol cartridge" rifles and carbines are not rare but are uncommon enough to miss the attention of many shooters.  9mm, 40 S&W, 357 Mag, and 44 Mag (among others) made by several well-known and some not-so-well known manufacturers have met varying degrees of success over the years.  Beretta chambers the CX4 in both 9mm, 40S&W and 45acp. Due to ballistics constraints, these rifles are not competitive in the long range marksmanship or hunting categories, but hold their own in accuracy very well out to about 150 yards, and some are extremely accurate at about 50 yards or less. When the mission includes “up close and personal” interaction with varmints, zombies, or paper targets, the pistol cartridge rifle or carbine provides significant advantages.

The CX4 looks like it might be more at home on a space ship than in Bubba’s pickup, and it’s on the cutting edge of current technology in both design and fabrication. Most of the parts are polymer of one composition or another. Barrel, bolt, firing pin, and most springs are obvious exceptions but most everything else is some kind of “tupperware.”  This gave us traditionalists in the Bunker Bunch some hesitation as we examined the “pretty little thing” shortly after its introduction.  It’s a Beretta, however, after all, so our trepidation soon gave way to a renewed respect for our Italian friends when we found the little beast to be every bit as tough and functional as it is stylish – much more so than we imagined.

The CX4 utilizes a semi-automatic, blow-back operating mechanism.  Rounds are fed by a detachable magazine positioned within the pistol grip.  In this regard, the design is similar to the operation of many current semi-auto pistols. In fact, the one of the CX4 variants uses the same magazines as the Beretta 92 (military M9) pistol. Charging the weapon is performed by pulling the bolt back via a “charging handle” similarly to most other semi-auto long guns.

Disassembly - as far as the consumer would ever need to go – is both easy and requires no tools. The gun comes apart far enough to allow thorough cleaning without having to strain to get into tight places with common cleaning tools. Left-handers will appreciate the fact that the CX4 can be “re-arranged” to accommodate them fully.  The charging handle, magazine release button, and even the spent cartridge exit gate, can be changed over to “left-hand” operation easily and without tools; with clear instructions included in the owner’s manual.

Compared to a 9mm pistol, the CX4’s 16.6” barrel gives most commonly available ammunition an extra speed boost, greatly increasing the terminal energy of the projectile, and the 12.9” sight radius gives shooters greater precision in lining up the target.  These factors make the carbine more effective than pistols for defense purposes.  Where the compact size of a pistol is not critical, the carbine becomes a better choice in a given caliber.

In any firearm we consider for personal/home defense missions, reliability is critical.  Two of the Bunker Bunch test crew own the CX4 in 9mm and have put lots of lead downrange with it because the little beast is just a lot of fun to shoot and is accurate enough to put smiles on our faces while we’re doing it. Through thousands of rounds of many, many different types, weights, and power levels of 9mm ammo, the CX4 has demonstrated its rugged reliability.  No “jams” or failures of any kind have shown up in normal use.

The built-in “iron sights” work just fine for shooters with normal eyesight, and a decent red-dot or other scope is easily mounted on the top picatinny rail for those older or otherwise “optically challenged” shooters. For work out to 50 or 100 yards, an inexpensive red dot or reflex sight makes the CX4 a perfectly acceptable tool.  Combined with an extended magazine (20, 30, or 32 rounds) the package rivals “evil black rifle” effectiveness at tactical defensive chores – at least for short range duty.

Some specs according to Baretta:

·       Barrel length (in)                    16.6

·       Overall height (in)                    7.5

·       Overall length (in)                  29.7

·       Overall width (in)                     2.5

·       Sight radius (in)                      12.9

·       Weight unloaded (OZ)                       90.8

Overall Impression – We really like the Beretta CX4 Storm carbine.  It is a reliable and accurate firearm with excellent build quality and superb fit ‘n finish.  More-than-acceptable accuracy, trigger feel, and ergonomics make it a “keeper” for range use, with enough reliability (i.e. 100%) to recommend it for personal/home defense duty.  The fact that it’s such a fun gun to shoot also means owners are likely to get enough practice with it to maintain proficiency.

Respectfully submitted

The Bunker Bunch

September, 2014

Diamondback DB380

Spotlight On …

Diamondback DB380

Diamondback, based in Cocoa, FL is not a household name in firearms - not yet anyway – but that day may not be long in coming if this relatively new company continues to imbue the kind of quality we’ve seen in its future offerings.  Diamondback Firearms LLC was established in 2009 and started shipping its first effort, the micro compact DB380's, later that same year.

The DB380 is a polymer frame, striker fire, extremely thin and light “pocket pistol” which chambers – as the name implies – the 380 auto cartridge.  It is very thin and very light, which make it an ideal candidate for a consumer who wants to drop the gun into a pants pocket or small handbag and forget it’s there. 

The Diamondback employs a “locked breach” design instead of the more common “blowback” system for engagement of the slide into the breach of the barrel.  The locked breach design reduces the amount of physical recoil transmitted rearward into the shooter’s hand as compared to the blowback. Even so, the extreme light weight and thin backstrap of the DB380 contribute to the noticeable “felt recoil” it transmits to the grip hand, but not significantly more than competitors in the Pocket 380 class.

As with most striker-fired designs, trigger pull on the DB380 is long and stout but “breaks” clean and a bit of practice should make it very predictable.  The pull length nor weight are not greatly exaggerated over its competitors but are noticeable to shooters accustomed to a hammer and firing pin pistol design. A potential buyer with small hands and/or short fingers should have no trouble adapting to this ergonomic but those with larger hands and/or longer fingers should consider whether they would get “cramped up” excessively in an emergency situation.

The DB380 we tested is one used for concealed carry regularly by one of our staff.  This unit has hundreds of rounds of “experience” at burning gunpowder, so it has been “well broken-in.” The owner reports that the pistol did experience some feeding problems when new but after some wear-in has become completely reliable.  This report mirrors others from various customers. After break-in, the pistol tolerates a wide variety of ammo. In fact, we fed the test unit every kind of 380 we could find laying around, including various bullet shapes and power loadings. We were rewarded with a 100% reliability experience. Feeding, extraction, and ejection of a variety of ammunition are important considerations in a defense situation, and the DB (after sufficient break-in) passes this test with flying colors. Of interest is that the unit used for our final test session had not been cleaned for several hundred rounds and yet performed perfectly.

The short sight radius and barrel length precludes the DB380 from being a 25-yrd pistol marksmanship tool, but the gun does shoot to point of aim within self-defense ranges of 7 to 12 yards.  A good shooter with quality ammo and a bit of practice with the ergonomics and trigger pull should be able easily to paint groups under 4 inches at these distances, and even a novice (with some practice) should be able to put up an effective defense.

A couple of design “features” could present a problem for some.  The slide does not lock back when firing the last round from the magazine.  In fact, the slide never locks back in normal operation and there’s no lever or catch to force it. In other words, the slide does not lock back. While there are no tools required for take-down, the procedure does require that the trigger be pulled to release the striker before disengaging the slide stop, which is a safety concern for some.

The selling price of the Diamondback puts it in the “budget” category but its design quality and relatively high level of fit ‘n finish make it a real value.  It’s a lot more gun than one would expect to pay for the kind of quality built in.  There are several appearance and functional variants available, including one with a laser sight built into the grip and one with a compensated barrel to reduce muzzle flip.

Our overall impression of the DB380 is that it is a whole lot of gun for the money. Reliability and accuracy are up to the task of a self-defense weapon. Light weight and small size (in all dimensions) give it exceptional marks for concealability. Ergonomics, while not excellent for all, are at least acceptable for medium-to-small handed shooters.  In other words: if it fits your hand you’re good to go!

Respectfully Submitted,

The Bunker Bunch

September, 2014

Beretta 92

More than 20 years ago the U.S. military held competitive trials to begin procurement of a new “standard issue” sidearm.  Beretta won the contest with its model 92 design (albeit by a slight margin) over Sig Sauer’s P226 entry.  Since then the M9, as the military calls its variant, has seen service with various units of the armed services all over the globe and in a wide variety of geographic conditions, from wet jungle to dry dusty desert to frozen tundra.

Sometimes a design is so good that it withstands the onslaught of technological improvements and laughs at the “long in the tooth” moniker some like to place on it.  Such is the case with the venerable Beretta – a proven product from the world’s oldest firearms manufacturer. Steel and aluminum are expertly mated by the Italian engineers to provide the “all metal, traditional handgun design” preferred by many over the more modern “tupperware” packages.

The 92 is available to consumers today with a wide variety of options and model variants, including one with an accessory rail, various safety/de-cocker arrangements, colors, grip panels, etc. Its 40 S&W caliber sibling is known as the 96. The M9 variant is also available to the civilian consumer and is an almost exact duplicate of the military version.

The 92 is intended to was designed as a combat or personal defense weapon, not a marksmanship tool, but it performs exceedingly well at recreational accuracy exercises and can be modified with target sights, trigger feel, etc. for enhancement into this segment of the shooting sport.  When so modified, the 92 holds its own against more prestigious competitors and exceeds the performance of many others. For those who would carry a standard sized pistol for personal defense, the 92 meets or exceeds any reasonable set of specs for this mission.  After all, this is exactly what it was designed to do. A “compact” version of the 92 is also available in a compact version which is has shortened slide and grip lengths (and is a bit lighter but is identical in functional design) to enhance its footprint for every day carry.

Our testing of the venerable 92 platform was performed on 3 separate model variations – a “box stock” 92fs, an M9 version, and a “frankengun” which was cobbled from various frame, slide, barrel, and spring set pieces.  The frankengun version has been customized to perform accuracy testing of ammunition from a hand loading operation. It gets a lot of use in this role and performs so well that the ammunition can be measured objectively because it is fired from a consistently accurate platform.

Shooters with average-sized hands will find the ergonomics to be excellent. Those with very small or very large hand/finger appendages should easily find a grip method that will make the 92 completely useable, if not totally natural.  Grip panels can be changed to diminish the width and modify the contour providing a more useable perch.

A wide variety of ammunition was fed through all three models, including “factory” and “home-grown”.  As with other high quality self-defense firearms we’ve tested, the 92 operates reliably with all variations of this kind of ammo.  Frequent/regular cleaning and inspection is always recommended for any firearm, but the 92s we tested continued to provide reliable operation even if horribly neglected. The best way to describe the 92’s reliability is: “It just works – period.”

Ergonomics is excellent for most shooters.  The grip size might be a bit thick for those with small hands or short fingers but the trigger reach is short enough to accommodate them even so.  The compact model’s grip length might be a bit cramped for someone shooting lots of rounds at a range or competition session, but for a defense mission it is not noticeable and is a worthwhile compromise to get the extra concealability.

Those consumers looking for a high-quality, utterly reliable semi-automatic pistol for personal defense should definitely include the Beretta 92 on their short list of candidates.  The fact that this firearm has been in service with many military units worldwide validates it as a superior choice where reliability and durability trump cost.  Even so, the 92 is less expensive than many others in this class.

Respectfully submitted,
The Bunker Bunch
August, 2014

Sig Sauer P227

Spotlight On… 

Sig Sauer P227

Conceived by Swiss precision, German engineering, and American manufacturing, innovation, and ingenuity; Sig Sauer’s “Classic Series” pistols have held a highly deserved reputation for quality, accuracy, and reliability for almost 40 years.  The P227 is the latest addition to the legend.

Sig has finally decided to build a higher capacity (double stack) pistol in .45acp designated as the P227.  Whether it’s a P220 modified to handle a larger capacity magazine, or a P226 modified to handle the .45acp round is unknown and probably irrelevant because of the similarities in design of these models, although not all parts are interchangeable. We won’t try to compare the P227 to either of its siblings except to say it is also a metal-frame, frame-mounted de-cocking lever, DA/SA trigger design, and delivers the same high level of build quality and accuracy for which the others are well known. Two standard (flush fit, ten round) magazines are supplied with the pistol and extended magazines of higher capacity (12 rounds) will be available soon.

Whether your use for this gun will be every day carry, home defense, range plinking/marksmanship, or a combination, reliability and ammunition versatility are significant factors. In our testing, we fed the Sig as wide a variety of 45acp ammo as we could find, including factory new JHP & FMJ, as well as several varieties of “remanufactured” rounds and our own home-grown hand-loads from mild to +P power variations.  Not surprisingly, the new Sig ate it all without a single hiccup.  Knowing that we don't have to stock only one or a couple kinds of ammo, or try to remember a particular brand when in the gun shop, to get “When it Counts” reliability is a plus; although not a surprise since it’s a classic Sig.

45acp double-stack semi-autos inherently present a “wider than average” grip width (examples from FNH, H&K, and Glock come to mind), which sometimes present gripping and/or trigger-reach problems for shooters with small or mid-sized hands. Sig addresses these problems by including its relatively new design “E2” (enhanced ergonomics) one-piece polymer grip and its thin (short reach) trigger as standard equipment.  These two features in combination make the pistol ergonomically acceptable for a larger portion of the shooting population without excessively compromising the ergonomics for shooters with “average” or large hands. Even one of our test team who has short, stubby fingers and relatively small hands found the P227 comfortable to shoot in his accuracy tests, and the results showed the grip width had no detrimental effect on his ability to produce very tight target groups with the gun.

Our test team consists of experienced shooters who are very familiar with Sigs. Shooting the P227 was like putting on an old shoe – completely familiar and comfortable.  It felt like a P220 except for the slightly heftier grip size or like a P226 except for the slightly heftier “thump” of the .45acp recoil pulse. Trigger feel is typical Sig DA/SA and shows signs of wearing in with use (as most new guns require) to a final “crisp & smooth” level.  A relatively inexpensive “Action Enhancement” procedure done at the Sig factory or by The AR Bunker’s gunsmiths will yield a remarkably smooth and light trigger feel if your shooting needs lean toward a higher level of range or competition marksmanship.

The accuracy of almost any modern pistol is usually better than the average consumer. Our initial impression of the P227 was very favorable, so we decided to make some more objective accuracy tests with it. We performed our accuracy and chronograph testing by hand on a 25 yard range, using a Matrix pistol rest. All of our 5-shot groups averaged less than 2 1/4" with the best three-of-five running between 1/2 and 1 inch. This kind of shooting performance is a “superior” grade of accuracy – not usually seen in a production semi-auto .45acp.  Keep in mind, this particular pistol is not a specially prepared piece for media evaluation, but merely one of a production batch that showed up at our shop for general sales.

Our one-line overall impression is: Typical Sig build quality and reliability with above average accuracy.

Respectfully Submitted,

The Bunker Bunch

July, 2014

Sig Sauer P938

Spotlight On …..

Sig Sauer P938

 Several years ago the firearms industry flooded the consumer market with “pocket pistols” – defined for our purposes here as a semi-auto of exceptionally small size (relatively, at least) suitable for dropping in the front pants pocket of loose-fitting garments.  In cases where the consumer usually wears more tight-fitting trousers these guns also give the owner many more wardrobe options than larger and heavier compact and even sub-compact models.  The time had come to apply more modern design and manufacturing techniques to this stagnant niche of the market, and consumers responded favorably to the introduction of a plethora of new entrants.

Sig Sauer’s highly successful response to the demand was its P238 chambered in 380 auto - as were almost all pocket pistols at the time.  A frequent complaint from consumers was the caliber, with a wish for the 238 to be available in 9mm Luger, so Sig answered a few months later with the P938, which is a design clone of the P238 but very slightly enlarged.

Introduction of the P238 was marred by a few reliability problems which Sig overcame early on to regain the marque’s reputation for dependability, which is now at the peak of the list of those models with which it competes.  Having apparently learned some lessons from the early 238’s, Sig’s introduction of the 938 went very well, with no significant number of problems.  The 938 used in our tests was one of the first out of the factory and has performed flawlessly from the get-go in accuracy and dependability through hundreds of rounds.

First impression of the gun is that it is small.  It disappears in the front pocket of slacks except tight-fitting varieties. For those who prefer a tighter fitting wardrobe, a holstered 938 presents a very small profile to cover when worn at the waist, and belt-mounted carriers are available which result in a look that is identical to a smartphone being worn at the waist. Concealment is definitely one of the 938’s best features. Despite its all-metal construction, the 938 is light enough to be almost forgotten when carried during every day activities.

When fitted with its flush-fit magazine, the 938 sports a capacity of 7 (one in the chamber and 6 in the mag). An extended magazine is available which adds 1 round to the capacity and provides a perch for the pinky finger missing from the “standard” configuration. While the extended mag does provide extra capacity and enhanced ergonomics, it does not detract very much at all from the concealability of the piece and is still very much “pocketable” with the extended mag in place.

The most important feature of and personal defense firearm is, perhaps, reliability.  Few bad guys will wait peacefully and patiently while a defense shooter clears a malfunction or recovers from the confusion of a “glitch.” 100% reliability is less important for a recreational gun or even one used in competition but is absolutely essential when the “fit hits the shan.” Our experience with the 938 – including the unit used in our tests, the other units owned and carried by staff and friends, and feedback from our customers – puts the P938 at the top of the heap in this category.

When considering a purchase of the 938, many consumers complain of the small grip size and wonder if it can be held well enough to be controllable during use.  Remember, the size of this pistol is dictated by its mission as an ultra-small concealed carry piece.  A larger grip size would negate – to some degree – this constraint.  The grip gives enough purchase to control the pistol during use, although some amount of practice with it should be done to ensure familiarity with the feel that is different from which most shooters are accustomed. Simply put, a gun with a grip big (aka long) enough to feel familiar will be too big for the mission.  Practice, not design change, will overcome this perceived drawback, and the available extended magazine solves the problem for most buyers.

The gun is surprisingly accurate for such a short barrel and sight radius.  A proficient shooter can obtain satisfactorily small group sizes from as far out as 25 yards, and those of us who are good marksmen have even used the little guy to ring steel at 50 yards. At self-defense distances of 7 – 12 yards, the 938, simply put, will deliver the lead where it is pointed when the bang-switch is pressed.  It just will.

The unit we used for this test now has almost 400 rounds down the pipe and we’ve tried to feed it as many different kinds of 9mm ammo as we could find.  Plenty “factory” FMJ, HP, and other variations of jacketed bullets, hand-loaded ammo with round-nose, flat point, and truncated cone lead bullets, and several variations of plated bullets have been fired.  The hand-loaded ammo has been crafted to produce a variety of power levels from ultra-mild all the way up to +P+.  The results can be stated very simply.  Zero (zip, nada, none) failures of any kind.

When mission specs for concealed carry are defined as: Reliability, accuracy, and concealability, the Sig P938 delivers.  It is also a well-made gun, showcasing Sig’s reputation for build quality and high-end fit ‘n finish.  When quality and reliability trump budget, the P938 is the “pocket 9” to have.

Respectfully Submitted;

The Bunker Bunch

August, 2014

Smith & Wesson M&P

Spotlight On …

Smith & Wesson M&P

The Smith & Wesson M&P is a fairly recent attempt by S&W to re-enter the Law Enforcement and consumer markets with a reasonably priced, polymer framed, semi-automatic, high capacity pistol. A wide variety of models covers the size, caliber, and color spectrum giving most shooters a chance to own one tailored to their personal preference. The lineup also includes variations including sight options, controls, and barrel refinements catering to the needs of competition shooters. Sights can easily be changed to accommodate a shooter’s personal preference in this area as well.

The M&P is a “striker fired” semi-auto similar in internal design to many others but has a trigger pull of less weight than most, and is reasonably smooth. After take-up the trigger causes the sear to break cleanly, giving the trigger a much nicer feel for target shooting than most others in this category. A relatively inexpensive aftermarket trigger kit can be installed which eliminates most of the take-up in the trigger and makes the pull weight much lighter – resulting in a pistol more than competent for marksmanship and competition.

Our test of the M&P was conducted on a “standard” model which was slightly used but in otherwise “pristine” condition.  We concluded that the pistol gives the consumer plenty of value for the price and is an equal or higher quality piece than most of its competition.  Polymer-framed “duty pistols” like the M&P are frequently chosen by consumers as self-defense guns, and it provides more-than-adequate accuracy while including ergonomic features and a customizable design which will allow it to perform proficiently at tasks other than personal defense.

Ergonomics – which aids the typical shooter in operating the gun proficiently – is excellent on the M&P, and extra grip panels are included with the purchase to easily allow the shooter with a “non-standard” hand shape/size to make it fit well. The manual safety lever (on models which have it) is ambidextrous and the magazine eject button is reversible to accommodate lefties.  The M&P can be purchased with or without a manual safety lever and with or without a magazine disconnect feature. 

Our overall impression of the M&P was very favorable.  On the crowded field of polymer-framed, striker-fired duty pistols, the M&P is a stand-out in the area of ergonomics and build quality while giving up nothing in the area of dependability and durability. You’d have to spend significantly more money to get something a reasonable shooter would call “better.”

Respectfully Submitted,

The Bunker Bunch

August, 2014