Smith & Wesson K-Frame Revolvers

Long, long ago, right here in our very own galaxy, on our watery blue planet, meticulously quality-conscious partners Smith & Wesson designed and produced revolvers based on a medium-sized frame. The company’s variously sized frames were designated using alphabet letters, with the smaller “J-Frame” and mid-sized “K-Frame” models becoming the most popular. Even today, these models are commonly chosen by discriminating wheelie shooters and remain good sellers despite the increasingly popular pizazz of tacti-cool semi-autos.

Recently we came across two examples of S&W’s stellar quality from 45 years ago in the form of a Model 17-3 and a Model 19-3 – both with 6” barrels and accessorized as the “Target” variant (oversized grip panels, adjustable rear sight, etc.). They came out of the S&W factory in 1970 and were purchased in 1972. These one-owner guns were fired a very few times and then properly stored so that their condition today is no less than “mint.” Even the boxes and original paperwork show very little handling wear. They will not, however, become safe queens. While the fit ‘n finish of Smiths from this era is excellent, the real beauty of the K-frames is their operational beauty much more so than their aesthetic beauty. The triggers are crisp and smooth, and they print lead consistently right on point of aim.

S&W offered the various K-frame models in numerous configurations (more so then than now) to accommodate various shooting styles and purposes, such as competition, target, self-defense, concealed carry, etc.  With the growing popularity of semi-autos, revolvers are in less demand today for some of these activities.  In the ‘60’s and 70’s, though, a K-frame revolver with a 6” barrel was about as good as it gets for target and competition shooting.  There were some mighty fine Colt wheelies around in those days as well; before Colt started – a few years later – its downhill slide in quality.

And, as good as the Smiths of those days were, a few were produced with slightly “off-spec” chamber bores which caused accuracy problems with certain ammo.  Test-firing the wheelies is the best was to determine if a particular serial number is one of the “good ones” (likely), so our intention was to give the newly found treasures a good workout with various ammo of known quality. Knowing already that the aesthetics and trigger feel were superior, it remained only to be proven that bullets could be thrown from the beasts with equal excellence.

The 17 (22lr) and 19 (357mag) we found contentedly resting in storage were inspected, oiled up, and taken out for some exercise at our first opportunity. 2” and 3” paper targets and 5” and 8” steel swinging targets were set up on the backstop so that firing could be accomplished at 10 and 25 yard distances.  A Caldwell front rest was set up on the bench so that most of the “shooter-induced” variance could be eliminated from the some of the tests.

A course of fire was followed for each of the guns to gauge its inherent accuracy and the ergonomic qualities which lead to the shooter being able to utilize the gun’s quality without distraction.

A few rounds were fired from each to familiarize the shooter with the sight picture and trigger feel, and to allow for sight adjustment.  During these tests, which were not really intended to gauge the accuracy of the gun, it became apparent that they were “keepers.”  Only a minor adjustment in the sight was necessary to bring the bullet hole group to point of aim, and the size of the group was surprisingly small – although not the real goal of these first few shots. With a bit of trigger time and sight tweaking out of the way, we were ready to subject the Smiths to some more rigorous accuracy tests.

One of our Bunch is a former competition champion who can regularly print groups of the half-inch variety at 10 yards (standing; freehand) on a good day – given a decent gun and ammo.  Both the 17 and 19 easily produced this kind of result, and our shooter reported the clean, crisp triggers aided in the production of the excellent results.  A big smile was noted on the face of the shooter after each session.

Next we moved to the Caldwell rest to allow for some 25 yard shooting from a sitting position.  We loaded up some ammo from a questionable (not safety related, but accuracy challenged) and got disappointing results.  It seems the venerable S&W was not capable of straightening out ammo that lacked the design quality to fly on a consistent vector.  Changing to our benchmark 357 cartridges (ones that have been accurate in other guns) settled the situation down, giving a 1 5/8” group at very close to point of aim.  Experience tells us that the group would have been “one ragged hole” if shot from a Ransom Rest.

Pretty amazing accuracy for 25 yards.  Two of the 5 shots went through one hole and the entire group would fit into the trigger guard. Forget that the group is at the bottom of the circle - that's where the shooter was aiming.

All of the above shooting was done in single action mode, where the hammer is “thumb-cocked” instead of being drawn back by trigger movement, because maximum “target-shooting” accuracy is attainable from a double action revolver when fired in this manner. Evaluation of the guns utilizing double action trigger mode is less important when the gun’s intended use is target marksmanship than it would be in some competition regimes or self-defense training/practice, but evaluation of the gun for its overall quality in that mode is important nevertheless.

While these guns are intended for “target marksmanship” use, evaluation of the D/A (double action) operation was carried out to determine the overall build quality of the pieces.  Remembering that both of these guns are, for all intents and purposes, brand new (fewer than 100 rounds on the 17-3 and fewer than 40 rounds on the 19-3) some “stiffness” or “roughness” is to be expected in D/A operation. 

The 17-3, to our very pleasant surprise for a gun not yet broken-in, handled like butter throughout the D/A pull on all chambers.  The trigger movement was smooth and consistent all the way back to the “break” with no “stacking” (variation in trigger pull weight along the way) and this made for achievement of excellent D/A accuracy.

The 19-3 exhibited a mildly unpleasant feel during D/A trigger actuation.  The pull weight was about as heavy as we expected and the weight was consistent (no stacking) but there were a couple of spots on a couple of chambers where there was some extra drag or roughness, as if one piece of the mechanism was having to overcome a burr or rough spot on another piece.  This is not unusual in any new gun and is typical of S&W’s of the era.  The condition will most probably work its way out as a few hundred rounds are fired and, if not, a qualified gunsmith will be able to polish a part or two and render the operation flawless.  Aside from this “glitch” the D/A feel is good-to-excellent and will (one way or another) not degrade the quality rating of this piece.

In conclusion, K-Frame Smiths from the late 60’s and early 70’s are excellent guns.  The operational quality of the two we reviewed here is seriously above average for these models and a better shooting mid-sized revolver in 22lr or 357mag would be hard to find.

Respectfully Submitted

The Bunker Bunch

September, 2015

Phelps Heritage I Revolver

Can you say “HAND CANNON” boys & girls?  The Phelps Heritage I revolver in 45-70 fits the description pretty well.  Having plenty of experience with .357 Magnum, .44 Remington Magnum revolvers, and even the Thompson Contender chambered in heavy rifle calibers, we are no strangers to handguns that put out plenty of muzzle energy and wrist-pounding recoil.  In fact, every once in a while we like to “man-up” and take a hit or two for the team with full-power and +P cartridges in these beasts.  Getting to shoot the big Phelps was, to say the least, a real blast (pun intended)!

The photo above doesn’t do justice to the size and weight of this massive beast.  Weighing in at 5 ½ lbs. empty, it is as far at the other end of the spectrum from “concealed carry” as we’ve seen; and needs to be to handle the powerful 45-70 Government cartridge, which was common among Buffalo hunters in rifles back in the day. Nothing on the North American Continent can stand up to a well-placed shot with the powerful 45-70 Govt.  DRT is the applicable description here.

Predecessor of the Phelps revolver design was originally manufactured in 1972 by Russell Wilson, who sand casted the bronze frame (cloned from the Colt SAA configuration) in Evansville, IN. Gene Phelps purchased the manufacturing rights for this gun and formed a partnership with Earl Keller to produce a redesigned frame, also using sandcast bronze. After some subsequent manufacturing transitions, Phelps began producing the Heritage I, an example of which is the gun we shot. Phelps production was discontinued in the late 1970’s.

The .45-70 rifle cartridge, also known as .45-70 Government, was developed at the U.S. Army's Springfield Armory for use in the Springfield Model 1873, which is known to collectors as the "Trapdoor Springfield". The new cartridge was a replacement for the stop-gap .50-70 Government cartridge which had been adopted in 1866, one year after the end of the American Civil War. It was originally designed to project a 405 grain bullet (almost twice the weight of a typical modern 45acp projectile) with a lethal range of over 3,000 yards.  To summarize, the 45-70 packs a wallop; with felt recoil to match, which is exacerbated when fired from a handgun. The term “plinking” never comes up in range sessions involving the big Phelps.

The example we tested was from the mid-70’s and is in pristine condition.  Fit ‘n finish on this piece is excellent, with only one minor defect noted: the fit of the tube housing the ejector rod, which turned out to be cosmetic only and would escape the eye of all but the experienced gunsmith.  Function was flawless through the 50-round exercise we gave it.  While not extravagant artwork, the wood grip panels are aesthetically pleasing enough but on the smallish side for such a large gun.  More grip area would have been appreciated but not crucial.

Trigger action on the Heritage is much better than average for revolvers – even some that have gone through gunsmith tuning.  “Very light” and “crisp break point” were descriptions expressed by the shooters in our group. This enabled our testers to achieve better-than-expected accuracy even though the gun was completely unfamiliar and of very unusual size, weight, and caliber.  Enough Buffalo meat to feed a large Cavalry contingent would have been on the table if we’d been shooting at the right venue. As it was, our 8” steel plate danced like a rap star on drugs from shots fired at 25 yards both from a rest and freehand.

Those who enjoy shooting big bore, hefty revolvers or those who appreciate something truly unique in hand guns would enjoy having an example of the Phelps Heritage I as a part of their collection.

Respectfully Submitted
The Bunker Bunch
February, 2015

Sig 1911 MAX

Competition shooters frequently choose the 1911 platform and there are even classes within the popular competitive organizations devoted to the 1911 exclusively.  John Moses Browning’s masterpiece of design may be the most copied, revered, and customized handgun in the world today.  A well-executed “custom 1911” is truly a work of art and an exquisite machine. Sig Sauer has taken the elements of fine custom 1911s – ergonomics, accuracy, manufacturing precision, and hand-crafted fit ‘n finish – and applied them to a “production” – albeit high-end production – offering. This pistol is not intended to perform double duty as range and self-defense or range and “service” gun but is rather dedicated to recreational range or competition uses.

Highly successful professional shooter Max Michaels currently captains the Sig Sauer competitive shooting team and specified the “custom” elements of his preference for inclusion in the 1911 model Sig named after him, called the “1911 MAX.”  Upgrades from the standard 1911 design include a nitron-finished stainless slide with forward cocking serrations and a natural stainless frame with 26LPI checkering on the front strap.  Max’s “MM” logo is custom engraved on the slide and machined into the Hogue® custom G-10 “Chainlink” grips, which offer a very aggressive, non-slip surface to the shooter. Michel’s specifications also include a SIG SAUER flat trigger, external extractor, a Dawson® Ice Magwell®, a Koenig® Speed Hammer® and EGW® sear and firing pin. Fiber optic front and adjustable rear sights also provide high-speed visibility.

A shooter who sends his 1911 off to a custom shop to have improvements of the above magnitude competently worked into his platform would pay much more than the price of a 1911 MAX to get a precision piece of the quality that comes out of the box with the Sig, but we can “kick the tires” and debate the relative merits of each and all of the MAX features and prove nothing.  The truth will out when, as they say, the booger hook presses the bang switch. So, the Bunker Bunch borrowed a MAX from one of our customers and put it through its paces on the range.

Accuracy  There really are two kinds of accuracy. One is the inherent ability of a gun to shoot straight, given ammunition that is up to the task, and the other is the ability of the average, albeit competent, shooter to easily adapt to the ergonomics of the gun, including sight picture and trigger feel.

As we expected, those big ole 45 caliber bullets impacted the targets exactly where the sights were pointed when fired off a bench rest.  To get as objective a result as we could, we used a bench rest for part of our tests to eliminate shooter variances from the shots.  We used the most accurate ammo we knew of and picked a calm day so as many external factors as we could were eliminated from the testing.  Sig Sauer handguns are well known for their inherent accuracy and the MAX is at the pinnacle of that already excellent reputation.

The sight picture presented by the MAX is combination of a colored fiber optic front sight and white double-dot rear adjustable target sight. This may not be the preference of every competition shooter, but the sight picture certainly does lend itself to the common technique of focusing on the front sight.

The trigger has a flat front preferred by many competitors and accuracy-driven range shooters because it provides excellent tactile feedback to the all-important trigger “feel” necessary to, among other things, result in straight-line movement during its travel. Together with other ergonomic features of the gun, the trigger feel of the MAX allows the competent shooter to exercise maximum control of the firing process for enhanced real-world accuracy.

Ergonomics  The 1911 platform is well known for its ability to suit a wide variety of hand and finger sizes and shapes.  It fits “perfectly” for a large percentage of shooters and fits “well” for and even greater number. Improvements to the original or “standard” design of some components will, however, increase the gun’s suitability for range/competition duty.  Sig’s choice of aggressively checkered grip panels made of G-10 material, along with 26 lpi checkering on the front face of the grip, practically eliminates slippage during repetitive firing.  The flat face of the trigger provides excellent tactile feedback, enhancing minute finger control of trigger movement. Choice of the sight combination enhances hand/eye coordination for more precise target acquisition. Including a magwell improves the shooter’s ability to reload and continue shooting quickly.

Many experienced shooters believe even a moderately well-made 1911 with “standard” features is an excellent competition/marksmanship platform.  With the enhancements Sig has applied to the MAX, its operator will be able to perform to his/her full potential. This piece is a real joy to shoot and a very precise tool in the hands of a competent 1911 operator.

Reliability  While reliability is not as important at the range as it is in a self-defense scenario it is still mission-critical, and a failure to feed or eject will cost the competitive shooter some aggravation at least and some score points at worst. This is unacceptable and need not be tolerated with the high quality firearms available in today’s market even at moderate prices as long as the “right” ammo is found for a given gun.  Reliability with a wide variety of ammunition is a bit more elusive and can be a bigger problem with finely tuned custom guns than more lowly production guns, which give up something in their compromise toward wider ammo acceptance.

Sig’s design and production effort with the MAX has resulted in a finely tuned racehorse that eats almost any kind of oats.  The MAX we tested functioned perfectly on a wide variety of ammo of various bullet weights and profiles, and even thrived on our hand loads with lead and plated bullets. Some of this ammo was, naturally, more accurate than others but this had nothing to do with the quality of the gun and should be considered perfectly normal.

Conclusion: With a MSRP of $1,713 and a street price probably somewhere around $1,400 the MAX is not for everyone. Those shooters, however, who appreciate the finest quality in every facet of the marksmanship genre will certainly not be disappointed.  Every one of the dollars above the cost of the “run of the mill” high quality production 1911’s is well spent in terms of build quality and useful upgrades.  The MAX really belongs in the class of custom 1911’s that cost up to twice as much, where it will hold its own in every practical category.

Respectfully Submitted

The Bunker Bunch
October, 2014

FrogLube

Snake Oil:  is an expression that originally referred to fraudulent health products or unproven medicine but has come to refer to any product with questionable or unverifiable quality or benefit. By extension, a snake oil salesman is someone who knowingly sells fraudulent goods or who is himself or herself a fraud, quack, charlatan, or the like.  We’ve all been exposed – more so with the proliferation of the internet – to new products “proven” by “independent testing” to outperform the old tried-n-true products we’ve used for years. Occasionally, however, snake oil turns out to be penicillin, polio vaccine, or some other revolutionary improvement in its field, and such is the case with FrogLube.
Those of us in The Bunker Bunch are old enough to have encountered plenty of snake oil salesmen, and have heard all the claims of products that will “revolutionize the firearms industry.” We are all dyed-in-the-wool skeptics and were no less so when introduced to FrogLube. We were, accordingly, slow to join the fan club but we’re all on board now.

Now, there are lots of gun care products on the market which have performed admirably over the years, and each has its loyal following. “I’d never put anything but XXX on my gun. I’ve used it for years and never got a spot of rust or a failure to function.”  This is the kind of reaction several members of the bunch expounded when FrogLube was suggested to them by our most inexperienced member.  After a few months and some experimentation, we have all adopted this new chemical as our primary gun care chemical or at least an important addition to the mix.

Our first exposure to FrogLube was on a trip to the Sig Sauer Academy for training. One of The Bunker Bunch was first exposed when FrogLube was provided to attendees as a part of the training which involved cleaning and lube of the firearm used for the class.  The Academy instructor related that the staff there had been asked to evaluate the product as a part of its introduction and the instructors continued to use the product after the evaluation was over because it was noticeably superior (in their opinion) to the others they had been using. When news of this “great new product” was brought home to the rest of The Bunker Bunch it was met by the expected and normal “that’s snake oil” reaction by the more senior members of The Bunch.  Eventually, a tub of the paste was left on a cleaning bench and the “old luddites” gave it a try.  “Love at first sight” was a typical reaction.

One of The Bunch, ordinarily more resistant to change than the others, really wanted to like the product but refused to do so until he’d had time to give it a torture test of his own design.  The lube, and his cobbled together old Beretta “franken-gun” came through with flying colors. Mr. Conservative is now a FrogLube convert.

What we KNOW about FrogLube is that it cleans our guns as well as, and in some cases better than, any of the products we used previously.  It seems to have superior protective properties as well. Steel parts treated with the older “bluing” process tend to lose their ability to resist rust over time and with unavoidable wear.  When these parts are mildly heated to “open the pores” of the metal, then treated with FrogLube and allowed to cool slowly, the rust-resistance of the metal is increased dramatically. For newer firearms treated with modern coatings, steel can be exposed by scratching, chipping, or wear. We find that use of FrogLube in our normal, frequent, cleaning regimen leaves a protective film on these exposed areas preventing rust that would otherwise form.

On spots where metal meets metal during the normal action of shooting – particularly with semi-autos – friction causes wear and this is completely normal.  Quality lubrication minimizes this process and some lubes adhere to the surfaces better than others, diminishing the wear by reducing friction.  FrogLube excels at this task in both reducing the friction and in remaining in place for more cycles than its competitors.

Cleaning with FrogLube is not significantly easier or quicker than with the other popular general purpose chemicals we’ve used. It is inferior to some of the chemicals specifically formulated to remove lead or copper fouling from barrels, as are most general cleaning chemicals in these applications. The odor, however, of petroleum based products can be unpleasant at least, and almost sickening to some with sensitive olfactory systems.  “I love the smell of Hoppe’s” is a cliché to some and a cruel hoax to others.  What little odor FrogLube does have is “floral” and unobtrusive because it is not a petroleum based product at all.  It is also non-toxic so frequent hand-washing is not required – a real plus for those who keep Cheetos or popcorn handy at gun cleaning sessions.

The benefits of FrogLube in the area of cleaning and preservative powers are a bonus, however, over its main attraction for us; which is its significantly superior lubrication properties – especially important in semi-automatic applications. “Slicker than …” Insert your own comparison and you’ll have an accurate description of FrogLube’s ability to eliminate friction, which is a hindrance to optimal operation in many areas of semi-auto gun design.  Slide-to-frame, trigger-to-sear, barrel-to-bushing surfaces and other places where metal must slide against metal will benefit from the enhanced lubricity imparted by FrogLube. It is simply “better” than any of the other products we’ve used.

Not many of us will live long enough to actually “wear out” a gun, but even a small reduction in the amount of erosion in certain areas can have an effect on accuracy and reliability – not to mention the aesthetic effect and potential effect on resale value.

No, FrogLube will not change your life. It probably will, however, make your semi-auto pistols and rifles operate more smoothly, and reduce wear wherever it is applied.  Try it – you’ll like it; and it smells good.

Respectfully Submitted
The Bunker Bunch
October, 2014

Handgun Ammunition

Some shooters don’t pay much attention to what ammunition they feed their pistol or revolver other than it being the right caliber.  Many a new shooter incorrectly assumes that all “factory ammo” is made to closely match some strict industry spec and therefore will hit a target at whatever spot at which the sights are pointed when the bang switch is jerked. Those who become more interested in handgun technique  - and shooting them more proficiently - will learn more and more about the factors, including ammo choice, that apply to making their marksmanship efforts more accurate and thus more enjoyable.

If we were to make a mechanical contraption to hold the firearm firmly in positon to eliminate operator error from an accuracy test, things like the quality of the firearm design and construction, sight positioning, weather conditions, and, of course, ammunition would be the remaining controlling factors in obtaining the unicorn we call “tight groups”. With a decent quality handgun that has had its sights properly regulated, ammunition will play a much larger role in obtaining maximum accuracy than most shooters believe.

If consistently ringing an 8” steel plate from 7 or 10 yards is accurate enough for you, keep on buying the cheapest “plinking ammo” you can find and disregard any further ammo education.  Believe it or not, however, 1” shot groups are attainable from most handguns of reasonable quality at 25 yards or beyond, but only if the ammunition is up to the task and a box of the good stuff won’t be the lowest priced package at your favorite big box sporting goods store.

Consistency.  First, each cartridge in a given group must produce close to the same pressure and burn rate when ignited.  Yes, “burn”, because gunpowder does not explode when ignited by the primer but instead burns rapidly, completing its job of increasing cartridge pressure at a pre-determined rate.  There is a plethora of gunpowder formulations available today and each has its own characteristics, including burn rate, which, among other things, determines its effectiveness in a cartridge of a given size and the shape and weight of the bullet.  If a manufacturer packs its cartridge with gunpowder “good enough” and chosen for its cost instead of one with optimal burn characteristics, the accuracy of that cartridge will suffer. Even if the formulation of the powder is correct, minute variances in the amount of that powder in a given cartridge will meaningfully affect bullet trajectory.

Additionally, each bullet in a group of cartridges must be shaped properly, weigh the same, and be made of materials which effectively engage the rifling in the barrel; and all these factors must be very close to the same on each bullet within a batch.  “Cheap” ammo is not likely to meet this criteria.  Hint: Quality control in the manufacturing process is expensive.  Tighter QC creates more consistency but costs more.

Powder.  When gunpowder is ignited within an ammunition cartridge it produces an increase in pressure because the bullet holds the expanding gasses within the cartridge until it begins its travel down the barrel, and in some cases for some of that travel. If the quantity and type of powder and/or the size and weight of the bullet is not optimized, the pressure will build up too quickly or too slowly. If the bullet accelerates down the barrel at the “wrong” speed for its size and composition, it will not properly engage the rifling grooves. This will inhibit the proper amount of spin imparted to the bullet, which will impair its flight characteristics after it leaves the muzzle. A bullet which leaves the muzzle at the “wrong” velocity also will not “fly” correctly.

Bullet Shape & Size.  A great deal of attention is paid to the shape of rifle projectiles (bullets). The longer the distance a bullet flies from muzzle to target, the more aerodynamic it must be, but even though not quite as critical, the relatively short range mission of handguns requires bullet stability during flight. Never mind that a bullet at typical handgun velocities remains airborne for only 1/13 of a second on a 25 yard range, all the interactions of it with the barrel and atmosphere will take place during that time and must be correct for accuracy to ensue.

Ammunition of a given caliber is usually available in different bullet weights. Since bullet diameter is the same on various weights in the same caliber, the length of the projectile is the variable factor among the different weights. A heavier bullet in a given caliber will be longer. The overall length of the cartridge will be the same, or very nearly so, meaning simply that the heavier bullet is set deeper into the case of the cartridge than its lighter sibling. While one might infer that a heavier (longer) bullet will have a greater surface area on which to engage the rifling in the barrel and lead to increased ballistic flight stability, this is only one of the factors at play and any advantage gained from enhanced rifling engagement might be more than offset by other factors.

Use of one bullet weight over another dictates changes in the type and quantity of gunpowder. Failure to fully compensate for the various bullet weights during the manufacturing process could produce ammunition quite competent in the realms of safety and cost but less than optimal in accuracy. During a production run of a certain caliber, for instance, a change in bullet weight might optimally require a change of both amount and formulation of the gunpowder. For cost purposes a manufacturer might choose to change only the amount. Less costly but less accurate ammo would be the result.

Cartridge to Gun Match.  Certain guns are reputed to be “ammo sensitive” in ways that affect their reliability. Even those that will “eat everything they’re fed” will likely be more accurate with a particular load from a specific manufacturer. To obtain maximum accuracy from a particular gun, it's “favorite” ammo must be discovered and this usually can be found only by trial and error. Competition marksmen typically load their own cartridges and find, through careful testing, the optimal combination of cartridge components which produces the most accurate cartridge for a particular gun at a particular range.

Generally, though not always, the higher the quality of the gun, the more tolerant it will be to ammo variations while maintaining inherent accuracy. Conversely, a common service pistol can sometimes prove to be extremely accurate with the “right” ammunition.

In Conclusion; the subject of ballistics – bullet flight from ignition to target – much more complex than most shooters realize. It is one of, if not the most important, factors in finding that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow we refer to as “one ragged hole.” Obviously, the best ammo will be wasted on a range mission involving a poor shooter wielding an inferior firearm, but someone who has a decent gun and has begun the journey toward competent marksmanship will certainly benefit from higher quality ammo matched to his/her gun.

None of this really matters for someone who owns a handgun or two and shoots a few rounds per year just to maintain minimal proficiency. The more serious shooter, however, who gains a bit of knowledge will gain both proficiency and enjoyment along the way.

With ballistics, as with all other aspects of the shooting sports, compromise is the name of the game. “If a little bit’s good, a lot’s gotta be better” just doesn't work well here and can be counterproductive at best and downright unsafe at worst. Most of the issues that need compromise to produce a cartridge that will work well in a variety of guns have been addressed by reputable manufacturers.  It is this effort to make their product acceptable to a wide variety of guns that makes them less than optimal for almost all of them.  Selection by the consumer of a cartridge best suited to his/her particular gun begins when that shooter becomes more knowledgeable by testing various loads and learning what to look for.

And finally; BE SAFE! Keep your booger hook off the bang switch ‘till you're ready to shoot something.

Respectfully Submitted

The Bunker Bunch

October, 2014

AAC MPW

AAC MPW

Customized by The AR Bunker

The AR Bunker specializes in custom built modern sporting rifles, with years of experience in assembly of quality components into tactical masterpieces. The latest example of this expertise combines a high quality SBR (short barrel rifle) chambered for 300 AAC BLACKOUT with, as its main features, a 30 caliber  Advanced Armament 762-sdn-6 suppressor, a Vortex SPARC II red dot scope ahead of a Vortex 3-power flip-off magnifier, and a Tac-Con 3MR trigger. Individually, the components are all high-quality accessories that would be an excellent enhancement to any modern sporting rifle.  Together, they make for a highly effective, extremely versatile short-to-mid range tactical rifle.

Since we’re reviewing the total package here we’ll break it up into the important components and then report an overall impression of the complete unit.

Rifle
Advanced Armament Corporation complete MPW rifles are available in 16”, 12.5” and 9” barrels chambered for 300 AAC BLACKOUT. The 9” version (NFA rules apply) was chosen to keep the overall length as short as possible after installation of the suppressor and with good optics the shorter barrel length gives up very little operator accuracy in the mid-range distances. The weight and size of the rifle lends itself to a highly mobile tool for “close-quarters” operations while giving up little when pressed into service at longer ranges. Use of the 300 AAC Blackout cartridge enhances the ballistic energy of the projectile versus its 5.56 or .223 cousins; especially when using subsonic rounds to take advantage of the suppressor capabilities.  When normal velocity cartridges are used, the advantage of 300 AAC Blackout over 5.56/.223 are enormous.

The various components of the rifle are chosen from among the highest quality available. The ever-critical bolt carrier group, for instance, on the MPW is nickel boron (Ni-B) UCT EXO coated for very high hardness and lower friction than either chrome or nickel teflon. There is also a base layer of high-phosphorous electroless nickel that ensures the extreme corrosion protection that is absent from other Nickel Boron carriers that use a single, thinner layer. The bolt itself is Carpenter 158® phosphated shot-peened steel to ensure precise dimensions with no concerns for hydrogen embrittlement in the critical lug area.

Other components are similarly extra-high quality to ensure longevity and dependability.

Optics
Choice of the SPARC II red-dot scope gives the operator a very high quality picture of the target with a small red dot in the field of vision to identify the impact point of the bullet.  Controls on the SPARC II are conveniently located for ease of operator use, and the specs on this unit are all “top-shelf”, including waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof construction.  Multiple coatings of anti-reflective material on all air-glass surfaces provides maximum light transmission for optical clarity. 300 to 5,000 hour battery life, depending on brightness setting, is enhanced by a 12-hour auto-off feature that helps those of us who frequently forget to turn the scope off after use.

The 3 power magnifier mounted behind the red dot makes the longer shot much easier and rotates easily out of view when close-quarters work is in progress.  Addition of the magnifier makes the rifle much more versatile in terms of its suitability for shots at various distances and the “flip-off mount” feature allows for better overall sight pictures when using the rifle at close range.

Suppressor
Advanced Armament Corporation makes some of the best suppressors on the market today, and the 762-sdn-6 is certainly no exception. The unit is a compact fast-attach sound and flash suppressor designed expressly for 7.62x51mm and 300 AAC BLACKOUT (7.62x35mm) weapons. Constructed to meet the demands of fully automatic operation, the unit is plenty tough for even the heaviest civilian use.  The choice of this suppressor provides the owner with the flexibility of swapping it to firearms of smaller calibers without significant degradation of sound reduction capability.

With the appropriate mounting hardware on the firearm, the 762-sdn-6 quickly disconnects from the muzzle without the long un-screwing required by traditionally mounted units.

Trigger 
The crowning glory of this particular AR Bunker customization is the addition of a Tactical Fire Control, Inc. Tac-Con 3MR three-position trigger.  No, the third position is not full-auto, which would prevent civilian ownership, but it could be considered to be the “next best thing.”  Position 1 is, of course, SAFE as on all AR’s.  Position 2 is the normal, familiar, FIRE position except that the TAC-Con’s version gives a very precise feel with a light, 4.5lb pull weight. Position 3 is where the fun begins.

When Position 3 is selected, the trigger reset travel becomes extremely short.  Only a slight relaxation of the trigger finger muscle allows forward movement to the point where the trigger is ready to break again for another shot.  With a bit of practice, this position allows the operator to rapidly fire the weapon, still at one-pull-one-shot, but literally as fast as the operator can “twitch” the finger.  Combined with the light pull weight, this short reset trigger design allows one to empty a magazine very quickly.

The 3MR system is a fully BATFE compliant semi-auto trigger and, as such, requires no additional approval, registration, paperwork, or regulation for installation on an otherwise lawful AR-15 type rifle or pistol.

Overall Package 
WOW!  Great basic rifle, great caliber, shooting safely and comfortably without ear protection, optically enhanced accuracy, shiznitz trigger….  It was hard to give this rifle back after the test.  We kept asking for more ammo and more time to “properly evaluate the product” but reasonable people have limits, so the AR Bunker’s MPW customization had to go from product evaluation to “want list.”

Suppressed firearms are becoming more and more popular as the Hollywood stigma wears off in favor of the practical advantages of low-noise shooting.  It’s hard for the average shooter to swallow several hundred dollars for a suppressor, another couple hundred for the Gov’t tax, and several months waiting period to join the “Quiet Squad” but the rewards are well worth it.  This is especially the case for center-fire guns used in competition, tactical training, or intense recreational activities. The enhancement to these activities is downright palpable.

Technological improvements and increased demand have made the red-dot and holographic sighting accessories both more affordable and higher quality. Today’s red-dots, especially, give the mid-range (200 yards and less) shooter enough capability without the downsides associated with traditional optical scopes.  Ease of target-acquisition in tactical competition and run-n-gun exercises hugely favor the red-dot and holographic products.

One of the biggest complaints about basic AR rifles is the trigger.  Usually gritty, heavy, and sometimes downright awkward, the bang switch on most of these beasts is an abomination.  Modestly priced upgrades add a lot but the Tac-Con trigger on the AR’s MPW customization takes this upgrade process to a lofty level.  The “normal” FIRE position gives a positive, smooth, light feel which makes shooting an AR more like shooting a traditional rifle than jerking the lanyard on a Howitzer.  The Tac-Con would join the ranks of several competitors if that’s all it did.  Tac-Con’s 3rd, WOW, position, however, sets it seriously apart, and designing the system so that the short-reset mode is engaged by a separate position of the selector switch is a great feature.

While the AR Bunker MPW customization is not going to fall into the “budget AR” category, it does provide a good value for the shooter wanting a very cool tactical rifle that has very high quality components and some serious potential uses.  We think they should call it The AR Bunker OMG GUN.

Respectfully Submitted
The Bunker Bunch
October, 2014

Sig Sauer SP2022

“I want a lot of pistol but I don’t want to spend a lot of money.”  The search ends with the Sig Sauer SP2022. Many knowledgeable pistoliers claim the SigPro (SP) is the most gun per dollar on the market today.  Some U.S. military units and military/law enforcement agencies around the world have chosen the SigPro to be their standard side arm.

Much of the design and craftsmanship necessary to produce a highly reliable and accurate semi-automatic pistol resides in the slide/barrel assembly because once a cartridge has been loaded and the trigger breaks from the sear this is where all the action takes place. The SigPro slide/barrel assembly is “classic Sig” through and through, so there’s little surprise when we find that the polymer-framed sibling lives up to Sig’s enviable reputation.  While all the parts may not be interchangeable between the SigPro and its “classic” siblings, the basic design and manufacturing process of the slide/barrel assembly is the same.

Sig Sauer introduced the SigPro in 1998 with the model 2340 chambered in 40 S&W, followed shortly with a 357 Sig variant carrying the same model designation. About a year later a 9mm version was introduced and designated as model 2009. The SigPro underwent a slight design upgrade in 2002 and began production under a large contract to the government of France which guaranteed a 20 year service life – hence the model designation 2022.  The 2340, in 1998,  was one the first production handguns to incorporate an accessory rail and changeable grip panels. The platform was Sig’s answer to the lighter weight and budget demands of law enforcement.

While some might say that making a pistol frame from “Tupperware” is a sacrilege, modern polymer materials and forming methods make this material plenty strong enough for the places Sig has chosen to put them in the SigPro.  The use of polymer where appropriate also means less maintenance, less corrosion, and lower cost – all tremendous advantages for the consumer. All across the industry we see polymer showing up with great success in small or even large portions of firearm design.  The original SigPro models – 2009 & 2340 – were ahead of their time when introduced more than a decade ago.

Like its classic Sig siblings, the SP2022 is a hammer-fired, double and single action (DA/SA) semi-auto. A de-cocking lever allows for lowering the hammer on a loaded chamber without the possibility of firing pin engagement, so that the gun can be carried safely in a loaded condition. Sig’s four-point integral safety system eliminates the need for a manual external safety lever, although a variant with one (demanded by some LE agencies) is available on special order. If the trigger is not fully depressed, the gun simply won’t fire.

Most DA/SA “service pistols” have a relatively heavy DA trigger pull and an acceptably light (although not “competition” light) SA pull weight.  The SigPro is no exception to this general rule but the DA pull feels incredibly smooth “right out of the box” and makes the DA pull seem lighter than it actually is. Even before break-in, this trigger system is one of the best feeling on the market and might be, perhaps, depending one’s own subjective view, even “better” than the classic Sigs (which cost a lot more).

A sight radius of 5.9” and barrel length of 3.9” contribute to a package which produces a great deal of accuracy for the personal defense/service mission.  The remainder of Sig’s well-regarded barrel/slide design enhances the ability of the SigPro to put bullets on target. They simply go where the gun is pointed at the moment of ignition.

While the SigPro utilizes a “double stack” magazine – up to 15 rounds in 9 and 12 rounds in 40/357 – the use of polymer in grip frame allows for a design that minimizes the grip girth to give a more ergonomic feel to the area of guns that some shooters find “too big and blocky” on similarly sized handguns. Additionally, optional grip panels are available to further tailor the grip to individual preference.

While the SigPro is quite concealable with the proper holster and fashion choices, it is not a pocket pistol nor even a “compact” under normal definitions of the term.  It is a full sized service pistol, although on the small end of that category.

The SigPro competes with a plethora of similar sized, polymer semi-autos.  It holds its own against all comers and exceeds the performance of many even though its cost is well below average. The consumer looking for a full size personal defense or competition (IDPA, IPSC, USPSA, etc.) firearm should consider the SigPro. It meets the requirements of longevity, dependability, accuracy, and affordability for these missions.

Respectfully Submitted
The Bunker Bunch
October, 2014