I have been trying to think of ways to keep the articles I post up interesting and new, and I have landed on one idea that I just can't seem to get out of my head.
I try to make a habit out of driving up to the local gun shop once or twice a month to do some "Window Shopping", and to check out some of the new inventory. I'm going to start making this trip once a week, and I'm going to post some new products I see, good deals I come across, and just interesting things in general. I'm still trying to come up with a name for this series of articles, but I'm sure I'll come up with something. In addition to this article, I'm going to try to review at least one new firearm every week. Even if it's just a "First Look" of something I saw at a gun show or something, I'm going to make an effort to post something new up once a week. That's TWO new articles, every week, so mark your calendars, make a mental note, whatever you need to do to check back with us on Fridays for the new article.
Also on the way, we will be posting a "First Look" of the Ruger GP100 next Monday, and a "cleanup" article with pictures of the weapons we took to the range this past Sunday.
Thanks for reading, and as always, please leave comments if you like what you read here!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Range Report-DPMS AR15 6.8 SPC, Springfield XD 45, Sig Sauer P220, Ruger GP100
I'm still excited about being able to post up our first "Range Report" article, so I'm going to skip the introduction, and just jump into the fun stuff. . .
First off, I want to stress that we had plenty of ammunition with us when we arrived at the range, but the weather was not exactly cooperative with us, so we weren't able to stay on the firing line as long as we had hoped. The temperature was around 38*F, the sky was cloudy, and there was rain throughout the day. Our total round count was relatively low, but we were able to get a decent feel for the weapons we brought along for the trip.
I also want to explain why I'm using one article for this Range Report. We were running at a steady but rather fast pace, so instead of spending some quality time with each of the firearms, we basically familiarized ourselves with each weapon, and moved on to the next. This offered very little in the way of reliability testing, but it was a great opportunity to compare the weapons to each other side-by-side.
These are the firearms we had in our arsenal at the range. We have already written "First Look" articles for all but the Ruger, so if you'd like to see the original articles, click on the name of the firearm.
-DPMS/Panther Arms AR15 6.8 SPC
-Springfield XD 45
-Sig Sauer P220
-Ruger GP100 .357 Magnum
DPMS/Panther Arms AR15 6.8 SPC
I'll start with the DPMS AR15, from my personal collection. Honestly, this is one of the nicest rifles I've taken to the range. The recoil is minimal, thanks to the design of the recoil buffer spring. Even chambered in 6.8 SPC, the recoil is comparable to the 5.56 NATO/.223 Caliber round. Accuracy is excellent, although the longest shot I was able to take was about 75 meters. I was using an optic on the rifle today, a Simmons 9x20 that came with it, and I really can't go into much detail regarding the accuracy of the optic, but I was able to achieve a tight shot group with both the optic and iron sights, within 3" at 75 meters. I'll admit, I was a bit out of practice, and with the optic mounted, consistently firing using the equipped iron sights is nearly impossible, but I can say I was impressed with how tight the shot group was. The trigger pull was a little on the heavy side, but the trigger break was crisp, and for being the factory trigger assembly, it wasn't bad. Overall, I was very impressed with the rifle. I only fired 20 rounds through the rifle, but every single round hit it's intended target. If I were to improve on the rifle, however, I would replace the trigger assembly with something a little lighter.
Springfield XD .45 ACP
Next up is the Springfield XD45. This particular pistol is also from my personal collection. It's a full-frame pistol with a 4" barrel. I've fired around 100 rounds through the pistol since I purchased it last year, and I haven't experienced any malfunctions yet. Today, we only put four 13-round magazines through the pistol. We were firing factory loaded Federal target ammunition. Our distance from the target varied, we started close (about 10 meters) for a few familiarization rounds, and moved away to a distance of around 17 meters for the remainder of our time at the range. The trigger pull was smooth, but a little heavier than I would have liked. I found myself anticipating the break a little more than I'd like. The factory sights were easy to use, and very accurate. We had no malfunctions while we were at the range.
Sig Sauer P220 .45 ACP
Moving out of my own collection, the next weapon we tested was the Sig Sauer P220 in .45 ACP. This particular pistol was bought used, but has been gone through by the folks at Sig Sauer, and has been equipped with Tritium night sights and a Hogue rubber grip. The sights are easy to use, both day and night, and the pistol is every bit as accurate as the others tested here. The weight of the weapon is manageable and well balanced. This is a single-stack pistol, so you sacrifice round capacity, with magazines that only hold 8 rounds of .45 as opposed to the 13 round magazine of the Springfield. Where the Sig shines, however, is in firing. The recoil is less "snappy" than that of the XD, mostly due to the added weight and structural rigidity of the aluminum frame. The trigger pull is light, and the break is extremely smooth. Firing the P220 was a treat, all of the aspects of the pistol, the weight, trigger pull, balance, they all come into play while you are on the firing line. Everything comes together when you squeeze the trigger. The break is so smooth, you almost don't get a chance to anticipate the shot. Combine this with the light trigger pull, and firing the Sig is nearly effortless. I really can't accurately describe the experience of firing the Sig P220 in words, but I can say that if you get the chance to spend some time with one at the range, take advantage of it. As I mentioned, the magazine capacity is a bit of a letdown, the pistol's width is similar to that of a double-stack pistol. I have grown accustomed to the 13+1 capacity of the Springfield, and if the Sig were available in a double stack configuration, I would strongly entertain the idea of purchasing one as a replacement for the Springfield. The Sig was a pleasure to shoot, and although we only put about 5 magazines through it, it handled all of them without a hiccup.
Ruger GP100 .357 Magnum
Last, but certainly not least, the Ruger GP100, specifically the 4" barrel model. This is the only revolver we have tested to date, and it was definitely impressive. Now, this firearm isn't going to win any contests for it's capacity (6 rounds), the sights are adequate, but not as easy to acquire a target with as those of the Sig or the Springfield. This pistol is heavier than the other two as well, but it's really not fair to compare it to the more modern design of the semi-automatics reviewed above. Firing this pistol was a treat as well, the trigger pull was the lightest of the three pistols we tested today, with a trigger break similar to the Sig. Again, there really isn't a chance to anticipate the break, so the pistol stays on target throughout the trigger pull. Since we were testing accuracy more than anything, we fired the pistol single-action only, cocking the hammer before every shot. As with any Single/Double Action pistol, the trigger pull and break point are drastically different between single and double action. All of our shots landed on target, although the grouping was rather large, given the somewhat archaic factory sights. The addition of 3 simple dots on the front and rear sights would have increased vertical accuracy substantially. Overall, the GP100 was a pleasure to shoot, and although it is a completely different experience than the more modern semi-automatic pistols, the Ruger still serves a purpose, and I fully intend on adding one of these great revolvers to my collection in the future.
Stay tuned for a "First Look" article on the Ruger GP100, as well as some picture-heavy updates after I get these four weapons taken apart for cleaning tomorrow.
If you would like to see a specific weapon reviewed, please leave a comment below, and I will try to get my hands on it for a "First Look" article.
First off, I want to stress that we had plenty of ammunition with us when we arrived at the range, but the weather was not exactly cooperative with us, so we weren't able to stay on the firing line as long as we had hoped. The temperature was around 38*F, the sky was cloudy, and there was rain throughout the day. Our total round count was relatively low, but we were able to get a decent feel for the weapons we brought along for the trip.
I also want to explain why I'm using one article for this Range Report. We were running at a steady but rather fast pace, so instead of spending some quality time with each of the firearms, we basically familiarized ourselves with each weapon, and moved on to the next. This offered very little in the way of reliability testing, but it was a great opportunity to compare the weapons to each other side-by-side.
 |
| Top: DPMS/Panther Arms AR15; Bottom (from left): Ruger GP100, Sig Sauer P220, Springfield XD45 |
These are the firearms we had in our arsenal at the range. We have already written "First Look" articles for all but the Ruger, so if you'd like to see the original articles, click on the name of the firearm.
-DPMS/Panther Arms AR15 6.8 SPC
-Springfield XD 45
-Sig Sauer P220
-Ruger GP100 .357 Magnum
DPMS/Panther Arms AR15 6.8 SPC
I'll start with the DPMS AR15, from my personal collection. Honestly, this is one of the nicest rifles I've taken to the range. The recoil is minimal, thanks to the design of the recoil buffer spring. Even chambered in 6.8 SPC, the recoil is comparable to the 5.56 NATO/.223 Caliber round. Accuracy is excellent, although the longest shot I was able to take was about 75 meters. I was using an optic on the rifle today, a Simmons 9x20 that came with it, and I really can't go into much detail regarding the accuracy of the optic, but I was able to achieve a tight shot group with both the optic and iron sights, within 3" at 75 meters. I'll admit, I was a bit out of practice, and with the optic mounted, consistently firing using the equipped iron sights is nearly impossible, but I can say I was impressed with how tight the shot group was. The trigger pull was a little on the heavy side, but the trigger break was crisp, and for being the factory trigger assembly, it wasn't bad. Overall, I was very impressed with the rifle. I only fired 20 rounds through the rifle, but every single round hit it's intended target. If I were to improve on the rifle, however, I would replace the trigger assembly with something a little lighter.
 |
| Springfield XD45 Full Size w/ 4" Barrel |
Springfield XD .45 ACP
Next up is the Springfield XD45. This particular pistol is also from my personal collection. It's a full-frame pistol with a 4" barrel. I've fired around 100 rounds through the pistol since I purchased it last year, and I haven't experienced any malfunctions yet. Today, we only put four 13-round magazines through the pistol. We were firing factory loaded Federal target ammunition. Our distance from the target varied, we started close (about 10 meters) for a few familiarization rounds, and moved away to a distance of around 17 meters for the remainder of our time at the range. The trigger pull was smooth, but a little heavier than I would have liked. I found myself anticipating the break a little more than I'd like. The factory sights were easy to use, and very accurate. We had no malfunctions while we were at the range.
 |
| Sig Sauer P220 |
Sig Sauer P220 .45 ACP
Moving out of my own collection, the next weapon we tested was the Sig Sauer P220 in .45 ACP. This particular pistol was bought used, but has been gone through by the folks at Sig Sauer, and has been equipped with Tritium night sights and a Hogue rubber grip. The sights are easy to use, both day and night, and the pistol is every bit as accurate as the others tested here. The weight of the weapon is manageable and well balanced. This is a single-stack pistol, so you sacrifice round capacity, with magazines that only hold 8 rounds of .45 as opposed to the 13 round magazine of the Springfield. Where the Sig shines, however, is in firing. The recoil is less "snappy" than that of the XD, mostly due to the added weight and structural rigidity of the aluminum frame. The trigger pull is light, and the break is extremely smooth. Firing the P220 was a treat, all of the aspects of the pistol, the weight, trigger pull, balance, they all come into play while you are on the firing line. Everything comes together when you squeeze the trigger. The break is so smooth, you almost don't get a chance to anticipate the shot. Combine this with the light trigger pull, and firing the Sig is nearly effortless. I really can't accurately describe the experience of firing the Sig P220 in words, but I can say that if you get the chance to spend some time with one at the range, take advantage of it. As I mentioned, the magazine capacity is a bit of a letdown, the pistol's width is similar to that of a double-stack pistol. I have grown accustomed to the 13+1 capacity of the Springfield, and if the Sig were available in a double stack configuration, I would strongly entertain the idea of purchasing one as a replacement for the Springfield. The Sig was a pleasure to shoot, and although we only put about 5 magazines through it, it handled all of them without a hiccup.
 |
| Ruger GP100 with 4" barrel |
Ruger GP100 .357 Magnum
Last, but certainly not least, the Ruger GP100, specifically the 4" barrel model. This is the only revolver we have tested to date, and it was definitely impressive. Now, this firearm isn't going to win any contests for it's capacity (6 rounds), the sights are adequate, but not as easy to acquire a target with as those of the Sig or the Springfield. This pistol is heavier than the other two as well, but it's really not fair to compare it to the more modern design of the semi-automatics reviewed above. Firing this pistol was a treat as well, the trigger pull was the lightest of the three pistols we tested today, with a trigger break similar to the Sig. Again, there really isn't a chance to anticipate the break, so the pistol stays on target throughout the trigger pull. Since we were testing accuracy more than anything, we fired the pistol single-action only, cocking the hammer before every shot. As with any Single/Double Action pistol, the trigger pull and break point are drastically different between single and double action. All of our shots landed on target, although the grouping was rather large, given the somewhat archaic factory sights. The addition of 3 simple dots on the front and rear sights would have increased vertical accuracy substantially. Overall, the GP100 was a pleasure to shoot, and although it is a completely different experience than the more modern semi-automatic pistols, the Ruger still serves a purpose, and I fully intend on adding one of these great revolvers to my collection in the future.
 |
| From Left: Springfield XD45, Sig Sauer P220, Ruger GP100 |
Stay tuned for a "First Look" article on the Ruger GP100, as well as some picture-heavy updates after I get these four weapons taken apart for cleaning tomorrow.
If you would like to see a specific weapon reviewed, please leave a comment below, and I will try to get my hands on it for a "First Look" article.
Friday, March 18, 2011
First Look: DPMS/Panther Arms AR15 6.8SPC
Recently, I had the opportunity to add this rifle to my collection, and for the price, I just couldn't pass it up. The beauty of the AR15 platform is the ability to customize it to suit your needs. This is why it is the assault rifle platform of choice for the Military and many Law Enforcement agencies.
Now, the rifle I am reviewing is a rather popular configuration, although in a less common caliber than the ever-popular 5.56 NATO military round or the civilian counterpart, .223 caliber. This rifle is chambered in 6.8SPC, which was originally created as a compromise between the accuracy of the 6.5mm round, and the terminal performance of the 7mm round, as part of the Enhanced Rifle Cartridge program. The program was started to address the poor terminal performance of the 5.56 NATO round.
Rather than continue about the history of the ammunition, let's focus on the rifle. This particular configuration has the M16A2 style upper receiver and buttstock (complete with "trap door"), a 20" barrel, and a simple quad rail replacing the original plastic hand guard.
As far as function goes, the DPMS AR15 has all the bells and whistles you would expect on an AR15.
This rifle also came equipped with a dust cover and forward assist, which many of the AR15 rifles that have a lower price point don't include.
Having served in the United States Army, I've handled many M16 and M4 rifles, many of which had been in service for 5 or more years, some of which were brand new, fresh out of the box. Having the experience with these weapons, I know many of the areas of concern with this particular platform, and I can honestly say that the DPMS/Panther Arms AR15 platform is right on par with the weapons I used during my military service as far as fit and finish are concerned. One thing I noticed right off the bat when disassembling and cleaning my rifle, the star chamber has some rough edges, rougher than those found in my issued Colt M4 rifle, which I was assigned right after I took it out of it's original factory packaging and cleaned the shipping grease from inside. If you feed and manually eject a round from the chamber, the star chamber leaves visible scratches on the projectile. This is a concern, since any inconsistency in the projectile can throw off ballistics properties, effecting trajectory, and ultimately negatively influencing long-range accuracy. This is one issue I plan to look into further, but a local gunsmith has informed me that this is a rather common issue with many of the civilian models of the AR15, and the sharp edges will be worn down over time. Basically, I need to put some more ammunition through the rifle to wear down those sharp edges.
When disassembling the rifle, everything comes apart easily enough. The fit of all of the parts is superb, I have no complaints about the inner workings, nor the function of the rifle itself.
On to the fun part, firing the rifle. I sighted this rifle in using about 40 rounds of ball ammunition (I apologize, I can't remember the specifics) that a friend brought along. The rifle performed flawlessly. No malfunctions at all, no failures to feed or eject, and it was every bit as accurate (if not more so) than my M4 and M16 rifles in the Army. I didn't elect to sight in the optic I was using, I wanted to get a feel for the rifle's performance using the standard iron sights. I was not disappointed. I was only firing from about 75 yards when I sighted it in, but after the sight-in was done, we had a little bit of fun with some longer range targets. I believe the range we were using only went out to about 250 yards, but I was able to hit paper plate sized targets from that distance using iron sights.
I expected the rifle to malfunction during our first trip to the range with it. It was a brand new rifle, assembled with parts ordered individually from DPMS through our local firearms dealer, and it had never been fired before. Honestly, the rifle surpassed my expectations, and I stand behind DPMS/Panther Arms 100%. I still would like to fire many more rounds through it before I make a final judgment on the rifle, but in my opinion, DPMS is a great way to break into the AR15 platform, without breaking the bank.
Keep checking in, I will be adding a "Range Report" for some of the firearms we have reviewed recently, complete with pictures. We are hoping to take the Sig Sauer P220, Springfield Armory XD45, DPMS/Panther Arms AR15 6.8SPC, as well as a newly acquired Ruger GP100 .357 Magnum Revolver to the range for an afternoon soon, so don't forget to follow along!
Now, the rifle I am reviewing is a rather popular configuration, although in a less common caliber than the ever-popular 5.56 NATO military round or the civilian counterpart, .223 caliber. This rifle is chambered in 6.8SPC, which was originally created as a compromise between the accuracy of the 6.5mm round, and the terminal performance of the 7mm round, as part of the Enhanced Rifle Cartridge program. The program was started to address the poor terminal performance of the 5.56 NATO round.
Rather than continue about the history of the ammunition, let's focus on the rifle. This particular configuration has the M16A2 style upper receiver and buttstock (complete with "trap door"), a 20" barrel, and a simple quad rail replacing the original plastic hand guard.
 | |
| DPMS/Panther Arms AR15 in 6.8 SPC |
As far as function goes, the DPMS AR15 has all the bells and whistles you would expect on an AR15.
This rifle also came equipped with a dust cover and forward assist, which many of the AR15 rifles that have a lower price point don't include.
Having served in the United States Army, I've handled many M16 and M4 rifles, many of which had been in service for 5 or more years, some of which were brand new, fresh out of the box. Having the experience with these weapons, I know many of the areas of concern with this particular platform, and I can honestly say that the DPMS/Panther Arms AR15 platform is right on par with the weapons I used during my military service as far as fit and finish are concerned. One thing I noticed right off the bat when disassembling and cleaning my rifle, the star chamber has some rough edges, rougher than those found in my issued Colt M4 rifle, which I was assigned right after I took it out of it's original factory packaging and cleaned the shipping grease from inside. If you feed and manually eject a round from the chamber, the star chamber leaves visible scratches on the projectile. This is a concern, since any inconsistency in the projectile can throw off ballistics properties, effecting trajectory, and ultimately negatively influencing long-range accuracy. This is one issue I plan to look into further, but a local gunsmith has informed me that this is a rather common issue with many of the civilian models of the AR15, and the sharp edges will be worn down over time. Basically, I need to put some more ammunition through the rifle to wear down those sharp edges.
When disassembling the rifle, everything comes apart easily enough. The fit of all of the parts is superb, I have no complaints about the inner workings, nor the function of the rifle itself.
On to the fun part, firing the rifle. I sighted this rifle in using about 40 rounds of ball ammunition (I apologize, I can't remember the specifics) that a friend brought along. The rifle performed flawlessly. No malfunctions at all, no failures to feed or eject, and it was every bit as accurate (if not more so) than my M4 and M16 rifles in the Army. I didn't elect to sight in the optic I was using, I wanted to get a feel for the rifle's performance using the standard iron sights. I was not disappointed. I was only firing from about 75 yards when I sighted it in, but after the sight-in was done, we had a little bit of fun with some longer range targets. I believe the range we were using only went out to about 250 yards, but I was able to hit paper plate sized targets from that distance using iron sights.
I expected the rifle to malfunction during our first trip to the range with it. It was a brand new rifle, assembled with parts ordered individually from DPMS through our local firearms dealer, and it had never been fired before. Honestly, the rifle surpassed my expectations, and I stand behind DPMS/Panther Arms 100%. I still would like to fire many more rounds through it before I make a final judgment on the rifle, but in my opinion, DPMS is a great way to break into the AR15 platform, without breaking the bank.
Keep checking in, I will be adding a "Range Report" for some of the firearms we have reviewed recently, complete with pictures. We are hoping to take the Sig Sauer P220, Springfield Armory XD45, DPMS/Panther Arms AR15 6.8SPC, as well as a newly acquired Ruger GP100 .357 Magnum Revolver to the range for an afternoon soon, so don't forget to follow along!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
First Look: Springfield XD45 .45ACP
I know this particular blog leaves a lot to be desired, but I'm doing the best I can given my limited funds and the weather in my neck of the woods. The range I shoot at is an outdoor range, and it's basically useless to me between November and March. Enough excuses, let's get down to business.
UPDATE: 3/3/2012
Pictures added above. The XD45 has been my primary concealed carry pistol for about 8 months, it carries well, and isn't overly difficult to conceal - as long as you are using the right kind of holster, and adjusting your wardrobe to allow concealing of a larger pistol such as this.
Today's post is going to be a "First Look" at the Springfield XD45. This is actually my own personal firearm, which I purchased a few months ago. The list price is relatively low when compared to other polymer framed pistols, this particular pistol can be found used for around $450. A new one will run around $600.
First impressions of the pistol were strong, the grip is comfortable, the controls are all easy to manipulate and placed very well. Some of the best features I found in this pistol was the ambidextrous safety and magazine release. Well, the fact that it's dead reliable is a great feature as well.
Also included with the pistol is a lockable hard plastic case, two 13 round magazines, a speed loader, bore brush, cable lock with 2 keys, magazine holster (holds 2 mags), and a holster. The case that everything comes in is very nice, it is a simple hard plastic case with "SPRINGFIELD ARMORY" molded in the side of it, but inside, everything is held in place by foam. Both sides of the case are lined with foam, and everything that comes with the XD has a cutout where it all fits perfectly. I am going to include a few pictures, but I must apologize for the poor quality, the space I'm working with has very poor lighting. . . I'm working on that for future reviews.
I haven't spent too much time behind the trigger of this weapon, but I did put about a box of ammunition through it. 50 rounds of .45ACP FMJ that I had laying around, and the Springfield XD performed flawlessly. The factory sights were adequate, although I would eventually like to upgrade to a set of tritium "Night Sights." Very easy to aim, the numerous safeties do not hamper the operation of the pistol at all, and the trigger pull is very smooth. I was impressed with the function of the pistol, especially considering the words "Made In Croatia" on the slide, they don't exactly inspire confidence.
Honestly, after spending some time with the XD in my collection, the only major complaint that I have is not for the folks at Springfield, but for a couple of the major manufacturers of holsters and firearms accessories. There just aren't enough good options for carrying the XD, particularly as a police duty weapon. I've been trying to get an answer from Blackhawk about a release date for a Level III Retention duty holster for the XD, and I keep hearing nothing in return. Don't get me wrong, there are options out there, but the competition is pretty weak among Level III Holsters marketed towards police officers.
I will be putting a couple holsters through the paces with this particular pistol over the coming months.
Honestly, after spending some time with the XD in my collection, the only major complaint that I have is not for the folks at Springfield, but for a couple of the major manufacturers of holsters and firearms accessories. There just aren't enough good options for carrying the XD, particularly as a police duty weapon. I've been trying to get an answer from Blackhawk about a release date for a Level III Retention duty holster for the XD, and I keep hearing nothing in return. Don't get me wrong, there are options out there, but the competition is pretty weak among Level III Holsters marketed towards police officers.
I will be putting a couple holsters through the paces with this particular pistol over the coming months.
 |
| This is my normal carry rig, the XD in a DeSantis Intruder IWB Holster. |
UPDATE: 3/3/2012
Pictures added above. The XD45 has been my primary concealed carry pistol for about 8 months, it carries well, and isn't overly difficult to conceal - as long as you are using the right kind of holster, and adjusting your wardrobe to allow concealing of a larger pistol such as this.
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