It's difficult to find the funds to test out all kinds of new and exciting firearms and related items, but we have some very exciting new articles coming up! Our next "First Look" article is going to be a quick review of a relatively new firearm, the new Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport. This is a newcomer to the Budget AR15 segment, and there is very little information about it out there.
We're also going to be doing our first ammunition review. I'm still working with the manufacturer to get my hands on a few more boxes, but we should be able to share some information about this local ammunition manufacturer's self defense ammunition.
As I've mentioned before, I pay full price for all the weapons we test here. They are not loaned to us by the manufacturer or the gun shop, they are purchased. Once I get home and get some time to really inspect the weapon, I start writing my impressions of the product, which is what you see. I do not make any money writing my reviews, I do this for my personal enjoyment, as well as to help others make informed decisions.
We will be running a segment soon, in which we will try to accomplish the impossible, and build a reliable, accurate AR-15 rifle for under $500 (we're going to push for the lowest price we can manage), and depending on the responses we get from you, our readers, we will attempt a similar feat with the most iconic pistol of the 20th Century, the 1911.
I simply wanted to update our readers, there is more to come, we are working to purchase some exciting new products to review, and as always, we are open to suggestions! If you'd like to see anything in particular, don't hesitate to send us a message or leave a comment here.
In other news, we have started our YouTube account, and we will soon be doing video reviews of the firearms we review here, in addition to the written reviews. Our ultimate goal is to capture video of the firearms in action, demonstrate the proper methods of disassembling and reassembling the weapons, as well as going over the basic features and our opinions of various firearms.
Thanks for following The Low Ready, and keep checking back for more updates and new reviews!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
First Look: Beretta 92FS 9mm
First things first, this is one of the firearms I've wanted since I first saw it. When I was in Basic Training in the U.S. Army, this weapon was more than an issued sidearm, it represented progress. I was issued my first Beretta M9 during the first week of Military Police training. I learned to shoot with the M9, ate, drank, and slept with it, and qualified "Expert" with it every time. The Beretta M9 (92F) has been in service with the U.S. Armed Forces since 1985, when it replaced the M1911 45ACP sidearm.
Putting the past behind us, I will focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the 92FS, and in a little bit, I will mention the differences between the 92FS and the M9 that is issued to the U.S. Armed Forces.
The first thing one notices when handling the Beretta 92FS for the first time is it's weight. It's remarkably light for an all-metal weapon, weighing in at just over 2 pounds when unloaded. The weapon comes packaged with two 15-round magazines, two bore brushes (one brass, one nylon) and a cleaning rod, a gun lock, and what is called an "Anti-Crush Device" inside the blue plastic case. The case itself is very weak, and the "Anti-Crush Device" is a simple plastic cup that goes inside the case, that inspires a "What is this for?" response.
Once the initial "newness" of the 92FS wears off, and you start looking closely at it, a myriad of features become apparent. One of my personal favorites is related to the safety/decocking system. The decocking lever actually rotates the firing pin connector upwards into the slide. Also noticeable on the top of the slide is the "block", which prevents the hammer from connecting with the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled, and the locking block rises into position. This is a unique set of safety features when compared with the other pistols we have reviewed here, but I believe it is a strong design.
The trigger pull is rather heavy on this pistol. The initial "Double Action" trigger pull is around 14 pounds, and the subsequent "Single Action" trigger pull is about 6 pounds. When compared to the Sig Sauer P220 we reviewed earlier (See First Look: Sig P220 .45ACP), the Beretta's trigger pull is slightly heavier. The Sig's trigger pull was 12 pounds DA, 4.5 pounds SA.
The fit and finish of the 92FS is very impressive given the Beretta's $649 suggested price tag. There is little lateral play in the slide, the trigger pull is smooth despite it's resistance. The finish is flawless, and the warranty is decent. That said, I feel I should cover one thing that many people don't know about the Beretta warranty: It can be extended from the standard 1-year warranty to a 3-year warranty, simply by returning the registration card to an authorized Beretta dealer, or mailing it directly to Beretta, within 30 days of purchase. It's worth it to fill out the card and return it.
I know that a picture is worth a thousand words, but I didn't have time to take some pictures of the Beretta before it made it's way to it's new home for the night. When I write our next "Range Report" segment, I'll include pictures of the Beretta. I will also add some to this post at the same time.
There is more to come, so be sure to check in frequently for updates!
UPDATE: 3/3/2012
Photos added, pistol is exactly as it was during the original review, with the exception of the grips, which were replaced recently.
Putting the past behind us, I will focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the 92FS, and in a little bit, I will mention the differences between the 92FS and the M9 that is issued to the U.S. Armed Forces.
The first thing one notices when handling the Beretta 92FS for the first time is it's weight. It's remarkably light for an all-metal weapon, weighing in at just over 2 pounds when unloaded. The weapon comes packaged with two 15-round magazines, two bore brushes (one brass, one nylon) and a cleaning rod, a gun lock, and what is called an "Anti-Crush Device" inside the blue plastic case. The case itself is very weak, and the "Anti-Crush Device" is a simple plastic cup that goes inside the case, that inspires a "What is this for?" response.
Once the initial "newness" of the 92FS wears off, and you start looking closely at it, a myriad of features become apparent. One of my personal favorites is related to the safety/decocking system. The decocking lever actually rotates the firing pin connector upwards into the slide. Also noticeable on the top of the slide is the "block", which prevents the hammer from connecting with the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled, and the locking block rises into position. This is a unique set of safety features when compared with the other pistols we have reviewed here, but I believe it is a strong design.
The trigger pull is rather heavy on this pistol. The initial "Double Action" trigger pull is around 14 pounds, and the subsequent "Single Action" trigger pull is about 6 pounds. When compared to the Sig Sauer P220 we reviewed earlier (See First Look: Sig P220 .45ACP), the Beretta's trigger pull is slightly heavier. The Sig's trigger pull was 12 pounds DA, 4.5 pounds SA.
The fit and finish of the 92FS is very impressive given the Beretta's $649 suggested price tag. There is little lateral play in the slide, the trigger pull is smooth despite it's resistance. The finish is flawless, and the warranty is decent. That said, I feel I should cover one thing that many people don't know about the Beretta warranty: It can be extended from the standard 1-year warranty to a 3-year warranty, simply by returning the registration card to an authorized Beretta dealer, or mailing it directly to Beretta, within 30 days of purchase. It's worth it to fill out the card and return it.
I know that a picture is worth a thousand words, but I didn't have time to take some pictures of the Beretta before it made it's way to it's new home for the night. When I write our next "Range Report" segment, I'll include pictures of the Beretta. I will also add some to this post at the same time.
There is more to come, so be sure to check in frequently for updates!
UPDATE: 3/3/2012
Photos added, pistol is exactly as it was during the original review, with the exception of the grips, which were replaced recently.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Coming Next on The Low Ready
It's been a while since our last review, I know. It is difficult to continue reviewing firearms without any options for procuring them besides purchasing new weapons, trading in current weapons, or borrowing from others for the purposes of putting them through the paces. . .
That said, I decided to "pull the trigger" on a pistol I've wanted for a few years now, the Beretta 92FS. I found a great deal on a new 92FS at the local shop, and I couldn't resist. At first, this was just another of our usual "window shopping" trips, but the people I brought with me were perusing the Shotgun and Rifle aisle when I spotted the Beretta under the glass at the counter. I spoke with one of the employees about it, took a closer look at it, and within a few minutes, I was forking over the cash. My friends were surprised that I bought a pistol in the short amount of time they were away from me, but anyone who was spoken with me about firearms at length knows that the 92FS is one of my "dream guns". Sure, it's bulky, it's heavy, and it's only a 9mm, but I have a connection with this pistol.
I learned to shoot with an Army-issued M9 pistol. I carried that pistol through weeks of my military training, and it was my issued sidearm throughout my time in the Army. That's why I shelled out about $650 for the Beretta. A "First Look" article will be posted sometime next week, and we're going to try something new, a "Torture Test" with my current pistol, a Springfield XD45. Expect videos to be posted, I'm really hoping to have some fun with that.
I'm also entertaining the idea of buying a "plinker", but with all of the options available to me, I'm still not sure which to go with.
So, stay tuned for updates, a "First Look" and "Range Report" on the Beretta 92FS, and a "Torture Test"
That said, I decided to "pull the trigger" on a pistol I've wanted for a few years now, the Beretta 92FS. I found a great deal on a new 92FS at the local shop, and I couldn't resist. At first, this was just another of our usual "window shopping" trips, but the people I brought with me were perusing the Shotgun and Rifle aisle when I spotted the Beretta under the glass at the counter. I spoke with one of the employees about it, took a closer look at it, and within a few minutes, I was forking over the cash. My friends were surprised that I bought a pistol in the short amount of time they were away from me, but anyone who was spoken with me about firearms at length knows that the 92FS is one of my "dream guns". Sure, it's bulky, it's heavy, and it's only a 9mm, but I have a connection with this pistol.
I learned to shoot with an Army-issued M9 pistol. I carried that pistol through weeks of my military training, and it was my issued sidearm throughout my time in the Army. That's why I shelled out about $650 for the Beretta. A "First Look" article will be posted sometime next week, and we're going to try something new, a "Torture Test" with my current pistol, a Springfield XD45. Expect videos to be posted, I'm really hoping to have some fun with that.
I'm also entertaining the idea of buying a "plinker", but with all of the options available to me, I'm still not sure which to go with.
So, stay tuned for updates, a "First Look" and "Range Report" on the Beretta 92FS, and a "Torture Test"
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
First Look: Mossberg 590 12-Gauge Shotgun
With the first gun I ever fired being a single shot 12 gauge without a padded butt stock, I knew I would have to eventually find one to fit my needs and personality. I had been drooling over a Benelli Nova for quite some time. However, the Benellis were right next to the Remington shotguns, which put me into an even greater predicament. It wasn’t until I found a used Mossberg 590 with the collapsible ATI top-folding stock
that I found the one, or at least the ideal model I was searching for.
that I found the one, or at least the ideal model I was searching for. About a week later I picked up a brand new Mossberg 590, bolted over to Cabela’s to get the ATI top-folding stock, and made my way over to my friends shooting range. I first fired off a few rounds of Wal-Mart Birdshot and then some 3” Mag Buckshot and slugs. The rubber padding on the butt stock absorbed the sharp recoil from the powerful loads well, not as well as an AR absorbs recoil, but enough that it wasn’t unpleasant to fire off a few powerful rounds. At fifty yards nailing a 4X4 beam standing up with the slug rounds was a breeze with open sights, and a great deal easier than I expected it to be. From there, I put on my vicious-looking ATI stock and started with the bird shot again. Although I cannot say the ATI stock was the most comfortable thing to shoot I can say that it did not affect the firearm very much and still shot wonderfully. Although the stock does cause slight harm to one’s shoulder and cheek when being used for long range shooting, rather than close quarters tactical shooting, I kept the stock on the weapon as I intended to use it as my home defense gun.
, and made my way over to my friends shooting range. I first fired off a few rounds of Wal-Mart Birdshot and then some 3” Mag Buckshot and slugs. The rubber padding on the butt stock absorbed the sharp recoil from the powerful loads well, not as well as an AR absorbs recoil, but enough that it wasn’t unpleasant to fire off a few powerful rounds. At fifty yards nailing a 4X4 beam standing up with the slug rounds was a breeze with open sights, and a great deal easier than I expected it to be. From there, I put on my vicious-looking ATI stock and started with the bird shot again. Although I cannot say the ATI stock was the most comfortable thing to shoot I can say that it did not affect the firearm very much and still shot wonderfully. Although the stock does cause slight harm to one’s shoulder and cheek when being used for long range shooting, rather than close quarters tactical shooting, I kept the stock on the weapon as I intended to use it as my home defense gun.Complete disassembly is a breeze and requires only a flat head screw driver, or an allen wrench for the ATI stock, and something to tap out one of the pins in the receiver and you’re good to go. The item breaks down easily, cleans fast, and goes back together in a breeze. My model, but a few years old, did have a problem with a part of the safety notch keeping one of the parts from being inserted into the gun, but I have learned from cleaning my friend’s newer 590 that Mossberg corrected this issue. I would also like to throw in that his model was stamped with the A1 designation. I’m not really sure how much of a difference that makes with the internals, but I figured it was worth throwing in there.
This gun has a great finish, as its lack of scratches can attest to. Being my home defense weapon this thing has seen a great deal of tight spaces and a whole lot of range time. Even though I am a person who babies some of my weapons, this is one of the few that I am not afraid of getting a little dirty. It has seen its fair share of bumps, but does not have the marks to show it. To this day it looks fresh off the gun rack, and I can’t give you a round count for this weapon.
Since I have owned this gun it has been a reliable shooter with zero problems and, in my opinion, it provides some of the best accuracy one can ask for in a smooth bore shotgun. This gun has functioned so perfectly it would surely be in my arsenal for a SHTF situation, and on a side note its accuracy makes it a great hunting shotgun when the Zombies/Nazi/Vampire/Robots are not your priority. From my experience with this weapon, there are not enough good things to say about it. It is a firearm that I trust with my life and love to shoot. You can’t go wrong with a Mossberg 590.
Monday, April 4, 2011
First Look: DPMS LR-308
My first hunting rifle was a Savage Arms 30-06. I enjoyed the .30 caliber round so much I began to search for a semiautomatic rifle that fired a .30 caliber projectile. While on my search I became very knowledgeable about the .308 caliber and experimented with several rifles chambered for the caliber. I would like to mention that this includes the 7.62x51. I understand that they are different in their own ways, but to save both time and space I will say now when I say .308 I mean both .308 and 7.62x51 and vice versa.
Anyway, while looking for the perfect rifle to fit my preferences I went through the French MAS and the CETME until I saved the money to pick up an AR-10 style rifle. This particular rifle was a DPMS LR-308, although the barrel said it was chambered for 7.62x51, and it had a 16” barrel with an A2 butt stock. The upper receiver was a flat top with a dust cover and forward assist. It was also equipped with a detachable carry handle. The barrel was equipped with a Yankee Hill Machine flip-down sight and a UTG quad-rail fore grip.
The rifle was a personal build from the floor up, as I learned it is much cheaper to go that route with an AR-10 style rifle. What I would like to brag about in regard to this rifle is its felt recoil. Anyone who has fired an AR-15 can attest to the lack of recoil in these firearms and the LR-308 is no exception to this trait of AR style rifles. Going “Rambo” with this rifle was nowhere near unpleasant and the weapon never went off target while firing. There is one negative thing to shooting the .308 from these rifles and that is the slightly loud bang that emerges from the barrel. Its slightly louder than shooting 5.56/.223, but the added noise, to me, is music to my ears.
The firearm had zero problems while firing, no FTFs or FTE’s. It shot from a Polymer Magazine and a C-Products Magazine, both 20 rounds, with both functioning flawlessly through every shot. This firearm, obviously, functioned just like an AR-15 with the only noticeable difference being the sound it makes and the size of the hole it puts in the target. The spent cases looked just as they should after being shot: perfect. There were no dent or nicks left in the casings that other semi-automatic .308s leave on the spent casings.
The difference in price for the rifle is also noticeable, but having a reliable semi-automatic rifle that shoots the .308 round is just about worth the price you pay. This was my second AR build, the first being a 6.8, and it is still amazing to me how simple they are a build and maintain. When looking into the .308 market in the future I will most likely start with the LR-308 design first.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Take-Down Videos
In the future we are planning on posting links to videos on our YouTube channel which provide tutorials for complete disassembly of the firearms we post about on this website. However, if you have questions about disassembly about the firearms we post on here please feel free to send us an email and we will try to provide you with answers to your questions. We would like to mention that neither one of us are licensed, certified, or registered gunsmiths or armorers so the advice we provide will be based solely on our experience with these weapons and as such we provide no guarantees on the advice that we provide, as we are not certified to do so. Our goal is simply to help people make safe repairs to their firearms by themselves as the cost of labor and parts for a profession in this economy does not sit well on the wallet.
First Look: Smith & Wesson M&P45 4.5" Barrel
Had it not been for the introduction of the 2011 1911 polymer frame for the 1911 pistol I would say that Smith and Wesson’s M&P45 is the answer for shooters looking for a polymer 1911 with all the feature of the polymer pistol. From its manual safety (optional on some models) and slide lock positions to its relative felt recoil, which is very reminiscent of a 1911, every shot fired made me believe I was holding the polymer answer to the legendary 1911 pistol. The M&P45 utilizes a striker fire system, which seems to be the trend for new pistols, and makes good use of a firing pin block. In my opinion, all pistols should be equipped with this as an added safety measure.
The trigger pull on this bad boy does have a slight flaw, in my opinion; the trigger is equipped with a trigger safety—which follows the decorum of polymer pistols—that engages in the middle of the trigger when the lower section is pulled. This has never caused any problems during firing in my experience, but its feel and pull is not as smooth as the trigger pull of other pistols in its class. The issue inherent in this trigger design is that if you have your finger too high on the trigger when you squeeze it, it will not engage the safety device and the trigger will not budge. However, with proper practice—which every shooter should engage in—this should not be a problem. This firearm had been my primary carry gun for a few months, as well as the weapon I practiced with the most, and I never had this happen to me. On a side note about the trigger if you are a person like me, who understands the risk of trigger bounce or hammer follow in 1911's, then this gun is for you.
The slide makes use of slide serrations, which provide great contact with the hand, and not once was I unable to draw the slide back on this weapon. Its pull-back also very closely resembles that of a 1911 with the exception of the slide serrations. A possible drawback to these serrations is that they do have somewhat of a sharp nature, and if the slide was not gripped properly it could slide forward and be a little rough on ones hand. This was never a problem I experienced, but it is something to consider.
The firearm can be field-stripped like just about any other modern pistol on the market: draw slide back, lock slide in place, flip down take-down lever, allow the slide to go forward, and remove it from the frame. I’m sure it’s safe to say you know how to handle the rest from there. The internals for the pistol are very simple and easy to work with for those of us who enjoy full take down and cleaning. There are even kits you can buy, and easily install yourself, that will allow you to take a few pounds off of the trigger pull. In regard to this I would recommend not tampering too much with its design. Form my experience with this weapon it has been designed to be a very sturdy carry, service, and duty gun (you can use whichever of those apply to you). With its 1911-esgue design and feel this would be a great pistol for anyone who has sworn by the time-tested designed on the 1911 pistol. A 1911 being the pistol I learned to shoot with, I am very partial to firearms that resemble the legendary gun, so needless to say I was drawn to it immediately. This is a firearm that will serve its owner well for years to come.
The trigger pull on this bad boy does have a slight flaw, in my opinion; the trigger is equipped with a trigger safety—which follows the decorum of polymer pistols—that engages in the middle of the trigger when the lower section is pulled. This has never caused any problems during firing in my experience, but its feel and pull is not as smooth as the trigger pull of other pistols in its class. The issue inherent in this trigger design is that if you have your finger too high on the trigger when you squeeze it, it will not engage the safety device and the trigger will not budge. However, with proper practice—which every shooter should engage in—this should not be a problem. This firearm had been my primary carry gun for a few months, as well as the weapon I practiced with the most, and I never had this happen to me. On a side note about the trigger if you are a person like me, who understands the risk of trigger bounce or hammer follow in 1911's, then this gun is for you.
The slide makes use of slide serrations, which provide great contact with the hand, and not once was I unable to draw the slide back on this weapon. Its pull-back also very closely resembles that of a 1911 with the exception of the slide serrations. A possible drawback to these serrations is that they do have somewhat of a sharp nature, and if the slide was not gripped properly it could slide forward and be a little rough on ones hand. This was never a problem I experienced, but it is something to consider.
The firearm can be field-stripped like just about any other modern pistol on the market: draw slide back, lock slide in place, flip down take-down lever, allow the slide to go forward, and remove it from the frame. I’m sure it’s safe to say you know how to handle the rest from there. The internals for the pistol are very simple and easy to work with for those of us who enjoy full take down and cleaning. There are even kits you can buy, and easily install yourself, that will allow you to take a few pounds off of the trigger pull. In regard to this I would recommend not tampering too much with its design. Form my experience with this weapon it has been designed to be a very sturdy carry, service, and duty gun (you can use whichever of those apply to you). With its 1911-esgue design and feel this would be a great pistol for anyone who has sworn by the time-tested designed on the 1911 pistol. A 1911 being the pistol I learned to shoot with, I am very partial to firearms that resemble the legendary gun, so needless to say I was drawn to it immediately. This is a firearm that will serve its owner well for years to come.
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