Smith & Wesson has received the Guns & Ammo 2024 Handgun of the Year Award for the Bodyguard 2.0 pistol. This .380 ACP ultra-compact, single-stack pistol has a $449.00 MSRP and can be purchased for $399.00 with both 10-rd and 12-rd magazines.
The Bodyguard 2.0 has received positive reviews because it has excellent ergonomics, is very easy to carry, and has a good trigger. Guns & Ammo notes: “After a thorough evaluation of accuracy, dependability, and durability, the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 was a [single] vote short of a unanimous decision. Available with and without a thumb safety, its dimensions, ergonomics, low felt recoil, texture, and functional slide design make the Bodyguard 2.0 the most shootable new pistol for the broadest range of shooters.”
Looking at the reviews, most testers praised the new Bodyguard 2.0 for its modest recoil, good trigger, and good ergonomics. Described as a “micro-compact”, the Bodyguard 2.0 is indeed very small. As you can see in the image below, the Bodyguard 2.0 is about the size of a man’s hand with fingers extended. This photo is from a very comprehensive Ammoland.com test review by Mike Hardesty. If you are thinking of getting this pistol, definitely read that 9/10/24 Hardesty Review.
S&W explains: “The Bodyguard 2.0 leverages superior ergonomics, and an enhanced trigger to elevate performance. We’ve been able to accomplish this while still keeping the handgun small enough for deep concealment. We have meticulously engineered every component to enhance ergonomics while preserving performance in a lightweight profile, making it ideal for everyday carry.” — Kyle Tengwall, VP of Marketing.
Hickok45 Test of New S&W Bodyguard 2.0 .380 ACP
S&W Product Description:
SUPERIOR ERGONOMICS
The Bodyguard 2.0 perfectly bridges the ability to comfortably carry but maintain a high level of performance when it comes to shooting. Our ergonomic grip feels great in the hand, the stippling allows the shooter to maintain control and mitigate recoil, and the grip angle lends for a natural point of aim when coming up on target.
AGGRESSIVE SLIDE DESIGN
More serrations give the user multiple points of traction letting them grab and rack effectively in high-stress scenarios.
IMPROVED TRIGGER
Migrating to a striker-fired system and having the flat-face design makes the trigger on the Bodyguard 2.0 light and crisp. Consistent feedback allows for repeatable shots and the flat design aids in finger placement leading to more accurate shooting.
Ace shooter Julie Golob reviews the Bodyguard 2.0 pistol on her JulieGolob.com website. She tests the gun and provides size comparisons with other “micro-compact” pistols. Julie notes that: “The Bodyguard 2.0 has an overall height of 4 inches, a width just under 1 inch, and weighs in at 9.8 oz. unloaded.”
Burris Signature Rings with polymer inserts are an excellent product. The inserts allow you to clamp your scope securely without ring marks. Moreover, using the matched offset inserts you can “pre-load” your scope to add additional elevation. This helps keep the scope centered in its elevation range while shooting at long range. Additionally, with a -20 insert set in the front and a +20 insert set in the rear, you may be able to zero at very long ranges without using an angled scope base — and that can save money. (To move your point of impact upwards, you lower the front of the scope relative to the bore axis, while raising the rear of the scope.)
Insert Elevation Values and Ring Spacing
People are sometimes confused when they employ the Burris inserts. The inset numbers (-10, +10, -20, +20 etc.) refer to hundredths of inch shim values, rather than to MOA. And you need the correct, matched top/bottom pair of inserts to give you the marked thousandth value. Importantly, the actual amount of elevation you get with Burris inserts will depend BOTH on the insert value AND the spacing between ring centers.
Forum member Gunamonth has explained this in our Shooters’ Forum:
Working with Burris Signature Rings
Burris inserts are [marked] in thousandths of an inch, not MOA. To know how many MOA you gain you also need to know the ring spacing. For example, with a -20 thou insert set in the front and a +20 thou insert set in the rear, if the ring spacing is 6″, the elevation change will be approximately +24 MOA upwards.
Here’s how we calculate that. If you have a 2 X 0.020″ “lift” over a distance of 6 inches (i.e. 0.040″ total offset at 0.5 feet) that’s equivalent to 0.080″ “lift” over 12 inches (one foot). There are 300 feet in 100 yards so we multiply 0.080″ X 300 and get 24″ for the total elevation increase at 100 yard. (Note: One inch at 100 yards isn’t exactly a MOA but it’s fairly close.)
Here’s a formula, with all units in inches:
Total Ring Offset
——————– X 3600 = Change @ 100 yards
Ring Spacing
(.020 + .020)
—————– X 3600 = 24 inches at 100 yards
Ring Spacing: 6 inches
NOTE: Using the above formula, the only time the marked insert offset will equal the actual MOA shift is when the center to center ring spacing is 3.60″. Of course, you are not required to use 3.60″ spacing, but if you have a different spacing your elevation “lift” will be more or less than the values on the inserts.
For those who prefer to neck-size their brass (rather than full-length-size), the LEE Collet Die is a popular, inexpensive option. It works by having collet tangs or “fingers” press the neck against a central mandrel. The benefit is that you get a very straight neck, which is sized consistently from top to bottom. Canadian shooter Jerry Teo explains: “LEE Collet Dies produce sized cases with very low runout (measured runout is under .001″ using a Sinclair concentricity gauge). You also don’t get the build-up of brass at the base of the neck, as can happen with bushing neck dies. The neck-shoulder junction stays nice and crisp.”
NOTE: For most handloading, we recommend FULL-LENGTH sizing of cases. You should always have a good Full-length sizing die for your brass. But there are some situations where neck-sizing may be useful. This article explains how to neck-size effectively with a LEE Collet Die.
Here’s a good video that explains how to use a Lee Collet Die to Neck-Size .243 Win brass:
TIP ONE — Adjusting Tension
LEE Collet dies don’t have a specific mechanical adjustment for neck tension. But you CAN easily modify the die to provide more or less tension. If you want to adjust the neck tension using a Lee Collet die, you can simply chuck the mandrel in a drill and reduce the diameter with some sand-paper (to increase neck tension) or you can order a mandrel the next caliber larger and turn it to whatever diameter you want (the larger the mandrel diameter, the less the neck tension). You can also order custom mandrels from Lee sized to any diameter you want.
Regarding neck tension, Boyd Allen makes an important point: “The only way to properly get more neck tension with collet dies is to either reduce the diameter of the mandrel, or order a smaller-diameter mandrel from Lee. I remind folks that adjusting the die position to have more toggle at the top of the ram stroke (not the factory recommended method), or leaning on the press handle with more force than recommended will NOT increase neck tension.”
TIP TWO — Polish and Tune for Easy Case Removal
Some users have complained that their Collet Dies grab the case-neck too firmly, making the case hard to remove. There are solutions to this problem. First inspect the collet fingers and smooth the inner surface up a bit with polishing compound or an extra-fine sanding pad. Second, you can open up the fingers a little bit. LEE recommends that if your Collet Die is sticking, take a steel punch and tap the fingers apart a little bit so that the natural “unloaded” position is wider. Lastly, you should lightly lubricate the outside of the collet fingers (see arrows) before you re-assemble the die. This will ensure they slide smoothly. Also, to prevent the collet fingers from closing too tight, never load up the die with your press without putting a case in place first. Without a case neck between the collet fingers and the mandrel, the collet can clamp itself too tight as you raise the ram.
TIP THREE — Always Have a Case Inside When Operating Collet Die
Our friend Boyd Allen tells us that you need to follow directions and NEVER operate the die without a case inside. Boyd explains: “This is because doing so will spring the quadrants of the collet inward so that they interfere with the insertion of a case, and the user will have to figure out how to undo the damage if the die is to operate properly. This advice would not be needed if everyone read the instructions before using the die…. but many times, they don’t. Another thing that I tell new users is to take the die apart so that they will have a better chance of understanding how it works.”
TIP FOUR — Size Twice and Spin Your Case 1/8th Turn
After reaching fully “down” on your press handle, withdraw the case about an inch and manually rotate it about 1/8th (NOT 1/4 or 1/2) turn while still in the shell-holder, then size again. This will place the die’s collet petals on the four “high spots” of the case neck and will result in a rounder, more evenly-sized neck with slightly more bullet tension. This takes only about one second more per case and is well worth the slight extra effort. (We thank reader Stonecreek for this smart tip).
Get CUSTOM Lee Collet Dies for Your Brass
Yes LEE does make custom collet neck-sizing dies! LEE Precision currently offers Custom Collet Neck-Sizing Dies, made from two of your fired cases. LEE offers custom standard-thread (7/8×14) collet dies for $100.00 (plus S/H) and custom large-thread (1¼x12) collet dies for $160.00 (plus S/H). This is a good option if you run wildcats or have unusual chamber dimensions. CLICK HERE to ORDER.
A while back, we featured a portable reloading bench built on a Black & Decker Workmate. That proved a VERY popular do-it-yourself project so we’re showing it again, in case you missed it the first time.
Texan Robert Lewis made himself a great portable reloading bench from plywood mounted to a Black & Decker Workmate. The bench, roughly 22″ x 19″ on top, folds up to fit easily in your car’s trunk or behind the seats in a pick-up truck cab. Four recessed bolts hold the wood top section to the collapsible B&D Workmate. The sides and back of the unit are attached to the base with small nails. There is a small shelf (also nailed in place) which can be used to clamp a powder measure or hold a scale. Shown in the photo is a Harrell’s Benchrest measure and Harrell’s single-stage “C” press.
Originally, the whole unit could be built for about $65.00 with pine, or $80.00 with oak (as shown). Robert explained: “The Workmate was $40. If someone bought a 2’x4′ sheet of 3/4″ oak plywood, I think it is around $30. Using pine plywood would be about half that. Fasteners were $3. Spar Urethane would be $5.” [Editor: We have seen major inflation — the Workmate is now $90+ and you’ll be spending more for the wood, so figure the whole project might be $150.00.]
Robert told us: “I used a couple ideas I found on the web. The Larry Willis website gave me the idea to use the Black and Decker Workmate as a base. I found the Workmate on sale for $40 and the top is made from oak plywood I had in my shop. I sealed the wood with three coats of Spar Urethane. The whole thing folds into a nice package for transportation to and from the range.”
NOTE: Since we first ran this story, the price of a Black & Decker Workmate WM225 has increased substantially. But good news — Amazon is currently selling WM225-A Workmates for $77.78, a decent price, particularly for Prime members who get FREE shipping. And for the same $77.78 price at Home Depot, you can get the Workmate WM225 with Local Store Pickup or home delivery (in most states).
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.
1. Palmetto SA — Radical Firearms RF-15 AR, $399.99
⏺ Get complete AR-platform rifle for the price of an upper — $399.99
Yes you can get a modern 5.56 AR-platform rifle for under $400.00. Right now Palmetto State Armory is offering the Radical Firearms RF-15 Rifle for just $399.99. This comes complete with 15″ M-Lok handguard. Along with the all-black version, this RF-15 is also available with FDE (tan) stock, or OD Green stock for the same $399.99 price. NOTE: We do recommend getting a PSA drop-in trigger for this rifle which is chambered for 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem.
⏺ Great price on press and complete reloading system
Natchez is offering Hornady’s L-N-L Classic Single Stage Press Reloading Kit for $339.99, a $154.00 discount. This kit includes a nice press, manual powder dispenser, electronic scale, priming tool, powder trickler, chamfer/debur tool, case lube, shell block and more. As a special bonus, Natchez is including the powered Hornady Case Prep Duo Chamfer tool, a $49 value by itself.
3. EuroOptic — Vortex Optics 12% Site Wide Sale
⏺ Save 12% on Vortex scopes, spotting scopes, LRFs and more
If you’re in the market for a new scope, spotter, and/or other optics, check out the Vortex sale at EuroOptic.com. For a limited time, save 12% on most Vortex products when you use promo code VTX12. There is a wide selection of scopes available for both hunting and competition use, with FFP and SFP models. Vortex also makes very popular (and durable) spotting scopes, binoculars, and rangefinders.
4. Midsouth — Hornady V-Max Bullets on Sale, $105.99/500
⏺ Excellent bullets for varmint rifles and ARs, just $21.20 per 100
Here’s a great bullet deal for AR shooters and varmint hunters with .22-caliber cartridges. At Midsouth now you can get 500-ct packs of 50gr or 55gr Hornady V-Max tipped bullets for just $105.99. And get the bigger V-Max 60-grainers for just four bucks more — $109.99. These bullets work great on prairie dogs and other small critters. V-Max bullets are also good for sporting AR15s shooting steel and paper targets.
5. Palmetto SA — Taurus G2C 9mm Pistol, $229.99
⏺ With rebate get a good 9mm carry pistol for just $204.99
If you need a good, reliable carry pistol, but have a limited budget, consider the Taurus G2C 9mm pistol, on sale at Palmetto State Armory for just $229.99. The G2C features an accessory rail, adjustable rear sight, textured grip, and smooth edges for comfort. The double-stack magazine holds 12 rounds. NOTE: This G2C pistol qualifies for a $25 Taurus Rebate right now. That lowers your net price to just $204.99 — a steal.
6. Amazon — Caldwell AR-500 Steel Targets, starting at $14.99
⏺ Great deals on durable AR500 steel targets — watch video below right
Caldwell’s bright, easy-to-see steel targets come in multiple shapes and sizes for competition, training, and recreational use. Made of AR-500 grade hardened steel, these bright yellow targets can withstand thousands of rounds. Rated up to a 3000 fps impact velocity and a 3500 ft-lb impact energy, these targets come in seven styles and sizes with three hanging solutions. These bright yellow Caldwell AR500 Steel Targets (#ad) are on sale now on Amazon, starting at just $14.99 for the 5″ Gong Target.
7. Natchez, Norma TAC-22 Ammo, $3.59/50ct Box
⏺ Very good .22 LR ammo at extremely low price — GREAT VALUE
If you want quality .22 LR ammo at a very low price, grab some Norma TAC-22. Natchez now has Norma Tac-22 for just $3.59 for 50 rounds. This is a true bargain, yet the TAC-22 is good enough for NRL22 matches as well as fun target shooting. We’ve shot this Norma ammo and been very satisfied. You’ll be hard-pressed to find better .22 LR ammo at this price. Don’t delay ordering — at this price, we expect this TAC-22 ammo will sell out soon. The $3.59 for 50 rds price which works out to just seven cents per round.
8. Amazon — Earmuffs Plus Safety Glasses Combo, $22.49
⏺ Good deal on Muffs/safety eyewear combo
Here’s a good set of NRR 28-rated earmuffs plus Z87.1-approved, wrap-around shooting glasses. This combo offers great protection for the price. The muffs come in multiple color combos: Yellow/Black (as shown), Gray/Black, Blue/Black, Pink/Black, and Purple/Black. Get the muffs and one set of safety eyewear for just $22.49 on sale (#ad). Or, for $8.00 more you can get a $30.99 kit with TWO sets of safety glasses, one tinted and one clear.
⏺ Sophisticated wind speed meter at a super-affordable price
Knowing wind speed is critical to making accurate ballistic adjustments both on the line or in the field. If you need a reliable yet affordable wind speed meter, consider the BTMETER BT-100 Handheld Anemometer (#ad). The BT-100’s multi-function capabilities include Wind Speed, Wind Temperature, and Wind Chill factor. The BT-100 portable wind speed gauge can accurately measure wind velocity in 5 units: m/s, km/h, ft/min, knots, mph. The unit also records air temperatures in degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit.
10. TargetSports USA — Self-Inking Stamp for Targets, $5.99
⏺ Handy tool to stamp your own 2″ bullseyes on target
Are you tired of buying targets or wasting expensive printer ink just to shoot holes in paper? Consider this Self-Inking Target Stamp. With an easy-to-fill ink reservoir, you can stamp a grid of multiple targets or add 2″ red bullseyes to a printed target. NOTE: This target stamp is listed at 51mm, so it makes bulls 2 inches in diameter.
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Last week Hornady introduced a variety of new products that will be introduced in 2025. These include reloading products, advanced dies, a power case trimmer and a large variety of new bullets and ammo types. CLICK HERE to see all new-for-2025 Hornady products.
Henderson-Style 3-in-1 Power Trimmer
Hornady has a new High Speed 3-in-1 Power Case Trimmer that borrows many features from the excellent Henderson Gen 3 Trimmer such as twin horizontal support shafts. This new trimmer offers quick, smooth case movement into the cutter. With a helpful see-through shield this trimmer can handle brass from 1.45″ to 3.5″ in length and with necks from .22 to .30 caliber.
Like the Henderson, this Hornady unit can trim, chamfer and deburr in a single step. The trimmer features a click-adjustable micrometer for precise and consistent trimming. The powerful 2000+ RPM motor allows rapid case trimming/chamfering. This unit may prove a good choice for shooters who need to process hundreds of cases.
New 6mm GT Ammunition with 109gr ELD Bullets
The 6mm GT is bigger than the 6mmBR Norma (aka “6BR”) but smaller than the 6mm Creedmoor. This cartridge is proving popular with PRS/NRL competitors because it feeds better from standard magazines that the shorter 6mmBR, Dasher, and 6BRA cartridges, yet it still offers very good accuracy and barrel life. 6mm GT brass is now available from Alpha Munitions. The Alpha 6mm GT brass is better and longer-lasting than the Hornady 6mm GT brass.
For 2025, Hornady is producing new 6mm GT ammo loading with tipped 109gr ELD Match bullets. Hornady states: “Designed from the very beginning to be an amazing all-around precision rifle competition cartridge, the 6mm GT provides low recoil, good barrel life, and outstanding external ballistics. [The 6mmGT] cartridge and chamber were designed simultaneously to ensure match-grade tolerances and accuracy.”
Match-Grade Reloading Dies
For 2025, Hornady will offer “New and Improved Match Grade Dies” with click-adjust micrometer seating controls. For 2025, the handy click micrometer controls comes factory-installed on Hornady’s Match Grade seating dies. With its tactile clicks for precise .001″ adjustments, this easy-to-use micrometer helps ensure very consistent seating depths for hand-loaded ammo.
Along with the micrometer-top seating dies, Hornady offers modern case sizing dies. These dies feature the ability to use interchangeable, self-centering neck size bushings that eliminate the chance of over sizing your case necks and overworking the brass. Two types of sizing dies are offered: full-length sizing and “shoulder bump neck size”.
Hornady Aluminum Loading Block
If you want a heavy loading block that stays put on your loading bench and won’t tip or slide, consider Hornady’s new Aluminum Loading Block. Made from 6061-T6 aluminum, the new Aluminum Loading Block makes reloading easy and efficient. Designed for the 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win, and .30-06 Springfield cartridge families, this loading block boast a bullet recess on the right plus an easy-to-clean red anodized aluminum finish.
For today’s Sunday Gunday feature, we present a splash of color — the beautiful blue 7mm-270 WSM of Forum member Ian B. (aka “Elwood”) from Great Britain. A very knowledgeable guy, Ian has been one of the UK’s top F-Class shooters. And he’s the proud owner of a very “Flash” F-Class rig.
About the Shooter — Ian’s Background
Ian tells us: “I started shooting F-Class Open [many] years ago when a good friend invited me to Bisley to shoot with the Dorset Riflemen. I found it very enjoyable and a real challenge. The next year I attended the GB F-Class league’s Introduction to F-Class course, and soon afterwards started to compete in the GB F-Class league, while still shooting once a month with the Dorset Riflemen. In this short time frame, I’ve managed to finish 8th in the league last year, 12th in the Europeans, and I was a part of the GB squad that won the team event at the European Championship. I was then selected for the GB F-Open World Championship Team. Unfortunately, due to work commitments, I have had to withdraw.”
Ian’s Beautiful Blue 7mm-270 WSM F-Class Rifle
Report by Ian B. (aka “Elwood”)
Having spent my first year competing with a magazine-fed 7mm WSM tactical/sporting rifle (Surgeon action and AICS mag) and doing reasonably well with it, I then moved on to a .284 Shehane (.284 Winchester Improved). I love the Shehane and still use it but … I wanted something for those windy long-range days and so there was only one logical choice, the 7 WSM. This time I chose a 7mm-270 WSM as I quite enjoy case prep (just kidding). Actually, there’s not much to do really. The quality of Norma brass is well known and the Norma 270 WSM brass is quite easy to obtain in the UK.
The action is a Right Bolt, Left Port (RBLP) Stolle Panda F-Class action, with Jewell trigger. There wasn’t any particular reason behind the RBLP configuration — it was more of a case of that’s what I could get at the time. I had a 1.250″-diameter, straight-profile Bartlein barrel finished at 32 inches and chambered for the Berger 180gr VLD with a .313″ neck diameter. All my metal work and quite a bit of the wood work is done by the excellent Neil McKillop of McKillop Engineering. As with all top gunsmiths, Neil is meticulous to a point of obsessiveness and he’s the name behind quite a few winning rifles including several used by the GB Open and F-TR teams. Neil also inletted the stock from a blank and did the bedding for the action and the front bag runners.
Loading for the 7mm-270 WSM
I have one “tried and tested” load: 7mm Berger 180gr VLDs, seated .020″ into the lands, Vihtavuori N165 powder and CCI BR2 primers. This load is supremely accurate, but at 2990 FPS it’s a bit slow. To get more speed, I’m currently testing H1000 with good results, but it looks like I may have a slow barrel. I have another Bartlein barrel chambered and ready to screw on when the weather gets warmer. If that new barrel shoots well, the current barrel will probably be used as a practice barrel.
Loading Procedure
I do full case prep, neck-turning, uniforming primer pockets after the first firing, chamfering necks inside and out, and removing burrs around flash holes. Even the best brass sometimes suffers from imperfect quality control. I try to use Redding dies if possible, and will use bump dies, neck bushing dies, and competition seating dies.
I use an RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 to throw a charge just slightly under my desired weight and then trickle-up to final weight using the superb Dandy trickler and a Gem Pro 250 scale.
I anneal every other firing using a Bench-Source machine. Before this I used a Ken Light and also did them by spinning them in a drill. Never again will I do that after using the Bench-Source. After I have annealed, I always run a nylon brush wrapped in 0000 wire wool into the neck to remove any debris.
I keep to the same lot numbers of primers, powders, and bullets. Even the Bergers can vary from lot to lot — I have two different lots of 7mm 180gr VLDs that vary .020″ from bullet base to the ogive. I trim and point my bullets. Pointing may be a mental thing — I had a fantastic shoot while using trimmed and pointed bullets so I do it all the time now. ( A fellow GB team shot refers to them as “Pointless Dies” — I have witnessed him shoot a 99-14V at 1000 yards with bullets that weren’t trimmed or pointed). My next move will be to start measuring bearing surface…where does it all end?
Custom Wood Stock Was Modified by Ian and Treated to a Fancy Paint Job
The stock is a custom-made design crafted by Joe and Simon West of Joe West Rifle Stocks. I had several modifications done to one of their existing stock designs. Having done a lot of my shooting with the AICS, I was quite used to a thumbhole stock, so thought I would try one in F-Class. I told Simon what I wanted and he sent me down a prototype made from very inexpensive Tulip wood. We had a few discussions and then made some more mods..
I made two main changes to the stock. First, I removed the lip at the bottom of the pistol grip because I felt I might rest my hand on this and possibly disturb the rifle. Second, I had the protruding pistol grip base removed so that the bottom of the stock was completely flat like the Precision Rifle & Tool F-Class stock. Simon also made the finger grips to fit my hand and flattened them off to allow for a bit more movement. The stock was then sent to Hydro Graphics in the UK to have a custom exterior finish. The paint color is a Marbleized Candy Oriental Blue. As always, Hydro Graphics did a great job.
Optics and Rings
The scope is the excellent 5-50x56mm March with the MTR-2 reticle — far and away the best reticle I have used for F-Class. March makes great optics. During the 2012 European individual F-Class event, using another March (my 8-80x56mm), I could see my shooting partner’s impacts in the white V-Bull at 800 yards! And just recently at a club match I called two V-Bulls at 900 yards using the 8-80X (not at full power). Granted the light has to be perfect to be able to do this, but my highest praise for the Deon Optics glass is that it rivals that of Schmidt & Bender. Having owned both March and S&B scopes and compared them side-by-side, I feel that I can make this statement fairly.
UK-based Third Eye Tactical made the nice, 34mm rings. The UK is now producing some excellent products. We now have UK-made custom actions, rings, rails, stocks and more. It would be nice to think we could have a 100% British-made rifle, and not rely completely on USA-made products. I think all we need is the trigger? But I can’t see there ever being a UK-made scope!
Millions of Americans now exercise their Constitutional right to “keep and bear arms”, specifically to carry a pistol for personal protection and home defense. In response to the rapid growth of the CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon) market, numerous gun-makers have introduced compact handguns specifically designed for concealed carry. These “Carry Guns” tend to be smaller, lighter, with smoother, rounded edges on slide and frame. Today, many modern carry guns are also “Optics Ready”, meaning they have slides that can accept smaller red dot sights. And some companies are now selling handguns with the optics pre-installed.
For today’s Saturday video showcase, we feature six videos covering a wide range of popular semi-automatic carry guns. You’ll see offerings from Beretta, Glock, HK, Kahr, Kimber, Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Taurus, Walther and more. In addition, we’ve included a video that covers the pros and cons of installing optics on carry pistols. Finally, as a bonus, we’ve included a video that highlights five handguns that you may want to avoid, as they have not lived up to expectations.
Top Ten Best Carry Pistols for the Money
Here the Honest Outlaw Channel reviews ten semi-auto pistols. The host states these are the “10 best pistols for the money,” adding that “these handguns are reliable, accurate, durable, light weight, and cost less than most alternatives.” This video was released in December 2022, so it covers the latest generation of modern carry pistols.
Five Favorite Carry Pistols — Colion Noir’s Top Handguns
Colion Noir is a very popular gun reviewer and Second Amendment advocate. In this video, which has over 1.1 million views, Colion covers the five guns he personally carries. Why five? Colion states: “When it comes to my concealed carry guns, I practice tactical polyamory. Essentially, I don’t just carry one gun. I have a rotation of guns I carry based on what I’m wearing that day, where I’m going, and what I’m doing. I put a lot of thought into my carry rotation, which changes based on my needs. Sometimes a gun that’s better at handling the job comes out, and I’ll carry it once I’m comfortable with its reliability. That said, there are five guns I consistently carry[.]”
Five Top Choices among CCW & EDC (Everyday Carry) Handguns
The host notes: “We are going over the five best CCW firearms that I reviewed this year and ranking them from 1 to 5. We are going to save the best for the last. Some of the criteria for ranking these firearms isn’t only based on performance. We are ranking based on performance, price, reliability, and comfort.”
Ten Modern Micro-Pistols for Concealed Carry
The reviewer states: “It’s 2023 and the world of firearms keeps evolving. One of the hottest trends in the firearms industry right now is micro pistols — small, compact handguns that are perfect for concealed carry or as backup guns. If you’re looking for the best micro pistols in 2023, you’ve come to the right place. This video reviews the latest and greatest micro pistols on the market, discussing their features, performance, and why they’re making waves in the gun community.”
Kimber’s R7 Mako pistol won a coveted Golden Bullseye Award from NRA’s Shooting Illustrated magazine, taking the trophy for the magazine’s “2022 Handgun of the Year” category. The R7 Mako is very compact, with good ergonomics, yet it offers 12-rd (11+1) capacity (and 13+1 with extended magazine). The R7 Mako showed outstanding accuracy when tested indoors (see video at 15:25 time-mark).
The R7 Mako is offered Optics Ready for $599.00 MSRP or with Crimson Trace Red Dot Optic installed for $799.00 MSRP. SEE Shooting Illustrated Review.
New Heckler & Koch CC9 Double-Stack Micro-Compact
Heckler & Koch (HK) has released its new CC9 micro-compact, striker-fired 9x19mm pistol. With great accuracy, ergonomics, and reliability, the HK CC9 should be a top choice among micro-compact pistols. Designed and produced in the USA, this is the smallest double-stack carry pistol HK has ever built. The CC9 features a modular grip with swappable backstraps. With a “Safe Take Down Feature” for disassembly, there is no need to pull the trigger during field-striping, making the CC9 safer than a Glock. The slide is optics-ready and there is a short Picatinny rail on the front of the polymer frame for mounting accessories. The micro-compact CC9 is 6.03″ long and 0.99″ wide. The barrel is 3.32″ long and the CC9 weighs 18.4 ounces without magazine. MSRP is currently $699.00.
Optics on Carry Pistols — Factors to Consider
Red Dot sights are becoming more popular than ever. Many pistols today are “Optics Ready”, and some handguns can now be purchased with optics already installed. There are both strengths and weaknesses having optics on CCW handguns. In this video, Massad Ayoob outlines the pros and cons of Red Dots on carry pistols. Along with covering the factors to consider, Ayoob provides advice on red dot zeroing, defoggers, and more.
BONUS: Five Handguns to Avoid
When shopping for a handgun, it’s helpful to know which models to avoid, because of poor reliability or other shortcomings. This Honest Outlaw video reveals five handguns that are not the best choices for concealed carry: Smith & Wesson CSX, SCCY CPX-2, Remington RP-9, Kahr CW 380, and Taurus PT 22.
This video shows the process of cut-rifled barrel-making by Krieger Barrels, one of the world’s best barrel manufacturers. Krieger cut-rifled barrels have set numerous world records and are favored by many top shooters. The video show the huge, complex machines used — bore-drilling equipment and hydraulic riflers. You can also see how barrels are contoured, polished, and inspected.
For anyone interested in accurate rifles, this is absolutely a “must-watch” video. Watch blanks being cryogenically treated, then drilled and lathe-turned. Next comes the big stuff — the massive rifling machines that single-point-cut the rifling in a precise, time-consuming process. Following that you can see barrels being contoured, polished, and inspected (with air gauge and bore-scope). There is even a sequence showing chambers being cut.
Click Arrow to Watch Krieger Barrels Video:
Here is a time-line of the important barrel-making processes shown in the video. You may want to use the “Pause” button, or repeat some segments to get a better look at particular operations. The numbers on the left represent playback minutes and seconds.
Krieger Barrel-Making Processes Shown in Video:
00:24 – Cryogenic treatment of steel blanks
00:38 – Pre-contour Barrels on CNC lathe
01:14 – Drilling Barrels
01:28 – Finish Turning on CNC lathe
01:40 – Reaming
01:50 – Cut Rifling
02:12 – Hand Lapping
02:25 – Cut Rifling
“At the start of World War Two, Pratt & Whitney developed a new, ‘B’ series of hydraulically-powered rifling machines, which were in fact two machines on the same bed. They weighed in at three tons and required the concrete floors now generally seen in workshops by this time. Very few of these hydraulic machines subsequently became available on the surplus market and now it is these machines which are sought after and used by barrel makers like John Krieger and ‘Boots’ Obermeyer. In fact, there are probably less of the ‘B’ series hydraulic riflers around today than of the older ‘Sine Bar’ universal riflers.” — Geoffrey Kolbe, Border Barrels.
Reader Mike Etzel has come up with a simple, cost-effective way to apply moly or danzac coatings to your bullets. And you won’t need any expensive gear other than your regular vibratory tumbler and some small plastic containers.
Mike explains: “For a number of years I have been using a very convenient way of coating my projectiles with DANZAC in a tumbler. Instead of using a separate tumbler filled with DANZAC and stainless steel balls for coating applications, use small resealable plastic cake or pudding cups filled with stainless balls and DANZAC. Each cup will accommodate between 20 to 70 projectiles depending on caliber once the polishing balls and DANZAC are added. When I need to polish some cases, I insert the sealable plastic container(s) into the polishing material in the tumbler, add cases to the media, and in the process clean cases and coat the projectiles simultaneously in one tumbler. This does two operations in one session, saving on time and resources.”
While Mike uses DANZAC (Tungsten DiSulfide or WS2), you can use the same impact-tumbling-in-a-cup method to moly-coat your bullets, or to apply HBN (Hexagonal Boron Nitride).
TIPS for COATING your BULLETS, by “GS Arizona”
1. Start with Clean Bullets. This is simple enough, but some people overlook it and others overdo it. Get the bullets out of the box, wash them with warm water and dish soap and dry them. No need for harsh chemicals, after all, we’re only removing some surface dirt from shipping and maybe some left over lanolin from the forming process. Don’t handle them with bare hands once they’re clean, your skin oils will contaminate them.
2. Get Everything Hot — Real Hot. This is probably the single most important element in producing good-looking moly-coated bullets. I put the tumbler, the drum and the bullets out in the sun for at least 30 minutes before starting and then do all the tumbling in direct sunlight. On a summer day in Arizona, everything gets to the point that its uncomfortably hot to handle. If you are tumbling in the winter, you should heat the bullets in some form, a hair dryer can be useful, but they will cool off in the drum if you’re tumbling in cold temperatures. Your best bet is to plan ahead and do your coating in the summer. I coated about 3000 bullets in a couple of days recently to see me through our winter season (we’re a bit reversed from the rest of the country in terms of shooting season).
TIP ONE — Adjusting Tension
TIP TWO — Polish and Tune for Easy Case Removal
A while back, we featured a portable reloading bench built on a Black & Decker Workmate. That proved a VERY popular do-it-yourself project so we’re showing it again, in case you missed it the first time.
The 6mm GT is bigger than the 6mmBR Norma (aka “6BR”) but smaller than the 6mm Creedmoor. This cartridge is proving popular with PRS/NRL competitors because it feeds better from standard magazines that the shorter 6mmBR, Dasher, and 6BRA cartridges, yet it still offers very good accuracy and barrel life. 6mm GT brass is now available from Alpha Munitions. The 
Optics and Rings
Reader Mike Etzel has come up with a simple, cost-effective way to apply moly or danzac coatings to your bullets. And you won’t need any expensive gear other than your regular vibratory tumbler and some small plastic containers.
2. Get Everything Hot — Real Hot. This is probably the single most important element in producing good-looking moly-coated bullets. I put the tumbler, the drum and the bullets out in the sun for at least 30 minutes before starting and then do all the tumbling in direct sunlight. On a summer day in Arizona, everything gets to the point that its uncomfortably hot to handle. If you are tumbling in the winter, you should heat the bullets in some form, a hair dryer can be useful, but they will cool off in the drum if you’re tumbling in cold temperatures. Your best bet is to plan ahead and do your coating in the summer. I coated about 3000 bullets in a couple of days recently to see me through our winter season (we’re a bit reversed from the rest of the country in terms of shooting season).
