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February 5th, 2024

BargainFinder 437: AccurateShooter’s Deals of the Week

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. Creedmoor Sports or Grafs.com
— Garmin Xero C1 Pro Radar Chronograph, $599.99

⏺ Superb game-changing compact radar chrono in stock

Looking for a radar chronograph that works great and fits in your pocket? Check out the Garmin Xero C1 Pro Chronograph that features an easy-to-use interface, great performance, and an excellent App for your smartphone. As of 2/4/2024 both Creedmoor Sports and Graf & Sons have the Garmin Xero C1 in stock for $599.99. If they sell out, Midsouth also has the Xero C1 Pro at $599.99.

2. Precision Reloading — Huge Sale on Forster Products

⏺ Save 10% or more on vast selection of Forster items

Now through 2/15/2024, you can get big savings on Forster Products at Precision Reloading. Save 10% or more on dies, case trimmers, primer seaters, neck-turning tools, bushings, and more. CLICK HERE to see all in-stock Forster items on sale now. Sale discounts are good through 2/15/2024.

3. Creedmoor Sports — Sightron SIII LR 10-50x60mm, $1109.99

⏺ Great price on excellent high-mag scope favored by many competitors

The SIII 10-50x60mm LR Target Dot scope is a very good choice for benchrest and F-Class competition. And now you can save $740 off MSRP. With 50 MOA total elevation travel, this scope is good for shooting from 50 to 1000 meters. Sightron’s patented ExacTrack technology provides precise windage and elevation adjustments while maintaining a positive point of contact with the erector tube. This scope is capable of winning major matches even though it is now less than half the price of some other high zoom magnification optics.

4. Brownell’s — S&W 638 or 642 Airweight, $419.99-$459.00
Plus $50 J-Frame REBATE

⏺ Two superb 5-Round lightweight (14.6 oz.) carry revolvers, with $50 Rebate

Smith & Wesson’s J-Frame revolvers are great carry guns. Get big savings now on the ultra-lightweight Model 638 and Model 642 Airweight wheelguns at Brownells. Both the 638 and 642 are under one pound (14.6 oz. empty)! We like the Model 638 because it has a shielded internal hammer. This allows you to shoot single-action during practice. The Model 642 has a fully-enclosed hammer so it is double-action only. The shielded hammer may be better for everyday carry. These Airweight revolvers have light alloy frames with stainless steel barrels and cylinders. Both pistols qualify for a $50 S&W Rebate.

5. Midsouth — Breechlock Press and Ram Swage Kit, $99.99

⏺ Great price on good single-stage press with swage bonus

The Lee Precision Breech Lock Challenger Press is a good starter single-stage press and/or a great secondary press for specialized functions (such as FL-sizing brass). This press can handle demanding brass prep operations, such as sizing cast bullets or swaging crimped primer pockets from mil-spec brass. Currently Midsouth offers the Challenger Press as a combo with the Ram Swage tool for clearing primer pocket crimps.

6. Palmetto SA — Sightmark Wraith Night Vision Scope, $449.99

⏺ Advanced thermal night-vision scope with major discount

Been wanting to try a night vision zoom optic? Consider the Sightmark Wraith 4K Mini Digital Riflescope, now on sale at a huge ($550) discount. This 2-16x32mm unit has cutting-edge digital optic technology. With its impressive 4K (3840×2160) CMOS sensor, the Wraith 4K Mini can detect objects up to 300 yards away even in the darkest of nights, presenting them vividly on a 1280×720 pixel FLCOS screen.

7. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Tumbler Kit, $69.98

⏺ Good, reliable tumbler complete with media separator

You want your cartridge brass to be clean before resizing and bullet seating. A tumbler can clean large quantities of brass quickly and efficiently. One of the best tumblers for the price is the Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Vibratory Case Tumbler (#ad). This reliable tumbler holds up to 600 9mm or 350 .223 Rem cases. The included separator fits most buckets, allowing efficient collection of media after tumbling.

8. Amazon — Baofeng UV-5R Ham Radio 2 pack, $35.09

⏺ Double-duty radios receive Ham Radio signals and work as walkie-talkies

Whether planning for a trip or preparing for winter storms, it’s wise to have a back-up emergency communication system. The Baofeng UV-5R Ham Radio 2 pack (#ad) can receive emergency messages even if your phone and cable connections go out. This Ham Radio set provides two complete units that can be placed in separate locations so you can contact family members in a different city. The system can access 128 channels. These units can also be used as shorter-range Walkie-Talkies if needed.

9. Amazon — Caldwell Brass Catcher, $13.99

⏺ Popular and effective, this is a great accessory for AR rifles

Tired of picking up brass or dealing with hot casings? The Caldwell Brass Catcher (#ad) prevents brass from being scattered around your shooting area, while keeping hot brass from landing on you or others. This popular brass collector uses a hook and loop (Velcro-type) attachment to secure to your firearm. A wire frame runs around the bag opening, ensuring brass enters the bag without disruption to bolt cycling.

10. Amazon — Splatterburst Target 50 pack, $35.99

⏺ Good target with hi-viz bright yellow shot displays

Splatter targets make it easy to see your shot locations, even at significant ranges (300 yards and beyond). By contrast, bullet holes on regular paper targets can be hard to see past 200 yards. With these Splatterburst 12″x12″ Targets (#ad) you can instantly see your shots upon impact and spend less time checking your target. These targets feature five diamonds in a high-viz grid pattern for precise aiming. Chose a 10-pack for $12.99, a 25-pack for $22.99, or a 50-pack for $35.99.

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Permalink Gear Review, Handguns, Hot Deals No Comments »

August 11th, 2020

Self-Defense Handguns — Factors to Consider + Two Top Choices

Model 638 smith and wesson revolver airweight
Main photo from NRAILA.org. The NRA supports Second Amendment rights.

Article by AccurateShooter.com Editor-in-Chief
In the last month, a half-dozen acquaintences have asked me about getting a handgun for self-defense at home and while traveling. What is notable is that all of these persons have never owned a handgun before. Moreover, two of the six are pretty staunch liberals who, prior to 2020, thought the Second Amendment was a “historical anachronism” that should be repealed. With the widespread riots and “defund the police” activism, that has all changed. These six people now realize that there are real threats in current society and they may find themselves in a situation where armed self-defense is the only option.

Model 638 smith and wesson revolver airweight

Try Before You Buy — Find a Gun with Good Reliability, Controls, and Ergonomics
These six persons asked for recommendations on handguns. I explained that there was no one “best gun” for every person. I also stressed the importance of training, and of trying various handguns to compare ergonomics, weight, balance, sight arrangement, controls, and trigger pull.

Folks, ergonomics and grip shape DO make a difference. I used to give pistol instruction at a local club. I provided four 9x19mm pistols: Beretta 92, HK USP, SIG P226, and Glock 19. Two-thirds of the students shot best with the SIG P226, and only 10% shot best with the Glock 19. The majority of the students kept “pulling shots” with the Glock, even with a lot of practice. Not so with the SIG P226. I attribute that to lower center of gravity and more ergonomic grip shape/angle.

Caliber Choice — Factors to Consider
We are not going into the long caliber debate today. I have owned semi-auto pistols in .380 ACP, 9x19mm Parabellum, .40 SW, .45 ACP. Each cartridge has its pros and cons. But for a first-time gun owner, looking for a self-defense round, I will recommend the 9mm. It will have noticeably less muzzle flip than the .40 SW, but still carries much more energy than a .380 ACP. I love the .45 ACP for target shooting, but it is more expensive for practice, and there are fewer pistol options. For revolvers, the .357 Magnum is a great defense round, but some of the smaller carry pistols are limited to .38 Special.

Semi-Auto 9mm Carry Gun Recommendation: S&W M&P9 Shield EZ
I have considered a wide range of 9mm carry pistols from Glock, Ruger, SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Taurus, and Walther. There are many very good pistols out there. But what I recommended to my acquaintances was the new Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield EZ 9mm. This gun features a back-strap grip safety and is offered with or without thumb safety. There is also a M&P9 EZ model with built-in Red Laser.

Here are the key reasons I recommended the M&P9 EZ 9mm pistol:

1. Good Accuracy and Balance
2. Integral Grip Safety and optional Thumb Safety
3. Good Ergonomics: 18-degree grip angle for natural point of aim
4. Reasonable 4.5-lb Trigger Pull (some other pistols are 7+ pounds*)
5. Easy-to-Rack Slide
6. Take-Down does NOT require trigger pull (unlike Glock)
7. Availability of built-in laser or accessory rail-mount lights/lasers
8. Good Price: $479.00 base MSRP with $399.99 street price
9. Outstanding Smith & Wesson reliability, warranty, and customer service

This detailed, authoritative M&P9 EZ video review also covers the M&P .380 Shield EZ:

Small Deep Concealment Carry Gun Recommendation — S&W Model 638
I am a big fan of revolvers. I have probably put more rounds through my S&W Model 617 .22 LR revolver than all my other handguns combined. Revolvers are accurate, solidly built, and the shorter-barrel models conceal easily. In addition, revolvers are inherently simple — they can be put into action without racking a slide or dealing with mag latches and the like. I’ve actually seen trainees drop magazines on the ground when they were drawing pistols from holsters — they hit the mag release by accident. If this can happen in a class, it can happen in a threat situation.

S&W Model 638 Airweight from Guns.com.

For concealed carry, I recommend the Smith & Wesson Model 638 revolver. IMPORTANT — the Model 638 has a hammer so it can be shot single-action OR double-action. Having the single-action option is great when a slower, more precisely-aimed shot is needed. Unique among S&W revolvers, the 638’s hammer is shielded — this way the hammer will not snag when the gun is carried in purse or pocket.

As for accuracy, you will be surprised with the Model 638 with good self-defense ammo. Despite the short site radius, the little 1.875″-barreled Model 638 will easily outshoot most self-loading .380 ACPs. With my 638 Airweight, slow-fire, I can put all five rounds inside 2″ at 20 feet with ease.

* Some folks may criticize this S&W Shield 9mm EZ because it lacks a heavy 7-9 pound trigger pull. The thinking is that a heavy DA pull is better for novices. We understand the argument. However, in the real world we found that novices shot much worse with very heavy trigger pulls, even after much training. We believe a 4.5-lb pull is moderate and will actually allow better accuracy for the average shooter. A typical Glock pull-weight is about 5.5-6 pounds.

Permalink - Articles, Gear Review, Handguns, Shooting Skills 3 Comments »

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