WillisPDunlevey
Mildly Dipped
I really like that the Zenith is available with a threaded barrel. That helps a bit- along with being ~$1,500 less.
The Guns and Ammo Thread
- Thread starter Kalessin
- Start date
Mildly Dipped
I was browsing a gun store on Friday, and found something I didn't know existed; 10-round magazines for my Sig 220.
They are interesting. The spacer is removable, which is nice if I were worried about it fully seating. They'd take away my two round disadvantage when running pins. On the flip side, I had feeding issues when I ran my 220 in my pin shoot last week. Rounds were nose-diving into the feedramp and causing jams. In two years of pin shooting, I've never needed to go to reload. The other night, I had to drop the mag, clear and reload in six of seven heats. Needless to say, I got eliminated long before the finals. I had better luck in the next competition with my Sig 1911. Went 12 for 12 and took first place, without ever having to reach for a reload. Same ammo, as well. Still not sure what the issue was, but I am going back to my 10mm guns for tomorrow's match.
They are interesting. The spacer is removable, which is nice if I were worried about it fully seating. They'd take away my two round disadvantage when running pins. On the flip side, I had feeding issues when I ran my 220 in my pin shoot last week. Rounds were nose-diving into the feedramp and causing jams. In two years of pin shooting, I've never needed to go to reload. The other night, I had to drop the mag, clear and reload in six of seven heats. Needless to say, I got eliminated long before the finals. I had better luck in the next competition with my Sig 1911. Went 12 for 12 and took first place, without ever having to reach for a reload. Same ammo, as well. Still not sure what the issue was, but I am going back to my 10mm guns for tomorrow's match.
WillisPDunlevey
Mildly Dipped
I finally got around to getting an MLOC handguard and magpul grip. Should be easier to hold onto now.
Very nice. I am more of a fan of the old-school RAS myself.
However, my taste in stocks has evolved a little bit. I've recently had a bunch of trigger time on a K gun with a B&T folding stock, and while it is not as sexy as the Choate folder, it is pretty damned comfortable in use.
However, my taste in stocks has evolved a little bit. I've recently had a bunch of trigger time on a K gun with a B&T folding stock, and while it is not as sexy as the Choate folder, it is pretty damned comfortable in use.
WillisPDunlevey
Mildly Dipped
I have not tried the B&T stocks. I may grab one for a future 9mm K build. The Choate is great except when you get your nose up against the hinge while firing.
TheGM
The voice of reason
Anybody see the Fightlite Raider yet? I am so conflicted with this thing.
It looks like something a Cyber Pirate would use to blast replicants.
It looks like something a Cyber Pirate would use to blast replicants.
In a movie I'd say "awesome", but in real life I kinda have to question its purpose...
TheGM
The voice of reason
I've heard some make the case that this thing in .300blk would make a great trail gun since most people use small lever guns in 45-70 and the such.
But wouldn't you miss the stock in that case?
WillisPDunlevey
Mildly Dipped
The only purpose I can see is if it fits into a "featureless" category in a ban state. Other than that, its pretty useless to my needs (and I need basically everything....)
I agree with Willis. It looks designed to fit a very narrow niche within both the Federal and some state definitions of restricted firearms. Looks cool, though.
I will say that the grip design is what is known as a 'Shellix' or 'Birdshead' grip, and contrary to initial assumptions, it is a very ergonomically friendly way of managing hard recoil in a hand-held package. It changes the geometry of the hold to redirect the recoil impulse along your forearm, instead of your wrist, like a conventional pistol grip geometry. I use one on my shorty Remington, and it is surprisingly comfortable to shoot.
The problem with that thing being a trail gun is that it doesn't meet the requirements of most hunting regulations, and if it is designed around a legal definition like the Mossberg Shockwave, it probably doesn't constitute a true pistol for purposes of legal concealment and subsequent legal carry in most of our national parks. Without the 'stabilizing blade', it would be all front-weighted and mostly require a two-handed grip to operate effectively, while using a compromise hold between a rifle and a shotgun. I also don't think it would be very quick to use and deploy, and would be very limited for open carry while hunting or camping in most National Forests or state forest land, because it is not by legal definition a rifle.
My guess is it's just a cool range toy with some after-the-fact justifications thrown in the mix. But I am also an NFA guy, and not an 'almost but not quite' NFA guy, so I may be missing something.
I will say that the grip design is what is known as a 'Shellix' or 'Birdshead' grip, and contrary to initial assumptions, it is a very ergonomically friendly way of managing hard recoil in a hand-held package. It changes the geometry of the hold to redirect the recoil impulse along your forearm, instead of your wrist, like a conventional pistol grip geometry. I use one on my shorty Remington, and it is surprisingly comfortable to shoot.
The problem with that thing being a trail gun is that it doesn't meet the requirements of most hunting regulations, and if it is designed around a legal definition like the Mossberg Shockwave, it probably doesn't constitute a true pistol for purposes of legal concealment and subsequent legal carry in most of our national parks. Without the 'stabilizing blade', it would be all front-weighted and mostly require a two-handed grip to operate effectively, while using a compromise hold between a rifle and a shotgun. I also don't think it would be very quick to use and deploy, and would be very limited for open carry while hunting or camping in most National Forests or state forest land, because it is not by legal definition a rifle.
My guess is it's just a cool range toy with some after-the-fact justifications thrown in the mix. But I am also an NFA guy, and not an 'almost but not quite' NFA guy, so I may be missing something.
WillisPDunlevey
Mildly Dipped
There is an actual reason for the Mossburg Shockwave and the Tac-14: to have a weapon that is not legally a short Barreled shotgun and is generally legal. the Fightlite Raider is a pistol. its not like you cant get AR pistols already. The only advantage other than for featureless states, is that if you had a very small magazine and a smooth handguard, it would be easier to conceal than a standard AR type pistol... but what is the point really?
I get what you are saying, but a great many states exclude 'handguns' (the legal definition thereof) with box detachable magazines forward of the trigger mechanism from their concealed carry laws. In my state, both the AR Pistol and the Tac 14 are illegal for concealed carry, though by slightly different mechanisms of law. You could open-carry it per State open carry laws, but it doesn't meet the definition of a long-arm for National open carry laws. You also can't stick a forward grip on it without an AOW stamp.
I've never gotten very much out of the AR pistol, either, although I do have one pistol lower I use as a test-mule. I prefer to get a stamp and put a stock on them.
It would be awesome and feature appropriate if I were a techno-pirate, though.
I've never gotten very much out of the AR pistol, either, although I do have one pistol lower I use as a test-mule. I prefer to get a stamp and put a stock on them.
It would be awesome and feature appropriate if I were a techno-pirate, though.
WillisPDunlevey
Mildly Dipped
I dont think the Fightlite raider is long enough to be a "firearm" like the shockwave and Tac-14... is it?
I'm going off memory here, which is a bad thing, but I think the Shockwave has to be over the 26" OAL but built on a virgin receiver with no stock. It's not a shotgun by definition because it does not have an 18" barrel, but not an SBR by definition because it's over the magic 26", but also not a handgun by definition because it has a smooth bore. Not a destructive device because of the caliber. It is a perfectly constructed entity to be legal by lack of any other definition or prohibition.
I've never encountered the Fightlight before today, but it doesn't look like it's over 26", and with a rifled bore on a virgin receiver, I imagine it's just a handgun by definition.
Otherwise, it looks very tailored to the California market, because it is pre-assembled from the factory as a pistol to avoid their restriction on 'other' classified lowers, and it looks like it meets their restricted features criteria short of the detachable magazine capacity. However, I thought they banned the single shot exemption that most folks were using to get this sort of thing in. It is a strange new beast for sure.
I've never encountered the Fightlight before today, but it doesn't look like it's over 26", and with a rifled bore on a virgin receiver, I imagine it's just a handgun by definition.
Otherwise, it looks very tailored to the California market, because it is pre-assembled from the factory as a pistol to avoid their restriction on 'other' classified lowers, and it looks like it meets their restricted features criteria short of the detachable magazine capacity. However, I thought they banned the single shot exemption that most folks were using to get this sort of thing in. It is a strange new beast for sure.
TheGM
The voice of reason
It looks so dumb. I want one. Why?
That said in .300blk with a suppressor would be nice.
That said in .300blk with a suppressor would be nice.
WillisPDunlevey
Mildly Dipped
So this fell into my hands for $700 under retail. The stupid brace will be going away as soon as I get a stamp back for it.
WillisPDunlevey
Mildly Dipped
Speaking of .300 Blk, at the table I help with (local gun show) we have a Thompson Contender in .300 Whisper. I have no idea if its old enough that you would be prevented from shooting blackout out of it (no telling how old the barrel is). I had someone who was mad at me for telling them that an old whisper chamber may be too short for blackout and if you jam one in, you might blow up your gun. The 300 whisper is from 1992, blackout is from 2009 and is a different cartridge that is a bit longer.It looks so dumb. I want one. Why?
That said in .300blk with a suppressor would be nice.
I am also unwilling to buy a chamber gauge to find out- so I say dont shoot 300 blackout from this barrel until its verified.
The latest additions to the family:
SAFN49, civilian, non-military. The collector I bought it from claimed that it was a tool room model for FN-H in Herstal. Considering the guy is extremely well connected and probably the most well known FN collector in the country, he may be right. Either way, it appears to be a milspec .30-06 rifle, with bayonet lug and provisions for giggle switch.
Also bought the Arsenal Stryk B that just hit the shelves because I had a 9x19mm permit to fill before the end of the month.
Trigger is quite acceptable for a striker fired gun, though certainly not the best available. It has a tiny bit of creep when I first tried it out, but it already seems to be smoothing out very nicely. It's being consistent and predictable.
The trigger reset is short, to the point where you'll need to watch out not to have accidental double taps.
Overall fit & finish seems very nice, and is the reason I decided to just buy it.
While mechanically interesting (low bore axis with non-tilting barrel and using multi-stage recoil springs) and ergonomically sound (gripmapping etc), it's probably not a gun I would consider carrying if it were legal here. The trigger has a pivot that acts like a glock safe action style thing, but I would not trust it one bit... It seems even more prone to go off than a Glock if your t-shirt or something accidentally gets in the trigger guard when re-holstering.
SAFN49, civilian, non-military. The collector I bought it from claimed that it was a tool room model for FN-H in Herstal. Considering the guy is extremely well connected and probably the most well known FN collector in the country, he may be right. Either way, it appears to be a milspec .30-06 rifle, with bayonet lug and provisions for giggle switch.
Also bought the Arsenal Stryk B that just hit the shelves because I had a 9x19mm permit to fill before the end of the month.
Trigger is quite acceptable for a striker fired gun, though certainly not the best available. It has a tiny bit of creep when I first tried it out, but it already seems to be smoothing out very nicely. It's being consistent and predictable.
The trigger reset is short, to the point where you'll need to watch out not to have accidental double taps.
Overall fit & finish seems very nice, and is the reason I decided to just buy it.
While mechanically interesting (low bore axis with non-tilting barrel and using multi-stage recoil springs) and ergonomically sound (gripmapping etc), it's probably not a gun I would consider carrying if it were legal here. The trigger has a pivot that acts like a glock safe action style thing, but I would not trust it one bit... It seems even more prone to go off than a Glock if your t-shirt or something accidentally gets in the trigger guard when re-holstering.
WillisPDunlevey
Mildly Dipped
1. That is by far the best condition FN49 I have ever seen so that provenance story seems likely to me.
2. I am a fan of the Strike One/Stryk pistols and am waiting on mine here (they have been held up for a few months now).
I look forward to more reviews from you on it as the only people who have access to them here have a $$$$ interest in selling them.