![]() ![]() Section 4: Guns/General Subject: NRA Meeting Msg# 1185523
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I was mostly looking at new release guns, and particularly a lot of the "micro compact 9mm" style pistols.
I was quite impressed with the feel of the new Sar 9 compact (Sig P365 XL size), while their subcompact was a bit too small for my taste (Glock 43 size). Trigger was adequate and what I expect from a pistol in this category these days. The new Canik MC9 Mete was just ok. While I am a fan of the TP9 series and I think the pistols are excellent value for features and kit, and I am sure the kit with the MC9 will be similar, the feel of the grip wasn't nearly as nice to me as the larger TP9 series. Trigger was again pretty standard for the category. I barely handled the Arex Delta M, which is more of a mid size slim pistol, but it seemed nice for the few seconds I got hands on it before getting out of the way of the crowd. Didn't even try the trigger, but this pistol is bigger than I personally am shopping for and a tad outside of the micro 9 market that is insanely popular now. FN launched their new Reflex micro compact at the show, and honestly it felt meh on ergonomics. Trigger pull wasn't bad, but the reset was long. Apparently the design is based on the internal hammer fired setup that the FN Five-seveN uses. I did handle the new Hi-Power which felt less chonky in person than it looks in pictures, and wasn't quite as ugly, but still just doesn't have the beauty of the original P35. I checked out and very much liked the Girsan MC P35 OPS PI, which is the shorter barrel model with the bells and whistles and rail and optics cut of the full size P35 OPS. I am planning to pic one up down the road, particularly if they get in the aluminum frame model the EAA shooter at the booth was telling me about. EAA also had the new Girsan tilt barrel .380 at the show, which I think is a solid option for folks with weak hand and arm strength that still want a semi-auto with good capacity and moderate stopping power. Think Beretta Cheetah with the tilt barrel of the smaller Tomcat pistols. Double stack, ambi safety, all metal. My dad and I are also both very interested in a M+M Industries M10X rifle. Very cool hybrid rifle using a AK trigger group, grip, stock, and mags, FAL gas system, and a monolithic upper hinged at the front of the mag well to a lower, similar to an AR. In addition, the outer receiver is non-serialized. Think of this sort of like the Sig pistols with the serialized chassis holding the trigger group but an outer frame that can be removed or replaced. The gentleman at the booth explained that its particularly handy when getting rifles cerakoted, because you don't have to send any serialized parts out to get work done. Henry's Homesteader carbine is a slick little rifle, but nothing particularly special. Think Ruger PC carbine, but in blued steal and walnut. Their new SA/DA revolvers were, honestly, pretty ugly and meh. I was unimpressed. Taurus was right next door with their huge lineup of models, including their optic capable small revolvers, which aren't for me, but are still slick. Their G3C and GX4 pistols have been excellent sellers for us and I've had a lot of positive feedback on them. IWI had my next carry gun at the show, which is their new Masada Slim micro 9 pistol. 13 round, mag compatible with the Jericho pistols according to the sales guy, felt great in my hand, had a very nice trigger, and is set up to direct mount RMSc pattern red dot sights to the slide. I was really impressed with the gun. It fits the Sig P365 XL size range that I prefer. If I think of any others to blab about I will respond again. |
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For reference, the above message is a reply to a message where: What we oughta do TJ is have you drive here, and then the three of us can drive to Indy and get adjoining rooms. There are a Holiday Inn and a Holiday Inn Express and Suites on the same square block, both catty=corner from the convention center where NRA meets, and an easy walk to the meetings. My favorite part? I think it was probably handling SEVERAL handguns I had never handled before, including some new ones not even on the market. Some enjoyable ones to see were the Taurus G2 and G3, the CZ TS2 and Shadow, the various models from SAR, which is a huge line these days, Seecamp--even though I'm not likely to buy one--is offering the little pistol in every Ceraote color under the sun these days, and--interesting news, are considering bringing back the .25ACP version. Not sure why. It was great seeing Rock Island Armory--they are always so friendly. I did check out the Czech-made .22LR revolvers they are offering--very nice indeed. I also enjoyed visiting with Charter Arms. The founder (or long-time CEO, not sure which) is always there--Eric and I always like talking with him. I think the current Charters are better than ever, quality-wise, and the trigger pulls seem to be better than I ever remember them being. We also looked at the Zastava USA booth. Zastava is offering new versions of the M57 and M70 with well-designed safeties, as well as the EZ9 and CZ999. I like their CZ999, it is basically a SIG P226 for half the price or less, with the addition of an ambi-decocker. The EAA "booth" (so many of these companies had areas that were so not booths--more like mini-mansions What else? I handled the new Colt Anaconda. I am surprised to say that it is a better revolver than the one I owned in the 90s, with a much better trigger in both DA and SA. It is half-tempting, if this old man had a need for a 4" .44 Magnum anymore. I'm forgetting a lot of places we stopped ad were likely impressed. I'll post more when it comes back to me. |