Texas: NRA-Backed Right to Hunt and Fish Constitutional Amendment Measures on the Move!

\ Texas: NRA-Backed Right to Hunt and Fish Constitutional Amendment Measures on the Move! Tomorrow, March 24, the House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism will consider House Joint Resolution 61, sponsored by state Representative Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin). HJR 61 proposes an amendment to the Texas constitution that establishes an individual right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife in the Lone Star State. It would ensure that wildlife conservation and management decisions continue to be based on sound science in order to preserve Texas' hunting heritage for generations to come and to protect it against future attacks from well-funded, anti-hunting organizations. Not only are hunting and fishing deep-rooted in Texas culture, they have a major economic impact on the state. According to the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the Lone Star State's hunters and anglers spend $4.1 billion annually and support 65,993 jobs. To sign up in support of Texas' Right to Hunt and Fish, click here. Please contact the following committee members immediately and respectfully urge them to support HJR 61: Chairman Ryan Guillen (D-Rio Grande City) 512-463-0416 ryan.guillen@house.state.tx.us Rep. John Frullo (R-Lubbock) 512-463-0676 john.frullo@house.state.tx.us Rep. Lyle Larson (R-San Antonio) 512-463-0646 lyle.larson@house.state.tx.us Rep. Andrew Murr (R-Kerrville) 512-463-0536 andrew.murr@house.state.tx.us Rep. Wayne Smith (R-Baytown) 512-463-0733 wayne.smith@house.state.tx.us Last week, on a 4 to 1 vote, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs reported out Senate Joint Resolution 22, the Senate companion measure to HJR 61 sponsored by State Senator Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe). SJR 22 received the support of Chairman Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), state Senators Lois Kolkhorst, Bob Hall and Brandon Creighton in committee; it now moves to the full Senate for where it could receive consideration as early as this week. Please contact your State Senators ASAP and urge them to support SJR 22. Contact information for Senators can be found here.

USSG SAR Home Defense 12 Gauge Semi Automatic Shotgun 18.5" Barrel 5 Rounds Ghost Ring Fiber Optic Sights Matte Black Finish 400413

Category: Shotguns » Semi-Automatic » 12 Gauge

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USSG SAR Home Defense 12 Gauge Semi Automatic Shotgun 18.5" Barrel 5 Rounds Ghost Ring Fiber Optic Sights Matte Black Finish 400413 (no reviews) Our Low Price: $349.00 Shipping is only $10.00 on firearm orders! No additional shipping cost for more guns on this order. Ships from warehouse: What is this? Typically ships within 3 to 5 business days when a valid FFL is received *Note! Image may not be an exact representation of the actual item. Please read the complete description before purchasing.Brand: U.S. Sporting Goods, Inc. 400413 Item: GUN-413 UPC: 741566902291 The purchased shotgun will ship to your local FFL dealer that you have selected. The FFL dealer is responsible for performing the NICS check to see if you are approved to receive this shotgun. Firearms are not returnable for any reason even if you are not approved through the NICS check. It is your responsibility to ask if your FFL dealer will purchase the firearm from you if you fail the NICS check. USSG brings you an affordable semi auto defense shotguns with features normally found on more expensive firearms. Boasting features like ghost ring fiber optic sights, black synthetic pistol grip stock and a tactical flash suppressor, the SAR Home Defense is sure to please even the pickiest shooter. Manufacturer: USSG Inc Manufacturer Number: 400413 Model: SAR SA Home Defense Safety: Traditional Cross Trigger Block Sights: Front: Fiber Optic, Rear: Adjustable Ghost Ring Caliger: 12 Gauge Chamber: 3" Barrel Length: 18.5" Finish: Matte Blue Receiver: Blue, Picatinny Rail Overall Length: 41" Action: Semi-Automatic Weight: 6.9 lbs Stock: Black Synthetic Pistol Grip Capacity: 5 Choke: Cylinder Bore Muzzle: Tactical Flash Suppressor Firearms are only available online. All firearm sales are final. NO RETURNS. Return to manufacturer for warranty service. Actual buyer must pick up from FFL dealer who will conduct the background check. Firearm transfer must be the actual transferee/buyer. Click here to see BATFE form- Firearm Transaction Record Part 1.

Remington 870 Shotgun

I have always wanted a Remington 870 shotgun, so last year finally bought one. I knew when I was buying it that it was not manufactured like they were in the old days. There is no Walnut stock, beautiful engraving or blued finish; mine has a durable sand blasted black finish. The plastic trigger guard is the first thing I noticed that I wasn’t thrilled about. The synthetic stock certainly fits, but nothing is flush with the receiver. I found a mystery part in the butt stock during its first trip to the range, which I will tell you about in a second.
Having said all of that, I still feel that I could club the heck out of an intruder or angry dog and the gun would still operate properly afterward, as sometimes hitting an adversary is tactically/legally better than shooting them. The 870 is a tried and true design. With the addition of a Surefire fore-end (Model 618FA), you also have the option of seeing and/or blinding your target before you shoot!
By the time I bought my 870, I had sold far more of these models than I’d shot. I must say our society is well armed. There are plenty of factory variations with collapsible stocks, pistol grips, long hunting or rifled barrels, different finishes and stock materials, etc. Modifications and improvements have been taking place on this model since the 50’s. The shotgun’s innovative twin action bars insured improved reliability and smooth functioning. Many Law Enforcement agencies have selected this as a patrol weapon for decades.
The day I saw my 870, it was like it called to me. As I said before, I know the “flaws” of my personal weapon, but this particular serial number was meant to be mine. I was at the gun range and as I was leaving, the black 12-gauge 870 express magnum shotgun demanded to be inspected and then purchased. It turned out that it was on sale for cheaper than I could buy it anywhere else. The ten-day waiting period was tough for the both of us. Luckily on the tenth day, the range and gun shop, being one and the same, allowed me to fire slugs indoors. I got home with a pleasantly sore shoulder and a mysterious little part that dislodged itself inside of the butt stock as I was shooting. It’s funny how a part rolling around somewhere in your firearm puts an end to training. But heck, it’s not like I didn’t intend to go home and completely dissect the trigger group anyway.
When I unscrewed the stock bolt, and finally got the stock assembly off, out came the mysterious part that was taking a ride up and down the long stock bolt. Though it didn’t look like anything that was needed for safe operation of the shotgun and it surely didn’t have a Remington part number, the statement, “Oh hell, I don’t need that crazy little part” just doesn’t go hand in hand with gunsmithing or firearms in general. This gave me an excuse to call Remington.

The “mystery” washer.

The experience of calling Remington’s 800 number was met with excellent customer service. The gentleman I spoke with had never seen or heard of such a thing and he had been “doing this a long time”. He apologized that he didn’t know what the part was but agreed that we should find out what it was! He asked me if I minded waiting on hold for a while as he checked with the head armorer. He got back on the phone and told me that it was an “assembly washer” that only one of their factories uses to separate and store the receiver studs before mass assembly of the shotgun. He said that sometimes a little bit of machining oil will cause the washer to stick to the receiver stud and it gets assembled with the stock bolt. A lot of the time the washer will remain there undiscovered, but it got banged around for quite sometime that first day at the range!
I really like the no frills nature of this particular model of the 870. My favorite car is a black 1968 Plymouth Road Runner and it reminds me of this shotgun. They were both engineered to bring down the price for the “common man” without sacrificing the firepower (or horsepower) and reliability that you need. Just like my Road Runner, the 870 just keeps working, no matter how hard you beat on it. If it breaks, there are plenty of parts available and everything is quick and easy to get at to fix, although my car doesn’t have any “Federally Restricted Parts” . . . yet.

Texas Senate approves open carry gun bill: What are the repercussions?

On Monday, the Texas Senate approved Senate Bill 17, which would allow concealed weapons permit holders to openly carry firearms. The bill was passed on along party lines, with Republicans pushing the vote 20 to 11.

After the upper chamber takes a final vote, the bill will head to the House. If approved, it will then go to Gov. Greg Abbott, who tweeted his approval on Sunday.

I'm warming up my signing pen: Texas Legislature Ready to Move Forward on Open Carry Bill http://t.co/cJJfbmgE87 #tcot #txlege @NRA— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) March 16, 2015

If the bill becomes law, are there any foreseeable repercussions that will affect the Lone Star State?

Recommended: Gun laws: How much do you know?

Despite its reputation for cowboy conservatism, Texas is one of only six states – along with New York, Florida, South Carolina, Illinois, and California – to prohibit citizens from openly carrying handguns. According to the advocacy group OpenCarry.org, 14 states require a permit, and another 30 states do not.

Sen. Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls), who brought Senate Bill 17 forward, said he does not see any problems with the bill.

“In other states that have taken this step … it’s been deemed pretty much a non-event,” Estes said as he introduced the bill, reported The Texas Tribune. “We have searched really hard far and wide for problems, and we haven’t found any.”

The upper chamber debated the bill’s implications for four hours before voting in favor of the bill, reported The Texas Tribune. Multiple senators — mainly Democrats — proposed amendments to the bill, including calls for increased training, additional licensing requirements, and background checks. Most were declined.

State Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston) discussed the effects of having guns on hand. He stated that it is not only easier for the gun owner to access his firearms, but also other bystanders who may be unstable and violent to do so. Whitmore, who also chairs the criminal justice committee, also discussed the complications it provides to law enforcement: In the event of a shoot-out where now multiple people are firing weapons, how will police identify the perpetrator?

Current Texas law states that gun owners may carry concealed handguns with a permit, while open carry applies to long guns such as shotguns and rifles. The new law would enable gun owners to carry handguns visibly, in shoulder or belt holsters.

In February, when a committee approved the bill to be seen before the State Senate, Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) said that the purpose of the law is to enable citizens the right to openly carry if they deem it necessary.

“We are talking about law-abiding citizens who want to exercise their rights,” Huffman said to the Western Journal. “It’s a matter of letting people, if they so choose, protect themselves in a legal way.”

Gun Review: Mossberg’s MVP Patrol 7.62mm/.308

Mossberg MVP Patrol 7.62mm NATO

Mossberg’s MVP Patrol is ready for addition of accessories, like suppressors.

Buy one on GunsAmerica:      http://www.gunsamerica.com/Mossberg Patrol
Check out Mossberg’s site:  http://www.mossberg.com/Patrol
Having caught the suppressor bug, I’ve wanted to check out a bolt-action .308 that’s compact enough to handle the extra length and weight of a silencer, yet still remain portable and handy. That’s what peaked my interest in the Mossberg MVP Patrol.

The MVP Patrol is also available with a tan-colored stock.

The MVP Patrol is a 7 ½ pound rifle (not including optic) that, as the name implies, is short, light and handy enough to tote around in a car or pack. The 16 ¼ inch barrel is capped by a standard birdcage flash hider, which means that threading for suppressor attachment is already there. The stock is composite and the forend is thick and sturdy. The Patrol is a hard use rifle, not a svelte and trim hunter model, although there’s no reason it wouldn’t serve as a great field rifle.
The model tested was the 7.62mm NATO and it was stamped accordingly on the barrel. The barrel itself features a 1:10 twist rate and is finished with a matte blueing. The synthetic stock is all business with molded texture in the grip and forend. The rifle is available with your choice of black or tan stocks. Two sling swivel attachments round out the stock itself. End to end, including the flash hider and recoil pad, the rifle measures 37 ½ inches and length of pull is 13 ¼ inches.

I really liked the placement and operation of the safety.

The bolt release is equally simple, and mounted opposite the bolt handle.

The MVP Patrol tested is part of a small family. Mossberg offers the MVP Patrol in .223/5.56mm and .308/7.62mm chambers, and each caliber offering is available as an “iron sights” configuration or with a pre-mounted and bore-sighted 3-9x32mm optic. The version tested was a standard model, but all models include a six-inch Picatinny rail, so adding an optic was easy.

Controls

Admittedly, placement and operation of things like safeties and bolt release mechanisms are a personal preference issue. I’m not sure there are hard and fast right and wrong answers. With that said, I really like how the Mossberg MVP Patrol works.
The safety is a lever placed just behind the bolt handle on the right side. It’s topped by knurled knob that you operate with your firing hand thumb. Pull it backward when the bolt is cocked or open and it will move into safe mode. Push forward, exposing a red dot underneath and the rifle is ready to fire. I found I could operate this easily without any change whatsoever to my firing grip – just rotate my thumb over the receiver and push or pull. Operation is very positive so there is no doubt about operating this by feel alone. I really like it.
The bolt release is also about as intuitive as it gets. Just opposite the bolt handle is a small push lever with a textured surface. Hold this down with your support hand thumb while pulling the bolt back and it will glide right out of the receiver. Easy and un-finicky. This came in really handy for brief cleanings while doing accuracy and velocity testing.

When the bolt is uncocked, it will look like this.

When the bolt is cocked and ready, it will look like this.

While technically not a control, I should mention the cocked status indicator here. You’ll notice a polished stainless steel cylinder visible in the rear of the bolt. If it’s flush with the back of the bolt, the rifle is cocked and ready to fire. If it’s inset about ⅜ of an inch, the bolt is not cocked. You can easily tell by looking, or you can run a finger or thumb over the rear of the bolt to determine the status.

Lightning Bolt Action Trigger

The MVP Patrol uses Mossberg’s Lightning Bolt Action Trigger system.

Some Mossberg rifles include the Lightning Bolt Action Trigger system. It’s easy to tell if you have it as you’ll see a lightning bolt cut into the trigger insert leaf. By the way, as one would expect, the trigger insert needs to be deliberately depressed in order for the trigger to operate.
I measured the trigger (factory default adjustment) at exactly two pounds of pull weight. There is the slightest bit of ever-so-slightly rough take up, followed by a crisp break at exactly two pounds every time. Of course, your finger feels a bit of makeup from the trigger insert before your finger contacts the actual trigger face.
The idea behind the Lightning Bolt Action Trigger system is that it’s easily adjustable be the user. If you remove the receiver from the stock, you’ll see a nylon-covered flat head screw on the front side of the trigger assembly. Rotate that to adjust the trigger pull weight from the factory default of two pounds all the way up to about seven pounds. Depending on your anticipated use of the rifle, you may want to take advantage of this. For short range home defense situations, why not add a little weight to make the trigger press more intentional?

Sights

The MVP Patrol comes right out of the box with serviceable “iron” sights. A fiber optic front and notched “V” sight on the back are both mounted directly on the barrel. Since the barrel is short for this type of rifle, the sight radius is only about ten inches depending on the position of the rear sight. The rear sight is adjustable for windage and elevation using small flathead screws. The windage adjustment allows the rear sight to slide back and forth on an angled ramp. Markings allow you to identify and replicate settings for known distances.

The front sight features a highly visible fiber optic tube. You can easily remove the whole assembly if you like.

The rear sight is adjustable for windage and elevation, or, like the front sight, you can remove the whole thing.

The six inch Picatinny rail has a deep groove down the center allowing you to easily see the iron sights up front.

The MVP Patrol also comes equipped with a receiver mounted Picatinny rail. This rail has a groove cut that allows you to see the iron sights mounted forward on the barrel. It was here that I had a little glitch with my first sample of the MVP Patrol. Somewhere in the production process, the Picatinny rail and front sights got out of whack. Looking down the rail groove showed me a picture of the left side of the iron sights. If you envision a clock face looking down the rifle, the rail was at 12 (as it should be) while the front sights were lined up at the 12:15 position. I’m totally guessing as to the cause, but I might think the front sight holes were drilled into the barrel before it was mounted on the receiver. Upon screwing the barrel in and setting proper headspace, things didn’t line up quite right. I called Mossberg, and like most gun companies, they responded immediately to the problem. They had a replacement rifle on the way within a day or so. I finished the rest of the evaluation with the replacement rifle, and on that sample, everything was perfect.

Magazine flexibility

The Mossberg MVP Patrol includes a 10-round box magazine. As the production of MVP rifles continues to ramp up, I would expect you’ll be able to buy more Mossberg MVP magazines from dealers. But you really don’t need to. The Mossberg folks designed the MVP magazine well with two magazine latches, both operated by the same magazine release button. One in the front of the magazine well grabs that notch in standard M14 / M1A magazines, while the latch on the side off the well also grabs a cutout on the side of MVP magazine. If that’s not enough, you can also use LR-308/SR-25 style magazines. If you just gotta have your Magpul P-Mags, you’re good to go. Those use the side latch.

You can use M1A / M14 magazines like the 20-rounder on the left or 5-rounder on the right.

Use of a 5-round M1A magazine makes for a low profile.

The supplied 10-round magazine in place.

I didn’t have any LR-208/SR-25 style magazines handy, but I did have a pile of M14/M1A magazines to try. So I did. You’ll notice a couple of things. With the M1A, you have to kind of “rock” the magazine into place. Not so when using M14/M1A magazines with the MVP Patrol. Just push it straight in until you hear the click. The other thing I noticed is that an empty magazine doesn’t lock the bolt back with the magazine follower with the factory supplied MVP Patrol magazine, but M14/M1A magazines do lock the bolt back. A simple press downward on the follower allows the bolt to travel forward. This isn’t good or bad, it’s just an observation of how different magazines behave in this rifle. I shot the MVP Patrol with five and twenty round M14/M1A magazines with no trouble at all. As a side note, the five round magazine presents a nice and trim profile which would be great for hunting applications. It’s not flush with the stock, but only about ½-inch is exposed.

Shooting and handling

The first thing I have to mention is that the felt recoil was shockingly mild. I say “shockingly” because we’re talking about a small and light rifle here, and the .308 cartridge isn’t exactly a .223. I attribute the light shooting feel to the exceptionally effective recoil pad. It’s concave in shape, but averages about one-inch in thickness. More importantly, it’s not solid – the center portion feels like a soft underlying frame covered with a thin layer of rubber. This results in a lot of give. I did a fair bit of prone shooting, which for me places the buttstock into the bonier portion of my shoulder and high-volume shooting was a complete non-issue. This is a very comfortable rifle to shoot, especially considering it’s lightweight feel.

Just for kicks during accuracy testing, I mounted the Hawke Optics Sidewinder IR Tactical 10x Scope. It’s huge, so I had to remove the rear sight leaf!

Accuracy and velocity

The MVP Patrol turned in pretty respectable accuracy with this broadly available American Eagle M1A ammo.

This handy patrol-style rifle is really made for shorter range applications. I know that because it even has the word “patrol” right in the name. Given that, I decided to shoot it at 50 yards for some informal accuracy testing. I used a variety of common .308 ammunition with projectiles of varying weights, just to get a feel for what ammo types this rifle prefers.
To get a more precise sight picture than that offered by the included iron (actually fiber optic) sights, I mounted a Hawke Optics Sidewinder Tactical IR optic. With a fixed magnification of 10x and a mil-dot reticle, it offers more than enough aiming precision at 50 to 100 yards.
I did 5-shot group accuracy testing with five different loads with projectile weights ranging from 147 to 168 grains. I had smaller quantities of three other loads – enough to get velocity numbers, but not enough for proper accuracy testing.
For a lightweight rifle with a short barrel, I was pleasantly surprised with the five-shot groups.

One additional surprise was the relative consistency with different types of ammo. As a “patrol” rifle, I wasn’t expecting this to match precise accuracy of a longer and heavier .308. What did surprise me was that common and inexpensive ammunition performed as well as some of the match stuff. The American Eagle M1A ammo turned in groups less than an inch at 50 yards – plenty of accuracy for plinking and short range defense scenarios. As with any rifle, do a little experimenting to see what it likes. You might just be surprised and find some inexpensive stuff that shoots just fine.

The magazine release lever is inset just forward of the magazine well.

I did some informal velocity comparison to a rifle with a 22-inch barrel and observed a much lower “velocity loss” from the Mossberg’s 16 1/4 inch barrel than I expected. Most loads were about 100 to 150 feet per second slower from the shorter barrel of the Mossberg, and more than a couple were within 50 feet per second.

Closing thoughts

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with the Mossberg MVP Patrol. Yes, they need to figure out the root cause of the initial sight alignment issue, but to their credit, the problem was resolved immediately. If I end up keeping this one, I will be tempted to maintain its iron sight configuration, perhaps even removing the Picatinny rail segment for an even simpler sight picture. While I added a high-power Hawke optic for accuracy testing, my choice of optics for this rifle would be a simple red dot or perhaps a low power scope, maybe even something with fixed power like a Trijicon ACOG. Given the stock profile, a low mount option would work really well.
The retail price on the Mossberg MVP Patrol is $748 without an optic and I found some priced in the $550 range on the street. The 3-9x scoped model retails for $889, but if you shop around, you should be able to find one for about $700 give or take a few bucks.

Coonan the Barbarian – .357 Mag. 1911 Compact Review

Check out Coonan: http://www.coonaninc.com

Buy one at GunsAmerica: http://www.gunsamerica.com/

There’s a unique appeal to a truly original firearm. While the Coonan series of .357 autos are clearly derived form the single action family tree, they are unique. These guns are big. They’re a bit boxier than a 1911, and they punch above their weight class.
And now the Classic Coonan comes in a smaller package. The compact is a beast, and one that offers the firepower of the Classic Coonan for those who want a serious concealed carry gun.

Features

• .357 Magnum
• Linkless Barrel 4 Inch Barrel
• Recoil Operated
• Pivoting Trigger
• Extended Slide Catch and Thumb Lock
• 4 Inch Barrel
• Fixed Night Sights
• 2 Magazines (6+1)

The 4 inch .357 is stout. This isn’t a pistol for those insist on light carry guns.

Two mags. Note the flared back and top.

Design

One of the most amusing ad slogans I’ve come across in the firearms industry belongs to Coonan. “Looking for your first pistol?” the ad begins. “This isn’t it.” Too true. But more on that later. Let’s get into this thing a bit.
The Coonan line is built on the strength of the .357 round, which is a rimmed round not typically associated with semiautomatic pistols. Rimmed cartridges are typically harder to stack. The Coonan magazine has a channel that flares out the back and top of the magazine. This allows the magazine walls to support the rounds like a typical 1911 mag, while the rims clear the narrow walls as they stack up and feed.
While there are identifiable elements of the classic Browning 1911, the Coonan moves away from the early 20^th century modernist aesthetic. Most of the curves are gone. The 1911 is built on clean lines and delicate curves. The Coonan is more linearly angular. Even the frame and slide have a more slab-sided look.

The bushingless barrel with its reversed plug.

The compact takes an inch off the classic Coonan. This 4 inch version is designed for more practical concealed carry. It isn’t a subtle gun, in any way, but it is more compact than its bigger brethren. This one has a black DuraCoat finish. Coonan can do a variety of finishes, from garish pink camo to stainless, and everything in between.
Taking the Coonan apart will baffle the beginner. It has a bushingless bull barrel, and a reverse recoil plug. The linkless barrel slides off easily, but then you have to push the guide rod out the front far enough to pin it in place, which holds the spring pressure. After that it is easy.
Assembly may be more tricky. The first time I put it back together, the guide rod was protruding too far. I took it apart, looked at it again, and made another attempt. After monkeying with the rod, it clicked into place and the gun went back together perfectly.

From this angle, the gun looks larger than it is. And it feels much larger when you pull the trigger.

Shooting the Coonan

So what does a .357 do out of a 4 inch automatic? We put the 125 grain Hornady Critical Defense through the chrony and got some consistent results. The Hornady ran under 1,500 feet per second–between 1,450 and 1,490. That’s still smoking for a 125 grain bullet, and put the .357 close to the performance you’d expect from a lighter 10mm.
That’s the closest thing I can think of to describe the experience. It is very similar to shooting a 10mm. The Compact has a good bit of muzzle rise, which is seems natural for a gun this size that has this much power. With that rise comes a loss of follow up speed. I can’t hit double-taps with nearly the same split time that I can with a 9mm. It is impossible.
Is that a fatal flaw? Hardly. I frequently carry a .357 revolver, and it isn’t lightning fast either. There are fast pistols chambered in easily controlled calibers. 9mm. .45 ACP, even. .40 S&W. But not .357 or 10mm. But what you lose in speed you gain in power. That makes the Coonan a solid choice for personal defense.
We ran a variety of .357s through the Coonan. .38 and .38+P works, too, but reliability isn’t what it could be. The Coonan and its recoil spring is designed around the punch of the .357, and the .38 just doesn’t move the slide as fast. Springs are available for the .38. I’d consider them for live fire range time, but never for carry. If you are hesitant about the .357 in a compact carry gun, this isn’t the pistol for you.

Here you can see how the groups are approaching one inch, and then fall out.

I did more convincing work with the Coonan when I wasn’t trying to punch out a tight group. These pairings are all double taps form 25 yards.

Accuracy was reliable. As this isn’t a target gun, I wasn’t expecting to see super tight groups. After the first few magazines, I couldn’t complain. I found myself dropping a round or two from each mag, which would destroy a tight group, but that wasn’t the Coonan’s fault. I blame fatigue. This is a gun that will wear you down. I like to shoot a hundred rounds or more through any of our review guns before I ever begin making decisions about how much I like it or dislike it. And after 100 rounds of .357 (on top of whatever else I’d been shooting at the range that day), I was feeling the recoil.
That alone may be reason enough to keep the Coonan out of the hands of the timid. Recoil aversion. I shoot a lot. I pull the trigger too hard sometimes (o.k., frequently), but I don’t shy away from recoil. Yet by the end of the first range day I could feel myself tightening up in anticipation of the coming shot.
All of which is to say that this is shaping up to be a badass carry gun. It is also a gun I’d want to practice with regularly. I’ve had the Coonan in house for a month now, and I take it to the range every time I go. The round count is growing steadily, but more slowly and methodically than is typical for me.

The aluminum grips are milled and the texture is superb.

Ergonomics

Did I mention that the Coonan is a bit boxier than the 1911? If you look at the grip, you’ll see how it looks less trapezoidal. The grip maintains its width instead of having a flared base (like a traditional 1911). This is due, in part, to the length of the .357 cartridge. That round is longer than a .45 ACP. It is thinner, too, so the single stack mags have a different feel.
The grip itself feels slightly larger than that of a 1911. Yet the grip is somewhat rectangular, and not fat/round like some big double-stack grips. This helps with point shooting, or so I’m told. With wide flat sides, there’s no confusion about which way the gun is pointing. This is a bit hard to describe, and I’ve never tested the concept. The idea is that the flat sides on a gun like the Coonan point the way toward the target, and you pick up on that (however unconsciously) the moment you grip the gun.
And the gun kicks more. If you have really small hands, this gun is going to feel challenging. I’ve got smaller hands for a man my size, but they’re certainly not small. The Coonan fits me like a glove. The width of the grip is ideal for controlling recoil.

The smooth back straps may allow for easier transitions to the mag release and slide stop.

What would help? This one doesn’t have checkering on the front strap. It feels very good without it, but a good checkering would make this gun even easier to control. The teeth in the milled aluminum grips are fierce, though, and that provides a sufficient grip. I’ve not shot a Coonan with checkered straps–and I could see how more aggressive texture would keep you from being able to move your hand around the wide flat grip to reach the slide drop or mag drop. So perhaps it is a compromise.

Controls

The trigger on the Coonan is crisp, though it too is a departure from the traditional 1911 design. Most 1911 triggers slide straight back. This one is hinged, and rocks back and up. There is a very slight take-up before a 4 pound break. In keeping with the design, that 4 pound pull is just heavy enough to keep you from dropping the hammer accidentally. As this is a gun meant for defensive use, I can imagine a scenario where my finger was on the trigger before I’d decided to shoot.

The black DuraCoat is offset by the matte grey controls.

The safety and slide drop are over-sized very easy to reach.  The beaver-tail safety doesn’t have a huge bump at the base, but it doesn’t need it. There’s no way to grip this gun well that doesn’t disengage that safety.

The big questions

I’m going to anticipate some of the big questions that will surely crop up in the comments below. So here we go…
#1. Is it reliable? Yes. The Coonan is recoil operated, and there’s plenty of recoil. Extraction was enthusiastic. Shells were kicked clear. During the entirety of this review, we only had one stoppage, and it was a failure to extract.
#2. 6+1? Most snub-nosed revolvers hold at least 5 rounds. The Coonan mags hold 6. With one in the chamber, you’ve got a bit of an advantage over your average revolver. The real advantage comes from the extra mag. While there may not be an overwhelming ammo supply, mag changes are as easy as they are on any single action. If you do have to reload, the Coonan has a distinct edge.
#3. Control? This is where we come back to that slogan. Looking for your first pistol? This isn’t it. I’m not going to suggest that Coonan is exploiting the gratuitous nature of the .357–but they’re not shying away from the fireballs, either. Their site prominently features images of flames exploding from the barrels. The Coonan is loud. It makes a big fat ball of fire. It kicks. But it is controllable. I wouldn’t suggest it for anyone who is just learning the ropes. I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with diminished hand strength, or small, delicate hands.

Extended slide drop and safety.

#5. Is this thing just a Novelty? Far from it. I had a long discussion this morning with another one of the GunsAmerica writers and he (somewhat lovingly) called the gun a novelty. Then he quickly retracted the statement. True, the Coonan is a beast. Shooting the .357 from the short 1911 platform is something of a novelty at first. But this isn’t that different from the 10mm, and I’d never call those novelties.
In the end…
I’m a fan. This is my first date with the Coonan. And after more than 500 rounds, I don’t have anything to criticize that isn’t based entirely on personal preference. I’d change out the rear sight–but I think that’s pretty much the only thing I’d mess with.
I’ll tell you what I expected. I thought sure I’d have more consistent failures as the Coonan tried to extract the rimmed cases. I thought I’d find the kick of the .357 so sharp that I wouldn’t consider this for practical concealed carry. Not so. The reliability was excellent. The kick is intense, but manageable. And now, having roughed it up a bit, I’ve got to find a perfect holster and carry this thing.
The Coonan Compact has an MSRP of $1,975.00. It sells for a bit less. There are numerous custom options available. Almost anything you could think of for your traditional 1911 platform. And Coonan sells lighter springs for those who want even more reliable performance from the .38. Check them out. It is worth a trip to the Coonan page just to see some of the available paint jobs.

Check out Coonan: http://www.coonaninc.com

Buy one at GunsAmerica: http://www.gunsamerica.com/coonan

No mistaking what’s in this pistol case.

The Trijicon sights are solid, and offer tritium inserts.

Here I go again. I like rear sights with flat fronts. They make one handed manipulation easier.

Extended slide drop and safety.

The grip is milled to allow the safety to drop freely.

All told, the new Compact is a sharp looking gun.

The extractor is long, and works well on the rimmed cases.

The mag well has a slight bevel, but the compact design keeps it from having a bell flare.

The case that the Coonan comes in is soft-sided, but well padded.

The more I shot, the harder it got to hold all seven in the center. But those first shots were always spot on.

And it comes with rubber bullets, too, in case any Elephant man mob situation kicks off.

You Made the Difference and Your Voices Counted! The Obama Administration Has Retreated From its AR-15 Ammo Ban

Saturday, March 14, 2015

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This week, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) responded to immense pressure from gun owners and majorities of both houses of Congress and applied the brakes on its reimagining of the federal “armor piercing” ammunition law. Among other serious problems, BATFE’s planned move would have banned M855 “green tip,” the second most popular ammunition for the most popular rifle in America, the AR-15.

The BATFE stated its intentions in a “Framework” posted on its website on February 13, 2015. Under the Framework, BATFE proposed to change its interpretation of the federal “armor piercing ammunition” law of 1986. The new interpretation would have revoked an almost 30-year-old exemption for M855 ammunition based on BATFE’s finding in the mid-1980s that M855 was usable in commercially available rifles and therefore “primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes.”

The White House characterized BATFE’s planned clampdown as a “common sense” step upon which “everyone should agree.” As is often the case with this administration’s pronouncements, the facts proved otherwise. BATFE noted in a special advisory released March 10, 2015, that it had received “more than 80,000 comments” from the public in the preceding three weeks, and that “the vast majority of the comments received to date are critical of the framework ….” Citing “issues that deserve further study,” the agency stated it “will not at this time seek to issue a final framework.”

The BATFE’s ban was also strongly opposed by the U.S. senators and representatives that gun owners helped elect. In a letter to BATFE director B. Todd Jones on March 9, 53 U.S. senators, led by Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), rebuked the agency for overstepping its bounds. “Congress did not, and did not intend to,” the letter stated unequivocally "ban this form of ammunition [i.e., M855]."

In a separate letter to Jones, 239 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Judiciary Committee Chairman John Goodlatte (R-Va.), were equally forceful and direct: “The idea that Congress intended [the “armor piercing ammunition law”] to ban one of the preeminent rifle cartridges in use by Americans for legitimate purposes is preposterous.”

Additional help came from Rep. John Culberson (R-Tex.), chairman of the powerful House Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. As Rep. Culberson told The Hill, “I explained to the ATF that if they continued to interfere with law-abiding Americans’ Second Amendment rights, they were going to have a very bad budget year.”

On behalf of the NRA’s five million members, NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox thanked Chairman Goodlatte, Chairman Grassley, and Chairman Culberson for “leading the fight against this unconstitutional attack on our Second Amendment freedoms.” BATFE’s retreat from the plan, he said, “was a significant victory for our five million members and tens of millions of supporters across the country.” 

Additionally, law enforcement officers, whom BATFE and the White House pretended their effort was intended to protect, objected to the ban. James Pasco, Executive Director of the Fraternal Order of Police National Legislative Office, said that M855 “has historically not posed a law enforcement problem.” While BATFE had alleged that M855 posed a “significant threat” to law enforcement officers when fired from a handgun, no law enforcement officer has been killed with any handgun capable of firing M855 during the 38 years that the FBI has reported the caliber of handguns used in such crimes.

This fact is echoed in the statements of numerous law enforcement groups that have submitted their own letters or comments in opposition to the Framework, including the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association, the National Law Enforcement Firearm Instructors Association, and the National Patrol Rifle Conference. Some of these groups make the point that banning M855 ammunition could negatively affect officer safety by constricting the availability of 5.56 x 45 mm ammunition generally, thereby raising its price and reducing opportunities for police officers to train with their patrol rifles.

The NRA was first to alert gun owners to BATFE’s Framework. Within hours of the Framework’s release, the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action notified its members and others who have signed up for its weekly Grassroots Alerts that the Obama administration was attempting to bypass Congress in order to achieve gun control that the Senate had rejected and the House of Representatives refused to even consider. President Obama’s goal, we noted, was to discourage Americans from acquiring the extraordinarily popular AR-15, which he had tried, but failed, to get banned in 2013, along with other common firearms and magazines.

Thereafter, NRA-ILA provided a summary of the flawed rationale that BATFE presented in its Framework, along with the email address, postal address and FAX number to which people could submit their comments to the agency concerning its proposed ammunition ban. NRA-ILA later submitted official comments in opposition to the BATFE Framework and detailing the proposal’s numerous flaws.

Yet even while BATFE was supposedly inviting Americans to weigh in on the proposal, sharp-eyed reporter Katie Pavlich discovered a curious “coincidence.” A September 2014 update to a compilation of federal firearms laws and regulations BATFE had last published in 2005 had already deleted all references to ammunition, including M855, which had previously been granted “sporting purposes” exemptions under the 1986 law.

That “error,” as BATFE later described it to Fox News, has since been corrected. As we noted in our coverage of BATFE’s decision to withdraw its Framework, however, the agency indicated that it will revisit the issue in the future. BATFE’s continued overreaching intentions were made all too clear by its director, B. Todd Jones, at a hearing Thursday before the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Any 5.56 round” Jones stated, is “a challenge for officer safety” (emphasis added). For that reason, gun owners who have not yet submitted comments to the BATFE and their members of Congress concerning the Framework still must do so, at the addresses provided here.

In the meantime, gun owners who provided comments to the BATFE and who helped elect the members of Congress who reprimanded BATFE for rewriting federal law, can take pride in again proving the power of personal involvement in the fight for Second Amendment Rights.

The BATFE’s history of reinterpreting federal laws to ban the importation of rifles, handguns and shotguns, and now to try to ban the manufacture and importation of commonplace ammunition, makes clear that those laws must be rewritten. Changing the laws will be required to not only limit BATFE excesses, but also to recognize the right of people to keep and bear arms for defensive purposes, as well as sporting and other legitimate purposes.

To achieve these important improvements, gun owners will have to help elect not only a pro-Second Amendment Congress in 2016, but also a president who respects the right to keep and bear arms, and the rule of law. As ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox stated, “Let’s ensure BATFE’s bogus Framework is trumped by America’s Framework, the U.S. Constitution.”