Cheap Guns: Hi-Point 45ACP Tactical Carbine – 4595TS Review

The Hi-Point 4595 TS is probably the cheapest pistol caliber carbine on the market. Your local gunshop probably has 4 of them on the shelf, in all the calibers. They work great, shoot great, and are accurate enough.

Hi Point Firearms 4595
http://hi-pointfirearms.com/carbines/45 On GunsAmerica
People get really emotional about Hi-Point guns. You could say that folks “either love them or hate them,” but I think there is a better explanation than that. Quality control and customer service are always an issue with small and fast growing companies. Hi-Point has had its ups and downs, so some people got good guns, and some people got very bad guns. Everyone I know who has purchased a Hi-Point in the last few years has been delighted with it, and my local gun dealer said that he sells a ton of them and none of them ever come back as having problems. To me that says that the word on the street is that Hi-Point guns are now generally reliable, and they have always been very inexpensive for what you get…when it works.

My big concern with this gun was accuracy, but it came in at about the same accuracy at 25 yards that I can shoot with a handgun. The top groups is where it came zeroed from the factory, I adjusted it down to zero at 25 yards.

This 45ACP carbine is the Hi-Point Model 4595 TS. The magazine holds 9 rounds. It has adjustable sights for both windage and elevation and weighs just over 7 pounds empty. The 4595 has both a bolt hold open/drop catch and a last round magazine hold open, when you use the included magazine. On GunsAmerica they go for $300-$400 depending on current demand and what accessories come with the gun. But most importantly, from our tests, and this was gun bought right off the shelf at a gunshop, the 4595 always seems to go bang, and it is both a pleasure to shoot and accurate enough for close quarters wet work. This is the second article in our new Cheap Guns series, and because there will be complainers, let me explain again why we are using the politically incorrect term “Cheap” instead of inexpensive or affordable. The guns are cheap, plain and simple. Cheap is not a relative term. In the world of firearms, a pistol caliber carbine for sometimes even under $300 is ridiculously cheap, and it is important to carry guns like this Hi-Point in our reviews, because some people just can’t afford $500 or $700. You don’t get a $700 gun for $300, and the materials on these Hi-Point guns and cheap guns in general are indeed cheaper to manufacturer for the most part. But you don’t often see cheap guns reviewed, because the companies that make the cheap guns don’t really advertise (they don’t have to), and most industry editorial is made of of the guns from the companies that advertise, and little else. For many people, $500, $700, $1,000 is way out of reach. Are some cheap guns reliable and accurate enough? That is our question. We purchase these guns at retail prices from GunsAmerica sellers, or off the shelf at a gunshop. And yes, a lot of cheap guns are great for what you pay.

The magazine holds 9 rounds of 45ACP. BEWARE that aftermarket high-cap mags can void the warranty on these guns.

To back up a bit, one of the reasons that I chose a pistol caliber carbine as the second installment in this series is that a lot of people can’t or won’t go through the hurdles to own a handgun at all. In many parts of the country handguns require special permits, even if you don’t intend to carry them, and that presents a price ceiling to many low budget gun buyers. You can’t buy even the cheapest AR for under $500, and even if you could afford the AR, a lot people have only indoor ranges at which to shoot. That leaves out a budget AR and just about every bolt action rifle in the market. So if you want to be able to just walk into a gunshop and pick up a that you can actually shoot, that leaves a handgun or a rifle that shoots a handgun cartridge. Polymer pistol caliber carbines are your best bet. The Hi-Point carbines aren’t just versions of their pistols with longer barrels and shoulder stocks. Some of the guts are the same, but the carbine has a very complicated disassembly and reassembly procedure that is actually my biggest beef with the gun. This is no field strip, and I’ve included a video in this article explaining the process. I elected to just clean the bolt, bolt face, and surfaces that I could reach rather than attempt it. Make sure if you buy one of these guns from a gunshop that they give you the special Hi-Point tool that comes with the gun. Mine did not have one, so I was left to find the correct Allen wrenches in my attempts to take it apart with that video.
Other than that though, I found the Hi-Point 4595 to be really a pleasant gun to shoot. It has a recoil buffer built into the stock, so even the smallest shooter won’t find anything unpleasant in shooting any 45ACP load. It comes with a cheap looking but very functional sight system with a windage and elevation adjustable rear sight and course adjustable front sight. It was zeroed to about 75 yards out of the box and I brought it down to 25 yards. For average tactical distances, you are better to zero for short yardage with the .45ACP, because even when you zero for 25 yards there is still a 13 inch drop at 100 yards. I have included the ballistics table from the Hornady Ballistics Calculator, and I used the increased velocity from the carbine length barrel that gave us an extra 30fps or so using Wolf Ammo.
Also note that I tested this gun with the cheapest ammo I could find, figuring that if you are doing a series on cheap guns, you better darn well use cheap ammo too. There is no reason to assume that expensive ammo would shoot better in this gun. But I will say something about the accuracy that I find interesting, because this is a pistol caliber carbine. If it was an AR shooting a .223/5.56, I’d say that the accuracy is dreadful, but as a compromise for a handgun, with a handgun caliber, it’s good enough. I was able to repeatedly put the magazine full into about 3″ at 25 yards. This is roughly what I can do with a handgun, so there is a tradeoff between the advantage of the carbine length, which is a long sight radius distance between the front and rear sights, and the better accuracy of a more expensive gun. Not a bad case in accuracy for $300 or less.
One thing I have to warn you about with these guns is aftermarket magazines. They just plain don’t work and may damage your firearm. If you go to the Hi-Point carbine accessories page you can buy 2 extra mags and double mag clip that attaches to the stock for $42. You can also buy side rails and other accessories made for the gun, and they are all pretty good deals.

Another quirk of this gun is the cocking handle. You use it to lock the bolt back without an empty mag, but it feels like it catches unless you intentionally pull it out.

The best gun review is when basically there is “nothing to report,” and this was pretty much what I experienced with the the Hi-Point 4595. You can buy a pistol caliber carbine from Germany for thousands of dollars, and even the Taurus carbine we reviewed is double the price of this gun. Do I love this gun? No. The metal is ugly stamped and cheap looking. The plastic is plastic, and I think it is ridiculously hard to take apart and put back together. Buy hey it works great. It’s accurate enough, and for a pistol caliber carbine the recoil and ergonomics are second to none. Don’t be afraid to buy a Hi-Point. They are great and very affordable guns.

I began to take the gun down, but when I realized that it is a project, I very nicely put the pins back in and called it a day. Later I found the video you see above, and it’s a job.	These mags may feel and look like 1911 mags, but they are slightly different, though I think it was stupid to use a proprietary design.
The adjustable sights are crude but work. This is the rear sight.	The front sight is rough adjustable, and can be removed if you want to use optics.
The recoil absorbers in the stock really work. You will be shocked at how light this gun shoots.	The safety is difficult to drop with your shooting hand, and the red dot is on safe, not fire, which is the opposite of most guns.
The magazine doesn’t want to go in with just a slap. You have to depress the mag release to get the mag in.	Most of my testing was with Wolf ammo, but all of these worked fine in the gun.
This warning comes with the gun, so if you buy one used, read them here. Don’t use aftermarket mags with the Hi-Point. They sell extra mags cheap.	I bought the gun new so there were standard safety warnings on the stock, which is better than stamping them into the gun.
If your gun doesn’t come with the Hi-Point wrench, you’ll have to use regular tools to take the gun down.	This Wolf ammo came up pretty fast on the chronograph due to the longer barrel length of the carbine. More powder gets to burn than in a handgun, so the bullet goes faster.
But the 45ACP is really a close range cartridge. Zeroed at 25 yards, there is a 13 inch drop at 100 yards. Click to make the chart bigger.

Tannerite Files Lawsuit Against NBC for Libel, Slander

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Tannerite Sports, the makers for the binary explosive Tannerite, is suing NBC for libel and slander following reports that appeared on The Today Show and a local NBC affiliate, WLEX, last week.
The Oregon-based company alleges that the reporters mischaracterized the reactive target, suggesting it is similar to bombs used by terrorists to kill Americans.
According to Mendelsohn, Drucker, & Dunleavy, P.C, the law firm representing Tannerite, NBC News is guilty of the following defamatory claims:

• On March 23, 2015, Defendant NBCU released a defamatory “report” that falsely claimed that Plaintiff’s rifle targets are “bombs for sale.”
• In a related video, Defendant NBCU’s investigative reporter falsely asserted that “I am basically holding a bomb in my hand.”
• NBCU’s report contains one or more written false statements that were intended to impugn
• Plaintiff’s rifle targets and Plaintiff’s reputation in the hunting industry.
• Plaintiff’s rifle targets are not bombs and are not well-suited for use as weapons.
• A bomb is a weapon that is illegal to make. In the United States, manufacturing a bomb requires numerous federal licenses.
• Federal guidelines allow consumers to mix and shoot Tannerite®-brand rifle targets for personal, non-commercial use as targets.

The lawsuit goes on to claim that the NBC report included statements that “were made maliciously, intentionally, and with reckless disregard for the truth,” that NBC News published “defamatory statements with malice,” and that the video and print reports ” have, in fact, directly and proximately harmed,” Tannerite Sports.
NBC has not yet commented on the lawsuit.

AR500 Armor Micro Plate Carrier

Check it out: http://www.ar500armor.com/ar500-armor-micro-plate-carrier

The Micro is small. Very small. But that’s the point. It helps to have a bulletproof beard.

Armor evolves. The invention of the firearm put a huge roadblock in the path of wearable personal protection, but we’re catching up. Kevlar, ballistic steel, and ceramic plates have all proven track records. But where does one go to get bulletproofed? Who can you trust with your life?
For me, the choice is simple. I had the chance to review AR500’s steel plates a couple of years ago. I beat the hell out of those plates. I shot them with everything I could get my hands on. After more than 300 rounds of various calibers, I finally punched the plate with a .50 BMG. After seeing it firsthand, I understood.
AR500 Armor supplies Americans with low cost, highly effective armor plates. Utilizing ballistic rated steel and Paxcon coatings, they have developed an array of plates ranging from back pack sized shield plates all the way down to a 6”x6” square side plates. AR500 is now manufacturing soft armor inserts made from Honeywell Spectra Shield, Gold Shield, and DuPont Kevlar. AR500 is quickly establishing them selves as the one-stop-shop.
New for 2015 is a plate carrier that breaks the mold. The AR500 Armor Micro Plate Carrier challenges our notions of ballistic protection. This is truly a minimalist rig. The plate maintains ballistic coverage of the vital organs, but not much else. The benefit, of course, is a reduction of weight and bulk. If you are looking for compact coverage, this is it.

With the soft plates inside, the Micro is thin and flexible.

Features

• Accepts 8″ x 10″ Soft and Hard Body Armor
• Adult & Youth shoulder strap configurations
• Removable Shoulder Pads included
• ITW GT Cobra Buckles allow quick donning and doffing
• Inner mesh lining improves comfort and air flow
• Front & Back webbing for MOLLE/Pouch attachment
• Velcro web sections for ID panels or lower mounted chest rig
• 100% Made in the USA

Designed for armor

Bigger is sometimes better, but when it comes to ballistic protection there is only so much coverage necessary to properly ensure protection of your vital organs. Anything extra is nice if you ever do take fire, but the 99.9% of the time that you aren’t those same plates weigh you down and restrict your range of motion.

Level III or level IIIA, either way.

The Micro Carrier to utilizes 8”x10” plates; making for an extremely small and light package that offers just the right amount of protection and mobility. Beyond its size, the Micro Carrier also offers comfort and convenience that make this rig realistic for daily use.
The Micro Carrier’s shoulder straps and side straps are fully adjustable and secured with polymer cobra buckles. The straps also have Velcro fixtures for securing the excess strapping. The carrier ships with foam backed shoulder pads, and the inside of the carrier is covered in plush foam backing designed to increase comfort and airflow.
The carrier is also expandable for tactical applications, the rig is covered in molle strapping and velcro making the addition of pouches and other mission essential gear as easy as threading the straps. At the base of the carrier the molle is 6 loops wide for the use of magazine pouches. The carrier ships with a 2x double M4 magazine pouch and a double pistol magazine pouch.

Running the Micro Carrier                                        

Options! So many options! Setting up the Micro Carrier for success all depends on your needs. You can pick a path and walk the thin narrow line of being prepared and being overly prepared. Or you can do what I did and maximize this tiny carrier for the best of both worlds.

The carrier covers only the most essential organs, and leaves shoulders and sides free for movement.

First lets talk about plates, why pick one type when you can have two? Deciding to invest in more than one type of armor is a big decision. You are increasing your cost, adding to your bulk, and giving your wife one more reason to complain about your spontaneous spending. But it’s a necessary move if you want to truly get the most out of the Micro Carrier. Utilizing the hard plates at a tactical carbine class, or in the rare natural or social disaster, you are golden. While wearing the carrier normal training circumstances the, level IIIA soft plates give you more than enough protection and offers you a light weight option (they weigh under 1lb apiece).
The Micro Carrier ships with 2x double M4 magazine pouch and a double pistol magazine pouch. This will work, but is not ideal if you ever intend on using the carrier in concealment. To maximize efficiency adding a lay flat pouch like a BlueForce Gear 10speed pouch gives you the option to carry the ammunition you need. When not in use, the BlueForce pouches stay tight to the carrier presenting no added bulk.

The Vanquest pack keeps everything organized and accessible.

When I’m not wearing the carrier, it stays idle inside of a Vanquest IBEX-30 backpack. That’s another benefit of the small carrier. It fits easily inside the bag along with a broken down rifle and all the fixxins. This set up is ideal for the undercover officer, or anyone who wants to be ready for anything at any time. You could even throw the hard plates in the bag if you think you are a total shit magnet and might run into real trouble.

Ergonomics

Running the Micro Carrier presented no real issues. There are two sizes of shoulder straps making this an ideal rig for smaller frame shooters and ladies. Everything is up-close and personal. The magazines are right at the top of your chest, which makes magazine changes fairly easy. It does take a little getting used to having the magazines so high on your chest, but once you figure out the tactical chicken dance, mag changes are fluid and are just as fast as any other chest rig I’ve run. The cobra buckles make putting the chest rig on and taking it off extremely easy and 90% of the time it can be done with one hand.

Wrapping Up

The Micro Carrier retails for $270 with the standard package (including flat level III hard plates), and just under $600 with all the bells and whistles–Micro Carrier, curved hard plates, 2x trauma pads, 2x IIIA soft armor inserts, and BlueForce Gear 10 speed shingle. If you need that level of protection, it is a great option.
Check out these videos below for more detail on how the armor itself stands up.

The minimalist protection is easy to see.

The BlueForce Gear 10 Speed pouches collapse flat.

The cobra buckles make putting it on easy.

The Vanquest pack is a great option for a grab-and-go bag.

A Look at SilencerCo’s Octane Suppressor

The SilencerCo Octane 45 can be used with smaller calibers too, like this Glock 26 9mm.

When I bought a SilencerCo Octane 45 suppressor, there were two models available, a 9mm, and a .45 ACP. Now, the Octane is becoming a small family with the addition of the compact Octane K 45. More on that later.
Before you question the lack of a .40 S&W model, consider that there is really no need for a specific size for that caliber. Generally speaking, and assuming we remain in vaguely similar pressure ranges, you can use a larger caliber silencer with a smaller caliber bullet with very little disadvantage. For example, I bought the SilencerCo Octane 45 specifically, so I could use it with .45 ACP, .40 S&W, 9mm, .380 ACP and even some 300 AAC Blackout loads.
There are only two minor disadvantages to buying an ‘oversized’ silencer. First, it may be physically a bit larger than you need for a smaller caliber. You can take a look a the dimension differences between the Octane 45 and Octane 9mm to see what I mean.

Second, you will lose just a bit of noise suppression efficiency. For example, shooting the same 9mm from the Octane 45 will be a little more than 3 decibels louder than the same load from the 9mm Octane model. But even that is not a hard and fast data point. Sound is a complex thing, and the dB reading is only one component. Since the Octane 45 is larger, the tone is different. You may or may not be able to tell whether the 45 or 9mm model is “louder” when firing the same 9mm load through each.

Given all that, I opted to go with the Octane 45, knowingly accepting slightly larger size and an ounce+ more weight in return for flexibility. I’m glad I did, as so far I’ve used the Octane 45 with a Glock 26 9mm, Glock 22 .40 S&W, a Beretta 92FS 9mm, an FNX 45 Tactical and even two different 300 Blackout rifles with subsonic loads.
Let’s talk about that for a minute. The subsonic 300 Blackout loads are pretty mellow and operate at pistol-level pressures, so the Octane 45 is rated for that use. Don’t use it with supersonic 300 Blackout loads as pressures are far higher and the Octane is not rated for that. Since we’re talking about ratings here, know that you can also use the Octane suppressors with full auto guns in the supported calibers. Got an H&K MP5 or Kriss Vector and a garage full of ammo? No problem.

Reliable function

Part of the reason that the Octane works on so many platforms is the flexible mount design. It’s not just the size of the hole in front that you have to worry about, but the type of action the host gun uses.

Just replace the cylinder inside of the booster assembly to mount the Octane to different diameter barrels.

SilencerCo uses a “booster” to help retain reliable function on semi-automatic guns where the barrel moves as part of recoil. Think about something like a Beretta 92FS for a minute. It’s designed to allow the barrel to move backward upon recoil, so pressure can dissipate before it unlocks from the slide. This movement, unlock, ejection, loading and relocking sequence relies on a careful balance of cartridge pressure, mass of the parts involved and spring strength. When you add a 10 or 12 ounce suppressor to the barrel, the mass part of the equation is completely changed. The barrel now has to drag a lot more weight with it. You may, or may not, get reliable function.
The booster, in very simple terms, works like this: The silencer mounts to the threaded barrel with a spring assembly. The gas ejecting from the muzzle pushes the suppressor forward a bit, against spring pressure. As the gas leaves, the spring wants to regain it’s original position and moves the suppressor back towards the gun. This rearward motion of the suppressor coincides with the rearward motion of the barrel, so the barrel is not having to lug a lot of extra weight. If you hold a handgun with a booster-equipped suppressor and pull the gun and suppressor in opposite directions, you see what I mean.
All of that is a long explanation for saying that the SilencerCo Octane will most likely work just fine with your semi-automatic handgun. If you’re going to mount the Octane on a gun without a moving barrel, like a pistol carbine or 300 Blackout rifle or pistol, then you remove the booster and replace it with a fixed mount. If the barrel doesn’t move, you don’t want the silencer to move either.

Ammunition

One benefit of going with a larger caliber suppressor is that larger calibers are generally subsonic. A suppressor dramatically reduces the “blast” associated with hot gas leaving the muzzle at great speed. It does nothing to eliminate the tiny little sonic boom that a projectile traveling at supersonic speed creates. While the speed of sound varies with altitude and other factors, you might assume it’s somewhere in the 1,130 feet per second range in many lower elevation areas. If you use heavier bullets for .45 ACP and .40 S&W, most loads are going to generate less velocity than that, so you’ve got a pretty quiet setup. If you shoot 9mm, you can stick with 147 grain loads to remain subsonic.
Don’t get me wrong, supersonic loads are also much, much quieter when using a suppressor, but you’ll always get maximum suppression with a subsonic projectile.

Maintenance

It’s easy to remove the internal baffles for cleaning.

Most rifle suppressors are self-contained and not user maintainable. That’s because the high-pressure hot gas of rifle loads are to a large degree, self-cleaning.You’re literally burning the suppressor clean, much like the way a self-cleaning oven works.
With a pistol suppressor, you’re going to want to clean things out periodically as lower pressures, and use of lead bullets is likely to leave some filthy crud in your silencer.
One of the things I like about the Octane is the way the guts come out for easy cleaning. Using the included tool, you remove the end cap and spill the internal baffles right out. As you can see from the photo, they’re a little bit like round metal Lego blocks. They “lock together” into a stack, which you slide into the suppressor body tube.
Cleaning is a breeze. You can soak the parts, brush them, or dump them in an ultrasonic cleaner. If you go ultrasonic, I would avoid putting the body and end caps in there as it might harm the nice exterior finish.

Closing thoughts

The most surprising thing about adding a pistol silencer to my collection is how it changes the whole feel of shooting. The sharp bangs turn to more of a whoosh. You can hear bullets zinging through the air. Recoil feels less abrupt. Newer shooters are less likely to flinch. Depending on your ammo selection, you may be able to remove hearing protection for shorter range sessions. Remember though, longer exposure to lower sound levels is harmful to your hearing too. Unless I’m only going to fire a couple of shots, I use hearing protection anyway. Better safe now than sorry later.

One hidden benefit to this configuration is that the Crimson Trace Lasergrips clear the suppressor body.

One more thing I should mention. The diameter of the cylindrical tube is perfectly compatible with Crimson Trace Lasergrips. That means that the beam on the gun, Lasergrip and Octane combinations I’ve tried thus far is not blocked by the suppressor body. So while most standard sights are at least partially blocked by the silencer, the beam still offers a viable sighting option. Be sure to verify this with your own configuration though as every gun and Lasergrip model combination is a little different.
Wait times on BATFE tax stamp applications are back down to more rational times like a month or two, so now’s the time to get your own. You won’t be sorry.
MSRP: $892, $840 for the K model.

A Carbine in a Backpack–TNW Survival Rifle Review

The ASR breaks down easily, and fits in a small pack.

Check out the ASR: http://www.tnwfirearms.com/ASR
Buy one now: http://www.gunsamerica.com/tnw
TNW has a pretty damn cool survival rifle on the market.   The TNW Aero is possibly the easiest rifle to pack in a survival or bug-out bag and comes in the 3 most popular pistol cartridges: 9mm, .40 and .45 ACP. It is solid in the way you want a survival rifle to be: strong but not so over-built that it weighs too much to be practical.

Philosophy

Before we get into the meat of this review, I want to talk a little about the thought process of a “survival rifle.” This term can mean a lot of different things to different people. It really boils down to what scenario or environment you would most likely find yourself in needing to survive. If you are in the Panhandle of Texas or Eastern Colorado you might think a bolt action in .308 (or bigger!) is the way to go. Downtown in a large city, that bolt action isn’t going to do you a whole lot of good and a short barreled pump shotgun could be a better choice. So we plan, or at least should plan, for where we are and were we will most likely be.
But what does someone pick that travels all over the country? Or someone who lives in a rural area but commutes to work in a big city? Or even say a pilot that could end up in a swamp, desert, forest—or even in a metro area? What do you choose when you need something that isn’t task-specific? In my opinion, this is where the pistol caliber carbine really comes into play. Is it the best choice for each one of these environments individually? Hell no. But it will do the jobs, with emphasis on the plural JOBS. Couple a pistol with a short and light rifle that both take the same ammo and magazines and you have a winning combination for just about any of the shit that can hit the fan. Oh, and make them in the most common calibers too.
Ok, now on to the review at hand.

Specs

Here are some specs on the Aero:

• 16.5″ Barrel Length
• 33″ Overall length and 17.25″ with Barrel Removed
• Available in 9mm, .40 and .45 ACP
• Uses Glock Magazines
• Weighs 5.5 lbs
• Hard Anodized Coating
• Semi-Auto Direct Blow Back
• Includes 4x Scope, Magazine and Upper and Lower Rails
• Collapsible AR Stock
• Available in different color finishes including Black, Pink, Grey and Green

The 9mm and .40 GLOCK mags fit in this slot.

Design

The Areo Survival Rifle is a pretty simple idea.  I mean that in a good way.  Most survival equipment should follow the old KISS idea: Keep it Simple, Stupid.  This is a blow back design–no gas system here to get fouled.  It also helps with reliability with a spectrum of different loads and bullet weights.
The barrel is very easy to install and remove. There is a threaded sleeve that mates to the receiver to tighten everything up. The receiver also has a wide grove that the barrel indexes on to keep everything in alignment. Speaking of the barrel, TNW offers a threading service for those who want to instal a suppressor or other device. Our review sample has a plain barrel with a slight bevel to protect the muzzle crown.

The receiver? It isn’t the lower.

The bolt is easy to operate, and locks open easily.

The other big design feature of the AERO is its ability to change calibers. TNW offers conversion kits. If you have the 9mm or .40 you can change between those two calibers by simply swapping the barrels and using the correct magazines. To go to .45 ACP from either 9mm or .40, you have to swap the barrel, mag, and the trigger housing.
If you’re paying attention, you’ll notice that what we’d conventionally call a “receiver”–i.e. the piece of the gun that contains the trigger group and mag well on your typical AR–has been labeled a “trigger housing.” This is significant, as it means the lower isn’t the serialized part. The upper is, which means there are multiple options for how you can swap calibers.
The gun will soon be available in .22 LR, .22 MAG, and .17HMR.  They also offer a pistol version that has an 8 inch barrel and no stock on the AR style buffer tube.

Shooting

I ran the Areo with all sorts of different ammo. 119 grain steel cased Russian made cheap stuff all the way up to Hornady Critical Duty–all preformed well. During the first 50 or so rounds, I did have a couple of malfunctions. I had one failure to extract and three rounds that the nose got hung on the top of the receiver while the bottom of the case was still in the magazine. Those three seemed like magazine issues more than a problem with the gun. Whatever the cause, they did not repeat during the 500 rounds I put through it. I used factory Glock magazines and some aftermarket ones.
The trigger is good but not great.  There is a bit of take up, not a ton but not a small amount either.  It breaks clean enough and at 5 pounds.  This is a survival rifle and the trigger is more than good enough for this job.
The review gun came with a 4X AIM brand optic. I had some issues with this glass. It took me longer and required more rounds to get it zeroed. I was never happy with the groups I got when using this optic. Even at 25 yards, repeatability was inconsistent. I am not saying that the Areo is ever going to be a target rifle, but I should be able to hit clays or shoot a 1″ group from 25 yards with a pistol caliber rifle. Never happened with the AIM scope mounted. It was so bad that I’d initially blamed it on the rifle itself.

The accuracy with the AIM scope was erratic. Not terrible, but not good.

With the Burris 1-5, though, everything tightened up. Two Groups from 50 yards.

I switched over to a Burris XTR II and everything changed. 5 rounds touching at 25 yards? No problem. 1.5 inches at 50? Yep, it can do that and bust clays on the berm one after the other. With a good quality optic, I was very impressed with the consistency of the review rifle. The Burris is probably overkill on this rifle as it is a big for packing this rifle in a back pack.

The AIM scope is small, though, and light–a benefit for a small pack gun.

The reticle on the AIM.

So what is the ideal optic for a gun like this? For a true survival rifle, I have to insist on iron sights. This is the Aero Survival Rifle. If I’m buzzing around in my plane, and I crash it, there’s no guarantee that the AIM scope is going to survive the impact. Or the Burris. Or any red dot. Irons, though–no worries. To really maximize the potential of the iron sights on this rifle, the ASR would need a much longer forend/barrel shroud, which would increase weight. Still, the railed top does allow for a decent amount of distance between the sights–better than you’d get on a full sized pistol.
The AIM is a good size and honestly would be good enough in most situations. And if I crashed and was lucky enough to walk away, I bet the AIM would, too. But I’d still throw a pair of backup sights in the pack, just in case.

Out of the bag…

We’ve been hauling around the gun in a 5.11 Rush 24. Works great, and leaves a ton of extra room.

Thoughts

I have had the Areo in for a couple of months during this review process. I carried it in a backpack in my Jeep as a survival rifle. I am confident it would have filled the roll nicely. I live in a big town, but travel into rural areas a couple of times a week. A breakdown type carbine is a great choice for my situation. Pack a bag with the Areo, 4-5 loaded magazine, 2 boxes of ammo, a first aid kit, water and a bit of food and I have a great little survival kit. Oh, and a Glock in the same caliber as a carry piece makes the whole package complete.
The only real way to test it, though, would be to head out and really rely on the rifle for a while. While we’re dedicated to the reviews we write here on GunsAmerica, that just didn’t seem practical. But this is package that has a lot of potential. As a personal defense weapon, the 9mm is solid. And the long barrel will push +P rounds past the 1,500 FPS mark. Typical 9mm will run faster than it will from a pistol–closer to the 1,200-1,300 FPS mark–possibly faster. Those speeds are excellent for self defense. And they’re enough to take down game.
The TNW ASR has an MSRP of $799 and the caliber conversion kits are around $200. That’s not bad for a gun that can do what this one does. While it has a serious side, the ASR is fun, too. Some survival guns just seem so bent on being a last-ditch option that that’s all they end up being good for. But not this one. I had more fun plinking with this gun than many of the rifles I’ve reviewed. And it is a great teaching tool, as there’s almost no recoil. That’s an important element, I think, as you won’t mind shooting it. Neither will your significant other. Or your kids. And when you’re out having fun, popping clays on the berm or poking holes in cans, you are building a set of skills and learning to use a gun that we all hope we’ll never need.

The AIM controls.

The crown on the barrel.

The other end of the barrel.

The barrel slides into the upper.

The threads screw in and tighten everything up.

The adjustable stock.

The lower resembles an AR, but the safety is a cross-bolt style.

With the Burris, the accuracy was spot on–exactly what you’d expect from a survival rifle. These are two different groups while zeroing the Burris.

In honor of the Men and Women that have paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

In honor of the Men and Women that have paid the ultimate price for our freedom.   Richard,   The American Gunsmithing Institute is privileged to have contributed to the lives of many of our Armed Forces Veterans past and present. In honor of those men and women, The American Gunsmithing Institute will be holding a Memorial 4-day sale May 23rd through May 27th, where 10% of sales collected from our Memorial day sale will be donated to the Pathway Home, an organization that helps our Veterans.   To participate in this sale, simply click the link next to the offer that you are interested in to get the full details of the course (note requires PDF reader).   To place your order click on the "Click Here to Shop Online" link, or give us a  call at 800-797-0867 to place your order. Please be sure to mention the offer code: MEMDAY2015 when you order.   As an added bonus, if you spend $75.00 or more on your order, we will include *free shipping!   Information on The Pathway Home: http://thepathwayhome.org   "The Pathway Home, Inc. provides comprehensive treatment for our Nation's military personnel who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. We assist those impacted by Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and other post-combat mental health challenges to successfully reintegrate into their families and the community at large."     Bonus Special Gifts! Purchase any of the below products and we will include these 2 Free  Armorer's courses: Browning 1918 Automatic Rifles (BAR) & M1A Rifles, as our gift to you, just for participating in our Memorial day Sale! (courses will be added to your order for free during processing)     Click Here to Shop Online or go to www.americangunsmith.com and enter offer code: MEMDAY2015 to order.     Get 25% Off Certified 1911 Pistolsmithing Course Catalog $1,297.00 / Only $972.75 : Click Here for full course details Certified Glocksmith Course Catalog $1,297.00 / Only $972.75 : Click Here for full course details Certified AR-15/M4 Riflesmith Course Catalog $1,297.00 / Only $972.75 : Click Here for full course details Building the Custom Ruger 10/22 Catalog $79.95 / Only $59.96 : Click Here for full course details     Click Here to Shop Online or go to www.americangunsmith.com and enter offer code: MEMDAY2015 to order.     Get 20% Off Certified Law Enforcement Armorers Course Catalog $797.00 / Only $637.60 : Click Here for full course details Certified Firearm Appraiser Course Catalog $797.00 / Only $637.60 : Click Here for full course details Certified Cowboy Action Armorer Course Catalog $597.00 / Only $477.60 : Click Here for full course details Professional Trigger Jobs and Systems Course Catalog $597.00 / Only $477.60 : Click Here for full course details     Call In Only Specials! - Get 25% Off! Professional Machineshop Course Catalog $1397.00 / Only $1047.75 : Click Here for full course details Professional Welding Course Catalog $1297.00 / Only $972.75 : Click Here for full course details     Click Here to Shop Online or go to www.americangunsmith.com and enter offer code: MEMDAY2015 to order.     Purchase any other courses in our catalog (excluding professional gunsmithing courses pages 4-11) during this sale and we will give 10% to the Pathway Home - Click here to view the catalog online. Plus: Spend $75.00 or more and we will include *free shipping!. Please be sure to enter offer code: MEMDAY2015 when ordering.       The American Gunsmithing Institute thanks you for your patronage and support of the Pathway Home. We hope that during this time of remembrance and spirit of freedom, you will think of those that died for our freedom.       *This offer cannot be combined with any other GCA discount or AGI cash and can not apply to previous sales.  Limit to 1 per household. Free Shipping only applies to US States. Offer expires: May 27, 2015 **If you become dissatisfied with any AGI DVD, for any reason, you can return it for a full refund for up to one FULL YEAR! If you no longer wish to receive our emails, click the link below: Unsubscribe 351 Second St Napa, California 94559 United States