Documentos de Académico
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AT E V E R Y T U R N
K 6 S D A S A 4 ” ( TA R G E T )
AVA I L A B L E I N . 3 5 7 M A G . / . 3 8 S P L
ROCKET FUEL
ED BROWN’S ‘FUELED BY’ SERIES
BOOSTS THE
S&W M&P
SUPER
RUGERS
TWO HOT NEW
WHEELGUNS
+
ROCK ISLAND
.22 MAGNUM
KILLER
ELITE
SPRINGFIELD’S
WALTHER NEW XD-M ELITE
CCP .380
NIGHTHAWK
DTS TRIGGER
CONFIDENCE
ACHIEVED
We know the decision to own and carry a firearm is not made lightly. To do so with confidence, you rely on the proficiency that can only
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RUGER.COM/LITERACK
CONTENTS
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 | VOLUME 34, NUMBER 4 | PUBLISHED BIMONTHLY | www.handguns.com
FEATURES
24 ROCKET FUELED
By KEITH WOOD
Ed Brown is embarking on a new venture with its “Fueled By” series,
taking platforms like the excellent Smith & Wesson M&P and blasting 24
them into the stratosphere. Our reviewer thinks it’s a winner.
32
32 TANGLED UP IN BLUE
By BRAD FITZPATRICK
The venerable Browning Buck Mark still delivers accuracy and depend-
ability. The new Vision Blue version delivers it in eye-catching style.
40 KILLER ELITE
By JAMES TARR
The XD platform has been a solid and hugely successful pistol line
for Springfield. The new XD-M Elite family, typified by the Precision
model, shows why you can almost always improve on a good thing. 40
50 RACE READY 50
By J. SCOTT RUPP
The new Ruger GP100 Super Competion revolvers from the firm’s cus-
tom shop, available in 9mm and .357/.38, represent a big step forward.
DEPARTMENTS
4 FRONT FOCUS 20 EN GARDE
RICHARD NANCE
10 SPEEDLOADS
FIRING LINE
The pros and cons of different
carry styles and how to deter-
• Nighthawk DTS trigger
REPORT
mine what’s best for you.
• Mann .25 ACP
• Frank Garcia dot drill
72 BACK PAGE
16 ESSENTIALS BEAUTIES 66 WALTHER CCP
JAMES TARR
1791’s novel moldable holster
STAN TRZONIEC
Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite
M2 .380
By J. SCOTT RUPP
is easy to fit—and refit—a wide
variety of guns.
12 + 1
10 + 1
an EDC-friendly compact frame. The all-new Taurus® G3c delivers the
ultimate balance of power and performance for any self defense situation. 3.2”
BARREL
22
OUNCES
| FRONT FOCUS
HANDGUNS.COM EXCLUSIVE
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ton Miller’s article on the Model 13. The first centerfire gun I ever bought
was a Model 13. Mine was a four-inch rather than three-inch like Pay-
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| HANDGUNS TV | Thursdays @ 10:30 p.m. on Sportsman Channel
JULY
<<< SEASON PREMIER! Jim and Rich
2nd dive into everyday carry, from guns and
ammunition to knives and flashlights.
2020 Rich tackles the Closing the Gap drill
and demonstrates the difference be-
tween point-shooting and aiming.
DROP-IN MAGIC
THE NEW NIGHTHAWK DTS 1911 TRIGGER IS EASY TO INSTALL AND CAN DO
WONDERS FOR YOUR FAVORITE PISTOL.
By Keith Wood
IN THE SEMIAUTOMATIC HANDGUN should be reserved for only the most and brought it to Nighthawk. He
world, there is nothing quite like a skilled among us. Until now. assisted in the decade-long develop-
good 1911 trigger. The short, straight With the introduction of the Drop- ment and manufacturing process.
pre-travel, the rigid little wall and in Trigger System (DTS) from Night- The result is one of the most practi-
then the clean break make for a pull hawk Custom, achieving a great 1911 cal and useful design changes to the
that makes guns easy to shoot well. trigger is within reach of anyone 1911 in recent memory.
It is, justifiably, the trigger by which with the most basic of mechanical The standard 1911 ignition system
all other pistols are judged. skills and tools. is comprised of several parts that in-
There’s a problem, though: In Nighthawk has built a reputation clude the sear, hammer, disconnec-
order to get a really good trigger for building some of the most in- tor, hammer strut and three-legged
pull on your 1911 you need to either novative and well-built 1911s on the sear spring. These parts fit together
pay for a premium-priced handgun custom market. The core of Night- in a somewhat complicated arrange-
or send your pistol out for custom hawk’s business is its “one gun, one ment that requires a reasonable
tuning by a professional. Simply gunsmith” philosophy, which means level of skill to assemble correctly.
swapping ignition parts on a 1911 exactly what it says, and it was an It’s not impossible, just tricky—par-
isn’t brain surgery, but precisely fit- experienced 1911 gunsmith named ticularly if the gun is a Series 80.
ting those parts for a perfect break Mark Dye who came up with the DTS Just installing aftermarket parts
ment including CNC mills and wire hammer, disconnector, hammer strut into one fully enclosed, machined
stainless steel unit that requires no hand fitting. The sear spring is a single-
EDM cutters have taken the exces- leg design that doesn’t need tweaking.
sive tolerances out of the parts-
making process so that, in theory, properly align with the sear and whether the pin holes would prop-
components can be made that mate hammer pin holes in a variety of erly align. They did.
together almost perfectly with frames is one of the factors that has After my five-minute trigger job,
little, if any, hand work. These tech- kept such a system from being suc- things improved dramatically. The
niques are expensive, though, and cessfully launched in the past. spongy, creepy trigger was sudden-
major manufacturers have found it Though Nighthawk doesn’t claim ly crisp and consistent, breaking at
to be far more cost-effective to fit that the DTS will work with every 4.25 pounds. I ran two magazines
injection-molded or cast ignition 1911, they are confident it will fit in through the gun with the DTS in-
parts into their guns. the vast majority of the guns on the stalled, and it performed flawlessly.
Companies have marketed “drop- market. I fit the DTS to two differ- It worked with a factory gun, but
in” trigger kits in the past, but ent handguns made by two differ- how about one with some non-
these are really just matched sets ent companies to evaluate the unit’s standard parts installed? My first
of parts that still require assembly compatibility. 1911 was a Series 80 Gold Cup that
and do little simplify the process. Nighthawk has created a helpful I bought as a high school student in
The Nighthawk DTS is a fully series YouTube videos that walks the early 1990s. I fit a Wilson thumb
enclosed steel unit that replaces viewers step-by-step through the safety, an aftermarket trigger and,
the sear, hammer, disconnector, process of removing the factory years later, a Chen Custom combi-
hammer strut and two of the three parts and installing the DTS. I’ve nation checkered mainspring hous-
sear spring legs. The only other had my share of 1911s apart over ing and extended mag well. The
component included is a single-leg the years, but I am by no means a DTS fit with no problems and the
spring that allows the grip safety to pro. Taking my time, it took me less gun’s trigger pull was immediately
function properly. than five minutes to install the DTS improved.
Both the sear and disconnector on my first try. The only tools re- The guys at Nighthawk Custom
springs are housed inside the drop- quired are a pair of simple punches advised me that the trigger pull
in unit. All of the parts, with the and a means for removing the grip would actually improve after
exception of the springs, are ma- screws. the first few magazines after the
chined from bar stock 416 stainless I first installed the DTS on a springs settle in, and that is exactly
steel for a precise fit. You won’t find Springfield Armory Champion Com- what happened. After settling, the
MIM or cast parts on the DTS. mander-length 1911 I’ve had for trigger on my Gold Cup broke at a
Because 1911s are produced by so close to 20 years. It is a slick pistol, very nice 3 5/8 pounds.
many companies in so many facto- but the trigger was nothing to brag The DTS retails for $300, which
ries around the world, consistency about. The frames and slides for is less-expensive (not to mention
can be an issue. The challenge of these guns were produced by Imbel far quicker) than having a gunsmith
ensuring that a drop-in unit will in Brazil, which made me question perform a good trigger job.
inches high and is only 0.56 inch wide long, 2.75 inches high and 0.56 inch wide at the slide. It used an internal bolt,
at the slide and 0.74 at the grips. with an annular ring in the chamber to retard blowback.
Mann dispensed with the conven-
tional bulky slide and used an internal pocket inside the waistband where the vances in firearms design. As a result
bolt and an annular ring in the cham- little gun was carried and covered by the most advanced .25 ACP of all time
ber to retard blowback, as there was the belt for additional cover. These ru- went out of production in 1924, and the
insufficient bolt weight for a conven- dimentary carry options meant people firm began making conventional ap-
tional blowback action. This made the kept dropping the pistol and breaking pearing .32 ACP and .380 ACP pocket
Mann the only retarded-blowback the hard rubber grips, so Mann came pistols that were still smaller than
action .25 ACP produced. out with aluminum grips. their rivals.
The gun is a natural pointer, and Cleaning is easy. Just pull the bolt The depression in the Weimar Re-
the Mann is one of the easiest .25 ACP back and twist the barrel to take it out. public took its toll on sales across the
pistols to hit with. There is a modern- Further disassembly gets hard, and the board in Germany during this period,
looking gutter channel for sights and mainspring is a monster to deal with. and the firm went out of business in
that is more than is adequate at the A lot of folks took to just removing the 1929.
ranges you use a .25 ACP. barrel for cleaning conventionally and
The extreme flatness of the Mann then just swishing the rest of the gun HOW DOES THE .25 STACK UP?
.25 ACP made it a natural for deep cov- around in a pan of gasoline then dry- Bullet Muzzle Muzzle
Cartridge Weight (gr.) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft.-lbs.)
er carry. In the 1920s the U.S. issued ing and oiling it.
the big greenback dollar bills, and wal- Fritz Mann’s design was everything .25 ACP 35 900 63
.32 ACP 60 1,000 133
lets had to be bigger to accommodate he wanted it to be and far outclassed
.380 ACP 90 1,000 200
them. The little Mann was often found its rivals. Unfortunately the average
9mm Luger 115 1,135 332
discreetly carried upside down inside buyer wanted something conventional
Note: Hornady Critical Defense book specs
the wallet. Many pants had a watch and did not appreciate sweeping ad-
FN 509 ® FAMILY
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versacarry
| SPEEDLOADS
comfort
flex deluxe SKILLS DRILLS | BY J. SCOTT RUPP
FOR MANY SHOOTERS, MYSELF INCLUD- fire six shots at each dot. Count up
ed, the hardest thing to master your hits. If the bullet hole touches
with a handgun is combining speed the dot or circle, it’s a hit. Rounds
with accuracy. That’s what this drill fired after the time limit are misses.
works on. GOALS This is not an easy drill.
GEAR Gun capable of holding at Starting out I found it best to begin
least six rounds, two-inch circles or with a warm-up. Shoot the first dot
POLYMER EMBEDDED LEATHER dots, shot timer untimed. If nothing else this will
DRILL The target consists of six tell you where your gun is shoot-
two-inch circles or dots, engaged at ing with that ammo at seven yards,
M&P®45 SHIELD™ M&P®9 SHIELD™ M&P®9 PRO SERIES® M&P®9 M&P®40 PRO SERIES® M&P®9
NIGHT SIGHTS OPTICS READY 5.0” BARREL PORTED BARREL & SLIDE OPTICS READY OPTICS READY and PORTED BARREL & SLIDE
3.3” BARREL PORTED BARREL & SLIDE 5.0” BARREL 4.25” BARREL 5.0” BARREL
4.0” BARREL
Follow Us!
/smithwessoncorp
| ESSENTIALS | By JAMES TARR
FORM-FITTING
1791 GUNLEATHER’S ULTRA CUSTOM HOLSTER IS USER-MOLDABLE.
AT THE MOST RECENT SHOT SHOW, I GOT
a look at 1791’s Gunleather (1791Gun
Leather.com) “consumer customiz-
able holster.” Now, historically, I
have found multi-use, adjustable
and/or adaptable holsters disap-
pointing at best, but as the inventor
demonstrated the company’s Ultra
Custom holster, I got excited—to the
point I thought this holster was the
neatest and most innovative product
Drop the holster in the provided bag and submerge it in hot water to allow it
<
I saw at the whole show. I’m pretty to be molded to your pistol. 1791 Gunleather provides two tools that are used
sure it has created a new category of to create a sight channel and to assist in the molding process.
holsters.
This is an inside-the-waistband generic black flat pancake leather trying to get it wet.
holster, offered in sizes to fit every- holster and might seem a tad small Pro tip: Find a tall pot if you can,
thing from tiny pocket guns to large for your pistol. Do not despair. Dur- as the bag will want to stand upright
full-size pistols. The Ultra Custom ing the fitting process the holster with the weights on the bottom. If
holster looks like leather because it will stretch to conform to your gun’s you use a low pot, you’ll have to lay
is. It is American cowhide leather on dimensions. the holster sideways and keep it
the outside, with a nice suede lining The fitting process is relatively submerged with tongs while trying
on the inside. simple and quick. All it requires to keep the mouth of the bag from
However, unlike traditional from you is a gallon of water, a cook- submerging.
leather holsters, in between those ing pot and a cooking thermometer. And don’t get aggressive with
two layers of leather is a secret ther- Everything else is included. those tongs, as pressing the bag
moplastic material the inventor has Heat the water to between 145 and against the bottom of the pot might
dubbed Memory-Lok. Thermoplastic 175 degrees on the stove, with 165 melt a hole in it—which will get the
means a material that becomes pli- being ideal. You don’t want it boil- holster wet and force you to let it dry
able upon heating but hardens when ing, so getting your pot of water to for a few days before trying again.
cooled. Upon heating this holster, the correct temperature–and keep- (Ask me how I know.)
you form-fit it to your pistol. I don’t ing it there–is why you need a cook- Leave the holster submerged for
mean fit it to your type of pistol. I ing thermometer. 1791 Gunleather five minutes, then remove it. If the
mean fit it to your specific handgun. provides a thick plastic bag for you. holster is soft and malleable, you’re
This isn’t a one-and-done proposi- Put the holster in the bag along good to go. If not, put the holster
tion. If you buy this holster and mold with some weights, which can be back in the hot water for a couple
it to, say, a Glock 19 and then buy a small rocks from your garden or more minutes.
Smith & Wesson M&P Compact and a bunch of pocket change. These When you pull it out, the leather-
decide you want to carry that, you weights will help keep the holster wrapped polymer body of the
can reheat your Ultra Custom hol- submerged in the water. holster will be warm, it will not be
ster and form it to your new Smith. When the water is at the right hot, and you’ll be able to touch it
You don’t have to guess which temperature, put the plastic bag with bare hands. The metal screws
size holster fits your gun because containing the holster in the water, holding the plastic belt clip to the
1791 Gunleather will send you the making sure the holster is fully sub- holster body, on the other hand, will
right one based on the gun you’re merged, but keep the mouth of the be substantially hotter and can hurt
ordering it for. When you receive it, bag above the water. You are trying you if you touch them accidentally.
the Ultra Custom appears to be a to get the holster hot; you are not (Ask me how I know.)
ROUGH RIDER
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YOU CARRY, JUST IN CASE
SHOULDN’T IT BE AN HK ... JUST IN CASE?
the HK416 carbine used by the world’s most elite fighting units.
CARRY CONSIDERATIONS
TIPS ON HOW BEST TO CONCEAL YOUR HANDGUN.
PROPERLY CONCEALING A HANDGUN ON
your body requires selecting the
right gun, gear and cover garment—
as well as understanding where on
your body the gun will best hide.
Hear are a few things to consider be-
fore heading out the door armed.
Size matters—at least when it
comes to concealing a handgun. Many
people assume that barrel length is
what makes a gun easier or harder
to conceal. While that argument has
some validity when your gun is worn
in an outside-the-waistband (OWB)
holster, barrel length is essentially a
Alfredo Rico
non-issue as far as concealing a gun
carried inside the waistband (IWB)
Inside-the-waistband holsters (l.) conceal easier than outside-the-waist-
<
380Auto (9x17)
9mm Mak (9x18) Proven performance for uncertain Times!
9mm Luger (9x19)
.40S&W
.45Auto
AMERICAN MADE
AMERICAN PROMISE
ness back in 1988. Brown took his capable custom gun souri. Ed is retired, and his son, Travis, serves as the
making, product design and precision manufacturing company’s CEO.
backgrounds and put them to use making high-quality Ed Brown Products hasn’t forgotten its roots, and the
parts for the 1911. company continues to build high-quality 1911s as well as
All the while he continued to build custom guns, component parts. But the firm has diversified, introduc-
earning Pistolsmith of the Year honors in 1991 from the ing models such as the innovative KC9 that arrived in
American Pistolsmiths Guild—joining a list of names 2018. And 2020 brought another chapter in the Brown
that includes such industry greats as Hamilton Bowen, legacy when the company launched its “Fueled By”
James Clark and Bill Wilson. series of handguns based on the Smith & Wesson M&P
Today, Ed Brown Products is one of the true success 2.0 pistol.
stories of the firearms world, where members of the The striker-fired M&P, introduced by Smith & Wes-
Brown family still run the operations of the company’s son back in 2005, has become immensely popular in the
20,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Perry, Mis- hands of both law enforcement and armed citizens,
ED BROWN produced in-house by Ed Brown. Ad- a role. My test sample’s trigger broke
slide cut (SRO shown here is one sight option) and tall sights. CNC mills have changed the
MOSSBERG | MC2c ™
C O M PA C T
REASONS
TO FEEL
CONFIDENT.
#89012
MC2c 9mm
Semi-Auto
ROCKET FUELED
slide game in recent years, and Lightening slides actually reduce in-house, taking advantage of the
Solidworks software allows machin- muzzle rise, however slightly, so the company’s long expertise in mak-
ists to produce just about anything cuts aren’t just for looks. The slide is ing handguns function reliably. The
the designers can engineer. available in either raw bead-blasted drop-in extractor is fully machined
The slide on the MP-F3 is radically stainless or with a black DLC finish. from heat-treated 4340 alloy and
machined, with forward and rear Coupled with the fluted barrel, this replaces the MIM factory part. Like
cocking serrations, a trio of window slide will turn heads. many of the components of this hand-
cuts milled to lighten the slide and Many of the small parts on the slide gun, Ed Brown sells them as acces-
a mounting surface for the Trijicon are custom additions as well. The sory parts also.
RMR series of sights. frame-mounted extractor is made The MP-F3 maintains the factory
full-length guide rod, which is made
from steel. The flat recoil spring
Instead of the stock frame rails, the MP-F3
<
features an oversize custom accuracy rail that promises a long functional life.
is hand-fitted into the frame. The sights are upgraded with an
AmeriGlo Pro-Glo tritium front and a
plain steel rear that dovetails into the
slide just behind the Trijicon RMR
cut. Since the sights are suppressor
height, they can be co-witnessed with
the optic, and of course, they are
compatible with suppressors.
My MP-F3 came with a Trijicon
Specialized Reflex Optic (SRO), which
has the same base footprint as that
company’s RMR. In addition to the
<
In addition to the two window
cuts in the side, there’s one up top
for reduced muzzle jump. The
front sight is an AmeriGlo Pro-Glo
tritium.
With its tall sights and, in this case, red dot installed,
<
WWW.HANDGUNS.COM
Hornady’s 115-grain XTP, which also
has proven to be very accurate in the
last several handguns I have evalu-
ated.
The threaded barrel makes this
handgun a natural suppressor host. I
used both a DeGroat Tactical Arma-
ments and a SilencerCo Osprey with
this handgun. Both suppressors cut
down the already-light recoil of the
MP-F3 and, of course, significantly
reduced the sound signature and
muzzle blast.
This was my first exposure to
Hornady’s Subsonic 147-grain 9mm
load, and I was impressed with how
accurate and quiet it was. Thanks to
the optic and tall sights, neither sup-
pressor obscured my ability to aim
effectively.
So what is a handgun like the
MP-F3 good for? One could call it a
“crossover gun” since it can be used
for defensive, competition and recre-
ational purposes. It’s not a compact BUILD KITS
Everything you need to finish your build
pistol, but its footprint is no larger
than many of the full-size handguns Color Matched Optic-Ready Slide And
many citizens carry concealed on a Flaired 2-Piece Magwell
daily basis. Fitted Black Threaded Barrel
If you think about the lengths of
Stainless Steel Guide Rod Assembly
the aisles of a big box store, having
a handgun that is capable of mak- Our Proven Slide Completion Kit
ing hits at extended ranges is not
a terrible idea. According to my SLIDES + MAGWELLS
A little bit or all the way it is up to you
interpretation of the IDPA rule book,
the MP-F3 would meet the require- Available as individual components
ments for the Carry Optics division or as color matched sets
and, with the optic removed, could be
used in the Enhanced Service Pistol
category. Above all, it is a really fun
gun to shoot. www.rival-arms.com
There are companies out there
building guns using a series of drop-
in parts, and they call them “cus-
tom.” Ed Brown Products is not one
of those companies. The MP-F3 is the
result of careful engineering from
people who know what makes guns
run well. At its core, it’s a polymer-
frame handgun built to be the best it
can be—and not to meet a consumer
price point. This isn’t the last word
from the company on this platform.
It’s just the beginning. I can’t wait to
see what’s next.
M
TANGLED UP IN
TANGLED UP IN BLUE
at the OK Corral could pass I heard many older and more Each Buck Mark Plus Vision
under his nose without a second experienced shooters utter those pistol comes with two 10-round
glance. But when I walked by him exact same words while I lingered magazines equipped with a thumb
with Browning’s new Limited Edi- around the Buck Mark display at tab that makes depressing the
tion Buck Mark Plus Vision pistol this year’s SHOT Show. Introduced spring and loading rounds simple
in blue, the kid almost fell off his way back in 1985, the Buck Mark and hassle-free. The open windows
chair. remains mechanically very much on the sides of the magazine offer
“Dad, what is that?” the same pistol it was back when a view of how many cartridges
I explained, and he asked if he Dire Straits was topping the charts remain on tap.
could see it. I held the gun while he with “Money for Nothing.” Like other members of its family,
looked over every inch of it. At its heart is a direct-blowback the Buck Mark Plus Vision Blue
“That’s the coolest gun I’ve ever action that harnesses the .22 LR’s uses an alloy frame that is plenty
seen,” he said matter-of-factly. “I mild recoil to cycle the action. The durable for .22 LR ammunition yet
want one.” Buck Mark, like the Ruger Mark lightweight and affordable. There
series and Smith & Wesson’s famed are three different Vision mod-
Model 41, uses a reduced slide. els this year—in blue, black and
BROWNING When firing, only a portion of the red—and all of them come with a
BUCK MARK PLUS slide moves; the sights and barrel tensioned aluminum outer sleeve
VISION BLUE stay fixed.
That means better shot-to-shot
that surrounds a 5.9-inch steel bar-
rel insert. This allows the barrel to
TYPE: direct blowback semiauto rimfire
CALIBER: .22 LR consistency and a reduced cycling be tensioned fore and aft and offers
CAPACITY: 10+1 load. It’s also no coincidence that improved accuracy at a lower cost.
BARREL: 5.9 in., muzzle brake, threaded
these three pistols are well known Plus, and perhaps most impor-
1/2x28
for their accuracy and reliability. tantly—to my son, anyway—the
OVERALL LENGTH: 9.9 in.; 11.5 in. w/muzzle
brake The design is extremely simple yet aluminum barrel sleeve allows for
WEIGHT: 27 oz. effective. some very cool upgrades to the
GRIPS: UFX rubber overmolded The Buck Mark’s slide is outfit- pistol in the form of barrel cuts.
FINISH: anodized blue ted with a sturdy extractor on its The Swiss cheese barrel design of
TRIGGER: 3.6 lb. pull (measured)
right side that’s durable enough to the Buck Mark Plus Vision Blue I
SIGHTS: click adjustable Pro-Target rear,
Truglo/Marble Arms fiber-optic front; remove cases from the chamber. tested wouldn’t work with a one-
Picatinny rail When the slide moves forward, the piece barrel, but it’s easy to do with
SAFETY: manual thumb safety extractor extends into a cutout in a two-piece barrel.
PRICE: $700 the barrel sleeve and bites on the What’s more, each of the three Vi-
MANUFACTURER: Browning, browning.com
rim of the cartridge. sion Buck Mark guns gets a unique
sleeve design exclusive to that col-
or. The blue version I tested comes
with a honeycomb pattern; the
black model comes with sawtooth
cuts; and the red version receives
lateral barrel cuts. The exterior of
the aluminum surfaces is anodized
with the respective color of the gun,
and the barrel sleeve cuts retain
their shiny silver look. It offers a bit
of contrast that certainly adds to
the Plus Vision’s wow factor.
The Buck Mark’s inner barrel
is equipped with 1/2x28 threads,
and the gun comes equipped with
a muzzle brake. The brake gives
the gun a unique look and helps
the pistol balance well in the hand,
although the threaded muzzle also
The Plus Vision Blue pistol offers the same control layout as other Buck
<
Mark guns. The thumb safety and slide stop are wide enough to be easily begs to have a suppressor added.
manipulated. All Buck Mark Plus Vision
Even with the added weight of the brake, the pistol is well balanced. profile of the company’s Feather
Aluminum frame,
30% the weight
of standard steel
G10
laminated
grips
Adjustable Match-grade
trigger, for a smooth,
Rounded
crisp break
frame,
grip and
mainspring
housing
Sightmark Mini Shot are perfect. to me, so that may be an issue with
• Custom and
Universal fit
configurations
• 100% digital
compression circuit
• Custom
programming for
your hearing loss
• Waterproof Nano
Coating
the ammunition. But if I kept the
gun lubed and fed it ammo that
made more than 900 fps, the Buck
Mark had no issues.
Browning may be leading the
class for rimfire pistol grip design.
The UFX system is comfortable and
offers a secure and consistent hold
on the pistol.
Everything about the Plus Vision
Blue pistol feels like it was made to
the highest standards, from the fit
of the frame to the grip to the slide <
The UFX rubber grips have thumb grooves for a secure and comfortable hold
machining to the trigger. There’s on the gun, and even those with large hands will find these grips suitable.
no doubt it’s one of the most strik-
ing .22 rimfires on the market. The and lots of fun to shoot. It gobbles won my son’s heart, and it did the
anodized finish seems durable, and up inexpensive ammo, it doesn’t same for the folks shooting beside
throughout testing I never saw any generate painful recoil or daunting me at the range. The man in the
wear or chipping. muzzle blast, and it is capable of next bay’s first words to me were,
Looks and build quality aside, printing tiny groups. It’s a hoot to “Cool gun.” Yes, it is.
there’s something to be said for a shoot whether you’re spinning steel
gun that’s just fun to shoot. I think or knocking tin cans around, and Buy it now. Log on to GalleryofGuns.com, select
we reserve too much space in our it’s accurate enough to be a func- this firearm, pay a deposit and it will be at your
gun safes for guns that serve a tional pest control gun should the local gun store in two days. When purchased from
GalleryofGuns.com, Davidson’s guarantees to repair
higher purpose—competition, hunt- need arise. or replace this firearm for life.
ing, self-defense and so forth. Above all else, the Buck Mark
But the Buck Mark is just lots Plus Vision Blue grabs attention. It
S
pringfield Armory has an entire family tree
of XD pistols. First came the original XD
series, then the enhanced XD-M, the com-
pact XD-S and the newer XD-E. All have
polymer frames, and all are striker-fired
except the XD-E, which has an external hammer.
They are all available in different sizes, finishes
and calibers. So it should be no surprise that the
brand-new XD-M Elite line already has five models,
including a 3.8-inch version; two 4.5-inch ver-
sions (one black, one flat dark earth); and an OSP
(Optically Sighted Pistol) Threaded model with a
4.5-inch barrel, tall sights and ready to accept a
slide-mounted red dot. And then there’s the pistol
we’re reviewing here: the 5.25-inch XD-M Elite
Precision. As of right now, the XD-M Elite pistols
are available only in 9mm.
Springfield introduced a 5.25-inch XD-M about 10
years ago, aiming it toward competition shooters,
and officially, it was/is the 5.25 Competition Series
model. In contrast, the new 5.25-inch XD-M Elite is
called the Precision, with Springfield thinking this
iteration of the pistol would be just as useful as a
defensive/tactical pistol as it would be as a compe-
tition pistol. I think the company is right.
As polymer-frame, striker-fired pistols go, the
XD-M pistols have distinctive looks. For the ABG
(anything but Glock) crowd, the Springfield XD
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY
has added a slide lock on the right pull was so smooth and crisp it hon-
side of the gun. And, unlike some
XD-M ELITE PRECISION
estly felt a pound less than that.
handguns, the steel tab on the right One obvious change with the
TYPE: striker-fired semiauto centerfire
actually works as both a slide stop XD-M Elite is the magazine well.
CALIBER: 9mm Luger
CAPACITY: 22+1
and a slide release, so if you’re a These pistols come with a factory-
BARREL: 5.25 in. lefty this gun now does everything installed polymer magazine well.
OAL/HEIGHT/WIDTH: 8.3/6.6 (mag in- equally well for you. The 3.8- and 4.5-inch XD-M Elite
serted)/1.3 in. At the time of the XD’s introduc- pistols have what the company calls
WEIGHT: 29.3 oz.
tion, its crisper-than-the-competi- its “short” mag well, while the 4.5
CONSTRUCTION: Melonite-coated carbon
tion trigger pull was another reason OSP and Precision Elite models
steel slide; polymer frame
SIGHTS: fully adjustable rear, red fiber-optic 1911 fans tended to gravitate toward come with a “standard” mag well
front it, and the good trigger pulls con- that is extended and flared.
TRIGGER: META, 5.5 lb. pull (measured) tinued with the XD-M. Apparently As competition shooters will tell
SAFETIES: trigger lever, internal drop, grip this wasn’t good enough for Spring- you, even a small magazine well
PRICE: $653
field, so with the XD-M Elite series will smooth out and speed up your
MANUFACTURER: Springfield Armory,
you’ll see the META trigger. META reloads, but don’t think they’re not
springfield-armory.com
stands for Match Enhanced Trigger useful on the street. That’s why the
FBI spec’d them on its newest duty
pistols.
The magazine well on the XD-M
Elite Precision is a sizable one,
but it is on an already sizable gun.
You’re not sacrificing concealabil-
ity with the large well, as this pistol
never had that.
The bigger your mag well, the
faster your reload, no matter your
skill level. I practiced reloading the
XD-M Elite, and while I couldn’t
quite throw the mag in the gun from
across the room, it sure felt like it.
Reloads were blindingly fast.
Compared to the standard unbev-
eled frame on the gun, there is no
comparison. But if at some point
you get tired of the magazine well
and want to remove it, the process
The XD-M Elite’s grip safety now features a memory bump, and the is simple.
<
right-side slide-lock lever is of sufficient size to work as a slide release. Drive out the roll pin that
weight and lessens felt recoil and muzzle rise. guns I’ve carried, so the pistol’s
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<
ation where there are many other incredibly fast and sure. It’s removable if you don’t like it. The mags for the
XD-M Elite Precision hold a whopping 22 rounds.
factors at play.
Years of competition experience
have shown me a flat trigger break- steel plate rack—a nice combination ed up being the favorite of everyone,
ing at 90 degrees means less muzzle of small and large targets. We prac- including me, because, due to its
wiggle and therefore more accuracy, ticed plate rack runs, our transitions combination of features, we all were
although I’ve never done any scien- from target to target, and working on able to shoot it more consistently
tific experiments to quantify the dif- trigger pull speed. and accurately.
ference. But I’ve seen it, felt it and The great thing about a red fiber- The XD-M Precision model car-
demand it of my competition guns. optic insert is that your eye is better ries a suggested retail price of $653.
I headed to the range with the able to track it during the recoil Considering you don’t get just the
Springfield, two other pistols, and cycle, getting you back on target gun but also three magazines, three
two friends. For targets we put up quicker. The trigger broke flat and backstraps, a cable lock, and a nice
a handful of USPSA silhouettes, a straight back. And the magazines soft case for that price, this pistol is
half-dozen Pepper Poppers, and a lasted forever. The Springfield end- a heck of a bargain.
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RACE READY
RUGER OFFERS NOT ONE BUT TWO SUPER GP100
COMPETITIONS, A 9MM AND A .357/.38, FOR
SERIOUS WHEELGUNNERS.
BY J. SCOTT RUPP
RUGER elevation, and a screw on the right samples involves the ejector rod. On
SUPER GP100 side moves the white-outline blade the .357/.38, the shoulder between
COMPETITION
for windage. the top and the stem was nicely
One of the big pluses with the dehorned, but the 9mm’s shoulder
TYPE: double-action/single-action revolver
GP100 design is the strength of its had a slightly sharp edge to it. I
CALIBER: .357 Magnum/.38 Special,
9mm Luger
triple lockup. This includes a locking could barely see it under a magnify-
CAPACITY: 8, cylinders cut for moon clips lever at the front of the crane—a ing glass, but I did notice it just a bit
BARREL: cold hammer forged; 5.5 in. (.357), feature that initially debuted with when slamming down hard on the
6 in. (9mm) the company’s bank-vault-strong rod with the palm of my hand.
OVERALL LENGTH: 11 in.
Redhawk—the offset cylinder stop The one-piece stocks are some-
WEIGHT: 47 oz. (.357), 45.6 oz. (9mm)
and the crane latch at the back of the thing to behold. The .357/.38 sample
FRAME/CYLINDER: PVD black stainless
(.357), satin stainless (.357) cylinder. arrived first, and I thought the
GRIPS: Hogue hand-finished hardwood The eight-shot cylinders on both Hogue hardwood on it was good-look-
SIGHTS: adjustable rear, green fiber-optic models are black PVD-finished, high- ing, but I was blown away by the grip
front strength stainless steel. Because on the 9mm. The former is lighter
TRIGGER: (stock 9mm) 8 lb., 12 oz. double
these are dedicated competition and exhibited a nice straight grain;
action; 3 lb., 4 oz. single action
SAFETY: transfer bar
guns, the cylinders are cut for moon the latter is darker with handsome
PRICE: $1,549 clips, and the machining is expertly figuring.
MANUFACTURER: Ruger, ruger.com Between its grip and the contrast-
ing black cylinder/stainless frame
and shroud, the 9mm is a true beau-
ty. The .357/.38 is no slouch, either.
The satin stainless cylinder release,
hammer, ejector rod and trigger are
left in the white and contrast nicely
with the black PVD finish.
The GP100 was designed to be easy
to take down. It breaks down to its
sub-assemblies in seconds, and Ru-
ger fully intended for Super GP100
Competition shooters to experiment
with the gun’s springs. And that’s
really all you probably need to do
because all the internal parts have
been polished and optimized for a
The .357/.38 stainless metal gets a black PVD finish, with the hammer, smooth trigger pull.
<
cylinder latch and ejector rod left in the white for a nice contrast. If you want to change springs,
\\ r o c k i s l a n d a r m o r y . c o m
RACE READY
remove the slotted screw at the spring, after taking out the main- and remove the plunger to access the
base of the grip and pull the grip. spring assembly remove the ham- spring.
Cock the hammer and insert a small mer and the trigger guard assembly. Reassemble in reverse order, en-
punch, Allen wrench or similar tool Ruger’s directions in the manual will suring when you reinstall the trigger
into the hole at the bottom of the guide you through this, and it’s easy. assembly that the transfer bar and
hammer strut to trap the spring. Hold The only difficulty I encoun- pawl are correctly positioned. Re-
the hammer with your fingers, pull tered—with both the Supers and my place the mainspring assembly and
the trigger and ease the hammer for- .44 Special—was one mentioned in the grips, and you’re done.
ward. Then you can remove the strut the manual. The trigger guard lock I already had some Wilson Com-
and mainspring. plunger can be stubborn. I had to bat GP100 springs on hand, and I
At this point you can replace the place the revolver in a padded vise replaced the stock mainspring with
mainspring, and I’d advise that un- and tap lightly on the plunger with a nine-pound one in the .357/.38.
less you’re an old hand at this you a punch and a small hammer. This That really helped the double-action
should take a photo of the orientation freed the plunger and allowed me to trigger pull, dropping it to seven
of the hammer strut assembly for swing out the trigger guard assembly. pounds, one ounce. The stock 9mm
easier reassembly. To replace the spring, drive out the double-action pull went eight pounds,
To replace the trigger return small pin at the back of the assembly 12 ounces. Single action was two
pounds, eight ounces for the .357/.38
and three pounds, four ounces for the
ACCURACY RESULTS | RUGER SUPER GP100 COMPETITION 9mm with stock spring.
I also replaced the trigger return
Bullet Muzzle Std. Avg.
Weight (gr.) Velocity (fps) Dev. (fps) Group (in.) spring in the .357/.38 with an eight-
pounder. That didn’t suit me as well.
.38 Special
Hornady American Gunner XTP 125 862 28 2.1 It felt great while dry-firing, but when
Blazer Brass FMJ 130 926 19 3.3 I tried to engage a plate rack at speed
Remington WheelGun TMWC 148 716 28 2.4 I found myself short-stroking the trig-
Remington WheelGun LRN 158 763 16 2.5 ger on occasion.
9mm Luger Believe it or not, you can tempo-
Remington UMC FMJ 115 1,261 23 2.5 rarily lock up a revolver if you don’t
SIG 365 FMJ 115 1,196 24 2.7 allow the trigger to go past its reset
Hornady American Gunner XTP 115 1,145 24 3.5 point, and the lighter spring seemed
Notes: Accuracy results are averages of four five-shot groups at 25 yards from an MTM pistol rest. Velocities are aver- to make me more prone to that prob-
ages of 10 shots recorded on a ProChrono placed 10 feet from the muzzle. Abbreviations: FMJ, full metal jacket; LRN, lead
roundnose; TMWC, Targetmaster wadcutter lem. I’ll bet Jerry Miculek and other
elite revolver shooters don’t have this
issue, though, and veteran competi-
tors already know what spring setup
suits them best—and the Super
GP100 is ready, willing and able to
accommodate them.
Benchrest accuracy results are
shown in the accompanying table. I
don’t think they’re all that impres-
sive, but I blame the shooter. My eyes
aren’t great in the first place, and
while I do think the fiber-optic front
sight design is a winner, the rod sits
high in the blade, and there’s not
much hard black above it.
For me this meant taking a good six
o’clock hold was difficult. Younger,
sharper eyes will undoubtedly shoot
The Hogue one-piece grips are as
<
Lifetime Warranty
on the tubes and followers
EDBROWN.COM
RACE READY
tion to the ammo listed, I tried to work with. I was really impressed
Federal Syntech. The results with by how natural they felt when the
the 115-grain version results weren’t buzzer went off and my hand went to
worth recording, and the 150-grain the grip. I also found I really liked
flatnose load was even more unsuited how smooth the grips are, despite
to the gun. For whatever reason, my initial skepticism they wouldn’t
some of those rounds keyholed, and provide enough control. They were
there was no semblance of a group. fine in that regard. And, of course, if
Practical accuracy with other these wood beauties aren’t up your
ammo in both guns was terrific, alley, they’re easily changed.
though. I worked with Revolution At speed I shot the 9mm better
Target’s six-inch plate rack as well than I did the .38, despite the lower
as IPSC cardboard targets, drawing trigger pull weight on the latter. Who
from a holster I bought from Speed knows why.
Beez. When I did my part both revolv- Target-transition times were a
ers did theirs. fraction slower with the 9mm, but
I mentioned how attractive the that’s to be expected because it oper-
grips are, but they were also a dream ates at much higher pressure and
has snappier recoil than the .38. That
was certainly in evidence in hitting
the Revolution’s plates. The .38 loads
would swing them back, but the 9mm
bullets would smack the plates and
make them do a full 360.
Hits on both steel and paper came
easy, and the gun’s excellent balance
and great sights made it easy to track
the front sight and get back on target
quickly. I won’t be giving Miculek a
run for his money any time soon—or,
in fact, ever—but I really enjoyed
working with a couple of revolvers
The revolver’s springs are easy to
<
and three clips come with the gun. Note how the 9mm’s barrel extends into
the frame to account for its shorter cylinder.
HT
C
G
I
I
winter and then Covid-19 got in the
E
S
way. Despite this lack of experience,
HT W
S
I feel confident these Super GP100
A LIG
L A
Competitions would make an excel-
C
lent choice for those looking to shoot
matches with a wheelgun.
The $1,549 suggested retail is in
line with what you’d expect to pay for
a premium revolver. Oh, and I failed
to mention the extras that come with
the guns, chief among these being a
top-notch SKB carrying case. This
heavy-duty number features dual
latches and dual metal-reinforced
holes for padlocks.
The closed-cell foam inside is
custom cut for the gun, and besides
DW VIGIL
the three moon clips you also get a
certificate of authenticity signed by
SUPPRESSOR-READY
Ruger’s president/CEO Chris Killoy, A more affordable entry into the Dan Wesson
a Ruger Custom shop medallion, lineup of high-quality semi-automatics, the
sticker and Ruger soft cloth. Vigil Series 1911 pistols are built around a forged
Not into competition? The Super aluminum frame with a stainless-steel slide and
GP100 Competition certainly holds Cocobolo Shadow grips.
its own as a well-designed eight-
MSRP starting at $1298.
shot revolver. I didn’t fire any .357s
through that model, but its balance,
sights and great trigger pull (with
or without a spring job) would make
it a great hunting gun for those who
prefer to go afield with open sights.
And certainly eight shots of .357, .38
Special, .38 +P or 9mm would come in DW VIGIL DW VIGIL
handy in any home- or trail-defense CCO COMMANDER
situation.
Mostly, I’m glad to see Ruger striv-
ing for refinements that can make DANWESSONFIREARMS.COM
revolvers better. Competition is the
crucible that forms many of the ad-
vancements that will come to define
a particular action or design in the
future, and with the Super GP100
Competition the company has made
big strides toward the revolver’s
advancement—just as the original
GP100 did 35 years ago.
R
ock Island Armory is best known for produc- rimfire ammo, so Rock Island has made a few engi-
ing reliable 1911s at a reasonable price, so it neering changes to the XT 22 Magnum to make it look
should come as little surprise that the com- and feel like a 1911 without sacrificing reliability.
pany’s new .22 Magnum semiauto pistol bears For starters, the XT 22 Magnum features an open-
more than a passing resemblance to John top slide design that is reminiscent of another popu-
Moses Browning’s most influential handgun design. lar semiauto centerfire pistol: the Beretta 92. The
But the 1911 was never designed to function with mild open top eliminates some slide weight and allows the
pistol a lot of accuracy potential. stop free of the gun and move
whole lot of fun to shoot and also a handy sidearm for various purposes. especially those designed to imi-
tate successful centerfire pistols.
I’ve encountered some centerfire-
lookalike rimfire guns that were
finicky about ammo and unreliable.
But the XT 22 Magnum is neither
finicky nor unreliable. It’s just
plain fun to shoot because Rock
Island got the rimfire recipe right.
This is due in large part to the
fact that the gun eats anything. I
tested five different loads from five
different manufacturers and found
each one of them fed, chambered,
fired, extracted and ejected as
promised.
The Rock Island’s inner bar-
The barrel consists of both an inner and an outer portion, and a small
<
barrel. A piston is mounted at the for- indicator that protrudes from the rear CAPACITY: 8+1
BARREL: 3.54 in.
ward part of the slide, and firing gases of the slide. Push in and slide the tab
OAL/HEIGHT/WIDTH: 6.4/5.1/1.2 in.
expanding into the cylinder retard the to the right to release the locking block WEIGHT: 19.4 oz.
piston’s ability to travel down the cylin- and striker-spring cover. On the 9mm CONSTRUCTION: black steel slide (as
der until the bullet has left the barrel. CCP I tested a couple years ago, the tested), black polymer frame
Once that occurs and pressures drop tab moved easily. On this sample the TRIGGER: 6 lb. pull (measured)
to a safe level, the slide cycles. The tab was initially difficult to operate, but SAFETIES: single-side thumb, firing pin,
magazine disconnect
result is the CCP can use a lighter slide it smoothed out after disassembling the
PRICE: $469 (as tested)
and a lighter recoil spring for easy slide gun a couple times. MANUFACTURER/IMPORTER: Walther
operation. Pull back slightly on the slide until the Arms, Waltherarms.com
The CCP M2 offers tool-less take- extractor is free, then lift up the back of
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| FIRING LINE REPORT
hole. The only tricky part to reas-
sembly is ensuring the piston is aligned
with the cylinder hole so you can move
the slide into position.
The CCP M2 .380’s slide features
nicely sharp cocking serrations on the
front and back. The slide on my sample
was black; it’s also available in stainless
and Angel Blue.
The rear sight has two white dots and
is adjustable for windage. In addition The CCP is set up for carry with a Walther pistols have excellent
<
<
to the white-dot front sight on the gun, small, protected slide-lock lever and grips, and the CCP is no exception.
an unobtrusive safety that’s very The Hi-Grip texturing and the under-
Walther supplies two additional sights easy to use. The magazine release is cut behind the trigger guard contrib-
so you can get the gun to shoot to point reversible. ute to terrific control.
of aim with your favorite ammo.
The installed sight measures 0.20 sight out of the slide. It’s easy to do, but Controls include a small slide-lock
inch high, and the other two measure because the sight screw is tiny, I’d ad- lever that’s surrounded by a raised
0.18 and 0.22 inch. My sample shot vise changing sights at home instead of portion of the frame to ensure the lever
high with the ammo I tested, so if this the range so you don’t lose the screw. won’t snag on clothing. The reversible
were my gun I’d switch to the tallest The frame has a three-slot rail, and magazine button likewise has a small
sight. Walther provides the necessary the front of the trigger guard is squared raised shelf to prevent accidentally
Torx wrench to remove the sight screw and serrated while the rear is undercut dropping a mag, and for me it also
and a tiny metal rod to help push the for a high grip on the gun. provides a great reference point
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| FIRING LINE REPORT
so my thumb can find it easily. The I own two Walthers, and I don’t think especially considering those are 25-
elongated safety is easy to work with anybody makes a better grip. I love the yard results from a short-barreled gun.
the firing-hand thumb in both direc- feel and fit, and the Hi-Grip texturing Hits at speed on a six-inch plate rack at
tions. I think it has a Goldilocks-right keeps the gun locked in your hand. I 12 yards came readily, and functioning
amount of tension. can get all three fingers on the gun, was 100 percent. The trigger has some
even without the magazine’s small take-up and is a bit gritty, and pull
finger extension. weight on this sample was six pounds—
When I tested the 9mm version I was no competition trigger but perfectly fine
impressed by how soft-shooting the for defensive uses.
gun was, and the .380 is even easier to Walther promotes this as a con-
control. The gun points like a dream, cealed-carry gun, and it does carry and
The pistol employs a delayed-blow-
<
and anyone with even a modicum of conceal quite well. Additionally, with its
back piston system for an easy-to-
work slide. Two additional front sights experience will be able to handle it well. accessory rail for a light or laser and
come with the gun. Accuracy from the bench was great, 8+1 capacity it makes a terrific home-
defense option as well. The fact that it
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Item 62434,
62426, 62433,
$9.99 Use Online & In-Store Blue-Hawk Radians Use Online & In-Store 62432, 62429, Use Online & In-Store
Item 63135
61451 shown
*68802520*
68802520 LIMIT 4 - Exp. 8/23/20*
77280
$19.99
*68803544*
68803544 LIMIT 4 - Exp. 8/23/20*
980731
$22.08
*68805161*
68805161 LIMIT 4 - Exp. 8/23/20*
64179, 62428,
64178 shown
*68817596*
68817596 LIMIT 4 - Exp. 8/23/20*
22
(661)
10 Gun Electronic
Mechanic's Cart Power Pack with
$ 99
$
630
Jump Starter Security Safe
$
199 99 CA DOJ
59
(155) Compliant
$ 99
279
$
$
3499 $ 99
23999
YOUR CHOICE
OF 7 COLORS
$ Save
Compare to
Snap-on
Blue-Point
6999
Compare to
46% $
32999
Save
284 $
$ 99
10 $
119 99 $
2999
(2,024)
$ 99
18 Save $
13799 $ 99
$
18 Save
62%
$
3999
Compare to
83% Item 5889/62281/61637 shown
Compare to
Kobalt
300841
2699
Compare to
Item 69780
41005 shown
Compare to
Save
54% Item 68998/63248
64080/64263/63091 shown
Dewalt Use Online & In-Store $159 Use Online & In-Store Reese Towpower Use Online & In-Store Anvil Use Online & In-Store
DW1369
$68.14
*68840421*
68840421 LIMIT 4 - Exp. 8/23/20*
Item 56269
64294 shown
*68840499*
68840499 LIMIT 1 - Exp. 8/23/20*
74410
$49.99 68840571
*68840571* LIMIT 4 - Exp. 8/23/20*
A137H0S
$66.39
*68841095*
68841095 LIMIT 2 - Exp. 8/23/20*
16999
®
Rapid Pump 3 Ton Steel
$
(1,723)
1,000+ Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was
advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others
*Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/23/20. may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.
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