High-Speed Range Video: The .375 H&H Magnum & Suppressed AK-47!

Here are some high speed and standard speed videos from today's range excursion. The .375 was a blast to shoot and the AK-47 with the suppressor was amazingly quiet. Look for reviews on both in the coming months. In the meantime, enjoy!!!


-Michad

The New Smith & Wesson M&P .22 LR Pistol

Hello everyone! Today we will be looking at the new Smith & Wesson M&P Pistol chambered in .22 Long Rifle:

The S&W M&P .22 LR Pistol

The S&W M&P .22 is chambered in .22 Long Rifle caliber and is based upon S&W's highly successful line of M&P service-style automatic pistols.  Primarily intended as a sub-caliber trainer to a larger M&P service pistol, the M&P captures the look and feel of the it's larger caliber brothers, while shooting the relatively inexpensive .22 LR cartridge.

 The M&P 22 is a striker fired pistol just like the larger caliber M&P's.  This is notable, as there really aren't that many .22 LR pistols out there that use the striker-firing mechanism, with most using a conventional hammer firing system or other proprietary method.

All controls are in the same location as the larger-caliber M&P's.

The M&P .22 comes with all the controls in the same exact locations as the larger caliber M&P. This is an important feature, as it allows all the training conducted with the sub-caliber M&P .22 to be transferred over to the larger duty-sized M&P pistol, thereby allowing for inexpensive practice with the same techniques used on the duty gun. One notable difference is that there is NO magazine safety on the M&P .22, where the larger caliber M&P comes with a magazine safety.  Also, on the larger caliber M&P's the manual safety is a factory option, but on the M&P .22 the ambidextrous manual thumb safety is standard.

A thread adaptor is required for attachment of suppressors using a standard 1/2x28 thread pattern.

The folks at S&W also took into account the ever-growing market for sound suppressors and made a threaded barrel standard on the M&P .22. This allows those who have .22 LR suppressors to use those devices with the M&P .22 pistol very easily.  The threads on the M&P .22 are NOT your standard 1/2x28 thread pattern; therefore, a thread adaptor is required for the use of a suppressor using the standard thread pattern.

The M&P with suppressor attached.

One more thing worth mentioning when using a sound suppressor with the M&P .22 is that most .22 LR suppressors will allow for the use of the standard sights on the M&P .22.  Typically, a special tall front sight blade is needed to allow for the use of iron sights with suppressors. In the case of the M&P .22 with the .22 LR suppressor, the sights are easily visible with the suppressor attached to the pistol.

Unlike some guns, even when the suppressor is attached, the standard iron sights can still be used.

 In roughly 150 rounds fired with the M&P .22 both suppressed and unsuppressed, the pistol has been utterly reliable. With the suppressor attached and the proper ammunition loaded in the gun, the report is minimal, similar to a loud cough.  The only real negative thing I can find with the gun is that the trigger is really quite heavy and has a spongy feel to it.  However, this was not too detrimental to accuracy, and you may find the trigger will feel fine to you. Purely a personal thing.

All in all, the Smith & Wesson M&P .22 LR pistol is a fine handgun.  It is extremely useful for inexpensive practice with a pistol almost identical to the full size M&P line of handguns, but would also serve as a fun plinking handgun. Smith & Wesson has hit a home run with this .22 LR pistol, and hopefully their innovation continues to put out more products like this one.

-Michad

Change Of Plans-Range Trip Postponed Due To Rain

Unfortunately, the range trip scheduled for today to test out the .375 H&H Magnum has been postponed due to the rain drenching the area.  However, I was able to get some pictures of a few new .22 LR pistols that have recently hit the market and will be posting articles on those shortly.

Enjoy the rainy weather!

-Michad

Range Trip Tommorow - Berry's Bullets & High-Speed Video of the .375 H&H Magnum to follow

Well it's that time of the week for a range visit. Will be making a jaunt down to the range to test out some new pistol loads using some new 125 grain Berry's Plated Bullets I picked up for the .357 Magnum and .38 Special:

Two .38/.357 Bullets; on the left, a 125 grain Berry's Plated Flat Point Bullet. On the right, a 158 grain Hornady XTP Jacketed Hollowpoint.

 Berry's Plated Bullets offer the best of both worlds when it comes to cost and performance.  For those people who don't wish to shoot pure cast lead bullets in their reloads but don't want to pay the higher cost of conventional jacketed bullets, plated bullets represent a good compromise.

Berry's offers bullets for most applications. Here is the 125 grain .38/.357 bullet and the 115 grain 9mm Round Nose Bullet

I have used the Berry's 115 grain 9mm bullets extensively in my 9mm handloads, and have experienced great results and great accuracy.  Just use lead bullet load data as the Berry's website suggests, and you should experience the same great results. I will be sure to report back on the performance of the 125 grain bullets after testing tomorrow.

Also, tomorrow will be the first time that the Mad Aussie and myself get to test out his Winchester Model 70 in .375 Holland & Holland Magnum:




The .375 H&H Magnum is typically considered the absolute minimum acceptable caliber when hunting dangerous game animals in Africa.  Some African countries even require by law that at least a .375 caliber and above cartridge be used.  It should be an interesting experience to say the least, and I will be sure to take some high-speed video of it being shot, along with some other firearms.

Stay Tuned.

-Michad

The Ruger LCP and the .380 ACP

This entry of Firearm Reviews focuses on the diminutive Ruger LCP chambered for the .380 ACP cartridge:

The Ruger LCP (Lightweight Compact Pistol) in .380 ACP

The Ruger LCP is a .380 ACP pistol primarily designed for the burgeoning concealed carry (CCW) market.  In the past few years, the number of concealed carry permit holders has skyrocketed, due in part to an increase in violent crimes, mostly involving drugs.  More and more law-abiding individuals are making the decision to be responsible for their own personal safety, realizing that Law Enforcement is not always present to protect them.  For those people who have chosen to carry a firearm for personal protection, training and familiarity with firearms is paramount, as is the size of the firearm.  The Ruger LCP fits the bill for CCW holders, combining exemplary performance with small, concealable size.

The Ruger LCP above a S&W Model 60 J-Frame in .38 Special. Notice the size difference

The Ruger LCP is chambered in the .380 ACP cartridge, which used to be considered barely adequate for defensive purposes.  With the advances in technology in regards to ammunition manufacture, the .380 ACP is now considered an adequate defensive round when chambered in a reliable pistol such as the LCP.

The new breed of .380 ACP ammunition is vastly superior to the offerings of the past.

Notice the wound track and depth of penetration in the ballistics gelatin. Plenty adequate for defensive use.

The LCP uses the tilt-locking system of operation, rather than the commonly used straight blowback system found on most small .380 ACP pistols.  This means that there is no need for an excessively strong recoil spring to achieve breech locking. Thus, the slide on the LCP can be easily retracted and is not as difficult as retracting the slide on a straight blowback pistol.  This can be a decided advantage for those users who may have limited hand strength and may experience difficulty in retracting the slide on a blowback .380 pistol.

View of the Barrel Hood area showing the caliber stamping and the Glock-style extractor

Right hand side view with the slide retracted showing the tilting-barrel locking arrangement

Front view of the LCP showing another angle of the tilt-barrel arrangement. Note the flared end to assist in locking.

The LCP, unlike many small pistols, is a hammer fired pistol.  There is no pre-cocked striker arrangement as is normal on many small .380 ACP pistols.  The flush-fitting snag-free hammer cannot be thumb-cocked manually, but is pre-cocked when the slide is retracted to chamber a round, and is subsequently re-cocked as the slide cycles during operation.  Because of this, the LCP does not feature a double strike capability.  Therefore, in the event of a stubborn primer or a misfire, the recalcitrant round must be cleared from the pistol, rather than just simply pulling the trigger again for a second try at firing.

View of the LCP's hammer when not pre-cocked. A trigger pull right now would do nothing.

View of the LCP's hammer after being pre-cocked by cycling the slide. The pistol is now ready to fire.

The LCP has very small sights, which are quite difficult to use.  However, in my opinion, this is a minor concern, as this is not a target or plinking pistol.  It is designed for up-close personal defense, generally not beyond 7 yards. At that distance, the sights are more than adequate for defensive encounters, and serve their intended purpose.

Top view of the LCP's minimalist sighting arrangement. Perfectly adequate for their intended purpose, however.

The Ruger LCP .380 ACP: A Fine Defensive Choice

In truth, the Ruger LCP is a fantastic firearm.  It provides reliability and performance in a concealable package.  Yes, the .380 ACP is still not the biggest round out there, but it is the one to be most likely carried.  When people are inconvenienced by carrying a large firearm for protection, they don't end up carrying it.  Something like the Ruger LCP that is very reliable and portable is far more likely to be carried than a large .45 ACP 1911 pistol or something similar.  As the people who carry these little guns like to say "a .380 in the hand is better than the .45 at home". I tend to agree with them.

-Michad