COLT CANADA MRR: EXCLUSIVE FIRST TEST!

First, we won't beat around the bush: Colt Canada's Modular Railed Rifle, or MRR, is going to be coming to the civilian market in the Spring of 2016. It'll be coming in four different lengths (11.6, 14.5, 15.7 and 18 inches) and the MSRP is not yet available. And we were just the first members of the media in the entire world to shoot them. Now, we can't really talk about how we managed to get our hands on these guns but suffice to say that we were extremely lucky to be the first media hacks out there to put rounds downrange with not one, but a myriad of MRR formats. For reasons of maintaining secrecy of all involved in this test, we were not permitted to take photographs at the test location, but will be following this review with photos from the show floor as soon as possible.

Now, for those that missed the initial unveiling of the MRR rifle, it is the next generation in Colt Canada's popular Integrated Upper Receiver, and represents a significant step forward for the Canadian rifle manufacturer. Using a monolithic upper receiver that incorporates the handguard into the upper receiver forging, the MRR trades the previous IUR's picatinny rails for M-Lok slots, and combined with additional weight-saving measures (namely the deletion of the grenade launcher recoil lug) boasts a significant 3/4-pound weight reduction as a result. And that is with the same heavy barrel profile used on previous generations of IUR rifles. Opting for one of the new lighter barrel profile may increase the weight savings to over a pound.

And you notice it the second you pick the rifle up. Handling an 11.6" Colt Canada MRR, the gun felt ridiculously light at the muzzle, and should be immensely popular among both military and LEO entry teams. However, while we were able to handle both the 11.6" and the superlatively sexy 18" DMR models, both of those particular rifles were unavailable to shoot due to the two specific rifles we were handling being some of the only ones in existence... and thus, very, very important (read: valuable) to Colt Canada. However, that wasn't the case with the various mid-length rifles at our disposal, and we put more than a few rounds through everything from a 14.5" full-auto rifle in 5.56 to a beautiful suppressed rifle spitting subsonic .300 Blackout rounds downrange for as long as you squeezed the trigger. Hell, there was even a suppressed 5.56 rifle fitted with one of Canada's own TriggerTech triggers, and they were all finished in Colt Canada's new khaki Cerakote finish. To say we were spoilt for choice would be a gross, gross understatement.

Which brings us to the next thing we couldn't mention before about this new MRR rifle: The assembly method. One of the biggest knocks against the previous generations of IUR was the method by which the gas block was installed. Nestled inside the long monolithic handguard and pinned to the barrel through holes bored in the handguard, access was extremely limited, and the rifles were far less easily serviced should they need any barrel or gas system work.

The new system is much simpler. First, the barrel is dropped into the receiver, followed by the barrel nut, which is done up with the same long tubular socket as the previous IURs used. But then, instead of a conventional bent gas tube and pinned-on gas block, a straight gas tube is stabbed into the receiver and capped off with a very special gas block. Proper fit of this gas block is ensured longitudinally by a shoulder in the barrel's profile, while proper axial fit is taken care of by corresponding splines machined into the barrel and gas block. Furthermore, the gas block is fixed to the barrel by two screws on the bottom of the gas block, which themselves interface with a slot and small divots in the barrel as they are tightened. These screws are easily accessible thanks to a small oval port cut into the bottom of the handguard. The result of all this? A gas block that can be easily serviced with basic hand tools, and that guarantees perfect gas port alignment every time.

Otherwise, technically, these are not dissimilar from a lot of other Colt Canada AR-15s. All the MRR lowers we came across were fitted with ambidextrous controls, with a Norgon-style magazine release for us lefties and the standard ambi-safety/selector, depending on the rifle. Furniture was provided by Magpul, and most of them had angled foregrips or rail covers affixed; making good use of the M-Lok sections to conveniently attach accessories. Also, we should note one additional side-effect of the M-Lok is that the gun feels much smaller in the hand, which not only helps larger shooters feel like they have more control but should also make it more comfortable for smaller shooters.

Shooting Impressions

Once we'd been briefed on the guns' technical aspects, it was time for us to see how they worked. And now that we are back home and can claim to have put hundreds of rounds through them we can say this: Holy crap do these guns WORK. We put our first few rounds downrange through a suppressed semi-auto model in 5.56, fitted with an Aimpoint red dot and a TriggerTech single-stage trigger, and it was quite simply a laser beam. From the closest targets at 50 metres to the farthest target at 200 metres, each and every one of our rounds were clean hits from our standing position. Obviously IPSC-profile steel plates are not the smallest of targets, even at 200 metres, but with the same hammer forged barrel that we've come to know and love in the IUR, we'd bet money (which is fitting given we're writing this review in Las Vegas) that the MRR inherits the MOA-or-better accuracy we've found our IURs demonstrate.

Which brings us to the TriggerTech trigger. Now, obviously this isn't a Colt Canada part; they're simply testing them out. But anecdotally, we were told that they're suitably impressed by the trigger's performance and safety, and the Colt staffers on site told us they considered the trigger to be drop-safe. Given the unique design of the trigger, which uses a roller between the trigger and the sear to reduce friction, we were glad to hear that especially since we know Colt Canada's testing is nothing if not stringent. In terms of performance, we found the TriggerTech trigger to be very reminiscent of the triggers found in Accuracy International guns, albeit in a single-stage format. Smooth, clean, but without much snap at the break, it definitely made the rifle much more easy to shoot accurately and returning to a standard USGI trigger afterward felt like a very discernible step backwards.

Moving quickly back and forth from 200 to 50 metre targets also tested the rifle's lighter weight and better balance, and the best way to put it is that it feels much less like you're swinging a gun around and far more like you're pivoting the rifle around the magazine. Of course, that might have been partly due to the wonderful standard capacity 30-round magazines we were using; the weight of which certainly does change the way a rifle feels. But hey, any benefit to the rifle's balance point was probably offset by the OSS suppressor hanging off the muzzle anyway, right? Ah... the wonderous world of US gun laws. Oh, and in case you were wondering, yes, shooting a suppressed AR-15 is as nice, fun, and as awesome as you expect it is. And then some.

Which is precisely why stepping over to an MRR carbine chambered in 300 Blackout and fitted with both a fire selector (as opposed to a safety, which has two positions, a fire selector has three or more: safe, fire, and full auto in this case) and a suppressor was even cooler. Firing subsonic rounds, the thing was whisper-quiet, and the recoil a simple slug-slug back and forth movement that felt like a lessened form of the recoil impulse one gets from a VZ-58. Obviously, the heavy subsonic rounds shoot in a much different trajectory than 5.56, and taking a few shots at the 200 metre target demonstrated that you needed to aim about 2-3 feet high in order to score a hit. But hey, we still did it, because when a gun is this accurate and fun you start to want to push its limits a little.

At this point, we started to bounce between the available rifles, and just pounded rounds downrange through each of them. We kept coming back to the semi-auto rifle though, because as fun as the full-auto rifles always will be, to be honest the TriggerTech trigger is really what this platform deserves. From what we saw today, the rifle is absolutely ridiculously accurate and although perfectly serviceable, the standard GI trigger simply doesn't do the gun justice.

Another thing we noticed is that, in and amongst our 30-rounds-at-a-time shooting strings, other guys were picking these rifles up and pounding rounds through them at varying tempos ranging from full-auto dumps to slow and deliberate fire and not once did any of these rifles so much as hiccup. We must have witnessed thousands of rounds go through these things and each round loaded, went bang, and ended up where it was supposed to every. single. time. Which, when you think about it, is a real testament to their construction given most of those rounds were fired through suppressors. Due to their ability to suppress a rifle's report by slowing down the escaping gases coming out of the muzzle, suppressors always tend to pipe a ton of carbon back into the action, especially on direct-impingement guns like these. But the MRR rifles all chugged through it, which certainly demonstrates that a gun doesn't need to be piston-driven to be reliable. Hell, we didn't even notice the POI shift perceptibly as the guns heated up throughout the day; nailing the 200 metre target remained a simple matter of proper sight alignment through the unmagnified red dot and a good trigger squeeze even if the handguard was hot to the touch.

And yes, we realize at this point, this is sounding less like a review and more like a love letter. But here's the reality: This is a perfect AR-15. With everything from short and light entry guns to an 18" DMR (our previous mention of a 20" DMR was incorrect; due to the modern powder used in 5.56 there's no need for anything beyond 18" according to Colt) that will probably be knocking on the door of 1/2 MOA accuracy, the MRR is a platform that'll do anything you want, and as we discovered today, will do it over and over again in almost continuous use for literally hours. What more could you possibly want? You know, besides a full-auto fire selector, 30-round magazines and a suppressor... did we mention this was the best day at work ever?

TWO DAYS TO SHOT 2016, AND WE WANT TO SHOOT GUNS

SHOT Show 2016 starts in two days, and we’re gearing up in a big way. Keep an eye on the site, and our Facebook and Instagram feeds, for constant coverage once the show kicks off. In the meantime, let’s focus on the real reason we’re all getting together this time of year: GUNS.

Here’s a quick skim of the guns we’re specifically hoping to sample at the industry shoot on Monday:

Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory Pistol

Smith & Wesson have a checkered past with .22 autos. The Model 41 has done some amazing things; the 622 has repeatedly enthralled and enraged shooters with alternating bouts of joy and failure; the M&P22 gave S&W fans a good opportunity to mock Glock owners who are still waiting for a rimfire edition. Rumour has it that the return of the Model 22 has been well-executed; we want to get a few mags through one before we commit. But we want to believe.

Grand Power K22

Grand Power is a funny company. They build really impressive guns, which are absurdly easy to shoot well, but which require a degree in history AND a degree in engineering to reassemble if you strip one down. Also, in Canada at least, they change distributors every twenty to thirty minutes. But they shoot like a house on fire, and they’re cheap to boot, so why not a rimfire trainer?

Arex Rex Zero 1 Standard

We want to shoot this for two reasons: it’s from Slovenia, so the Canadian dollar might not hurt on importation as much as American guns, and we want to see if the designers are better at making guns than naming them. Outwardly it looks like a P226, so if SIG had decided to call their flagship pistol the Sig Sauer Blauer Alphauer 226, well, this is what you’d be looking at. Still though, the 226 has been a mainstay for a long time so there’s worse places to start, if you want to build a new gun. Besides which, Canadians buy a lot of off-brand guns (yeah, looking right at you, Norinco) so this could do well here.

Colt Lightweight Commander and Competition Pistol

If I have to explain this I just don’t even want you to read Calibre any more. Wait, did I just think that, or did I type it?

Publisher’s Note: Writers are a dime a dozen and editors are replaceable. Points to ponder.

Merkel Practical 40E Field Grade Side by Side

By the time this arrives in Canada, it’s going to be a $7000 shotgun. But let’s put that in perspective: if you’re shopping for a Merkel side-by-side, you didn’t blink when you read that number. The 40E Field Grade is essentially a stripped-down version of their flagship shotgun, and offers the same craftsmanship, with simpler cosmetics. For some people, that’s going to be the ticket that gets them into the world of fine shotguns.

Patriot Ordnance Factory P300

It’s basically an AR, chambered in .300 WinMag. We don’t care that it’ll probably be restricted and a restricted 300WM is nearly pointless in Canada. We’re still going to shoot it, for reasons we assume are self-explanatory. If E-petition E-111 succeeds (you’ve signed it, right?) then we can talk about buying one.

IWI Tavor .300BLK

The Tavor is a popular machine in Canada. Compact, non-restricted, shrugs off a beating, and takes AR15 magazines. But in .300 Blackout, it goes from being an inaccurate coyote gun, to a deer gun in every province. Take that, VISA! And with factory .300BLK kits coming out for the existing guns, well, how can you not take interest in one of these?

SIG SAUER MPX 9mm Carbine

We were there when the original MPX (shown above) debuted and at least one of us specifically recalls looking at the integral brake/barrel/sleeve concept and saying “no way in hell the ATF is going to take that lying down”. But SIG is back with the carbine edition. Yes, it’s a 16” barrel. No, SIG hasn’t typically built special editions for Canada. We promise to lobby for an 18.6” barrel, on behalf of all Canadians. There’s got to be a way.

THIS WEEK IN GUN CULTURE: IT’S GETTING SHOT IN HERE

Yes, the legendary SHOT Show is only three days away - I have no idea where the time went - and I’m offering up some predictions about where gun culture is going, because it’s the weekend and I’m tired of being responsible and researching gear. So here are my top ten predictions for the next year of gun culture, some of which we’re going to see when the gates open at SHOT on Tuesday (or to a lesser extent at the industry shoot on Monday).

Editor Pickard's List:

Beards are finished. They’ve become so thoroughly identified with stick-limbed hipster culture that gun guys will have to start moving away from them. Also, the full-sleeves-and-beard look became so prevalent that the cutting edge guys will have to start looking clean-cut just to distinguish themselves from the security guard at the 7-11. Prepare for chinos and eventually suits.
PDWs and the return of the pistol-calibre submachine gun. We’re already seeing the surging popularity of exotic micro-stocks; I bet that in a combined fit of nostalgia/rage at having their eardrums blown out, we’re going to see a lot of organizations that invested heavily in short ARs start looking very seriously at pistol calibre options.
Everyone will switch to low-powered variable optics. This has been happening for a few years, but despite the practicality of led-powered red dots for most peoples’ actual needs, the influence of three-gun competition will finally generate total mainstream acceptance of 1-x optics.
Everyone will build exotic, gamer AR-15s with carbon fibre and non-tactical anodized colours, and skeletonized lowers are going to be huge.
It will be impossible to find a big name shooter who isn’t carrying a 9mm 1911. Todd Green was the guy who really pushed everyone over the edge with his famous test of the Warren Springfield, and Heirloom Precision build. But now everyone will be carrying one again.
Americans will finally discover the CZ-75 variants that have dominated IPSC for the last gazillion years.
Someone is going to build a Commander-sized Browning that really takes off.
Training that integrates grappling and blades is going to go mainstream, but in the process it’s going to get horribly diluted by people who don’t have the chops to deliver it the way in needs to be handled.
Two-button interfaces on tactical flashlights are going to get really popular: one deep clicky for steady on, one momentary strobe. Klarus developed a switching mechanism along these lines a couple of years ago and it’s going to turn up everywhere. The next big innovation will be a two-stage switch where a full press gets you max strobe, half press gets momentary steady-on.
Obnoxious gun writers will get punched in the face for writing pointless, speculative lists.

Publisher Fritter's List:

Beards will remain relevant, albeit in more identifiable, trimmed fashions. Big names in the business will realize that shaving the homogeneous mass of unkempt hair into a signature face hairdo (the Shakespeare? the Errol Flynn?) is great for brand recognition. Pat McNamara will end up shaving completely to avoid being associated with the trend as it goes mainstream.
Agreed that PDWs and the return of the pistol-calibre submachine gun are long overdue, but while I expect to see glorious multitudes of 9mm sub-guns at this year's shot I fully expect to see the market turn to .45 ACP as they start to realize that a suppressed .45 ACP closed-bolt submachine gun is just about the coolest thing ever created.
Even more bizarre AR-15 chamberings as the market fragments at the hands of ever-more AR-15 "builders" looking for that hot ticket item that'll give them their 5 minutes of fame. More .50s, more .30s, and probably some bizarre super-fast .22-calibre offerings for long range hunting. None of which will offer significant improvements over the calibres already available, but they'll be fun, and a ton of gun writers will laud these manufacturers efforts. We won't.
M-Lok. M-Lok freaking everywhere. Hell, I'll bet Magpul's entire booth will be assembled out of it.
The resurgence of the revolver. Kimber's launching one, S&W is throwing more Performance Center stuff on the market, and Korth's offering replacement cylinders for S&W revolvers. If the Beretta 92 was the hipster gun of the past couple years thanks to Wilson Combat reminding everyone of how great they are, the revolver is going to be the next big thing that is actually a really old thing everyone forgot about for a while.
Integral suppressors, and probably at least one entire firearm built by a suppressor company... and sadly, it'll probably be super cool unobtanium to those of us up here in Canada.
More stupid drag-behind swag carts than ever before, and more feet accidentally run over than ever before.
A return to light, spartan firearms. Less 45 degree offset mounts, perhaps even a few less BUIS, way less PEQ-15s on civilian rifles, and ever-more-fluted barrels as builders start to leverage modern quality control against lighter, nimbler rifles. We're looking at you Battle Arms Development.
A general trend back towards the "heritage" firearms. BARs, Auto 5s, artisan-quality bolt action rifles, fine revolvers, 1911s, Wingmasters, and maybe even Model 12s. All the new M-lok equipped hotness in the world is no match for your dad's gun, and gun manufacturers are going to start capitalizing on that sentimentality.
Liver damage.

DERYA MK-10: FIRST LOOK

Although we’ll be holding off on doing our full review until we spend a bit more time with it, our test Derya MK-10 shotgun showed up at the Calibre offices over the last few days, so we thought we would snap a few quick photos of the gun to improve on the press photos we’d obtained previously.

Obviously initial impressions are somewhat limited, but thus far we’re impressed. Admittedly, assembly almost required a third hand, but perhaps reading the manual beforehand would have helped. But who does that?

Finishing is good overall. There is one spot on the hand guard that has been dinged, but this being a test gun, it’s hard to fault it for a single ding. Handling feels nimble, and the controls mimicking those of an AR-15 make it feel immediately comfortable. The Derya magazines are well made and easily inserted, but we haven’t tested their drop-free ability quite yet; that seemed like a task for the range. The trigger is smooth and clean and should be more than serviceable for a shotgun.

Like the ATA shotguns that set the bar for Turkish shotguns this summer, one thing we can report on without going to the range is the packaging: It’s ridiculous. Coming in a huge and nicely made Derya branded suede case, no one would ever expect the fitted case to contain a big tactical shotgun; it seems to be something that’d be more expected with a nice double gun. Inside, there’s obviously the shotgun itself (broken down into the upper and lower) and some accessories including a sling, a spare mag, cleaning kit and a folding stock adapter that we will probably try out. And of course, the manual.

We’ll make sure we read that before we review this gun properly in a future issue.

INCONSISTENCIES IN RCMP STUDY DATES PROVE POLICE PLAYING POLITICS

The RCMP have released more details from their Feasibility and Practicality of Improvised Full Automatic Fire study first discussed in October. Although a copy of the report has not been made available to Calibre as yet, we have requested it through the Access to Information office, but the CBC has additional details.

The long and short of the CBC article is the allegation that 11 rifles and one handgun can be converted to fully automatic fire through an improvised technique referred to by Moncton shooter Justin Bourque. Bourque claims to have considered using the technique while planning his shooting spree, but even the mentally unhinged Bourque found it too unreliable and ineffective to employ.

However, that hasn’t stopped the RCMP from considering the technique a grave concern to public safety, and the report has been forwarded to the Minister of Public Safety, Ralph Goodale. According to the CBC article, Goodale’s office responded to the report thusly: "We will work with all levels of government, our stakeholders and the Canadian Firearms Advisory Committee to move forward on this commitment.”

Not surprisingly, the study of a technique introduced to the RCMP by a deranged psychopath is rife with inconsistencies, as the RCMP report alleges that the availability of firearms that can be improvised to fire in a fully automatic condition is a new problem, saying “The restricted and prohibited firearm provisions of Criminal Code regulations were last updated in 1995, and there are presently numerous models of military and paramilitary firearms on the Canadian market which are outside the scope of the Criminal Code regulations, many being non-restricted in classification” and “The Canadian introduction of new types of military and paramilitary firearms not mentioned in the Criminal Code regulations, nearly all with large capacity magazines sizes, started circa 2005 and has accelerated since."

That claim runs amiss of the RCMP’s own classification data, as the RCMP claim that the Norinco M305 used by Bourque (designed in the 1930s, imported into Canada in the 1980’s) and even more tellingly, the Ruger Mini 14 (designed in the late 1960s and first imported in 1973) used by Polytechnique shooter Marc Lepine are both among the 11 rifles found to be susceptible to this improvised technique. But both firearms were extant in Canada in 1995, during the initial creation of the Criminal Code regulations, and both firearms were studied, tested, examined and classified by the RCMP as non-restricted in that process. Neither have been significantly updated since nor have their magazines been revised. Until we receive a copy of the report from our own ATIP request, we cannot confirm the identification of the other 11 rifles on the list, but given the volume of new FRT entries issued for legitimately new rifle designs we suspect the majority of those 11 rifles were similarly classified in 1995.

As a result, the only conclusion one can reach from the incorrect statement that this issue stems largely from firearms imported and classified under Harper's Conservatives, is that the RCMP are hoping to win the sympathies of the Liberal government by pinning this perceived problem on the previous Conservative government. By claiming rifles classified by their own firearms program in 1995 somehow became problematic in 2005, the RCMP are essentially sidestepping any culpability themselves, while simultaneously discrediting the former government.

But all that said, the biggest issue is that the entire report is essentially the study of a complete non-issue, as Criminal Code Section 102(1) clearly states that converting a firearm to fully automatic status is entirely illegal. Additionally, the insinuation that the RCMP would like to act upon the outcome of this report due to the fact that “the public safety threat posed by improvised conversion to full automatic fire has correspondingly increased,” makes little to no sense since their claim that this “threat to public safety” has been festering since 2005 seems to run contrary with the number of violent shootings involving fully automatic rifles grabbing headlines since 2005: None.

The CBC article can be viewed and commented on here.

FOUR DAYS TO SHOT: WHAT DO WE DO WITH A 70 CENT DOLLAR?

Just four days left to SHOT Show, and we’re continuing our series of previews, thoughts, and expectations of what to expect. In case you’re just getting up to speed, SHOT Show is the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoors Trade Show hosted by the National Shooting Sports Foundation every year in Las Vegas, Nevada. SHOT is the largest trade show in the Shooting, Hunting, and Law Enforcement business, and every year Calibre Magazine makes the pilgrimage down to Vegas to meet with manufacturers, distributors, inventors, and media to get a sense of the what’s coming.

One of the big changes that Canadians are looking at this year is, unfortunately, the declining value of the loonie. As Canadian patriots, we at Calibre hate to admit that there is ever a disadvantage to being Canadian, no matter how factual or inconsequential, but sadly this time there’s no choice: we have a dollar worth about 70 cents US at the time of this writing, and forecasts are looking grim for the next twelve months. All the guns and ammo we bought when the dollar was at par now cost a solid 45 percent more; if you’re like us you’re filled with regret thinking about the deals you passed up just a year or two ago.

But short of cutting a deal with the Saudis, we’re stuck with a cheap dollar for the time being, so let’s give some thought to what this means, aside from the obvious “expensive US guns.”

First of all, the US is not the only source of guns. The Canadian dollar still buys about 33 Philippine pesos and the Philippines have seen a resurgent firearms culture as well, not to mention having a longstanding connection with the US military which has influenced the development of their shooting scene. The Philippines continues to be a primary source for 1911s, and we’re expecting a large number of fresh imports from their factories as Canadian retailers shift focus. We wrote extensively last year about Seraphim’s line of guns, which are imported from the Philippines, but we’re also expecting other companies to make similar OEM arrangements, and the industry will almost certainly improve as a whole as Philippine exports expand.

Turkish shotguns will likely continue to garner interest. The Canadian dollar is still worth more than twice as much as the lira, and while some of the more exotic shotguns which have been promised to the Canadian market are still clearing regulatory hurdles and the initial excitement has faded as buyers wait to see how many of the guns actually become available, the one thing we do know for certain is that Turkey’s shotgun manufacturing industry has moved forward in leaps and bounds over the past few years, and while some buyers may blanch at supporting Turkish companies, it might be worth remembering that most Canadian firearms manufacturers probably don’t wish to be identified with our current government, either.

Finally, don’t forget the European market. Yes, the Canadian dollar has declined against the euro, but not nearly as precipitously, and this could be an opportunity to start comparing quality European products, like Swarovski and Zeiss optics, for example, very favourably against competing US manufacturers. Ammunition manufacturers, also, such as Prvi Partizan, or Sellier & Bellot (who could use a boost recovering as they recover from the factory explosion back in September), might well start to dominate the Canadian market, and rumours of a new, European reloading components supplier have already begun to circulate in advance of SHOT.

So take heart, Canadians: the low dollar is definitely going to hurt most of us, but we can also start looking forward to increasing numbers of interesting imports, many of which are going to be unavailable in the United States on account of their restrictive import laws. So if nothing else, we can always sit around and gloat over European exotica. After all, gloating doesn’t cost a thing.

SHOT 2016 EMERGING TREND: PDW-STOCKS FOR AR-15S

With SHOT Show a mere five days away, we’re continuing our series of previews of some of the more interesting goodies we’ve been hearing about - at least the ones we’re allowed to talk about. One of the big themes that looks to be emerging this year is ultra-compact AR-15s, with micro stocks of the PDW, or Personal Defense Weapon, variety.

These compact stocks have an interesting tie in for Canadians, with a lineage which traces back to the M231 Colt Port Firing Weapon stock, which was designed originally to allow operation of the somewhat unwieldy M16 rifle inside of Bradley armoured vehicles. This concept of a extra-short stock was largely abandoned once the CAR stock took root and the M16 was all but replaced with the M4 within the US Armed Forces, but an ultra-compact AR-15 remained a dream for some, and the idea was resurrected in large part by Northeastern Arms, the quirky, controversial, and iconoclastically innovative Canadian startup which burst onto the firearms scene just a few years ago, working with TROY Industries as an OEM manufacturer and ultimately branching into military sales, where NEA made its fortune.

The appeal of the PDW stocks isn’t just in the look-cool factor, although at Calibre we’ll be the first to admit that that’s the primary function of all of our guns. No, the real desire for ultra-compact stocks comes from the close protection business, which is seeing a lot of demand these days. Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, not only has NEA had a great deal of success making organizational sales of PDW stock-equipped guns, but other manufacturers have released variations on the same concept.

Here’s a few of the stocks we’re looking forward to getting our fingerprints on:

Northeastern Arms CCS

We’re not sure if NEA is exhibiting at SHOT this year or not, but we’re hoping to see the the stock there simply on account of how influential it’s been, and for comparison purposes. They’re pretty tight-lipped on the technical specs for their CCS, or Compact Carbine Stock, but we’ve handled them in the past and there’s a reason everyone else’s version looks strikingly similar.

TROY PDW and Tomahawk PDW

TROY promises a three inch reduction in overall length with their PDW stock, and offers a couple of versions, one that’ll run on a standard bolt carrier, and one that uses a proprietary one to get the length down to a bare minimum. Details are limited about the current Tomahawk version, but it definitely appears to be a refinement.

Battle Arms Development Vert

Battle Arms Development have a history of high-speed, low-drag gear that’s so beautifully constructed that it’s bordering on artwork. The Vert stock is no exception; BAD proudly boast a 19.5 oz (553g) weight, and list materials as “aircraft aluminum and S7 tool steel”. It’s drool-worthy, all right.

MVB Industries ARC

The MVB Industries ARC stock is likely the least well-known option in the ultra-compact stock wars. They’ve relocated the locking mechanism and the ARC works with a standard buffer; MVB list the weight as 23 oz (650 g.) We’ve heard good things about the ARC, so we’re looking forward to checking it out at SHOT.

SIX DAYS TO SHOT SHOW: CHIAPPA'S TAKEDOWN LEVER .22

Shot Show is six days away and we’re taking a look at some of the guns and gear we’re most interested in playing with once the show kicks off. On today’s docket is the Chiappa Kodiak Cub takedown .22 lever gun.

This jumped off the page at us because we had so much fun with Chiappa’s .44 magnum lever guns last year, one of which was a stainless takedown with what we assume from the description is very similar furniture and hopefully similar craftsmanship. You can take a look at that review here.

The new rimfire edition features what Chiappa are calling soft synthetic stock and forearm; this sounds like the same stuff that came on the .44, which was excellent. The takedown system is different, so we’re not sure exactly what will carry over from the big brother, but the major components are hard chromed, including the barrel, bolt, receiver, magazine tube, lever, and hammer.

Sights are adjustable and the receiver is drilled and tapped for scope mounts; the magazine holds 15 rounds and the whole package weighs in at five and a half pounds empty. The takedown mechanism splits the receiver lengthwise, shrinking the overall length to 25 inches.

MSRP on the mini lever is $809 USD; that puts the landed price in Canada likely well over a thousand dollars, but unfortunately that’s the new reality with a 70-cent dollar. But if the .22 version is as nice as the .44s we fired, this little pack rifle may be tough to pass up.

ONE WEEK TO SHOT SHOW: COLT'S NEW 1911S

We're one week out from the legendary SHOT show - that's Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoors Trade Show - and as we gear up for the largest hunting, law enforcement, and shooting trade show on the planet, we're taking a look at some of the gear that's got our attention and distracted us from packing for the annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas. The event is shaping up to be incredibly exciting and we cannot wait to see all the trade show displays featuring the latest developments in hunting, law enforcement and shooting. So, what can we expect to see next week?

First up: new 1911s from Colt! Yes, we know we're fanatics for 1911s. Yes, we love seeing those four letters stamped on a gun. But this year is a little different: Colt has really been paying attention to consumer demand and the new guns are really promising.

The Colt Competition Pistol™, which is available in .45 ACP or 9mm, offers several features that competitive shooters will appreciate, including Colt's innovative Dual Spring Recoil System™ developed for the M45A1 in order to reduce recoil and help keep shots on target at critical moments. "This pistol is competition grade," said Mark Redl, Team Colt sponsored shooter and Product Manager for Colt. "We designed a pistol that you can buy on the way to a match." Other features include Novak's new adjustable rear sight and fiber optic front sight, competition ergonomics including an undercut trigger guard and upswept beavertail safety, and a National Match® barrel. The Colt Competition Pistol™ carries an MSRP of $899 USD. The low Canadian dollar is going to make that sting a little by the time they arrive here in the great white north, but still, we're looking forward to these.

The Lightweight Commander®, offered in .45 ACP or 9mm, affords enthusiasts the ability to concealed-carry a real 1911 platform pistol comfortably. With a shorter profile and lower weight than a traditional full size Government Model®, the Lightweight Commander® offers the Dual Spring Recoil System™ and custom Colt G10 grips, among other enhancements. "We wanted to offer something special to the concealed carry enthusiast who wants that authentic Colt experience in a package that can add both confidence and comfort," said Spitale. The MSRP of the Lightweight Commander is $949 USD, and we'll cross our fingers for a landed Canadian cost somewhere around $1500 CAD.

Less widely reported is the new Colt Combat Unit Rail Gun, designed with input from world renowned trainers Ken Hackathorn and Daryl Holland and features Colt's Dual Spring Recoil System™, Novak Night Sights, a National Match barrel, and a beavertail fitted to Colt's near-custom standards. Perhaps most exciting, however, are the factory frame modifications: in a marked departure from past Colt tendencies, this one is shipping with an undercut trigger guard and front strap checkering. For consumers this is huge: sending your 1911 out to get undercut and checkered is expensive and time consuming, and necessitates a re-finish afterwards. Given Colt's excellent factory finishes, we're glad to see all the machine shop work getting done ahead of time. MSRP is $1499 US, so this won't be cheap, but we're betting it will be worth it.