Gun Review: SAR B6P

Man, despite the fact that I've written very few gun reviews, they're the biggest draws to my sight. So since I've been writing for a year now, I figured it'd be fair to do another.

The Cz-75 is a very popular pistol, both in its original form and in its many copies. While I'd like to review an actual Cz at some point, I don't have one. I do however, have a new copy from Turkey, Imported by EAA but made by Sarsilmaz, these are very nice, low cost, pistols. Initially I wasn't too interested in a 9mm when I went shopping, but for $280 I couldn't turn it down. So let's start the review.

Great tastes go together

The first thing I noticed when picking up the pistol is the weight distribution. It's a polymer frame, so the weight is very...top heavy. The slide doesn't have much in the way of weight saving, which helps with recoil. On the flip side, the slide is a low profile one, and that can make it a bit hard for my hands to get a grip. Not a major issue, but it does deduct a few points in my mind.

The sights are nice and clear, with white dots to aid low light shooting. The sights aren't particularly high or sharp so I wouldn't worry about them snagging on clothes in a CC situation (though the size kinda precludes it from this).

It's a pretty standard, non-ambi control layout. The magazine release is easily reached without having to adjust my hand, as well as the safety. Also a nice beaver tail to prevent hammer bite, though this was never a problem for me to begin with.

As far as function goes, the pistol preforms flawlessly. I've put about 300 rounds through it since purchase without any malfunctions. Accuracy is also acceptable, though not stellar. I can manage a 10rnd group of about 2.5in at 25 yards, though this is with cheap Wolf and Tula ammo. It might improve drastically if I used decent ammo, but in this market I shoot what I can buy.

Recoil is manageable and it should be. It's a full sized pistol in 9mm chambering, it shouldn't be that bad. That said it still points well and comes back on target quickly.


Other than the low profile slide, the only other 'complaint' I have is that I don't know if regular Cz-75 mags will work. I mean, they SHOULD, but I'm not spending that kind of money on mags (again, fuck you panic buyers for ruining the market) that might not work. Oh and the case that the pistol came in is fucking atrocious. The plastic injection feels weird and in mine was broke in several places. Still, that's a minor issue at best.

One last point I feel should mention is the fit and finish on this gun is FAR better than I'd expect for the price. Honestly I would expect this to be a $500-600 gun anywhere else. It's a very lovely gun honestly.

Thoughts on Guns (Part 1)

Lately I've felt an urge to write. The problem however, at least for me, is that I don't know what exactly to write about at the moment. I have several ideas in the works, and of course there is the Manifesto to finish, but instead today I thought I would just put my random thoughts about guns to paper. Or print, whatever.

So in no order of importance or relevance, here are my Gun Thoughts (Part 1)

Being shot at sucks, regardless of caliber. Being hit would suck even more, again regardless of caliber. Therefore, when deciding on what you want a gun chambered in, decide on the gun first, chambering second. The man (or woman) makes the tool, not the other way around.

The M1 Garand is overrated. There, I said it. It was a good gun in its day, and it's great to own and shoot for fun, but it's outclassed by others of its era, specifically the FN49.

People often get a lot of flak for modifying military rifles from their original configuration. I see the point people are trying to make, that it alters the history of the gun, but that assumes that the history of said gun ends with the modifier. It doesn't. It simply adds a new chapter to it. That said, be at least tasteful in how you modify stuff.

I think the 5.7 is the new 7.62x25 Tok round, but worse. Maybe it's because I'm a Rusophile, maybe it's because I'm right. Either way.

They need to make the XD in a 10mm. Glock does it, why not Springfield?

Speaking of things that should be made, Hoppes #9 should be a fragrence. And deoderant. And air spray. Basiclly, it should be used to make everything smell awesome.

How am I, the youngest member of a veterans group, the only member who knows to clean and disassmeble an M1 Garand?

On pointed bullets in tube mags; I've heard for ages that the reason you shouldn't do this is the bullet point will strike the primer, effectively causing your gun to blow up. But has that ever actually happened? Pointed bullets didn't come into vogue until about 1905, the same time as bolt action rifles. Now, this is just a crazy conspiracy theory, but I think that the pointed bullets in tubular mags story was made so that  gun makers could sell more 'modern' guns that the military was slow to adopt. I have nothing to back up this statement, but I've also never seen anything to suspect otherwise.

America hasn't had a really good gun designer since Browning. Stoner is probably the next best, and he's leagues behind. Pederson and Garand are both Canadian and don't count. Kellgren is a Swede and certainly innovative, but only time will tell if he's in the pantheon of great designers.

Wood grips are so much sexier than polymer. That's not opinion by the way, that's fact.

Tell me that's not sexy.

Hi Points are ugly, bulky, and cheap. But the warranty is awesome and they're really accurate. I think they're a great value honestly.

What happened to the big .50 cal craze of a couple years back? Did the recession really hurt people that bad (meaning .50 cal shooters)?

That's all for now. If you have gun related questions, or beer related questions, feel free to email me at wmballew87@gmail.com

Gun Review: Kel-Tec PMR 30

Holy flying hell it's been forever since I did an update. But between my new semester and work I'm lucky to get a shower in these days. This means I haven't had time for a beer and certainly haven't had time to expend some lead at the range. However GBF cannot be stopped, only slightly slowed down. So here is another review of a gun, much sought after, but little owned.

Image from Kel-Tec

The first thing you'll notice about the PMR is the weight. With 30 rounds in the mag it feels like a very light squirt gun. Supposedly it weighs just 19oz loaded, but I never felt the need to put in on a scale. Either way it's ridiculously light weight. Ordinarily this would be a problem with recoil, but the grip angle (more on that later) and the fact that it's still only a .22 make recoil negligible, though slightly snappy.

The trigger on the PMR is nothing special. Breaks around 5lbs, with little creep, it's not bad and probably the biggest complaint about the gun. The sights are very nice, clear and visible even in low light settings. Sadly they're not adjustable, but that's pretty typical of most of my pistols.

The magazine release is a European, or heel catch style as opposed to having a button near the trigger guard. Not a flaw but it takes some getting used to, and speaking of getting used to things...there is the grip angle. It's much more straight lined than your average pistol and takes some getting used to. Once you do get used to the grip angle, it points very quickly and naturally.

All of this makes the PMR 30 a rather accurate little pistol. I never did much formal accuracy testing, but at 25 yards I can hit shotgun shells all day long. Even with rapid fire, it's pretty accurate. Many a pop bottle has been slain in little time.

Now, on to utility. I've heard a lot of conjecture about using this as a CCW gun. While it's better than nothing, I wouldn't recommend it. It's still a rimfire magazine fed gun. It's been relatively reliable for me so far, but I wouldn't bet my life on it. Also, it's a .22mag. Yes it can kill, and is not a toy by any means, but I wouldn't choose it over a purpose built defense cartridge. And while it's very light weight, it's not the smallest gun around, making carrying a problem.

But what it WOULD be good for is a nice varmint/bird pistol. Great for squirrels, rabbits, starlings, etc. Also would be a great trail gun because it can be carried openly and it's accurate enough for snakes and other little trail hazards. And it's just plain fun, which is reason enough to buy a gun in my book.

One last thing, for those who are lucky enough to find one to purchase, make sure you read the manual on reloading the magazines. It'll be a bitch otherwise and they won't work reliably.

Gun Review: FN FS2000

Another review of a bullpup rifle. You'd think I was a fan of them. Well, I am. As a left handed shooter though, they can offer some disadvantages. This primarily deals with ejection/extraction. Because the chamber is where the shooters face is, trying to shoot a right handed bullpup left handed is going to hurt. A LOT.

Not so with the FS2000 though. It's forward ejecting just like the RFB (or rather, the RFB is like the FS2000, since the FS came first). The safety is also completely ambidextrous, located nicely below the trigger.

The first thing you'll notice with the FS2000 is that it's surprisingly stocky. It's more bulbous than other guns I've fired, but still fits nicely in the shoulder. Also, for a rifle that is under 30inchs total, it still has a great length of pull on the stock, making it feel like I've shouldered a full size rifle. Additionally, the balance is superb. Shooting it one handed is certainly doable, though not recommended.

FS2000 with Burris 332 3x sight

There are two flaws with the FS2000 though. While some might point out the trigger, which is typically rather poor on bullpups, the FS2000 isn't that bad. It's not as nice as the RFB, or a good AR trigger, but it's not as horrible as some other guns I've fired. That said the real flaws are the fact that it cannot use PMags, and the standard iron sights are atrocious. The PMags is because there is a rubber "seal" inside the magazine well that hels keep the action clean and free of dirty and debris. You can remove it and theoretically use PMags, but I wouldn't. This means that you're most likely going to be using standard G.I. mags, so make sure they work good, as they have a tendency to suck.

As for the sights, the front sight is actually rather nice. It's clear and well protected, and with a low profile red dot, the dot sits right at the tip of the front sight post. The problem with the sights is the rear sight. The peep hole is way too small, gets gummed up by literally anything and everything, and is a pain to adjust. This means that you need to add your own sights or optic. Luckily there is a full length of Picatinny rail for just such a purpose. My main gripe about this is the fact that the rifle already costs upwards of $2000. I like being able to customize my sights, and would do so anyway, but a decent set of irons for the rifle should be standard.

That said, the FS2000 is plenty accurate. I've got groups that average around 1.5 MOA with decent ammo, and no bigger than 3 MOA with shitty surplus and steel cased. Also, speaking of steel cased, the FS2000 eats literally everything with equal ease. After a couple hundred rounds of dirty Wolf or Brown bear you may need to open the gas port (do NOT do so with your bare hands, it's fucking HOT), but afterwards it'll chug along like a champ.

Take down/cleaning of the FS2000 is probably the easiest thing I've ever had to do with a rifle. You push the gray button out (it's self retaining) and slide the barrel/receiver group forward and out. You then pull the gas piston and bolt out. Clean them however you wish. Reverse the steps and you are done. It's easier than an AK, no lie.

So what can you do with an FS2000? Well for me it's my go to gun for home defense. Loaded with 30 rounds of Hornady TAP ammo, it's more than capable. In my mind, it beats any AR for this role because of how compact it is, but different strokes for different folks. It'd also be decent in local 3 gun events, but the lack of aftermarket parts would probably hurt it. That said, it's certainly cooler than any AR you'll ever see. For anyone who is considering it, and can afford the price tag plus sights/optics, I can't recommend it enough. Go and buy it.

9x18 Makarov: The best civilian pistol caliber?

I should point out before I go any further that I'm a tad biased towards Russian weapons and firearms theory. I prefer the AK to the AR, I think they developed the perfect combat round with the 7.62x39, their concept of the Designated Marksmans Rifle was 50 years ahead of the Western world, etc. I could go on, but I won't (right now anyways). So it shouldn't be a big surprise for me to say I think the 9x18 Makarov round, and most pistols chambered for it, are the best value a civilian can have.

Stock Photo

The biggest caveat here is that I'm speaking about civilian handguns, not military (though that's what the Makarov family was designed for initially). The increase in armor makes the military days of the Makarov a thing of the past. But for civilians, who do not often have to contend with armored thugs, the Makarov round and family of pistols is perfect.

So a little detail; The Makarov is typically loaded with a 95gr bullet and driven at around 1100 feet per second, generating around 225-250 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle. For anyone familiar, this sounds....unimpressive. It's more than acceptable for defense and leads to one of the Maks greatest advantages. Because of the relatively low power of the cartridge, it can be chambered in simple blowback pistols. This is about as simple and fool proof as a firearm can realistically be, so you can be damned certain your gun will work when you need it too. In fact, many experts (myself among them) consider the 9x18 the most powerful round you can chamber a blowback gun in and still have it be practical.

The next advantage of the Mak round is its low recoil. This is a double advantage because it allows for quicker follow up shots, should they be needed. It also allows for more reliable training. If you're recoil sensitive, you can develop bad habits, such as a flinch, or bad trigger squeeze. In a situation where your life is on the line, that's the LAST thing you want. Also, surplus ammo for the Mak is about as cheap as one could find, so that allows for even MORE practice (because there is no such thing as too much practice).

The last advantage of the Mak round lies in the pistols it's chambered in. Guns such as the Cz82 (pictured above), the Polish P64, the Hungarian PA63, and of course the actual Makarov itself, are all very reliable and accurate pistols that display a minimum of good ergonomics and excellent, natural pointability. The Cz82 is probably the best example of a good Mak guns, and a good carry gun in general (it's what I carry in fact). Sights are outstanding, the gun is as simple and reliable as can be, and the trigger is good considering the gun itself is older than I am.

Even if you're not looking to be sold on a defense pistol, the Mak family is still one to look at. The most expensive pistols (the actual Makarovs) can be had for $300, and most others around $225. At that price, you certainly don't risk a lot by purchasing one, even if it's just for fun. Oh, and most pistols are C&R qualified. So what are you waiting for? Go check one out.

Gun Review: Kel Tec RFB Carbine

Well after 2 long years my wait is finally over. I am one of the very few (as of this writing less than 3000) owners of a Kel Tec RFB carbine. For those who have never heard of or seen it, the RFB is a bullpup, 7.62x51mm caliber, semi automatic rifle that is fed from the incredibly common metric FAL 20 round magazines. With an 18inch barrel, the overall length is less than 29 inches, and a weight of 8.5lbs makes it a very compact rifle. In fact it's so short that here in MI it's legally considered a pistol.

While the RFB has been in serious production for over 5 years, less than 3000 units have been sold. Combined the rarity with the high price tag (MSRP is $1880) and this is not something you see every day. But being that it's the ONLY 30 caliber bullpup rifle around, you can be sure that there is a significant demand, so much so that the waiting list for one is over a year long in some places. But on to the actual review.

Two things immediately came to me when I first picked it up. First is even though it's light weight for a 7.62 rifle, the compactness makes it feel fairly substantial when shouldered. Second is that when one shoulders it, it's very different from any other rifle and takes some getting used to. Even for someone like me who has a good deal of experience with bullpup rifles, the RFB is a good deal slimmer in the stock, which means it doesn't shoulder the same as the more bulbous rifles, such as the FS2000.

In the great realm of the internet you'll hear a lot about the quality of Kel Tec guns, though rarely will you hear about how good said quality is. In the RFB however, the fit and finish is a level above that you'd find on other Kel Tecs, and completely justifies the price. Not to mention the high quality 4130 and 4140 steel used in the majority of it's construction, the RFB feels like it can take a significant beating.

There are no sights supplied with the rifle, which is a slight disappointment with such a high price tag, but a top mounted 10 inch length of MIL-STD-1913 rail, the options for customizing sights/optics are limited only by ones budget and preference. The highly adjustable gas setting and threaded barrel mean that if you want to mount a sound suppressor, you're more than able to do so.

I haven't had a chance to do formal accuracy testing yet, but firing off hand at 100 yards I could maintain about 3 inch groups. Once I got the gas system dialed in, the RFB ate everything I fed it. Cheap surplus Pakistani ammo, Winchester White box, Federal Fusion hunting ammo. Fed, fired, and ejected with 100% reliability. My current round count isn't that high (around 800), but I think that's a good indication of things to come.

Overall I cannot say enough that's good about this rifle. I'm sure I left something out, but in short, if you can find one, and you can afford it, I suggest buying one. If nothing else, you can sell it for what you paid.