The author finds the SIG Tacops an excellent modern service pistol on every count.

By Bob Campbell

It is no secret that the greatest fighting pistol of the previous century, and this one, is the 1911A1 handgun. Reliability, hit probability, practical accuracy, speed to an accurate first shot and excellent handling make the .45 Automatic a first rate choice for personal defense and service use. Among the most desirable of the modern 1911 handguns are the many versions by SIG Sauer. The Tacops (Tactical Operations) is a distinctive handgun based upon the proven SIG 1911 handgun. It is similar to earlier pistols from this maker, beginning with the GSR. The Tacops in the eyes of many is the pinnacle of late model SIG tactical model production. The Tacops is a full size (Government Model) 1911 with a five inch barrel, ambidextrous safety, Novak sights with tritium night sight inserts, a pronounced beavertail grip safety, an extended slide lock, a well designed magazine well funnel, and hand filling Ergo grips. The grips offer excellent adhesion when firing with sweaty or cold hands and are a good feature.

Novak front and rear sights give the user every advantage in rapid fire or precision work.

The pistol’s slide is of a different contour than most 1911 handguns and is subtly different from the Colt 1911 in order to more closely resemble the SIG P series pistols. Be certain that you are aware of the differences in the SIG and other 1911 handguns as conventional holsters will not fit the SIG 1911. The Tacops features an external extractor in the modern fashion. The well designed ambidextrous safety features levers that are smaller than most safety levers. They are not likely to be rubbed off when carried in the holster, and they are positive in operation, locking solidly in their indent. An excellent feature adding to the adhesion of the Ergo grip is front strap abrasion with 25 lines per square inch checkering. This is a pistol with plenty of abrasion for good gripping in firing heavy loads. The pistol also features an M1913 Picatinny rail for mounting a rail light or laser as you prefer. This is an important feature and a desirable one in a modern combat pistol. The SIG Tacops was tested with the Insights M3 weapon mounted light with good results. In the most important feature for accuracy potential the barrel was found to be well fitted to the slide and barrel bushing. The locking lugs rolled into the slide cuts well and the slide was very smooth in operation. The pistol does not use a full length guide rod. The original guide rod and full power spring is a good set up and affords the user more ease in field stripping and maintenance. The pistol is supplied in a lockable case with a total of four magazines. Three magazines is a minimum, with one in the gun, one on the belt and one resting. Four magazines is something I like very much. These are modern 8-round magazines with a plastic base pad. They proved feed reliable during testing. The combination of a well designed magazine guide well and these rubber base pads ensured that the pistol could be kept in action quickly and smoothly. During testing D & L Sports Quad magazine carriers were used (DLsports.com). This is a robust no nonsense magazine carrier designed for service use. The magazines are kept secure and offer the correct geometry for a rapid deployment. The front row is more accessible and the angle is ideal for a fast grab and load. The two magazines on the back row are accessible once the front magazines are deployed. Overall, a sensible, well designed and rugged addition to the belt and tactical load.

Trigger action is important and trigger compression should be smooth and consistent. The SIG Tacops is smooth but heavier than some SIG 1911 handguns we have tested. Trigger compression was 6.25 pounds. Good shooting was done; the action is smooth and reset rapid. The SIG Tacops is fitted with the Series 80 firing pin block that all SIG 1911 handguns use. Like it or not the drop safety is here to stay and does not impede a good trigger action unless you are going to attempt an ultra-light competition pull weight. In any case, a maker that does not design a firing pin block into his handgun is probably going to abrogate institutional sales. The trigger was useful for combat shooting and did not impede good practical accuracy.

The SIG Tacops balances well in the hand. Due to all steel construction, the blocky slide and the addition of the Picatinny rail, this SIG is heavier than non rail guns, at about 41.5 ounces unloaded. In a day when many are moving to lighter service pistols this is no lightweight. A Colt Series 70 on hand for comparison weighs in at 39 ounces. The weight is not noticeable on the hip compared to a standard 1911, however, when firing the pistol with +P loads, the SIG is noticeably more comfortable. Part of this is due to the extra weight and some of the credit goes to the well designed beavertail and grips. The initial inspection of the SIG showed that it is well fitted. Trigger compression is good, the fit of the barrel is good, and the controls are tight and crisp. The safety in particular locked into its indent in a positive manner. The Nitron finish applied over the stainless steel SIG is a form of ferritic nitrocarburizing that is similar to case hardening. This finish diffuses nitrogen and carbon into the steel to add scuff resistance and resist corrosion. The finish is evenly applied and businesslike as well as non reflective. If you like the non reflective black finish then the SIG Tacops will appeal to you. After a few dozen presentations from a tightly fitted holster the Tacops finish is not worn to any perceptible extent.

During the evaluation we used a modern tactical magazine carrier from D & L Sports, Dave Lauck. This carrier holds four magazines. The first two are used and then the back row are drawn during tactical drills. This carrier is well made of heavy duty Kydex and represents a viable option for carrying spare magazines on the duty belt. It makes it easier to have an appropriate number of magazines on the belt for instant access. As for gun leather, the range work was accomplished with a high ride holster from Crossbarsleather.com. This holster offers three belt loops for good adjustment of the cant or angle and afforded a good sharp draw. From Alien Gear (Aliengearholsters.com) comes a credible choice for concealed carry. This IWB features a Kydex holster that is impervious to solvent, oil and perspiration. The balance of speed and retention is good, with the pistol held securely during movement. The leather backing is of 12 ounce leather, making for a comfortable base upon which to mount the Kydex holster. The belt attachment clips are adjustable for low or high ride. Overall this is credible gear that will give good service.

At present the ammunition shortage continues unabated. Testing a handgun is sometimes challenging as adequate supply is seldom found. However, I firmly believe that you are better to fire the ammunition and achieve proficiency rather than hoard the ammunition. The pistol was fired during the acclimation stage with Black Hills Ammunition 230 grain FMJ loads. Sight regulation was ideal for this loading, with the big ball striking just above the point of aim. The SIG Tacops is fast from leather and comes onto target quickly. The weight of the pistol is ideal for firing full power ammunition. While a lighter handgun might be faster from leather – and the same is true of a shorter 1911 – once in the hand and on target there is no handgun easier to control with full power .45 ACP ammunition. The SIG Tacops is clearly well suited to personal defense, service use or use by a tactical team of any type.

Moving to loads using an expanding bullet the Black Hills Ammunition 185 grain +P TAC load was tested. TAC load, Tacops seemed a good match. This loading uses the Barnes X bullet. A solid copper design, the nose of the bullet folds open into a petal like profile in expansion testing. The bullet is one piece and has no core to separate. The nose expands and folds to the base. The base is solid and this design ensures good penetration – the single most important factor in wound ballistics. Expansion is simply a bonus. A combination of shot placement and a load with good wound ballistics results in a high level of protection for the user.

The SIG Tacops, like all quality handguns, prefers one load to the other. The 1 in 16 inch rifling twist of the .45 ACP barrel is intended to stabilize standard weight 230 grain bullets. The bearing surface, not the weight, is what means the most and the barrel has proven to stabilize bullets of weights from 160 to 260 grains while rendering good accuracy. The long but light for the length 185 grain TAC bullet gave particularly good results, with a singular group of five shots at 25 yards of 1.9 inches. The average of three groups fired with this loading was 2.3 inches. The 230 grain ball load was not far behind. Even the least accurate loading tested, a handload using the Oregon Trail 230 grain RNL bullet at 780 fps, was accurate enough for most uses with a 25 yard 3.5 inch group. The SIG is an accurate handgun by any definition, well suited to service and personal defense.

With a manufacturer’s suggested list price of $1,213 the Tacops pistol isn’t cheap. But it is in line with most service pistols with similar features. The pistol is reliable, well fitted and finished, and features night sights, Nitron finish, and a well fitted barrel and bushing. When all is said and done, the Tacops is a handgun well worth its price and a service grade handgun worthy of our respect.

Specifications for the M 1944 Carbine

Weight: 8.9 pounds
Caliber: 7.62 x 54 mm Russian
Length: 40 inches
Barrel length: 20 inches
Magazine capacity: 5 rounds

The caliber of the new pistol has been subject to discussion. The service handgun at the time was a .30 caliber, and not a very strong one. The concept that the caliber was selected so that the same machinery could be used to rifle both pistol and rifle barrels is unlikely. It’s more plausible that the popularity of the Mauser pistol and stores of 7.63mm Mauser ammunition made the adoption of the Tokarev in caliber 7.62mm more acceptable. The Tokarev shot flat at longer range than the 7.63mm Mauser round and had plenty of penetration against soldier’s web gear. It would eventually prove an acceptable submachinegun cartridge.

The TT33 has always been given high marks for reliability and handling in service. The Soviets and most other Europeans regarded the pistol as a badge of office, used to direct troops and for personal protection. The Tokarev was as good as any. Only the High Power and the M1911 were superior among World-War-II service handguns. The TT33 gave good service during the Great Patriotic War. After the defeat of the Third Reich, Soviet satellite nations produced the pistol. Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and China produced the Tokarev in substantial numbers. When Egypt was in the thrall of the Soviets, the Tokegypt was manufactured in the old United Arab Republic. This pistol was exported as the Firebird. This pistol was a favorite of the Soviet sponsored terrorist band known as Baader Meinhoff. Carlos the Jackal preferred the CZ 52, but this German based gang preferred the 9x19mm Parabellum Tokarev.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the old Evil Empire was hungry for cash. The Chinese followed suit as each exported great quantities of pistols. Some are old, many unissued, and numerous special variants exist. I have seen a Chinese produced variant with a high capacity magazine. The most common modifiction, other than the simple rebarreling to 9x19mm Parabellum caliber, is the concession to the US ATF point system. Intended to preclude the importation of crude ‘Saturday Night Specials’, these points are given for each step toward becoming a ‘respectable’ handgun. Sights, safety, grips and other add-ons are graded. The Tokarev has been fitted with target grips, but most modifications are limited to the addition of a safety. These safeties can be found just behind the trigger guard or just at the rear of the frame. They lock either the trigger or the hammer. The version tested for this report featured a hammer blocking safety which moves in the opposite direction of the usual Browning safety. How does the Tokarev shoot? I selected a like new example in 9x19mm Parbellum for evaluation. The pistol was in excellent condition. Fit and finish were not up to the pistols I saw brought back from Vietnam, but it was more than acceptable. The pistol was purchased for less than $150. My RCBS trigger gauge showed that trigger compression broke at 6 pounds. The sights are large and easily acquired quickly.

I have fired the original type Tokarev and expected no surprises. I had found the pistol in its original caliber fed reliably, ven with handloaded soft point ammunition. I selected a number of full metal jacket rounds for this test firing session, and a number of hollowpoints. Some of these hollowpoints featured a rounded bullet oglive which has always fed in military 9mm pistols, even the Luger. The Tokarev would prove more difficult. I lightly lubricated the pistol with Birchwood Casey gun oil and began an evaluation. The initial rounds were Wolff surplus ammunition, in keeping with the budget theme of this pistol. There were no failures to feed, chamber, fire or eject. I found the Tokarev comfortable to fire. The grip is slim and rounded, with no sharp corners. The pistol is heavy enough for a 9mm, and the pistol simply does not kick very much. Muzzle flip was light. The sights were well regulated for ball ammunition.

The Wolff ammunition was a surprise, more than worth its modest price. However, I was disappointed that the pistol would not feed hollowpoint ammunition. Even a special full metal jacket bullet, designed to expand, would not feed. It had a slight dimple in the nose. I sacrificed a magazine of my Lapua CEPP anti terrorist loads. The first bullet hung on the feed ramp. I hand fed this round. It fired and the others all fed, but this could not be counted on. Mark the Tokarev as suitable only for ball ammunition. I have polished and radiused the feed ramp on many 1911’s and could do the same on this pistol, but this is not something the average purchaser of an inexpensive pistol would wish to do.

As for accuracy, I fired several three inch seventy foot groups from the bench rest with Black Hills 124-grain ammunition. The heavy trigger was easy to manage off the bench. I would not expect I could do the same with only my arms as a platform. Just the same, the Tokarev handled smartly in combat drills. It was fast on target with little muzzle flip. It was easy to put a magazine in the X ring to ten yards. The Tokarev is easily reloaded in Browning/Colt fashion. As a must-have addition to the armory of the collector of military handguns, this gun is interesting and worthwhile. It can be fired safely and accurately and is pleasant to fire. It would not be a bad choice for introducing any shooter to center fire semi automatic handguns. As a defense gun, there are much better choices available for a few more dollars. The inefficient safety and an inability to feed hollowpoint ammunition make the 9mm Tokarev a poor choice for defense. Just the same, it is reliable and handles quickly. This is an interesting handgun well worth consideration by the handgun enthusiast of historical or practical bent.

7.62mm Nagant

Used by communist forces in the Nagant revolver. This cartridge uses an unusually long case which seals gas in the chamber as the cylinder of the gun is pushed forward on firing. The full metal jacket (FMJ) bullet weighs 108 grains and is said to develop 1,100 fps in Soviet military loadings. I have found less velocity is more common. A very weak caliber, probably used very little. Penetration of web gear and heavy clothing would have been minimal, much in 8mm Nambu class.

7.62 x 25mm Tokarev

Adopted largely due to large stocks of 7.63mm Mauser ammunition for the popular Broomhandle pistol, this is a stronger round than the Nagant. Most sources give the military loading as 86 grain .30 caliber FMJ bullet at 1390 fps. It develops as much as 100 fps extra when fired in the ‘burp gun’. Good condition Tokarevs are often surprisingly accurate. This cartridge has excellent penetration.

.38 Smith and Wesson

Standard military revolver cartridge of the commonwealth, used in the Webley revolver. This round jolts a 200 grain lead bullet to about 700 fps or a 176 grain jacketed bullet to a bit more. Its penetration would be sadly lacking against heavily clad Chinese in a winter battle. Worthless as a military round.

9mm Luger

Used in the new French MAC 50 and a number of Browning Hi Powers in both commonwealth and Chinese hands. This cartridge jolts a 9mm (.355 inch) 115 to 124 grain bullet to 1100 to 1300 fps. Used in British Sten and Sterling submachineguns among many others. Accurate and offering plenty of penetration, an adequate battlefield round.

.45 acp

This cartridge saw a great deal of use in American hands in Korea, adding to an already excellent reputation. However, the Marines found that if the enemy was close enough for a pistol it was best to ‘feed him a grenade.’

Rifle cartridges

.30 US Carbine

This is a controversial little round. Those who used it in combat either loved it or hated it. The M 1 carbine is short, light, and handy. The M 2 full auto version came into use in Korea. One authority who used the M 1 carbine stated that reports of the .30 caliber carbine’s ineffectiveness were largely due to misses with the full auto version! The carbine saw great use in Korea. Ballistics are 110 grains at 1975 fps.

7.5 x 54mm French MAS

Manufactured by the Manufacture d’Armes de Saint Etienne, this round is similar to the later 7.62mm NATO round. Functional ballistics are a 140 grain FMJ bullet at 2600 fps. Used in the French M 36.

.30-06 Springfield

Easily the finest full power battle rifle cartridge ever fielded. The .30-06 is the standard by which the others are judged. Known as the 7.62 x 63mm in Europe, the .30-06 offers plenty of powerful and excellent accuracy even in standard military rifles such as the Springfield and M 1 Garand. Capable of extreme penetration against heavily garbed adversaries, the .30-06 is a fine military round. The military standard was a 172 grain FMJ-BT at 2640 fps.

7.62 x 54 mm Russian

Much that is said about the .30-06 could apply to this Soviet round. Dated by its rimmed cartridge case, the 7.62mm Russian as it is often called can be counted on for extreme accuracy. It is about as powerful as the .30-06. Military loads varied but included a 147 grain ball round at 2886 fps.Both the US and Soviet .30 caliber rounds were used in light machineguns as well as both bolt action and semi auto rifles.

.303 British

A powerful round which never showed the accuracy potential inherent in the US and Soviet .30 caliber cartridges. Loaded with Cordite powder, the .303 was clearly powerful enough for battlefield use. Standard ballistics are a 175 grain ball round at 2440 fps. Dated by a revolver like case rim, this cartridge was also used in the Bren light machinegun.

7.7 mm Japanese

Used in great numbers by the Chinese early in the war as thousands were captured from the Japanese. While the description may seem simplistic for practical purposes this is a rimless .303 British. Ballistics are a 175 grain FMJ at 2400 fps. This cartridge is accurate in a rifle with a good bore, and is much in the same class as the .303 British.

7.62 x 39mm

Used in the SKS, this is among the first true medium power battle rounds. A FMJ 122 grain bullet at 2300 fps is standard. I have found that most Soviet ball ammunition does not have bullets that break in half or fragment as US 7.62mm Nato bullets will. As a result, penetration is excellent but wound potential is often low. The 7.62 x 39 is not particularly accurate in military rifles but with proper load practice can be an accurate, powerful round.

The .303 British and .30-06 would soldier on for many years, but the rest of the cartridges listed would soon be gone from front line combat. The newcomer 7.62 x 39mm Soviet, conversely, would become the most popular military cartridge of all time, chambered in the Russian AK 47.

By Bob Campbell

It is easy to make a case for the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge as the most popular handgun caliber of all time, and even easier to make a case for the 9mm as the most popular bullet diameter for semi auto handguns. The various 9mms are not well understood and seldom interchangeable, and each has a bit of history behind them.

First, I examined the cartridge case list offered by our premier brass maker, Starline. There were no less than eleven 9mm calibers, all of which can use the same bullet. These included the .380 ACP, 9 Super Comp (9x 23mm), 9x19mm Parabellum, 9mm +P, 9 x 21mm, 9x18mm Makarov, 9mm Largo, 9mm Win. Mag, .38 Super, .38 Super +P and .38 Super Comp. By contrast there are six .38 caliber revolver cases and three .45 auto cases. (The .45 ACP, .45 +P and .45 Super.)

In the 9mm family we find true rimless cartridges like the 9x19mm Parabellum but also the semi-rimmed .38 ACP and .38 Super. I stated all could use the same bullets. The 9 x 18 Makarov actually uses a .363-inch bullet while the others use .355 inch jacketed or .356 to .358 inch lead bullets, but the Makarov performs adequately with jacketed 9mm bullets. Some .38 Supers do well with .357-inch revolver bullets. I have extensive experience with quite a few, especially the Largo, Parabellum and .38 Super variants. I am experimenting with the newest and arguably the best, from Hornady. Careful attention to each caliber is demanded – not many will be able to quote dimensions and loading data off the top of their head.

9mm Luger

The first pistol cartridges were bottleneck types for easy feeding in then new semiauto pistols. But .30 caliber FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) bullets proved relatively ineffective in use. The powerful .30 Mauser was said to be effective if it hit bone. Adventurer Winston Churchill found it quite deadly. The .30 Luger was less powerful. When blown out to 9mm it offered more acceptable wound potential. This is quite the opposite of the modern fashion of necking cases down, but precedent can be found in the rebated cylinder of the 1860 Colt Army .44 revolver. The 9mm Parabellum has been manufactured in practically every country in the free world and communist bloc nations as well. It is easily the most diverse in terms of case dimensions, case rim width and case mouth diameter of any of the 9mms. Just the same, good accuracy can be had with careful load selection, given a good handgun. Care must be taken reloading 9mm cases, as many are Berdan primed or loaded with corrosive powders. Adopted by the German Navy in 1904 and the German Army in 1908, followed by French and British services after World War Two, and adopted by the United States in 1981 as a martial cartridge, the 9mm Parabellum still enjoys worldwide popularity. It’ powerful enough for most uses but offers low recoil. Velocities vary, but 115 grains at 1,175 fps is the commercial standard and 1,350 fps with the same bullet is possible and generally rated as a +P+ cartridge.

.380 ACP (or 9mm Korto or 9mm Kurz, Italian and German, respectively, for 9mm Short)

Developed for John Browning’s pocket pistol as an improvement over the .32 ACP, this caliber is regarded as the minimum acceptable defense caliber by many. Surprisingly accurate and almost always feed reliable. Standard velocity is 95 grains at 950 fps.

9mm Mauser

Not to be confused with Red 9 Mausers. The Broomhandle was chambered for the German Army in .30 Mauser. After the Luger was adopted supply problems doubled. A version of the Mauser in 9x19mm Parabellum caliber was developed. During World War I, both caliber Mausers were in service but the guns chambered for the 9mm Luger had a big ‘Red 9’ on the grip to differentiate between calibers. These guns were chambered for the standard Parabellum cartridge. The 9mm Mauser was designed primarily for export. Case length was 25 mm. Velocities approach .357 Magnum levels. The 9mm Winchester Magnum, which jolts a 115-grain bullet to 1,475 fps, is not dissimilar.

9mm Mars

The Mars pistol was viewed with awe on a technological basis, but on a practical basis was rejected by the military. The Mars pistol was described in official reports as kicking severely and being difficult to handle. But the cartridge was powerful indeed by any standard. Sources conflict on the velocity of this weapon, but 130 grains at 1,400 fps seems a safe description.

Few concerns wished to popularize the other guy’s cartridge. Nationalistic concerns dictated cartridge selection. As a result, 9mm cartridges were introduced which served only one nation or saw limited popularity. One of the reasons the 9mm Parabellum was so popular was its compactness. The longer rounds, the 9mm Bayard and 9mm Steyr, offer little ballistic advantage. The Bayard was introduced in 1910. It has a 23 mm case and is more popularly known as the 9mm Largo. At one time, military loadings were hotter than the 9mm Luger with slightly heavier bullets but offer little real advantage. The Largo is NOT interchangeable with the .38 Super, as the longer bullets often used in the Largo will not allow a cartridge to be unloaded through the ejection port once chambered. My 1930’s vintage Colt .38 Super has a much smaller “slide window” than the Star Largo of the same period.

Modern commercial Largo ammunition is available only in Blazer from CCI. Velocity with a 124-grain projectile is 1,100 fps. With a solid Astra 400 or Star Super, the Largo can be handloaded to equal the 9mm Luger +P. Recently, a quantity of Spanish 9mm Largo was imported by Surplus International LLC, in corrosive and non-corrosive dating.

9mm Steyr

This is 23 mm cased cartridge similar, but not identical to the Largo.

9mm Browning Long

Introduced in the 1903 Browning pistol, this is an intermediate pistol cartridge which falls between the .380 ACP and 9mm Parabellum. Functional velocities were 110 grains at 1,100 fps. The Browning, LeFrancais and a few Webley and Scott pistols were chambered for this cartridge. Large numbers were released on the American civilian market but most will be found rechambered via sleeving the chamber for the shorter .380 ACP. Purportedly, rather stout loadings were safe in these guns.

Twenty-year-old notes show 90 grains at 1,050 fps was safe in the converted browning.

9 x 21mm

Some nations prohibit military calibers for civilian ownership but do not prohibit handgun ownership. The normal course was to chamber shorter, lighter 9mm handguns for the “legal” .30 Luger. In addition, .45 caliber guns, which use a .900-inch long cartridge case, were chambered to fire the .38 Super, which no one has used as a martial cartridge to the best of my knowledge. The Italians came up with an answer that points out the silliness of such restrictions. The .45 was answered with a short cartridge called the .45 HP but the 9mm was lengthened and dubbed the 9x21mm. Loaded to 9mm Parabellum power levels, it was legally acceptable. In IPSC competition, the 9mm Parabellum is regarded as a Minor caliber. Minor caliber handguns receive lower scores than Major calibers for the same hit. Higher velocity loadings such as the .38 Super could make a small bore perform in Major category. The 9x21mm allowed IPSC shooters to make Major 9 with certain loads. Regarded by some as a dangerous practice, such loading was eventually prohibited by match rules. The 9 x 21 is no longer as popular as it once was.

9mm Ultra

When the first wave of terrorism struck Europe, European police were for the most part woefully under-armed. The Walther PPK in .32 ACP was the norm. The .32 was often carried in a ponderously slow full flap holster. The .380 ACP Walther was carried by savvy cops in a fast draw holster. Obviously, more was needed. The Walther PP Super was considered a stopgap until rearmament with the new breed of 9mms (The P 220 and P7M8) was accomplished. The Super used a cartridge lengthened from the .380’s .680 inch to .760 inch. Effective velocities were published as 123 grains at 1,050 fps. I believe the cartridges I fired used 100-grain bullets. The load and gun combination is very easy to use well and accurate. The cartridge uses a slightly rebated rim.

9mm Glisenti

Dimensionally identical to the 9mm Parabellum. Inferior to the Parabellum cartridge, velocities with a 123-grain bullet are just over 1,000 fps. Never fire 9mm Luger ammunition in a Glisenti caliber firearm. The 9mm Glisenti was the caliber of the original Villar Perosa submachine guns.

9mm Federal

The 9mm Federal is a rimmed 9mm Luger cartridge designed for use in revolvers. Intended to offer more power than the .38 Special in a compact, efficient cartridge without resorting to the recoil, blast and perhaps political unacceptability of the .357 Magnum. Only Charter Arms produced a few revolvers in their five-shot Bulldog line. Ruger was reportedly gearing up to produce a Security Six in 9mm Federal but never did. An excellent cartridge, more efficient than the .38 Special. Velocity was 1280 fps with a 115-grain bullet.

9 X 23mm Winchester

Loaded by Winchester and briefly chambered in a Colt pistol, but the problem is that the case length lends itself only to being chambered in .90-inch case guns such as the Colt 1911. Ballistically, it is slightly superior to the .357 SIG. But the SIG can be chambered in lighter guns due to a smaller case length. The 9x23mm Winchester looks like the .38 Super but has thicker case walls. The 9x23mm Winchester does away with the .38 ACP Super’s semi-rim, an advantage in feed reliability and accuracy, and is loaded considerably hotter. A good cartridge but one that seems doomed to obscurity.

9mm Winchester Magnum

Used in single shot Thompson Contender pistols and chambered in the large, heavy Whildin auto pistol. Velocities have been quoted as 1,475 fps with a 115-grain bullet. Basically an updated 9mm Mauser.

9x25mm Dillon

Designed to offer great velocity and low recoil and to make most efficient use of state of the art compensators, the 9x25mm Dillon is a necked down 10mm case. 115 grains at 1,566 fps qualify this round as one of the most powerful 9mm cartridges ever produced. Chambered in 10mm and .45 size guns, it offered savvy shooters an edge.

9mm Action Express

The original .41 AE was an ingenious solution to the deficiencies of the 9mm Parabellum. 9mm pistols could be converted to .41 by a simple barrel change. The .41 caliber cartridge uses a rebated or 9mm Luger sized case rim. With proper set up and careful breech face polish, the gun could work well, especially in the Browning Hi Power.

The genius of Evan Whilden went one further with a case that not only featured a rebated rim but a bottleneck necked to 9mm! Why go back to the original diameter? The 9mm Action Express could function in a normal 9mm sized pistol but offered much greater case capacity than the 9mm. As much as 1,500 fps with a 124-grain bullet has been reported. A rare but interesting cartridge.

The .38/9mms

The cartridges were called .38’s for the American market but are 9’s by any other name.

.356 TSW

A long-cased 9mm used by Team Smith and Wesson, this cartridge had some potential but like other long case rounds was killed by the .357 SIG and new rules in competition.

.38 ACP

When John Moses Browning first developed his automatic pistol cartridges he did not completely trust case mouth headspacing. Most European cartridge cases headspaced on the case mouth but Browning felt that hedging the bet by giving the .32 ACP and the .38 ACP a semi-rim would be beneficial. The .38 ACP was chambered in his early double link Colt pistols. The .38 ACP fired a 130-grain bullet at about 1,050 fps, a 300 fps advantage over the Army’s .38 Long Colt. The Army seriously considered the .38 ACP and may have adopted a 1911 in this caliber but for bad experience with the .38 revolver in the Philippines.

The .38 ACP Super was introduced in 1927. A sharply invigorated load, it should never be fired in older double link Colt pistols. The Super jolts a 130-grain bullet to 1,300 fps. Effect against light cover and vehicles was enough for the gun to become a favorite of the FBI. Accuracy problems due to the pistol’s headspacing on the semi rim were sometimes experienced, and late model Colt production headspaces on the case mouth. Very few guns are still in production for this cartridge. One of the best is SIG’s P 220.

.38 TJ

The .38 TJ will be the best of the .38 autos. The .38 TJ is similar to the .38 Super, but as strong as the 9x23mm. Case dimensions were carefully engineered by Hornady engineers for excellent feed property. So far, tests are excellent.

Other 9mms

The 9.8mm Colt was the result of an attempt at a foreign contract, chambered in a kind of 3/4 size 1911. Operational ballistics were listed as 130 grains at 1,000 fps. Probably very similar in power to the .40 caliber Smith and Wesson, if a bit longer. The 9.65 Belgian is about the same round. It is probable only a handful of men have ever seen these cartridges.

And the most successful of course, previously covered in these pages, is the .357 SIG. Designed to work in 9mm and .40 caliber size guns, the .357 SIG is a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson necked down to 9mm. Velocity with similar weight bullets equals most Magnum loads in the four-inch barrel. Unlike other hot 9mm cartridges, this one has been accepted wholeheartedly by the police community.

As we can see, everything from pedestrian pocket cartridges to full power Magnum-level performance is covered by the 9mm class of cartridges. They are a dynamic choice, diverse in origin, great in popularity, and growing daily.

By Bob Campbell

When I was a kid we all knew what an Army rifle was. It was an old Springfield ’03 or maybe an Enfield. Garands were few and far between and the occasional eccentric used a British .303. Today, the situation is much different.

A deer hunter on a budget just might have an Army rifle but it will be a Russian rifle. The SKS has become an important part of America’s firearms scene. The guns are inexpensive, rugged, durable, and fun to shoot. That is about all you can ask of any rifle. The SKS has earned it’s place in America’s heart due to it’s robustness and ease of handling. Dirt cheap ammunition and accessories have added to the gun’s popularity. There are things the SKS is and things it is not. It is a fine centerfire plinker, small game getter and an acceptable rifle for use on deer sized game at moderate range. It is not a target rifle by any stretch of the imagination. But, as one who is more likely to be firing off his hind legs that off the bench I find the SKS offers fine practical accuracy in the field.

The SKS may not be as popular as the 5.5 million Winchester .30-30 rifles in use across the world, but offers similar power and accuracy. The .30-30 is a stronger round but at the range at which we should take deer with either rifle the difference should be conversational.

Criticisms of the SKS are valid, but don’t bother me. It is called ugly, but it works. The gun has plenty of tool marks in the inner workings and some of the Chinese guns look as if they were beat out upon a rock in Pakistan. But they always work, an endearing quality in any rifle whether it is meant for hunting, plinking, or war. The SKS is a little short in the stock for some shooters but not too long for many adults. A thick recoil pad will make up for this deficit if you have long arm reach. If you are wearing padded clothes such as worn in winter hunting, the SKS rifle’s short stock will come out about right. It is a good, fast handling little rifle. The SKS is sometimes criticized as for accuracy but this is more ammunition choice than anything else.

The SKS is interesting in it’s own right but the history of Soviet self loading rifles is also interesting. These rifles are rare in America but manufactured in great number in Russia under several governments. A major problem in early self loading rifle development was the use of the antiquated 7.62 x 54mm cartridge. This cartridge is about in the .30-06 class and chambered in the Mosin Nagant bolt action rifles. It is a rimmed cartridge. Rimmed rounds do not feed well in semi auto rifles. In 1916, Russia fielded a light ‘assault rifle’ which chambered the intermediate 6.5 x 50mm Japanese cartridge. The gun is important technically but failed tactically. It did not prove robust in action and was sensitive to dirt. After the war, the Bolsheviks took control and could not afford to chamber a new gun for anything but the heavily stockpiled 7.62 x 54mm round. (This is much the same reason the Tokarev pistol was chambered for the available .30 Mauser round.) The direct ancestor of the SKS is the AVS36. Sergie Simonov was beginning to be recognized as a firearms designer. His new rifle could fire fully automatic and used a fifteen round magazine. A gas operated action used a vertical moving bolt to lock up, a different system than our own Garand. The AVS36 did not prove reliable in action. The 7.62 x 54 round battered this action, resulting in high parts breakage. The gun was also complex and difficult to manufacture.

Over a million of the competitive Tokarev rifles were produced. This rifle was a little better than the AVs, but war time demands did not allow new designs at first. The Soviets needed every rifle they could field in their struggle against the Nazis.

By 1943 the world’s powers realized that full power rifles and firing at masses of troops might not be the wave of the future. Less powerful cartridges and faster handling rifles with higher magazine capacities would be developed. The United States .30 caliber carbine was a step in this evolution. The carbine was criticized as not powerful enough, but it’s reliability, firepower, and fast handling were excellent qualities. I have read conflicting reports on this gun. Each report has been penned by men of great experience in the great war who saw the guns in action. For what it is worth, the gun seems to have found more respect in the Pacific jungles.

The intermediate power rifle would be between the submachinegun in power and the full power rifle. It would fire a true rifle cartridge, if a shorter, less powerful one. There were aberrations along the way. The Japanese loaded standard cases with lower powder charges in some instances, and other rounds were simply long case pistol cartridges. The 7.62 x 39mm Soviet is by far the most successful intermediate cartridge of all time. The German 7.92mm x 33mm cartridge was chambered in the MP43, a remarkably advanced weapon. These were the first true assault rifles.

The Soviet answer was the M1943 7.62 x 39mm cartridge. Range was less than that of the 7.62 x 54 mm but the round could be accurate to 400 yards and lethal somewhat beyond. Soviet engineers moved slow in comparison to what was expected in the West. With most production geared toward the Tokarev rifle a rifle was developed and certain prototypes tested by late 1944 in battle. The carbine was tweaked and improved in certain areas and adopted as the 7.62 Samozaryadnyi Karabin Sisyemi Somonova Obrazets 1945. In simple terms, it is designated the SKS 45.

The SKS was not in full production until 1949. It had a relatively short front line service life, being replaced by the AK47 in 1953. But the SKS was heavily produced in many Soviet satellite nations.

I have fired other early short rifles, from the M1 Carbine and the Enfield Jungle Carbine to the Tanker Garand. The SKS is easily the best of the early carbines. However, the SKS was dated even when it first appeared in 1945. It uses a non detachable ten round magazine which is loaded with stripper clips. It is a little heavy for the round it uses. But it works! The gun has been produced in many nations. Examples include the East German Karibener 5, the Chinese type 56 and the Yugoslav M59. I have been told the Yugoslav gun was produced in 7.62mm NATO. This would not be out of the question and would make a fine all around gun if the action held up to the increased power. But, the gun may not actually exist.

When looking at the SKS we have to ask where does it fit? What are it’s capabilities? Some of us simply enjoy firing rifles, any type, and this is a good thing. This is the best thing, in my opinion, and while hunting and self defense are valid reasons for owning a SKS the fun aspect cannot be discounted. It is light on the budget and has introduced many cash strapped Americans to low cost centerfire plinking.

As a hunting rifle, the SKS is OK for short range game. With good handloads the SKS will do the job. Depending upon the load, I might limit myself to broadside shots on larger deer species. The SKS is much better than the .30 caliber carbine but not quite up to the .30-30.

Against pest and varmints the SKS is great, with proper loads. Several of my friends consider the SKS their all around rifle. More than a few ride in the trunk of patrol cars as patrol carbines. They are superior to any pistol caliber carbine.

The limiting factor is ammunition. Frankly, much of the Chinese ball ammunition I have fired was of terrible quality. It was pow pow bam pow bam! You are lucky to see a five to six inch group at 100 yards with such poor quality ammunition. With American manufactured softpoint ammunition, my personal SKS has exhibited groups in the three inch class. Not match grade by any means but decent for the task at hand. The Black Hills 125 grain softpoint has proven especially accurate, but a number of loads have given good results. I have also used East European ball ammunition with good results. For strict defense use, the Russian hollowpoint ammunition would be good. It expands rapidly and completely, fragmenting in about nine inches of gelatin. This is not a good deer load by any means but an estimable defense load. Against light cover, it offers extremely good results.

My personal gun has been around for some time, and looks the worse for wear. I have fired about 2,500 rounds in this rifle with no malfunctions of any type and little cleaning. I have had good results with handloads and all factory ammunition. The sights could be better, but I have been able to sight the gun in perfectly. Kentucky windage works at 100 yards and the gun cannot be sighted in, at least this one cannot, at 25 yards. It shoots high. This is no drawback unless the rifle would be used for dedicated hostage rescue.

I have improved one of my rifles by adding a four power scope from Federal Arms. This little inexpensive scope does improve the guns utility. It is definitely in the best buy class. When carried for several months in the trunk of the patrol car, this scope proved robust, never losing it’s zero. When using the scoped rifle I found speed was at a premium when using the following drill;

I first took a hasty sight picture by sighting over the adjustment knob of the scope. I quickly lowered my eye to the scope and took aim. This resulted in a rapid hit at longer ranges. My patrol SKS does not wear a scope but I have to admit this is an excellent option. Federal Ordnance also offers useful bipods and other gear.

All of my rifles have original ten round magazines. This is for a simple and compelling reason. Aftermarket magazines don’t work. I have tried them all. Some are junk, others are better, but all destroy the balance of the gun. In many states we have to block the gun to five rounds for hunting in any case.

My gun is stock, simple, and reliable. I have made a slight addition. Near the handy safety lever I have painted a small red dot that is visible when the gun is off safe. Nine times out of ten the gun is at ready chamber empty but I like this touch.

I like this gun very much. It is one of those well worn and familiar guns in which I have a great deal of confidence. It is going to fire and it will hit where it looks if I do my part. That is worth a great deal.

The SKS is a good gun, and it is a lot of gun as well for the money. I will never give it the emotional attachment I give the ’03 Springfield and it is not in the league with a Garand. But it is too good a gun to own only one. And we free people, with a right to keep and bear arms protected by the Constitution, have wholeheartedly welcomed these refugees from the various People’s Republics.

By Bob Campbell

Within the framework of the AR 15/M 16 rifle there are subtypes that are very interesting, perhaps even more useful than the original gun. One of the most popular, a weapon of almost legendary reputation, is the CAR 15/M 177 or M4 Carbine. The first short barrel short stock M 16 variants appeared in the late 1960’s. They met with varying degrees of success. I’ve fired most, a notable exception to my experience being the ‘port firing’ M 16’s designed for use within armored vehicles. Early guns in the CAR 15 series were sometimes called Commandos. The original guns coupled a ten inch barrel with a folding or collapsing stock. Colt had wished this line to be known as the CAR 15 line to signify the difference between Colt and Armalite production.

The short XM 177 received and kept the CAR 15 tag. These guns were criticized on several points, especially reliability. Col. Tony Herbert, the most decorated enlisted man of the Korean conflict served as a officer in Vietnam. He found the M 16 was a fine rifle, well suited to the conflict, but derided the CAR 15 as unreliable. He felt it had more show than performance, likening its image to that of the Thompson submachinegun of another war. The XM 177E2, with a longer 11.5 inch barrel and other types of ‘tweaking’, proved more reliable.

The XM 177E2 was dropped from production. The early short M 16’s were plagued with reliability and ammunition performance problems.

Later carbines were developed which featured 14.5 inch long barrels. These longer barrels work much better with the M 16 gas system and retain more of the 5.56mm cartridge’s effectiveness. This is a round that relies upon high velocity for effectiveness. Wound ballistics are compromised when the velocity falls below 2,500 fps. With enhanced ammunition performance and increased reliability, later variants such as the 1980’s M 16A2 carbine were much more effective weapons. Many in the Army wished to adopt the Carbine as a standard weapon but it remained for the most part a special team weapon, often issued to drivers and dog handlers or other needing a short light weapon. It is much more effective than any handgun or submachinegun, weapons often assigned this task.

The M4 and M4A1 are recent variants, being adopted in 1994. Both are in wide use by all of the services. Two models are in use. The M4 has the familiar ratchet-type three shot burst limiter. When the weapon is on full auto, it can be fired only in a three shot burst mode. At least in my hands, the usual result is two shots close together and one with greater dispersion. The M4A1 has the more conventional mode of fire.

A trained operator can tickle the trigger well enough to fire two to four round bursts in full auto mode. The trick is in training, a greater indicator of success in the field than gear. The M4’s currently in service are flat-top models, or M 16 variants with removable carrying handles. These weapons may easily be fitted with telescopic sights.

The M4 type weapon is also popular with civil agencies, especially Special Weapons and Tactics units. The needs of mobile SWAT teams are well served by the M4. The M4’s 14.5 inch barrel is not civilian legal, but a number of approximations are available with legal length 16 inch barrels. They mimic the M4 in a reasonable manner, of course without the full auto option. I’ve fired quite a few and they are accurate, reasonably compact weapons. Several versions are offered by Wilson Combat. Not as well known for his rifles, Wilson’s rifles and carbines are world class weapons.

The true M4 exhibits the following features—

• 14.5 inch, 1 in 7 inch twist barrel
• 7 3/4 inch round handguard
• Double heat shield
• Flat top receiver
• Four position buttstock—Closed/Full open/one half and three quarters open.

Early ammunition problems with the CAR 15 type guns are well documented. Often, downsizing a weapon does not work as well as the designer had hoped. M4’s currently in use feature an increased diameter gas port, which aids in overall function.

The M4 carbine has been well received in service, passing stringent testing. It is used by airborne units, SEALs, and other special operators.

Notably, the availability of the M4 carbine has resulted in less utilization of other weapons such as the Heckler and Koch MP5 and other weapons. The M4 can perform the same tasks but arguably much better, while fulfilling the mission envelope of the M16A2 as well.

The carbines are six inches shorter than the M16A2, a significant advantage when parachuting or traveling in a raft, and an advantage in house clearing as well.

The problems encountered by Israeli and Palestinian forces in house clearing with the M16 and Galil are well known. The UZI found favor with the Israelis. They would not allow Palestinian forces to use the UZI. The UZI is a good weapon of the type, but not comparable to the M4.

The question of accuracy and lethality remains with the M4. Accuracy to even 500 yards is comparable to but not equal to the M16A2. I have fired several short carbines at length. I chose Black Hills ammunition for the chore. Since their match grade loads are used by Marine sharpshooters, it felt appropriate. I used not only standard 55 grain loads but the 52 grain match load, the 60 grain softpoint, and a 68 grain match load. Results were very good. At 100 yards-and infantry engagement range is held to be one hundred to one hundred twenty five yards-accuracy was excellent.

The .223 cartridge must retain 2,500 fps or more of muzzle velocity to retain its lethality. With short submachinegun type barrels as seen on the CAR 15 this was not always possible, but it is a non issue with the M4.

The M4 provides an excellent alternative to the M16A2, with many good features and few tradeoffs. It is a fine weapon for the 21st century warrior.

The Nambu is a semi-auto pistol similar in manipulation to the modern Ruger .22 caliber pistol. A large cocking knob on the rear of the bolt makes cocking the gun quite easy. Ejection is straight out of the top, making the Nambu left or right hand neutral. The safety would be more handy to a left handed shooter, or “molly dooker” as the Australians say it, but by no means handy to either. The pistol features dual recoil springs which are not needed for the caliber. This pistol was in use for some time, and it was possibly the first general issue Japanese semi-auto. The solid S curved gripframe fits most hands well. Although the gun is bulky it is thin in the gripframe to allow use by those with small hands. The triggerguard was enlarged from earlier pistols as a result of action in frozen Manchuria, as the gun saw use in China. With the enlarged triggerguard the gun is quite handy for gloved hand use. I would not wish to use the 8mm Nambu against a heavily clad adversary, however. There is a chance the small caliber low velocity bullet would not penetrate thick winter clothing or web gear.

The Nambu incorporates a magazine safety that prevents the gun from firing if the magazine is removed. This is considered an excellent safety measure for troops, many of whom are uninterested in firearms safety. The manual safety is located on the left hand side of the frame and very difficult to use in a hurry. I suspect most Nambu’s were carried chamber empty, being charged as they were needed. The Nambu has a Browning type magazine release. However, there is a curious device near the bottom of the gripframe which prevents the magazine from dropping if the magazine release is struck – the magazine must be slipped loose, not allowed to fall free. Combined with the follower into the bolt type bolt hold open design, it was not easy to quickly reload a Nambu in combat! The Nambu is not without good features. The sights are unusual but better than many of the period.

I was surprised at the quality of the trigger action. I have learned to begin trigger compression at the top or bottom of military pistols to combat heavy trigger actions. The Nambu pistol’s trigger is very clean, breaking at about two pounds. This is too light for a military weapon by most standards but certainly would make good shooting possible.

I was able to fire the gun with custom 8mm Nambu ammunition from the Old Western Scrounger. The bottleneck 8mm Nambu is no hot rod round. The bullet probably weighs about 85 grains, and muzzle velocity is 1,050 fps. The standard military round has a jacketed bullet weighing approximately 102 grains. I would prefer the 7.62mm Tokarev to this caliber. Recoil is light. The light trigger and good sights, as well as a solid mating to the frame, produced decent accuracy. I was able to secure several 2 inch groups at 50 feet. I have to admit this is an enjoyable gun to fire. You can empty the eight round magazine quickly, with good results predicted on the target.

The gun suffers in comparison to more capable handguns such as the Walther P 38, the Browning Hi Power, or the Colt 1911. The Nambu is slow into action and chambers a woefully underpowered martial cartridge. However, contrary to some reports, the Nambu is well made and finished, from good material. It has the questionable magazine retention device, but then the magazine knobs are well designed, checkered and depressed, which aids in removing the magazine. Since few Japanese soldiers had a chance to handle any other type of handgun, it probably was well received in Japan. Before the war, it is said the Colt pocket pistols were popular with Japanese officers. I would prefer a Colt pocket pistol in .380 caliber to this gun, but neither is at the top of the list of fighting handguns!

Technically, if not tactically, the Nambu probably deserves more respect than it gets. As it is, it stands as another relic of an old Evil Empire.