The preponderance of double-stack 9mm 2011s arriving from various manufacturers appears to be heralding a new era of handguns. What was previously thought of as a competition-only application is now going mainstream. Single action triggers mated to a heap of 9mm sitting in a magazine seems a match made in heaven. What if I said SIG Sauer has been offering discerning consumers this ability since the early 2000s with a proven design that requires no magazine tweaking or tuning that the early 2011s were known for?

While SIG has become a standard-bearer for the polymer striker fired genre with its P320 and P365 series, SIG is still representing with the P226/229 family of metal framed, hammer-fired weapons. A little-known SIG Sauer decision made circa 2006 was to offer a single-action-only (SAO) trigger option to shooters with certain models of the P226/229 family. We are going to explore multiple examples of recent SIG handguns featuring single action only triggers—P226Zev, P226XFive Legion, and P229 Legion Compact SAO. Each offer different utility while benefiting from the P226’s proven design that’s combined with single-action-only trigger capability.

SETTING THE STAGE

At the turn of the 20th Century, semi-automatic handguns were typified by hammer-fired steel frames and most likely single-action in that the exposed hammer was cocked rearward when ready to fire. The Mauser 1896 “Broomhandle” and Browning 1911 serve as good examples. In the 1930’s, the double-action/single-action (DA/SA) hammer fired handgun genre arrived in the form of the German P38. Its emergence was just as revolutionary as the polymer, striker-fired Glock’s arrival 50 years later. Yes, other examples existed before each; however, both are recognized as the most successful, establishing the handgun genre to follow. The rise of DA/SA designs and polymer striker-fired handguns surely took away the preeminent position of the “cocked & locked” pistol. This is for a variety of reasons stretching from manufacturing procedures, the perception of added safety, and other reasons.

While there’s no doubting the popularity and staying power of DA/SA and polymer striker-fired weapons, hammer-fired SAO “cocked and locked” handguns have not faded quietly into the sunset. In fact, the case can be made that the popularity of this format is actually flourishing.

HISTORY

Before we get into the details, here’s a little background on the P226 family. The SIG P226 was spawned from the P220. P220 design work started in the late 1960s due to the Swiss wanting a less expensive to manufacture sidearm in lieu of the P210. The P220 entered Swiss service in 1975. Many of the innovative features introduced with the P220 family still prevail today, including on other manufacturer’s weapons.

A great example of this is how SIG modified Browning’s locked breech short recoil design. Instead of slots in the hood of the slide interacting with locking rings on top of the barrel, SIG utilized the forward edge of the chamber locking into the ejection port. This removed complex machining operations from the production process. The De-cocking lever, automatic firing pin safety, pinned breechblock in the steel slide are other examples of the P220 perfecting these concepts.

The P226 reflected SIG’s quest to generate an entry for the early 1980’s U.S. XM9 Joint Service Pistol trials conducted to find a replacement for the venerable but aged M1911A1. The P226 was modified from the P220 to accept double column magazines. When the dust settled after years of testing and evaluation, only the Beretta 92F submission and the SIG P226 satisfactorily completed the trials. As most readers already know, the P226 was not chosen to replace the M1911A1. The Beretta 92F was given the nod for a variety of factors outside the scope of the article. The P226 test performance impressed, thus gaining the attention of various military units, many with elite status, and law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and around the world. The U.S. Navy SEALs were the preeminent unit on this list of adopters. Early on, it was evident that the P226’s reliability, accuracy, safety, and capacity set it apart from its handgun peers.

P226 ZEV: MASTERFUL COLLABORATION

Unlike other manufactures who often forget about their civilian customers after getting a taste of military contracts, SIG’s leadership team keeps the hammer down with both current production and by offering new items based on feedback from its customers. SIG has no problem teaming up with other firms to create unique, enhanced versions of existing SIG products. The P226 Zev Technologies collaboration stands as an excellent example.

The P226 Zev is more than just a P226 with Zev’s aesthetic flourishes. Zev and SIG created a P226 that pushes the envelope. Immediately, the SAO trigger caught my attention as I’ve never been fond of DA/SA hammer-fired trigger characteristics. Distinctive texturing found on the Nitron-coated stainless slide, hard-coat anodized alloy frame with undercut trigger guard and extended beavertail, Zev-pattern hexagonal textured Hogue G10 grips, and a threaded dimpled barrel create a unique offering.

The P226 Zev offers users the best of the P226 design with a preferred single action trigger. Icing on the cake is the flat style trigger shoe. This offers a 90-degree break that’s less likely to pull the sights to the right or left as the trigger is pulled. I have come to prefer flat triggers based on experiences with SIG’s P226 brethren—P320s and P365s. Ambidextrous manual safeties are present on the P226 Zev in lieu of the de-cocking lever usually found on the standard P226.

Red dots are becoming standard equipment on handguns. Manufacturers have caught up to the red dot revolution with factory-equipped red dot handguns taking over from custom milled slides that dominated early red dot configurations. The P226 Zev arrives with a SIG ROMEO1 PRO reflex optic installed. A 4.9-inch, textured Zev Tech ½- 28 threaded barrel with protector protrudes from the slide. A SIG MODX-9 suppressor was quickly teamed up with the P226 Zev. This can features the newest innovation in suppressor technology with its modular, 3D-printed, segmented titanium baffle stack.

P229 LEGION COMPACT SAO: COMPACT WITHOUT COMPROMISE

SIG realized that a more compact P226 design would help them attract even more consumers, especially considering the expanding concealed carry laws spreading across the majority of U.S. states at the time. Thus, the P229 was born. The SIG P229 Legion Compact SAO is a compact variant of the classic P226 model. The Legion designation carries extra weight in SIG world. Legion nomenclature indicates factory custom shop upgrades based on feedback from SIG Sauer’s elite professional clients around the world. A Legion weapon is intended for customers who rigorously use their gear.

What sets the P229 Legion Compact SAO apart from its P229 stable mates? First, is the Cerakote Elite Legion gray coating covering the stainless-steel slide and aluminum frame. This is not merely idle window dressing; the coating improves durability. Custom G-10 grips with a Legion medallion are also present. The SAO trigger is what focused my attention on the P229 Legion Compact SAO. SIG XRay3 day/night iron sights arrive on the P229 Legion Compact SAO. Don’t worry, the slide is factory milled if user wants to mount a red dot compatible with the SIG PRO or Leupold DeltaPoint Pro footprint. Ambidextrous manual safeties are present on the P229 Legion Compact SAO.

The P229 Legion Compact’s compact profile makes it ideal for concealed carry, especially with inside-the-waistband carry techniques. Someone who is a practitioner of concealed carry quickly realizes that length, grip size, overall weight, and width of a pistol are the key defining parameters for discrete carry handguns.

While the safety lever is located within natural thumb swipe distance, the slide lock sits further toward the rear of the frame compared to other weapons. This all but eliminates the chance of unintentionally engaging the slide lock during strings of fire, as can happen if shooters rest their thumb on the lever with other designs. Another nod to the P229 Legion Compact SAO’s more modern design versus the 1911 is the safety’s ability to stay engaged while manipulating the slide.

The P229 Legion Compact features a contoured, reduced-profile beavertail allowing better hand placement on the frame while limiting concern from printing through cover garments. The beavertail’s protrusion from the frame guides one’s hand to the optimum grip position during the draw stroke and aids in recoil management. More aggressive front strap checkering and additional checkering under the trigger guard enhance grip purchase. An undercut has been applied below the trigger guard, allowing for a higher grip and more control when firing, especially during rapid shot strings.

The P229 Legion Compact’s shorter barrel/slide provides an optimal mix of sight radius, concealment, balance, and reliability. The SIG XRay3 day/night irons compliment the P229 Legion Compact’s intended role as a concealed carry weapon. The P229 Legion Compact SAO’s 3.9-inch, cold hammer-forged barrel and short reset, single-action trigger combined with near perfect lock-up in the stainless-steel slide ensure maximum reliability and accuracy. The SIG single-action trigger pull measures 3.5 to 4 lbs. The aluminum frame features a Picatinny rail dust cover for tactical versatility in the way of lights and laser target designators.

P226 XFIVE LEGION: MATCH MASTER NOW MADE IN AMERICA

Even with their current, preeminent position, SIG has no problem expanding its product line by offering weapons that many considered unobtainable. A recent entry into this category has pistol aficionados sitting up and taking notice—the P226 XFIVE is now made here in the U.S. in the SIG Custom Works shop. Previous P226 XFIVE’s were Teutonic offerings from the German-based SIG MasterShop. These were discontinued in 2012. SIG recently decided to expand on the P226XFIVE by offering a Legion version.

Whereas the P226XFIVE has the competition and target crowd as its focus, the P226XFIVE Legion is more utilitarian with its setup. Yes, if you want to relentlessly punch steel during a match, the P226 XFIVE Legion will accommodate. However, the presence of a slide-integrated expansion chamber, suppressor-height XRAY3 adjustable sights, and subdued Legion Cerakote Gray finish indicate a this model was meant for general, defensive use. It is not hard to fathom why some may consider the P226 XFIVE Legion applicable to personal defense work. Under the rear sight plate, SIG milled the slide to accept red dots with a SIG ROMEO PRO or Leupold DeltaPoint Pro footprint.

The XFIVE Legion’s fully adjustable AX3 SAO trigger is a key component in the XFIVE equation. The XFIVE Legion’s trigger is adjustable for pull weight, over-travel, and length-of-pull. The XFIVE Legion’s trigger is a flat faced as described with the P229 Legion. The XFIVE trigger characteristics aid in rapid target engagement with a trigger pull just over 3 pounds, out of the box.

The XFIVE Legion’s longer slide and barrel combo (when compared to a standard P226) contributes more mass, aiding in increased muzzle control for double taps or longer strings of fire. The pistol’s ergonomics combine with the slide’s smooth tracking during recoil and manageable 9mm muzzle signature to present a very stable sight picture, no matter how many or how fast rounds are fired.

SIG uses the term “integrated expansion chamber” instead of “compensator” in its P226 XFIVE Legion literature. This is a nod to the fact that the 4.4-inch barrel stops short of the slots in the slide. Whereas compensators usually list 30 to 35% recoil/muzzle rise reduction, the integrated expansion chamber provides less than this. Subjectively, it seems like a 10 to 20% effectiveness listing. There’s no need to debate the finer points of compensator effectiveness. Any advantage gained by their use is beneficial. The integrated expansion chamber design with the P226 XFIVE Legion means it can never come loose and requires no extra steps for field stripping due to its integrated construction in the slide.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Each one of the SIG pistols discussed above have been used extensively for extended time frame. All have proved capable of firing groups into one jagged hole at 10 yards with multiple loads. The P226 Zev’s threaded barrel, ROMEO1PRO optic, and single-action trigger allow a user a range of options related to the pistol’s intended role. Combining SIG’s MODX-9 suppressor to the pistol expands this line of thinking. The P226 Zev occupies the role of nightstand weapon with aplomb.

The P229 Legion Compact SAO often accompanies me in a personal defense capacity. Numerous holsters are available, facilitating a multitude of IWB or belt carry options. Comparison of the P229 Legion Compact to the Commander-size 1911or Glock 19 should quell the concerns of anyone thinking the SIG is too large to carry. The SIG P229 Legion Compact SAO is ideal for anyone wanting to capitalize on the SIG reputation for out-of-the-box reliability and accuracy combined with single-action trigger for the utmost control and precise shot placement.

The P226 XFIVE Legion is the newest member of the SIG tribe we have discussed. All will appreciate what the P226 XFIVE Legion offers in terms of accuracy, reliability, handling, and capacity. The P226 XFIVE’s uncanny accuracy will get everyone’s attention. The P226 XFIVE-series now being U.S.-made increases availability and creates a more palatable price for the boutique offering.

While it’s hard to quantify the “feel” of a pistol in the hand, the mystique of a well-put-together single-action semi-automatic handgun is hard to deny in our current polymer striker-fired age. A trigger that arrives featuring minimal to no creep, limited travel and reset, and a break like the proverbial glass rod is hard to resist. All of these things become magnified as knowledge and skills are gained in the quest to run a handgun with ruthless efficiency—albeit in a tactical, duty, competition, or personal defense role.

Lastly, do not underestimate the ability to configure these guns into condition one, cocked and locked carry, which Americans are intimately familiar with thanks to the iconic 1911 design. The 1911’s enduring appeal with the American shooter goes beyond what many can fathom. The resultant attraction of this surely has an effect on the U.S. consumer.

Does nostalgia play a role in the rebirth of hammer-fired SAO only handguns? Hell, yeah it does. SIG has you covered.

It is no argument that Glock pistols have become some of the most ubiquitous handguns since their debut in the 1980s. Glock handguns are both lightweight and rugged while being extremely reliable while using few moving parts. The obvious difference between Glocks from the classic metal framed handguns like Brownings, Colts and Smiths is the Glock’s polymer frame. Back in the day, shooters could customize their own classic revolver or semi-auto by mixing and matching different stocks and grips– be they handmade or bought off-the-shelf.

For Glock shooters, this was one of the downsides about having a gun with a frame made from a singular mold. Once Glock handguns caught on, it wasn’t long before ingenious shooters started sanding, carving and stippling polymer frames. Enter Boresight Solutions: one of the most respected custom shops in the industry with over twenty years of experience. Boresight’s skipper, Ben Simonson, has ample experience extracting every last bit of accuracy and performance from Glock handguns. He and his team have done so by not only figuring out what different polymer frame alterations suit each shooter’s hands, but they are also experts in outfitting Glock pistols with after-market performance parts. 

THE FINAL FRONTIER FOR ACCURACY: THE BARREL 

One of the most important lessons imparted from Simonson about the performance enhancement of Glock pistols is that a lightened trigger, customized grip, and a crisp red-dot optic are all secondary concerns when it comes to the gun’s overall accuracy. This is due, in part, to the mechanical aspects of the Glock’s design and also partially due to a phenomenon inherent in all modern manufacturing and mass-produced guns: tolerance stacking.

Every component of a pistol is produced according to drawn dimensions and every measurement has an acceptable flub factor to account for tool wear that’s often measure in thousands of an inch. This range of acceptable dimension is called tolerance. As long as each measurement of a part is in the indicated tolerance window, the part passes quality control and gets sent on to be built into a pistol. In layman’s terms, as long as all components and parts measure up to an acceptable range of tolerances and specifications, they are green lit from the factory.

Tolerance stacking becomes a detriment when several parts that each measure at the extreme ends of their measurement window are combined in a final product. Because of the sheer volume of slides and barrels manufactured, odds are that some factory Glocks will shoot lights-out out of the box and some may barely print an acceptable group. Different slides and barrels are going to be inevitably mixed and matched at the time of their final assembly. To accurize Glock pistols, gunsmiths fit oversize match-grade barrels to specific guns. This readily shrinks a pistol’s group sizes, but due to the fact that these are fitted for extreme accuracy, pistol reliability can take a back seat.

BORESIGHT’S ACTUAL SOLUTION

In autumn 2022, Boresight Solutions released their new Advantage Precision Barrels. Their aim was to provide a drop-in match grade pistol barrel that does not require any gunsmithing while also being wholly reliable for duty-grade use. Currently, these barrels are available for all generations of the most popular 9mm Luger Glock models such as the 17, 19/45, 34, 43X and 48. Advantage Precision Barrels are engineered from 416R chromium stainless steel, a material known for its high tensile strength and its ability to resist corrosion.

The chamber area of the Boresight Solutions Advantage Precision Barrel is also given additional reinforcement for long-lasting, hard service while the barrel itself has longitudinal fluting cuts around its outer circumference. These cuts not only lighten the barrel but they help the barrel cool faster by reducing its mass and adding surface area to the exterior. And speaking of the exterior, all AP barrel external surfaces, from breech to muzzle, are honed to be ultra-smooth with a roughness average of (Ra 16). Furthermore, Boresight Solutions manufactures their barrels to high standards. According to Simonson, the dimensional tolerance for each barrel model within a given generation is no bigger than 0.003 inches–with other tolerances being even more precise.

Simonson also explained that these barrels were designed with hard-use in mind, specifically for duty or defensive carry. As a result, AP barrels have a faster 1:10-inch barrel twist better suited for heavier ranges of premium jacketed hollow point 9mm ammunition that Boresight’s clientele tends to favor. 

SHOOTING WITH ADVANTAGE AND PRECISION 

To evaluate the Boresight Solutions Advantage Precision barrel, I used my American-made Glock 17 Gen5 pistol – I specifically chose this pistol due to its known reliability. The Boresight Solutions AP barrel arrived in my mailbox generously coated with oil to protect it during storage and shipping and a complimentary silicone impregnated wipe-down cloth with the Boresight Solutions “boar” logo was also included.

The AP barrel easily dropped into my Glock 17 slide without any fanfare. Furthermore, I also dropped the barrel into another American Glock 17 Gen5 slide with a direct-milled Steiner Optics MPS enclosed emitted reflex sight. Putting the barrel through two different slides (including one with a mounted optical sight) makes for a better test. Since the beginning of this review, I’ve been shooting the AP barrel with the same bone-stock frame and trigger. Both slides include the factory recoil spring and all factory parts.

To date, I’ve fired approximately 600 cartridges, both factory rounds and handloads. Among the factory loads are: 147-gr Speer Gold Dot G2, 147-gr American Eagle Flat Point, 147-gr, 150-gr and 124-gr Federal Syntech, 124-gr American Eagle FMJ, 115-gr CCI Blazer Brass, 115-gr CCI Blazer Aluminum, and Fiocchi 115-gr FMJ. Moreover, I’ve shot a good quantity of my general purpose 115-gr and 147-gr handloads. Besides an improperly sized reloaded cartridge which was 100% my fault, to date I have had no reliability or function issues between either slide. While groups with range or practice ammo were more than acceptable, I noticed that my particular barrel really seems to favor 124-grain bullets. Federal Syntech and Federal American Eagle FMJ rounds printed well at 25 yards–from a rest or unsupported. American Eagle 147-gr flat point ammo also showed a lot of promise.

PERFORMANCE

Extracting accuracy will ultimately depend on several factors, including the sighting system, the trigger pull weight and style, the particular cartridges being fired, etc. While a match-grade drop-in barrel will not magically turn any given pistol into a laser beam, a barrel like the Advantage Precision drop-in barrel will certainly eliminate the accuracy variable that comes from a factory barrel with looser tolerances. Working on this review, I noticed that the AP Barrel has a tighter chamber, because I was shooting various handloads (both good ones and my not-so-good ones) for example. Also, Glock deserves some credit as all fifth-generation guns make use of their Glock Marksman Barrels. The GMB is a definite improvement over the barrels of the previous generation and it certainly showed while shooting control groups for this article. 

Boresight Solutions Advantage Precision barrels generally retail for $195 and are manufactured in Florida. Truthfully, with the ubiquity and popularity of Glock pistols, the aftermarket match barrel segment is extremely competitive, and shooters have the option of choosing from a wide variety of aftermarket products. However, after two decades of business and building relationships with its customers and industry partners, Boresight Solutions has its well-earned reputation for a reason. Naturally, after taking the time to design, develop and manufacture an aftermarket drop-in Glock barrel, customers can upgrade their hard-use and EDC Glock pistols with confidence. Please visit Boresight Solutions’ website to learn more.

Savage Arms becoming a stand-alone firm again after separating from conglomerate Vista Outdoors in July 2019 certainly reinvigorated its creative juices. Savage was originally added to the ATK portfolio in 2013 and subsequent corporate realignments found them with Vista when ATK separated several brands from their holdings in 2015. Savage surged forward with many noteworthy additions to their product line—the award winning Renegauge semiautomatic shotgun and Impulse straight-pull bolt-action rifle being two standouts.

Savage has a reputation for surprising consumers by anticipating their desires. This is an ideal position to be in as a firearms manufacturer. At times it seems Savage has a direct link to what the U.S. firearm consumer wants versus what “expert” gun writers or marketing executives predict. Savage really shook up the industry in the end of December 2021 with the introduction of the Stance 9mm micro compact semi-auto handgun. The Stance is the focus of the article.

History of Innovation

This is not Savage’s first handgun; though no one at their HQ was around when Savage was selling its Model 1907/1915/1917 pistols that were discontinued in 1928. These early self-defense auto-loaders were chambered in .32ACP, .380ACP, and .45ACP. The first generation of Savage handguns were striker-fired and featured double-stack 10-round magazines. This may surprise those who think these features are more recent designs. The Savage pistols enjoyed a modicum of success and can still be found occasionally wandering in and out of gun shops or at estate sales. Interestingly, Savage was one of the two finalists in the U.S. Army’s 1906-11 handgun trials. Unfortunately for Savage, the other finalist was Colt with Browning’s 1911 design.

Choice is what makes the free market economy so tantalizing. What am I talking about? Sure, there are existing polymer striker-fired pistols on the market, but that does not stop other companies from introducing their take on the topic. All of this leads to productive competition with the consumer benefiting. Sure, the Savage Stance builds from weapons that have gone before it—however, the Savage Stance is a fresh striker-fired polymer frame design. Savage’s reputation lends credence to any new introduction on their part; even into the crowded striker-fired polymer frame market space. The Savage take on the striker-fired handgun is worth exploring.

The Savage Stance is a sure response to the U.S. concealed carry market that continues to expand. All civilian practitioners of concealed carry want to carry the most potent handgun they can handle proficiently. Unfortunately, constraints caused by weather, clothing, or social environment can preclude this at times, forcing a compromise in terms of size and caliber. The Stance eases this concern by maintaining eight, nine, or 11 rounds on standby depending on magazine choice. (A single-stack 7-round and 8-round magazine arrives with the Stance with a 10-round magazine as a separate accessory.)

Aftermarket Support

The Savage Stance has already garnered attention from aftermarket vendors via holsters, (Crossbreed IWB and OWB used in the evaluation for example), sights, and even lasers. Viridian was quick to introduce their E-Series red laser sight for the Stance. In fact, a Viridian-equipped Stance is one of the models available from the Savage factory. The Viridian E-Series is designed for the everyday concealed carry practitioner. The Viridian laser is simple to mount on the Stance’s trigger guard. A dust cover rail is not needed. Ambidextrous on/off button with five minute auto shut-off allows flexibility for either hand use. Battery life is 6-plus hours of constant laser use. Sighting in is easy with separate windage and elevation adjustment points. Begin with matching iron sight point of aim at ten yards with the laser and then confirm at the range. The laser can be seen in most daylight conditions out to five yards or so, depending on light conditions. This is a fair poke for a personal defense situation considering most engagements will be up close and personal. But we are getting ahead of ourselves.

Details

The 3.2-inch barrel contributes to an overall length of 6.2 inches. Width is a pleasant-to-carry 0.96-inch with a height of 4.6 inches depending on magazine choice. Numerous Stance models are available with different sight configurations, colors, and safety options. The slide on the Stance test weapon was black nitride finished with sections of the stainless barrel visible through the frame serrations. Low-profile snag-free three-dot iron sights support the Viridian red laser in front of the trigger guard. Ambidextrous slide catch, safety levers, and magazine release buttons are present. The polymer frame has 360-degree stippling texture along with finger indexing. Two 18-degree interchangeable backstraps assist with end user getting their particular “feel.” A nice detail is the beveled front found on the stainless-steel slide that aids in holstering.

The Stance’s trigger shoe is wide with a rounded face. Minimal creep is present before reaching the trigger break point. The Stance trigger break is clean and crisp, measured at 6.5 to 7 pounds. Trigger reset is short with a positive, tactile “click” with the single-action striker-fired Stance design.

The Stance’s ambidextrous safety lever is diminutive, protruding maybe an 1/8 of an inch from the frame. This is a positive for comfortable concealed carry. Not the ideal set up for swiping it down/off when reacting to a threat. If carried as a personal weapon, the Stance without manual safety would have been chosen. To each his own on this topic. The Stance’s manual safety was snicked on/off a few times then left off. To my way of thinking, the “secret” to striker-fired handgun success is minimal operating controls, good cartridge-capacity-to-size ratio, relentless reliability, and to paraphrase an infamous political advertisement, “it’s the trigger stupid.” The Stance follows this formula.

On the Range

Range testing with Savage Stance took place at Echo Valley Training Center (EVTC). Main T&E priorities were making sure that reliability was beyond reproach and if the Stance offered something beyond the other polymer handguns on the market. Firing began with basic drills to get acclimated with the Stance’s trigger, sights, and overall feel. The Stance trigger’s consistency and short reset allows for rapid, on-target shot strings.

Several magazines-worth of ammunition was spent engaging plate racks and man-sized steel targets. Drills quickly moved past stand and deliver drills to more dynamic drills involving movement, magazine reloads, and firing from behind cover. Years of training with various entities provided a background of what is acceptable performance for a defensive handgun. The Savage Stance’s simplicity of operation and consistent trigger pull allowed for rapid engagement of targets. This is further accentuated with well laid out ergonomics ensuring that the hand is near optimum grip position as soon as the Stance clears the holster. Crossbreed MiniTuck IWB and SnapSlide OWB were used with the Stance.

On the Hip

CrossBreed Holsters proved an excellent supporting resource for the Savage Stance. The CrossBreed MiniTuck IWB and SnapSlide OWB proved their worth with months of carry. CrossBreed Holsters was the first in the industry to produce a hybrid tuckable IWB holster. Crossbreed combined leather and Kydex, gaining retention with the molded Kydex and comfort with the leather backer. What now seems so obvious in the holster industry, CrossBreed pioneered.

The MiniTuck IWB’s Kydex component is hand-molded to fit specific firearm. The MiniTuck may be worn comfortably with or without your shirt tucked in and is designed to be carried towards the rear of your draw side i.e. 3:30 to 5 o’clock for a right-hand draw or 7 to 8:30 for a left-hand draw. CrossBreed SnapLok powder coated steel belt clips are modular enabling you to adjust cant and ride height.

The CrossBreed SnapSlide OWB features 1 ¾-inch belt slots and is designed to keep your firearm tight against your body. The leather backer is configured for a lower riding holster. The designed cut of the leather backer allows for a full grip on the firearm when drawing and extended leather on the bottom side keeps the barrel from rubbing against your clothes and body. Both CrossBreed holsters—MiniTuck and SnapSlide—proved able to accommodate the Savage Stance for comfortable day long carry. At times the Stance seemed to disappear on your hip. This is a credit to both the Crossbreed holsters used as well as the Stance’s stature.

After initial reliability and accuracy was verified, I began manipulating the Stance from the Crossbreed holsters. More of a point shooting or flash sight picture was used along with one handed firing grip. I found this to be a more realistic way of analyzing what the Savage Stance brings to the table for user’s considering using it in the role it was designed—a handgun for civilians concerned with personal defense.

A multitude of bullet profiles and weights were worked into the mix to ensure nothing adversely interacted with the Savage Stance. 9mm loads were tested including 115-, 124-, and 147-grain JHP and FMJ loads from Black Hills Ammunition, CCI, Federal Premium, Hornady, and Winchester. No malfunctions were encountered with nearly 300 rounds fired. The Savage Stance is a handgun you can count on being ready to go straight out of the box.

Lasers and Stuff

While technological quick fixes are not to be used in lieu of training, lasers on a personal defense weapon cannot be ignored. Focusing on the target is one of the key concepts of laser use. The natural pointability of the Stance comes into its own in this realm. Technology should not be used as a training crutch. The Savage Stance combined with the Viridian laser proved very capable at quick target engagement with the front sight “flashing” on target and the laser then picked-up, confirming proper weapon alignment and shots broke faster than what it takes to read this sentence. The Viridian E-Series laser proved even better at providing feedback when sights were not an option, such as when the pistol is held below line of sight, engaging targets on the move, or from the ground. The Viridian laser really shined, pun intended, for this type of work.

Wrap Up

Many will find the handy nature of the Stance with Viridian laser will make it indispensable. Ultimately, always having a weapon with you is more important than the full-sized 10mm you leave at home because you did not feel like dressing around your handgun. The Savage Stance is a good balance of size and firepower. Do not let nomenclature such as sub-compact or micro-compact fool you. The Savage Stance performs beyond any preconceived notions based on labels.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Return with us to the thrilling days of yesteryear, when military service sidearms were beefy, single-stack, single-action hammer-fired pistols machined out of good, honest steel.

The first half of the Twentieth Century was the stomping ground for these beasties, and the type specimen was the American M1911 from Colt. This John Moses Browning design served as the jumping off point for a host of evolutionary adaptations, like the Tokarev in the USSR and Poland’s Radom.

To its fans, the highest evolution of this basic setup was the Swiss Pistole Modell 1949 service auto, best known by its newer commercial designation: the SIG P210. This was a serious all-steel military sidearm, with a 4.75-inch barrel, that tipped the scales at over two pounds, with a single-column magazine holding eight rounds of 9x19mm ammunition.

Meanwhile, in America

About this time, across the Atlantic, the folks at Colt were chasing a military contract for a more compact, lighter pistol than the current M1911A1. To achieve these goals, they shortened the 1911’s five-inch barrel by three quarters of an inch, to 4.25 inches. Additionally, they substituted a forged aluminum frame for the steel of the original; a change made possible by the fact that the original design was way overbuilt.

While the U.S. military didn’t buy it, Colt sold it commercially as the Commander, available in .45ACP, .38 Super, and 9mm. It became a popular choice for concealed carry, being lighter on the belt and shorter in the holster. But that was in America. Back to Switzerland…

Too Expensive to Live, Too Cool to Die

Switzerland’s market being less carry-driven than the gun-toting USA, the P210 continued on in military and commercial target-shooting versions until it was replaced for reasons of manufacturing cost by the cheaper-to-manufacture 9mm SIG-Sauer P220 (ironic since the M49 replaced its forebear in the Swiss army, the Luger, for the same reason.)

The P210 drifted in and out of commercial production as a bougie enthusiast’s sporting pistol through the fin de siècle and into the current Millennium before experiencing a reboot as the P210A at the hands of SIG Sauer’s new American HQ.

At SHOT Show in 2017, the P210A showed up, freshened with an American-style magazine release button instead of the archaic heel release on the original and a thumb safety relocated rearward along the frame to a position more familiar to American 1911 shooters.

This year, SIG Sauer has released the American-made P210 equivalent of the classic Colt Commander: Meet the SIG Sauer P210 Carry.

Less Weight, More Toteability

When you pop open the compact black plastic carry case, you’re greeted by a pistol, a pair of magazines, and the various mandated manuals, paperwork, and safety lock lying on a bed of egg crate foam.

Just looking at it, the most obvious difference on the 210 Carry is the shorter slide. This is because the Carry sports a 4.1-inch barrel, splitting the difference between the classic 4.25-inch Commander barrel and the 4-inch ones found on the compact Commander-esque offerings from Kimber and Springfield Armory.

Also in common with the Colt Commander is a switch from steel to aluminum for the frame material, whacking nearly half a pound of avoirdupois off the as-holstered weight. The grip length and 8+1 round magazine capacity remain unchanged.

Rounding out the prominently visible changes from the Target version are the distinctive black G10 grip panels (exclusive to the Carry model for now), with a subtle-but-grippy texture, and a set of forward cocking serrations. The latter are seemingly de rigueur on a tacticool carry pistol these days, but of questionable utility on a pistol with the low-profile slide of the 210. Big style points, though.

Tactical Touches

The frontstrap of the 210 Carry is finely checkered at thirty lines per inch, and there’s a matching patch of 30lpi checkering on the front of the trigger guard, if you really want to get your eighties LARP on.

The trigger face itself is smooth and curved. Unlike the 1911, the P210’s trigger pivots rather than sliding straight back in a channel in the frame. There’s a fairly short, light takeup leading to a rolling break that measured a consistent three and a half pounds on our test specimen.

Unlike its P210 Target stablemate, which has plain front blade combined with a micrometer click adjustable rear sight, the Carry has three-dot SigLite night sights with self-illuminated tritium vials. The only adjustment on the rear sight is for windage, and you’ll need a hammer and punch to adjust it.

Both the slide release and safety have subtly extended and contoured control surfaces to make them easier to manipulate. They worked well from an ergonomic standpoint, being easily reachable for normal human-size hands without extensive shifting of the pistol in the grip. The thumb safety was extremely positive and unlikely to be swiped off by accident. This also meant that it was next to impossible to reapply with an easy upward flick of the thumb after a string of fire. Even after 750 rounds, it was still something of an effort to get it back on safe.

Breakdown Deets

Field stripping the P210 is a ride in a time machine.

With the rise to prominence of the Beretta 92 series as well as Sig Sauer’s own P220 and its offshoots, we’ve become accustomed to metal-framed hammer-fired Europistols that take down with the throw of a lever. Instead, the P210 Carry takes us back to the thrilling days of yesteryear.

First you drop the magazine and clear the pistol. Then you retract the slide ever so slightly, about half a centimeter, and push the slide stop out. To do this, press on the axle where it protrudes from the right side of the frame and then pull it out to the left. Then you slide the upper assembly off the front of the frame.

It’s here where you’ll encounter another difference between the P210 Carry and its Target sibling. While the P210 Target uses a captive recoil spring assembly, the Carry version does not. It’s not that big a deal when taking it apart, but a certain amount of holding your mouth right is involved in putting it back together; fumble it and you’ll be chasing that stubby recoil spring guide around the corners of the room. (Look in the one with the most cobwebs and dust bunnies.)

Another difference is that the whole action assembly doesn’t lift out on its chassis anymore, a clever trait that the original 210 shared with the Tokarev.

But How Does it Shoot?

Practically speaking, this is a pistol that SIG should have built at the same time Colt did, seventy years ago, but better late than never.

Unless one is doing testing with a Ransom Rest under controlled conditions, group sizes in a handgun review are more a measurement of how good the reviewer was feeling on range day (or their willingness to pencil-whip some data) but even doing casual shooting offhand, the 210 Carry had no real problem hanging with custom 1911s shot side by side for comparison. Like, 25-yard groups in the 2- to 3-inch range with commercial S&B or Blazer Brass ammo were par for the course. This gun would be lights-out in a mechanical rest.

It’s comfortable in the hand and points nicely and probably the only real ergonomic complaint arises when you try and park your thumb atop the safety as though you were running a modern 1911 derivative: the shape of the thumb safety has a tendency to beat up the base knuckle of your thumb when you do that.

The controls all fall neatly to hand and the trigger is easily manageable. The biggest threat to the P210 Carry’s market success comes from the people who paid large dollars for gray market 210s back in the day and therefore have a vested interest in tearing the new kid down.

Those people complain that it has some MIM parts or that it doesn’t have the same modular lockwork assembly as the original. Some people will just never be happy.

If, on the other hand, you’re interested in a slim, extremely accurate, single action carry pistol that’s not just another 1911 knockoff, Sig Sauer has the pistol for you.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Striker-fired, polymer-framed handguns have evolved into the benchmark for personal defense, law enforcement, and military handguns. These handguns are generally ultra-reliable, accurate, tough, and simple to operate. While examples of striker-fired handguns predate 1982, this date is critical. Though this is an article on the Faxon Firearms FX19 Hellfire, there can be little debate that current semi-automatic handguns were redefined by the 9mm Glock 17 in terms of capacity, operation, and polymer construction. Polymer-framed, striker-fired handguns are inherently lighter, thinner, and simpler due to their limited number of parts.

Faxon Firearms, based in Cincinnati, OH, burst on the polymer, striker-fired handgun scene in 2019. Faxon quickly gained a reputation as a solid upgrade over other polymer-framed striker-fired weapons on the market; not only the Austrian-branded offerings, but all offerings. This stems from Faxon benefitting from in-house manufacturing of frame, slides, and barrel. Faxon was already well established as provider of various aftermarket parts, as well as rifle and pistol barrels.

Not a Customized Glock

The FX19 Hellfire is created from scratch and should not be considered a customized Glock. For descriptive purposes, the Faxon FX19 Hellfire can be compared to a Glock 19 in terms of size. The FX19 is an amalgamation of insightful Faxon design decisions. It is truly more than just merely a sum of its components—albeit topnotch components. The FX19 benefits from Faxon quality control and experienced gunsmiths pulling it all together. With that said, lets lay out what the FX19 Hellfire consists of—Faxon Match Series G19 1/2×28 threaded barrel made from 416-R stainless steel, distinct Faxon slide machine from 17-4 stainless steel with enhanced serration all around, optic cut-ready for the Trijicon RMR with machined posts for extra recoil absorption, DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) finish, Night Fision suppressor height night sights, Faxon PF940C frame with 1911-grip angle, custom polished front & rear slide rails, extended magazine release, double undercut trigger guard, Overwatch Precision trigger, and enhanced low-profile magazine well. That is an extensive list indicating what Faxon has created with the FX19 Hellfire.

Choice is what makes the free market economy so tantalizing. Sure, there are existing polymer frame striker-fired pistols on the market with large manufactures cranking out thousands at a time to more specialized boutique shops catering to a more scrutinizing customer base looking for upgraded features. Beyond that, polymer-framed handguns are similar to AR rifles in that consumers can create their own with partially finished lowers and the massive amount of aftermarket parts available. All of this leads to competition… with the consumer benefiting.

Faxon offers a blend between custom and production with the FX19 Hellfire. The Hellfire offers a myriad of custom features. This is further supported by experienced gunsmiths producing a weapon featuring a warranty­— compared to a handgun put together in your garage. The FX19 series has successfully completed a 15,000-round durability test, as outlined in US Army TOP 3-2-045, along with the NATO standard drop test.

Form Follows Function

The Faxon FX19 has significant design emphasis on ergonomics and durability. Serrations along the top of the slide help diffuse sunlight reflecting off the metal, keeping the sight picture crisp. Horizontal cuts are found at front and rear of the slide sides for increased purchase when manipulating the slide. Stippling and raised grooves adorn both the front strap and the forward face of the squared-off trigger guard. A double undercut trigger guard has material relieved where the trigger guard connects to the grip as well as a thinned-out trigger guard. This allows for your primary hand to get a higher grip on the pistol. This will make your grip more comfortable and allows the FX19 Hellfire to sit lower in your hand, limiting muzzle flip during recoil due to the low bore axis. This is supported by an extended beavertail to help prevent slide bite as well as further manage recoil, especially during rapid strings of fire. The second undercut on the guard offers a reference point for your support hand and helps you get a better grip during your draw stroke. Each pistol has an integral, railed dust cover for lights, lasers etc.

Faxon developed the FX19 Hellfire to serve as the premium version of a polymer-framed, striker-fired handgun. The user knows something is different as soon as the Hellfire’s hardcase is opened. Picking up the FX19 Hellfire and manipulating it reinforces the good vibes created by its aesthetics. Unique slide serration patterns and cut outs show attention to detail with the FX19. Tolerances with the Hellfire are tighter than any production model handgun.

Trigger and Action Matters

The shorter trigger reset, and 4.25- to 4.5-pound pull of the Overwatch Precision trigger leaves no doubt that the Hellfire is not your standard-grade production handgun. The trigger shoe and trigger safety tab are machined in the USA out of 7075-T6 aluminum alloy and affixed to an NP3 plated trigger bar by a 316 stainless steel coil spring pins. The trigger shoe and safety tab are both Type III hard coat anodized to MIL-A-8625 standard. The broad, flat face of the trigger allows a uniquely self-correcting, straight rearward press. Pre-travel has been reduced by as much as 20 percent without compromising safety and resulting in a clean, crisp break, and reduced over-travel.

The FX19 Hellfire employs the familiar Browning locked breech, short recoil tilting barrel design operating method. The 4.5-inch threaded barrel locks up tight when in battery. As made popular on previous weapon designs, Faxon has modified Browning’s design by moving the locking recesses from the barrel; instead utilizing a single locking lug milled above the barrel’s chamber using the slide’s large overhead ejection port as its locking recess. The front contour of the barrel lug cam slot has been cut square to direct counter-recoiling forces up and forward into the barrel itself to reduce stress on the lug.

To Comp or Not to Comp

The Faxon threaded barrel cries out for either suppressor or compensator. We went with a compensator. In fact, one from Faxon—the EXOS compensator. The EXOS is constructed from 6061 aluminum with a black anodized finish. Faxon has designed an angled front port, single chamber compensator to improve consistency while reducing muzzle climb and recoil. The angled ports allow gas to deflect upwards as opposed to only deflecting sideways, reducing up and down muzzle movement and improving reliability. Faxon created the EXOS 513 comp (other EXOS models exist for a variety of handguns) specifically to match up flush with the FX19 Hellfire slide. By not having an oversized compensator, Faxon has maintained the ability to fit typical holsters. For example, the streamlined nature of the FX19 Hellfire with EXOS compensator allows it to fit into G17 holsters that are not closed bottom as well as most G34 holsters, since its length and profile mimics the G34 in size and shape.

Just as with red dot sights on handguns, compensators are expanding beyond competition applications and becoming more prominent with personal defense weapons. Part of the challenge of using a handgun involves controlling muzzle flip. No one is saying a 9mm needs a brake. Do not confuse a muzzle brake with a compensator. Controlling muzzle rise is a valid goal. Muzzle flip reduces the speed with which you can accurately fire multiple rounds. The weapon must return to its sight alignment point before firing again. Most literature on compensators indicate a 30 to 40 percent reduction of muzzle flip. Testing protocols can be somewhat subjective, but you get the gist. Recoil and muzzle flip also cause the pistol to move in the hand. A well-designed compensator allows for an easier job in firing the weapon under normal conditions as well as under duress or with one hand. It’s optimistic to assume you will have a perfect grip on your handgun’s frame when “skinning” it from holster to begin with, especially if you’re already behind the OODA loop reacting to a threat. It is sanguine to assume a two-handed grip will even be possible. Attendance in a force-on-force course is urged if doubting this.

Sight and Optics

Much of this evaluation utilized a set of Night Fision suppressor height sights. The Faxon Hellfire for this article arrived with a Trijicon RMR slide cut. Based on this, an Ameriglo Haven red dot was chosen for use. Rugged construction, including aircraft grade aluminum housing and waterproof electronics, increase reliability under the harshest use and stiffest recoil typified by the operation of a semi-automatic handgun slide. Its side loading battery is a nice touch, meaning you do not have to remove the Haven from the slide to change its CR2032 battery. This eliminates the need to sight back in after battery replacement. Smart electronics offer a 12-hour runtime followed by a 12-hour, motion-activated auto-on, provide up to two years of battery life at a mid-level brightness setting. Its large viewing window with upward curving concave housing with highlighted vertical white post on the rear of Haven sight aids in faster dot acquisition. The Haven used for this T&E featured a 3.5MOA dot. A 5MOA dot is available, as well.

The Faxon FX19 Hellfire is ideal blend of carry ability with the Haven red dot producing capabilities that exceeds most weapons of such compact size. The EXOS compensator only adds to this. The Faxon FX19 Hellfire is a carry handgun that excels in gunfighting; not just reactive defense most associated with handguns. Users of the FX19 Hellfire fitted with Ameriglo Haven find that they no longer have to switch focus from target to sights and invariably eliminates the “front sight focus” so difficult for older shooters. They can now do as nature intends for them to, focus on the threat. Moreover, because the indexing of a red dot is far easier than three pieces of steel, they find they can take shots beyond what was considered feasible with iron sights.

On the Range

The FX19 Hellfire arrived with a G19-sized magazine featuring yet another Faxon product in the form of magazine extension. A Warne Tactical magazine extension was also used. The extended magazines increased typical 15-rd capacity to 20 and 18 rounds, respectively. The Faxon and Warne extensions interacted smoothly with the low-profile magazine well that comes on the FX19 Hellfire. Magazines were loaded with Ammo Inc. 115-grain TMC, as well as ammunition from Federal, Speer, Hornady, SIG Sauer, and Black Hills Ammunition. The FX19 Hellfire was fired one handed, including use of the non-dominant hand, to verify no sensitivity in terms of reliability with or without a compensator. The FX19 Hellfire showed it could digest anything fed to it. Premium self-defense JHP, target, and match 9mm loads including 115-, 124-, and 147-grain bullets were utilized.

A question with the FX19 Hellfire/EXOS combo was how did the compensator effect muzzle flip. The sights, either Amerigo Haven red dot or Night Fision iron sights, stayed on target, floating briefly out of the IPSC “A” zone, but never totally off target even during multi-round drills. The FX19 Hellfire’s simplicity of operation, consistent trigger pull, and compensator allowed for rapid engagement of targets. This is further accentuated with well laid out ergonomics ensuring that the hand is near optimum grip position as soon as the FX19 Hellfire clears the holster.

Conclusion

The Faxon FX19 Hellfire will be recognized as an amalgamation of positive features found on striker-fired predecessors as well as many innovative tweaks. Many may ask what the Hellfire offers to shooters compared to other polymer-framed striker-fired handguns already on the market. Red dot compatibility and compensator are certainly obviously nice touches. The FX19 Hellfire benefits from lessons learned combined with a manufacturer intimately familiar with quality weapon production and how to tastefully improve upon a platform.

Specifications

• Make: Faxon Firearms
• Model: FX19 Hellfire
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Magazine Capacity: OEM 15-rd G19 magazine with 5-round Faxon extension ships with weapon
• Barrel Length: 4.5in
• Overall Length: 7.85in
• Height: 5.25in
• Width: 1.25in
• Weight Empty: 24.5oz
• MSRP: $1189
• URL: faxonfirearms.com

By Charles Q. Cutshaw

Soviet and Russian pistols have traditionally been somewhat different in character than their western counterparts. The Model 1895 Nagant revolver, for example, can best be described as unusual. This complex revolver required the use of a unique cartridge because at the moment of firing, the cylinder was pressed forward, forming a seal with the forcing cone of the barrel that prevented the escape of gases, theoretically increasing velocity. The efficacy of this complicated system was questionable, even at the time of its introduction, but the revolver was reliable and popular, continuing in production until 1942. The TT-30/TT-33 Tokarev was a more conventional pistol design, but was chambered for the 7.62x25mm cartridge, virtually identical to and interchangeable with the 7.62mm Mauser round. Although there is no direct evidence to support the notion, the adoption of the 7.62x25mm cartridge was probably a result of the popularity of the M1896 Mauser pistol in that caliber among the Bolshevik forces during the 1917 revolution. The current Russian service pistol, the Pistolet Makarovka, or PM, was adopted in 1954. While the PM is similar to Walther designs, it is far from identical and is chambered for the 9x18mm cartridge, similar to the 9mm Ultra of the 1930s. Until recently the PM and its cartridge were rarely seen in the west, but the downfall of the USSR and the concomitant export of many PM pistols not only by Russia, but by many other former Soviet client states, has made the pistol and cartridge quite common.

The 9x18mm cartridge has slightly better ballistics than the 9x17mm (.380 ACP) cartridge and is the most powerful cartridge fired from a blowback-operated pistol, but it has always been considered a marginal military handgun cartridge by western small arms experts. The Soviets also realized the marginal terminal ballistics of the PM in the late 1970s and began to search for a solution. The answer came in the form of the PMM (Pistolet Makarovka Moderniziny), which fires a higher pressure version of the 9x18mm cartridge whose ballistics are squarely in the 9mm NATO (9x19mm) class. The PMM operates on the delayed blowback principle, but the new cartridge could also be fired in standard PM pistols that would not withstand the higher chamber pressures. Obviously, the PMM was an interim solution and recent pistol developments in Russia have demonstrated that the Russian military and police have taken a new direction in their handgun thinking. One of the new pistols described in this article will probably be the next Russian military sidearm, but as of the time of this writing, exactly which one is not clear. One Russian press article has stated that two of the pistols described below will be the replacement for the PM, but SAR’s usually reliable sources in the Russian small arms industry state that the press article is in error. Only time will reveal the truth, but we will describe all new pistol developments herein, indicating those which have been set forth as possible replacements for the PM and PMM. The reader will note that for the first time, Russian firearm designers have chosen to chamber their new pistols in 9x19mm NATO standard, with one notable exception.
According to SAR’s sources, the Izhmash MR-443 Grach is the pistol most likely to replace the PM and PMM in Russian military service. It was developed specifically for the Russian military and is the most conventional of the new Russian handguns. Unlike the PM, the MR-443 is a “full-size” pistol with a steel frame and slide, ambidextrous safety and contoured wraparound non-slip rubber grips. Locking is via a modified Browning system similar to that used in Glock and Heckler & Koch handguns where a barrel lug locks into the edges of the ejection port. The stainless steel magazine is of the double column type and has indicator holes on the side to show at a glance the number of rounds remaining. The MR-443 can be fired double action for the first shot and single action thereafter, but Russian sources emphasize that it can also be carried with the hammer cocked and the safety on (“cocked and locked”) as can all other new Russian pistols. Emphasis on this feature is somewhat unusual in recent military firearms, but recognizes the fact that a pistol carried “cocked and locked” can be gotten into action more quickly and with greater accuracy than any other method of carry. This indicates that the new Russian pistols will be used not only by the regular military, but by special operations units and police special units, who generally prefer “cocked and locked” pistol carry. American special operations forces, for example, demand that their handguns be capable of carry in this mode, which was made common practice by the Colt M1911/A1 and FN Browning M1935 pistols.

The MR-444 “Baghira” is one of two pistols that have been reported as replacements for the PM. Regardless of its status, however, the MR-444 is an innovative and modern handgun design. The MR-444 is reported to be available not only in 9x19mm, but in 9x17mm (.380ACP) and 9x18mm as well. A locked breech pistol is unusual in the latter two calibers, but it is possible that the MR-444 chambered for those cartridges will be blowback operated. The MR-444 frame is reinforced polymer like many recently developed pistols such as Glock, Heckler & Koch, SIG and others. Unlike the western designs however, the Izhmekh (Izhevsk Mechanical Plant) pistol has its steel guide rails retained by mechanical means, rather than being integrally molded into the frame. The slide stop pin retains the front guide rails, while the rear rails are held in place by a screw. This simplifies production, but could degrade accuracy. There are molded grooves forward of the trigger guard for attachment of laser aiming modules, white lights or other accessories. Operation of the MR-444 is the tried and true modified Browning system similar to that used in all other new Russian pistols, save the 6P35 described below. The barrel is unlocked by the interaction of two inclines, one on the bottom of the barrel and the other incorporated into the recoil/buffer mechanism. Locking is via a large barrel lug that locks the barrel into the ejection port. The MR-444 is equipped with a buffer system to reduce felt recoil, enhance control and reduce wear.
Although the MR-444 appears to be hammer fired, it is in fact striker fired with an external cocking lever at the rear of the slide that appears to be a hammer. This allows the shooter to manually cock the striker for a light trigger let-off. If the striker is not cocked, the first shot requires a long, relatively heavy trigger pull, followed by a lighter, shorter pull with succeeding shots as the striker is automatically cocked each time the pistol fires. Because the striker can be manually cocked, the MR-444 can also be carried “cocked and locked,” a unique feature in a striker fired pistol. As with the other new Russian pistols, the 15 round capacity magazine is of the double column type. The ejector serves as a loaded chamber indicator. When a round is chambered, its front edge is slightly elevated, thus providing a visible and tactile indication of a loaded chamber.

While the Izhmekh MR-444 and MR-445/MR-445S pistols have appeared together in the Russian press, they are in fact entirely different pistols. The MR-445 is a full size pistol, while the MR-445S is of compact size for concealed carrying. Other than size, the pistols are identical. What is remarkable is the MR-445’s .40 Smith and Wesson caliber. The .40S&W has improved ballistic performance in comparison to the 9x19mm cartridge, but it is not a standard military cartridge. The MR-445 is not offered in 9x19mm, indicating that this pistol is clearly intended for export, not Russian military service. Although a Russian press article has claimed that the MR-445 is one of the pistols selected to replace the Makarov, the notion of the Russian military adopting a pistol in .40 S&W stretches credulity. According to SAR’s sources in Russia, the MR-445 is actually intended for export to countries that make use of pistols in .40 S&W caliber, not for use by the Russian military.
The MR-445 is a polymer-framed pistol of conventional design. Unlike the MR-444, the MR-445 incorporates a hammer firing mechanism which can be fired either double action for the first shot with single action shots thereafter or carried “cocked and locked” with the hammer to the rear and the safety locked. When the ambidextrous safety is engaged, it locks not only the hammer, but the slide, trigger and sear. The magazine release is also ambidextrous and is of the lever type that functions by pressing downward. Like the MR-444, the extractor serves as a visible and tactile loaded chamber indicator.

The MR-446 “Viking” is very similar to the MR-443 in design and execution, although the former pistol has a reinforced polymer frame, rather than being of made of steel. The MR-446’s guide rails are molded into the frame. The trigger mechanism is similar to that of the MR-444 Baghira, although the MR-446’s firing mechanism is of the hammer type. The MR-446 is also designed to be carried “cocked and locked.” As with the other pistols in the MR-series, the MR-446 uses the proven modified Browning short recoil system.
The final candidate to replace the PM is the TSNIITochmash 6P35, which is clearly derived from the virtually identical 9x21mm Russian caliber Gurza. Advertising literature for the 6P35 states that the pistol is designed to defeat soft body armor at ranges up to 50 meters, although the ability of standard 9x19mm bullets to defeat such armor is limited. Like the Gurza, the 6P35 locks via a dropping block system similar to that of the Beretta 92. The frame of the 6P35 is also remarkably similar to the Gurza’s, being separated into two portions, the upper being of steel and the lower of polymer. The 6P35 has trigger and grip safeties and fires double action for the first shot and single action thereafter. There are no conventional manual safeties. The hammer can be cocked and placed in single action mode for the first shot and the manufacturer states that the pistol’s automatic safeties are sufficient for it to be carried “cocked and locked.” The lack of a manual safety will make this option a questionable endeavor for many, however.

Which of these pistols will be the Makarov replacement? Without actually testing the pistols and comparing their relative merits for military use, it is difficult to make a definitive statement. However, based on the evidence at hand, we estimate that the MR-443 is the most likely candidate. Although SAR’s Russian sources state that the MR-443 is the most likely candidate, we also believe that the MR-443’s high magazine capacity, ambidextrous controls and generally conventional design make it more desirable from a military standpoint. We do not accept claims that the MR-444 and MR-445 will replace the PM. The reasons for this are numerous, but the primary ones relate to military logistics and training. Adopting two dissimilar pistols of different caliber creates problems in both of these areas because it requires two completely different sets of spare parts and adding not merely one, but two new cartridges to an ammunition supply system that already has a number of small arms cartridges. Training is another issue that makes claims of Russia’s adopting two new pistols to replace one less than credible. The issue of training is not only one of operational training by users, but the need to train armorers to repair two different handguns. So we do not believe that Russia will adopt two pistols to replace one. (While it is true that there are two versions of the Makarov, the PM and PMM, the manual of arms is identical for both and most parts interchange.) In the final analysis, only time will tell which pistol is adopted by the Russian military. What is significant is that whichever candidate is selected, it will be in 9x19mm, not a traditional Russian pistol caliber such as 7.62x25mm or 9x18mm.

I would like to thank Valery Shilin for providing information for this article.- Charles