Gun Review: Hi-Point 995 9mm Carbine

For this installment of Shooting from the Hip, I decided to do a review of the Hi-Point 995 9mm Carbine.  Now, before I get too far, you should know a few things about me and this blog.  When it comes to firearms and their reliability and function, I am not going to take someone else's word for it.  I will not make a decision on a firearm until I have had personal experience with it.  If it works as it should, I will share that information with you.  If it fails to function as it should, I will share that with you as well.  This blog is not sponsored by anyone, and I am not beholden to anyone.  


That said, you should know that one thing I cannot abide is gun-snobbery.  Especially when it comes from someone who has never owned or used the firearm they are detracting.  I do not need someone telling me that a firearm is "junk" who has no basis for their assertions.  Granted, there are cheap firearms out there.  But there is a difference between a cheap firearm and an inexpensive firearm.  And that is the primary purpose of this blog:  to get hands-on experience with many different firearms, and to provide readers with a description of my personal experiences with those firearms.  And hopefully, you will add your own personal experiences in the comments, so that I and others may learn from those experiences as well.  Perhaps together we can separate the wheat from the chaff, as it were.


Hi-Point Firearms are 100% American made, manufactured in Ohio.  The company manufactures semi-automatic pistols in various calibers:  .380 ACP, 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP.  They also produce semi-automatic carbines in 9mm, .40 S&W, and (finally!) .45 ACP.  All of their firearms come with a lifetime, no questions asked warranty:  if anything goes wrong, send it back to them and they will fix it, guaranteed.  I have owned two of the Hi-Point pistols in the past:  the C9 9mm and the JCP, the .40 S&W.  The C9 currently resides with my father, and I traded the JCP away, primarily as a means of reducing the number of calibers I had to buy ammo for.  Aside from a malfunctioning magazine for the JCP (replaced free of charge by Hi-Point under the warranty), I had never had an issue with either of the pistols.  As of the publication of this blog, I own only the 9mm carbine (model 995).  I would like to add a .45 ACP carbine (4595TS) to my arsenal at some point, especially since I now own a 1911, and can share ammunition between the two.


On to the 995 review.  For those of you who are familiar with this particular firearm, you know that it has undergone a face-lift during the past few years.  The new carbine has been given a very tactical profile, as seen here:

(Image courtesy of calguns.net)  This gun has rails, well, everywhere.  More than enough rails to add optics, lasers, vertical foregrips, flashlights, etc.  And all of these are available as accessory packages from Hi-Point.  The buttstock is adjustable for length of pull, as well.  The gun comes stock with a 10-round magazine.  I imagine that this self-imposed limitation is intended to shield Hi-Point carbines from another assault weapon ban, or to allow them to be sold in those States where the Second Amendment takes a backseat to the liberal anti-gun, anti-freedom agenda...  but I digress.  15-round magazines are available from ProMag, but while they are praised by some, they are considered to be problematic by most 995 owners.  Additional factory magazines are available from Hi-Point.  The new 995TS, as it is called, retails for $259 new, although they may be found a little cheaper than that at some gun shops.  When you can find them, that is...  it seems Hi-Point carbines are in very high demand, and a lot of shops are struggling to fill the orders that are flooding in.


My 995 is one of the older models, with the camouflage stock that is no longer produced.  I did not buy it new:  I bought it used at a local gun shop several years ago.  I do not normally buy used guns, but at the time (some things never change it seems), Hi-Point carbines were hard to find, and the camouflaged versions with the compensator and laser were about as elusive as an albino Sasquatch.  So when I happened to come across this one at an almost-good price ($186 OTD), I jumped on it.  These old carbines have a decidedly odd appearance.  They are often referred to as the "Planet of the Apes" stocks, as they somewhat resemble the rifle that Chuck Heston carries in that movie. 

(Image courtesy of hi-pointfirearms.com)  As Bon Scott says of Rosie, these rifles "ain't exactly pretty."  Unlike the carbine pictured, mine has had an olive drab coating added to the receiver and the heat shield, giving it a somewhat different look.  It also has the compensator and laser attached (by the way, I love how the laser has a warning label on it that says "Laser Radiation:  Avoid Direct Eye Exposure"...  I think I would be a little more worried about the muzzle of that rifle pointing at my head than the laser, but hey, that's just me).  Since the original camo stock is not adjustable for LOP, I added a slip-on buttpad to make it a little longer.  I also added a carry-strap (sling swivels come standard).  Here is a cell-phone picture of how mine appears:

For this review, I set up two Birchwood Casey 8" Dirty Bird targets, one at 30 yards and at 50 yards.  Today, the wind was relatively light, with just an occasional breeze crossing the field of fire.  I brought two10-round factory magazines for my 995, so each target had a full twenty rounds of Winchester White Box 115 grain FMJ fired at it.  I did use a shooting bag to support the fore-end as I shot today, in order to see just how close I could get my groups with the gun.  As you can see from the above photograph, my 995 has open sights (hooded front post and fully adjustable rear "ghost ring" peep sights), and the sun was too bright today to employ the laser.  After twenty rounds, the 30 yard target looked like this:

As you can see, there were a few fliers, but those were all on me.  The shot at the top and the shot at the bottom that are outside of the main group were the first shots out of each magazine.  This carbine shot amazingly tight at 30 yards.  Once I settled down and got into a groove, the bullets just kept hitting the same spot over and over again.  So, after taking a pause to reload the magazines and allow the barrel to cool a bit, I trained the sights on the 50 yard target, with the following results:

A somewhat larger spread, but still not bad at all for open sights at 50 yards.  While shooting at this target, I did have a couple of failures to feed, the fourth round in both of my magazines both nosed up in the chamber, which caused me to pause a moment to clear the jam.  I am not sure what caused these failures, as it was the same round (4th) in both magazines.  I will take the mags apart and clean and lube them, and will hopefully get a chance to try them out again soon, and will post an update when I have more data.  The fliers in this group came when changing magazines and after pausing to clear the jams.  Otherwise, all of the other shots clustered pretty well.


I am very pleased with the performance of this carbine.  Recoil is negligible.  The sights are easy to use.  One thing that takes some getting used to is the fact that the charging handle is on the left side of the receiver, rather than the right side where I am used to having it.  I am used to bolt guns with monte carlo stocks where the bolt is worked with the right hand.  The placement of the 995's handle makes sense in that I need not remove my hand from the pistol grip to charge the rifle, but it will take some adjustment on my part.  The plastic stock at first seems a little flimsy, but it is light and easy to handle, and shoulders well.  This gun may be ugly, but there is no denying that as it is designed, it is comfortable to hold and shoot.  I would like to get my hands on one of the new versions to see how well made the new stock is.  I am a bit troubled by the two failures to feed, but I need to try some different ammunitions, as different firearms like different ammos, and the WWB is not known for its tight manufacturing tolerances:  it is economy bulk ammo, after all.


Based on the performance today, as well as the previous outings I have had with this rifle, I can recommend the 995 to anyone who is looking for an inexpensive pistol caliber carbine for plinking, and if I can get the FTF issue resolved, I think it would be a reasonable alternative to a pistol for home defense (especially with the laser).  It would make a great zombie gun too, although the 10-round magazines might diminish that role somewhat.


One last thing:  if you have not tried the Birchwood Casey Dirty Bird targets, give them a try.  I love being able to look out at 50 yards and actually see where my shots are hitting, without having to use a spotting scope!  That is just one less case I have to drag out to the range every time I go shooting.


For more information regarding Hi-Point Firearms and Birchwood Casey:


Hi-Point Marketing and Distribution (MKS Supply)
8611-A N. Dixie Drive
Dayton, OH 45414
Toll Free: 877-425-4867
Fax: 937-454-0503
http://www.hi-pointfirearms.com

Birchwood Casey Dirty Bird Targets
http://sport.birchwoodcasey.com/Targets/TargetDetails.aspx?ProductID=e5ca724c-f8f3-4edb-ba61-4c680535d5b1

Cowboys vs. Zombies: Henry Golden Boy and Zombie Targets

Think of this as a bit of a follow-up of my On the Edge rimfire review of the Henry Golden Boy .22LR lever-action rifle.  Or, think of it simply as me goofing off at the range with my favorite rifle.  Either way, for today's Shooting From the Hip, I decided to take my Henry out to see how it would match up against that iconic denizen of B horror flicks:  the zombie!

Recently, on a trip to a local gun store, Brackin's Gun Alley (I will try to do a gunshop review soon), I was excited to discover that along with the standard silhouettes, bullseyes, and Dirty Bird splatter targets, Brackin's also had some of the Zombie Targets in stock.  Now, I love zombies --  zombie movies, zombie books, zombie t.v. shows, zombie video games.  As I said in a previous post, I am a nerd, and zombiephilia is one of my many nerdy traits.  So, needless to say, I did not leave the Gun Alley empty-handed:  I picked up five of the zombie targets, the Zombie Osama targets, to be exact (I also picked up a Zombie Hunting License).

(Image courtesy of zombietargets.net)  So, today, after spending the better part of the day digging up a portion of my yard in order to fix a broken drain line (courtesy of a drunk driver barely missing my house, by the way), I decided to try out one of the targets and redirect some of my frustration in a positive manner.  Grabbing a target, I also picked up my Henry, a bulk box of Remington Golden Bullets, and headed to the range.  It has been a very blustery day in East Tennessee today, and Zombie Osama was not terribly keen on staying put on my target stand, but that added a bit of realism to my shooting, since his head was bobbing and weaving in the stiff (20 - 30 MPH, with gusts up to 60MPH at times) breeze.  My target stand was actually blown over a couple of times.  Nevertheless, I persevered...  and had a great time, too.  These shots were at 50 yards, using the iron sights.  My first 15 shots were, of course, to Zombie Osama's head...  his left eye, to be precise.

My second set of 12 rounds (more on this later) went to his chest, right around his left nipple.

The next 15 rounds went to his right chest region.

And finally, to his right shoulder / underarm area.

As you can see, none of these groups are extremely tight, but with the wind blowing as hard as it was, and the target moving around, I thought the rifle did extremely well.  After my initial frustration at the wind, I actually began to enjoy the added difficulty of shooting the moving target.  The second set of shots I fired, I had three misfires, which I have to say is unusual, since I rarely have misfires with the Remington Golden Bullets (Thunderbolts are a completely different story, however).  All three casings exhibited deep firing pin marks in the rim, so I know it was not an issue with the rifle.  There were no other issues at all during this shooting session.

The more I shoot my Henry, the better I like it.  The action continues to be exceptionally smooth.  The positive ejection of spent casings is remarkable:  it tosses the empties about seven to eight feet to the right.  And I am getting more used to the buckhorn sights.  I believe with more practice, I will become much more proficient with the rifle, and then perhaps my shooting will do this fine rifle the justice that it is due.  And when the living dead start roaming the earth, I will feel quite safe knowing I have my Golden Boy close at hand.

For more information, or to order your own Zombie Targets (they also offer the Zombie Hunting Permit, as well as stickers and t-shirts), please visit their website.  Shooting paper is fun, but shooting Zombies is awesome!!!

Zombie Targets
770-624-4185
http://www.zombietargets.net/

Website Recommendation: Tennessee Gun Owners Forums

I have a confession to make:  not only am I a gun lover, but I am also a nerd.  That is right, a nerd...  as in a major technophile.  I love computers and technological gadgets almost as much as I love a well-made firearm.  One reason I started Shooting From the Hip is that it gave me a means of combining two of my passions in a way that lets me share my interests with other like-minded individuals.

Over the last few years, I have become addicted to internet forums (ok, it really bugs me that my Latin education tells me it should be "fora," but spell-checker refuses to acknowledge that fact), and I currently belong to several firearms and shooting sports related sites that provide me with a lot of good information, first-hand anecdotes, and well-written expositions on guns, manufacturers, ammo, accessories, etc.  Of course, there is also the flip-side of trolls, snobs, idiots, and liars that one has to deal with, as in any group that is open to the public.  The anonymity of the internet just seems to exacerbate this, however, and I often find myself getting frustrated at the sheer volume of worthless posts, snide remarks, and personal jibes I must wade through in order to sift out those nuggets of useful information which reside hidden away under all the detritus.

There is one website that I belong to, however, that rarely disappoints me in this respect.  The Tennessee Gun Owners Forum is exactly what the name implies:  a place where Tennesseans can come to talk about guns, as well as other subjects.  There are members from all three Grand Divisions, as well as transplants in other States who are maybe a little homesick, or who just want to let those of us who still live in the Volunteer State know just how good we have it here.  It is interesting to get feedback from the other areas of the State on such things as gun and ammunition prices, where to go and what to do if you are visiting another city, etc.

Sub-forums exist to appeal to various interests, including separate areas for handguns and longarms, gunsmithing, accessories, ammunition and reloading, carry issues and self-defense, women and firearms, hunting, politics (local and national), and many others.  One of the more useful sub-forums is the "Carry Prohibited Locations" area, where members can post the name and location of various businesses that have posted "gunbuster" signs, not only notifying other HCP holders where they cannot carry, but also encouraging them to write the businesses in order to spread the word that "no gun = no business."  TNgunowners are a very proactive lot, and are not shy about sharing our views with businesses that feel the need to encroach on our right to bear arms.

The site is free to join, and they rely on corporate sponsors and donations from members for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the forum.  Many of the sponsors are local businesses who have a separate section where they can post items for sale, specials, sales, store hours, and other useful information.  Likewise, there is a classifieds section for members to list items for sale (or items wanted), although one must be a site donor in order to list items in this section.

A good firearms forum is a wealth of information, where one can learn a great deal about any number of issues.  Tennessee Gun Owners forum is just such a place.  Even if you are not fortunate enough to live in our great State, I would still invite you to stop by and check out the site.  You will find a great bunch of men and women who know a thing or two about guns, and they are always willing to help someone who may be experiencing technical difficulties, or maybe just looking for some information to help them make an informed decision about a future purchase.  But most importantly, they are all there to have a good time with people who share their love of firearms.  And they would love to have you join them, as well.

http://www.tngunowners.com/

On the Edge: Rimfire Review of the Henry Golden Boy .22LR

Those of you who are hunters or shooting enthusiasts know that our sports are not inexpensive hobbies.  Quality firearms can be found for reasonable prices, to be sure, and one need not spend thousands of dollars in order to get a reliable shooter.  No, the majority of the cost lies in the other necessity:  ammunition.  Ammo is not cheap, at least, not anymore, especially with a 15% price hike across the board in our near future.  And once you shoot it, it is gone (granted the brass can be reused by handloaders, but the powder, primers, and bullets are not quite as recyclable).  That being said, I like many others, have found that in order to be able to indulge in our passion and still put gas in the car and food on the table, reloading centerfire cartridges is becoming a necessity.  However, it is still somewhat affordable to shoot the old stand-by .22LR, and I find myself taking my rimfire rifles and pistols to the range more and more often.

In this edition of On the Edge, I would like to take a look at one of my more indulgent expenditures for a rimfire rifle.  In November of 2010, I was at Tri-Cities Gun Depot and decided to pull the trigger (so to speak) on a purchase that I had long been contemplating, but just had never gotten around to:  the Henry Repeating Arms Golden Boy.  Now, let me explain:  when I was a child, I spent a lot of time watching cowboy movies and television shows.  Every Sunday morning before church, the now-defunct station CBN would air westerns starting at 6 a.m. (the Cisco Kid) until 10:00 a.m. (Wagon Train), with episodes of Rawhide, the Rifleman, Branded, Gunsmoke, and Bonanza thrown into the mix.  And I would be glued to the set all morning, right beside of my dad.  I think I have seen every John Wayne, Glen Ford, Jimmy Stewart, Clint Eastwood, and Randolph Scott western ever made.  Twice.  And with my love of cowboy culture came, of course, a love of the tools of their trade:  the single-action pistol and the lever-gun.

Now here I am, thirty-odd years later, and I have decided to finally buy that lever-action rifle I have long wanted.  And as I am looking at the rack of rifles behind the counter, I see the Golden Boy.  Now, as I have said in a previous post, I am not a shiny gun kind of guy.  However, the Golden Boy rifle is an exception to this.  This rifle is beautiful.  The Brasslite receiver cover, buttplate, and barrel-ring for this gun are a beautiful gold-brass color, and the finish is exquisite.  It is also seemingly very durable, since I have had it out on several occasions now shooting it, and not a scratch or mar on the finish as of this posting.  But the beauty of this rifle goes far beyond the name-sake receiver.

The Henry Golden Boy is a finely built firearm.  Everything about this gun is well-made, from the distinctive heavy octagonal barrel, to the beautiful American Walnut stock and forend.  And the action is as smooth as melted butter...  there is not even a hint of roughness in working the lever.  Every fitting on the gun is tight, with no slop in the trigger, no gaps between the wood and the metal, and the tubular magazine (holding up to 16 rounds of .22LR) locks positively into place, and slides out with ease for loading.

In fact, the only thing that causes me consternation with this rifle are the sights:  for me, the traditional buckhorn sights, which obviously belong on this spirit of the Old West reborn, are a bit hard to see due to my own physical deficiencies (poor eyesight, something I have fought with my whole life).  Granted, bright fiber-optic sights would be easier for me to use, but would be as out of place as a pig in a prom dress.  Henry offers a scope mount for these rifles, but again, to me a scope is an unacceptable anachronism on a cowboy rifle.

At nearly seven pounds, the Golden Boy is not the lightest rimfire rifle in my collection, but that is ok with me. It has a heft to it that makes it feel like a "real rifle," and the length of pull is not abbreviated like that on many .22LRs (when will gun manufacturers realize that grown men like to shoot .22s as well?).

How does it shoot?  The Golden Boy is not my most accurate rimfire rifle, nor is it my most accurate .22LR rifle, but it is the one I enjoy shooting the most.  And its accuracy is more than acceptable for plinking and hunting.  I have gotten a group of just under 0.73", with an average group size of 2.87" at 50 yards, but a lot depends on ammo (my best results have been with Wolf Match Extra, worst with Remington Thunderbolts).  In my experience thus far, the Henry seems to do better with standard velocity and sub-sonic rounds as opposed to hyper-velocity brands, at least in terms of accuracy.  It is not my go-to gun for that shot that absolutely has to be made, but I would not hesitate to take it hunting, either.

And just a quick note about the company.  Henry Repeating Arms, located in Bayonne, NJ has dedicated themselves to producing the finest firearm they can, at the most affordable price, using only parts made in the United States, with a lifetime warranty.  And while I own some fine firearms that were manufactured in other countries, I admire a company that puts America and Americans first.  And from what I understand, if you buy a Henry and have an issue or problem with it, if you contact the company via email, you will be answered personally by Anthony Imperato, the owner and president of the company.  A man who stands behind his company and product like that is worthy of my respect, and my business.

So, if you are in the market for an affordable firearm with a great company behind it, look at Henry.  They not only have rimfire rifles available in .22LR, .22WMR, and .17HMR, but they also offer big-bore guns as well.  What better way to get your cowboy on than with a Henry lever-action repeater!

For more information on Henry Repeating Arms:


Henry Repeating Arms
59 East 1st Street
Bayonne, NJ 07002
Tele: 201-858-4400
Fax: 201-858-4435
http://www.henryrepeating.com

On the Edge: Rimfire Review of the Heritage Rough Rider .22LR / .22 WMR

For tonight's edition of SFTH, I have decided to try something new.  This will be the first in a periodic series of columns in which I give my reviews on rimfire guns, ammunition, and accessories.  I am entitling this series "On the Edge," so if you see that in the title, you will know what to expect.  I believe that rimfire enthusiasts are often overlooked in a lot of gun review sites, so hopefully I will be able to share my thoughts and experiences with you, and through your comments, you can share your own insights with myself and our other readers.

For my first On the Edge review, I have decided to cover my favorite rimfire gun:  the Heritage Rough Rider single action revolver.  And if you look at the GunTotingVigilante avatar, you will see this fine pistol which has become my favorite firearm to shoot.  When I go to the range, this gun almost always accompanies me.  Why?  Because it is accurate, inexpensive to shoot, and, if for no other reason, it is just plain FUN!

A little history lesson first.  Heritage Manufacturing operates out of Opa Locka, Florida.  It is an American owned and operated company in the business of providing fine firearms at relatively low cost to consumers all across our country.  Heritage manufactures its rimfire line of pistols, the Rough Riders, here in the States.  A line of big bore single action revolvers is also produced, but these are made from parts manufactured in Italy, then imported and assembled at the Florida plant.

The Rough Rider revolvers are available in both .22 LR (which also allows the use of .22 CB,.22 Short, and .22 Long) as well as .22 WMR, and some, like mine, come with both cylinders which can be swapped out in a matter of seconds by simply pushing in the cylinder-pin release, pulling the pin out, lifting out the cylinder, and replacing it with the new cylinder, then re-inserting the cylinder-pin.  Barrel lengths vary from 3.5" up to a full 9".  There are two types of frames available for these guns:  where it is allowed by State law, you can get a RR with an alloy frame, and in other states (HI, SC, IL, and MN) a steel frame is available.  The alloy frame is certainly strong enough for the low-power of the rimfire rounds, and it reduces costs, making these pistols some of the most affordable revolvers on the market, under $200 in many places, depending on model (I paid $180 for mine, a blued finish, pearl handled, 6.5" barrel LR/ WMR combo gun).

A variety of finishes is available, with a traditional blue (which I opted for), a case-hardened finish, a black satin, and a silver satin finish.  Purchasers also have a decent selection of grips to choose from, including colored laminated wood grips, Cocobolo grips, synthetic pearl finishes (mine wears the white pearl grips...  yeah, call me a New Orleans pimp), as well as synthetic ivory stocks.  Some of the Rough Riders come with old fashioned fixed sights which consist of a front blade and a grooved top-strap for the rear sight, while others have adjustable sights.  And every Heritage Rough Rider comes with a hammer-block manual safety, an unusual addition to a single action revolver, and one that takes getting used to (I feel that it is unnecessary, but as a former attorney, I understand why the company has opted to include it).

Ok, sure...  but how does it shoot?  Thought you would never ask.  As of the posting of this column, I have fired approximately 1250 rounds of .22LR, 50 rounds of .22 Super Colibri, and 70 rounds of .22 WMR through my Rough Rider.  I have never had a single malfunction, apart from having ammunition which failed to fire or squibbed (look for my upcoming review of Remington Thunderbolt ammunition).  Even when fanning back the hammer and firing as fast as I can, the timing and cylinder lock-up has always been right on.  While I have heard from other owners that have had to tweak their front sight blades to achieve accuracy, mine was dead on right out of the box.  One of my favorite skill tests is to line up shotgun shells at 10 and 15 yards and plink at them with this pistol.  And this gun is more than capable of making them dance, even at those ranges.  I have found that the gun seems to be a bit more accurate with LR rounds than with WMR, which is counter-intuitive to me, but seems to be borne out by the performance of the gun.

After all of those rounds, and the cleanings, and the holstering and unholstering, the finish still seems to be holding up very well, with just a little darkening on the frame around the forcing cone, but a lot of rimfire ammunition is notoriously dirty, and I imagine that has a lot to do with that.  The trigger is not the best in the world (not compared to, say, my dad's old Ruger Single Six, for example), but it seems to have improved with use.

All-in-all, this has been one of my best purchases.  I use this gun on a regular basis, and do not see that changing any time soon.  Maybe I am just living out my childhood cowboy fantasies (which will also be addressed in my upcoming review of the Henry Golden Boy), but there are few firearms that I enjoy shooting as much as this little revolver.  Is it destined to be a family heirloom?  Not at all.  But I would not be surprised if my Heritage Rough Rider is still being used by future generations of GunTotingVigilantes in the years to come.

For more information, go to http://www.heritagemfg.com .

Gun Review: Metro Arms American Classic II 1911

It has been a while since I have added to Shooting from the Hip, but I am happy to be back and share another review with you.  I am especially happy to share this particular review, since it is about my most recent firearm purchase. And what a firearm it is, too.

As many of you are certainly aware, this year marks the centennial anniversary of the adoption by the United States' military of the m1911 Colt Automatic Pistol, what many consider John Moses Browning's finest creation. I happen to be one of that particular group.  I, and many others, feel that while this particular design may be one hundred years old, it is still a viable side-arm, with perhaps the finest trigger of any automatic pistol ever designed.  And as I have never personally owned a 1911, I decided that this year would be the year to remedy that particular deficiency.

So, a couple of weeks ago, I went by my favorite gun shop, Tri-Cities Gun Depot (see my previous post for a review of this fantastic shop) to see what 1911s they had in stock.  And they had several.  There was, of course, a Centennial Colt; a beautiful Kimber; a new Remington (very glad to see them return to the 1911 game); a few Rock Island Armory pieces (very well-made Philippine guns, and very affordable, too); and one with which I was unfamiliar:  the Metro Arms American Classic series, another Philippine gun.  The particular model I was looking at was a very well-made pistol, a full-sized Government model with the 5" barrel.  But there were some additions to this gun that you do not normally see on a stock pistol:  a full beavertail grip safety, combat hammer, light-weight trigger with overtravel adjustment, three-dot Novak-style sights, extended magazine release, extended slide release, and extended thumb safety to boot.  These guns have a nice blued finish, as well, rather than the Parkerized finish you see on many guns these days.  And most importantly, the fit and finish on the guns I looked at were exceptional for a gun in this price range (sub-$500).  The slide-to-frame fit, especially, was as good as a number of high-dollar guns I had looked at.

Faced with this unexpected choice, I decided to do some homework, and I searched the internet looking for information on these guns.  To be honest, there is not a great deal, but I was able to find some reviews on a few gun forums (or fora, to those guys and girls I had Latin classes with), and for the most part, every review was positive.  One thing that was brought up a few times is the fact that these guns include several MIM parts, but I discount this as a detraction since many "premier" gunmakers, such as Springfield and Kimber, include such parts as well.  I did find that the slide and barrel are forged, which was an added bonus in my estimation.

So, having just about decided to make the American Classic II my newest addition, Tom at TCGD had to throw me another curve.  He asked if I had seen the hard chrome version.  I had not.  To be perfectly honest, I am not much of a shiny gun kind of guy.  I like black guns.  They look like they mean business.  You don't see fingerprints on them.  They look like tools, not accessories.  But as part of my research, I looked up pictures of the chrome version...  and I was impressed.  Impressed enough to want to see one in person.  Now for the problem:  the Gun Depot didn't have a chrome gun, and didn't know when they would be getting one.  Hard to come by apparently, this shiny gun.  Well, I could wait, right?  Right...

As luck would have it, I did not need to wait.  Tom got one in the next week.  And it was love at first sight.  This gun looks even better in person.  The finish was excellent.  The checkered wood grips, while not superb, are much nicer than those on the blued version.  The fit was every bit as tight as on the ones I had previously fondled, er, I mean held.  And the trigger was sweet, breaking at around 4 lbs, I estimate.  Not much more than on the Colt Tom had in the case.  And I knew that it had to be mine.  And following a transfer of currency (the hard chrome is about $100 more than the blued version) and a nod from the TBI, it was indeed mine.

At home, a quick wipe-down and run a patch through the barrel to clear the packing grease and I proceeded to send fifty rounds of PMC Bronze 230 grain FMJ downrange without a single failure of any kind.  As quickly as I could load the single magazine, I would then empty it nearly as quickly.  And the accuracy of this gun is noteworthy.  Recoil is almost negligible (the gun does weigh over 30 ounces).  At thirty yards, all fifty rounds fell within a 6 inch circle, and this shooting standing free-hand about as quickly as I could pull the trigger.  Very nice.  I will update when I am able to get out again and shoot from the bench for groups.

All-in-all, I am very pleased with the ACII.  I feel that it is a lot of gun for the money, and it just goes to show that you do not need to drop a couple of grand on a custom build in order to get a quality firearm.  Since the ACII is full milspec, however, you can feel free to upgrade whatever you want, should you feel the need.  I would recommend to anyone who is looking to celebrate the year of the Colt with a new 1911, stop by Tri-Cities Gun Depot, or your nearest gun shop, and check out the Metro Arms offerings.  I think you will be impressed.

UPDATE:  I recently posted a new entry on the ACII and a couple of upgrades that I have installed.  The post can be seen here.

Gun Shop Review: Tri-Cities Gun Depot, Elizabethton, TN

Today, I thought I would write my first review, and as my subject, I have chosen a local gun shop.  Before I begin, however, let me make a couple of things clear:  first, the following comments are my opinion only.  I do not hold myself out to be an expert in this field, I am simply sharing my experiences at this particular establishment.  Second, my commentary is based solely upon my own experience with this particular dealer.  I make no guarantees as to how your own experience may relate.  Caveat Emptor.

Now that the disclaimers are out of the way, let's talk gun shops.  I love gun shops.  I like few things more than to walk into a gun shop, peer into the glass cases at the polished steel of revolvers, handle a quality 1911, and stare longingly at the racks of rifles and shotguns hanging on the walls.  I can spend hours perusing accessories:  lasers, spare magazines, replacement grips, cleaning supplies, etc.  If I could design my own air freshener, it would smell like Hoppes #9.  I like hanging around other gun people, discussing things only other gun people care about, like twist rates, drop-in replacement hammers, or how much IMR 4350 to put behind that Barnes 168 grain Triple Shok X boattail.

But when I am shopping, I am also concerned about such things as customer service, a good selection of quality items, and competitive prices.  I am not a high-maintenance shopper:  I do not require someone to hold my hand and walk me around the store to find certain items.  However, I do not want to be ignored, either.  Recently, I spent ten minutes standing at a counter waiting for a sales rep to assist me, while the employees were busy talking to one another about their previous evening's exploits.  This is unacceptable behavior (and will be discussed in a forthcoming review).  When I find a store that has what I am looking for, in terms of service and selection, I will continue to send them my business.  And I am willing to drive a bit farther down the road in order to patronize a shop that has these qualities.

Tri-Cities Gun Depot, in Elizabethton, TN, is just such a place.  TCGD is locally owned and operated by two great guys, Tom and Brian, who really know their guns.  They are friendly, and are always helpful.  Not once have I felt as though I was being ignored, and in fact, most times I have been in the shop, the guys have gone out of their way to make sure I was getting the information I needed.  What is more, it seems like they have personal experience with just about every type of firearm in the shop, which is useful when you are comparing similar firearms.

The shop boasts a great selection of firearms and ammunition, and they offer a number of accessories as well, such as Blackhawk and Uncle Mike holsters, optics, cleaning kits, and even OC sprays and stun guns.  Gun brands include Smith and Wesson, Ruger, Glock, Kahr, Kel-Tec, Taurus, Kimber, Springfield, Walther, Remington, Savage, DPMS, Rossi, H&R, and many more.  Pistols and revolvers, rifles and shotguns, this store has it all...  and if they do not have it in stock, they can probably get it.  Want a stripped lower to do your own AR build?  They got it.  And the complete parts kit to build that lower, as well.  Or, if you are not so mechanically inclined, you can get an AR, already assembled and ready to go to the range.  Or perhaps you reside in the AK state of mind...  they got you covered as well.  870 with adjustable stock and heat shield?  Yeah, they've got that.  Too pedestrian for your tastes?  What about a Saiga 12?  Check.  With the drum.  Oh yeah, now we're talking...

What is more, you get all of the above, along with very good prices to boot.  TCGD is usually within just a few dollars of the lowest prices I have seen on comparable guns for this area.  And to be honest, I am more than willing to spend a little more for gas to drive a few miles out of my way for the good service, especially since I know I will be making up the difference with the lower prices.

To date, I have bought five firearms from TCGD, and that includes the last four firearms I have purchased.  And while I still go to other gun shops, I doubt seriously that I will buy firearms from anyone other than the Gun Depot.  I highly recommend this dealer to anyone who is looking to make a firearms purchase.  Stop by and talk to Tom and Brian, and see what the Tri-Cities Gun Depot has to offer.  I do not think you will be disappointed.

Tri-Cities Gun Depot
1760 West Elk Avenue
Elizabethton, TN 37643
(423) 543-ARMS