7th May : Beretta CX4 Storm

Name     :     Beretta CX4 Storm


AKA       :     The Storm, The sci-fi blaster

Caliber     :     9x19mm Parabellum, 9x21mm IMI, .40 S&W, .45 ACP


Capacity   :     8 to 32 Rounds


Weight     :     5.75lbs or 2.6kg


Length     :     29.7in or 754mm


Action      :     Closed bolt, Blowback operated, semi automatic carbine


Origin       :     Italy


Introduced in 2003 as part of the "X4 Storm" family this small pistol caliber carbine looks somewhat futuristic and employs a great deal versatility in its design.  Within the "X4 Storm" family of firearms there is the PX4 pistol (the magazines of which are usable in CX4), the CX4 carbine and the RX4 5.56mm Assault Rifle.  All of the firearms in this family make large use of polymer in their construction, with a focus on ergonomics, modularity and reliability.  The CX4 as of 2012 is largely a sports shooter / plinking firearm, with the exception of one U.S. Law Enforcement Agency in Alabama County, New York, currently using it.  Venezuela and India have employed it for special duties within their respective armed forces, with the later having the full automatic version.  


The modularity aspect of this firearm is one of its best features, capable of having four picatinny rails for the mounting of optics and accessories.  Beretta also market a suppressor for the CX4 carbine with the model number EU00029.  Spacers are supplied with the carbine to aid the length of stock to suit the different needs of users, though only one .5in spacer is included.  The CX4 9mm will accept any Beretta PX4 or 92 series magazine, a great feature as the price and availability of these magazines is good.  The .40 Smith and Wesson magazines that can be used are of PX4 .40 type and the .45 ACP compatible magazines are from the .45 caliber single stack Beretta Cougar pistols.  


Reversible controls are by no means new, but it never ceases to a great selling point on any firearm, and the CX4 is no exception.  Safety button, magazine release and cocking handle are all reversible on the CX4 for a left handed shooter and interestingly Beretta have also included the option of switching the ejector to extract and release empty shell cases on either side too.  Disassembly on the CX4 is also a breeze, after a safety check is done and the magazine has been removed, one simply pushes the disassembly pin all the way through the carbine, and the upper and lower receiver separate, the bolt handle is pulled out and the whole bolt carrier group out.  Access to the barrel is now available and to inspect the bolt a U clam is slid off and the guide rod is removed, exposing the ejector and extractor.


INTERESTING FACT :  The CX4 may become a lot more common, several major Law Enforcement Agencies are currently evaluating the CX4 for a spot in the armory. 


PRO's   :   Great Accuracy, Lightweight, Handy size, ambidextrous controls


CON's   :   Common complaints : Magazine seating, squishy button like triggers


COOL FACTOR :  6/10

3rd of May : SKS Rifle

Name     :     Samozaryadnyi Karabin Simonova Obrazets 1945g


AKA       :     The SKS, Poor-Mans Deer Rifle, 

Caliber     :     7.62x39mm M43 Cartridge


Capacity   :     10 Round non removable magazine


Weight     :     8.49lbs or 3.85kg


Length     :     40.2in or 1021mm


Action      :     Tipping Bolt Locking, Semi Automatic Rifle 


Origin      :     Russia (U.S.S.R.)


Designed during World War Two the SKS Rifle came too late to be used during that conflict but would go on to arm a large number of soldiers, gorilla fighters and civilian shooters and as of 2012 the interest from the later has not waned.


Designed by Sergei Simonov a well respected Russian arms designer, the rifle was far from innovative but very solid and reliable, making use of existing  principals and concepts of the time.  The rifle was developed around the 7.62x39mm M43 cartridge developed for the RPD machinegun, a project that Simonov was a part of. The value of the 7.62x39mm is that unlike the cartridge it replaced, it was only effective to the maximum range the average soldier could hit anything at, it was lighter meaning the soldier could carry more ammunition and lastly the significantly lighter recoil meant that in a fully automatic weapon, during firing the weapon was far more controllable.  Sergei Simonov's SKS is the pinnacle of the lineage of Simonov's designs, it clearly finds it's origins in the AVS-36 a pre-war tipping bolt semi automatic rifle firing the 7.62x54mmR and the PTRS-41 anti-armor rifle, also with a tipping bolt.


The roll out in significant numbers for SKS took place in 1949, now the official standard rifle of Russia, but it was to be short lived, at least in front line service.  The AK-47 was in 1947 a large scale experiment, with the SKS waiting in the wings as a back-up weapon in the event the AK-47 proved to be too troublesome; unfortunately for Simonov's design the AK proved itself an excellent weapon leaving the SKS remain in front line service only until the AK could be delivered, when it would put into the hands of second line units.  The SKS was widely distributed to nations associated and part of the Soviet Union and was built in almost as many countries as it served with.  It remains a parade weapon even to this day, furnished with chrome and a light wooden stock.


In civilian hands the SKS has become a major phenomenon as a surplus curiosity, survival and hunting rifle, with large number of manufacturers producing aftermarket components, in some cases turning the SKS into the battle rifle it perhaps should have been, but hindsight is 20/20.  Copy-Cat manufacturer Norinco has flooded the civilian shooter's marketplace with an never ending variety of SKS copies known as the Type 56, these rifles are very affordable and are solid and reliable.  The SKS always compared favourably with the AK-47 in the respect that the same cartridge has a higher muzzle velocity and inherent accuracy due to the longer barrel.  Popular use SKS is for plinking and hunting, being especially well suited for hunting of wild boar and goats with the inexpensive soft nose ammunition available in large numbers seemingly everywhere.


The loading of the SKS is very straight forward, firstly the user pulls the bolt carrier handle to the rear, the follower pushes up on the bolt lock holding it in place, the user may then either load individual rounds down directly into the internal magazine or by inserting a stripper clip into guides on the bold head and pushing them down into the magazine.  After charging the rifle the user pulls the bolt carrier handle to the rear about 5mm and releases it, and it will now move forward stripping a new round out of the magazine and chamber it.

SKS Stripper Clips loaded with hunting ammunition

INTERESTING FACT : More than 15 Million SKS's have been made, with a few known as the SKK being able to accept the 30 round magazine of the AK-47 series of rifles.


PRO's   :   Surprisingly Accurate, Easy to maintain, low recoil, overall simplicity
CON's   :   Some Norinco rifles are sensitive to some hunting ammunition 


COOL FACTOR : 6/10

1st May : Sphinx AT-2000

Name     :     Sphinx AT-2000


AKA       :     The Improved CZ-75, The Swiss Block

AT-2000PS model shown

Caliber     :     9x21mm, 9x19mm Parabellum, .40 Smith & Wesson


Capacity   :     15 Rounds (9mm), 11 Rounds (.40)


Weight     :     36.25oz or 1030g (S Model)


Length     :     8in or 204mm (S Model)


Action      :     Browning Cam Locking, Double Action Semi Automatic


Origin       :     Switzerland


Introduced in 1992, the Sphinx AT-2000 is a service / sport pistol manufactured in Switzerland.  It originates from the model AT84 and AT88 pistols which were licensed copies of the CZ-75 pistol, they were made under the company name of ITM.  ITM went out of business in 1990 and in 1991 the company was renamed Sphinx Systems Ltd, which went on to try and improve the CZ-75 design with a focus on tight tolerances and high quality workmanship.  The resulting design was the model AT-2000S, a full sized pistol with an all steel construction making it somewhat indestructible.  


The model AT-2000 has three main variants, the 'S' model which is the full sized pistol, the model 'P' standing for police with a compact slide and frame, the model 'PS' which has the shortened slide and barrel with the full sized model 'S' frame.  All of these models have double action trigger systems and have a very precise and predicable trigger break.  For anyone who is familiar with the CZ-75 a very notable difference found when handling the AT-2000 is the shape, the AT-2000 is very square and flat, neglecting the rounding and curve found on the Czech pistol.  Also different from the CZ is the guide rod used in this design, it has a small bulge at the end of it that slots perfectly into the slide to ensure the side locks back firmly in the same position before the next shot to provide constancy.  The controls of this pistol are often ambidextrous making the pistol compatible for left handed shooters or weak hand shooting.


The AT-2000 is well known for exceptional accuracy, and an all over pleasant pistol to shoot with its clean single action break of 1.5kg.  Fitted by hand by master gunsmiths the slides are cut from solid steel as are most of the frames.  CZ-75 magazines do work in the AT-2000S and 'PS' models though they do not lock the slide to the rear when empty, as the follower is different.


INTERESTING FACT : Almost never seen in films, most likely due to the significant cost of this pistol it was prominently shown in the movie "Mission Impossible 2" carried by the villain Sean Ambrose.  


PRO's :   Accurate, Beautiful trigger, Top Quality, Top notch heritage, 


CON's :   Price tag


COOL FACTOR : 9/10

30th April : Heckler & Koch G36

Name     :     Heckler & Koch G36


AKA       :     The Bundeswehr Rifle

Caliber     :     5.56x45mm NATO


Capacity   :     30 Rounds or 100 round Beta C Magazine  


Weight     :     7.94lbs or 3.6kg (Standard Model)


Length     :     39.3in or 998mm (Standard Model)


Action      :     Gas operated rotating bolt locking, semi, burst or Fully Automatic


Origin      :     Germany


Since the late 1960's the West German Army looked to replace the G3 from standard service for a easier to handle weapon which could maximize the accuracy potential of its troops.  Heckler and Koch through a long and extensive development period produced the G11 caseless ammunition rifle, a rifle that performed very well through testing, that 1000 prototypes were manufactured.  The Germans were however well aware that the financial implications if they decided to arm everyone with the G11, thus consideration was given to procuring a 5.56mm standard type rifle for second-line or rear echelon troops in the form of the Heckler and Koch G41 Rifle.  Unfortunately for the Germans NATO standardization and the economic situation at the time called the end of the G11 rifle, but the need to replace the G3 was ever present.


The G36 was born out of the HK-50 project of the 1990's, this project moved away from the roller locking mechanism of Heckler and Koch fame toward the popular piston based, rotating bolt gas system.  This project was met with high praise from the German Military after testing had proved the rifle very handy and modular and an order was placed for the new Rifle to placed into service as the G36 in 1997, followed later by the Spanish Armed Forces in 1999.


The Standard G36 rifle has a steel reinforced polymer receiver, and makes extensive use of polymer throughout the rest of the rifle.  As standard the German Army rifle comes fitted with with an 3x optical sight.  The magazine is of interest as it is semi transparent allowing the user to inspect at a glance how many rounds are remaining in the magazine, also the magazine has clips on the side of it that allow other magazines to be connected to it to allow fast magazine changes should it be required.  The stock is of a folding type which also has small holes in it that allow the insertion of the disassembly pins so they are somewhere safe when dismantling the rifle.


One of the appeals of the G36 is its large assortment of variants and optional accessories, without a doubt this has greatly contributed to the large procurement of the rifle from the international law enforcement community. The models are as follows :

G36A1 - Standard German Service rifle
G36A2 - Updated A1, New scope, G36C Stock, 
G36K - Carbine version of the Standard G36 the barrel is 160mm shorter than standard.
G36V - Standard G36 with NATO bayonet fitting, Export model differing sight setup
G36KV - Carbine export model with NATO bayonet fitting, 
G36C - Compact commando model
MG36 - Heavy barreled light machinegun version.

G36C, Commando variant of the standard rifle.

INTERESTING FACT : The German military is investigating concerns regarding "wandering zero's" on the G36. After the rifle has fired enough rounds to get hot, soldiers are reporting difficulties attempting to hit targets beyond 200 meters.


PRO's : Great magazines, lots of accessories, easy to clean/maintain.


CON's : Possible wandering zero, 

COOL FACTOR : 7/10

27th April : Walther P99

Name     :     Walther P99


AKA       :     Walther's Tupperware Wonder

Caliber     :     9x19mm Parabellum, .40 Smith and Wesson


Capacity   :     16 Rounds (9mm) 12 (.40) 10 round magazines are common too.


Weight     :     22.5oz or 630g (9mm) 23.1oz or 655g (.40)


Length     :     7in or 180mm (9mm) 7.25in or 184mm


Action      :     Double Action Semi Automatic, Browning-Petter Locking Block


Origin      :     Germany


Horst Wesp started designing the P99 pistol for Walther in 1994, Wesp who had previously worked for the two largest firearms producers in his native land of Austria, namely Glock and Steyr, finished design and testing in 1996 when the P99 hit the market.  The P99 was primarily produced for the Law Enforcement community but has found widespread acceptance in sporting and personal protection circles, and the latter two are by far its largest consumers.  Some have speculated that the P99 came too late and at a too higher premium to compete with the likes of Glock, in spite of this some German Law Enforcement have chosen to adopt it.


As with all Walther products it is produced to a very high standard, incorporating some very desirable features into an aesthetically pleasing package.  The pistol is of double action design, where by the pistol can be de-cocked, removing spring tension on the firing pin, creating a long first shot trigger pull which cocks the firing pin, all subsequent shots are in a lighter trigger pull single action mode.  The decocker is nicely positioned on the top right hand side of the slide, all that is required is a reasonable pressure to depress the button.  The trigger pull on the P99 is 8.25 pounds in double action and 4.5 pounds in single action.  Locking on this pistol is an improved browning type where by the chamber port locks into the ejection cut out in the slide instead of lugs around the barrel.  The frame of the P99 is made from polymer which reduces weight and allow for very ergonomic designs, the grips were designed by Italian Cesare Morini who produced specialty grips for pistols used in the Olympic shooting section. These grips are very comfortable with three replaceable backstraps that come supplied with the pistol. The magazine release is of European type built into the trigger guard and is ambidextrous.   


Variants of the P99 are :


P99 Military    - Standard P99 with a green polymer frame 
P990             - Double Action Only
SW99            - As above but only the slide is made in the U.S. by Smith & Wesson
P99C             - Compact model with standard action
P99 Duder      - Standard P99, Engraved Slide, Wooden Backstrap
P99QA           - The firing is always half cocked, this would be the start point the PPQ
P99RAD         - Made by Radom in poland, as above with inner trigger safety


As with most pistols these days the P99 comes in "generations" of production evolution, of which the P99 has three.  The second generation had a revised trigger guard that became rounded at the front and removed the triangle protrusion from the bottom of the guard.  The original accessory rail in front of the trigger guard was of a type exclusive to Walther, in the second generation it was changed to be of a standard weaver type.  The third generation had minor internal changes to aid overall smoothness of the action and a squarer trigger guard, longer magazine release and revised slide serrations.


INTERESTING FACT :  Walther pistols are synonymous with Ian Flemmings character James Bond, in the 007 Movie "Tommorow Never Dies" James bond trades his Walther PPK for a P99 and continues to use it even with the change of the man playing Bond.  To celebrate this change to the P99 Walther produced a limited edition "M.I.6." version of this pistol with the Coat of Arms engraved on the slide.  However as of "Quantum of Solace" James Bond has gone back to his PPK. 


PRO's   :   Accuracy, Reliability, Quality Manufacturer, High Capacity, Best Grips
CON's   :   Some magazines were dubious, 


COOL FACTOR : 9/10

April 26th : Remington 870

Name     :     Remington 870

AKA       :     Old Betsy

Caliber   :     12 Gauge, 16 Gauge, 20 Gauge, 28 Gauge, .410

Capacity :     3 to 8 Rounds

Weight   :     Varies, 8oz or 3.6kg approx standard model

Length    :     Varies, 41in or 1060mm standard model

Action    :     Pump Action, repeater

Origin     :    U.S.A

Introduced in 1950, though stock didn't reach stores till 1951, the Remington 870 would undoubtedly be the biggest selling pump action shotgun in the world, with production exceeding 10 million so far.  The model M870 Mk1 was offically adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps in 1966, it was chosen over and above popular semi automatic shotguns at the time for it's reliability with all types of ammunition.  Semi automatics of the time could not reliably cycle with low powered riot ammunition and other specialty rounds, due to the fact the recoil is fundamental for pushing the weapons bolt to cycle, lower powered rounds like riot ammunition do not have a significant enough recoil factor to allow the action to reliably feed,  whereas a manually operated shotgun on the other hand has only the user to cycle action.  Pump action shotguns of reasonable quality like the 870 were able to be manipulated quickly and are only marginally slower to fire successive shots.  

The 870 is made to a high standard utilizing an orthodox method of operation.  When the pump handle is pushed rearward, two steel action bars push the tilting action block to the rear and a round is stripped from the ammunition tube beneath the barrel and is collected by the bolt face and pushed into the chamber with the return of the pump handle to the forward position.  Modern 870's also have a balanced sear and inertia firing pin to prevent the firearm from discharging until the round is completely in battery.  

The 870 gains a lot of its popularity through customization and varied models to suit all applications.  A wide array of stocks from manufacturers such as magpul are available on the market.  Remington itself produces a folding stock for the shotgun.  Barrel lengths can vary from 14 to 30 inches, not to mention the endless supplies of colors and accessories.  Remington as of 2012 lists 28 variations on its website for almost every need the shooter might have.

Currently 70 to 80% of all U.S. Law Enforcement agencies have the 870 in some form in their arsenals.  17 Nations officially use this popular shotgun, China even produces their own unlicensed copy of the 870, produced by "copy-cat" arms company Norinco.  

INTERESTING FACT : During the Vietnam war experiments were carried out to see if an 870 could be easily converted to accept a 10 or 20 round box magazine.

PRO's   :   Good amount of models, reliable, feeds anything, easy to manipulate

CON's  :   Some early models had a non adjustable choke.

COOL FACTOR : 8/10 

23rd April : Smith and Wesson Model 10

Name :     Smith and Wesson Model 10


AKA   :     Military & Police, M&P, The No Frills Revolver, Victory Model

Caliber     :     .38 Smith and Wesson Special


Capacity   :     6 Rounds


Weight     :     36oz or 1020g (4in Model)


Length     :     8.875in or 225mm

Action      :     Double Action Repeater


Origin       :     U.S.A.


One of Smith and Wesson's best selling revolvers of all time, since 1899 Smith and Wesson have offered the Model 10 'Military and Police' in a wide range of configurations from the snubnose 2 inch barrel round butt model through to the Target 6 inch square butt model.  The appeal of the model 10 stems from its simplicity, quality construction and universal acceptance of the .38 Special cartridge, add to this the variety of configurations, all for a fair price and it is not surprising that more than 6 million have been made.


During the Philippine War of Independence, the U.S. Army had grave concerns about the effectiveness of the .38 Long Colt cartridge of there Model 1889 revolver, relayed field reports back to the United States indicated a change was immediately necessary, the answer in the form of the new cartridge .38 Smith and Wesson Special a heavier bullet in a longer case and the new Model 1899 to fire it. This revolver known as Military and Police would go on to have several changes to eventually become the Model 10 in 1942.


The Model 10's 'K frame' Smith and Wesson's medium frame is very strong, in many ways stronger than it needs to be, this advantage means that the model 10 can consume a steady diet of +P ammunition.  The fixed sights on this revolver are of snag free design and are very unlikely to knocked or bumped out of alignment unlike Smith and Wesson's adjustable sights.  A good double and single action pull that are crisp and break at predictable points making the revolver inherently easy to shoot, especially with the mild recoil of the .38 special cartridge.  


This no-nonsense, reliable arm will never be a match for today's "Polymer Wonder Guns" in the military world, but still serves a purpose for home defense and sports shooting.  For use as a personal protection arm the .38 special is at the lower end of the spectrum as a manstopper but, with regular practice, shooting quality defensive loads you are by no means 'unarmed'. 


INTERESTING FACT : The model 10 was used by over 20 countries world wide as a defensive arm for either military, police or both.


PRO's   :   Reliable, Easy to shoot, quality construction, utilitarian 


CON's   :   Low in the energy range, but still very acceptable. 


COOL FACTOR : 7/10