First of all, no. This shirt is not yet available in Flat Dark Earth, but we’ve inquired about it. It is available in several other color ways, which despite the women’s tactical shirt description aren’t particularly tactical. It’s the design on the shirt that’s tactical. It’s the Tactical Self-Rescuing Princess shirt from Southernly Zen.
It’s described as a shirt for those badass lady types who prefer a ballistic brain bucket with NVGs and earpro to a crown and glass slippers. We think it’s a reasonable description.
Would Cara Dune, Evelyn Salt, Andromache of Scythia, Sarah Connor, or Ms. Perkins wear a tactical princess shirt? What about Ani Bezzerides or Jenette Vasquez? We have no idea. We think so…but maybe they’d prefer the straight tiara-royalty or cowgirl version.
Self-Rescuing Princess Shirt Options
• Self Rescuing Princess, Tactical
• Self Rescuing Princess, No Knights Needed
• Self-Rescuing Princess, Cowgirl Shirt
This is the first shirt style with this design put out by Southernly Zen. It has a fully-equipped helmet (hard to tell if it’s Kevlar or bump), a tiara atop that, and a rifle ready to snatch up and roll out.
It’s printed on a Bella Canvas 6400 Women’s Jersey Short Sleeve. If we’re deciphering social posts correctly, additional styles (athletic cut, moisture-wicking, and maybe hoodies) will be available soon. The different types of “lifestyle” shots we’re seeing are apparently just to gauge interest.
Features: Sideseamed. Slim fit. Shoulder taping. Longer body length.
This is how apparel manufacturer Bella Canvas describes the garment:
“Her go-to tee fits like a well-loved favorite, featuring a slim feminine fit, crew neck, short sleeves, and superior combed and ring-spun cotton that acts as the best blank canvas for printing. Offered in a variety of solid and heather CVC colors.”
• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton
• Athletic heather is 90% cotton, 10% polyester
• Other heather colors are 52% cotton, 48% polyester
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz/y² (142 g/m²)
Confidence and the ability to take no shit are the hallmark of a squared away self-rescuing princess, regardless of profession, age, or rank.
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Designed specifically for strong women
•Crewneck
• Relaxed fit
• Side-seamed
There are many princesses and undistressed damsels who require neither a knight nor a prince to rescue them. They do their own work.
A popular and adaptable cartridge, the 300 Blackout is a go-to option for hunting, home defense, and suppressed shooting. If you want to ensure optimal performance, the length of your barrel is key. This guide examines the different barrel lengths available for the 300 Blackout and where to purchase them.
The main question you need to ask yourself is whether or not you plan on using a suppressor. If you’re looking for the quietest and best handling setup, one could easily go as short as 7.5″, offered by Faxon Firearms.
10.5″ Blackout Barrel
How Much Does Length Affect .300 Blackout Velocity?
Based on our personal experience and research, the 9″ 300 blackout barrel is the best overall barrel length with or without a suppressor, especially since an 8″ barrel is the minimum warranty barrel length for many suppressor manufacturers.
For optimal performance with a suppressed 300 Blackout, we recommend a barrel length of 8″-10″.
Attaching a 6″ suppressor to this barrel length results in a total length of 14″ to 16″, which provides optimal muzzle velocity for accurate long-range shots.
For the longer range engagements with a suppressed 300 Blackout, use a 16″ barrel with a suppressor for an average velocity of over 2,630 fps, leading to more effective shots and minimal bullet drop.
Best 300 Blackout Length For Home Defense
The .300 Blackout round is an excellent choice for home defense as it combines power and efficiency with lethality when fired from a short-barreled rifle.
Using a short-barreled rifle is ideal for home defense as its compactness makes it easier to maneuver throughout the home. Despite its compact size, a .300 BLK round fired from a short barrel can still hit targets up to 100 yards away.
For optimal home defense with the .300 Blackout, a barrel length of at least 6″ to 8″ is recommended.
Best 300 Blackout Length For Hunting
The ideal barrel length when hunting with .300 Blackout is one able to reach long-range targets with sufficient bullet velocity and energy on target for a lethal impact.
Longer barrel lengths offer greater accuracy and velocity, with a maximum length of 16″ for the .300 Blackout. This length ensures complete gunpowder combustion to generate maximum force and stabilizes the bullet for a flatter trajectory and improved accuracy.
Additionally, a 16″ barrel offers a long line of sight for better aim, making it the recommended choice for long-range hunting.
Choosing the right barrel length for the .300 BLK can be hard.
At 10″, the muzzle velocity has not yet reached its peak. Heavy subsonic ammo in a 10″ barrel may have lower velocities but allows for the use of a suppressor without damaging your hearing. Supersonic ammo out of a 10″ barrel retains rifle caliber velocities but with more significant bullet drop at longer distances.
At 16″, muzzle velocities are near their maximum. As a result, heavy-grain subsonic bullets struggle to retain their subsonic terminal performance, while supersonic ammo has increased effective range and reduced bullet drop. The 16″ barrel also provides greater energy upon impact, regardless of ammo type.
The barrel twist rate also impacts performance and should be considered when selecting barrel length and determining the effective range of the .300 Blackout. For example, a 1:8 twist is best for lightweight supersonic rounds, while the 1:7 twist is recommended for heavy subsonic rounds with a suppressor.
There are a few factors to consider when selecting the ideal barrel length for the .300 BLK rifle and determining its effective range.
There are many parts that make up a 10/22 rifle, and each one of them plays an important role. However, the most critical component of the Ruger is the bolt.
The trigger may be what initiates every shot, but it’s the bolt that’s responsible for the shot-to-shot operation.
A high-quality bolt affects more than just reliability. The bolt face, its consistency, and how the firing pin strikes the bullet significantly contribute to the rifle’s accuracy.
Faxon Stainless Steel Bolt Assembly for 10/22
Whether you’re building up a new gun or keeping an old favorite running, the Faxon 10/22 Bolt Assembly is the best choice.
Compatible with the OEM receiver, trigger group, charging handle, and bolt stop pin, the Faxon 10/22 bolt is fully assembled and ready to drop into your Ruger 10/22.
Specs
Material: 17-4 PH Stainless steel, H900
Hardness: HRC 40 – 47
Round Firing Pin
Sharp Extractor
Why Upgrade a 10/22 Bolt?
Upgrading the bolt improves reliability and accuracy on any 10/22 rifle.
A high-quality bolt such as the one from Faxon Firearms is properly radiused and polished to enhance the reliability of the cyclic action.
Additionally, the Faxon 10/22 bolt has the proper head spacing in order to improve the reliability of the bullets feeding from the magazine into the chamber.
Lastly, proper firing pin protrusion ensures optimal striking of the rimfire case.
For these reasons, upgrading your 10/22 bolt does have its advantages.
All these small gains add up to overall reliability, consistent performance, and improved accuracy.
Does The Ruger 10/22 Have a Bolt Hold Open?
Out of the box in the stock configuration, the Ruger 10/22 does not have a last-round bolt hold open feature.
To add the bolt hold open feature, you need a third-party upgrade such as the CST Auto Bolt Stop.
What is a 10/22 Bolt Buffer?
A bolt buffer replaces/upgrades the bolt stop pin in your 10/22 receiver. The OEM bolt stop pin is made from steel, whereas the bolt buffer is made from a polymer material.
Over time the steel bolt stop pin can cause micro-cracks in the receiver due to repeated impacts of the bolt during shooting. The bolt buffer mitigates that and several other issues by being manufactured out of a polymer material.
There are three main benefits of replacing the bolt stop pin with a bolt buffer.
It reduces the sound when the bolt slams rearward during the cycling action during shooting. This is also a benefit when shooting suppressed as it greatly reduces the noise signature even more.
The 10/22 blowback action is less shaky because of the dampening of the recoil and bolt cycling vibrations.
It can prevent cracks in the 10/22 receiver resulting from prolonged usage, high round count shooting, or the added stress of high-velocity ammo.
The Ruger 10/22 bolt by Faxon includes a bolt buffer to replace the OEM bolt stop pin. If you’re interested in learning more, check out more on the Ruger 10/22 Bolt here.
The Polymer 80 kits have become so popular that they are usually out of stock everywhere. However, it’s a great way to custom-build your variant of a Glock 19.
Although you may learn a lot by building your gun, some may want the advantages of a Polymer 80 kit but don’t want to hassle with learning how to do it or taking the time to do it.
Faxon FX19 Hellfire
Faxon Firearms has remedied that issue by offering a complete PF940C kit known as the FX19. The Faxon FX19 comes in two different variants; The FX19 Patriot and its big brother, the FX19 Hellfire.
The Faxon FX19 pistols are more or less a Polymer 80 PF940C complete kit, without being a Glock 19, but are compatible with all Glock 19 parts and accessories.
PF940C In Stock | Faxon FX19
Faxon took the PF940C gun frame and gave it a 1911 grip angle and improved texture. In addition to that, they polished the front & rear slide rails.
Faxon Patriot Pistol
They may be minor differences, but they are noticeable when holding the gun in your hand.
They dropped in an Overwatch Precision Trigger to finish the custom frame.
The Faxon Patriot FX19
The Faxon Patriot was made for concealed carry. Everything from the grip to the trigger and sights make for a formidable CCW firearm.
What stands out the most is the custom-cut slide with serrations in all the right places for manipulating the gun and doing press checks.
FX19 Patriot
The top of the slide has been cut for a Trijicon RMR or Holosun 507C. The front sight is a bright red fiber optic with a blacked-out rear site, making it extremely quick and easy to locate.
On top of all that, the Patriot comes with a match-grade barrel made in-house by Faxon, and lastly, the Patriot ships with a 15-round Glock OEM magazine.
After handling the Patriot, the Hellfire was quite a different experience. The Hellfire feels made for my hand.
The Hellfire utilizes the same frame as the Patriot, with the exception of a magwell. The magwell alone makes a noticeable difference in the grip. However, because of the magwell and the undercut trigger guard, you can get the highest grip possible on the gun.
Faxon Hellfire
The sights used on the Hellfire are suppressor-height sights from Night Fision. In addition, the front sight contains a Tritium insert that ALWAYS glows, and the rear sight is blacked-out. This combination makes for fast target acquisition.
The custom-cut slide, threaded barrel, Night Fision suppressor height sights, and extended 20-round magazine w/magwell may remind you of something from a John Wick movie.
PF940C vs PF940v2
The PF940C frame is considered a compact size, I.E., Glock 19, while the Polymer 80 PF940v2 build is regarded as a full-sized frame, I.E., Glock 17.
Bottom: Patriot Complete Kit
The best thing about the full-frame PF940V2 is the compatibility with 9mm, .40 S&W, and .357 Sig pistols.
What Gen Glock is the PF940C?
The PF940C is explicitly made for the Glock 19/23 Gen 3 pistol frame, magazine, and barrel. What is PF940C compatible with?
The PF940C offers compatibility with Glock 19 Gen 3 components. In addition, the PF940C frame comes with an aggressive texture that emulates a stippled pattern.
Features like the extended beaver tail, a double undercut trigger guard, and a thumb ledge enhance the ergonomics allowing for an adequate grip and improved recoil control.
There’s been a resurgence in pistol compensators this year as a few manufacturers have come out with options for various handgun models. Are comps worth the hype, especially for concealed carry?
Constructed of black anodized 6061 Aluminum, the Faxon EXOS features an angled front port single chamber design, enabling the compensator to improve shot-to-shot accuracy by reducing muzzle climb and recoil.
Watch the video, see what you think.
The EXOS’ specially designed port design allows gas to deflect upwards as opposed to only deflecting to the sides, reducing the up-and-down muzzle movement and allowing your sights to reset on target much faster.
The Faxon EXOS Pistol Compensator is designed to fit flush with the slide and has been optimized for Faxon match-grade pistol barrels. For all other threaded pistol barrels, the barrel should protrude .600″ or less for a flush fit.
Compatible Hosts For The Faxon EXOS Pistol Comp
All Glock Gen 5 Pistols
Glock 19/17/34 Gen 4Glock 19/17/34 Gen 3
Glock 43/43x
Glock 48
SIG P365/P365XL
SIG P320
M&P Shield/Shield Plus
M&P Full Size Pistols
Faxon FX19 Pistols
Each EXOS pistol compensator comes complete with thread locker, two 6-32 set screws, and a 1/16 Allen wrench.
Faxon EXOS pistol compensator.
Best Pistol Compensator (Including For Concealed Carry)
If you want to add a compensator to your concealed carry pistol, the Faxon EXOS Comp is a great choice.
Concealed carry holsters are often not too forgiving when it comes to pistol compensators. The EXOS Comp addresses these issues with its low-profile design that mimics the profile of the pistol’s slide.
The EXOS will work with any open-ended holster designed for your pistol. Even IWB holsters can work comfortably with this compensator.
Conclusion
We’re confident you’ll agree the Faxon EXOS is one of the best pistol compensators to hit the market.
Granted it’s not the only player in town, but its unique port design, ease of installation, and performance have put the competition on its heels.
Body Armor used to be cumbersome and expensive, good thing it ain’t 2005 anymore. Happily, West Coast Armor has stepped up to the plate (no pun intended) with its Pure Dyneema and Pure Spectra plates.
In fact, the team at West Coast Armor spent five years on R&D before releasing their first product. They’re not messing around when it comes to the preservation of life.
The diverse team at West Coast Armor has deep roots in the world of executive protection, military, law enforcement, and the private sector. In addition, the team at West Coast Armor has used and created body armor throughout their individual careers. They know firsthand the benefits and drawbacks of the different types of body armor.
With this knowledge and real-world experience, they achieved what they set out to do. West Coast Armor put five years of research and development, so they could create their industry-leading body armor. They were rewarded with Armor that is lighter, stronger, and more affordable than any others on the market.
What Sets Apart West Coast Armor?
West Coast Armor uses Pure Dyneema or Pure next-gen Spectra in the construction of its body armor plates.
Hard armor made with pure Dyneema and next-gen Spectra is up to 75% lighter than steel or other traditional armor materials. This is without compromising the level of protection traditional materials provide.
For military, law enforcement, and others working in high-risk environments, hard armor made from Dyneema provides not only maximum protection but also enhances the comfort, maneuverability, and efficiency of the person wearing it.
Body Armor put to the test
5 Benefits of Using Dyneema in Body Armor Plates
Constructed from ceramics, compressed laminate sheets, metallic plates, or composites
Designed to deform and capture the bullet upon impact
Absorbs and distributes the kinetic energy of the impact
Protects against NIJ Level III, III+ and works as an excellent backing for ceramics in III++ or IV rifle threats
75% lighter than steel and 25% lighter than Aramid
Where are West Coast Armor Plates Made?
All raw materials are 100% domestically sourced and made in the USA.
Is West Coast Armor NIJ Certified?
Yes. West Coast Armor is NIJ certified, and all their body armor plates meet or exceed NIJ criteria.
The NIJ conducts independent research on the Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor with the help of the Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES). The most important attribute of the NIJ is its ability to remain objective to the industry and only adopt criteria based on scientific research and testing.
This research and testing are designed to save lives and improve the level of justice our law enforcement agencies can provide. This is why every company that wishes to sell body armor in the United States must meet the requirements set forth by the NIJ.
If you’re looking for a company that is selling armor, ensure they can provide an NIJ letter of compliance by doing a simple check on DOJ’s website to see if the company is certified.
West Coast Armor Hard Armor Levels
Patriot Armor IIIa Plate
Patriot Armor IIIa Plate
The Patriot Armor level 3a body armor Plate is so unbelievably light and thin that you will forget you’re wearing it. At 0.82 pounds per square foot, these lightweights perform like heavyweights.
Forged from a proprietary manufacturing process, the IIIA Plate is constructed with some of the strongest and lightest ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers available.
West Coast Armor’s UHMWPE fibers are stronger than steel at a fraction of the weight.
Features and Specs
Designed for use as a standalone plate
Standalone NIJ threat level of IIIA
True multi-shot plate
Weatherproofing: spray-lined synthetic coating
0.82 pounds per square foot
Available in black polyurea spray lining
Size: 10″ x 12″
Patriot Armor IIIP Plate
Patriot Armor IIIP Plate
The performance of our Patriot Armor IIIP Plates is second to none. At an incredible 3.3 pounds per square foot, they are clearly some of the strongest level 3 body armor plates available today.
Forged from a proprietary manufacturing process, the IIIP Plate is constructed with some of the strongest and lightest ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers available.
West Coast Armor’s UHMWPE fibers are stronger than steel at a fraction of the weight.
Features and Specs
Standalone NIJ threat level of III
True multi-shot plate
3.3 pounds per square foot
Sizes 10×12″, 11×14″
Level IV AP Plate
West Coast Armor’s IV AP Plate is just like its little brother, the IIIP Plate, in that it is unbelievably strong and light. Weighing 5.5 pounds per square foot, it takes the performance of your tactical armor to a higher level.
Their proprietary manufacturing process utilizes some of the strongest and lightest ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers available, allowing West Coast Armor to forge the strongest lightweight body armor on the market today.
Features and Specs
Ceramic strike face and UHMWPE backing
Finished with a spray-lined, weatherproof synthetic coating
5.5 pounds per square foot
Available in black
Size: 10″x12″
Multi curve
West Coast Armor Testimonies
“As a former Police Chief, I believe that one of the most important responsibilities we have is to give the men and women that serve our profession the best equipment to do their job and keep them safe. I’ve seen firsthand the superior quality of the West Coast Armor Body armor in action. I’ve been blessed to witness agencies across the country test West Coast Armor vests and plates, and the outcomes were superior. I recommend to all my colleagues that they reach out to West Coast Armor.” – Donald (Chief of Police Ret.)
“The West Coast Armor level 4 plates are the most well-balanced and comfortable plates I’ve used. After seven combat deployments between Special Operations and Contract work, I can only wish I’d had these issued to me. I have full trust and confidence in their ballistic properties as I’ve seen their performance through more rigorous testing than NIJ requires. These plates have my full endorsement.” – Kyle C.
“As a retired police officer of 23 years working long shifts and jobs from the jail to vice then on to detective. I was always issued uncomfortable, heavy stiff armor. After wearing all types of armor throughout my military and law enforcement carrier, I can say I’ve never seen anything like it. Without question, West Coast Armor makes me want to wear armor again; it’s the lightest, thinnest and strongest armor I’ve ever seen.”– Bob V. Esponisa
Mounting lights on pump-action shotguns is a real hassle. Working the pump back and forth makes most lights and remote switches tricky to use without proper planning. In the past, the best options always seemed to come from Surefire in the form of replacing the pump with a dedicated light. Now that’s it’s 2022, Surefire has competitors, and one that came out of nowhere was the Nightstick SFL or Shotgun Forend Light.
This particular Nightstick WML isn’t completely out of nowhere. I first saw it at SHOT and was fairly impressed. The fine folks at Nightstick gave me a card and promised to send one when available. They made good on that promise, and my Mossberg 590 now wears a Nightstick SFL. I’ve been kicking it around for a little over a month now, and I’ve got the full run down.
Before we dive in, let’s cover the logistics. The Nightstick SFL works with the Mossberg 500/590/Maverick 88 series and the Remington 870 series. Benelli fans like me are left out to dry, but the two biggest shotguns in North America are covered. The 590 model comes equipped to function on both the short and long tube, so it will fit on the Shockwave versions. On full-sized Mossberg shotguns, you’ll use the equipped spacer.
The Mossberg variant comes ready for the Shockwave and full-sized fighting shotguns.
Installation took no time, and Nightstick includes the batteries, the tube wrench, and an optional strap. It’s all in one package that makes everything quick and easy to install.
Nightstick Shotgun Forend Light: Specifications
The Nightstick Shotgun Forend Light (SFL) comes with not just a light but a laser as well. Visible laser might serve a dubious nature in the age of red dots, but on a pistol grip firearm like the Shockwave, they make close range aiming easy and a ton of fun. We’ll talk about that a little later. Let’s look at the specifications of this thing.
dThe SFL is rather large and in charge.Lumens – 1200
Candela – 10,315
Length – 7.1 inches
Weight – 17.5 ounces
Width – 2 inches
Drop Rating – 2 meters
Waterproof Rating – IPX7
Specs-wise it’s fairly impressive. 1,200 lumens is a fair bit of light, and a 10,315 candela isn’t too bad. It’s fairly standard as far as lights go but packs more power than most shotgun lights. It’s not the smallest light and is a little heavy. The durability ratings might not make it ship to shore ready, but for bumps in the night, it can bump back.
Ergonomics, Controls, and More
The big problem with these shotgun forend lights is the weight. The longer the shotgun, the more noticeable it became. At 17.5 ounces, the Nightstick SFL is fairly heavy and will make a big 590A1 feel a little off balance. That’s not especially heavy for a shotgun forend light, but it’s not impressively light.
The tactile buttons are a nice touch and provide ambidextrous controls.
Most of the light is made from high-impact polymer and features a fair degree of texture. This gives you a non-slip grip, but more importantly, it gives you leverage for that push/pull recoil mitigation technique. That no-slip grip makes it possible for me to really push forward on the pump to better control the gun.
The controls are a cross between the Streamlight TL Racker and the Surefire DSF. The Nightstick SFL comes equipped with an ambidextrous button system to control the light and laser. The buttons are big but not massive, and they are easy to engage. Nightstick positioned the buttons to be easy to reach with my pointer finger or thumb.
The buttons are easy to avoid if you don’t want alight ND.
If you want a tactile action, you get it with the Nightstick SFL. Those buttons are clicky and audible. You know when they get pressed. With the buttons, you can use a constant or momentary mode. A long press and then release gives you the momentary mode, and a short, single press turns it to constant. Simple and easy to remember and implement.
The Power!
Swapping between laser only, light only, and laser and light are easy and requires holding one button while pressing the other. In-person, that big bright light is impressive and capable. Indoors the light is huge and fills a room with bright white light that sits in the middle of the cool and warm spectrum. A bright white hot spot sits at the center that will cut through most normal photonic barriers.
See the bad guy, shining a flashlight at me?
Indoors, you won’t have issues establishing positive identification with the Nightstick SLF. Outdoors the light works fairly well for shotgun ranges. It’s no Cloud Defensive OWL, but it’s damn sure bright enough to toss light out to 50 yards and fully illuminate a threat. Back to 100 yards, you can spot a person, but it might be tough to see if they are armed or not.
Well, mine beats his.
The light is certainly more tuned to close range with a wide beam than a super tightly focused one. That makes a lot of sense for a shotgun. Barrel shadow isn’t a huge issue because it’s mostly upwards and out of your normal cone of vision.
Laser It Up
My Nightstick SFL came with a green laser, and holy crap, is it big and bright. It’s an impressively capable beam. It’s also a ton of fun for blasting clays from the hip. Clays on a berm, not in the air. Most lasers get lost fairly easily in the bright sun of Florida, but this one can be seen from 25 yards away on a target in the sun.
Manipulating the SFL is quick and easy with minimal fuss. The SFL provides a solid grip for manipulations.
Sure, it takes some looking, but it can be seen. At super close range, a laser can act as a secondary aiming point, especially indoors. They make steering stockless shotguns on target a fair bit easier as well. The problem is that there is a fair bit of slop with a shotgun pump, especially on the Mossberg 500 series.
Zeroing it and having it move an inch from pump slop isn’t inspiring. I prefer a good red dot over a laser anyways. That being said, when combined with birdshot, it can be fun. Also, various models of the Nightstick SFL can be purchased without a laser to save a few bucks.
On the Range with the shotgun forend light
The shape and design of the Nightstick SFL lend themselves well to modern, action shooting. You can run the pump rapidly and easily without your hand slipping as you work the action. The non-slip grip keeps your hand in place as you run the gun and work the action.
The texture encourages a good push/pull technique.
It’s easy to hold onto and launch all the buckshot, birdshot, and even slugs you could ever want. The Nightstick SFL provides shotgunner an affordable, easy handling, bright, and capable shotgun forend light. It doesn’t fail in being a pump or a weapon light. When it comes time for home defense, the Nightstick SFL offers you a mighty good option without costing Surefire money.
About the Author:
Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms enthusiast, and now a regular guy who likes to shoot, write, and find ways to combine the two. He holds an NRA certification as a Basic Pistol Instructor. is the world’s Okayest firearm instructor, and a simplicisist when it comes to talking about himself in the 3rd person. Hit him up on Instagram, @travis.l.pike, with story ideas.
Push Reliability and Accuracy to new heights with Ruger 10/22 barrels From Faxon Firearms. Faxon Firearms is proud to announce the availability of new rimfire barrels for the ever-iconic Ruger 10/22 rifle.
Why Should You Upgrade your Rimfire Barrels?
There is no doubt that the Ruger 10/22 is a good rifle out of the box with all factory components. Ruger has a reputation for building a dependable, durable, and accurate gun ready to shoot straight from the factory. Because of its popularity and reputation, the Ruger 10/22 has created one of any rifle’s largest aftermarket parts industries.
One of the top benefits of owning a Ruger 10/22 is that you can customize it without going broke. This alone makes the 10/22 rifle an excellent choice for those looking to tinker with their gun or get into the skill of gunsmithing.
With so many upgrades available, though, most owners overlook one of the essential components of their Ruger 10/22; the barrel. Ruger puts decent Rimfire barrels on their factory 10/22 rifles; however, If you want to enhance the accuracy and performance, you must consider upgrading the barrel.
“Faxon believes that firearms bring people together and create generational memories. Faxon Firearms looks to expand on this legacy with the Faxon Rimfire line. Faxon Rimfire Barrels are made from 416-R stainless steel, given six groove rifling at a 1:16 twist, and a Recessed Target Crown. Barrels are Magnetic Particle Inspected and are finished in either Salt Bath Nitride or PVD. Both Tapered and Bull Barrel options are available.” – Faxon Firearms.
New “Shorty” 10/22 Rimfire Barrels (6.0″, 8.5″, and 10.5″)
The newest expansion of the Faxon Firearms Rimfire line includes three new short barrel offerings for the Ruger 10/22 platform. These new “shorty” barrels all have fluted designs and threaded muzzles and are made from 416R stainless steel.
These new 10/22 barrels are being manufactured alongside the other Faxon rimfire barrels in their Cincinnati facility. Like the additional barrels, they are manufactured from raw bar stock. In addition, they will undergo the same Magnetic Particle Inspection testing and quality assurance measures that all their rifle and pistol barrels go through.
These three new Rimfire barrels will feature 6-groove rifling with a 1:16 barrel twist rate and recessed target crown and will be finished in either a Salt Bath Nitride or PVD coating. In addition, the 6″ and 10.5″ 10/22 barrels will come with the same straight fluting design.
The short 8.5″ 10/22 barrel will feature a Flame fluted design.
If you’re going to install any one of these barrels on a standard 10/22 receiver, you’ll need to go through the NFA registration process of applying for a tax stamp since it will be classified as an SBR.
For a long time, SIG seemed stuck on the P320 and P365 as far as handguns go, so the release of the P322 was a pleasant surprise. They could have just released some quasi variant of the P320 or P365 but chose to go a different route. Going all original allows them to break from an established pistols design. In my SIG P322 review, I determined that the P322 can be many things and occupies a very versatile position in the world of handguns.
These are all the goodies you get with the P322.
To me, it’s an excellent weapon for training. You can save some cash and train with .22 LR and have a gun that resembles and functions like a modern semi-auto handgun. The SIG P322 certainly looks and feels like a modern striker-fired handgun. It will be a fun plinker and a great way to introduce new shooters to firearms for others. To others, it might be a practical choice for the woods and dealing with pests or hunting small game.
Everyone needs a good .22LR pistol, and the P322 offers you a thoroughly modern example at a reasonably low price.
The P322 Under the Hood
Barrel Length – 4 inches
Overall Length – 7 inches
Height – 5.5 inches
Width – 1.4 inches
Weight – 17.1 ounces
The specs show that the P322 swings into the realm of compact pistols like the P320C and Glock 19. It’s not tiny, but not large either. It’s that just-right size for many of us. My hand fits nicely on the grip, and I have plenty of room. My fingers aren’t stuffed together, and I can get that excellent high grip I want on a handgun.
20 rounds in a flash-fitting magazine? Yes, please.
The SIG P322 comes with two 20-round magazines and a magazine load-assist device. It latches onto two little attachment points and helps you pull down the spring and follower for easy loading. Without the device loading, 20 rounds into the magazine get tiresome, and the device is a great addition.
The magazine loader makes life oh so much easier.
We also got a curved trigger shoe and a flat trigger shoe. Then to round it all out, you get a thread adapter to make tossing on a can easy to do should you so choose. The gun has a Picatinny rail and is optics ready with a Shield RSMc footprint optic like the Holosun 507K.
The rear sight can be removed and replaced with an optic.
SIG used the tried and true straight blowback action for the P322. It makes a lot of sense for a little gun like this. The barrel remains fixed for increased accuracy, and the blowback design doesn’t have the typical downfalls for a .22LR. The weapon uses an internal SAO hammer to fire the gun.
Tossing Lead
SIG releasing the P322 at this time must mean they read my LiveJournal. I’ve been in the market for a more modern and traditional semi-auto .22LR. I was leaning heavily towards the FN 502 and Taurus TX22, but, for this SIG P322 review, the P322 slid in right under the wire and hit me with the features I wanted at a price point I wasn’t offended by.
The P322 has no recoil to it.
With pricing only going up, I’ve invested heavily into .22 LR and I have a pile of various brands and figured running a few different brands would be the best way to test its reliability. So I fired Winchester bulk pack, Winchester Super-X, Federal AutoMatch, CCI Mini-Mag, Remington Golden Bullet, and Aguila Super Extra hollow points.
The P322 is an easy shooting gun for all ages.
After a few magazines of each, the P322 proved it eats almost everything. My Remington ammo provided the most malfunctions, with six in three magazines. However, it should be noted this ammunition is pretty old and came out of the .22 LR drought we had years back. Everything else ran well without any noticeable problems beyond the occasional failure to fire. That’s relatively common with .22LR ammo.
Ringing Steel
For this SIG P322 review I am glad to announce that I want a gun that hits where I aim, and the SIG P322 does that well. The high visibility sights are exceptional and very easy to see and orient. SIG gives us a fully adjustable rear sight, and out of the box, mine was firing a little high. I made a minor adjustment, and bam, I was dead on.
It’s a fixed barrel, blowback design, and works exceptionally well.
The gun’s accurate, and the sights are incredible, but the trigger leaves something to be desired. The pull is quite stiff, and the trigger is spongy. Luckily the pull is short, and the reset is quick as well. It’s not a great trigger, but it’s good enough.
Optics ready, rail equipped, and with a 20-round magazine… it’s a tough-to-beat rimfire pistol.
At 10 yards, I ran a 10-10-10 drill in 6.38 seconds with every round in the black. At 15 yards, I ran my gong rack and went from large to small on a series of gongs. The smallest being 4 inches, the middle being 6 inches, and the largest being 8 inches. I scored all three hits in under 2.5 seconds. The lack of recoil makes it easy to achieve those fast follow-up shots.
The P322 is incredibly reliable and easy to handle.
At 25 yards, I landed easy shots on the six and 8-inch gong, but the four proved problematic. It’s tough to see beyond the sights, but a red dot will fix that. So my first addition to this gun will be a red dot, likely a Holosun 407K.
The SIG P322 In Hand
The P322 feels excellent in hand and provides a solid experience ergonomically. The grip is right size-wise and has the same texture on the P365. The magazine release is a bit triangle like the P320 and reversible. The manual safety and slide lock/release gives right and lefties a choice when it comes time to go bang.
It’s a compact-sized weapon in the size range of the Glock 19. Not too much to handle at all.
This is one of the few times my big thumbs don’t pin down the slide lock is with the P322. The slide locks back, placed a little further forward to accommodate the safety. That safety mounts to the frame and is easily activated or deactivated by the thumb.
Firing the thing is an absolute joy. It doesn’t move. Recoil is nil as you’d expect, and it’s so much fun to shoot. After 50 rounds of 9mm, you’ll feel fatigued. After 500 rounds of 22LR, you’ll still feel fresh. Keeping it on target is super easy, making it a solid first gun or trainer for a new shooter.
The sights are very nice and easy to see.
Drills like the failure to stop, box drill, and even the El Pres are easy. The two magazines mean you can practice those reloads, and I did just that. The SIG P322 has a built-in magwell that makes those mag swaps speedy.
The .22 LR For All
It is clear to see from my SIG P322 review that this gun gives the world a .22 LR pistol that everyone can use. It’s great for plinking, training, instructing, or competing in steel challenges. The little gun can do it all. In terms of holsters, SIG has one, but it also fits the Phalanx Defense Stealth Operator, so you have an affordable and available option.
I think SIG has a real winner with the P322. It’s reliable, accurate, ergonomic, and a fair bit of fun. For 400 bucks, it’s a lot of gun.
About the Author:
Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms enthusiast, and now a regular guy who likes to shoot, write, and find ways to combine the two. He holds an NRA certification as a Basic Pistol Instructor. is the world’s Okayest firearm instructor, and a simplicisist when it comes to talking about himself in the 3rd person. Hit him up on Instagram, @travis.l.pike, with story ideas.
If you’ve been following my social media feeds then you’ve seen my new patch that I had Patriot Patch Co make for me.
They came out great! As of right now, I have 30 left from the 100 I had for sale. If you would like to order one, please PayPal me $10 Friends & Family to [email protected] and Don’t forget to leave your mailing address in the notes.
I mail them first class USPS the same day or following day. They’re taking around a week or so to arrive and there is no tracking on envelopes. So give it a week or two to get to you.
