#S&W

Elite Tactical Systems, or ETS for short, has been cranking out affordable magazines for the world’s most popular pistols and rifles.  Last year, TFB announced ETS’ 40 round magazines for Glock 9mm pistols, and they’ve recently just added 40 round magazines for three more 9mm pistols; the HK VP9, SIG P320, and S&W M&P.  I’ve never shot anything over 30 rounds at a time, but the 40 rounders could leave a bit more time for working on consistent trigger pulls without further interruptions of reloading, while sporting 33 percent more freedom. Elite Tactical Stystems’ specifications for each magazine can be found below, but for clarity, the specs for each new respective magazine were essentially the same, but each photo is designated for its corresponding model name:

In this episode of TFBTV, James Reeves reviews the Smith & Wesson Model 327 and explains why he thinks it is the best carry revolver today. Yes, it’s expensive, but this high tech .357 Magnum wheelgun is so unique and well thought out that it’s well worth the cost of admission. Lightweight, with an S&W Performance Center tuned trigger and action, the ability to accept moonclips – OH YEAH – and it holds EIGHT ROUNDS of .357 Magnum or .38 Special +P.

Smith & Wesson’s Classic series of revolvers have brought a number of their famous, but otherwise discontinued wheelguns back to the market. The S&W 27 is one of those classic revolvers that certainly earned it’s spot in the series as it was previously one of their flagship firearms. If you’ve seen S&W’s more modern wheelguns like the 627 or 327, both in various configurations, they stem from the Model 27 and are chambered in .357 Magnum. Let’s take a look at the latest modification in the form of the S&W Model 27 Classic.

Good afternoon fellow suppressor lovers and welcome to the pumpkin spice edition of TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the new YHM R9  pistol, carbine and rifle suppressor. Last week we discussed the pros and cons of running a can underneath a handguard. The bottom line (for me) is that if it serves a purpose and you can protect your hands, carry on. This week I wanted to run down some of my (current) favorite pistol suppressor hosts. Prepare your pitchforks since I am sure to include something you hate and leave off something you love.

In this installment of TFB’s Wheelgun Wednesdays, we’ll take a look at an extremely light and concealable revolver. The Smith & Wesson Military & Police, or M&P 340 is a five-shot, snub nose, “hammerless” revolver chambered in .357 Magnum that is very much designed as an all-season self defense gun. Before you start looking for the internal lock on the M&P 340, you won’t find one because S&W has omitted the oft debated internal lock on this line of concealed carry wheelguns.

I spent a number of years carrying the S&W 340PD as a jogging/backup gun.  Those years were painful ones at the range.  I try to train with at least 100 rounds of full power defensive ammo in my carry pieces.  Therefore I often bloodied the web between my thumb and index finger, even though the 340PD had formed a callous where most of the force would transfer to my hand.  That revolver, while insanely light, is true misery to fire.  While that gun now resides in my workshop instead of on my hip, I’m still a fan of the .357 chambered J-frame.  However, I just prefer a more comfortable and versatile model: The Model 60-15 “Pro Series”.

XS Sights have just announced that they’re now offering their Big Dot Night Sights system for the Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield EZ and for Heckler & Koch’s P7 pistol lineup.  XS Sights’ Big Dot pistol iron sights have been around for some time now and incorporate a large, highly visible dot front sight that encircles a tritium insert, backed up by a shallow V-notch rear sight with a single tritium insert at the bottom of the notch.  The brightly colored ring on the front sight is also engineered to glow in the dark for in-between light and dark settings.

Hello ladies and germs and welcome back to another featured deals of the week. I’m your host Benjamin F, and this week’s theme is “anything that will get me out of the house oh dear god I am going stir crazy in here.”

Welcome to another instalment of TFB’s Wheelgun Wednesday series, where we cover a little bit of everything, from new, used, and historical revolvers. Today’s wheelgun hails from Smith & Wesson in Massachusetts, but was sent to Great Britain in the Lend Lease program during World War II.  After the war, a number of these Lend Lease S&W revolvers made their way to Germany, where they served local police departments for a time. Up to this point, everything seems in order, until you look at the muzzle of this particular wheelgun.

The Performance Center version of the Smith & Wesson Shield 380 EZ seems like a weird idea, right? Take a pistol your mom would probably like, then add a bunch of competition bling to it, and this is the result. In this episode of TFBTV, Hop shoots the Shield 380 EZ Performance Center and tries to figure out who should buy one (other than John Wick‘s mom, obviously).

In this edition of TFB’s Wheelgun Wednesday, we’ll take a look at another of Smith & Wesson’s 9mm revolver inspired by Jerry Miculek, the S&W 929.  Mr. Miculek and Smith & Wesson have covered their bases when it comes to the 9mm versus .45 ACP debate, and recently threw in a 10mm revolver (again) for good measure.  The S&W 929 presents some of the same pros and cons as other revolvers chambered for rimless cartridges, but provides an extra two rounds compared to six-shooters.

XS Sights is well known for making pistol, shotgun and rifle sights, as well as mounts for optics and backup sights.  Their latest set of pistol sights, the RadioActive Material, or RAM Night Sights, focuses on providing a sight set designed to work both day and night.  The RAM Night Sights utilize a three-dot system of tritium inserts for shooting at night or in low light, while the front sight incorporates a brightly colored tritium housing for shooting in the daytime.  The image below illustrates how this system works in different lighting conditions.

TFB reader, Steve, contacted me after seeing my recent review of the Smith & Wesson 625 JM .45 ACP revolver for the TFB Wheelgun Wednesday series.  He had purchased the same model for his wife, but ended up doing several modifications to customize it to their liking.  Steve gave permission for me to share his photos and process with you.

In 2005, Smith and Wesson came out with a hot rod revolver with an unfluted 8-shot cylinder, the 327sc “Jerry Miculek” edition.  (Honestly, I think competition had a lot more to do with the development of the 327 series than SWAT or FBI wanting a gun for use close in to ballistic shields, despite what marketing about the TRR8 claimed). Building off the good reception of the eight shot .357 magnum platform, the next off the line was the Performance Center 327sc with 2″ and 5″ barrels.  Around mid-2007, they released a pair of their most recognizable .357’s with eight shot cylinders, the 327 TRR8 and R8.

Hello my half a dozen faithful readers. I know you were all just utterly ambivalent when you didn’t see a DOTW post last Friday. But have no fear! It’s a special edition for Columbus Day and the first day of Sukkot for any other Jewish gun owners out there. Chag sameach (happy holidays)!