Richard Johnson is an American author, editor and entrepreneur. He's done a lot of silly things in his life, but quitting police work to follow his passion of writing about guns was one of the smartest things he ever did. He founded this site and continues to manage its operation.
Kalashnikov USA will launch a new non-NFA firearm called the Komrad on April 2. The new gun is similar to the company’s larger KS-12 shotguns but with a shorter 12.5″ barrel and an adjustable length SB Tactical SBA3 pistol brace. It will transfer just as any other firearm without requiring a special tax stamp as would be needed with a short barrel shotgun.
Rancorous debate often accompanies the topic of selecting a self-defense cartridge. Everyone has an opinion and cites various authorities to bolster their positions.
Perhaps the most frequently used standard in the best caliber for self defense debate is the FBI ammunition test protocol. But, is the FBI testing method good for predicting effectiveness of ammunition? If so, does this ammo test hold the same relevancy to the general shooting public that it does for the federal law enforcement agency?
The Stoeger STR-9 might just go down as the best new handgun under $400 coming out of the 2019 SHOT Show. It is also one that might be missed by a lot of people who don’t recognize the Stoeger Industries name.
Before the annual trade show, news about the 9mm pistol leaked out. I was immediately interested, as Stoeger had done a very good job producing the Cougar pistols. The Cougar was a Beretta design that had largely been abandoned as Beretta pursued new designs like the PX4 Storm and APX pistols.
Stoeger picked up the Cougar and continued the manufacturing of those pistols. Stoeger Cougars were widely regarded as being an excellent value in the self defense handgun market. Nevertheless, the guns seemed to take a back seat to the polymer-framed, striker-fired handguns like those from Glock and Smith & Wesson.
It seems that Stoeger has abandoned the Cougar pistol and has put all of its weight behind the new STR-9.
The STR-9 is everything that a modern defensive pistol seems to need for success. In fact, if there is a manufacturing checklist somewhere, I bet it has nearly every box ticked.
As a striker-fired pistol, the shooter has a consistent trigger pull from one shot to the next. Having shot and trained others to shoot traditional double action/single action (DA/SA) pistols, I can say that the consistency of a striker-fired pistol is much easier to learn. Every time you press the trigger, it feels the same. This is appealing to many people.
Polymer frames are a normal part of the shooting world. When done right, these frames are every bit as durable as a metal frame in most circumstances. I’m not talking edge case here – just average Joe self-defense guns. Once the manufacturing is set up, polymer frames can be much less expensive to make. This allows the company to keep the guns affordable.
Matching the tool to the user is an important concept. In the case of handguns, there have been a variety of methods developed to help do this.
Stoeger uses an interchangeable backstrap system to help get a good hand fit on the pistol no matter how large or small your hands are. I’ve got medium hands, but relatively stubby fingers. This makes proper finger placement on the trigger something of a challenge with pistols like the Beretta 92. But using small backstraps on a handgun like the STR-9 improves my trigger reach.
Left-handed shooters might be interested to know that the magazine release is reversible. With just a few minutes of work, you can move the push button release to the right side of the frame.
As we’ve seen in the past few years, the shooting public has come to appreciate the 9mm cartridge again. I saw the major shift to the “Wonder 9” semi-auto pistols in the 80s, then to the .40 S&W in the 90s. Now, the public seems to have shifted pretty quickly back to the 9×19 again.
It is a proven cartridge that has the largest base of active shooters in the US today. I’ve seen some of the ammunition sales numbers from a few of the major companies. If you make a gun or ammo, ignore the 9mm fans at your own peril.
Three dot sights aren’t my favorite, but they seem to be the default position for many companies. Stoeger selected them for this pistol. You can get a factory model that has three dot night sights for a little more money. If you like night sights, this might be the best option for you.
One of the features I do like about the sights is that the rear sight has a hard front edge. This allows a shooter to run the slide with only one hand in an emergency. Yes, I recognize this is an unlikely occurrence for an armed citizen. It is, however, a bonus that cost the company nothing to include. I appreciate it.
Adding a light or supplemental aiming laser is easily accomplished with the Stoeger STR-9. A reasonably sized accessory rail is available to the shooter.
For some this might be a deal breaker: the gun is made in Turkey. Ignoring politics for a moment, there are some good guns being made in that country. The quality of the manufacturing base in that country does not concern me.
| Caliber | 9mm |
| Magazine Capacity | 15 |
| Weight | 24 oz |
| Barrel Length | 4.17″ |
| Overall Length | 7.44″ |
| Action | striker-fired, semi-auto |
| Sights | 3-dot |
| Finish | matte black |
| MSRP | $329 base |
At launch, Stoeger is offering three different versions of the STR-9. Fundamentally, they are the same gun but with a few minor differences.
The base model comes with one magazine and only one backstrap. It has a suggested retail price of $329. Since it doesn’t have multiple backstraps to try out at home, you definitely want to check this in the store before you put your money down. If this works for you, I’m betting you can get this for less than $300 at many gun shops.
Next up the list is the same gun, but with three magazines and three differently sized backstraps. This is the model for me, as I like to have multiple mags for every gun I own. The MSRP is $389, but I bet I pay less than $350 when they arrive locally.
If you want night sights, you have one option, and it has a full retail price of $449. At that price you also get three magazines and backstraps. So, it is only a $60 jump for tritium sights.
Not everyone who wants a pistol for self-defense can afford a SIG SAUER or HK, never mind an artisan gun from Nighthawk Custom or Cabot Guns. Frankly, a new Glock or M&P is a bit out of reach for some people who want to exercise their right to protect themselves.
Guns like the Stoeger STR-9 offer options to people that have historically had few. Fortunately, there are a growing number of good guns in the sub-$400 market. I look forward to testing one of the STR-9 pistols and letting you know how it performs. If you get one before me, please leave a comment below with your experiences shooting it. If these are good or bad, let’s share that information and help each other out.
Last Update: October 16, 2022
In time for the 2019 SHOT Show, Maxpedition announced its new offerings in bags, backpacks and accessories that will likely appeal to many in the concealed carry market. Among the new products are new models in the covert Entity line, a new color option and several new add ons to expand the functionality of existing bags.
Maxpedition is possibly my favorite backpack and bag company – not because they send me free gear (they don’t) or the company makes inexpensive stuff (they don’t). Rather, I like the products the company makes because every single one I’ve bought has been extremely durable and very functional. Yes, the packs tend to be pricey, but they last seemingly forever.
Ash is the new medium gray color offered by the company. It is a lighter shade of gray than the existing Charcoal offered in the Entity line of low-profile bags. I prefer the darker color, but Ash will appeal to many people and having choices is good.
Part of the company’s existing Entity line, the new 19 will be the smallest backpack offered in the covert series. As with the other Entity bags, this one is practical for CCW carry and normal life.
It has a 13″ laptop sleeve and 1160 cubic inches (19 liters) of storage space. Maxpedition built it with an internal zippered compartment and twin water bottle pouches. Internally, there is a large hook and loop panel for the mounting of accessory pouches.
A hidden rear compartment stores a handgun for self-defense. This compartment is accessible from both the left and right sides. As an added feature, the zippered areas have lockouts for increased security.
The shoulder straps have low profile PALS webbing for attaching more pouches, knives or other gear. There are also quick detach buckles on the straps.
One of the things that I really like about my Maxpedition bags are the heavy duty carry handles. They are over-engineered and have proved to be much more durable than other brands I have tried. The Entity 19 has the same quality carry handle on it.
In either the Charcoal or Ash colors, the suggested retail price on this bag is $169.99.
While the new Entity 19 takes over the role of smallest backpack in the Entity line, the new Entity 35 now holds the top of the line with the greatest amount of storage – more than 2100 cubic inches or 35 liters.
Available in both gray colors, this massive backpack retains the same CCW capabilities as the smaller bags, but adds a number of additional features including:
Maxpedition sets the retail price on this one at $259.99. If you want to discreetly transport a takedown rifle, check out my Elite Survival Systems Stealth SBR backpack review.
If you prefer crossbody carry, the new Entity Crossbody Bags might be of interest. Offered in two sizes – one with 14 L/850 cubic inches of storage and a smaller bag with 9 L/550 cubic inches of internal volume – the new bags retain the same nondescript appearance of the rest of the Entity line.
The bags have a sleeve that will fit most tablets. Additionally, they have zippered interior compartments for pens and other items plus a hook and loop panel for adding an additional pouch or other accessory.
A water bottle pouch and zippered external pouch are standard on both bags.
A lockable zippered compartment is accessible from the top of the bag, allowing for an easy draw with either hand. The compartment can be locked.
The shoulder strap has a pad with PALS webbing for the attachment of yet another pouch, scabbard or other item. The pad is removable.
One of the things I really like about these bags is the use of seatbelt webbing for the shoulder strap instead of standard military style material. This means the strap is very soft and smooth while being exceptionally strong.
The small bag has a MSRP of $133.99 while its larger brother is ten dollars more.
Maxpedition is now offering two new sling bags – a large one and a small one. They have 610 cubic inches/10 L and 430 cubic inches/7 L of internal space respectively. Neither bag will carry a standard sized laptop (13″+). However, both have a padded compartment that will handle a tablet, 11″ netbook or MacBook Air.
Both sling bags have internal storage compartments and a top accessible CCW compartment. Like the crossbody bags above, the Tech Sling Bags also use seatbelt webbing. Pricing runs from $102.99 – $108.99 depending on the size you prefer.
I cover another backpack you might want to consider in my ESS Guardian EDC backpack review.
Maxpedition announced two new accessories. The first is a simple mesh storage panel. It has a zippered front for storing pens, cables, medical gear or anything else. The back has a hook and loop panel for mounting in any of the company’s bags. It has a suggested retail price of $17.99
The second new accessory is an admin panel. This is a hook and loop backed panel that allows you to add a flashlight, tools, pens or medical gear to it for easy access and organization. It will sell for $18.99.
Sometimes a firearm development is enough to make an even jaded reviewer do a double-take. That was my experience when I saw the details on the new Thumb Operated Receiver from Iron Horse Firearms. [Ed. note: Iron Horse Firearms is now known as Blackwater Worldwide.]
The new Thumb Operated Receiver, or TOR, is an AR-style lower that eliminates the traditional trigger entirely and uses an inline hammer release located at the top, rear of the pistol grip. This inline trigger is most easily operated with the thumb of the hand grasping the pistol grip.
With any new design like the TOR, not all parts will be 100% compatible with other AR-15 rifles. So, I reached out to Iron Horse Firearms to get additional details.
The TOR obviously uses a proprietary fire control system. This includes the safety and pistol grip. However, the rest of the lower, including the buffer tube assembly, is all mil-spec.
Iron Horse Firearms advises that the lowers are compatible with any cartridge that feeds from a mil-spec sized magazine. So, cartridges like the .450 Bushmaster should run without difficulties with a TOR lower.
According to the company, an inline trigger like the one found on the TOR offers a number of benefits. These include improved accuracy, easier training for new shooters, improved safety, and accessibility to people who have lost fine motor control of the pointing finger normally used for pressing a trigger.
By having the trigger inline with the bore, Iron Horse Firearms suggests that the TOR can reduce pulling left or right that can be an issue with traditional triggers. While it cannot reduce a shooter “pushing” the muzzle down in anticipation of the shot, reducing a side to side pull would be a worthy improvement.
Another factor the Thumb Activated Receiver could improve is the reduction in accuracy related to cold temperatures affecting the shooter’s finger dexterity. If you’ve ever shot in cold temps, you know joints and fingers can stiffen up. Releasing the hammer via a thumb switch may be a way to counteract those effects.
Trigger control is just one of the things a new shooter has to learn when picking up a gun like the AR-15. Take up, break, follow through, reset – these things might be streamlined with a thumb press trigger. Iron Horse Firearms suggests that one of the goals of the TOR is to improve the range experience of the new shooter. I’d have to try one of these guns out for comparison, but I can see how it might work for this.
Iron Horse Firearms designed the thumb trigger to sit in a sheltered area at the back, top of the pistol grip. This area is protected by the receiver on both sides and from above. You can only access the trigger from one direction.
It is fairly easy to see how this design could reduce accidental discharges from things entering the trigger area that were not intended such as a branch when moving through the woods. Yes – your AR safety should be on when moving. Nevertheless, the TOR would appear to offer an additional layer of security.
After all, you never know when your dog will take your gun off safe before pulling the trigger.
For any number of reasons, a person can be completely competent to handle a firearm but not have good control over his or her pointer finger (the finger typically used to pull a traditional trigger.) I’ve met combat vets who have lost fingers on their dominant hand and have had to transition to shooting with their reaction hand.
I’ve also met people who had lost some mobility in their fingers due to arthritis or other conditions. The fact is these folks are perfectly safe shooters, but the traditional trigger systems were no longer ideal for them to use.
An alternative trigger like the one offered by Iron Horse Firearms has the potential of keeping these people in the shooting sports. Also, the TOR would give them the chance of using a rifle for self-defense should they ever be confronted by a violent criminal.
Right now, the company is offering only serialized lowers, not complete firearms. However, you can drop any standard AR upper on the Iron Horse TOR and immediately go to the range.
The lowers are made of 7075 aluminum with an anodized black finish. It is unclear at the time of this writing if the metal has been T6 tempered or if the finish is Mil-A-8625 Type III. I suspect they are, but cannot say for certain. As I get more information, I will update this article.
Initially, there are two TOR variants being offered. The first is a stripped lower. This will ship as the serialized lower with the trigger assembly, grip and safety set only. It has a suggested retail price of $249.99.
The complete lower will ship with a buffer set, buttstock set, magazine release, and all of the typical springs and pins. This option has an MSRP of $349.99.
I have inquired with the company about some of the specifics such as if the buffer tube is sized for mil-spec or commercial stocks. When I have additional details, I will update this article.
At the time of this writing – January 2019 – the company is accepting pre-orders on the new receivers with an anticipated shipping date of April 2019. While I am always cautious about ordering a gun before it is released, the deposit is only $50. So, the investment isn’t a bank breaker.
Last update: October 23, 2022
I like innovation, and Iron Horse Firearms has a product that may improve the AR market. At the very least, I can see this product being a game-changer for shooters who have lost some finger use. Depending on how well it lives up to its claims of improving accuracy and the shooting experience, it could even reach a wider market adoption.
I certainly look forward to seeing what the company is able to accomplish in the coming years.
If you are in the industry and want to see the Iron Horse Firearms TOR, it will be at the 2019 SHOT Show. Otherwise, you will have to wait until either the NRA Annual Meetings or when it starts shipping (expected in April 2019.) The company is accepting pre-orders with a $50 deposit.
Note: Images provided by Iron Horse Firearms.