Tag: Glock

Categories
Handguns

FERRO 9mm Pistol from DRD Tactical: Steel Frame Glock

DRD Ferro 9mm pistol

DRD Tactical announced it would show the new FERRO 9mm pistol at the 2018 SHOT Show. The new pistol is fed from Glock compatible magazines, but unlike a Glock pistol, it has a significant twist: it has a steel frame.

A stainless steel frame is a bit heretical for many fans of the Glock system. Even though it wasn’t the first gun with a polymer frame, Glock popularized the concept back in the 1980s. Since then, there has been a significant trend toward polymer frames in military, law enforcement and self-defense handguns.

[Catch my review of the original Glock 17.]

However, there are many shooters who prefer to have a steel frame from which to launch projectiles. If you are of a like mind, it would seem the DRD Tactical FERRO is one possibility for you to consider.

In addition to the frame, DRD Tactical uses stainless steel for the barrel and slide as well. As shown in the above photograph, the FERRO can ship with a threaded 4.88″ barrel. You can also purchase it with a non-threaded 4.48″ barrel – the identical length to a standard Glock 17 pistol.

The trigger is provided by Apex Tactical Specialties. Additionally, the gun comes with an extended slide lock and magazine release. On top is a set of night sights.

DRD Tactical will ship the gun with three Magpul 17-round GL9 magazines.

Exactly how compatible this gun is with a Glock remains to be seen. I suspect that a lot of the parts interchange between a G17 and the FERRO. However, there may be some that do not.

The DRD FERRO 9mm will be offered with a black nitride finish and with a NiB Battleworn finish as is shown in the photo. DRD Tactical expects to ship the gun by spring of 2018. I do not have word on a price yet.

For those that are not familiar, DRD Tactical is a Georgia based company that is known for building high quality rifles like the APTUS, KIVAARI and quick takedown Paratus.

Categories
Rifles

AlphaWolf Pistol Caliber Carbine – New Rifle from Lone Wolf Distributors

AlphaWolf Pistol Caliber Carbine

AlphaWolf Pistol Caliber Carbine

Lone Wolf Distributors will show a new pistol caliber carbine at the SHOT Show in January 2018. The new AlphaWolf Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC) appears to be different from the existing G9 carbine platform the company currently offers.

According to the company, the new gun was specifically designed to provide excellent accuracy and superior reliability. Not surprisingly, Lone Wolf Distributors states the guns will feed from Glock magazines.

Although the new rifles appear to be AR-pattern guns, they will use a short stroke gas piston system instead of a straight blowback design. According to a press release issued by Flint River Armory, the system used in this rifle uses the same rotating bolt and piston system as that company uses in its own guns. However, the system has been updated to feed from Glock magazines.

While blowback guns tend to be reliable, they generally require more weight to counteract the rearward force of the bolt carrier group during the firing process. This can also result in more felt recoil. A short stroke piston system tends to be heavier than a direct gas impingement system, but is likely lighter and better balanced than a blowback system. Felt recoil should be reduced somewhat.

Lone Wolf Distributors states that the AlphaWolf pistol caliber carbine will be chambered for both the 9mm and .45 ACP cartridges.

The company states the upper and lower will be machined 6061-T6 aluminum and matched to a 16″ barrel made of 4140 CrMo steel (aka chromoly or chrome-moly.) A pistol version of the gun will have a 10″ CrMo steel barrel. Both the carbine and pistol versions will be equipped with M-LOK compatible handguards.

These guns will be side chargers with the handle accessible on the left side of the gun. It does reciprocate.

Controls will be similar to those of an AR-15. The buffer tube and buttstock will be AR compatible.

I’m looking forward to seeing this new gun. However, I do have a few questions. For example, I’d like to know if the fire control groups are AR compatible. I suspect the answer is yes, but I would like to confirm that.

No word yet on a target price or shipping date of these guns.

As a side note, Flint River Armory states it is no longer making its own rifle – the CSA45 PCC. Instead, the company is now exclusively producing the AlphaWolf PCC for Lone Wolf Distributors.

Categories
Handguns

Polymer80 PF940SC: The New 80% SubCompact Glock Frame

Polymer80 PF940SC frame

Polymer80 PF940SC frame

It appears Polymer80 is set to release a new 80% Glock compatible pistol frame at the 2018 SHOT Show. Called the PF940SC, the new unfinished frame is designed to be compatible with the sub-compact sized Glock pistols like the G26 and G27.

Polymer80 offers a number of 80% receivers that allow you to complete various machining and assembly operations to turn them into working firearms. This allows the hobbyist shooter to literally build their own gun.

Before now, the company offered only two sizes of Glock compatible 80% frames – one for full sized guns and another for the compact (Glock 19 style) frame. The new PF940SC would allow shooters to build a complete set of Glock compatible pistols.

The 80% frames are not copies of the Glock frame. Rather, they are new designs that are compatible with standard Glock parts. As a builder, you can simply order OEM parts kits and build your own pistol with this frame once you complete the needed machining on the frame.

Building a Polymer80 Glock
With the original Polymer80 Glock compatible frame, you had to mill the slide rails. The PF940SC does not require milling the rails.

The new frame uses reinforced polymer for a combination of strength and modest weight. A jig is included along with the tooling needed to machine the frame. Polymer80 opted to use a Picatinny-type accessory rail to allow the use of a light or laser when completed.

A stainless steel locking block with front rails and a drop-in rear stainless steel rail module are used. This is similar to the design used on the existing compact frames, and a significant improvement over the original full size frames. The original full size frame uses polymer rear rails that have to be milled, filed and hand fitted. It works, but it does take a lot of time to perfect.

Shooting an 80% Glock pistol
I built a Glock compatible pistol (full size) with a Polymer80 frame. I look forward to trying out the new PF940SC also.

Polymer80 anticipates a retail price of $149.99 when they come to market. This is in line with the company’s other Glock compatible frames.

If you’ve never built your own firearm using an 80% lower or frame, you might be surprised at how easy it is. It requires time and tools, but can be done as a Saturday project. Many guns – from AR-style rifles to 1911 compatible pistols – are made by hobbyists, and are completely legal under federal law. Check out my article on the legalities of home made guns without serial numbers for more information. If you are ready to jump in and build your own, you can click here and buy one of the Polymer80 frames from Brownells. It will be shipped right to your door without any need for the ridiculous fees associated with gun transfers.

Disclosure

GunsHolstersAndGear.com is a for-profit website. I do not charge readers a dime to access the information I provide.

Some of the links on this page and site are affiliate links to companies like Amazon and Palmetto State Armory. These links take you to the products mentioned in the article. Should you decide to purchase something from one of those companies, I make a small commission.

The links do not change your purchase price. I do not get to see what any individual purchases.

Categories
Handguns

BREAKING: Glock Awarded New FBI Contract

FBI Selects Glock Pistols

Earlier today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation awarded a contract to Glock for new 9mm duty pistols. The new contract has a potential value of $85 million over 10 years.

Table Of Contents
  1. FBI Drops the .40 S&W
  2. What Are the New Guns?
  3. The RFP
  4. Additional Agencies
  5. Update

The FBI amplified a conversation regarding the relative effectiveness of different handgun cartridges when its training division published a paper in 2014 justifying the use of the 9mm cartridge for law enforcement use. A year later, the agency published a request for proposal (RFP) for new 9mm duty pistols.

Continue reading “BREAKING: Glock Awarded New FBI Contract”
Categories
news

Armscor 22 TCM 9R – Glock Conversion Kit

Armscor 22 TCM 9R

Armscor gave the media a sneak peek at the new 22 TCM 9R: a conversion kit for the Glock 17/22 pistols. The new kit converts the pistols to fire the .22 TCM 9R cartridge.

The kits are still under development, but are far enough along for Armscor to allow writers to shoot a Glock equipped with one. [Ed. note: The kits have been released and appear to be running very reliably in Glock-pattern pistols. Scroll down for the updated information.]

[Be sure to read Richard Johnson’s Glock 17 review.]

Here’s the information I have so far…

Continue reading “Armscor 22 TCM 9R – Glock Conversion Kit”