KR Training’s September 2015 newsletter is online.
There’s no excuse to not come out and train with us. Weather this month and next is shaping up to be excellent — not too hot, not too cold.
As well, KR Training is running some specials. Some cool classes (Chuck Rives, Dynamic First Aid, Shooting with X-Ray Vision), and some deals too (like tuition discounts and combo pricing).
Click through to read the newsletter to get all the details.
Here’s an update.
I got in touch with North American Arms. They couldn’t tell me much. The gun was manufactured in June 1998. According to their website, this model was introduced in 1997, so this – along with the “AA-prefix” serial number, and this is early production. They did say I could send it in to them to have them give it a look over, and I’m strongly considering doing that (read on).
Based on the performance from the first range trip, we figured the plethora of malfunctions was due to weak springs. Based on what I see, I bet these are original springs – all 17 years old, and well worn. On the NAA website you can order various parts, so I ordered a new set of recoil springs, as well as 4 new magazines. Interesting thing on the magazines is they now have an option for a grip extender, but for an early model like mine you have to replace the magazine release (apparently the downward pressure on the extender is too much for the original mag release button). My plan was to start with springs, then see how it goes.
The recoil spring is simple to replace. The new magazine release button is easy to replace as well, once you figure out the locking mechanism (just look at the new one, fiddle with it a couple times, and you’ll figure it out). I put two of the new magazines in storage, and put one extender on one new magazine, thus I could try one new mag with the extender and one new mag with a flat baseplate.
Got the gun cleaned up and oiled up again, and yesterday I got to shoot it again.
The plan was to run another 200 rounds through the gun, again of various ammo types/brands. NAA said “Any ammo should function just fine in our Guardians.”, and based on my prior experience I figured from here out just get what’s cheapest. That turned out to be a bunch of Fiocchi 73 grain FMJ from MidwayUSA. But I also ran a box of American Eagle 71 grain, 25 of those Hornady Custom XTP, and… 25 Buffalo Bore (Buffalo Barnes, actually).
Since one goal is to find self-defense ammo that will perform well in this caliber, all things I could find pointed to the Hornady XTP bullet being the best. There was a load from Fiocchi with the XTP that performed well in tests, but that doesn’t seem to be available any more. The only loads I could find in .32 ACP with the Hornady XTP were Horandy’s own, and then a Buffalo Bore. Now, Buffalo Bore is notorious for being hot loads, so I double checked with NAA Customer support: “Yes that includes Buffalo Bore.”. OK then. 🙂
I ordered 50 rounds of the Buffalo Bore, with the intention of shooting 25 to see how they did. Because the way I see it, they list this load as getting 943 fps out of a 2″ Seecamp and 1080 out of a Beretta Mod 70 with a 3″ barrel. Most .32 ACP loads, like say Hornady’s XTP load, all list performance out of a 4″ barrel (as is standard) and 1000 fps at that. So for sure, the Buffalo Bore is a hotter load. But what surprised me was that the BB wasn’t an XTP as I had found online, but I guess they (recently?) changed the load to now use a Barnes TAC-XP bullet! I am a HUGE fan of Barnes Bullets and I know they perform well, better than traditional bullets. So with their bullet performance, a little bit more velocity out of such a small barrel, I’m hopeful this could pan out to be the right load.
And the process? First just run through some ammo to see if things run or malfunction. But then, let’s do some tests, like Gila Hayes’ 5×5 drill, the TX CHL test, 3 Seconds or Less.
She ran quite well.
For sure, the problem was springs. Out of 200 rounds I had 3 malfunctions, and 2 I’m going to chalk up to me. For sure I had 1 failure to feed malfunction that was exactly like the others. The other 2 were me shooting weak-hand and I am not 100% sure what I did but it was me because things felt odd. The gun is so small and feels so strange to begin with. Then you add in the grip extender and that feels even stranger because usually extenders let you get your pinky on the gun, but this lets you get your ring finger on the gun, and the extender lip is so long and how it comes out between your fingers just feels funny because it’s a new sensation. So when I put the gun in my weak hand and started shooting, it felt so awkward that I think I probably limp-wristed it and the gun failed. Once I got used to the sensation, weak-hand ran no problems.
The tests I chose I chose because I knew they would be easy enough to run without drawing (I forgot the pocket holster at home). All tests ran no problem. Accuracy went quite well too. For sure tho, you will want to compensate. I found a lot of shots going right, and the explanation is simple: 1 lb gun, 10 lb trigger pull, awkward gun fit (too small for larger hands) and so I’m certainly pulling the gun to the right — I could see it as I focused on the front sight that I was certainly pulling the gun right. But once you know it, you can work with it.
Shot the 5×5 multiple times just fine (with time to spare). Ran the TX CHL on an IPSC target (and only counting the top-half of the A-Zone box), with no problems and time to spare. 3 Seconds or Less ran from quasi holster (I would hold the gun in my hand in position), and most of the drill ran fine – weak hand was a mess, as noted above.
The ammo? Again, the European ammo (the Fiocchi, just like the Herters) has noticeably more felt recoil (snappier). But what surprised me was the Buffalo Bore didn’t kick as much as I expected it too — the Fiocchi hurt more. But apart from felt recoil, all ammo seemed to run just fine. I will say tho… the Buffalo Bore has awesome muzzle flash:
For sure, this sort of gun demonstrates that small guns are “advanced” guns, certainly not beginner choices in any way. And if you are going to carry such a gun, you better practice with it as it has a whole set of issues unique to itself. You could probably switch from a M&P9 full-size to a Glock 17 without missing a beat, but going from one of those to this Guardian? It’s different enough you’ll want some specific practice.
At this point, I feel good about this gun. It needs some love and care, because I reckon it didn’t have much over the past 17 years. I am pretty sure I’ll send it to NAA to have them give it some love. I’d love to have every spring in the gun replaced, and have them address anything they can see.
One thing that I noticed while I was cleaning it was the screwed in the grips had backed out. I had put some blue Loctite on them, but apparently that wasn’t enough. The grips aren’t just cosmetic – they do help in holding mechanisms together. And the right-side screw feels maybe stripped? Not sure, as I didn’t have time to pull everything apart to see. So I want to have them address what they can here. My “here’s what to look at” letter that will go in the return box will be lengthy. 🙂
Once that all goes through? I would want to keep practicing with it. It’s certainly not a gun I’d always carry, but it handles and performs much better than I would have expected. It’s certainly the skill of the shooter too, but the gun itself works pretty well.
As for ammo, I would love to collect a wider sampling of ammo. Run all sorts over a chronograph to see what “real” velocities are. And then for any potential self-defense candidates, run them through some ballistics gel. But there’s time, money, etc. But maybe I’ll see about hitting up MouseGunAddict. 🙂
Am I willing to carry this gun? Yes, but not yet. I think she still needs some love from a gunsmith. And I’d like to get a little more data on ammo.
But so far, it’s alright.
I was on the phone with a LEO friend of mine.
The topic? the forthcoming “open carry” of handguns in Texas.
The main concern we have is the extreme display of derp that’s going to happen on January 1, 2016 when the open carry law goes into effect.
Here’s the thing.
You HAVE to KNOW that EVERY news outlet across Texas (and beyond) are just salivating for January 1. Why? Because they are itching to be the first to break a story of someone open carrying and royally fucking up.
They want to parade it out and show how dangerous open carry is. How crazy gun owners are. To prove “they were right” all along.
And then yes, all the anti-gun groups are going to pounce. Given it’ll be a Presidential election year, they’ll try to make gun control a big political talking point, and if they work their money and media machine right, we could be in for one hell of a time. Don’t underestimate them.
All because someone couldn’t keep it in their pants…
As much as I hate to say it, given the way so many people are talking on Internet boards and comment threads, I’m expecting the derp to hit fairly soon after the law goes into effect. I just hope I’m proven wrong.
Here’s the thing people.
If you really want to open carry, you need to set and live to a high example. You are going to be scrutinized HEAVILY — both by the anti’s and even “our side”. The anti’s want more fuel for their fire. And folks on our side do not want you to ruin everything for the rest of us.
You need to use a good retention holster (like a Safariland ALS). You need a good and proper gun belt. Dress nice. Look professional. Act professional. Carry yourself like you have your shit together.
Even better? Actually HAVE your shit together. Get some proper training on gun retention. Learn about awareness and alertness, and put it into practice. Live up to a high standard, because EVERYONE is going to expect it of you, so expect even better of yourself.
When you got your handgun license you hopefully understood that you were taking on a big responsibility. The fact the gun now can be out from under your shirt doesn’t diminish that responsibility; in fact, it increases it. You chose to carry a gun because you realized your life and safety was precious and important; that doesn’t change on January 1. You understand Farnam’s Law: “Don’t go to stupid places; don’t associate with stupid people; don’t do stupid things. We will add to that, be in bed by 10 o’clock.” From that you know you shouldn’t do stupid things – that doesn’t change January 1.
Make your decisions upon sound reasoning. “Because I can” is not often the best reason to do something. Remember why you actually carry a gun, and carry yourself in that manner.
I’m not going to tell you to not open carry. But I am going to ask you to not be “That Guy”.
This is priceless.
In the Sep/Oct 2015 issue of TSRA Sportsman, Alice Tripp, Legislative Director and Lobbyist at the Texas State Rifle Association, recounts an encounter with a member of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
My first encounter with Moms Demand Action was in Dallas during the check-in and set-up for the 2014 Democratic Convention. I was getting my booth assignment when a member of Moms came up and asked convention staff why there were no armed guards present. The staffer answered that during the convention, as the delegates arrived, there would be more visible security. The concerned lady pointed to her Moms Demand t-shirt and said “When you wear this t-shirt, you need armed security.”
Roll that around in your head. Consider this group, what their goals are, then the mentality surrounding their demand. The cognitive dissonance should make your head explode.
Alice continues:
No, I didn’t laugh, but I had to smile as she stomped off. The staffer knew me and said, “I wonder if she would have felt more secure if I’d told her not to worry, most of us are armed.”
Local TV station KEYE did a good report in response to a couple sexual assaults that happened on the south side of town.
In the report, they interviewed Tina Maldonado, part of A Girl and A Gun woman’s shooting league, and graduate of numerous KR Training courses (disclosure: I’m an instructor at KR Training)
“We’re all responsible for our own self-defense,” said Maldonado. AGAG Club helps teach women safe and accurate shooting but also support, self-reliance and friendship. You can find a local chapter or learn more at www.agirlandagun.org.
Maldonado says they may be ready to use a gun, but are taught to stay alert and avoid danger first. “You’re your best protection,” said Maldonado.
Another good snippet from the article:
Moy Yat Kung Fu Academy teaches free self-defense. It is different than martial arts. It is a class based on intelligent movement and intelligent choices. “Once you have to attack, once you feel you have to attack, there are no good options. You have to attack with as much aggression as you can in order to survive,” said Vyvial.
Indeed. People view the word “aggression” as a bad thing, but when you’re in a fight for your life (and sexual assault is just that), you want as much aggression as possible.
APD also shares these tips on protecting yourself:
- Carry items that you can use if you need to call attention to your situation (examples: whistles and personal alarms)
- Consider taking a self-defense class.
- If someone tries to assault you, scream loudly or blow a whistle.
- If you are walking or jogging, stay out of secluded or isolated areas. Arrange to do the activity with at least one other friend, rather than alone. It is best to do these kinds of activities during daylight hours.
- Do not cover both of your ears with music headphones.
- Avoid getting isolated with people you do not know or do not trust.
- Be aware of where you are and what is around you.
- Keep your cell phone charged and with you.
- Stay away from deserted areas.
- Try to appear strong, confident, aware and secure in your surroundings.
A good list of personal protection tips, for women and men. But I’d change a few things about it.
Don’t consider taking a self-defense class. Take one. “Considering” isn’t going to do you any good; you have to actually take classes and get knowledge, training, and skill.
Don’t try to appear strong, confident, aware, and secure, be strong, confident, aware, and secure. If you lack these, work on improving yourself and acquiring strength, confidence, awareness, and security. If you’re not sure where to start, drop me a line, or check out groups like A Girl and A Gun. This is your life; it’s not a time to “feel-good” and lie to yourself, it’s a time to take action and “be good”.
It is not over until it is over. You cannot be disappointed if you don’t plan to stop until the fight is over. You never know how far you can go until you push beyond self imposed limits.
An excellent bit of advice. You should read the whole article (don’t worry, it’s short). (h/t Greg Ellifritz)
It doesn’t matter what it is that you’re dealing with – keep fighting until it’s over.
When will it be over? You’ll know. If you’re not certain it’s over, then keep fighting.
Ignorance, incompetence, mechanical breakdowns, bad weather and enemy action can not be avoided, but you can control your reactions. Confidence in your self and training can keep you calm when others panic. Sometimes the winner is decided by nothing more than who stays on the field.
When you’re dead, you’ll be dead; until then, keep fighting.
A survey conducted by researchers from Duke University and the University of Chicago found that Chicago criminals obtained their firearms almost exclusively from friends and family.
Wait. I thought they got them all through the “gun show loophole”? Or that they got them through proper legal commerce (including 4473 form and background check) down at the sporting goods store.
The study found that due to fears of encountering undercover police officers attempting sting operations, a large majority of the criminals surveyed would only make illegal gun purchases from people they knew. “In discussing the underground gun market in their neighborhoods, most respondents emphasized the importance of connections—prior relationships that could create sufficient trust to reassure the seller that the transaction would not create an unacceptable legal risk,” the survey says. “A majority of the primary guns (40 of the 48 for which we have detailed information on the source) were obtained from family, fellow gang members, or other social connections; the fraction is still higher for secondary guns.”
Wait. This goes against everything I’ve been told about how criminals acquire guns.
But surely then they must be acquiring “assault weapons”.
The survey also found that criminals preferred handguns by a wide margin.
Um…. but….
Well, this has to be somewhere like Texas.
Chicago criminals are finicky about how they get their guns, according to a new study by the University of Chicago Crime Lab.
But Chicago has some of the toughest gun control legislation. Are you saying criminals don’t obey the law?
Well, it doesn’t matter. We still need to make things more illegaller, because (somehow) that will stop criminals from getting guns.
“Some of the pathways people are concerned about don’t seem so dominant,” [Harold Pollack, co-director of University of Chicago Crime Lab] said.
But… but…
Look folks, most any reasonable person in our society wants to see reduction in (negative) violence. What some of us have a problem with is the means by which to achieve that end. When you work to make legal pathways for obtaining guns more difficult to traverse, you are only harming law-abiding citizens – you are NOT preventing criminals from obtaining guns, you are not stopping criminals from partaking in illegal and/or violent activity.
The only people you are harming are good people.
Why are you doing that?
Either you don’t know any better and haven’t truly considered the consequences of your action, or your blindly following irrational thoughts or emotions… or harming good people is precisely what you want to do. And that, good people will not stand for.
But I prefer to think most of my fellow citizens are also good people. So folks, consider the hard data these researchers are providing. “Illegal guns” don’t come from where you think, and trotting out the same tired and failed “solutions” to “the problems of illegal guns, and ‘gun violence'” just doesn’t hold in the face of such evidence. Let’s use facts and data to help us find real solutions, shall we?
(first article, second article)
Updated 2015-09-05 – Here’s a link to the University of Chicago Crime Lab’s press release about the article. And here’s a link to the full paper.
Oh ye Internet, how you are full of information both good and bad. And how much more difficult is it to sort the wheat from the chaff when groups you’d hope would know better perpetuate bad information. Yeah maybe it’s all well-intended, but remember what the road to Hell is paved with.
So this article: 6 Signs You’re Using The Wrong CCW Handgun is more like 6 signs you’re getting bad advice.
Yes, you should be comfortable with the size of your handgun in terms of hold, grip, shoot, proper trigger finger placement. It’s called proper gun fit. That much is true.
But bigger pistols have more accuracy because of their fit and reduced recoil? Um, no. Bigger pistols can be more accurate because they can have a longer sight radius. The article gives a nod to the longer sight radius, but incorrectly attributes how things work.
Yes a smaller gun can be more handy with regards to carry itself: less weight, smaller is easier to conceal. But why are you carrying a gun? So you can have a little lead and steel weight dangling off your body at all times? Or because you feel you may need to draw and shoot to preserve your life? Smaller guns are harder to shoot. Size matters, but ability to perform and handle the critical task matters more.
Smaller calibers mean less recoil, faster and more accuracy. Larger calibers will inflict more energy and damage.
Say what? Smaller calibers are more accurate? Can someone explain to me how bullet diameter enables greater accuracy?
Larger calibers inflict more energy and damage. Really? I mean, 9mm and .45 ACP suck about the same. And .223 Remington and .308 Winchester are smaller calibers than .45 ACP, but they sure inflict more damage.
If you’re looking for fast follow-up shots and more chances of accuracy, then perhaps starting off or switching to something small might help. If you need something with a lot of force and penetration, then definitely look into the larger calibers.
Well, sorta. Yeah, if there’s less recoil it will enable faster follow-up shots because there’s simply less time with the gun off target (off in recoil-land). But needs lots of force and penetration? um.. maybe you should spend a little time looking into ballistics data.
There’s so much wrong here.
your accuracy could suffer because of poor compatibility between you and your gun
True. We see this a lot in classes, often because students have guns that do not fit them. Someone with small hands trying to shoot a Sig P226, and it doesn’t work. Give them something like an M&P with the small backstrap and suddenly they can hit everything.
But that’s not how the article goes.
if you notice that you are lacking either point shoot or sighted accuracy, maybe it is because the gun is too heavy, too big in size, too big in caliber, etc.
Maybe. But did you ever think that maybe the problem is you?
Why is there no discussion of maybe you just not having the skill? That maybe you should seek professional instruction? That the eyes of an experienced person can better diagnose the problems and guide you to an optimal solution.
if after time, the recoil is still slowing you down and not allowing you to have quick, more accurate follow-up shots, then this could be a sign to find something different (maybe even something smaller than what you normally carry).
Maybe. But again this is rarely the case. Most often recoil problems are technique problems, not gun problems. Again, seek professional instruction.
Bullets play a big role on choosing the right firearm for yourself. There are no perfect bullet types and every sort of bullet will have its pros and cons. The question is whether or not the type of bullet gives you as the individual carrier more pros. Important things to consider with your bullets: weight, penetration, energy, shape, projection and distance, and more.
I have no idea how this relates to the topic of the article. I have no idea what the author is trying to convey here.
How does FMJ vs. HP or a round nose vs. a flat nose matter in this context? in choosing the right firearm for yourself? Granted, make sure the gun can feed the ammo, but apart from that, I’m confused.
I’ll grant, if your gun is so finicky that it needs to be cleaned after a few hundred rounds in order to operate right, then you need a different gun. Yes yes, some guns are this way and rightly so, but for the purposes of personal defense? Man, get a Glock or M&P and be done with it. This isn’t to say you can ignore and neglect things (your car won’t run very well if you don’t give it gas, change the oil, keep air in the tires, etc.), but there you go.
So ok… maybe it’s 5 signs of bad advice since I pretty much agree with #6.
Here’s the thing.
Equipment matters, but not for the reasons given in this article. What matters more and affects most the issues raised in this article more? The operator of the handgun. Get good instruction from good instructors. Put 10,000 rounds downrange in good classes. Put 100,000 reps of dry fire in. Put in a few good years of serious and dedicated study and practice. After that if you find your Glock 17/19 or M&P9 doesn’t fit your bill, then you’ll have the knowledge and experience to know how to tweak your equipment choices — and you’ll actually have the skill to back it up too.
Just saw a promotional video for a new product called “The Handgun Sling”.
No, I’m not going to link to the product website as I don’t believe this product is a good idea; no point in driving traffic that way. You can Google/Bing/DuckDuckGo search for it if you’re curious enough.
But here’s the gist.
It’s a doubled-over length of cord. One end has a “coin tab”, the other has an 8mm tube. The instructional video shows the “holster” being placed in the small-of-the-back. You make a lark’s head knot around your belt (passing the tube end through the “loop” end of the coin-end). You then insert the tube into the muzzle of the gun and shove the gun into your pants at the small-of-your-back. You then loop the coin end around the back-end of the slide to hold it “firmly” in place. To draw, you have to reach around to the small of your back, attempt to locate this coin, lift it off and over the gun , then remove the gun from your pants.
Oh, and the video ends with this disclaimer:
The Handgun Sling is NOT a safety device nor does it claim to have any safety features. Failure to understand and comply with gun safety can result in property damage, bodily injury, or death.
So much facepalm.
Where to begin?
Small of the back is a horrible place to carry. I hope you don’t fall down or get knocked down, because your spine sure doesn’t think a lump of steel makes a good cushion. As well, it’s quite a difficult place to draw from. Not just issues of flexibility and mobility, but get into a clinch and try to draw. Or how about from under a coat?
Nothing to cover/protect the trigger.
When your heart is pumping and adrenaline dumping, you now need to find this little tab and lift it off and over the gun and THEN get a grip on the gun and THEN draw it? Yeah, good luck with that.
The gun is held in essentially a vertical position; that’s a difficult draw from that location. Due to how our body and arm physiology work (you know, angles), as things go around the body you want to have them angled in a position most natural for your hand to grip without having to bend your wrist into awkward positions. Try it. Grip a pen or pencil in your hand (to simulate gripping something, like a handgun) so you can see the relative angle of your grip as it runs perpendicular to your arm. Keep your wrist locked and orbit your arm around your body at your waist. Notice how that grip angle changes? at the small of your back that pencil is almost perpendicular to the ground (parallel to your spine). This “holster” positions the gun’s grip essentially opposite of that (parallel to the ground, perpendicular to your spine). Break your wrist position to make that sort of grip possible (you have to bend your wrist almost to its furthest extent). Sucks doesn’t it?
Also notice how this “small of the back” design runs counter to every other “small of the back” holster design. Not just the angle of the gun, but that the gun is “upside down”? Why do you think all those other designs might be designed that way?
To holster the gun I have to put it out of my sight, fiddle fart with it, point the muzzle at my fingers and hand, shove things up the barrel… and then they want to display disclaimers about not following gun safety? You damn right it doesn’t have safety features; in fact, I dare say the features of this product require you to perform unsafe actions in order to use the product.
I could go on, but if the above isn’t enough to convince you this is a bad idea, well… do what you wish. It’s a free country, which includes the freedom to make bad choices.
I haven’t conferred with Karl on this, but I feel pretty safe in saying this sort of product won’t be allowed at KR Training. Certainly I won’t allow it in any class I’m a part of, as a teacher or a student.
Jerry Morris (inventor), this is nothing personal. If you read this, I know it may be hard to read this because it’s critical of your product, of your invention, of your baby. I do applaud your desire to innovate, to try new things, to be an entrepreneur. Certainly you have every right to sell your product. And I have every right to be critical of it. I also reserve the right to change my mind. Convince me your product isn’t a bad idea. Give some samples to Craig “SouthNarc” Douglas of Shivworks and see if this product holds up in ECQC classes. Give some samples to other notable trainers; heck, I’ll even be happy to try it myself in our Force-on-Force classes. Basically, if you believe this is truly useful and valuable life-safety equipment that offers greater advantage and less disadvantage to the private citizen that will lead towards a better ability for them to carry a gun on a daily basis and use it when their life depends on it, then put the product up to scrutiny and test it.
Here’s the thing. What problem is this product solving that is actually improving the world in some way? I’m just not seeing it. I see this product having greater potential for harm than good. Not just the fact you have to violate basic gun safety runs in order to use the product, but the fact it seem to complicate the single most important thing you need to do when you need your gun (draw and present it), I just don’t see how this product is a good thing.
I’m willing to be proven wrong tho.
It was a lucky find.
I’ve been intrigued by things like the Seecamp LWS32 and North American Arms Guardian for some time. Why? Just because. They’re so tiny, about the smallest “practical” semi-auto pistols you can buy and use for personal defense. But it’s not been a serious obsession or anything, just a passing interest.
But when I was out in Kerrville, TX last weekend with some extended family, one of them took me to a pawn shop. I don’t frequent pawn shops (just not my habit), but on this day I’m glad I did because right there in the case was a NAA Guardian .32 ACP.
I bought it on the spot.
My interest in guns started with personal defense, and that remains my primary motivator. Sure, my first purchase was a small gun, a Springfield XD-9 Subcompact. Well, it was a mistake purchase because small guns are hard to shoot and shoot well, which really works against someone learning how to shoot, build competence, and gain confidence. Shortly after I started, I ended up buying another gun, an XD-9 with the 5″ barrel, and things went much smoother. 🙂
While I prefer full-sized guns for a host of reasons, there’s no question small guns have their role. They are NOT a first choice, and probably not even a second or third choice, but sometimes they are the right tool for the job. I mean, I have a screwdriver that has a 24″ shaft, which I bought and used once because it was the needed tool for the job. You tend to be more successful when you use the right tool for the job, and being as a gun is merely a tool, you should use the right one for the job at hand. Sometimes, small is what you need.
For a while my small gun was a S&W 442 J-frame “snub-nose” revolver. There’s a lot of positive to such a choice, but after a few years of trying to make it work for me I came to accept that it just wasn’t the best choice for my needs. The S&W M&P Shield 9mm has worked out pretty well, but the Shield’s size is in an odd slot where it’s a little big for small jobs and a little small for big jobs. It does work and fills a fair role, but it’s still not always what’s needed.
I’ve considered Kahr’s for a long time, like a PM9/MK9 or maybe a CM9, and frankly during my shopping in Kerrville I did look for one of these Kahrs and may well have bought it if one was available. Alas, the only Kahrs they had at the couple places we went to were other calibers or larger sizes.
But then, the NAA Guardian came up, and I figured what the hey, why not?
It’s a (very) small gun for when you need that. I’ve had a few times in life where I’ve had to go somewhere and wanted the smallest possible gun I could legally carry. I made do with what I had, but still wished for something smaller. And now, perhaps I have it.
Plus why this particular gun? As an instructor, we get people asking all sorts of questions, and it’s often useful to give tangible answers. Being able to have such a gun on hand to let people handle, shoot, and see first-hand why we might answer as we do – it enables people to convince themselves, which is far more educational and persuasive than saying “just trust us”.
As well, it’s simple novelty, and “just because”. It’s the first time I’ve seen one for sale (tho maybe if I got out more I might have seen one sooner), so I figured I better buy while I can. 🙂
The NAA Guardian was introduced in 1997. If you search around for those “mouse gun comparison charts” is one of the smallest around. This version, in .32 ACP (not .32 NAA), is all steel, DAO, holds 6+1, barrel 2.49″, OAL 4.4″, 3.3″ tall, 0.85″ wide, 13.6 oz empty and 16 oz full.
That’s small.
NAA Guardian .32 ACP vs. S&W M&P9
So small that most people can only get 1 finger on the grip, with your ring and pinky fingers dangling off. Yeah, that’s a bit of a problem. Good luck getting that 2-handed grip on it. 🙂
This particular gun seems to be on the older side. I’ve emailed NAA asking questions, but as of this writing I’ve yet to hear back. I’m curious about the gun because it does seem older. For example, the 2 magazines are all metal, whereas the new production magazines have plastic baseplates. Some other details make me wonder about the history here, but I’ll save that for another time.
Overall it seemed to be in good shape. Obviously fired, but reasonably maintained.
Then there’s .32 ACP. Yeah… it’s not the best cartridge. If you’re curious about .32 ACP, search around as there’s lots of information out there. But long-short made relevant here? It seems the best choice is loads with Hornady XTP bullets, as they will have reasonable penetration AND will expand. Is it still great performance? Nope; I still consider it sub-optimal. But it’s not the worst thing in the world, and it’s better than nothing.
You just have to remember that it’s all about trade-offs. This is not a gun of first choice, or even second or fifth choice – this is a gun of “no other choice”.
Before I took it to the range I took it apart to clean and oil it. Yeah, it was dirty, and I could also tell… old. The recoil springs were old. Still, I cleaned what I could, oiled it up well, and put it back together. The fact it lacks any way to lock the slide back is a little annoying, but it’s what it is.
I purchased single boxes of a variety of ammo:
Ran through all 250 rounds between myself, a friend, and Oldest. Here’s how it went.
There were numerous malfunctions, mostly failures to feed. Sometimes the last round would stovepipe in the magazine, sometimes it might start feeding then the slide closed and things munged up. Considering how and when it would happen (many times the last round in the magazine), that it happened with all ammo types, under various shooting circumstances, best we can figure is old springs. The magazines are likely original springs, and given the gun uses the upward pressure of the magazine as the ejection mechanism, it’s likely that. So I’m going to purchase some new magazines (and new recoil springs) and try again. If it continues to malfunction after that, then it’s off to the gunsmith. If it continues to malfunction after that, then it becomes a conversation piece. Certainly at this point I do not trust the gun for personal protection.
The inability to lock the slide back? That’s a major hamper when it comes to clearing the malfunctions. I reckon any malfunctions or reload needs here will be better served by dropping this gun and drawing a second gun, which you’re unlikely to have if you’ve been pressed into having to carry this gun in the first place. :-\
Overall tho, all ammo performed fairly well. The Herter’s had noticeably more felt recoil than the others. But regardless of bullet shape – and they were all different – all either fed or malfunctioned the same. I could detect no pattern of success or failure, so likely in the future practice ammo purchases will be “whatever is cheapest”.
Felt recoil wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I expected some bite, but didn’t get it. Would I want to do a 1000 round weekend class with it? Probably not (and not just because felt recoil). But something like KR Training’s Defensive Pistol Skills – Back Up Gun (4 hours, 150-200 rounds) oh sure. I will say tho, a couple times we gripped the gun up higher than it should be gripped and the felt recoil was greater and hurt a little bit. Will have to see how that pans out in reality in terms of quick drawing.
We did no draw work, tho I did get lucky and found a DeSantis Nemesis at Cabela’s (hrm.. I wonder if I can get a Safariland ALS for it so I can open carry it come January 2016… that’s a joke, folks). Everything was from the ready position. At this point it was just trying to determine if the gun was reliable enough, if and what any issues were, what ammo would it consume, and just how it ran and felt.
Some stuff was slow fire. I was surprised at the accuracy. We were shooting a 8″ steel plate at probably 15 yards and had no problems when using the “sights”. Yes, “sights” in quotes because it does have some bumpy things up there, but I doubt you’ll ever use them in a fight because they are hard to find and use (tiny tiny, hard to find, hard to determine “equal height, equal light”). Shots did land slightly right, and it was easy to see why. The barrel and frame are 1 piece, with the front sight is on the barrel; the rear sight is on the slide. The slide locks up fine, but looking at the rib that runs the length of the top of the gun, you can see the slide isn’t perfectly square on lockup. Bug or feature? I don’t know, and maybe new recoil springs will help. But because of that the sights don’t line up mechanically, so when you visually line them up the muzzle points a little to the right. Still, the groupings were tight and consistent, and I was pleasantly surprised.
Still, what made it a bitch to shoot right and well was the fact it was a 1 lb. gun with long heavy trigger press. The manufacturer states it has a 10 lb. trigger press! I went looking for Karl’s digital gauge but couldn’t find it, just an old spring one. The spring one’s scale topped at 8 lb. but it looked like the gauge could go to 10 lb. before it bottomed out. Well, it’s at least that then, because it wasn’t until it bottomed out that I could get the trigger to break. Could be the gauge had weak/old springs, so I don’t know how accurate it all was, but it’s reasonable to say it’s got a damn heavy trigger.
So consider that: a very tiny gun which is hard enough to get a good grip on, to have good “gun fit” and a proper trigger press. Then you have a pull weight that’s 10x the weight of the gun. Yeah, it’s going to be DAMN hard to shoot well.
Of course we tried some fast stuff, because this isn’t a bullseye gun. This is a personal defense gun that’s likely going to be shot from 0-5 yards, quickly, multiple rounds. On the one hand, the lack of proper sights can be ok there because at that distance and speed an index off the slide is reasonable. Dumping magazines as quick as we could landed just fine on a 18″x24″ steel plate at 10 yards. But that’s still not awesome. Certainly we had times when we’d shoot and not hear the DING of the steel — it’s very easy to get unacceptable hits with this gun. I didn’t take any cardboard out to see how it’d perform, but that wasn’t the point of the day. Still, once I get the new magazines and springs, I’ll give it a full run through (like doing the DPS-BUG class drills, maybe just running “3 Seconds or Less“). Again, this day was about seeing if the gun would just run.
All in all tho, I was pleasantly surprised with the gun. It performed better than I thought it would, and was much more enjoyable to shoot than I expected it to be. The fact ammo is rather expensive (it’s more than 9mm) hurts, so I don’t think I’ll be shooting it all that often. But still, I think it’s going to find a place.
Next up is buying magazines and springs, then another round of testing. That testing will be just to see if the gun runs and how it runs with new springs, and I plan to do more structured shooting. Some simple “just does it work?” shooting. Some slow accuracy, and certainly some proper and appropriate drills on paper (e.g. “3 Seconds or Less” drill).
Buying magazines and parts, seems I have to go to the manufacturer, which is fine. I just hope they’re more responsive with the sales than they seem to be so far with customer service questions.
When it comes to ammo, the only loads I can find with the XTP bullet are Hornady’s own load and the Buffalo Bore. I expect the BB would hurt like hell. 😉 But it does document 943 fps out of a 2″ Seecamp barrel and 1080 out of a 3″, so maye 1000 out of the 2.5″ Guardian, which would be quite good. Other .32 ACP loads where I can find info on tend to be 1000-ish out of a 4″ barrel so…. I’m going to pick up at least 1 box of the BB to see how it goes. Otherwise for practice ammo, whatever is cheapest. I see MidwayUSA has Fiocchi 73 grain FMJ for $15.49, cheapest stuff available so…
Anyways, time to do a little shopping. 🙂
Stuff From Hsoi 