By Oleg Volk

The Mossberg MVP line of rifles was introduced in 2012. As of 2020, this innovative design has become available in .223 Remington, .224 Valkyrie, 6.5mm Creedmoor and .308 Winchester for a total of 17 variants. Available in light configurations for hunting, rugged and railed for defense, and on a chassis for long-range precision, all these rifles have one thing in common: they feed from commonly available and easily loaded detachable double-stack, double-row feed box magazines. The .223 version uses AR-15-compatible magazines, while the 6.5 and .308 versions can use both AR-10 and M1A magazines. M1A magazines even latch with the same motion as AR-10 mags. This approach makes MVP rifles significantly easier to support than brands using proprietary feeding devices. The Mossberg rifles ship with compact 10-rounders, but the availability of larger magazines up to 150-round capacity (in .556) makes clip loading unnecessary. For practical field use, 20-rounders are most handy in all four calibers. AR magazines are helpfully affordable and lightweight. Feeding reliability has been 100% across all three Mossberg MVP rifles I’ve used, and no special effort is required to keep it that way. Running the bolt slower or faster made no difference. The mag release latch and the indentation for it are a bit on the small side for thumbs or gloved fingers but not to the point of being a serious issue. Extended aftermarket release levers are available from Crosshair Precision.

MVP Bolt and Trigger

The bolt is a conventional two-lug design with fluting to resist fouling and environmental dirt. The bolt feels loose once unlocked, but that subjective perception doesn’t affect accuracy. Practical accuracy with a moderate power scope and an average shooter like me hover around 1MOA with 168- and 175-grain match ammunition, around 2MOA with 150-grain hunting soft points and a little looser with various ball cartridges. At least with match ammunition, the marksman was the obvious limiting factor. A very nice 2.8-pound trigger helps to make the most of the theoretical precision available. The trigger may be adjusted more heavily up to 7 pounds by turning an internal screw for use with gloves. The safety is also conventional—a right-side push-lever with the forward position being FIRE and back position being SAFE. The bolt can be cycled with the safety applied.

The MVP bolt has only moderate lateral support when at the rear-most point of its travel, so it wobbles a bit and makes the cycling less smooth than ideal. That and the generally bulky, rounded forms of the stocks make the rifles look and feel unrefined, but that feeling goes away as soon as range time begins. In actual use, MVP ergonomics proved superior to most other bolt actions. The stock shape combines with the thick recoil pad, making recoil very controllable even in the short Thunder Ranch model. The rifles are easy to shoot well, and I found myself going through a lot more ammunition than expected on every range trip.

MVP Barrels

MVP actions come pre-bedded on the same block that holds the magazine well. Barrels are free-floated. All models come with threaded muzzles: 1/2×28 in .223 and .224; 5/8×24 in 6.5 and .308. The stocks have separate studs for the front sling swivels and for bipods. This rifle series basically took all the items from my “must-have” list for modern bolt action and checked them.

The .223 Thunder Ranch model uses a medium, fluted 20-inch barrel. The model set up, which had a LUCID Optics 4-16x scope and a sound suppressor, proved not only accurate in experienced hands but was an effective teaching tool for a brand new shooter. After stepping up from rimfire, our Australian visitor was able to hit pop cans at 75 yards … that’s no small feat for the first day behind the gun. By mere chance, 77-grain match ammunition and 55-grain ball trajectories match up almost exactly at 100 yards, so they can be used for training and range demonstrations fairly inexpensively. True to its Thunder Ranch heritage, the gun is light enough for off-hand deployment and is accurate enough while supported for precision at long range. Thanks to free-floating, the barrel wasn’t deflected by a tight hasty sling. The 75- to 77-grain match ammunition from SIG SAUER and PRIME shot slightly under an inch, and the 69-grain Federal Premium® Gold Match shot around 1.1 inches consistently.

The .308 Thunder Ranch model mounts a shorter, 16-inch fluted barrel equipped with open sights. Meant for such uses as brush hunting and short-range sniping, this rifle handles well at speed and settled down comfortably on a bipod or sandbags. Recoil, while more pronounced than with the .223, is far from distracting. I have not tested this rifle for accuracy quite as extensively, mainly because the other .308, the 20-inch Long Range (LR) model, got all of my attention. The Thunder Ranch gun is amazing inside of 100 yards and is handy and easy to use even with the open sights. The extra 4 inches of barrel length combined with the AMTAC reflex sound suppressor made the longer variant much easier to shoot, with less blast and recoil. While the rifle looks very compact, the full-length barrel and the all-steel sound suppressor add up to a hefty package; though not as easily hand-holdable with my strength level. For distances beyond 100 yards, the LR rifle is a clear win, being both steadier and possessing an adjustable cheek rest for centering the eye behind large-diameter scopes. Inside of 100, which, incidentally, includes the overwhelming majority of police sniping and defensive uses, the Thunder Ranch variant with a low-power scope would be superior.

Testing

The 175-grain High Precision Range (HPR), SIG SAUER, PRIME and Federal Premium match ammunition printed around an inch at 100 yards: my variations from string to string revealed no clear superiority of any one load over the others. The 168-grain Magtech® and 175-grain PPU Match, as well as the 165-grain Federal Fusion® printed in the 1.75MOA to 2MOA. Between the hefty barrel and the braking effect of the sound suppressor, the recoil could be described as mild, to the point where even an inexperienced shooter could try the gun without risk of bruising.

While Mossberg MVPs come in a bewildering variety of configurations, only one of them puzzled me: the .308 Scout. Equipped with a long eye relief scope mounted on an extended rail, it still cannot be loaded with stripper clips due to the Picatinny rail being in the way. It’s also entirely unnecessary with the removable box magazine. The Scout’s extended rail, however, would work very well with a thermal or night vision optic mounted in tandem with a daylight scope.

Value

Depending on the configuration, Mossberg MVP rifles retail from the mid-$500s to about twice that amount. In my experience, their consistent performance as multi-role arms makes them a good value. At range events, they are among the most popular rifles with people who have tried everything on the table.

When ARES Defense Systems first came up with the Shrike belt-fed AR-15 upper, the so-called Assault Weapons Ban was still in effect. Shrike took years to develop, but it filled big shoes: capable of box and belt feed, possessed of a quick-change barrel and compatible with registered select-fire lowers. It was the closest that most of Americans could come to a Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) in private hands. Six generations later, the ARES Shrike upper is now the FightLite MCR. Unlike the long-delayed original, the MCR is available anytime you want one. Positioned as a SAW substitute, much like the Ultimax 100, the MCR has found military adopters in Africa and Asia, in addition to being quite popular with U.S. shooters.

MCR is a closed-bolt design available with a wide variety of quick-change barrels, in 5.56mm and .300 Blackout in lengths from 12.5 inches to 20 inches. A barrel swap can be done in three seconds without an asbestos glove, thanks to insulated handles. The MCR feeds from M27 disintegrating link belts, same as an M249, but it also works reliably from STANAG box magazines. An adapter to hold soft- or hard-sized belt carriers fits into the mag well, permitting the use of 100 or 200 round belts on the move. A short-stroke gas piston with an adjustable regulator allows both suppressed use without over-gassing and emergency hard use for high-volume firing in dirty environments.

Although the MCR is capable of considerable mechanical precision, it’s not a match rifle due to the optic and iron sights placement on top of the feed tray cover. For shooters who want better than 2 MOA and don’t require quite the volume of fire, FightLite now offers conventional AR uppers in 5.56mm and .300 Blackout. With the same high-grade barrel and excellent trigger, those carbines shoot MOA or better out of the box. In general, the high quality of manufacturing and well thought-out industrial design are the calling cards of FightLite.

The SCR

With so many states on the banning binge, FightLite also offers a “featureless” SCR carbine. Also available with a wide variety of barrel lengths and profiles, as well as with wooden, polymer and railed forends, the direct impingement SCR looks like a conventionally stocked hunting rifle. It uses all standard AR magazines. Unlike an AR, SCR carbines use an angled recoil spring guide outwardly reminiscent of Benelli action. Accurate and soft-recoiling, the SCR also went through several generations of refinements, ending up with an excellent trigger and stellar ergonomics. Far from merely being a legal AR-15 substitute for restrictive jurisdictions, the SCR has certain advantages: With the grip being in line with the bore line, it points more naturally than the pistol grip designs. The SCR is also available as a handgun, putting a 7.25-inch barrel into the form of an 18th century dragoon pistol—it looks odd but balances well and makes for very natural pointing. FightLite offers low-profile iron sights just for the 5.56mm/.300 pistol configuration.

The MXR

With surplus rifle ammunition drying up, and more and more people dependent on indoor ranges with pistol-rated backstops, the pistol-caliber carbines have gained popularity. The FightLite MXR system can be configured as a pistol, as a carbine or as a submachine gun. Using a modular barrel retention system, the MXR allows changing barrel lengths and calibers without tools. Going from 9mm to .45ACP to 10mm to 5.7x28mm takes only a few minutes. Blowback operation with varying weight buffers and some bolt overtravel makes for low recoil and smooth action. The MXR has right-handed ejection only, but the reciprocating charging handle is easily reversed. The fire control group is AR-15 style, and magazines, other than 5.7x28mm, are GLOCK-compatible.

Sound Design

All this wide variety of guns comes from the mind of Geoffrey Herring. I’ve asked many technical questions, always getting detailed and logical explanations for why certain features have been added or omitted, or why specific approaches to engineering were employed. The design work and much of the manufacturing are done in-house at the Melbourne, Florida, plant. Given Geoffrey’s background in aviation, a field where small errors can have drastic consequences, it’s no surprise that the QC and testing practices are impressively thorough. Those, along with the sound conceptual basics, explain why the FightLite firearms I’ve used at high-volume range events have all worked consistently and reliably, with excellent accuracy. Incremental development and close attention to detail have really set FightLite apart from the manufacturers of old public domain AR design.

IWI makes superb fighting pistols—the Jericho 941 line with steel or polymer frames. Both types of guns are highly evolved developments of the old Czechoslovak CZ-75 SP-01 variants, but with more ergonomic controls. Like its progenitor, Jericho uses a relatively narrow slide that rides inside the frame, rather than around it as most autoloaders. That makes the pistol less top-heavy but reduces the slide area available for grasping. In common, both model types have 4.4-inch barrels, 16-round magazines and DA/SA triggers with cocked-and-locked option. The sear- and trigger-blocking safety can be engaged with the hammer up or down and locks the slide-in battery. The slide stop and the safety levers are on the left side only, but they are substantial machined pieces with plenty of purchase even for gloved hands. Sights are basic, streamlined, drift-adjustable post and notch, with white dots. Both variants come with accessory rails on the dust cover.

The short recoil Browning action is conventional, as is the take-down. To field strip, line up two hash marks on the rear left of the slide and push the slide stop acting also as the barrel axis pin to the left. Due to the weight of the retaining spring, it’s simplest to do this by pressing against a hard surface. With the pin out, the slide comes off to the front, and the recoil spring comes out from the bottom of the slide together with its guide. The barrel comes out the same way, completing the disassembly for regular cleaning.

The differences are subtle but important. The polymer, full-size PL9 weighs 28 ounces empty, while the all-steel, full-size F9 is noticeably heftier at 36.8 ounces—about as much as the polymer model weighs but with a full-loader magazine. The PL9 frame is almost entirely plastic, with only a small steel locking insert and molded-in slide rails. Besides the weight differential, the plastic model also has the advantage of a lower cost by about $80. In a cold climate, in particular, the polymer model would be more comfortable to use due to reduced heat transmission to the hand. Granted, the grip panels are soft rubber, but the front and backstrap of the grip would be very chilly metal. With this terrific polymer-framed model available, why is steel still on the menu?

Steel F9 Advantages

Turns out the steel F9 has some advantages of its own. The trigger is lighter, 5.5 pounds single-action versus the 7.5 pounds of the PL9. The double-action is correspondingly 12 pounds versus 16 pounds. The heavily curved metal triggers feel lighter than that on both models, but the advantage of lighter pull for accurate and rapid fire remains. With much of the extra weight residing in the prominent slab dust cover, the steel F9 feels more front-heavy. It’s a little harder to point but much easier to return to the target after each shot, generating less muzzle rise on recoil. I would estimate that the entire PL9 magazine can be fired off aimed in about five seconds, while F9 can be emptied in four seconds with about the same effect on the target and less wear on the hands. The polymer grip has prominent finger grooves and a more textured backstrap, while the rubber grips provide better hold than the slightly textured plastic side panels. Ergonomically, the sole challenge is with the racking of the relatively small slide against the combined pressure of the recoil and hammer springs. Cocking the hammer before racking makes the process much easier.

Making Decisions

To some extent, the decision would be made by the available weight allowance. For backpacking, I would definitely grab one more full magazine for the same weight. Heading to an IDPA match, I’d go with old-fashioned steel. The plastic frame would cause less torque on the belt and thus be much more comfortable in a paddle holster, but steel would work just fine in a belt slide or IWB rig. I tried the two pistols against each other for accuracy at the range: there’s no perceptible difference. Both guns are impressively accurate: steel silhouettes ring reliable at 100 yards; an 8-inch steel gong got hit with almost every round at 50 yards. The edge goes to the all-steel pistol; mostly because it wears the shooter’s hands less and has a slightly lighter trigger pull. Mechanically, I didn’t perceive a difference. The accuracy with both pistols is limited by the shooter competency and the iron sights. There’s no ready provision for attaching optics.

A very useful JGear™ Kit is available from IWI: it includes an adjustable paddle holster, a two-magazine carrier and an UpLULA® magazine loader, a cleaning rod and, most importantly, Meprolight Tru-Dot® Tritium sights. Jericho is also available with a fractionally shorter 3.8-inch barrel in either steel or polymer, but with the full-size grip, producing a 3-ounce reduction of weight at the slight cost in sight radius. If weight is a concern, the IWI Masada at 21 ounces provides a rather more drastic reduction without as much barrel length loss, but the Jericho PSL9 mid-size offers a useful option for shooters with smaller hands (the polymer grip is slightly thinner), and it’s even less front-heavy, making it easier to hold on target before the shot. For shooters who like recoil, the mid-sized steel Jericho FS45 is also available in .45 ACP.

To my mind, the two pistols are complementary to each other. They can use most of the same holsters, the same magazines, ammunition and the identical manual of arms. The steel-framed variant would make the most sense at home, in a vehicle, at the office or in any environment where its weight isn’t a handicap. For high-volume sport shooting, steel is the obvious winner. The polymer-framed model would feel better on a nature hike, on a boat or in an environment where armor and long guns already add up to a lot of carried weight. IWI produced a logical refinement of the CZ-75 concept rather than just a clone and at a very attractive price.

The Stribog SP9A1 9mm submachine gun and its carbine and pistol variants come from the same mind as the advanced Grand Power (GP) rotary breech pistols. Unlike the revolutionary GP K100 and its derivatives, the Stribog SP9A1 appears, at first glance, to be purely evolutionary. A detailed look reveals a number of original technical solutions that add up to an excellent weapon with great ergonomics.

Named after the Slavic god of wind, Stribog is a conventional-looking 9mm blowback firearm feeding from proprietary double-stack, double-feed magazines with 20- and 30-round capacity. Unlike many third-generation submachine guns that Stribog resembles, it uses an extruded aluminum rather than stamped-steel receiver. A much simpler shape, it is also much stronger thanks to the internal reinforcing rails. The serialized upper attaches to glass-reinforced polymer lower with two pins. The overall weight of the pistol is just over 5 pounds, but it feels extremely solid. The overhanging bolt and non-reciprocating charging handle, reminiscent of the Walther MPK, keep the receiver length down to a minimum without resorting to a bullpup configuration. Despite firing from a closed bolt, Stribog is more than a pound lighter than the MPK and equally short while sporting a longer 8-inch barrel. Everything about this design is optimized. The bolt is squared off, very simple to manufacture. Field-stripping requires pushing out one captive pin in the back of the receiver to hinge the upper receiver—forward to expose the back plate to which a stock or a brace would attach. The back plate slides down, exposing the back of the receiver. On disassembly, the bolt comes out as a unit with the recoil spring and guide, a guide rod and a double rubber recoil buffer. Further disassembly is usually unnecessary.

All controls are either ambidextrous, like the magazine releases, rotary safety levers and bolt stops, or reversible, like the non-reciprocating charging handle. The left-side mag release is just right for retaining magazines, while the right-side assumes drop-free magazines; although its transparent polymer magazines usually don’t drop free when empty. The two bolt stops are single-stamped parts, very easy to use either for locking or for releasing the bolt. As with an AR-15, locking in a fresh magazine places the left hand perfectly for closing the bolt to chamber the first round. Everything about the Stribog feels robust and streamlined for rapid deployment. Charging the weapon from a closed bolt requires only a moderate effort, a welcome difference from many small blowback guns. Since the bolt locks open on an empty magazine, bringing it back into action takes but a left thumb twitch. An enlarged trigger guard works with bulky winter gloves, and the well-textured flared pistol grip combined with a brace enables a comfortable one-handed operation if necessary.

Optics and Configurations

The gun comes with non-adjustable folding post and ghost rear sights. Folded flat, they present smallish post and notch sights useful for firing the gun in the pistol configuration. Upgraded metal or metal adjustable sights are available in theory, but the full-length Picatinny rail on top of the gun makes it more likely that the users would just mount an optic and relegate irons to backup duty. The iron sights are quite low, so they can be used through skeletonized scope or red dot bases. It’s more comfortable, however, to use AR-height sighting devices. Always dubious about factory-regulated sights, I tried them to discover that they delivered hits on a silhouette past 100 yards. The sights are well designed, glare-free, and the front sight is protected inside a ring.

Accuracy is one of Stribog’s strong points: with iron sights or red dot, 4MOA with all loads from 90 to 185 grains is routine. With a 2x scope, 2MOA is equally routine. Unlike most carbines, Stribog doesn’t favor light bullets over heavy. Ammunition used for most of the author’s testing was Federal Syntech Action Pistol 150-grain, polymer-coated “flying lipstick.” Wide mouth SIG SAUER 124-grain defensive JHP and lightweight SBR frangibles fed as reliably as everything else. The trigger feels heavy at over 5 pounds, but doesn’t seem to get in the way of delivering accurate fire. The trigger mechanism is partly interchangeable with AR-15 parts, so it can be improved if desired. Prone firing is aided by the long magazine well holding the mag securely enough to rest the gun on the magazine floorplate for additional support: pressure on the ammunition feeding device does not induce malfunctions. The well-ventilated, medium-weight barrel retains accuracy even when warmed up, and overheating in general isn’t a concern for this gun. The forend has a bottom Picatinny rail for accessories, not to include a vertical foregrip due to NFA restrictions. A typical configuration could be a white light and laser on the bottom, close enough to the muzzle to avoid occlusion of the light beam, and a slightly magnified optic like a 1.5x compact ACOG on top. The long top rail permits placement of night vision devices in front of the optic if desired. In addition, two M-LOK slots are available on each side of the forend.

Reliability

Reliability of the Stribog SP9A1, a general feature of Jaroslav Kuracina’s designs, is predictably excellent. In over 1,000 rounds of all kinds of ammo, half of it fired with a sound suppressor without cleaning or re-lubricating afterward, SP9A1 had zero stoppages of any kind. Between superb ergonomics and perfect reliability, this gun really gives confidence to the user! Ballistic performance from the 8-inch barrel is close enough to be maximized for 9x19mm, with very little muzzle flash even with the hypervelocity loads. With 115- to 124-grain bullets, Stribog SP9A1 adds at least 100fps to the muzzle velocity over a typical service pistol. The weapon is suppressor friendly, with the muzzle factory threaded 1/2×28. A little blowback can be felt with the can on, something that the A3 variant (expected in the U.S. by late 2019) solves. If you do not run it sound-suppressed, I would recommend the Kaw Valley Precision Linear Compensator (kawvalleyprecision.com) to divert the report more towards the target and away from the shooter. Especially when used with 185-grain Seismic HP ammunition, the compensator cuts down the muzzle blast considerably for a more comfortable experience and reduced hearing damage in case of a precipitous firefight.

The pistol ships from the importer Global Ordnance with three 30-round magazines. Magazines are extremely easy to load by hand and weigh very little. Retail price is very reasonable: $699 at time of writing. At $30 each, extra 30-round magazines are a good deal. Various braces add a little to the price. Having shot it both with a fixed single tube and two collapsible struts, I am a fan of the more flexible collapsible variant. Both are compatible with various braces, with the Gear Head Tailhook (gearheadworks.com) being the most compact and robust option. The pistol ships with two back plates, one set up for a tube and one for a braceless configuration.

Compact dimensions, good balance and excellent ergonomics make Stribog SP9A1 an easy gun to shoot unsupported. Felt recoil is moderate, thanks to the well-calculated spring and bolt weight ratio and also to the double rubber recoil buffer in the back of the upper receiver. It’s been a strong favorite with my range visitors and models. Polish railroad police and Cape Verde SWAT officially adopted it. An updated A3 version with a remarkably simple roller-delayed blowback action has already been developed in 9mm Luger and 10mm Auto—hopefully, to be imported by Global Ordnance soon. Recently, the Stribog was a strong contender in the U.S. Army PDW competition. The main benefits will be reduced felt recoil and delayed unlocking in suppressed use to reduce already minimal gas blowback. Compared to the MP5 design, SP9A3 accomplishes the same goal with a single pin moving inside a bolt raceway. A more robust magazine design with metal-reinforced lips has also been developed, due soon in the U.S. As it is currently configured, Stribog SP9A1 would be my personal first choice for a defensive 9mm sort-of-pistol, complementing a GP Q100 or K100 pistol in the same caliber. It comes ready to use from the factory, unlike certain competitors that require numerous aftermarket parts to fix ergonomic flaws.

The Kel-Tec KSG was as conventionally American as a bullpup with twin seven-shot magazines can be. UTS-15, designed in Turkey to American specifications, was closer in layout to the Neostad, placing the magazines above the barrel and allowing manual selection of mag tubes or alternating side feed. Both guns were almost 2 pounds lighter than the Neostad and used conventional pumping direction. The UTAS UTS-15 one-upped the KSG by incorporating a light/laser controlled by a receiver switch into the forend, though only one of the two options can be used: Light and laser cannot be on simultaneously. Muzzle brake, chokes and a rifled barrel extension are also available. Received with great hopes, the UTS-15 proved better suited to science fiction movies than to combat use.

The UTS-15

The first generation UTS-15 proved rather fragile, with the forend breaking off at times leaving the user with a shotgun and no way to unload it. The mechanism for alternating the magazine tubes took a good deal of effort to run, making pumping more work than usual. And, probably most significantly, the magazines could not be topped off until empty. The loading process was unusual, requiring manually locking the magazine follower forward and then pushing shells in. Once the magazine was full, the user would close the dust cover, and the whole shell stack would slam about 3 inches back. Sometimes, that happened with the cover open and hurt the user’s fingers. In theory, the cover could be re-opened with a partial shell stack inside, the top shell pushed forward, and more ammunition added, but that was not a practical proposition. On the plus side, the entire action could be accessed by lifting the top cover over the receiver in case of a jam. Subsequent revisions of UTS-15 made it more robust and reliable but could not address the odd manual of arms. Initially, it sold well on the strength of specifications and martial appearance. A trickle of sales continues, but I wouldn’t rate this design as a success.

The XTR-12

The next 12-gauge shotgun from UTAS was the exact opposite: a box-fed semiauto based on the all-American AR-10 lower receiver. A streamlined, reliable weapon with a completely conventional manual of arms, the UTAS XTR-12 is one of the best fighting shotguns ever made. It solves most of the usual complaints about shotguns—hefty kick and slow reloads. The expected recoil of a full-power buck or slug is tamed by a short-stroke piston gas system and linear recoil buffer. Instead of single loading, slow and prone to fumbling, 5- and 10-round box magazines latch straight up the flared magazine well.

The manual of arms matches the AR-10 and the AR-15. A competition barrel accepting Benelli-style chokes—including rifled inserts—is available. Already accurate as a smoothbore and augmented with a rifled choke, the XTR-12 using full caliber Brenneke or DDupleks slugs can keep up with most 45-70 rifles. The AR-10-compatible UTAS lower accepts any DPMS-pattern AR-10 uppers for an even longer reach, though a lighter trigger would be a recommended upgrade going past 200 yards. In my experience, XTR-12 has been unfailingly reliable with every type of ammunition and comfortable even with magnum loads. It even feeds 23/4 or 3-inch shells from the same magazine. Between high reliability, low recoil and familiar manual of arms, UTAS hit a real home run with this model.

The Hatfield Brand

Both of UTAS shotguns sold for around $1,000 when they first came out, now perhaps they sell for $100 less. The price neglected the more populous entry-level segment of the market, so UTAS introduced the Hatfield brand. Named after the UTAS marketing director and sold mainly through discount retailers, Hatfield provides functionality without thrills. That said, the guns still come with nice hardwood stocks and a modicum of decorative trade dress. Four main models are offered, from the simplest break-open single shots, to over and under, to pumps and finally a somewhat unusual short-stroke, gas-operated autoloader in hunting and tactical configurations.

Going by such easily remembered model designations as USH410BY SGL 410, Hatfield shotguns are meant to deliver functionality at a decent price point. At the bottom of the line-up, single-shot break open models come with a useful feature: a hollow forend. Once broken open, the front of the action can swivel 150 degrees to fit into that hollow for a very compact storage without disassembly. The barrel opens just enough for loading and stays in place when the action hinge is new and stiff, but there’s no detent for the loading position. When broken open, the action would likely allow the barrel to point straight down. Break-open triggers are fairly heavy at 8 to 9 pounds, and the manually cocked external hammer is heavier still, making these better for adults than for kids. The guns come with a recoil pad, but their light weight makes the recoil of 20- and 12-gauge variants rather brisk. That can be mitigated with the use of Aguila Minishells®, which give a 410-like recoil with the shorter full-bore shot stack. The fit and finish are no-frills but entirely adequate. At $120 retail, these lightweight scatterguns are a fair way of getting into shotgun hunting.

Over and Under

Over and under (O/U) shotguns rise to a whole other level of performance. These extractor designs are also a bit stiff when new but come with excellent triggers and options of fancier wood and metal finish or all-weather Cerakote. In the low $300s, retail, they are quite a deal compared to even entry-level options from other brands. Heavier and equipped with more effective recoil pads, they are comfortable even with full-power slugs or buck in 12 gauge. Shooting the .410 and the 20 gauge is like diving into a popcorn bucket; before you know it, a whole case of birdshot is gone. Set up with fiber optic beads on textured ribs, Hatfield O/U proved ergonomic and handy. The safety is a slider permitting top or bottom barrel selection.

Pump Action

Next up, the Hatfield pump-action line is represented by two looks, hunting and tactical. The hunting guns come with nice wood, shiny metal and bead sights, looking very nice for under $200. The internal finish is very good on all moving parts, but outright rough wherever parts fit isn’t relevant. That doesn’t affect performance but makes reassembly a little more difficult until one learns where to just push on the bolt and the action bars to get them into the receiver. The quality of bores is illustrated by slug groups in the 1-inch range at 20 yards with cheap Turkish ammunition and bead sight. All pump and semiauto Hatfields have 5+1 capacity. A slightly wider loading port on the 12 gauge would have been nice, being just right on the .410 and 20-gauge guns. Functionally, these ran pretty much the same as any other pump—simply and reliably.

Testing the Tactical Model

My friend and I put quite a bit of ammunition through the tactical version of this model set up with a synthetic pistol grip stock and a full-length ventilated aluminum heat shield with Picatinny rail on top. While the barrel has a front sight blade, it’s not visible to the shooter. The gun can be set up with AR-height iron sights or a red dot, the latter being more useful for moving targets. The heat shield isn’t my favorite; the first range session came to a halt because the red dot fell off of the gun. A closer look showed that the Picatinny rail teeth rounded off from recoil! The sight was reinstalled further forward, no problems since. The rail is easily user-replaceable, but I have not bothered to install the spare yet since the original one held up for the thousand or so shells fired through that gun since. We also discovered that screws holding the shield in place loosen over time, corrupting the sight alignment. Blue Loctite® fixed that, rendering the shotgun fit for defensive duty. The telescoping AR-style stock is well-padded and comfortable. For some reason, it comes equipped with a completely unnecessary cheek riser, easily removable to get a better sight picture. The tactical variants retail in the low $300s.

Hunting Hatfields

Semiauto Hatfields likewise come in hunting and defensive configurations. Based loosely on the Benelli pattern, they use short-stroke gas operation rather than the more common long stroke. The loading is different from the familiar American pattern. Closing the bolt on a directly loaded shell is done by pressing a button on the side of the receiver, not by tugging on the bolt handle. Release a shell from the magazine with a tab near the trigger guard. When fired, the trigger release also pops that tab, but it has to be pressed every time when cycling shells out of the magazine. This arrangement makes it easy to clear the chamber without having to dump ammunition from the tube—very sensible for hunting though a bit more complicated for defense. On the plus side for defense, this also permits a very rapid switchover to different ammo types, such as a slug with the tube still holding buckshot. Functionality has been impressively flawless even with lower powered ammunition, though full-strength shells are recommended. The 12 gauge also comes with a second piston for 3-inch magnum shells. Fit and finish are again adequate, with well-fitted metal and quality wood. Laser checkering is functional but won’t win beauty pageants. Assembly and disassembly were easier than with pumps, thanks to the smoother internal finish. The semiauto tactical variant has none of the heat shield issues of the pump, probably thanks to reduced intensity of recoil delivered by autoloading.

Final Thoughts

At the range, several of these shotguns became crowd-pleasers, especially the over and under .410 and 12 gauge. The 12- and 20-gauge autoloaders likewise gathered their share of fans, and the pump became our go-to trainer weapon. All in all, UTAS fills two niches well—the budget offerings with Hatfield and the no-compromise fighting performance of the UTAS XTR-12.

Features

TP9EC uses a Cerakote polymer frame with metal rails and locking block. Inside, it’s a conventional tilting barrel Browning-type mechanism. Designed by Salient, a 4.55-inch nitrided fluted barrel is threaded 13.5x1LH and features a knurled thread protector with flats for the included wrench. Canik makes up for the less known brand with extra features and accessories included at no extra charge. The pistol comes in a hard case with a flush-fitting, drop-free, 15-round metal magazine and a spare with a +3 extended floorplate; four micro red dot mounting plates covering just about every MRDS on the market; a magazine loader; an adjustable cant plastic holster with an unorthodox retention device; a larger backstrap; a trigger lock; cleaning jag and bore brush; and a disassembly instruction card. For actual carry, something other than the included holster would be recommended: the retention method requires pressing the latch towards the muzzle with the index finger to draw (not a very quick or comfortable motion). A mag loader is included but loading by hand proved just as quick and easy.

The first impression is very favorable. The pistol fits the hand well, with just enough texture for retention without being abrasive. All controls are accessible while retaining a low profile. The flared magazine well is another Salient upgrade, with a wide funnel for quick reloads and a bit of a pommel to aid retention. The magazine release button is placed, textured and tensioned just right and reversible for left-handed shooters. Salient-designed, dovetailed, fiber-optic front and non-glare square notch rear sights provide a good sight picture. The rear sight is retained with two set screws but requires a pusher tool for adjustment. From the box, the pistol shot substantially high and somewhat to the right of center, but sight adjustment was quick and easy. The pistol also pointed high for me; installing the smaller backstrap corrected that, providing a more natural point of aim. For longer range, the rear sight can be removed completely and replaced with a red dot—I ordered a Vortex Viper 6 MOA model while starting testing with the standard iron sights. The inclusion of four plates allows the TP9EC to support most of the pistol optics on the market, so long as they are rated to withstand the slide motion. Swapping the rear sight for a micro red dot takes just a minute.

The new trigger was the unexpected but most welcome surprise. Previous designs felt good but could lock up if the finger was placed too high, if side pressure was exerted or if the crease rather than the pad of the finger contacted the safety tab. This trigger fixes all problems and provides the best experiences of all Canik series. The trigger face and the wide red-anodized safety tab are metal. The tab is hinged very high, close to the frame. Once the take-up is met, the finger comfortably presses across the entire 3/7-inch width of the flat trigger face, making for a very controllable pull. The weight is the same as other models, around 4.5 pounds, but it feels more crisp and repeatable with around 1/16-inch reset conducive to controlled rapid fire. The red striker indicator protrudes from the back of the receiver when cocked, permitting tactile verification in the dark. The ambidextrous slide stop lever is easily reached with either thumb or forefinger and features a nicely textured shelf. While great for locking the slide back or unlocking it during reloading, this lever frequently ended up held down by the thumb of the strong hand during firing, preventing slide lock on the last shot.

The disassembly process is simple but unusual: verify clear, pull the trigger to decock, pull the slide forward 1 inch and lift it straight up. The recoil spring is captured onto the guide rod. Reassembly is the reverse of the field-stripping process. Very little strength is needed for field-stripping.

Shooting the Canik TP9EC is very pleasant. The minimal recoil, moderate muzzle flip and a good trigger all add up to a feeling of confidence, further improved by 100% reliability with all kinds of ammunition, from 50-grain hypervelocity Liberty HP to 185-grain Seismic subsonics and everything in between as well. The pistol feels equally good during single-strong or weak-hand shooting as well. Accuracy was verified with the gun in a two-handed hold over a sandbag. At 15 yards, groups centered between 2 and 7 inches above the point of aim, with the heaviest bullets printing higher.

Results

               Load                               Average Velocity                            Average Group

Liberty 50gr HP                                  1945fps                                              2.75in

Velocity (no longer sold) 88gr            1460fps                                                2.5in

Maker Bullet 115gr CHP                    1335fps                                                   3in

SIG SAUER 124gr JHP                     1215fps                                                2.7in

Speer Lawman 147gr TMJ                  980fps                                                3.2in

Seismic 185gr HP                                 955fps                                                  3in

The group shape, with minimal elongation but with one or two fliers out of every 10, suggests to me that the shooter’s skill was inadequate with the combination of sights and trigger. The groups shot from a rest were considerably higher than those fired freehand, meaning that the motion of the pistol in recoil affected the point of impact. The pistol also twisted noticeably to the right when fired for accuracy, but that was not observed when firing it standing combat-style. The pistol seems capable of better accuracy than my test results, so I re-shot with a Vortex Viper 6 MOA mini red dot at the first opportunity. With the optic, groups were reduced only slightly, but the speed of target acquisition doubled! The shaking of the red dot during the trigger pull betrayed the real source of limited accuracy, the heavy combat-weight trigger. Switching it out for a 3.5-pound variant would make the TP9EC into more of a target pistol, but the risk of accidental discharge with gloved hands would increase.

Final Thoughts

What does this mean in practical terms? At 15 yards, I can make repeated rapid hits on a 4×4-inch square. At 50 yards, hits on a steel silhouette are guaranteed 100%. TP9EC accuracy is not match grade, but it is respectable for a fighting pistol. The gun is very comfortable to shoot: a back-to-back, 200-round training exercise won’t induce undue fatigue in the user. Much like a certain Croatian design before it, Canik brand has a good chance of going mainstream in the U.S.