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TM 2018 Personal Defense Issue Nighthawk Custom Double Stack GRP 6 Nighthawk adds a line of hand-crafted, high-capacity double-stack options to its fullsize 9mm government model 1911’s for 2018. We take the least-expensive GRP 6 variation for a test drive. Guy Coursey 14 IWI Galil ACE 5.56mm Pistol 14 Equipped with a side-folding pistol brace, this modern- day Galil is an ultra-compact, ultra-reliable weapon system that embodies the rugged-reliability of an AK, only with features that rival an AR. Dave Bahde Luth-AR MBA-3 Carbine Stock 26 Taking a different approach entirely, Luth-AR offers a fully-adjustable carbine buttstock without the fully-adjustable weight penalty. Dave Bahde POF’s piston-drive 7.62mm Revolution 30 In a revolutionary feat in packaging, Patriot Ordnance Factory has engineered an AR-platform rifle chambered 38 in 7.62x51mm NATO that’s no larger or heavier than its 5.56mm counterpart. Here’s your cake. And yes, you can eat it too. Guy Coursey Walther PPQ Q4 TAC 9mm Pistol 38 Building on the growing polymer-frame PPQ lineup— the pistols equipped with quite possibly the best striker-fired trigger in the world—we test the new Q4 TAC RDS/suppressor ready version. Dave Bahde New-for-2018 Defensive Gear & Accessories 46 We put our ears to the ground and here’s what we came up with for top-picks in new defensive gear, components, optics and ammunition for 2018. OT Staff 46 SureFire SOCOM RC2 Suppressor 50 Through advanced manufacturing techniques, the SOCOM 2 series of QD sound suppressors is less expensive than the original contract- winning SOCOM line, without a penalty in performance. Dave Bahde Rock River Arms QMC Carbine 56 RRA’s Quick Mag Change LAR-15—a well-equipped, soft-shooting, precise and extremely-reliable AR carbine. Need more reasons to consider buying one? Read on! Guy Coursey 48 Nikon Black Force1000 1-4x24mm Scope 64 The best value yet in a sub-$400, low-power-variable 56 riflescope for your carbine? Frank Melloni Gun Giveaway Contest 66 Log onto On Target’s website (ontargetmagazine.com) to enter to win a Walther PPS M2 pistol, 500-rounds of Black Hill’s 100-gr. HoneyBadger ammo and an Elite Survival LOADOUT Range Bag. OT Staff On Our Cover: Nighthawk’s new 9mm GRP Double Stack 1911, sitting next to the On Target Editors’-Choice-Award winning Nov-X 9mm ammunition. Photo by Ben Battles. 3 EDITOR Ben Battles Tel.: (603) 356-9762 [email protected] ART DIRECTOR Mackenzie Battles [email protected] DIRECTOR OF ONLINE CONTENT Charles Anderson [email protected] CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Massad Ayoob, David Bahde, Guy Coursey, Frank Melloni, Tatiana Whitlock, Wayne Van Zwoll, Mike Dickerson, Bill Battles 2XTREME ADVERTISING SALES Byers Media, LLC Tel.: (989) 826-3296 Fax.: (989) 826-6926 Ken Byers [email protected] Autumn Ifland [email protected] Neil Henry [email protected] CIRCULATION Angela Battles Tel.: (603) 356-9762 [email protected] PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS www.ontargetmagazine.com SUBSCRIPTION CUSTOMER SERVICE [email protected] On Target is a trademark of Phoenix Publishing, Inc. Entire contents copyright ©2018 by Phoenix Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. 4 5 NIGHTHAWK ADDS A HIGH-PERFORMANCE BIG-BLOCK OPTION to its custom 9mm 1911’s FOR THOSE WHO KNOW AND APPRECIATE 1911S, the name Nighthawk Custom is both familiar and much respected. This is because Nighthawk makes some of the best—maybe the best—and most aesthetically pleasing 1911s on the planet, in addi- tion to customized Browning Hi-Powers, Remington 870 shotguns, revolvers and knives. One of their latest offerings is a custom dou- ble-stack 1911 in 9mm, which is now a $650 upgrade-option on all of Nighthawk’s current-production government model 9mm single stack pistols. For competitive shooters, or those who just want more rounds onboard your 1911-style auto for defensive purposes, this sort of pistol fits a definite niche in the Nighthawk lineup. For our testing I received a Nighthawk GRP (Global Response Pistol), which handily lived up to the Nighthawk Custom reputation for in fit, finish, form and function. Before examining the pistol in question, it is important to under- stand just what “custom” means in this case. Imagine a conclave of very serious, dedicated artisans making katanas in a small village of feudal Japan, then take that concept about 500 years forward to the United States with 1911 handguns, and you will sort of get the idea. Each Nighthawk Custom firearm is GUY COURSEY BEN BATTLES 6 7 NIGHTHAWK CUSTOM GRP RECON personally hand-built by an ex- power racing engine, is truly a functional work of pert gunsmith at their facility in art. Beyond just being salivatingly pleasant to gaze Berryville, Arkansas. In this case, upon, each of the 46 different Nighthawk Custom hand-built actually means built pistols are well-known for superior handling, ac- by hand, and “an expert” actually curacy, and Glock-like reliability. On the very rare means one of Nighthawks talented occasion when one of their firearms breaks or has a ‘smiths builds the gun from start to problem, Nighthawk Custom will repair it for free. finish, eliminating potential inconsis- Not surprisingly, the price for handguns of this sort tencies of various parts being fitted by is substantial, ranging from just below $3,000 to various hands. Every part is custom made just under $8,000 for the most expensive model. or hand fitted to the firearm, with the The price alone may cause average Earth-people initials of that particular ‘smith placed on to stop reading right here, or encourage others to each and every gun he makes. The result, continue on more out of curiosity as to what sorts like a meticulously blueprinted, high-horse- of pistols rich oil magnates or Arab sheiks may buy along with their Ferraris and yachts. These are more than just expensive toys, “safe queen’s” or showpieces, however. These guns are built to run hard and do work, so read on. The Nighthawk Custom GRP frame is made TOP LEFT: THE SINGLE PIECE GRIP REDUCES THE OVERALL CIRCUM- FERENCE, MAKING THIS high-cA- PACITY 1911NOTICEABLY SLIMMER THAN OTHERS WITH TRADITIONAL REMOVABLE GRIP PANELS. THE TEXTURE DIMPLES WRAP 360-de- GREES AROUND THE FRAME AND GIVE A SOLID non-slip HOLD. THE SQUared-oFF, high-cut TRIGGER GUARD HELPS POSITION YOUR STRONG HAND AS HIGH UP ON THE PISTOL AS IS POSSIBLE FOR IN- CREASED CONTROL UNDER RECOIL. BOTTOM LEFT: A SERRATED, single-sided THUMB SAFE- TY, SMOOTH slide-stOP AND SMOOTH, EXTENDED MAGAZINE RELEASE ROUND OUT THE CON- TROLS. THE STANDARD EQUIP- MENT HEINE LEDGE STRAIGHT EIGHT NIGHT SIGHTS ARE FITTED WITH ONE TRIJICON TRITIUM VILE Per— THE REAR OF WHICH IS IDE- ALLY SHAPED FOR GAINING TRAC- TION ON NEARLY ANYTHING FOR single-handed SLIDE RACKING. 88 9 RIGHT: “ONE GUN, ONE GUNSMITH”; THIS IS ONE OF THE ASPECTS THAT SETS NIGHTHAWK APART FROM OTHER BOUTIQUE 1911 MANUFACTURERS. EACH PART OF THE FINAL PRODUCT IS ME- TICULOUSLY hand-FITTED TO EACH OTHER, WITH THE INITIALS OF THAT PARTICULAR ‘SMITH PLACED ON EACH AND EVERY GUN HE MAKES. THE EFFORT AND EXPERTISE THAT THAT IS SWEATED INTO EACH FINAL PRODUCT EFFECTIVELY MAKES THESE PISTOLS FUNCTIONAL WORKS OF ART, AND THE PRIDE IN WORKMANSHIP EXTENDS TO THE OWNER IN THE FORM OF PRIDE IN OWNERSHIP. from 7075 aluminum, with a distinctive high-cut, square trigger guard. On the forward end there is a Recon Rail for pistol lights or other accessories, while aft there is a one-piece, wrap-around grip that encompasses the sides and front. This grip is cut with MSH hexagonal dimples that are texture and profile matched along with a flat mainspring housing at the rear for a very positive, 360-degree gripping surface. Along with this grip feature, the mag well is widely flared while hard- ly increasing the dimensions of the base of the grip, reducing the potential of the pistol printing when carrying concealed. Combined with the high-cut trigger guard, the Nighthawk speed-bump-equipped beavertail safety was designed to push the grip of the firing hand as high up as humanly possible, ABOVE: A high-cut BEAVERTAIL GRIP SAFETy— aiding in recoil control and ease of manipulation of the thumb FORCING YOUR FIRING HAND CLOSER TO THE BORE safety. A smooth-sided slide release and extended magazine Axis—and FLAT MAINSPRING HOUSING BOTH release round out the controls—all of which functioned NIGHTHAWK CUSTOM WORK TOWARD CONTROLLING RECOIL, MUZZLE with the high level of precision and tension that meticulous RISE AND ENHANCING OVERALL GRIP FEEL. hand-fitting lends. The pistol ships with two 17-round STI GRP RECON 10 11 RIGHT: THE STANDARD RECON RAIL DUST COVER GIVES THE OPTION OF HANGING YOUR FAVORITE NIGHTHAWK CUSTOM WHITE LIGHT/LASER ILLU- MINATOR. THE GRP MODEL IS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE GRP RECON OPTION IN THE LINEUP, BUT GIVES UP NOTHING IN FIT, FUNCTION OR PER- FORMANCE TO THE OTHER More-highlY ADORNED OR AESTHETICALLY COMPLEX NIGHTHAWK OFFERINGS. LEFT: AFTER TWO YEARS OF FINE TUNING, NIGHT- HAWK HAS ADDED A LINE OF double-stACK MODELS WORTHY OF CARRYING THE NAME. FOR AN EXTRA $650, ALL OF NIGHTHAWK’S CURRENT GOVERNMENT MODEL FULLSIZE GOVERNMENT MODEL 1911’S CHAMBERED IN 9MM 1911S CAN BE HAD IN 9MM ARE GENERALLY VERy-sOFt-shooTING PISTOL’S, AND THE GRP Double-STACK SEEMED EVEN MORE SO. THE NEW double-stACK, BETWEEN THE ULTRa-quick SHOt-recOVERY TIME 7075-alUMINUM FRAME, AND THE PISTOL’S PHENOMENAL TRIGGER, DOU- AND EACH WILL SHIP ble-tAPS WERE FAST AND PRECISE.