Category: All About Guns
New for this year, Benelli Lupo BE.S.T. models chambered in 6.5 mm Creedmoor and .300 Win. Mag. are available with AA-grade walnut stocks.
The reliable Lupo comes with shims to adjust drop, cast and trigger reach for a custom fit.
The new Lupo BE.S.T. rifles include the glossy Benelli Surface Treatment (BE.S.T.) on the barrel—preventing rust, corrosion and abrasion. This proprietary finishing technology was developed by engineers and scientists at Benelli’s manufacturing headquarters in Urbino, Italy. It is a hybrid Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) and Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) technology that applies a protective coating to parts. Benelli backs this finish with a 25-year warranty.
In addition to the BE.S.T. finish on the barreled receiver, the walnut stock sports a durable satin finish that Benelli says will stand up to the hard use. The stock has a Monte Carlo profile, along with the Progressive Comfort recoil reduction system and AirTouch Grip surfaces along the fore-end and grip.
Also provided with the Lupo are user-adjustable stock spacers to customize length-of-pull, plus shims to adjust drop, cast and trigger reach.
Benelli Lupo bolt-action rifles include a Crio-treated free-float barrel combined with a hardened steel barrel extension bedded to a steel block within an alloy receiver. Other features include a detachable box magazine that blends smoothly with the chassis, top-mounted ambidextrous safety and a two-piece Picatinny rail system for optic mounting.
The new Benelli Lupo Wood BE.S.T. models include:
- .300 Win.Mag., Satin Walnut/gloss BE.S.T., 24-inch barrel, 4+1 capacity, 1:11-inch-right-hand twist, 7.1 pounds, MSRP $2,199
- 6.5 mm Creedmoor, Satin Walnut/gloss BE.S.T., 24-inch barrel, 5+1 capacity, 1:8-inch-right-hand twist, 7.1 pounds, MSRP $2,199
The ordinance, authored by San Diego Councilmember Marni von Wilpert (a name that sounds like it would also be good for a Disney villain), in essence mirrors existing California law, which already prohibits the possession of an unserialized firearm. The San Diego ordinance specifically creates a misdemeanor offense to possess or sell any firearm that does not have a serial number on it, which is supposed to make criminals think twice about carrying a home-built gun around. As of March of this year, the law wasn’t having any impact on violent crime, with homicides up 80% compared to the same time period in 2021 and 77 unserialized firearms seized by police. There were also 295 serialized firearms seized by police, which is another sign that going after “ghost guns” isn’t going to stop the individuals committing the shootings in the city.
But none of that matters to the virtue-signaling politicians in San Diego, including von Wilpert, who are instead now eagerly singing the praises of the “ghost gun” ordinance now that someone’s been sentenced for violating the law.
“The city’s novel ghost gun ordinance is an effective tool for removing untraceable firearms from the hands of criminals,” City Attorney Mara W. Elliott said. “We thank Councilmember Marni von Wilpert for bringing forward this ordinance, which keeps San Diego at the forefront of our nation’s battle against gun violence.”
… “It’s clear from this conviction that San Diego’s landmark ghost gun law is starting to work to stop the proliferation of dangerous, untraceable firearms in our community,” said von Wilpert.
Is it though? I realize I haven’t actually said what the sentence the defendant received here, so let’s delve a little deeper into the events that led to 23-year old Rene Orozco having the dubious distinction of being the subject of a press release by the city attorney.
Orozco’s arrest apparently didn’t make the news at the time, but according to the Elliott’s account he was arrested after fleeing from police and leading them on a car chase through San Diego’s City Heights neighborhood, allegedly tossing the unserialized gun as he then continued to try to elude officers on foot.
Would Orozco would have avoided arrest and prosecution if the gun he’d been caught with had a serial number? Of course not. So what exactly is the point of a misdemeanor charge for possessing a “ghost gun” when he could already be charged with illegal possession of a weapon for simply having a gun in the first place. Then there are the charges of eluding police, tampering with evidence, and any number of traffic misdemeanors that were committed during the police pursuit. But the City Attorney needs to show that this new ordinance is working, and so Orozco was charged with having a ghost gun, and now gets to experience firsthand the draconian punishment that will surely cause him to rethink the decisions he made.
He was sentenced last week to 45 days in custody and one year of probation. As a result, his driver’s license will be suspended from six months and he is prohibited from owning firearms for a year.
45 days in custody with good credit time means that Orozco will likely spend about three weeks in the county lockup, which doesn’t sound like much time considering how scary “ghost guns” are supposed to be. And again, he could have gotten that same sentence just by charging him with misdemeanor crimes in California state statute that have nothing to do with unserialized firearms. What’s the point?
San Diego’s “ghost gun” ordinance is pure political theater; designed to have an impact on the electorate, not armed criminals. As long as politicians like von Wilpert can convince constituents that she’s “doing something” to address their fears about violent crime, she doesn’t have to bother coming up with doing something that actually works. And in California, “doing something” means putting another gun control law on the books that at best is worthless, and far too often ends up harming the law-abiding instead of curtailing violent criminals.
SIG Sauer is expanding the SIG Custom Works Spectre pistol lineup with the new P365XL Spectre Comp, which stands out with its innovative integrated compensator.
Overall length is 6.6 inches, sight radius is 5.1 inches and overall width is 1.1 inches. Weight, sans magazine, is 20.7 ounces.
The Spectre family of polymer pistols from SIG Custom Works are performance oriented, and the new P365XL Spectre Comp 9 mm is no different, with a custom-designed slide and gold highlights. The standout feature, however, is the aforementioned integrated compensator, which helps to reduce muzzle flip and felt recoil. The clever design also means the compensator will never come loose.
The P365XL Spectre Comp includes an XSeries LXG laser stippled grip module, and a SIG Custom Works slide exclusive to this model.
A 9 mm polymer-frame pistol, the SIG Custom Works P365XL Spectre Comp is loaded with features that all shooters will appreciate. In addition to the integrated compensator, performance oriented enhancements include the laser stippled XSeries (LXG) grip module, an optics-ready slide with custom serrations, optics plate and rear dovetail sight, a titanium-nitride gold 3.1-inch barrel and XSeries gold flat trigger, along with X-Ray3 day and night sights. Plus, the P365XL Spectre Comp fits in all standard P365XL holsters.
MSRP is $1,299. The SIG Custom Works P365XL Spectre Comp ships with two steel 12- or 10-round magazines and comes with a limited-edition case, coin and certificate of authenticity.
Categories
Sig Sauer p229 357 sig
While many firearm owners nowadays love their high-capacity polymer pistols there is still a strong segment of shooters who love their revolvers.
Especially the throwbacks with deep illustrious bluing, superb accuracy and gorgeous wood grips. In this TFB review we examine a revolver just like that in the Smith & Wesson Model 19 Classic .357 Magnum.
Especially the throwbacks with deep illustrious bluing, superb accuracy and gorgeous wood grips. In this TFB review we examine a revolver just like that in the Smith & Wesson Model 19 Classic .357 Magnum.
This is a revolver that pays homage to the craftsmanship and appearance of how Smith & Wesson and many companies used to produce wheelguns. For Smith & Wesson, their iconic red ramp front sight is present, you have a finish you can see your reflection in and the wood grips are crafted like they are truly art.
While the appearance absolutely counts for something it is not everything. We will review this revolver to see if the look, price-point, functionality and accuracy all add up to something you may want to buy for yourself.
SPECIFICATIONS: SMITH & WESSON MODEL 19 CLASSIC .357 MAGNUM
Before making spent brass tumble to the ground it is always important to examine what you are working with. This is the complete specification listing for the Model 19 Classic .357 Magnum as presented by Smith & Wesson.
- Red Ramp Front Sight & Black Blade, Adjustable Rear Sight
- 4.25″ Stainless Steel Barrel w/ High Polished Blued Finish
- Custom Walnut Wood Grips & Classic-Style Thumbpiece
- Carbon Steel Frame & Cylinder w/ High Polished Blued Finish
- Caliber: . 357 Magnum / .38 S&W Special+P
- Capacity: 6 Round Cylinder
- Action: Single- / Double-Action
- Overall Length: 9.9″
- Weight: 37.2 Ounces
- MSRP: $826
The Smith & Wesson Model 19 Classic is one of the newest introductions into their Classic line of revolvers. Over recent years they have been bringing back some of their old models to the delight of nostalgic consumers. Smith & Wesson offers this statement about the newly re-introduced Model 19 Classic:
The Smith & Wesson Classics series of revolvers have been enhanced with modern internal components, but mimic the look and feel of classic models. The Model 19 Classic revolver features a handsome set of walnut grips, a 4.25″ barrel, a black adjustable rear sight, and red ramp front sight.
The revolver dons a highly polished, blued finish and traditional thumbpiece for a classic look.
RANGE TIME: SMITH & WESSON MODEL 19 CLASSIC .357 MAGNUM
For my time at the range shooting the Model 19 Classic I brought with several types of ammunition. For an old school revolver like this I thought I would lob some equally old school ammunition down range.
So I dug out some vintage Herter’s ammo I have been saving for an occasion such as this. I used two different flavors of Herter’s .357 Magnum 158 Grain FMJ plus some .38 Special reloads of my own making which were mild and purely for fun.
The .357 Magnum loads tended to bark a lot, but the bite was minimal; very little recoil.
The recoil being generated out of this barrel length and frame I would most closely associate with a standard polymer-framed 9mm. Your follow-up shots were pretty fast in either double-action or single-action because of the low recoil and minimal muzzle rise.
The .38 Special loads that I handloaded were even more pleasant and mild to shoot which was not surprising at all. This revolver would be a great way to introduce someone to shooting handguns.
Moderate .38 Special ammunition could give someone a tame entrance into shooting handguns while the .357 Magnum could give that same individual the “bigger” or “true picture” in regards to recoil and management of the weapon.
Most full-framed revolvers with barrels that are 4″ or greater tend to be pretty accurate and this revolver was no exception. Out to 25 yards while shooting off-hand and no assistance from a bench the Model 19 Classic was very accurate.
It exhibited point-and-shoot type of accuracy. I measured a few groups of 3 – 5 shots at 10 yards for a baseline of accuracy and they all clover-leafed in the realm of 1 1/2″ – 2″ depending on how well I was personally shooting.
You could feel the double-action trigger pull mechanically walk through its progression until the hammer would finally drop.
This was something that was not detracting from the trigger pull, but for more discerning shooters it is something you may notice. The trigger pull weight was moderate, if not light, but an audible and tactile feel was present.
The traditional large handle wood grip fills your hand and makes it very easy to control. My personal preference is not to have a small, dainty grip with revolvers, but rather something larger in nature that tends to fill your hands.
For a frame of reference, I am 6 feet tall, 180 pounds and have average-sized hands. I would tend to believe most all shooters would have little to no problem handling and manipulating the functions on this handgun.
The cylinder ejector was a little gritty straight out of the box. A simple shot of CLP oil and it glided like butter. The factory oil could have dried and made it initially feel gritty or something else creating a tiny amount of friction. In either event, that was an issue that was easily remedied and would not be a general cause for concern in my mind.
FINAL THOUGHTS: SMITH & WESSON MODEL 19 CLASSIC .357 MAGNUM
All in all, if you fancy yourself a fan of revolvers I have nothing negative to generally say about the Smith & Wesson Model 19 Classic .357 Magnum. It is always a good precaution to function test, handle and manipulate the controls of any firearm before shooting it at the range.
By simply doing that, I alleviated the only concern I experienced which was a slightly sticky cylinder ejector rod. Otherwise, the revolver had good, crisp cylinder timing; was superbly accurate; handled well; and was gorgeous for someone who is bias to revolvers like this.
In the eyes of another shooter this may not perfect for their hands or not attractive in its appearance, but that is why we as shooters have so many options to pick from. From this writer and gun lover, I give it a resounding thumbs up.
In closing, I want to thank Smith & Wesson for allowing TFB the opportunity to test one of their revolvers for this review. In my experience (as a S&W gun owner and man from behind the counter) they have always done right by their customers.
