Tag Archives: handgun

Research

BUL Cherokee Mini

Leave a comment

mini.jpg

For the longest time, I was convinced that the BUL Cherokee Mini (which is to say, the Cherokee variant that has a smaller frame ala the Storm Compact) was never put into production, either as generation 1 or generation 2.

Imagine my surprise when someone at BUL corrected me, told me it was in current production, and sent me a picture! You can see it above. The interesting thing about the Cherokee Mini is that it’s chambered in .380ACP. I’m guessing that it might be selling well with the current events in Israel.

I also have a picture of a gen 1 Cherokee Mini (9mm), but I don’t know if that ever made it out the door.

BUL Cherokee Mini_small.jpg

Research

The difference between BUL Impact and BUL M-5 Ultra magazines

Leave a comment

IMG_1274

One mystery that consistently driven me a bit crazy is the subject of whether BUL M-5 Ultra magazines are compatible with the BUL Impact, and vica versa. I finally have an answer. As you can see in the above picture, the difference between the two magazines is the follower. The Impact magazines (seen on the right) have a slightly different follower with a higher left hand side to push up the Impact’s slide stop. The M-5 magazines (on the left) have a “normal” profile follower without the raised edge. You can use either magazine type in either gun, but the M-5 magazines won’t actuate the slide stop on the Impact, and the Impact magazines will require more force to release the M-5’s slide on an empty magazine.

Given that proper Ultra-X magazines appear to be going for astronomical ($100+) prices these days, being able to use DDA mags should be very financially helpful to owners of the Charles Daly M-5 Ultra-X and the Kimber Ten II Ultra.

Industry News

Galil ACE 3X pistols in US; shipping soon

Leave a comment

According to the IWI-US’s Facebook page, the Galil ACE 7.62×39 pistols have arrived and are awaiting final assembly.

 

Here’s another “better late than never”. The first Galil ACE pistols have finally arrived in our warehouse. We are…

Posted by IWI US on Tuesday, November 3, 2015

I am eagerly awaiting reviews, albeit I know what they’re going to say: “great pistol, but where’s the SBR kit?”

Research, Reviews

Upgrading the BUL M-5

4 Comments

IMG_1237

I recently reviewed a gen 1 BUL M5 in 9mm, and suffice it to say, I think it’s one of the best double-stack 1911 options on the market if you can find magazines for it (which I did, finally).

But, mine was a stock gun, and I’ve never really owned a proper race gun. So, I decided that I could take a chance on a handgun I paid $400 for (not to mention it being a bit of a mutt with a Springfield-marked frame), and decided to do some modifications to it to bring it up to competition standards. It was an adventure, and I have some tips to share.

Continue reading Upgrading the BUL M-5 →

Research

BUL M-5 Mags and Parts Source

6 Comments

A recurrent “theme” (read: whine) I’ve had about BUL handguns is that the magazine and parts situation is somewhat dire, especially on the 9mm side. On a tip, I did find someone who stocks BUL M-5 magazines and parts. Ask for Lou at All America Sales (870-544-2809). He was able to source some stuff for me that I had a lot of difficulty finding otherwise, and his prices were quite reasonable (to the point where I was wondering if he wasn’t getting out of sourcing these parts to begin with).

I am in the process of upgrading my M-5 using those parts, and should have an article on that process soon.

Research

IMI 945 Compact / “Black Horse”

5 Comments

Just to be clear: all images in this post are from Modern Gun magazine, August1994. I use them without permission, and will remove the images if requested by the rightful copyright holder.

945 compact

There are many mysterious Israeli handguns out there, but besides the semi-infamous 9mm IMI revolver, another difficult one to track down is the “Black Horse”. There’s a grand total of one reference to it online, and a somewhat grainy picture that seems to have been taken from a visit to the IDF History Museum in Tel Aviv. (My need for a trip to Israel grows and grows…)

But, thanks to a tip from a helpful commenter, Daniel Watters at TheGunZone, I’ve finally hunted up some more information on the gun, and it’s not what I was expecting…

Continue reading IMI 945 Compact / “Black Horse” →

Reviews

The BUL Cherokee

6 Comments

IMG_1193

While BUL Transmark is best known for their exceptional 1911 handgun lines, they’ve had extensive experience dabbling in Tanfoglio derivatives, too. The BUL Impact leveraged the magazines of their M-5 double-stack 1911 line; the BUL Storm was a well-made Tanfoglio copy that had some success in IPSC.

The BUL Cherokee was introduced in 2000 to replace the BUL Impact and provide a full-frame polymer pistol to the commercial market. It was updated a few years later with a newer frame (recognizable by its finger swells). Read on for my thoughts.

Continue reading The BUL Cherokee →

Reviews

The Sardius SD9

7 Comments

IMG_1191

Nehemiah Sirkis designed a lot of interesting guns, many of which I don’t talk about much on this blog because they were designed and manufactured in the United States. This is no sin – remember that Browning did most of his best work with Fabrique Nationale in Belgium – but they are somewhat outside the scope of my collecting activities. Sirkis designed a lot of interesting rifles (including some Kimber .22s and the new IWI Dan sniper rifle), but his fame in the United States is generally from his pocket pistols – the Intratec CAT 9, the Cobra Patriot 45, and the Detonics Pocket 9.

But, he also designed one other pocket pistol that made it to the US – the Sardius/Sirkis SD9, manufactured by Sirkis Industries in Israel. It’s a real oddball gun… which is what makes it so interesting.

Continue reading The Sardius SD9 →