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The subcompact semi-auto handgun market has become considerably more crowded over the last few years. These days every gun manufacturer under the sun has filled out their product lines with small pistols perfect for concealed carry. Despite this crowded marketplace, a new company named Honor Defense thinks their Honor Guard pistol is a sales-winning concealed carry semi-auto 9mm handgun — and they’ve priced it to move. At first blush,  Honor Guard’s new gun looks like just about any other polymer-framed compact 9mm handgun. But there are some distinct differences . . .

 

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The HG9SC stainless-steel slide boasts cocking serrations both fore and aft — something missing from similar offerings from major competitors. I personally don’t use forward cocking serrations often but I love having the option.

Despite those serrations, the HG9SC’s slide is still on the slick side. Unlike the sharper and chunkier design of the SIG SAUER X38 series of firearms, the Honor Defense handgun feels smooth. It’s less like to snag on your clothing or stick annoyingly into the side of your body. The rest of the semi-automatic follows suit, flowing almost seamlessly from one feature to the next.

 

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A flowing design might be good for everyday carry and self defense, but it does have some downsides. The rounded ambidextrous slide catch lever on the side of the frame is designed not to stick out past the body of the gun. It makes this compact pistol streamlined and nice in the hand, but trying to use the slide release under pressure can be a challenge. That said, the majority of firearms instructors these days advise against relying on a slide release to send the slide home, suggesting instead suggesting that you slingshot it back into battery. If you’re racking your slide release to lock the gun open, it works great.

 

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Moving south on the gun we get to the frame proper, which is made (as is the style these days) from polymer. That makes for a very lightweight yet strong gun. The grip’s got some serious stippling; enabling a secure grip that isn’t aggressive enough to shred your skin.

 

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Another benefit of the HG9SC’s polymer frame (and their specific implementation): the entire frame can be replaced. The actual serialized firearm is nothing more than a metal chassis, which can be removed and placed in a different frame should you wish to change the geometry. Or replace a broken grip if you accidentally run over it with a tank.

 

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The HG9SC I tested is the traditional carry style with a rounded nose. Honor Defense also offers a version of the gun with a standoff device built-in below the barrel ahead of the trigger guard. You can press the HG9SC’s muzzle directly against the body of an attacker and fire repeatedly without worrying that the gun will jam — something you can’t do with any other semi-auto firearm. The downside: It makes the gun larger and more uncomfortable to carry.

 

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Honor Defense ships the gun with two magazines: one 7-round flush-fit magazine and one 8-round extended magazine. With the flush-fit magazine my little finger hangs off the bottom of the gun. The 8-round magazine allows for a proper full grip on the pistol. Both magazines fed equally well (and with no malfunctions) with the cheapest and crappiest ammunition I could find. The ambidextrous magazine release worked without issue. 

Unfortunately, additional magazines are impossible to find. There’s no aftermarket option to acquire new mags. If you want to carry more than the issued two magazines, you will need to order them directly from the factory.

Something that is available immediately is a holster. Options are available from the likes of Galco, Crossbreed, and others to enable you to tote the gun securely on your person. For a gun that launched less than a year ago that’s damn impressive.

 

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The gun ships with traditional three-dot sights installed on the slide, with one difference: The front sight is gigantic and orange. It’s extremely easy to pick up even when shooting under pressure. I like it.

If you don’t like the sights then change them! The dovetail mount is compatible with GLOCK sights, so if you can get them for a G19 then you can put them on your Honor Guard.

 

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The gun also comes with two backstrap panels to customized the grip size to your  preference.

Out on the range the HG9SC performs admirably. I didn’t experience any issues with reliability, no matter which brand of ammo I fed it or whether the gun was in the hands of a novice or an expert. My only complaint is the same one I have with every single-stack compact 9mm semi-auto firearm: Holding onto it can be a challenge when firing quickly. The small frame doesn’t provide a ton of real estate for your hands; the support hand has a tendency to slip off after repeated firings. At least in my experience. Your mileage may vary.

Just like other polymer offerings, the Honor Guard HG9SC uses a striker-fired trigger system. The look and feel is eerily similar to the SIG SAUER P320, with a one-piece trigger and a crisp clean break. There’s a bit of take-up before you hit the sear on the trigger pull, though, that spoils some of the fun. Another issue is reset — the trigger has to be released about an inch for it to reset, which is further than most. I’m not that concerned since the reset is very positive, both in a tactile and audible sense. You know when it is ready to fire again.

Accuracy is standard for a compact 9mm. Not outstanding (again due to the compact size) but my target looked remarkably like the targets Dan posted in his GLOCK 43 review.

 

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Overall, the made-in-the-USA Honor Guard 9mm is a honorable competitor in a crowded field. The trigger is okay, the form factor is comfortable, and the gun has some great features. Take-down for disassembly is easy. While that’s all well and good the real killer feature here is the price.

Guns like the (now) venerable GLOCK 43 command an MSRP of $529, while the Honor Guard sub-compact is $499. That might not be a ton of cash, but it’s enough of a difference to make you stop and consider this as a viable option before you plop down the samolians for a GLOCK.

Specifications: Honor Defense Honor Guard HG9SC

Overall Length: 6.2”

Height: 4.6”

Barrel Length: 3.2”

Magazine Release: Ambidextrous mag release

Sights: White-dot rear sights and orange front sight

Safety: Ambidextrous manual safety

Width: 0.96”

Weight: 22 oz.

Capacity: 7+1 or 8+1

MSRP: $499

Ratings (out of five stars):

Reliability: * * * * *

Reliable as the day is long – I had no problems.

Ergonomics (carry): * * * * *

I’m a big fan of the rounded edges and the curved design of the gun. It makes concealing the gun very easy, and wearing it around even easier.

Ergonomics (shooting): * * * * 

Keeping the support hand engaged was a bit of a challenge, but I always have that problem with compact handguns.

Customize This: * * * *

Just like the P320, the chassis can be swapped out and the entire frame replaced. That alone is excellent. Add in the already available holsters and replacement sights and you can really make this gun your own.

Overall: * * * *

What we have here is a very good 9mm carry gun at a great price. The trigger needs some work, but I would be perfectly happy carrying this gun for personal protection on a daily basis.

More from The Truth About Guns:

Gun Review: Ruger LC9s Pro

Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Wins Concealed Carry 9mm Pocket Pistol Comparison

Gun Review: Beretta Nano [Updated 2018]

57 COMMENTS

  1. “Reliability: * * * * *
    Reliable as the day is long – I had no problems.”

    About how many total rounds were run through it, Nick?

    (I’m becoming a fan of the ‘fire control group’ chassis copncept, I hope they have plans to offer other calibers, etc eventually…)

    • I, too was wondering how many rounds were sent down range. I’ve read a lot of reviews from a lot of places recently that act like 200-500 rounds is a lot of shooting, including one from either here or TFB about the gruelling, agonizing, bloody torture it was to break in his new competition gun in one afternoon with *gasp* 500 rounds! That’s not torture, guys, that’s a fun day of plinking.

    • As per the testing spec, I put 500 rounds through the gun. Based on experience this is usually enough to suss out any reliability issues. I’d shoot more but the budget is a little tight these days.

  2. That thirty dollar difference means a world of holsters, sights, replacement parts, accessories, and upgrades verses little to nothing of note. A lot of people are going to factor that part in along with name recognition. I don’t see it as a selling point.

    • It’s new though. The first time any new gun gets introduced it doesn’t have much aftermarket support. If this is popular and people want all kinds of parts and upgraded people will come out with them.

  3. What’s the actual length of the front strap from the bottom of the trigger guard to the bottom of the magazine? Nick’s little finger hung off the bottom of the 7-round magazine. For someone with smaller hands than his, there might be enough room for all three fingers. All I need is 2-1/4 inches.

    • 2 1/2 inches (60mm) needed for me. That should be a required statistic. I wonder how many single stack nines match that number? And maybe a palm swell halfway down for better grip. The PPS is in the ballpark.

  4. The name sounds like something for dispatching wayward daughters in more enlightened cultures.

    • I assume you really meant “Less enlightened cultures”?

      If you didn’t, then you are one sick puppy. Please seek professional help.

      • I foolishly assume everyone remembers some of my other posts. The last part was sarcasm. Just the same, I have sought that professional help (for other things) so I am covered both ways;-)

        • I don’t care if it is any good or not, the sad pathetically pandering name across the slide in 1 inch letters is a deal-breaker. Who the eff is gonna be seen with that?

          Honor Guard, Honor Defense, Honor Killing.

          Have these cretins no marketing department?

          Actual honor is something one has and does not flaunt, advertise, or cheaply diminish by advertising it on a slide like a Billy Mays product.

        • I agree with 16V about the billboard on the side. More and more the marketing guys are seemingly aiming directly at the guns and bibles crowd. Walther just came out with the CREED, with a similarly giant font size and appeal to dogma across the slide. So strange. They also got a new VP of marketing for the US. Must be some confused Millennial.

          Honor Guard can be read the other way, as a guard *against* the holy warriors and jihadists! ; )

    • I.O. Hellcat?

      I really hope this pistol makes it, but is very late to the show. Even three years ago would have been far better. Now with every big company making a compact single stack 9mm it’s pretty crowded.

      • Or a good old Bersa Thunder 380. Mind you it’s metal and a 380, but it is one fine shooter.

    • I have handled several Shields at gun shows. Every example had a stinking lousy trigger. Therefore, add the price of an Apex trigger kit to your $330. The Performance Center model probably has a better trigger, but it will cost more and I’m not at all sure about the wisdom of ports on a carry gun.

        • The CW9s I have handled had very nice triggers, smooth all the way with a clean break and negligible overtravel. I’ve read and agree that it resembles a fantastic double action revolver trigger. My only objection is that the break point is much closer to the palm of my hand than with other guns. I know they use the long travel as a safety but I would prefer it to start out long rather than end very short. Note that I seem to have average to small sized hands. It would be even more of an issue for someone with big hands.

      • I think for a carry gun the trigger is just fine on the shield, and it’s perfect for the non safety version (the one I tote around).

        Yeah the reset could be a bit better, but overall I think it’s a-ok

  5. I just picked one of these up for $380 + FFL fee. It really feels like they took a p320 and M&P Shield and spliced them together, and I mean that in a good way.

    The gun feels like a blend of all the good features of single stack striker 9MMs into one gun.

    Only negative I have is that the safety release is sometimes hard to activate as its ambidextrous and my other hand covers it every now and then.

  6. How in the world could this review have happened without trying a S&W Shield mag in that gun!? Seems like that was a must in any HONOR GUARD review. But in the end it sounds like it costs $40-50 more than a Shield / CW9 / LC9S just so you can have a removable chassis and a huge billboard on the slide.

    • Looks like the ambi-dextrous controls, better sights, better grip, replaceable backstraps, stainless chassis, made in the USA and tools or trigger pull for dis-assembly aren’t enough for you?
      Or did you stop moving your lips when you were reading?
      I love mine and am going to buy another one as soon as I can dump my Shield.

      • I don’t need ambidextrous controls, I am right handed and can use the controls just fine with my left only if need be. My Shield was 400 bucks and included night sights and three magazines, and it’s also made in the USA. So no, I won’t be selling my Shield anytime soon, especially to buy something from a new company with Smith has been around for well over a century.

  7. Interesting piece- competition is always a good thing in the gun market. I must say though, that I dislike this newish tendency of manufacturers to etch their company name and model big and bold on the frame. I’ll always pick function over form, but we gotta gripe about something trivial every once in awhile.

  8. Why is the chequering (or checkering?) on the frame not extended up onto the side of the frame? Or am i gripping the gun the wrong way all along?

  9. the other half of a good CCW is a great holster. Granted just about anyone can make one for it but who likes waiting?

    • The Honor Defense web site has links to CrossBreed, De Santis and Galco. All three show holsters for the Honor Guard.

  10. “The subcompact semi-auto handgun market has become considerably more crowded over the last few years.”
    Not here in California.

    • Just tested my Honor Guard at the range last week, not a single trigger reset issue 150 rounds in.

  11. The Ruger LC9 S Pro is a similar gun offered by a manufacturer sure to be around in 10 years if it needs service.
    (Which SR will do for free)

    The Ruger’s MSRP is also $50 less than the Honor Guard.
    It seems to me that if you are going to come in as a “value” gun. You might want to compete against a Value gun from one of the biggest names in the business.

    But that’s just me.

    Don

  12. Smith & Wesson called, they want their entire design back. This is such a ripoff I can’t believe more people aren’t talking about it. It looks like a video game representation of a Shield – the shape of the gun is completely the same – not even going to talk about the mags. I’m surprised they haven’t been sued.

    • How do you figure? Yes, they have a similar overall size and shape. But then do a number of other guns, like the PPS M2 for instance. There are only so many workable shapes that you can make a 9mm sub compact in. But if you bothered to look beyond exterior resemblance, they are COMPLETELY different guns. The internal actions are as different as you can get. For one, the single piece chassis of the Guard can be removed in seconds WITHOUT TOOLS. There are no pins to drive out. Try that with the Shield. And the ENTIRE trigger action of the Guard, including the trigger itself, is mounted in the chassis. Oh, and the action is a completely different design. It doesn’t resemble the Shield even vaguely. For instance, when you turn the take down lever, it disengages the sear, allowing the slide to be removed without pulling the trigger, or having to stick you finger in the action to push a little lever. And the Guard’s striker block safety is built into the striker assembly, not the frame. Oh, and no annoying trigger safety. The design is so safe, it doesn’t need one. I’m a gunsmith. Trust me. This thing isn’t going bang unless you pull the trigger. Period. To claim they stole the design because of superficial resemblance is just ludicrous.

  13. Hey Nick. I don’t know if you guys see new posts on past articles. I read your review on the honor gourd a couple of months ago and it was excellent. It stuck in my head enough that when I saw one today at my LGS, I bought it. I also found out online that there are now several places selling holsters and mags. I am going to try to get to the range tomorrow to break it in. Thanks for your great reviews man.

  14. I own one of these, and after a thorough shakedown, it has become my standard carry gun. I love everything about the gun. And your review is excellent and spot on. With one exception. “Another issue is reset — the trigger has to be released about an inch for it to reset, which is further than most.” I find this a little puzzling as the entire trigger travel on my gun is about 3/8 of an inch, including take up. Reset on my gun requires about a 1/4 inch let off. This is a little more than some guns, but similar to many others. I don’t find the reset the least bit objectionable and it doesn’t curtail rapid fire in the least.

  15. Excellent and balanced review. Since I own a somewhat chunky, but otherwise excellent Beretta PX4 Storm 9mm Subcompact (Can’t beat 13+1, handling, performance, quality, and reliability. Did I mention 13+1?), I am inclined to give this a serious look if for no other reason, better concealability at 9mm/8+1.

    Sootch00 gave this gun a double-thumbs up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxwG_vfQkhI

    Further, at the above review, sootch00 mentioned that Honor Defense is a veteran-operated company that builds 100-percent American-made pistols and whose pistols are assembled by veterans. And a portion of their proceeds goes to a SEAL foundation and a DEA fund for the widows of deceased agents (Certainly not *a* reason to consider purchasing a firearm; strictly offered FYI.)

    As a veteran of two wars, WIA in one, and a 25 1/2 active duty veteran, I have NO problem with the company making its logo that pronounced.

    For the moron that denounced them for using the term “honor” in their company’s name and in the name of this gun, consider that “honor killing” is not honorable at all. Why should an American firm run by veterans allow a descriptive term like “honor” be hijacked by Islam and others? According that “logic,” the U.S. Military Academy at West Point should drop their motto: ““Duty, Honor, Country.”

  16. As a 3+ yr operator & carrier of a Ruger SR9c I’m looking for an improvement. The 3.8″ Honor Guard sounds interesting. The modular feature & heavy-duty (+P) aspect (similar to a P320) are the right way to go (US military just said so)! Now if they just get the trigger sytem fine tuned a bit more & Need to have a 3rd. mag or more (8-rd.). I understand an FDE frame is out now. Just leave off the coating on the slide & barrel, it’s just going to wear through anyway! Sounds like they’ll get it right soon – Hey it’s just for P.D.W.

  17. I so wanted to like and buy this gun and support this company.

    As a 25 1/2 year active duty veteran, a veteran of two wars (Vietnam War; Persian Gulf War), and a combat wounded veteran, I had a strong desire to see this veteran-friendly company succeed. But I could not in good conscience, and for my own and my family’s safety, purchase this gun. I was very sadden by this.

    Our local Cabela’s store had two Honor Guards for sale. My experience was this:

    -One of the guns already had a broken recoil spring rod. According to the retail gun clerk, it happened simply from customers checking out this new pistol, i. e. racking the slide and pulling the trigger.

    -The look from a distance is great, the feel is not at all great; not even good. It feels cheaply made.

    -Racking the slide was a disappointment. It wasn’t the least bit smooth. Plus doing so gave one the impression of low quality.

    -Looking closely at the Honor Guard, one realizes that the first “distance” look was deceiving. Up close, it is clear the machining of the Guard leaves much to be desired. It could have been manufactured in a high school shop class.

    Sad. Very sad.

  18. Gunner,

    Sort of surprised you judge a brand new gun so much on sight of a demo gun and 2nd hand word from the Cabela’s guy. Sorry to learn of your dislike. I really like the HG I just purchased.

    I’d gladly loan a fellow combat Vet one to go “hands on” with. Nothing wrong with the finish on my recently acquired weapon. Granted, if you are looking for a shiny finished pistol to sit in a display case, look for something else. Not my experience with CC weapons that they stay perfect. Eventually all will have holster marks, or a bit of wear here and there.

    My Honor Guard was tight to rack. Just like all the other new pistols I’d used or purchased. Took it home, cleaned and oiled it. Good fit, and no issues with either disassembly, or reassembly. Very easy to field strip and reassemble, unlike some CC weapons.

    One comment here that others may have mentioned. You are not going to one hand release the slide on it. The ambi slide release is just a nub. They recommend slingshoting the slide, which you can do with either a rear or overhand grip. Although this was somewhat difficult at first, as expected, as I ran the gun, it got easier. Didn’t even notice it by the time I was done. Someone with arthritis in their hands should try one before purchase, as they might have issues with it.

    Not a tool mark anywhere outside or in. You didn’t like the “feel” of it. We can agree to disagree on that one. The texture and grip on this stainless steel gun is better than some full sized guns, and has been commented on by numerous reviews. The interesting thing on this one was that unlike many other CC weapons, after a few hours at the range with it, I didn’t feel like I’d been beaten up.

    Shot 200 rounds through it yesterday. 97, 115, 124, 147 grain in ball and hollow point. Zinc, steel and brass cases. Purposely mixed the best ammo with dirty stuff. No FTF, or FTE. Nary a stove pipe. Could have run a lot more through it, but as I said, it was first time at the range this year, 3 hrs was enough. (Also shot wheel gun and sighted in a Victory .22)

    Until you get the mags broken in, most folks will need a magazine assist/loader. I used a thumb ring to press the last round into the 7 and 8 round magazines. By the last 2-3 magazines, was able to load without it.

    Comes sighted in at 5 yds. I shot it out to 25 yards with no problem. 2-3″ groups at 5 yards (as one reviewer said “minute of bad guy”) at 5 yards. Must admit, this was my first time at the range in 6 months due to wx, so maybe at the end of the summer accuracy would be better. Still, with a 3.2″ barrel, you aren’t gonna shoot the eye out of a squirrel at 100 yds with this one. (Nor clean it as you can with your M-60)

    As for the recoil spring rod, no sign of wear on mine. Can’t say what happened to the Cabela’s gun.

    Felt recoil was equal to or less than my wife’s Bersa Thunder .380. With the orange front sight, it was easy to reacquire and double tap the target.

    Everybody’s mileage varies and although this weapon won’t be in your arsenal, it is in mine. Sorry you disliked it so much.

    I am hopeful that someone starts making magazines for it. Would like to pick up a handful for range use, although with the 50% rebate they are down in the “reasonable” range now from Honor Defense.

    They have a rebate on right now for $ off on a laser, plus 50% off accessories and a free 8 rnd magazine…runs to 4 July 2017.

    • 1. You either did not read both of my posts, or you ignored the first post.

      2. I clearly indicated in my first post that I had done research on this gun. Minimally, I mentioned that I had seen an extensive *very positive* review by Sootch00. Beyond this, I looked at all of the comments on this thread and viewed and read *everything* available to me online about this company *and* their product (Some, more than once.). My first post also indicated I was looking forward to purchasing this gun despite some mixed reviews and I gave my reasons why. Therefore, your “surprise” at my judging this product “on sight” and based on the so-called “2nd hand word from the Cabela’s guy” is groundless.

      3. With that said, I’m not sure how to judge a brand new gun other than by handling “on sight” if by “on sight” you mean that I held it in my hands and examined it at length even going through the process of looking at both of the Honor Guards (HG) available at Cabela’s; the still intact one and the one which, amazingly, broke although brand new. Shooting it first would, obviously, be the best thing to do, but given that this is a crappy gun and no gun range in my area would carry it as a rental, “borrowing” it from Cabela’s or any other gun shop to give it a test drive ain’t happening.

      4. The “2nd hand word from the Cabela’s guy…….” Where did you get that from?

      The seller of this product, the “Cabela’s guy,” simply showed me that one of the two HGs Cabela’s had received was broken. His “2nd hand word” was about *how* he surmised it was broken. You apparently missed the central issue: within a very short period of time of this brand-new pistol, simply being handled by customers, it broke! It hadn’t even been shot and it broke!!! That has *nothing* to do with the “2nd hand word from the Cabela’s guy;” that has *everything* to do with poor quality materials or poor workmanship or both. That was a *huge* red flag for me…..perhaps not for you.

      5. I had an experience with gun. My experience was an abjectly negative one despite my positive expectations. In fact, I went there with my wife and she said to me something like this:

      “You are obviously very excited about this pistol. It will be my gift to you in honor of your combat service and Purple Heart.”

      My experience was a great disappointment. If someone had handed me this pistol and said, “This was made in Bangladesh by slave labor out of discarded British WW1 gun parts,” I would have believed it because it was so cheap-looking when seen up-close and had an even cheaper feel.

      You had an experience with this gun. Your experience was positive. No matter what your positive experience was, that will not change *my* negative experience with this third-rate gun. So, I don’t see the point of your sharing your positive experience. So what?

      Thanks for the information about Honor Defense’s desperate attempt to save this pathetic rollout of a new gun via the rebates etc., but, no thanks. My life and, especially, my loved one’s lives, matter too much to me to entrust my defense of them to this shoddy pistol.

      Adios!

  19. Just picked up My HG9sc and I Have to say I really like it , I Got mine at a really good Price so for me it was a No Brainer, and I own several fine weapons , I do like the Vets for Vets, that alone sold me , WE All Have stood our Watch for this Great Country , I applaud That and will Stand Shoulder to Shoulder with our Brothers in Arm regardless of Branch of Service , For that I Thank all of you , If Someone thinks they borrowed some design I suggest the really look this one over , someone will always say it looks like this or that This one is built really strong, from the Slide to the Chassie, Sorry some do not like it ,But I will always support My fellow Vets , as for the Cabela’s incident I wonder why the Sales person showed them at all? if that were the case , sounds like Customer Breakage to me, where I Got mine from there were 4 and once the price was known, all 4 were Gone, with mine being one of them , within an hour !!!, This is a solid Firearm , My Hope is that Gun Guys will Support this Company and what they stand for, Get this one for your collection !! I don’t think you’ll be Sorry , Happy Shooting and God Bless

  20. I experienced a lot of type 3 malfunctions as I was breaking it in. Failure to eject. One stovepipe of a new round not a casing. Couldn’t just drop the magazine as the next round was slightly forward against the casing of the previous round, had to actually push the next round back a little to drop the mag then rack a couple times to get the spent shell out. This happened at least 20 times while shooting about 100 rounds. I plan to shoot another couple hundred rounds, hated the trigger at first but got used to it. I plan to contact Honor Defense about the failure to eject asap. LOVE my Sig p320 though.

  21. Patty, surely you’ve cleaned the gun & re-lubed (slide rails esp.). Your fully seating the loaded magazines & not limp-wristing when shooting. Curious (though it generally shouldn’t matter), what ammo is the problem? Yes, the P320 is an improvement, but LARGER.

  22. Joe Joe said come on in when all the day and loving to you is just the day that we need to do and have some fun all the time love you love you let’s go play Monopoly all the bags back in love me and you was wrong I don’t want to be right but no no no no ho ho ho snap love you too honey is going well please go please go please pass me loveit go head and make it right off let me look

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