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When I first got my hands on the Fusion Firearms XP Pro from Brownells, I was intrigued by the concept. A 2011-style pistol that accepts Glock magazines immediately catches the attention of shooters looking for the performance advantages of a double-stack 1911 platform while maintaining the affordability and availability of Glock-pattern magazines. It sounded like an interesting combination on paper, but as most firearm enthusiasts know, specifications and marketing claims only tell part of the story. The real test comes after spending significant time behind the trigger. After putting approximately 1,000 rounds through the XP Pro, I feel like I've reached the point where I can offer some meaningful observations about the pistol.

The first thing that stands out about the XP Pro is how naturally it shoots. The 2011-style grip angle and ergonomics provide a comfortable and secure shooting experience that feels different from a traditional striker-fired pistol. While Glock magazines may feed the pistol, the shooting experience is much closer to what you'd expect from a quality competition-oriented handgun. The grip provides excellent control, and the overall balance of the firearm helps it settle naturally in the hand.

Over the course of the first thousand rounds, reliability has been one of the biggest surprises. Whenever a firearm uses a magazine system that wasn't originally designed for the platform, questions about reliability are inevitable. However, the XP Pro has performed exceptionally well with a variety of ammunition types. From inexpensive range ammunition to higher-quality defensive loads, the pistol has continued to run consistently. Reliability is one of the most important factors in evaluating any handgun, and the XP Pro has built confidence through repeated range sessions.

The trigger deserves special attention because it is one of the strongest aspects of the platform. Shooters familiar with 1911 and 2011 pistols know that trigger quality is often one of the primary reasons people gravitate toward these designs. The XP Pro delivers a crisp, predictable trigger pull with a clean break and a short reset. This contributes significantly to the pistol's shootability and helps explain why accurate shooting feels so effortless. Whether working on slow-fire groups or pushing the pace during drills, the trigger continues to be one of the highlights of the experience.

Accuracy has also been impressive throughout the first thousand rounds. The pistol consistently delivers tight groups and inspires confidence at a variety of distances. While mechanical accuracy is certainly part of the equation, the excellent trigger and comfortable ergonomics allow shooters to take full advantage of the platform. In practical shooting drills, the XP Pro feels fast, responsive, and easy to keep on target.

Another area where the pistol shines is recoil management. Compared to many striker-fired pistols, the XP Pro feels exceptionally flat during firing. The combination of weight, ergonomics, and overall design helps reduce muzzle rise and allows for quicker follow-up shots. During extended range sessions, this translates into less fatigue and a more enjoyable shooting experience. The pistol simply feels smooth and controlled when running through magazines.

One of the major advantages of the XP Pro is its use of Glock-pattern magazines. Magazine availability has always been one of the strongest arguments in favor of Glock-based systems, and Fusion's decision to incorporate that compatibility adds significant practical value. Spare magazines are easy to find, reasonably priced, and available in numerous capacities. For shooters already invested in Glock platforms, this compatibility can be particularly appealing.

After 1,000 rounds, durability has also been encouraging. The pistol continues to lock up consistently, controls remain positive, and wear patterns appear normal. Every firearm begins to reveal its long-term characteristics as round counts increase, and so far the XP Pro has demonstrated that it is capable of handling extended use without issue. While 1,000 rounds is only the beginning of a pistol's life, it is enough to establish confidence in the platform.

The value proposition becomes increasingly apparent the more time you spend with the XP Pro. Traditional 2011-style pistols are often associated with premium price tags that place them out of reach for many shooters. The XP Pro offers many of the characteristics enthusiasts appreciate about the platform while maintaining a more approachable entry point. When paired with the convenience of Glock magazine compatibility, it creates a compelling package that appeals to a broad range of shooters.

Purchasing the XP Pro through Brownells adds another layer of confidence. Brownells has long been a trusted source for firearms, accessories, and gunsmithing supplies. Their reputation for customer service and product support makes them a natural choice for enthusiasts looking to add a firearm like the XP Pro to their collection.

After the first thousand rounds, my overall impression of the Fusion Firearms XP Pro is overwhelmingly positive. It has proven reliable, accurate, comfortable to shoot, and surprisingly versatile. Most importantly, it continues to make me want to take it back to the range. In a market crowded with striker-fired pistols and increasingly expensive competition handguns, the XP Pro manages to carve out its own unique niche. Based on my experience so far, it has earned a place among the more interesting and enjoyable handguns currently available through Brownells.

Throwback to my first AK

@brownellsinc

“I GET TO BE DING CHAVEZ AGAIN!”

I have been a huge fan of the .300 Blackout cartridge! For anyone that’s actively in the suppressor game, a rifle cartridge like the .300 Blackout is a no brainer. Yes I do realize that many pistol calibers can be ran subsonic in AR style rifles and pistols, but the .300 Blackout shares all of the common parts of its 5.56 counterpart except the barrel of course. This makes the .300 Blackout make much more sense than a pistol caliber AR that uses a bunch of different parts and more chance of not running correctly. Late last year I cobbled together yet another .300 Blackout from some parts I had leftover form previous projects and picked up the remaining needed parts from Brownells. My Brownells BRN-180 .300 Blackout has been one of my favorites as well. This makes the 4th .300 Blackout I own, so there’s no mistaking that I’m a fan of the caliber. But is it still the KING? 

In the past few years there’s been a number of other newer calibers coming into the market that are kinda following in the .300 Blackout’s footsteps. One of those is the 8.6 Blackout caliber that was developed by Q. This is of course a larger .338 diameter projectile than the .300 diameter projectile used in the .300 Blackout. The parent case is also that of the 6.5 Creedmoor. Barrel wist rates are considerably different as well. Most .300 Blackout are 1:8 twist and the 8.6 Blackout is a 1:3 twist rate to get the most out of the shorter barrels and heavier projectiles. The 8.6 Blackout’s advantage is the availability of much larger weight projectiles and therefore a more devastating effect on the intended target. The disadvantage in my opinion is the need to use an AR-10 sized receiver increasing the overall weight of the firearm. There’s no free lunch as they say, so you can’t gain something without giving up something else. And if you think that .300 Blackout ammunition is pricey, you’ve not taken a look at the 8.6 Blackout yet. But wait there’s even another newer cartridge on the horizon that claims to beat out both the .300 Blackout and the 8.6 Blackout. 

Introduced by Hornady is the new .38 ARC which is supposedly bale to deliver over one and a half times the energy of the .300 Blackout. Once again the advantage of this particular caliber is the ability to load with bullets much heavier than .300 Blackout. With over 300 grains on tap, the .338 ARC eclipses the maximum 225gr loads of the .300 Blackout by a huge margin. The .338 ARC uses the same pattern magazines and bolt as the 6.5 Grendel and doesn’t require the use of the larger frame AR-10 receiver to run. This is literally the best of both worlds with subsonic performance of the .300 Blackout, 1.5X the energy and the ability to maintain a similar weight of the firearm. Since the .338 ARC is totally new, only time will tell how much it takes off. As expected the ammunition is out of this world expensive at the moment, but if popularity takes off, expect the prices to come down a bit once supply matches demand. 

So is .300 Blackout still the subsonic king? I’d say for now due to the popularity and availability of the caliber, but be on the look out for these 2 other new calibers, especially the .338 ARC. Brownells has you covered on all 3 of these calibers if you’re looking to pick one up. 

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you may have noticed that lever guns have been gaining in popularity the past 3-5 years. Some companies have started to even ,market more “tactical” style lever rifles. Not sure exactly what’s caused the increase in popularity but I think it’s a great thing! I’ve wrote a few articles on some of my lever guns in the past, but let’s kind of analyze where I think this is going and why I don’t think it’s a fad. 

So I had been wanting a more tactical style lever gun for a couple of years. Henry rifles to my knowledge was the first company to actually offer a factory tactical lever rifle and since I already have a couple of heirloom traditional lever guns, I had wanted a Henry X model. Those Henry X models were rather scarce, so I picked up man all-weather .44 magnum from Brownells early last year and between MidPigCustoms and Ranger Point Precision, I created what could be considered a better version of what could be a Henry X All-weather rifle in .44 Magnum. Midwest Industries has been making lever gun goodies for some time as well. 

Last year Rossi introduced their version of a tactical lever gun and the new Ruger/Marlin introduced theirs. Then at SHOT show 2024…a whole slew of companies unveiled their new tactical lever rifles. Companies that we never even thought would start making lever guns jumped into the arena. I suspect since the demand has been so high for the Henry, Rossi and Ruger/Marlin lever guns, others saw an opportunity to join in. Aero Precision had a prototype lever rifle that looked really cool. I’ve been a long time fan of what Aero Precision brings to the table. Also Stag Arms released their lever rifle and out of nowhere, Smith & Wesson decided to release their 1854 lever rifle in .44 magnum at an outstanding price point. Smith & Wesson is known for their high quality revolvers as well as newer modern pistols. Since they’re probably the go to for revolvers, it only made sense that they decided to bring back a lever gun. This was their first lever gun offering in over 100 years. 

So other than a void in the market caused by high demand, what other factor could be driving this? Well unfortunately, many places here in the U.S. have rifler restrictions that outright ban tactical rifles such as the AR-15, but don’t affect lever guns. Plus the American tradition of a lever gun is appealing to a lot of folk. Let’s face it, lever guns are also effective at many roles as well as downright fun to shoot! I don’t think this is a fad that will fade away, but rather grow over time. Many folk are also quite tired of AR-15s and this gives them a new firearm avenue to explore. 

So in closing, do you plan on picking up a new lever gun this year? Brownells always has a number of lever guns in stock which is where my Henry came from. I’ve got my eye on the new Smith & Wesson myself, but we will see.