This is our first edition of 2019, and with it, we kick off another of those hectic right out of the gate periods. Later this week, I’ll join Michelle Scheuermann, our archery editor, in Louisville, Kentucky, for the Archery Trade Show. It’s the first of a long series of road trips that have us crisscrossing the country until January’s really not much more than a blur.
And this January will be even more hectic, because we’re rolling out everything from new “looks” for many of our existing wires to new one that will feature audio and video features as part of their core DNA.
2019’s already off to a busy start. Some companies have already announced everything from new sales (Springfield Armory) to all-new products (Mossberg). Archery companies are getting ready for the formal rollout of 2019’s new products this week, so don’t be surprised to see that our content skews heavily toward new “stuff” over the next couple of weeks. It’s the nature of the industry with January chock full of trade and speciality events.
And SHOT Show’s only days away. The entire industry’s racing to get ready for the annual event that assures attendees of plenty of exercise. It’s big this year, and will continue to grow over the foreseeable future, although NSSF officials tell me that in recognition of the fact that 2018 “was a tough year” for many, there won’t be any price between 2019 and 2020’s shows.
We started previewing new products more than four months ago, and today I’m glad to (finally) be able to write about Mossberg’s newest offering- their MC1 pistol series.
Yep, Mossberg’s making a pistol - again.
But don’t feel inadequate if you don’t remember their last one. Mossberg’s last pistol was the Brownie, a four-barreled .22 Long Rifle pistol that was made from 1920 to 1932. It featured a double-action trigger that moved a rotating firing pin around the four barrel cluster. Bllled as “a dandy little gun for a man and a dandy little gun for a woman,” the Brownie retailed for the princely sum of $5 - “postpaid anywhere in the U.S.”
Before the holidays, I had the occasion to spend three days in Arizona running one of Mossberg’s MC1sc through its paces at Gunsite Academy. And it’s been hard not to talk about their little gun.
Before getting into any technical details, I’ll simply say that I had more success shooting this small 9mm pistol than almost any comparably-sized pistol I’ve ever shot. For my aging eyes and growing aversion to carrying a full-sized gun, it was, indeed, “a dandy little gun.”
In fact, despite the gun’s diminutive size (6.45 inches long, 4.25 inches high, and 1.06 inches thick), weight (19 ounces), and its short (3.4-inch) barrel, it simply to shoot well above its weight class. And base MSRPs ($421-$686) put the MC1sc in sweet spot pricing with shooters - especially when you can expect street prices $50 or so below MSRPs.
During the Gunsite sessions, I shot their entry-level model with the 3-dot sights. And I was having my normal challenges with its short sight radius - until my friend Chris Cerino suggested something that sounded crazy, but worked.
“You’re fighting the sights,” he told me, “instead of battling to get three dots aligned, simplify your sight picture.”
I presumed he was going to pull a laser out of his pocket, duct tape it to the side of the gun and really simplify my sights - and get a laugh at my expense (gun writers can be a bit tough on each other in these kinds of settings). My aging eyes have deteriorated to the point that a laser or a red dot optic are about the only practical ways I have to get short guns on target quickly.
And small guns aren’t carried for times when time isn’t of the essence. So I braced for a punchline.
Instead, Chris pulled out a marker and blacked out the two rear dots.
And the problem I’d been having disappeared along with the two rear dots.
Instead of trying to align three tiny dots, I was simply looking for a single dot inside the rear sight notch. My speed and accuracy both increased -measurably.
I’ve applied Chris’s “fix” to the rear sights on all my pocket pistols that don’t have tritium vials in them. And I’ve seen accuracy improvements with all of them.
If you’re battling the same problem, you might want to try the same fix if you have 3 dot sights. But use a waterproof marker until you’re certain it works for you. If defacing your sights isn’t your deal, you might want to consider a set of XS Sights “popsicle” sights. I run those on my M&P Shield -same principle - set the front dot on top of the “popscicle stick” that runs into the rear sight notch and you’re on target.
Mossberg’s senior managers tell me they’ve been working on the MC1 project for more than three years. That development time has allowed them to come with in five different setups right out of the gate: from a “standard” model with low-profile, white 3-dot sights to a special edition, limited-edition run of 1,000 that commemorates Mossberg’s 100th anniversary and feature 24 karat gold accents, titanium nitride barrel and special sequential serial numbering.
The three models in-between models include one with a cross-bolt safety, Truglo tritium pro night sights, or a Viridian E-series red laser.
Holsters and mag pouches are also readily available- and the sights aren’t Mossberg exclusives, they’re Sig #8 sized - another way to make the MC1sc series user-friendly.
The gun also features Mossberg’s new STS (Safe Takedown System) - and the simplest way to describe it is virtually idiot proof. I say “virtually” because I managed to be the only person in our group who couldn’t quickly reassemble my test unit (hint: the rear retaining plate tilts in, it doesn’t slide straight back into place).
The STS system means you must completely remove the striker assembly before taking the slide off the gun. And there’s no need to pull the trigger at any point in the process. Like Holiday Inn, Mossberg’s engineers believe “the best surprise is no surprise” when you’re taking a handgun apart.
The trigger scored serious points with me. I’ve always liked flat triggers, and the MC1sc comes with a flat trigger that gives a very smooth 5-6 pound trigger pull and a crisp reset. The trigger has an integrated blade safety, and there’s a pistol option that includes cross-bolt safety.
The MC1sc also has an oversized trigger guard- nice if you’re shooting wearing gloves (I’ve found a shooting glove tends to make me a little more gentle with my trigger press - otherwise, I tend to be a trigger slapper).
When we started unboxing the pistols, the first thing that made nearly every writer nervous was Mossberg’s new “Clear-Count” magazines. The engineers were more than a little puzzled at our reactions.
Seems nearly everyone had a horror story about plastic magazines.
Mossberg’s response? “Give them a try before you decide they don’t work.”
We did. After sending 10,000+ rounds downrange (collectively), dropping and occasionally kicking- magazines around the range, we had a total of zero magazine issues.
Neither the 6 nor 7-rounders ever seemed to hiccup. So maybe their “transparent lubricious polymer compound” really is as durable as it is easy to use. If that’s not enough to assuage any doubts, we discovered the MC1sc will also run with Glock magazines.
During our lengthy testing sessions, we had lots of opportunities to talk and shoot alongside Mossberg executives and engineers. They shared a lot of insight about Mossberg’s modern design process - and offered “hints” at what’s ahead for Mossberg’s “next” 100 years.
Those conversations, like the ones I’ve had with Smith & Wesson, Sig, Ruger and others, have all convinced me it’s a really great time to be a shooter.
As always, we’ll keep you posted.
—Jim Shepherd