DS Arms B&T TP-9 9mm
SMG that’s lighter, smaller and ergonomic — your GO-ANYWHERE SOLUTION!
TP-9’s grip has grasping grooves fore and aft for a solid purchase; the mag well is relieved at the bottom on both sides.
All full-auto testing up to this point was done from 7 yards and closer. There was a tendency for the gun to rise in full-auto, and a fore-grip seemed essential to controlling this. Recoil with the shoulder stock in place seemed nominal. Keeping the rounds in a “head-sized” area was challenging while “dumping” entire magazines, but quite easy with 3 to 4-round bursts.
For me, the most impressive test was yet to come. We set up several pepper-poppers at 15 yards, and I began drilling one steel silhouette after another in rapid succession. Moving back another 5 yards, I continued the drill, quickly hammering each popper in rapid succession, never failing to get hits on each slab of steel. Not only was this very satisfying, but the value of being able to engage numerous staggered targets so quickly and effectively is obvious.
Loading the 15, and 30-round magazines was as smooth as any high-cap pistol, though the magazines don’t drop free as we’d prefer. (The release does spring the magazines out to half an inch.) The magazine well is relieved on the sides to facilitate quick removal and allow them to be pried free if they became stuck.
Working the charging handle was achieved with much ease. We found the process to be very user-friendly. The safety/selector switch was easily manipulated by the trigger finger and with the support hand on the opposite side. We also found the single point harness to be very functional and simple to use.
Testing the gun transpired over the course of two range sessions. On our second day, we shared the range with Bethany Police Department during one of their training sessions. This proved more productive than expected, since their range master and SWAT officers took an immediate interest in the gun. Range Master Sergeant Jack Jenks hefted the select-fire gun and found that he liked its weight and ergonomics, and declared it “interesting.”
Tinkering around, he figured how to field strip and reassemble it. He commented on the gun’s design as being “pretty neat.” Not surprisingly, he quickly took me up on my offer to shoot it, and since he had plenty of ammo on hand, I told him to have a go at it. Jack shot the gun quite a bit, and was so impressed with it he began asking me about price and parts availability.
I got Marc Galli on the phone, and Marc provided affordable pricing information for law enforcement agencies, and assured me that the parts were readily available through DSA. Later, SWAT Lieutenant Dave Rogers shot the TP9, and echoed Sgt. Jenks’ enthusiasm for the gun. By the end of the afternoon, Sgt. Jenks stated that he was interested in trying to purchase two guns for his SWAT team.
Meanwhile, the gun continued eating up every round of ammo fed through it.
Tactical units in need of a sub-gun should give serious consideration to the TP-9. Lighter, shorter, and less expensive than other typical guns, the TP-9 would seem an obvious top pick. In this case, inexpensive doesn’t mean cheap. The guns we tested showed very good combat accuracy, delivered bursts with surgical precision, and absolutely would not quit.
TP-9s lend themselves to quickly affixing suppressors, optics, lights, or foregrips. They’re also available with front side rails, and come in finishes of black, desert tan and OD green. DSA is also offering an NFA TP-9 short-barreled rifle for those individuals residing in states that permit NFA firearms. The TP-9 SBR features the same folding stock as the select fire version, minus the select fire capability. The TP-9 SBR is available directly from DSA.
In my mind, these guns ultimately seem a top choice for the sub-gun role.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Gostei muiot dessa arms são de mais , e tudo que um profissinal precisa e o que os amadores querem.