Shots Fired: Shadow Systems

Oct 19, 2022

I couldn’t wait to try one of the new Shadow Systems guns and elected to use what may be my favorite (and, sadly, least used) format for that type of pistol, the “crossover.” First seen, far as I know, with the Army contract contestant, the GLOCK 19X, it mates the GLOCK 19 sized slide (ca. 4” barrel) with a G17 lower. Also rendered as the GLOCK 45, a number of us consider that form of pistol “best of breed.”

Shadow Systems has adopted the “crossover” moniker for its “just-right” service-compact style pistol. Shipped with a pair of Magpul PMAG 17 GL9 magazines, it’s an impressive pistol as discussed in the original feature on the product line.

For the range trip, I used a supplied MAGPUL PMAG 17 GL9 (a 17-round Glock 9mm handgun magazine) and a used G17 magazine.

A thin rubber band was over the grip frame under a sticker, which read, “WARNING! Removal of the trigger housing pin is not required to replaced (sic) the backstrap. Only remove the bottom pin.” I suppose that’s been an issue in the past. Likewise, the (very well written, well-illustrated) manual gives the same message.

I shot Browning branded ball ammo, featuring 124 grain FMJ, in the gun’s first fifty rounds. The first five rounds were fired from a seated rest at 25 yards on a B-8 repair center. That effort yielded one hit on the “X” in the X-ring, three hits in the “10” ring (two at 9 o’clock, one at 12 o’clock). There was a solitary “8” ring hit at 12 o’clock, likely the first round fired. With the flyer, it’s a 3-inch group. Without, it measured 1 ¾”, quite good.

Editor’s Note: I’m headed to NASGW next week to chat with manufacturers about their product line additions, improvements, changes – I’m hoping to have reports in the latter part of next week on the event.

 

I shot that group just to check the zero; I’d say it’s on.

Using the G17 magazine, I moved up to seven yards. Using the “demand” drill (on target, on sights, finger on trigger, trigger at the “wall”), I sought to learn the trigger. On the PACT timer’s beep, I’d press the trigger without moving the gun. The aim was to cut the tone in half.

I didn’t make it, but I did learn the trigger. The average time to the hit was .23 second, all hits were inside the “10” ring.

At five yards, I worked singles from guard. This was ugly; though all the hits were in the “10” ring, the average time was .71 second.

I shot pairs from guard at the same distance. Four rounds wandered into the “9” ring and the average was around 1.09 second.


 

From there, I backed out to shoot singles from guard and moved back in to shoot NSRs (non-standard response drills). Things got a little wild and I threw a few wide of the B-8 repair center – but it wasn’t wasted ammo. I was learning the grip and trigger.

Takeaways? Well, no stoppages in the first fifty rounds (the manufacturer recommends a 200-round break-in, not a usual thing for a modern striker-fired pistol). There were times I’d have to nudge the slide forward into battery after a chamber check; the sample is fitted tightly for this type of pistol.

I did not have to push the slide into battery after firing a round, just on press checking to ensure the piece was loaded.

The “feel” – if there is such a thing – is incredible. It’s a combination of the tactile, the visual and the action of the piece in operation. It just feels “right.”

Over the next month or so, we’ll see how that goes and we’ll bring you along for the ride.

-- Rich Grassi