Heizer PKO 45

[Panzerschwein]

Guys it's not often I come across a new gun that genuinely surprises me in it's design. But I managed to find a new video from Jeff Quinn showing a new gun from Heizer Defense:



Now I've not been too impressed with this companies offerings before, but this pistol made me do a double take. Apparently it is the thinnest .45 ACP pistol on the market at 0.8" wide, somehow has a fixed barrel, and is almost totally made from stainless steel. Just a real "diffurnt" gun, that's for sure. They tout a low bore axis and high reliability but that's not been proven yet. No MSRP was mentioned, I wouldn't be surprised if it was on the pricey side.

So what do you guys think of this? If anything it's very unique!

 

[unclenunzie]

Saw that video a few days ago. The pistol has a uniqueness cool factor, and it has a combination of attributes that will draw attention and perhaps novelty buyers. A while back I was tempted to buy one of the double-taps from buds when they were under $200 (originally sold around $500 I think), but didn't pull the trigger. This gun gives me the same feel of cool/different/unique, but after buying lots of gun toys I am hoarding my resources for what I really want... which I will know when I see it LOL.

If I got to handle one, convince myself that it would be rock solid, and not too dear, I might get one.

 

[chicharrones]

I like the looks of it, but I wouldn't purchase one.

#1 reason - shooting .45 ACP in a 0.8" wide, lightweight, all metal, blowback operated gun is going to sting a lot.

#2 reason - those ambi-dextrous safety levers are near flush with the frame. Which means I wouldn't be able to swing them down in a panic-hurry.

Notice in this photo from Heizer's own website that the shooter has a glove on his shooting hand, but not on his support hand.

From - https://heizerdefense.com/category/products/guns/

 

[chicharrones]

They tout a low bore axis . . .

Every time I hear a manufacturer mention a low bore axis to mitigate recoil, what they really mean is muzzle rise. Having a low bore axis on a powerful handgun just makes sure more of the recoil goes directly into the shooter's hand.

 

[chicharrones]

By the way, I think the people at Heizer must have most of the nerves in their hands turned off.

They make rifle cartridge pocket guns too, which might indicate their tolerance levels for recoil.

https://heizerdefense.com/2015/05/28/the-pak1/

 

[Sam1911]

About the worst grip possible, in that video, for making recoil seem extreme.

I'd like to have seen a clip of someone who's a more experienced shooter handling that gun.

 

[chicharrones]

About the worst grip possible, in that video, for making recoil seem extreme.

I'd like to have seen a clip of someone who's a more experienced shooter handling that gun.

I'm thinking using one hand with that short little beast would be better than cupping the weak hand under the gun.

 

[unclenunzie]

I noticed the field strip procedure has the slide removed toward the rear. I would like to see it field stripped and close up, and see the internals too.

 

[RX-79G]

The gun is held together by the recoil guide rod which is inserted from the front and the metal piece that is inserted cross wise at the front to hold it in place.

Looking at that arrangement, it made me wonder if the tube the guide rod goes into is a gas delay tapped off the chamber like a P7, but they sure don't say anything about it being delayed blowback. At 28 oz this gun doesn't seem like it is heavy enough to be straight blowback, so I'm not sure what's going on, short of annular chamber cuts that slow extraction.

 

[zaitcev]

So what do you guys think of this? If anything it's very unique!

I tracked PKO45 for a while, long before Jeff Quinn filmed that video. Heizer did a great job developing the pistol. The prototypes looked horrible. The safety was exactly where it is now, but its flag was next to impossible to operate. There were a few other issues, but I don't well remember. So, I'm impressed by their ability to polish this ... product.

The biggest issue that I have with the final version is that it disassembles to the rear and uses the same flat locking block that Colt 1905 used. When U.S. Army tested it, at some point the block worked itself out and the pistol disassembled itself (although the shooter was not seriously injured, as far as I know). I think the disassembly is the the greatest weakness of the design. The probability of getting a flying PKO45 slide in the eye is very small, I'm sure. But it's 21st Century, gun designers ought to do better.

On the other hand, Steyr-Hahn used the same exact disassembly block and served with Austro-Hungary through the Great War.

A final note: the gun is ridiculously heavy for its size, it's really deceptive. I suspect that if you try to pocket carry it, it's going to be an interesting experience.

 

[entropy]

Who ever shot the gun in the video has been watching too many 1980's cop shows.....