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BUL Armory showed off the 2024 line at the IWA Classics show in Germany. As fans of their guns we of course paid a visit. The EDC model is an evolution and replacement of the SAS II TAC 4.25 I've loved so much, now with some updates.
What Is It? The BUL Armory EDC is, as the name implies, a doublestack 1911 intended for every day carry. The use of an aluminum frame as well as some design choices helps keep weight down to about 26 ounces while still providing 18+1 capactiy, and control and extra velocity that comes from a 4.25" barrel. I carried the previous generation all winter comfortably and have also run the gun at training events. A gun that can serve well both on the range and in carry is a wise investment.
What's New? Why the Price Increase? There have been multiple updates to the gun, including the contents of the kit you get when purchasing one. Upgrades and differences include:
10 degree target-crowned flush-fit bull barrel.
Deeper, broader slide serrations covering more of the slide akin to those found on the Axe Tomahawk.
3 magazines included instead of two.
BUL Armory's brilliant new BAO Optic mounting system (more on this below) and three plates included.
Fiber-optic front sight (this is something I did to my SAS II TAC 4.25).
Blacked-out small parts instead of the silver color of pervious years.
Shorter mainspring housing pin included for use if you decide to remove the magwell.
Who's It For? While obviously intended as an everyday carry model, the BUL Armory EDC is a serious handgun for serious users. Those new to the doublestack 1911 platform will need to adapt to increased cleanliness and lubrication needs, a trigger that requires more discipline, and a manual of arms and field striping process that may not feel as simple as your standard striker-fired handgun fare. Personally I've found it all worth the learning curve. This is a high-performance firearms and needs to be treated as such.
Take a look at the BUL Armory EDC in the tabletop video below as well as the kit it comes with.
Specifications:
USA MSRP:1850$ (order direct from BUL Armory)
Platform: SAS2
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 4.25” Bull barrel
Frame: Aluminium
Grip: Full Size
Optic system: BAO multi footprint
Sights: Black serrated rear / Fiber optic front
Capacity: 18+1
Trigger weight: 3.0-3.5lbs
Finish: Black (PVD) & Black anodize
Weight (unloaded): 758g / 26.6oz
In the Box:
Range Bag
Magazines: 3
BAO adapter plates (3): RMR / DPP / Holosun K & RMSc
Short mainspring house pin
Guide rod takedown tool
Bore brush kit & metal cleaning rod
Owners manual
Range bag
The BUL Armory Optics (BAO) System is simple brilliance. This system uses a steel recoil lug built into the slide to absorb the sheer stress typically put on screws. The recoil lug is made flush with the mounting plate of your need, and the optic screws then go through the optic and plate into the slide. The end result is a simple, stronger, and lighter solution to mounting optics on handguns. BUL Armory even left extra material on the slide to bolster and permit mounting holes for the popular, but broader RMR pattern.
Most optic-mounting systems would put a smaller optic like the RFX15 shown above at risk. While the mounting posts for the optic might help with some of the sheer forces, traditional mounting systems would require yet another sort of lug to protect the plate and force a taller stack plus screws for that plate, resulting in four screws that could come loose or break. Direct-mount options can reduce the amount of screws, but also trap you to a particular footprint and assume that your foot-print compatible optic will fit. The BAO system eliminates both of those problems.
To get a feel for the BUL Armory EDC on the range, and how it might compare to the SAS II TAC 4.25 Teya and I hit the range for the standard GBGuns range protocol including:
Cold Shots: Truly the first rounds through the gun. No warm up, no practice.
Full Magazine +1: Suprisingly some modern guns still struggle with this. It's a test of how much play is in the magazine as well as how the slide cycles with pressure. This is also when I do my best to learn the trigger.
What's For Dinner™: A test to see what ammunition the gun will eat. Does the gun feed the round from slide lock, will it cycle and feed another round of the same type, does the slide lock to the rear on empty, and is there any notable point of impact change with different loads.
For this gun we used the following ammunition:
Priced and linked where found at the time this article was written
65gr Norma Frangible
70gr Federal Frangible $31.99 / 50 direct from Federal
115gr Blazer Aluminum-cased FMJ $11.99 / 50 at True Shot
115gr Hornady American Gunner $18.35 / 25 at Global Ordnance
124gr PMC SFX $24.69 / 20 at Sportsman's Guide
124gr Federal Premium Tactical HST $39.99 / 50 at Target Sports USA
135gr Hornady Critical Defense $27.15 / 25 at Global Ordnance
130gr Federal Syntech PCC $28.99 / 50 direct from Federal
147gr PPU Defense Line JHP $23.74 / 50 at Sportsman's Guide
165gr AMMO, Inc /stelTH $24.99 / 50 at Palmetto State Armory
Range Ammo was Browning 115gr FMJ $115 / 500 at Ammunition Depot
Sights & Trigger Control: on a 6" spinner target at a distance of 12 yards. We got this from Titan Great Outdoors and use it to gauge how learnable the trigger is and usable the sights are for forced, timed, precise shots.
Practical Accuracy: Five shots from a distance of seven yards at a one inch target. This isn't so much about printing a tight group as it is a culmination of our shooting experience and time for us to collect thoughts prior to making a conclusion.
After Shots: Final impressions and reflections from the range session.
The entire process for the BUL Armory EDC can be seen in the Shooting Impressions video below.
Ammunition seen in our Shooting Impressions video was made possible by our Patrons and supporters of our ammunition savings account through Ammo Squared.
On the Range the BUL Armory EDC was as delighftul as expected. I needed to relearn a little as it was somehow slightly different than the SAS II TAC 4.25 I'd already learned so well, but the gun ran flawlessly and was a joy to shoot even with its light weight. Teya encountered a grip challenge which placed her support thumb right at the slide release and prevented slide lock from happening a couple of times. No fault of Teya or the gun, but a combination that requires her to change her grip slightly to avoid that contact much in the same way I have to change my grip with Walther and Canik firearms to avoid the same thing.
The EDC is certainly cut out for every day carry. I've proven that with its predecessor. The big value in this pistol for me is that it's also enjoyable on the range and great for training courses. Having one gun that can fill multiple roles is excellent as competency is will grow in all applications if it's the gun you're already familiar with. The trigger may be too touchy for some shooters, and I could agree with that, but it's also been my own training and development that has made me comfortable with such a high-performance firearm.
A note about availability: Bul Armory produces a lot of firearms (even more than some more household brand names) and even though the United States is just one of the places they are sold, we enjoy a large share of what they make. I have heard complaints about guns not being available so here are some tips to getting your hand one one.
Most of BUL Armory's models are sold direct to consumer, so rather than searching local shops you need to order one which will be shipped to your local FFL.
Shipments come in every couple of weeks, but are often sold out in less than an hour. Simply browsing the site every once in a while is not the best way to get yours.
Sign up for the notifications from BUL Armroy and be ready to pounce when you get an in-stock notification. Waiting even a few hours may mean you miss out.
The plus to this is it gives you time to save for the purchase. They aren't inexpensive but are an incredible value; generally beating out more-available, but more expensive competitiors.