CMMG .45 Banshee Review And Kills

BY Herschel Smith
6 years, 6 months ago

I did an initial review of the CMMG .45 ACP Guard, with more to come.  It has an 8″ barrel and classifies as a pistol because it has an arm brace rather than a stock.  I liked the weapon, and in fact will be using it as my primary home defense gun (with EOTech and tactical light and pressure switch attached).

I don’t like the idea of a shorter barrel, but CMMG apparently knows that there is a market for it, and has come out with a version of this with a 5″ barrel called the Banshee. I appreciate reader Ned Weatherby sending me this video.

This reviewer, Lone Star Boars, had a suppressor on it as well as a thermal scope.  I like the can with its quick-connect design over the flash suppressor.  CMMG makes it for their weapons and sells through Silencer Shop.  I am told by CMMG that the buffer kit he used was for their Ripstock Assembly, which I don’t have, and that my gun doesn’t need this kit to run 450 SMC.

A couple of comments.  This is impressive performance.  However, gunners simply must deal with the notion that YouTube is dead.  This video has all the appearances of being a hunting video, but with one complaint it will be taken down by Google because of the presence of guns.  Watch the video while it’s still up.  But we simply must move on from YouTube.  To us it must be dead.

I found the gun as pleasant to shoot as he did.  I put 300 rounds through mine the first time, he put 500 through his.  I could have put a 1000 rounds and still been fresh, but that gets expensive, even with ball ammunition.


Comments

  1. On April 26, 2018 at 2:10 pm, Pat Hines said:

    Herschel,

    For your house gun I strongly suggest you consider an Aimpoint or Trijicon red dot over the Eotech. I initially invested in Eotech sights, in fact I have a couple of them, the last one uses a CR123 battery in a transverse mounting. The batteries don’t last long enough to leave them turned on, ready to use.

    Either an Aimpoint or a Trijicon red dot has a very long battery life, something over 30,000 to as much as 80,000 hours depending on model. I have a Aimpoint T-2, works greats, comes with lens covers and mount. With the long battery life, you can literally leave this sight on for several years without shutting them off.
    https://media.fotki.com/2v2UUkQMoxQKds.jpg

  2. On April 26, 2018 at 2:25 pm, Herschel Smith said:

    @Pat,

    Yep. I’ve thought about these things. Advantage: EOTech gives me instant holographic sight, preventing me from having to acquire target and co-witness with front post/sight. Disadvantage: EOTech requires me to turn it on.

  3. On April 26, 2018 at 2:36 pm, Pat Hines said:

    Looking at the CMMG web site reveals that they make both rifles and AR-pistols in 6.5 Grendel, one of my favorite calibers. I have a pistol upper for a AR-pistol in 6.5G. It makes me smile.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLQkmK0NVDTA_Az3Z-zMUWPPRs7eEWTu6n&v=YSKLFhRiWEQ

  4. On April 26, 2018 at 3:16 pm, Herschel Smith said:

    @Pat,

    Two nice things about CMMG. [1] They are an unapologetically Christian company, and [2] they have always been helpful and quick to me for support and to answer questions.

  5. On April 26, 2018 at 8:40 pm, rocketguy said:

    What’s this about cowitness with front sight on a red dot? I have a couple Aimpoints and run them without irons. Dot on target, squeeze repeatedly until changes shape or catches fire. I’ll admit I have minimal experience with EOTech but, is the target acquisition really that different?

  6. On April 26, 2018 at 9:51 pm, Ned said:

    I really want a 45 Guard ever since Herschel posted a review. Thinking a SBA3 brace, red dot and co-witness sights. Perhaps a lower 1/3 co-witness and front night sight. I won’t have a can, but I like the Indian Creek Blast Forward device or the Strike Industries Oppressor Blast Shield.

    Rocketguy – co-witness is just backup to me. I have co-witness on one, but the sights are backup and stowed until needed on two. If the scope or sight takes a dump, you can still use your sights. Nice thing about co-witness is you sight in your sight and set your irons to your sight. Your irons are then sighted in. You can check your zero on your sights and stow them until needed.

  7. On April 26, 2018 at 11:18 pm, Herschel Smith said:

    @rocketguy,

    What I said was goofy and too hurriedly said, and therefore wrong. That happens to me a lot.

    Let me try again. At a minimum, one must get a consistent cheek weld to properly utilize the Aimpoint. With the EOTech, this isn’t so. The picture doesn’t require you even to be looking down the same line of sight. This appeals to me in a stress situation and in the dark. I like it, although I might acquire the Aimpoint and give it a try.

    Optics are expensive, and I’m told by FA dealers that they have absolutely no resell value. They always want me to take mine off before gun trades.

  8. On April 27, 2018 at 6:47 am, rocketguy said:

    Thanks for the clarification. I had heard the holo sights had less paralax. You’re not kidding – no one cares the scope cost almost as much as the rifle when you sell.

    For what it’s worth, I have had good experiences with the $200-ish Vortex sights. Agree with spending a bit on your home defense weapon, though.

    Still drooling over that CMMG 45….

  9. On April 27, 2018 at 6:47 pm, Herschel Smith said:

    @Pat,

    Until you brought this up I hadn’t looked much at the 6.5 Grendel. I took some time to study it today and liked what I saw very much. There aren’t too many ARs available in that. Worse still, the ammunition isn’t found very frequently.

    But as far as a gun that meets the intent of the lighter round (while still a little heavier than the 5.56mm), light recoil and still high muzzle velocity, this is about perfect.

    I’ll always love the 5.56mm round and the standard AR-15. But I think a 6.5 Grendel might be a nice addition to the safe, as long as ammunition is acquired to match it.

    Your thoughts?

  10. On April 27, 2018 at 8:54 pm, Ned said:

    A Grendel is a nice addition. Ammo is available, even Wolf which is cheap and works well: http://www.jgsales.com/6.5-grendel-wpa-wolf-ammo-100gr,-fmj,-1000rd-case,-new.-p-94888.html

    Uppers are available. I like the 20″ barrel in a rifle – still has good velocity. I’d also like Pat’s input on shorter length barrels such as pistol calibers.

  11. On April 28, 2018 at 4:53 pm, Pat Hines said:

    The 6.5 Grendel (6.5G) has a lot of good things going for it. It’s one of two calibers that bring a lot more power to the AR-15 frame, the other being the 6.8 Remington SPC. I chose the 6.5G because it had the superior ballistics of the 6.5 bullet diameter and wasn’t the “bastard” 7mm that is the .277 caliber cooked up long ago by Winchester. The 6.8SPC uses the case from the .30 Remington, making brass more than a little iffy.

    Basically, it’s close in trajectory to the 7.62, with just over half the recoil. A Trijicon ACOG calibrated for 7.62 can be used with the 6.5G. the 6.5G has between two and a half and three times the energy as the 5.56 round.

    There are expensive factory rounds from the creator of the 6.5G, Alexander Arms in Virginia, but as Ned said, there is ammo from Wolf selling for $5.19 for 20 when I checked a few minutes ago. I bought several cases last year. Hornady is in the mid-priced range and now Federal loads for it too.
    https://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=AW65FMJ100&name=WPA+(WOLF+Performance+Arms)+6.5+Grendel+100grn+FMJ+20rd+Box&groupid=247

    https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018437983/federal-premium-gold-medal-berger-ammunition-65-grendel-130-grain-berger-hybrid-open-tip-match

    Barrel length is a factor. Alexander Arms encouraged the selection of 22-24 inch barrels initially, but began to offer both 16 inch and then pistol length 11.5 inch barrels a couple of years ago. The usual tradeoffs apply. Some folks have gone to 26 inch barrels and made their 6.5G rifles into long range machines, they do work well at that. Remember, 550 ft.lbs. is considered reliably lethal energy.

    Last, here’s an image of a ballistic chart for the 6.5G made some time ago.
    https://media.fotki.com/2vCkG9oJxQKds.jpg

    https://media.fotki.com/2vhzTEE3xQKds.jpg

  12. On April 28, 2018 at 5:18 pm, Pat Hines said:

    Herschel,

    You made me go back and review most of my 6,5G data. I checked the date, hard to believe I did all that research and accumulation of images and information over 8 years ago, but the upload dates don’t lie.

    I didn’t own an AR-15 in 5.56 at the time, since remedied, and wanted to choose the best, most powerful round possible.

    I looked at them all, including piston ARs, discarding what I found to be undesirable or superfluous. Piston AR came under “unnecessary complication and weight”, the Stoner action was better without pistons.

    Then came the caliber decision. I looked them all. The 6.8SPC had, and still has their enthusiasts, but when looking dispassionately, the 6.5G was the winner. I built my first AR in 6.5G, using a Sabre Industries chrome lined 16 inch barrel, and an Alexander Arms lower. The 6.5G does require a unique bolt and magazines.

    Yes, I think we all should have one or more AR in 5.56 because it’s the de facto standard AR and round and will be easiest to find parts for and ammo, too.

    But, the 6.5G has a place I think, and I recommend folks acquire severals or that special occasion.

  13. On May 3, 2018 at 2:36 pm, Pat Hines said:

    I just spotted this a few minutes ago. Ruger is building their Ruger American Predator in 6.5 Grendel caliber. I’m still researching the details, but it’s alleged to utilize AR magazines for 6.5G.
    https://ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/specSheets/26922.html

    Hershel, I know you’re partial to the Ruger American rifle, so this might be your entry into the 6l5G world.
    http://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthread.php?15821-Ruger-American-in-6-5-Grendel/page2

  14. On May 3, 2018 at 3:06 pm, Herschel Smith said:

    @Pat,

    Of course this is all for the next time I have some cash on hand, and all hypothetical anyway since I don’t own any guns.

    But I was looking at BCI Defense and they have a VERY NICE AR in 6.5 Grendel (FDE Cerakote looks nice).

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Leave a comment


You are currently reading "CMMG .45 Banshee Review And Kills", entry #19086 on The Captain's Journal.

This article is filed under the category(s) Firearms,Guns and was published April 25th, 2018 by Herschel Smith.

If you're interested in what else the The Captain's Journal has to say, you might try thumbing through the archives and visiting the main index, or; perhaps you would like to learn more about TCJ.

26th MEU (10)
Abu Muqawama (12)
ACOG (2)
ACOGs (1)
Afghan National Army (36)
Afghan National Police (17)
Afghanistan (704)
Afghanistan SOFA (4)
Agriculture in COIN (3)
AGW (1)
Air Force (40)
Air Power (10)
al Qaeda (83)
Ali al-Sistani (1)
America (22)
Ammunition (284)
Animals (297)
Ansar al Sunna (15)
Anthropology (3)
Antonin Scalia (1)
AR-15s (378)
Arghandab River Valley (1)
Arlington Cemetery (2)
Army (87)
Assassinations (2)
Assault Weapon Ban (29)
Australian Army (7)
Azerbaijan (4)
Backpacking (3)
Badr Organization (8)
Baitullah Mehsud (21)
Basra (17)
BATFE (229)
Battle of Bari Alai (2)
Battle of Wanat (18)
Battle Space Weight (3)
Bin Laden (7)
Blogroll (3)
Blogs (24)
Body Armor (23)
Books (3)
Border War (18)
Brady Campaign (1)
Britain (38)
British Army (35)
Camping (5)
Canada (17)
Castle Doctrine (1)
Caucasus (6)
CENTCOM (7)
Center For a New American Security (8)
Charity (3)
China (16)
Christmas (16)
CIA (30)
Civilian National Security Force (3)
Col. Gian Gentile (9)
Combat Outposts (3)
Combat Video (2)
Concerned Citizens (6)
Constabulary Actions (3)
Coolness Factor (3)
COP Keating (4)
Corruption in COIN (4)
Council on Foreign Relations (1)
Counterinsurgency (218)
DADT (2)
David Rohde (1)
Defense Contractors (2)
Department of Defense (210)
Department of Homeland Security (26)
Disaster Preparedness (5)
Distributed Operations (5)
Dogs (15)
Donald Trump (27)
Drone Campaign (4)
EFV (3)
Egypt (12)
El Salvador (1)
Embassy Security (1)
Enemy Spotters (1)
Expeditionary Warfare (17)
F-22 (2)
F-35 (1)
Fallujah (17)
Far East (3)
Fathers and Sons (2)
Favorite (1)
Fazlullah (3)
FBI (39)
Featured (190)
Federal Firearms Laws (18)
Financing the Taliban (2)
Firearms (1,798)
Football (1)
Force Projection (35)
Force Protection (4)
Force Transformation (1)
Foreign Policy (27)
Fukushima Reactor Accident (6)
Ganjgal (1)
Garmsir (1)
general (15)
General Amos (1)
General James Mattis (1)
General McChrystal (44)
General McKiernan (6)
General Rodriguez (3)
General Suleimani (9)
Georgia (19)
GITMO (2)
Google (1)
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar (1)
Gun Control (1,672)
Guns (2,338)
Guns In National Parks (3)
Haditha Roundup (10)
Haiti (2)
HAMAS (7)
Haqqani Network (9)
Hate Mail (8)
Hekmatyar (1)
Heroism (5)
Hezbollah (12)
High Capacity Magazines (16)
High Value Targets (9)
Homecoming (1)
Homeland Security (3)
Horses (2)
Humor (72)
Hunting (38)
ICOS (1)
IEDs (7)
Immigration (114)
India (10)
Infantry (4)
Information Warfare (4)
Infrastructure (4)
Intelligence (23)
Intelligence Bulletin (6)
Iran (171)
Iraq (379)
Iraq SOFA (23)
Islamic Facism (64)
Islamists (98)
Israel (19)
Jaish al Mahdi (21)
Jalalabad (1)
Japan (3)
Jihadists (81)
John Nagl (5)
Joint Intelligence Centers (1)
JRTN (1)
Kabul (1)
Kajaki Dam (1)
Kamdesh (9)
Kandahar (12)
Karachi (7)
Kashmir (2)
Khost Province (1)
Khyber (11)
Knife Blogging (7)
Korea (4)
Korengal Valley (3)
Kunar Province (20)
Kurdistan (3)
Language in COIN (5)
Language in Statecraft (1)
Language Interpreters (2)
Lashkar-e-Taiba (2)
Law Enforcement (6)
Lawfare (14)
Leadership (6)
Lebanon (6)
Leon Panetta (2)
Let Them Fight (2)
Libya (14)
Lines of Effort (3)
Littoral Combat (8)
Logistics (50)
Long Guns (1)
Lt. Col. Allen West (2)
Marine Corps (280)
Marines in Bakwa (1)
Marines in Helmand (67)
Marjah (4)
MEDEVAC (2)
Media (68)
Medical (146)
Memorial Day (6)
Mexican Cartels (41)
Mexico (61)
Michael Yon (6)
Micromanaging the Military (7)
Middle East (1)
Military Blogging (26)
Military Contractors (5)
Military Equipment (25)
Militia (9)
Mitt Romney (3)
Monetary Policy (1)
Moqtada al Sadr (2)
Mosul (4)
Mountains (25)
MRAPs (1)
Mullah Baradar (1)
Mullah Fazlullah (1)
Mullah Omar (3)
Musa Qala (4)
Music (25)
Muslim Brotherhood (6)
Nation Building (2)
National Internet IDs (1)
National Rifle Association (97)
NATO (15)
Navy (30)
Navy Corpsman (1)
NCOs (3)
News (1)
NGOs (3)
Nicholas Schmidle (2)
Now Zad (19)
NSA (3)
NSA James L. Jones (6)
Nuclear (62)
Nuristan (8)
Obama Administration (221)
Offshore Balancing (1)
Operation Alljah (7)
Operation Khanjar (14)
Ossetia (7)
Pakistan (165)
Paktya Province (1)
Palestine (5)
Patriotism (7)
Patrolling (1)
Pech River Valley (11)
Personal (73)
Petraeus (14)
Pictures (1)
Piracy (13)
Pistol (4)
Pizzagate (21)
Police (656)
Police in COIN (3)
Policy (15)
Politics (980)
Poppy (2)
PPEs (1)
Prisons in Counterinsurgency (12)
Project Gunrunner (20)
PRTs (1)
Qatar (1)
Quadrennial Defense Review (2)
Quds Force (13)
Quetta Shura (1)
RAND (3)
Recommended Reading (14)
Refueling Tanker (1)
Religion (495)
Religion and Insurgency (19)
Reuters (1)
Rick Perry (4)
Rifles (1)
Roads (4)
Rolling Stone (1)
Ron Paul (1)
ROTC (1)
Rules of Engagement (75)
Rumsfeld (1)
Russia (37)
Sabbatical (1)
Sangin (1)
Saqlawiyah (1)
Satellite Patrols (2)
Saudi Arabia (4)
Scenes from Iraq (1)
Second Amendment (685)
Second Amendment Quick Hits (2)
Secretary Gates (9)
Sharia Law (3)
Shura Ittehad-ul-Mujahiden (1)
SIIC (2)
Sirajuddin Haqqani (1)
Small Wars (72)
Snipers (9)
Sniveling Lackeys (2)
Soft Power (4)
Somalia (8)
Sons of Afghanistan (1)
Sons of Iraq (2)
Special Forces (28)
Squad Rushes (1)
State Department (23)
Statistics (1)
Sunni Insurgency (10)
Support to Infantry Ratio (1)
Supreme Court (62)
Survival (201)
SWAT Raids (57)
Syria (38)
Tactical Drills (38)
Tactical Gear (15)
Taliban (168)
Taliban Massing of Forces (4)
Tarmiyah (1)
TBI (1)
Technology (21)
Tehrik-i-Taliban (78)
Terrain in Combat (1)
Terrorism (96)
Thanksgiving (13)
The Anbar Narrative (23)
The Art of War (5)
The Fallen (1)
The Long War (20)
The Surge (3)
The Wounded (13)
Thomas Barnett (1)
Transnational Insurgencies (5)
Tribes (5)
TSA (25)
TSA Ineptitude (14)
TTPs (4)
U.S. Border Patrol (6)
U.S. Border Security (19)
U.S. Sovereignty (24)
UAVs (2)
UBL (4)
Ukraine (10)
Uncategorized (99)
Universal Background Check (3)
Unrestricted Warfare (4)
USS Iwo Jima (2)
USS San Antonio (1)
Uzbekistan (1)
V-22 Osprey (4)
Veterans (3)
Vietnam (1)
War & Warfare (419)
War & Warfare (41)
War Movies (4)
War Reporting (21)
Wardak Province (1)
Warriors (6)
Waziristan (1)
Weapons and Tactics (79)
West Point (1)
Winter Operations (1)
Women in Combat (21)
WTF? (1)
Yemen (1)

November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006

about · archives · contact · register

Copyright © 2006-2024 Captain's Journal. All rights reserved.