Range Report: My First Day with the BUL Armory Axe FS Cleaver
Range Report: My First Day with the BUL Armory Axe FS Cleaver
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Range Report: My First Day with the BUL Armory Axe FS Cleaver
Alright, so I’ve been wanting to try something different from the sea of polymer pistols I usually shoot — so last weekend I finally brought home a BUL Armory Axe FS Cleaver.
Between the square slide cuts, the integrated compensator, and the 2011 vibe, this thing looks like it came off a sci-fi movie set. But does it shoot as good as it looks? Here’s what went down.
???? First Look
Out of the box, the Cleaver feels like a quality piece. Tight slide-to-frame fit, no rattles, crisp machining, and a nice balance in the hand — slightly nose-heavy, thanks to the comp and bull barrel. The magwell is huge — you could reload this thing blindfolded.
I gave it a quick wipe-down and hit the local indoor range with a couple boxes of 124-grain Fiocchi and some leftover 115-grain Blazer.
???? First Shots
I started at 10 yards. The trigger surprised me — minimal take-up, glass-rod break, quick reset. My first mag was just slow fire to get a feel. Super controllable. Even on the first pull, I could tell the compensator and slide cuts are doing real work — the muzzle barely flips.
???? Picking Up the Pace
After warming up, I ran some double taps into a USPSA cardboard target. Split times were noticeably faster than my G17 — I’m not the world’s fastest shooter, but even I could tell how flat this thing runs.
Next, I moved back to 15 yards, did some controlled pairs and Mozambique drills. The fiber optic front sight is bright under the range lights — easy to pick up on follow-ups.
???? Reliability Check
I ran about 300 rounds straight. Zero malfunctions — no FTF, no FTE, no weird ejection patterns. Everything cycled smooth, and the brass piled up in a neat spot. Even when I switched to the 115-grain, no hiccups.
⚙️ Ergonomics
One thing I really liked: the aggressive texturing on the grip. Even when my hands got sweaty, it stayed planted. The beavertail safety feels just right — no hammer bite, no discomfort. The extended magwell makes reloads a breeze, even under pressure.
The only “huh” moment was noticing how much gas vents straight up from the comp — I could feel a bit of blast if my thumb was too far forward, so I had to adjust my grip a bit. Not a big deal, just something to get used to.
???? Accuracy
At 25 yards, I could keep slow-fire groups inside a fist without much effort. For fast drills inside 15 yards, it’s point-and-shoot — the gun stays where you point it, even when you run it quick.
???? Final Takeaway
I wrapped the session at just over 400 rounds. My hands were tired but happy. The Cleaver is basically a ready-made race gun — you don’t need to tinker, swap barrels, or hunt down aftermarket parts right away. Just run it and it delivers.
It’s not a tiny gun — definitely not something I’d carry concealed. But for range days, steel shoots, or USPSA, it feels like cheating.
✅ Would I Recommend It?
Yep — if you want something more interesting than another vanilla polymer striker-fired gun, but you’re not ready to spend $4k+ on a Staccato XC or a TTI Pit Viper, the Cleaver hits that sweet spot: race gun performance, unique looks, reasonable price for what you’re getting.
Next Up: I’m planning to run it in my local USPSA match next month — if you want, I’ll drop a match report too. Just say the word!
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