The video is filmed at Take Aim Training Range in South Carolina and focuses on a .300 Blackout PDW comparison. The hosts evaluate three platforms: the Q Honey Badger, the SIG MCX Rattler LT, and the FN SCAR 15P, all chambered in .300 Blackout and in a similar high price range. The Honey Badger uses a direct impingement system with a 7.75-inch barrel and a fast 1:5 twist, while the Rattler LT and SCAR 15P use short-stroke piston systems with adjustable gas blocks for suppressed and unsuppressed settings. All three use captured bolt systems that allow folding or collapsing stocks without a buffer tube. To keep the test consistent, each gun is run with the same Trash Panda suppressor and subsonic .300 Blackout ammunition, with rankings based on ergonomics, gas to the face, recoil impulse, trigger feel, and overall shootability.
The Q Honey Badger is highlighted as the outlier in operating system, using direct impingement rather than a piston. It features a 7.75-inch barrel with a 1:5 twist, designed around the .300 Blackout cartridge to maximize subsonic performance. The hosts run subsonic 200-grain ammunition through it with a Trash Panda suppressor, skipping supersonic loads because short-barreled .300 Blackout is primarily intended for quiet, subsonic use. In live fire, the Honey Badger feels very light, easy to maneuver, and soft recoiling. Some gas to the face is noticeable, especially as the firing pace increases, but it is not excessive. The gun remains controllable and comfortable, with the adjustable gas block already tuned for suppressed subsonic shooting.
Next, the SIG MCX Rattler LT is tested with the same Trash Panda suppressor and subsonic .300 Blackout ammunition. Although it uses a short-stroke piston system with a two-position gas setting for suppressed or unsuppressed operation, the hosts note that piston operation does not eliminate gas blowback. They still experience noticeable gas to the face, only slightly less than with the Honey Badger, due to a vacuum effect pulling gas back from the chamber. Recoil management feels comparable to the Honey Badger, and the gun is described as soft and easy to shoot. The Rattler LT’s adjustable gas system is acknowledged, but the focus remains on how it behaves in a consistent suppressed configuration, with final judgments on recoil and comfort reserved for the end of the comparison.
The FN SCAR 15P is introduced last, initially fired without a suppressor to demonstrate the blast from a very short .300 Blackout barrel. Even with subsonic ammunition, the unsuppressed gun is described as extremely loud and concussive, especially with the Cherry Bomb muzzle device. After a brief unsuppressed demonstration, the Trash Panda suppressor is installed and the hosts continue the evaluation. Suppressed, the SCAR 15P produces noticeably more gas to the face than the other two platforms, but its overall performance still impresses them. The gun feels interesting in recoil, with a softer sensation at the shoulder yet visible movement of the muzzle. Despite the extra gas and movement, the SCAR 15P leaves a positive impression as a compact SCAR-based PDW-style option.
In their detailed wrap-up on the SCAR 15P, the hosts describe it as a very compact take on the SCAR platform with some quirks. The gun feels clunky in the hands due to its bulk and materials, though this is framed as a characteristic rather than a flaw. The non-reciprocating charging handle is appreciated, with the comment that a reciprocating handle on such a compact gun would be problematic. Recoil at the shoulder feels relatively soft, but the gun exhibits a pronounced vertical movement during strings of fire, with impacts shifting up and down by roughly an inch or two. This vertical pattern is contrasted with the more stable behavior of the other platforms. Overall, the SCAR 15P is considered light, wieldable, and viable as a truck gun or SCW-style build, but its recoil characteristics and bulk stand out.
The Honey Badger receives strong praise in the final impressions. Its standout trait is extremely low weight, making it very easy to maneuver and run quickly. The slim handguard allows a full, comfortable grip without needing a vertical foregrip, which suits the compact format. Recoil impulse is described as soft and very manageable, especially considering how light the gun is. Keeping the Honey Badger on target requires minimal effort, and it is regarded as one of the best recoiling options on the table. Gas to the face is present due to suppressor back pressure, but it does not exceed what is experienced with the piston guns and does not irritate the eyes. The adjustable gas block offers full tuning capability, and overall the Honey Badger is characterized as a very favorable option in terms of shootability and control.
In closing thoughts on the SIG MCX Rattler LT, the hosts note that it is heavier than the Honey Badger and likely close to the SCAR 15P in weight, with substantial metal components including the stock. Despite the extra weight, the recoil impulse feels on par with the Honey Badger and the gun itself feels tight and solid. Ergonomics and trigger feel are described as good, and the only clear downside compared with the Honey Badger is the additional weight and slightly reduced maneuverability. The Rattler LT’s two-position adjustable gas system is acknowledged again, but the hosts point out an inconsistent ejection pattern while suppressed, with brass sometimes going forward, sometimes to 3 o’clock, and sometimes to 4 o’clock. They attribute this possibly to ammunition variation but note that the Honey Badger and SCAR 15P ejected more consistently. When ranking pure shootability and preference, they ultimately favor the Honey Badger over the Rattler LT.
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