Before you go saying, “That looks like a…”, yes it does, because the man behind BB Techs was also the man behind features seen on GLOCK, Walther, Caracal, Steyr, Canik, Kimber, and others.

Wilhelm Bubits is a handgun mastermind who has been employed by or sold designs to several companies over the years. BB Techs was a company of his own where he was able to wrap several design concepts into a single firearm, the BB6. The pistol — which BB Techs called “the ultimate Austrian pistol”) was teased as early as 2016 for US import by American Tactical, but for one reason or another, it was only lightly sprinkled around the country in 2020 at blowout pricing before disappearing altogether.

I’m not sure how many were produced, but my example, purchased during that blowout, has a seemingly low serial number. Scarcity aside, the BB6 has some interesting features that are worth a look. If all we ever accept is the status quo, we can’t expect much in the way of innovation. For that reason I like to celebrate companies and products that aren’t afraid to be different.

As we did with the Walther P5, we’ll take a visual tour around the gun and look at some of the things that make the BB Techs BB6 different. I’m curious to hear from you all in the comment section what you think of these features. If you prefer video, a full tabletop review can be seen here.

Closed-Top Slide and Modified Browning Action

The BB6 uses a modified Browning action that requires a closed top to the slide. Instead of the barrel locking on the front of the sight hood, it locks further back. This requires less tilting of the barrel, thereby a shorter feed ramp and, overall, a barrel (and bore) sitting lower in the gun than the conventional method we see used just about everywhere else. Kimber recently used this design in the R7 Mako.

The short feed ramp of the BB Techs BB6

Unique Sighting Solution

Though “quick sights” or “gutter sights” have been seen elsewhere, few guns have employed them. The BB6 we bought came with a set of convention sights as well as a gutter sight (BB Techs called it the Swiftsight) in which your eyes focus further down the gun in a valley at the front sight. These are similar to the quick sights seen in the Caracal pistols, also designed by Bubits.

The BB6 also employs an interesting mounting system for red dots by locking a plate onto the slide using grooves only. These can be seen here.

Trigger Guard Depression

While not currently tacti-trendy in the US, in other countries placing the support-hand index finger on the trigger guard is a way to control recoil. This is why many international pistols have texture or a slight bump on the leading edge of the trigger guard.

BB Techs took things a giant step further on the BB6 by molding in a depression and edge. This locks the support-hand index finger in solidly and really helps fight muzzle rise.

Trigger Safety

The BB6 employs the same “dingus” or blade safety we’ve come to expect on modern striker-fired guns, but also has a manual safety. What sets the BB6 apart is the safety’s placement. I’ve only seen it elsewhere on a limited-run Canik.

The manual safety rests in the trigger guard and flips up to physically prevent the trigger from moving. Activation or deactivation can be done with the trigger or middle finger. Those who gripe about manual safeties will be delighted to know that in this location it’s a lot harder to mistakenly fumble the safety on during handling.

Muscular Ergonomics

The palm swells along the grip are familiar from the Walther PPQ generation. The BB^ palm swells are aesthetically different, but functional. These swells fill the gap between fingers, but only if your hand matches the size intended.

Range Test

So how does this thing perform on the range? Our biggest curiosity was how the uncommon action would take to non-standard ammunition so we tested 90gr through 158 grain including multiple projectile and case-material types. The trigger is also a point of interest as it’s described as double action, but uses a partially pre-cocked striker. Trigger travel is minimal, but heavy. You can see the results in the video below.

The heavy, but short trigger is easily learned, but also seems to inspire flinch-like shooting in that the trigger really needs to be punched, almost to the point of causing consistently low impacts.

I still enjoy this pistol, and was excited to hear that although BB Techs Gmbh is no longer in business, Bubix Arms is now up and running in Austria and selling a somewhat related micro-compact pistol called the Bro. Yes, the Bro.

Bubix Bro 9mm Pistol

The Bubix Bro has some striking similarities to the Kimber R7 Mako, but includes some of the uniqueness we’d expect from a Bubits design. We’ve been in contact with Bubix Arms and will let you know if and when they become available int he US.

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28 COMMENTS

  1. Koo-el !

    Probably cannot afford, but would like to handle one, if they become available.

    Thanx for the review.

  3. The low bore axis is always a good thing. The hook on the trigger guard? eh. The first “custom”1911 I owned had a checkered trigger guard. I found using it opened my groups and did nothing to lower my times. Almost all my European pistols have a hooked trigger guard. I ignore them.

    • “The low bore axis is always a good thing“

      Yep, I don’t understand why no one ever developed the recoil spring around the barrel as in the the HK-4.

      That removes the space required for recoil spring and guide and allows one to use a large recoil spring to distribute the energy along the length/diameter.

      Great pocket pistol, four calibers but the alloy frame won’t stand up to the .380 recoil.

      • Miner, please be quite. Everyone knows you and dacian quickly gather your firearms facts and opinions from the internet before you respond to articles or comments. For example, the recoil over the barrel that you seem to think is so revolutionary. In Europe I suggest you look at Walther, Mauser, FN and many others. In the U.S. let’s talk about Savage, and dare I say it? Every 1911 I ever owned, and I expect to buy another one tomorrow, had the recoil spring wrapped around the barrel. Ignorance should be silent.

        • I apologize to Miner. The 1911 obviously does not have a recoil spring around the barrel.

        • My son walked in a little early from work this afternoon. I was talking to him while replying and I’m not great at multitasking.
          I think the Colt pocket pistols had recoil wrapped barrels. When I say Colt 1911/SAA/Python just tumbles out next. That Said, you and dacian are still full of shit.

      • Because the HK-4 is a blowback. A number of blowbacks have the recoil spring around a fixed barrel. It doesn’t work with a tilting action like most everything 9mm and up has.

  4. $320 the month Anthony Huber became a good Communist?

    I don’t know how I missed hearing about that.
    That was quite the deal in the middle of the summer that everybody decided they needed a gun.

  5. That thing makes my ugly utilitarian Glock look beautiful by comparison!

  6. Back in the day I tested a Caracal featuring Wilhelm Bubits’ so-called “Quick Sights.” I thought the sights were terrific and I’d love to have a pistol manufactured by one of the classic firearms companies with Quick Sights instead of the typical three-dot jobs.

  8. By “lightly sprinkled around the country,” they mean “American Tactical only ever received 10 pistols, 2 of which made it onto the market when they were liquidated as part of a wholesaler who was testing them when they went under.”

    I do have 3 left if anyone wants them, contact me at [email protected]. They have no warranty and we have no additional magazines.

  10. Sounds like the guy who made this pistul thought things out pretty well.
    It looks like a fancy HiPoint to me tho.

  11. Looks like it’s not really possible to take the safety off without partly fingering the trigger, even if it’s just the side of the trigger. Wouldn’t consider it on that basis alone.

  12. Putting the weak hand index finger on the front of the trigger guard was a fad in the late 1970s, though some handguns designed around that time have never bothered to change the feature–even the FN Barracuda revolver had an ugly hook on the front of the trigger guard. It is a horrible habit and will cause a right-handed shooter to pull shots inconsistently and randomly up to 3″ to the left at only seven yards. The support hand index finger goes under the trigger guard, not around the front.

    Looking at this, I guess it could be worse. At least they didn’t put on a pivoting paddle mag release. The complete absence of spare magazines and spare parts makes this a no-go for me, though.

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  17. Did you guys ever heard of Taurus TS9? Seems like it is a BB6 improoved. People REALLY like it here in Brasil. I din’t got one yet because it is ugly. Not BB6 UGLY, yet cery ugly 😂

  18. I bought a BB6 a couple of years ago, and have shot it a few times. Neat pistol, yes, different and sort of ugly but a really cool design. I did have to modify a backstrap, couldn’t get used to the deep undercut beavertail. I never did put on a red dot with the clip-on red dot plate, but it seems sturdy enough.

  19. I would really like to buy all of Bubits designed pistols. They are all unique. Wondering when the Bubix Bro is coming to the U.S., along with the Taurus TS9. Also the Number R7 Mako which is available in the U.S. As noted, I already have the BB6.

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