For most serious firearms users, there are three types of firearms. There are those that are used a lot, such as serious self-defense models and plinkers. There are those that spend most of their lives in a safe because they’re too valuable to handle or have just fallen from favor. And there are “barbeque guns.”

It wasn’t until after my first six months with a state PD that someone explained the Texas Rangers’ barbeque guns—highly decorated pistols worn exposed in exotic hide holsters when attending public events. The Rangers have a long, honored history and many people expect the cowboy hats and boots, starched and ironed shirts, and barbeque handguns at functions.

Of course, this practice is not limited to the Rangers. Sheriffs and elected LEOs tend to dress similarly for events. And of course, this is not limited to just Texas! Reasonably, because I don’t have a badge to ride on the belt beside the holster, my handgun is only displayed when it needs be, such as while I am at a shooting range, and because it is no one’s business what and if I am carrying.

I almost bought a Colt revolver way back when that was undergoing extensive engraving. But the family needed things more than I needed the revolver. Since then, I’ve always wanted to have my own barbeque gun.

It is almost a waste of ink to introduce Wilson Combat of Berryville, Arkansas. But I will. In 1978, with IPSC becoming a new, fast-growing competition, Bill Wilson founded Wilson Combat—a one-man shop specializing in making other companies’ firearms, specifically those used in IPSC, primarily 1911s, run better.

Today, Wilson Combat now manufacturers its own 1911 frames and much more. The company offers custom-grade 1911s and modified Berettas, competition and home-defense shotguns, AR-platform rifles in a number of calibers and configurations, concealed-carry holsters, various firearm accessories, top-grade ammunition, duty-ready knives and, surprisingly to me, extremely high-quality engraving.

High-Powered Art

Like painting and sculpting, engraving requires a special person. Wilson Combat is working with such a person, someone imminently qualified to provide engraving services. They have award-winning engraving artist Wayne D’Angelo. D’Angelo is one of the world’s foremost firearm engraving artists and his attention to detail is legendary. He is the former chief engraver for Smith & Wesson as well as a former contract engraver for Colt.

RELATED STORY: Gun Review – Wilson Combat Tactical Carry 9mm

Through D’Angelo’s artistry, Wilson Combat offers three levels of firearm engraving on any Wilson Combat pistol. Engraving can be performed only before the build process begins and only on stainless pistols or those destined to have a blued finish—guns receiving Armor-Tuff finishes are excluded for obvious reasons. The service is noticeably faster than from other companies. Customers can select from three levels of service depending on the amount of hand engraving and intricacies they want included on their gun.

Here you can see the difference between Wilson Combat’s custom Level 1 (top) and Level 3 (bottom) engraving.

The folks at Wilson Combat were nice enough to send me one of the company’s Level 1-engraved Texas BBQ Special 1911s and photos of a Level 3 gun. It’s enough to make a grown man cry looking at all the beautiful work done on a stainless steel version of John Moses Browning’s design!

The slide features the seal for the State of Texas.

On the rear right side of the BBQ Special’s slide is the Texas state seal, a ribbon enclosing the words “Texas BBQ Special” as well as intertwining designs in several spots including the muzzle. A border extends from the muzzle to the ejection port. On the opposite side, the Wilson Combat logo fills the rear spot along with strategically located intertwining designs. Both sides of the frame have three intertwining designs engraved. The Level 3 BBQ Special has everything described above but with a ton more intertwining designs. The hand engraving on both pistols is astounding!

Built To Last

There are several things to remember about the hand-engraved Wilson Combat Texas BBQ Specials and any other engraved pistol from the company. The Texas BBQ Special is a full-blown fighting pistol that’s quite capable of defending its user. The pistols do not leave Wilson Combat’s shop without passing the same rigorous testing all the non-engraved pistols do. In other words, they are reliable shooters first with hand engraving added.

RELATED STORY: Instant Classic – Wilson Combat’s BCMGUNFIGHTER 1911

Pushing myself past the beauty, I found a full-sized, stainless steel 1911 pistol built just like all Wilson Combat 1911s. A solid, tight, smooth-cycling, perfectly built 1911 with my sample chambered in 9mm. (.45 ACP is also available). The medium-length, solid trigger’s pull weight was perfection, breaking cleanly at 3.75 pounds.

The pistol’s sights are extremely effective and fast, consisting of a serrated Wilson Combat Battlesight rear sight and a ramped gold-bead front sight, both with bases trimmed to the slide’s contours. Running across the slide’s top between sights are 30-lines-per-inch (lpi) serrations. No front cocking serrations or carry cuts adorn the slide to allow acreage for engraving. The slide’s bottom edges have a heavy machine chamfer, which looks good and is functional, and the slide’s muzzle end has ball endmill cuts. The rear of the slide is serrated 40-lpi to match the rear sight.

Note the flush-cut muzzle, with its reverse crown.

Wilson supplies the Texas BBQ Special with a fitted, 5-inch, stainless, match-grade barrel and bushing. The muzzle is flush cut with a reverse crown, and the barrel hood is fluted, which reduces the effect of buildup over time.

RELATED STORY: Featured Firearm – Wilson Combat’s 9mm Protector Professional Pistol

Effective Wilson Combat black cherry slant grips with sterling medallions attach with engraved Torx-head grip screws. The flat, round-butt backstrap and undercut frontstrap both feature 30-lpi checkering. It appears the frame is shortened enough to add the Bullet Proof mag well so it still retains the standard full-sized frame length. The undercut frame raises the hand higher on the frame, and the 30-lpi checkering grips the hand well without abrading skin or clothing.

Wilson Combat makes some of the finest 1911 parts you can find through its Bullet Proof line. Bullet Proof parts on the frame include the concealment beavertail grip safety, the trim tactical thumb safety, the minimally extended magazine release and the Commander-style concealment hammer. The pistol’s shortened, countersunk slide stop shaft is an improvement I really wish was on all my 1911s. It reduces the chance the slide stop could be accidentally dislodged and prevents the slide stop shaft from blocking a Crimson Trace Lasergrip laser.

BBQ’ing Targets

Wilson Combat sent one of its nice looking and effective black shark Practical outside-the-waistband holsters to accompany the BBQ Special pistol. I did a couple of draws from the holster during my testing and it is as excellent as all the Wilson Combat leather always is.

A 1911 chambered in 9mm may be the best of both worlds. Modern ammunition makes today’s 9mm a serious self-defense round and certainly makes a 1911 much more controllable. Also, I found the gold-bead front sight worked great during testing.

RELATED STORY: Semi-Auto Hammer – Wilson Combat’s Recon SR Tactical

When the smoke cleared, the Wilson Combat Texas BBQ Special fell right in line with the rest of the family. Perfect functioning and excellent accuracy at 25 yards really came as no surprise.

The engraving by Wayne D’Angelo is flawless and very attractive. For most 1911 fans, having any Wilson Combat pistol would be a pleasure, and adding hand engraving would be doubly so. Knowing it was a fully functioning, reliable pistol would be icing on the cake! And for those of us in Texas, Wilson’s Texas BBQ Special, with its Texas-centric engraving, would be even more special.

For more, visit http://www.wilsoncombat.com or call 800-955-4856.

The post Smokin’ Hot: Wilson Combat’s Texas BBQ Special appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Too many times on my journey from novice shooter to “gun girl” (my whimsical term for competent female shooters), I searched for practical yet enjoyable reference material that would answer all my “dumb” questions (which really weren’t so dumb).

Later on, as I worked behind a gun counter, often waiting on women who had never even touched a firearm (let alone fired one), I was reminded that too few gun books really offered total novices a step-by-step method for getting to know their gun. When my beginner students, male and female alike, complained about the avalanche of information unleashed on them in the 12-hour concealed-carry class once mandated by the state of Ohio, I developed an Introduction to Handguns class, along with copious pages of handouts, charts and guidelines. I wanted to make the education process less overwhelming, yet thorough and enjoyable.

Then suddenly, as a previously published author, it occurred to me. “You dummy. You keep looking for a book that gives your students exactly what you once needed. Why not write it yourself?” And so The Handgun Guide for Women was born. Packed with step-by-step guidance, detailed basics and my own peculiar sense of humor, the book struck a chord and sold out shortly after its November 2015 release. The typical comment I hear from readers is, “You answered the questions I thought were too stupid to ask.”

So I’ve outlined a few key points from the book with the hope that you may find answers to some of your questions, as well. Scroll through the gallery above to learn more.

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The post 10 Key Points From The Handgun Guide For Women appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Rich in firearms tradition, Steyr Mannlicher has been designing and manufacturing firearms since the 1800s. Yet the traditions of the company go much farther back than that.

The recognized founder of the company, Josef Werndl, came from a family and region steeped in the tradition of weapons making—perhaps as far back as the 1200s. That sense of family and tradition carry forward to today as the company continues to produce exceptional weapons for military and citizens alike. Steyr Arms, the U.S.-based importer of the company’s guns, sent me a compact S9-A1 pistol for review. As I expected, the gun was a top-notch performer.

A polymer-framed gun, the S9-A1 uses a striker-fired system that allows for a consistent trigger pull from shot to shot. The gun has no external safeties per se, but it does use a trigger safety that is naturally deactivated when the trigger is intentionally pressed. Compared to the trigger safeties on other pistols, Steyr uses a center lever that is wider than most. It feels surprisingly good and does not pinch the finger at all. A 10-test average showed the trigger pull weight right at 5 pounds.

The gun has a low bore axis, meaning that the hand is able to grasp higher on the gun in relationship to the barrel. There is quite a bit of debate on how much this helps with controlling the gun while shooting, but I found the gun had little muzzle flip when firing.

RELATED STORY: VIDEO – Test-Firing Steyr’s Innovative, Light-Recoiling S9-A1

I have sometimes found that guns with a low bore axis also have a short slide height. Compared to some other guns, the same is true for the S9-A1. However, I found that the slide height was still tall enough to get a good grip for slide manipulation. Helped by the slide serrations, working the slide at speed was not a problem.

Steyr includes an accessory rail on the underside of the frame. This allows a shooter to add a supplemental aiming device or lighting source like the Streamlight TLR-2 HL G combination unit that pairs a 720-lumen light with a bright green aiming laser.

Steyr uses a sighting system referred to as trapezoidal sights. With this system, the front sight is a large, white triangle. The rear sight has a similarly angled notch with two white lines designed to outline the two upper sides of the front triangle when properly aligned. The rear sight has a ramped front edge to reduce the possibility of it hanging on a cover garment, but the slope does preclude the use of the sight for one-handed slide manipulation.

RELATED STORY: Looking For A Full-Size Concealed Carry Pistol? Try Steyr’s L40-A1

I would describe the S9-A1 as being a bit heavy on the front end. The gun weighs just under 27 ounces, which makes it somewhat heavier than many compact pistols and on par with the duty-sized Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm pistol. While that might sound like a negative on paper, in the real world, a few extra ounces can help soak up recoil without adding an appreciable burden on the body while carrying.

Firing Line

Whenever possible, I try to run at least 10 different loads through a pistol I am reviewing. I want to make sure that a gun will run a broad range of ammunition reliably if I am going to give it a thumbs-up. With the Steyr, I ran 15 different factory loads on the range. Nine different manufacturers were represented, with bullet weights ranging from 50 to 147 grains. Both standard and +P pressure loads were used, as were loads with different bullet designs—frangible, FMJs and hollow points. The Steyr was 100-percent reliable with all of them. I selected three loads for accuracy testing.

RELATED STORY: Gun Review – Steyr Arms L9-A1 9mm

Winchester’s 124-grain PDX1 Defender +P load was an admirable performer. I’ve had a chance to test this line in a variety of handguns recently. It has been reliable in all of the guns I’ve shot, and it tends to turn in very good groups. With the S9-A1, it gave me the best five-shot group of all the loads I tested at 1.6 inches at 7 yards unsupported. Most of the other loads ran around 2.5 inches for five shots at the same distance.

Muzzle flip and felt recoil were very mild in this gun. For the most part, 9mm is a fairly easy-shooting cartridge. Nonetheless, compact pistols can exhibit harsher recoiling characteristics than their larger cousins. However, I found the S9-A1 was very easy to keep on target during rapid shooting. The front of the gun had little flip when held with a solid two-handed grip, and the large front sight was clear in my vision for confirming I was still on target.

RELATED STORY: Steyr Master – Steyr Arms’ Aug/A3 M1 Bullpup

I’m all for new sight designs so long as they actually try to solve the problem of getting accurate shots on target quickly. I’ve seen far too many sights introduced that are more gimmick than useful. Frankly, when I first looked at the trapezoidal sights on the Steyr pistols, I was somewhat concerned that Steyr had gone for a gimmick rather than true performance. I’m happy to say I was wrong.

The trapezoidal sights were surprisingly good. The front sight jumps into the field of view and draws the eye’s focus. The rear sight is visible but slightly out of focus. The two bars on the rear sight naturally box the front sight in confirming that you are on target. These sights seem to cause the eyes to do naturally what many firearms instructors try to train their students to do: Focus on the front sight.

The Takeaway

I was very impressed by the S9-A1 pistol. The gun performed admirably and offered no problems throughout the testing. Recoil was light and the sights were remarkably instinctive. Running the gun hard and fast, like would be done in a fight for your life, was easily accomplished.

There are many good self-defense pistols on the market currently, and the Steyr S9-A1 is clearly one of them. Does this gun make sense for your needs? Only you can make that determination, but it should be on your list for consideration.

For more information, visit http://www.steyrarms.com or call 205-417-8644.

The post Striking Nine: The Steyr S9-A1 Pistol appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

The following is a press release from Heizer Defense

Heizer Defense, known for their innovative line of powerful pocket pistols, is pleased to add their first semi-automatic pistol to the product line, the PKO-45.

RELATED STORY: Heizer Defense Now Shipping PAK1 “Pocket AK Pistol”

Heizer will introduce the PKO-45 to the public at the upcoming Concealed Carry Expo in Atlanta, GA from April 29-May 1. Heizer Defense is a Live-Fire Shooting Range sponsor for the show, which will allow consumers to test-fire this pistol at the expo’s mobile shooting range.

The PKO-45 or Pocket 45, is the slimmest semi-auto .45ACP on the market at just 0.8″ wide and approximately 25 ounces.  This pistol is made with 100% US Aerospace grade stainless steel. There are no plastic or mimed parts. It boasts a revolutionary fixed-barrel-under-the-guide-rod configuration, resulting in less recoil felt by the operator.

The PKO-45 also features a snag-free design, internal hammer/single action, and a front strap safety with an additional thumb ambi-safety.  It has 5+1 capacity with a flush magazine, and 7+1 capacity with the extended magazine.

RELATED STORY: Heizer Defense PS1 “Pocket Shotgun” Appearing on NBC’s “The Blacklist”

This new pistol will be available for purchase in September 2016.

For more information on Heizer Defense, visit www.heizerdefense.com.

The post Heizer Defense To Release New PKO-45 Pistol appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Way back in January of 2015, Remington introduced some of its latest firearms. It wasn’t surprising to see new long guns in the company’s lineup since, after all, my very first personally purchased firearm was a Remington 870. I was surprised by Remington’s other endeavors, such as the company’s suppressor line, consumer education programs, female-specific programs and the introduction of Remington’s first micro handgun, the RM380 in .380 ACP.

I had the opportunity to test-fire prototypes of the RM380 and was immediately smitten with the firearm. I adore small firearms that I can easily conceal, shoot well, shoot comfortably and that fit my grip without forcing me to make adjustments. The RM380 met each of these criteria for me.

Modern Overhaul

The RM380’s sleek design helps it point naturally.

While at a Remington event held at Gunsite Academy in Arizona, I spoke with one of the engineers who worked on the RM380 project, Zachary Wells. He explained, “The RM380 started its life as the Rohrbaugh. This platform was chosen as a starting point because it was well-liked and functioned well.”

RELATED STORY: VIDEO – Remington’s Ultra-Covert RM380 Pocket Pistol

From there, the team’s goal was to reduce the price of the firearm to make it affordable while simultaneously making performance and reliability improvements. Another goal was to add additional features. Wells further explained that “redesigning the internal components for modern manufacturing methods” helped to reduce costs. The team that worked on the RM380 conducted extensive testing, analysis and design modifications that improved the function and reliability of the firearm.

The RM380 received a handful of new features, such as the addition of the slide stop lever and an ambidextrous magazine release. Wells said Remington felt this was necessary to make it easier to safely load and unload/clear the firearm. Other additions included checkering on the grips and frontstrap, undercutting the triggerguard and adding a small beavertail to improve the pistol’s ergonomics and grip surfaces.

The RM380 weighs only 12.2 ounces without any ammunition or accessories like a Laserguard.

Another modification incorporated into the RM380 was the replacement of the recoil system with a new, simpler design. This newer design makes charging the slide/manipulating the firearm easier and will, according to Wells, “last the life of the firearm, maintenance-free.” Wells further added that although the individual features may not stand out individually from features offered by some competitors, the end result is a small, reliable firearm that shoots softly, accurately and consistently.

He credits the success of this firearm to the cohesive, creative and synergistic team that worked on the RM380. At this event, one thing that stood out to me (not as a writer, but as a consumer) was the company culture and responsiveness of every Remington employee. They were patient, explained why certain decisions were made and listened to feedback.

It was clear that they are responsive to their consumers. Anyone who has ever experienced poor customer service
understands the importance of a responsive and reputable company. My interaction with Remington made a lasting, positive impression.

Range Time

Shooters at the Gunsite event ran the RM380 through its paces. All enjoyed its smooth trigger and ergonomics.

Initially, I fired a prototype of the RM380 in January of 2015. I shot a couple hundred rounds in an arid and dusty range without any stoppages. When I received the RM380 later in the year, I test fired the firearm again in an indoor range.

RELATED STORY: 21 New Subcompact Pistols and Revolvers For 2016

I tested the RM380 from a distance of 7 yards, which is about the maximum distance I would use a .380 in a self-defense situation. I fired 400 rounds of factory ammunition and didn’t experience any malfunctions. I found the recoil of all three of rounds tested to be very manageable. Despite the 10-pound, double-action-only (DAO) trigger, I was able to fire quicker than one might suspect.

I was also able to easily reload the firearm. Smaller firearms can be challenging to reload sometimes because of access to the magazine well. The magazine I was provided had an extended baseplate, which offers more of a grip and can assist in removing a jammed magazine or a magazine stuck under spring pressure, such as when there’s a Type II malfunction (double feed).

The RM380 has an ambidextrous magazine release, which is a helpful characteristic for shooters with short fingers. I rarely purchase a handgun that doesn’t incorporate this feature, but in all honesty, for me, this gun is sized appropriately for my hand. I am able to release the magazine on the strong side without having to reposition the firearm to reach the magazine release, but this feature will be beneficial for shooters with very short fingers or left-handers.

The RM380 has a long yet smooth double-action trigger pull. There is no discernable overtravel after breaking the shot. The take-up on the front end of the trigger pull is minimal.

My range experience with the RM380 was very positive. Shooting on an indoor range, I did experience some difficulty acquiring the low-profile, black, fixed front sight. This is an easy fix with a dab of luminous hobby paint, or, as I was taught in the Army, some white-out. I want to point out that this is a semi-auto .380 ACP pistol, and at the distances that it should be shot, one could ague that sights are unnecessary. Even with some difficulty acquiring the front sight while shooting the RM380 in a dimly lit indoor range, with my target (hung from a pulley system) swinging back and forth with the draft created by the exhaust fan, I still shot some impressive groups. My best result was courtesy of Hornady’s 90-grain FTX load, which produced my best group size of 0.8 inches.

The Takeaway

The takedown procedure for the RM380 is a little different than other firearms I am used to working with. The takedown pin isn’t visible from the exterior of the firearm; it is only visible once a hole on the slide—after being pulled rearward—aligns with the interior takedown pin. You can remove the takedown pin with a punch or by tapping the firearm. It comes out remarkably easy, so be sure to take the RM380 down in an area where the pin can be found if it dislodges before expected. Taking the pistol down for maintenance is easily accomplished.

RELATED STORY: Urban Legend – The Remington Model 700 Stainless 5R

From the first time I shot the RM380, I was in love with this firearm and decided I would purchase it someday. Luckily for me, I didn’t have to! At the 2015 NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits in Nashville, Tennessee, I actually won one! Given the fact that the first gun I ever purchased was a Remington, I couldn’t be happier that the first gun I won was also a Remington. It literally is my prized pistol.

For more information, visit http://www.remington.com or call 800-243-9700.

The post My Little Big Green: The Remington RM380 appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

It was 1985 when Chuck Norris, fresh from rescuing American POWs still held by the Viet Cong, returned to America only to have Florida invaded by terrorists in the middle of his much-needed vacation. I may be getting news reports mixed up with the film Invasion USA, but in either case the solution was two full-auto, 9mm Micro Uzis in a custom-made DeSantis shoulder harness. That was my first introduction to this miniscule Uzi, and I had to have one, or two, just in case.

The civilian version of the Micro Uzi was called the Uzi Pistol, and it was identical minus the folding stock and the full-auto capability. That original Uzi Pistol was produced from 1984 to 1993. In 2010 Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) introduced the latest version of the Micro Uzi, the Uzi Pro, for military and police units. Now the civilian version is finally available. Meet the Uzi Pro Pistol.

Born From Battle

Uzi is a rarefied name among gun owners for good reason and because of its distinct history. At the time of the creation of Israel and the War for Independence in 1948, Jewish settlers and troops were armed with a hodgepodge of weaponry scavenged from the remains of war-torn European arsenals. Following the war, the need for a domestic arms industry became obvious. The resulting 9mm Uzi submachine gun was the brainchild of Major Uziel Gal, and the platform was first issued to the Israeli Defense Forces in 1954.

RELATED STORY: Exclusive Video – Test Firing The Updated IWI Uzi Pro Pistol

This stamped-sheet-metal, easy-to-produce, open-bolt 9mm submachine gun was durable, reliable and effective, as well as a battle-proven success in several subsequent altercations. It is also quite possibly the most popular and common submachine gun ever made. Of course, success breeds innovation as well, and soon special operations units were demanding something smaller, thus the Mini Uzi, and after that something even smaller, thus the Micro Uzi.

Upgraded Classic

The Uzi Pro Pistol, a combination of steel, sheet metal and durable polymer, features a grip safety like original Uzis and comes with 20- and 25-round magazines.

Today’s Uzi Pro Pistol is a closed-bolt, single-action, blowback-operated, 9mm semi-auto pistol made in Israel by IWI. The pistol also incorporates several design changes and improvements over the old Uzi Pistol.

The lower receiver is now made from polymer to reduce the weight and increase durability, corrosion resistance and strength. It also extends the full length of the upper receiver. There are nearly 2.5 inches of Picatinny rail attached to the lower receiver just in front of the triggerguard for easy installation of tactical light and laser systems. This rail section extends underneath the barrel to almost the front of the barrel.

RELATED STORY: Torture Test – Return of the IWI Jericho 941

The grip had been redesigned with a much more ergonomic and less boxy appearance, and it features grooves at the front and rear along with a front lip at the bottom for a more secure hold. The magazine well is also flared for easier and faster mag changes. Another more American (and less European) change is the placement of the magazine release. In the old Uzi Pistol, it was located at the bottom of the grip, but on the new pistol it has been placed at the rear of the triggerguard where American shooters are more accustomed to finding it. The polymer triggerguard is now also integral to the lower receiver.

There are three separate safeties on the Uzi Pro Pistol. The grip safety located at the rear of the grip is made from polymer, and it has been redesigned with a rounded and pronounced shape to offer a better and more secure positive engagement. The manual safety has been relocated upwards from the grip area, just behind the trigger, to the upper receiver. It, however, functions the same way as a sliding tab that is moved back for “safe” and forward for “fire.” Finally, the Uzi Pro Pistol features an internal firing-pin-block safety, which blocks the firing pin from going forward unless the trigger is depressed.

Refined Design

The stamped steel upper receiver is the serialized portion of the pistol and also bears some very distinct design element changes from the previous model. Most notable is that the polymer, non-reciprocating charging handle has been moved from the top of the receiver to the left side. This doesn’t make it any less ambidextrous, it just means that lefties have to come over the pistol a bit further or angle it to the right to operate. At the rear of the charging handle rod there is a small red tab that appears to show that the pistol is in battery and the chamber fully closed.

The main advantages are that the charging handle is now somewhat larger (since it does not interfere with the sights) easier to operate and allows for 5 inches of top-mounted Picatinny rail. This rail allows for the easy installation of miniature reflex sights for faster target acquisitions.

RELATED STORY: Gun Review – Umarex .177 Uzi BB Carbine

Also on top of the receiver are high-profile, three-dot sights. The front sight is adjustable for elevation, and the rear sight is adjustable for windage with the included tool. The 4.5-inch barrel is cold-hammer forged and has four-groove rifling with a 1-in-10-inch, right-hand twist rate.

Maintenance and disassembly for the Uzi Pro Pistol is easy and straightforward. First remove the magazine and, while pointing it in a safe direction, ensure that the chamber is empty. Note that the bolt will not retract if the safety is on and the sear is in the forward (fired) position. Unscrew the barrel lug by depressing the barrel lug release tab and then the lug and barrel can be easily removed. Depress the receiver cover tab at the front of the rear sight to remove the cover, and then the charging handle and bolt assembly can be removed. Finally, separate the upper and lower receivers by pushing out the two takedown pins at the front and rear of the lower receiver. Assembly is in the reverse order. All of this can be done easily without any tools.

Compact Power

It should also be noted that the Uzi Pro Pistol operates as a blowback gun, so the weight of the bolt is all that keeps the action shut until chamber pressures drop to a safe level. As such, you have a fairly heavy bolt which makes up a large portion of this pistol’s 58.5 ounces. This weight, however, is balanced directly over the hand so the pistol feels neither front- nor rear-heavy, but well balanced.

RELATED STORY: Israeli Warrior Reborn – IWI’s Galil ACE GAP39 Pistol

The single-stage trigger has a slight amount of take-up and measures at 13 to 14 pounds. The grip safety positively engages as long as you maintain a firm grip and the manual safety is easy to deactivate with the thumb of the shooting hand (for right-handed shooters at least) but I found I needed to use my support hand to re-engage it.

At the rear of the receiver there is an end cap, which would have been an ideal location for installing a sling attachment point, but none is present. This end cap is removable and the operator can install a folding stock (if the pistol is NFA registered) or a folding stabilizing arm brace produced for IWI U.S. by SB Tactical, the company that designed the original arm braces used by Sig Sauer and other manufacturers. I did not get the opportunity to test the Uzi Pro Pistol with this arm brace, but previous experience with other systems indicate that this would be a welcome addition and help increase control, balance and accuracy with this pistol. It is an addition well worth considering.

Getting My Uzi On

“The weight of the pistol kept recoil at an absolute minimum and fast follow-up shots on target were easily accomplished.”

On the range, the Uzi Pro Pistol performed right out of the box with zero maintenance and zero malfunctions of any sort, despite using a mix of ammunition. This was expected given the gun’s battle-proven, reliable design and blowback operation. The weight of the pistol kept recoil at an absolute minimum and fast follow-up shots on target were easily accomplished.

This is not a bullseye target pistol, and unless you are Chuck Norris, it is not a concealed-carry pistol either. The Uzi Pro Pistol is based on a dedicated special operation select-fire submachine gun and bears many of those same hallmarks. It will appeal primarily to Uzi fans and military/history buffs. But still, in its civilian configuration, it can make for an excellent home-defense or trunk gun, and it comes with a flush-fitting 20-round magazine and a slightly longer 25-round steel mag. A 32-round magazine is also available.

For more information, visit http://www.iwi.us or call 717-695-2081.

The post An Uzi For U: IWI’s Compact Uzi Pro Pistol appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

The following is a press release from Wilson Combat

The Sentinel Compact merges our shortest slide fighting pistol-the Sentinel with the frame of our compact 1911 series handguns. The result is a pistol designed for accurate shooting and easy concealment.

RELATED STORY: Smokin’ Hot – Wilson Combat’s Texas BBQ Special

The sub-compact 3.6″ Sentinel slide clears your carry holster extremely fast on the draw but still retains the match-grade accuracy that is the hallmark of the Wilson Combat line of custom 1911’s. With numerous custom features designed to enhance shooting performance and cosmetics, the Sentinel Compact is the ideal all-around size for many shooters seeking a concealed carry 1911.

Chambered exclusively in 9mm and .38 Super, the Sentinel Compact combines precision, reliability and attention to detail in a practical, concealable size. Like all of our hand-built, custom firearms the Sentinel Compact proudly carries Wilson Combat’s industry leading 100% customer satisfaction pledge.

RELATED STORY: 5 High-End Compact 1911 Pistols by Wilson Combat

For over 30 years, Wilson Combat has been the leading innovator in high-performance, custom firearms and accessories. A Wilson Combat product’s unmatched level of exceptional reliability and peerless craftsmanship is only equaled by our best-in-class customer service.

For more information, visit http://www.wilsoncombat.com.

The post Wilson Combat Introduces New Sentinel Compact Pistol appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Color has moods. It also has purpose. In nature, color is essential for the very survival of some species, and in the world of handguns, color can also be an essential characteristic, like Flat Dark Earth for handguns carried in various arid desert regions. Of course, there is traditional flat black, the color of most tactical handguns, and for those desiring a little gender vibrancy shades of violet and pink. Now, what if one gun, as in just owning one gun, could have all those colors available at the user’s discretion? Then you would be carrying a new Beretta Pico.

The revised Pico, introduced in late 2015, brings to fruition all of the interchangeability the design promised with multiple polymer frames and frame options, such as a high-intensity tactical light or a red laser sight. Built integral with the special polymer frames for ease of carry and operation, the optional LaserMax tactical light or laser frames can be switched out with the standard black frame in less than a minute.

Versatile .380

The heart of the Pico is a stainless steel fire control subchassis that can be quickly switched between frames. Five different frame colors are available as well as LaxerMax light and laser versions.

The .380 ACP counterpart of the 9mm Beretta Nano, albeit with an internal hammer rather than a striker-fired system, the Pico remains the thinnest, most compact and feature-laden .380 semi-auto pocket pistol ever designed. Like the Nano, the Pico shares a basic construction with an interchangeable, one-piece, molded polymer frame that houses a removable, stainless steel fire control subchassis containing frame rails, the trigger and the internal hammer firing system.

RELATED STORY: New for 2016 – Beretta’s 9mm Px4 Compact Carry

The interchangeable frames offer multiple platforms with a single registered handgun, as the subchassis is considered the actual gun, not what surrounds it. For just $37, the Pico’s standard black polymer frame can be changed for Ranger Green, Flat Dark Earth, lavender and pink. And for tactical backup carry, or just to have the option of a light or laser for concealed carry, the specialized LaserMax frames with an integral red laser or tactical light are $189 and $199, respectively.

This little .380 even has interchangeable, dovetailed white-dot sights that can be switched for optional Trijicon three-dot night sights, for $105. If you went all out and bought everything, every frame and option, you would only spend $641 in addition to the price of the Pico, which has a suggested retail of $400. With even a modest discount, you could have the most versatile .380 pistol system ever designed for well under a grand.

EDC Options

Already regarded as the easiest to carry and most concealable of all .380s, the Pico has a remarkably simple field-stripping procedure that requires no levers to rotate, pins to remove or alignment points. There’s just one large slotted screw on the right side of the frame, which, with a quarter turn counter-clockwise (using the edge of a shell casing or even your thumb nail), allows the slide, barrel, recoil spring and guide rod assembly to be pulled forward off the frame rails. The screw even automatically resets to the locked position when the gun is reassembled.

RELATED STORY: 3 Undercover Berettas – Pico, Nano and PX4 Storm

To change frames takes about another 30 seconds. After performing the takedown procedure and removing the slide assembly, simply rotate the disassembly screw until the round side is up in the frame (the flat side shows during normal disassembly). Press it through the frame and remove it. From there the fire control chassis lifts out by the front rails and pulls forward out of the frame. To insert it into a new frame, slide the rear of the subchassis in first, pull the trigger back enough to drop it into the frame’s trigger opening and then press the subchassis into place. Push the disassembly screw back through the opening, rotate it to the flat position and replace the slide. The screw automatically locks back into place. In one simple process you have completely changed the frame color or the tactical features of your handgun, and all in about a minute.

DAO Defender

The Pico is a hammer-fired, short-recoil semi-auto based on the John M. Browning design utilizing a linkless barrel with a solid camming lug and a squared breechblock face engaging the slide for lockup. Using a locked-breech design is gaining in popularity with .380 handguns, which commonly rely on basic blowback actions with the barrel affixed to the frame. Of course, that would never work with the Pico’s interchangeable frames, and there are advantages to the locked-breech design over blowbacks even with a .380.

RELATED STORY: The ARX100 – Beretta’s Next-Gen Battle Rifle

The Pico’s double-action-only (DAO) design has no manual/external safety and allows second-strike capability. While this is a minor point, in the event of a failed primer, the difference between pulling the trigger again and having to rack the slide can become a major point. Not even every DAO .380 has second-strike capability and the majority of .380s are single-action designs. The Pico’s slide also locks back after the last round, another plus, and the Beretta does not employ a magazine disconnect, thus it will fire a chambered round without the magazine.

Beyond ease of operation, the narrow little .380 still has good balance in the hand, especially using the primary magazine that comes with the gun, and has a deep finger extension allowing a full-hand grip, not just a third finger rest like most. The backup magazine has a flat floorplate.

If there is any one thing that makes the Pico a hard gun to handle it is the heavy trigger pull. It’s heavier than normal for most DAO pistols, regardless of caliber, and for the average .380 by nearly 2 pounds. Beretta’s revisions to the latest Pico’s trigger, comprised of lightening the hammer spring, make it slightly easier to shoot with an average trigger pull of 8 pounds. The trigger has a short 0.5 inches of travel, a crisp break, zero overtravel and very quick reset. Though heavy, it is consistent in operation.

RELATED STORY: Gun Review – Beretta’s Rare 92S 9mm Pistol

A lighter recoil spring has also reduced resistance when racking the narrow slide by about by 10 to 20 percent. It is not a significant reduction, but it is easier to operate, and the revisions take nothing away from the design’s ability to help mitigate muzzle lift in combination with Beretta’s tip-to-parallel straight-line action, requiring the barrel to tilt just 1.4 degrees during the recoil cycle. Overall, recoil is less than expected for a polymer-framed pistol weighing just 11.5 ounces.

As the narrowest semi-auto pistol available, measuring a scant 0.71 inches at its widest point, and the slide only being 0.68 inches wide, this gun is less likely to print through a pocket than any other .380 semi-auto. The magazine’s finger extension makes the Pico easier to draw and shoot by adding a full inch to the height of the gun (which is 3.875 inches with the flush-floorplate magazine). In overall length, the Pico measures 5.1 inches, making it one of the shortest .380s on the market.

Shots Fired

The Pico proved itself on the range at 7 yards, creating 1-inch groups on average with multiple overlapping hits being the norm.

Ammo choices for the Pico range test were Sig Sauer’s Elite Performance 90-grain V-Crown JHP, Federal Premium’s heavy-hitting 99-grain Personal Defense HST JHP and Hornady’s Critical Defense 90-grain FTX. The target was a B27 cardboard silhouette set out at a distance of 7 yards. Although it featured the heaviest grain weight, the new Federal 99-grain HST JHP was also the fastest round, and with the most recoil, clearing the chronograph’s traps at 912 fps. The 90-grain Hornady JHP and Sig Sauer 90-grain JHP had virtually identical averages through the Pico’s 2.7-inch barrel, clocking 880 fps. When it comes to accuracy, this gun lives at 7 yards, with the best five-round groups all averaging 1 to 1.1 inches and all with overlapping hits.

RELATED STORY: 12 Autopistols From the COMPLETE BOOK OF HANDGUNS 2016 Buyer’s Guide

The Pico’s standard white-dot sights are excellent under most lighting conditions and the optional night sights make this an ideal close-range 24/7 carry gun. Add the LaserMax red laser or tactical light frames and the Pico is the .380 to beat when it comes to options and features.

For more information, visit http://www.beretta.com.

The post Gun Review: The Deep-Cover Beretta Pico appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Glock pistols remain the same polymer-framed, utterly reliable handguns they have always been. Every Glock features the Safe Action system with multiple internal safeties as well as a polygonal-rifled barrel. What has changed is the caliber and size of the company’s pistols in recent years, and recently one more notable change arrived as well—the single-stack Glock.

Glock continues to produce very compact versions of its standard pistols, but for the ultimate in concealability and pocket carry, you need a thin grip. Given the exponential growth in concealed carry in the U.S., especially among women, it was only a matter of time before American shooters could finally get their hands on a single-stack Glock pistol chambered in .380 ACP, which arrived in the form of the Glock 42.

The G42 is not the first .380 ACP pistol made by Glock. The first two were the G25 (essentially a Glock 19 chambered in .380 ACP) and the G28 (the compact version). These were never available to American civilians and limited to law enforcement sales. They were developed for sale in European countries where military-caliber ammunition is restricted.

But we are better off now and the G42 is smaller and thinner for concealed carry. It is in fact the smallest pistol Glock has ever made, but it has all of the same advantages and ergonomics of a full-sized Glock. The semi-automatic pistol features a 6+1 capacity and the shortest barrel available in the pocket-pistol class. The .380 ACP cartridge keeps the recoil very manageable in this lightweight gun that weighs less than 14 ounces unloaded.

RELATED STORY: Total Commitment – GLOCK’s New Female Shooters

The width is also less than 1 inch at the widest point, making the pistol virtually disappear inside a pocket, and the smaller, thinner frame makes it easy to grasp for anyone with smaller hands. The checkering on the grip also helps the user retain the pistol, even in inclement conditions, and the triggerguard is undercut for a higher and more comfortable grip. This also helps bring the hand higher up on the gun and lowers the bore axis for better recoil management.

The enlarged reversible magazine catch allows for faster and easier magazine changes, and there is a fully functional slide lock/slide release. The rear of the grip has a pronounced beavertail that protects the web of the shooter’s hand from “slide bite.” The gun’s wide slide serrations also help with slide manipulation, and since the .380 ACP produces less recoil and requires a lighter recoil spring, even those with diminished hand strength will be able to operate this pistol comfortably.

Ultra-Slim Nine

If people were excited about the G42, the arrival of the Glock 43 a year later was even more heavily celebrated. The Glock 43 is the first single-stack 9mm pistol that the company has ever produced, and it is dimensionally almost identical to the G42. This ultra-slim and ultra-compact pocket 9mm pistol gives users the same benefit of an easily concealable pocket pistol that lays flat and resists printing with the added power of the larger round. While the .380 ACP and 9mm may look similar on the outside, they are anything but. The large 9mm round produces on average 80 percent greater energy.

RELATED STORY: Built For Backup – A Look at the New GLOCK 43

Penetration is a factor of many things, most notably bullet design, but the improved velocity of the 9mm round will in almost every case provide better penetration than the .380 ACP. Of course, this also produces increased recoil, but the trade-off is worth it for many who are less recoil sensitive. The G43 pistol itself has a 6+1 capacity and is about one-third of an inch longer and just slightly wider. The G43 is also a little over 4 ounces heavier, which helps absorb some of the added recoil. The slightly longer barrel also provides added velocity.

Gen4 Advantage

The subcompact Glock 26 has always been a popular pistol for concealed carry. This semi-automatic is chambered in 9mm and features a 10-round magazine, and it will accept longer 9mm magazines as well. At 6.41 inches long and 4.17 inches tall, the G26 stows away easily in pockets or bags, and it can ride comfortable all day in an inside-the-waistband holster. The light weight of the pistol, at 21.71 ounces, is also an asset. In terms of handling recoil, the slightly extra weight over the G43, and most importantly the slightly wider grip, do a great job of keeping the gun manageable and your shots on target.

RELATED STORY: Going GLOCK – 4 People on Why They Use GLOCK Pistols

The G26 Gen4 pistol offers even more intriguing features. The magazine catch has been made reversible so that the pistol is easier to use for left-handed shooters. The new G26 Gen4 also has a redesigned frame with more aggressive texturing that really helps keep the pistol in hand better. The backstrap has also been modified so that it is now modular and the gun comes with different sized backstraps that are easily interchanged. This allows the user to customize the grip size for a better fit. Finally, the Gen4 features a new dual recoil spring assembly that significantly increases the pistol’s operational life.

Big-bore fans who want to keep their pistol out of sight have navigated over to the Glock 36 with its Slim-Line single-stack design. For a while this was the thinnest pistol Glock made, and it is still the thinnest the company makes in this caliber. This semi-automatic pistol features 6+1 capacity and a polymer frame with finger grooves that also sports aggressive checkering in the front and rear. The front of the slide has been narrowed to reduce weight and the pistol’s overall slim dimensions also make it easier to reholster the gun.

RELATED STORY: Get Connected With GLOCK I.D.

The G36’s high-visibility sights get you on target fast, and night sights are optional for use in low-light conditions. At 22.42 ounces, you will feel the recoil, but it is no worse than smaller and lighter 9mms.

Glock continues to innovate and produce outstanding, accurate and reliable pistols for law enforcement, home defense and concealed carry.

For more information, visit http://us.glock.com or call 770-432-1202.

The post GLOCK Guardians: 4 Reliable Concealed Carry Pistols appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Kimber is now offering a line of engraved custom 1911s sure to please the eye and the wallet. The Custom Shop’s engraved pistols are the Stainless II (Classic Engraved Edition) and the Stainless II (Texas Edition). As functional as they are attractive, both are full-sized 1911s with all the features customers have come to expect from Kimber.

Special Specs

Kimber Stainless II (Classic Engraved Edition)

Both engraved pistols begin life as a standard Kimber Stainless II pistol, with a stainless steel frame and a slide finished in satin silver. The “II” in the name indicates the presence of the trigger-activated Swartz Safety system.

Very little is changed in converting a Stainless II to either of the engraved models. The two engraved pistols retain the same weapon capabilities as the parent Stainless II. All three use the same fixed, low-profile sights, a full-length recoil spring guide rod, a burr hammer, a sear, a skeletonized match-grade trigger, a 5-inch barrel with a stainless steel, match-grade bushing and a beavertail grip safety.

RELATED STORY: Kimber’s Pocket Companions – The Solo Crimson Carry & Micro Raptor Stainless

Front serrations and a satin silver finish are on the slides for the Stainless II and Classic Engraved. The Texas Edition does not have these features, but its flats are highly polished. The Stainless II is available in .45 ACP and 9mm, though engraved pistols are only available in .45 ACP.

The Classic arrives wearing attractive French walnut with checkered ivory Micarta grips. Riding the Texas Edition are smooth, bonded ivory grips with the words “Come and Take It” on the left panel and “State of Texas” with a state flag inset on the right panel. Both grip types are functional, but the Classic might have a little edge with its checkering.

More Details

Kimber Stainless II (Texas Edition)

The engraving is the reason for the Classic and the Texas Edition’s existence. The Classic Engraved Edition has full vine and leaf tool engraving with stipple relief on the frame and slide as well as an accent-engraved flat mainspring housing. Engraving is not only on the sides of the slide but on the bottom of the dustcover. All this makes the Classic look exceptionally nice.

RELATED STORY: 15 Precision Rifles From Kimber

Kimber’s eye-catching Texas Edition pistol has attractive “western leaf” and scroll engraving with a sawtooth border on the slide. Highly polished flats and engraving make the limited-edition Texas Edition a striking design. So striking in fact that it’s already sold out. But customers can still obtain the Classic Engraved Edition, which start at $1,095.

For more information, visit http://www.kimberamerica.com.

The post Kimber’s Engraved Stainless II Pistols appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

The PPS M2 is a redesigned version of Walther’s PPS pistol with improvements that matter. The PPS is a hefty firearm that remains small enough to conceal. I have had the opportunity to shoot the original PPS previously, and I enjoyed shooting it. I shot so accurately with it that I was eager to purchase one, until I identified one sticking point that, for me, was a deal breaker: the triggerguard-mounted magazine release.

The single most important improvement on the Walther PPS M2 is the new magazine release, which is in a more familiar location.

Enhanced Control

The pistol’s magazine features an extended basepad for more grip.

As a smaller shooter, I am used to having to compensate in order to manipulate and operate controls on firearms that were made for people much larger than me. I have spent my adult life doing whatever is necessary to quickly and consistently manipulate my firearms. I have learned over the years that the most important thing for me to be successful is consistency. That means consistency across firearms, holsters and accessories. Any time I find a firearm that does something different or moves familiar controls, I am reluctant and nervous—unless, of course, it improves my speed and accuracy. This wasn’t the case with the PPS magazine release.

RELATED STORY: New For 2016 – Walther’s Updated PPS M2 In 9mm & .40 S&W

The first time I shot the PPS and tried to conduct a magazine exchange, I found myself confused. I was never able to operate the magazine release lever in a way that was quick, let alone felt safe. I was forced to use my support hand to eject the magazine. This put my digits too close to the trigger and resulted in a dramatic decrease in speed during reloading. I actually told my husband that he was lucky because, had the magazine release on the PPS been a button situated on the frame, he’d be buying me one. Well, now it looks like that rooster has come home to roost!

The low-profile front sight won’t snag on clothing.

I would never buy a firearm just because of a magazine release, but I certainly would abstain from purchasing any gun that made magazine exchanges cumbersome. The Walther PPS M2 placed the magazine release in a familiar and comfortable location; I am able to do magazine changes confidently. But I also like the Walther PPS M2 because it has many features that make it a firearm that I would use for personal defense, both inside and outside of the home. These features include the gun’s tough Tenifer finish, its slim profile and ergonomic Walther grip, the trigger-pull weight, the low-profile sights and the available chamberings.

Built To Last

Note the PPS M2’s 3.18-inch barrel and wide forward slide serrations.

As a former police range master, I have seen the condition of guns that would come into the armory for annual maintenance. These experiences helped me understand the importance of having a corrosion-resistant coating on firearms that are carried out in the elements. Even those firearms that were carried concealed by our officers suffered corrosion if they were not treated. I have maintained firearms by reputable firearms manufacturers that had rust in the slide serrations and even on the rear sights. Carrying a concealed firearm means that it may be subjected to the elements or even perspiration. These exposures eventually corrode the finish of a firearm. The PPS M2 is coated with Tenifer, which protects it from these conditions, making it well suited for demands of concealed carry.

RELATED STORY: Gun Review – Walther PPQ 45

Although the original PPS also had a slim profile, the ergonomic design changes to the PPS M2 keep the pistol slim and concealable, yet better contoured to the shooter’s hand. The ergonomics improve the fit of the firearm’s grip to the shooter hands. The greater contact between the firearm and the shooter’s hand will aid in minimizing movement during shooting, increasing accuracy and the speed of follow-up shots.

Six-, seven-and eight-round mags are available.

The PPS M2 is chambered for 9mm and .40 S&W (available in the spring 2016). These calibers fall within the commonly accepted self-defense calibers because of their stopping power and penetration. The PPS M2 has a six-, seven- and eight-round magazine capacity for the 9mm version. These three magazines are designed for use with concealment (six), comfort (seven) and capacity (eight). Depending on the needs of the user, whether it’s concealed carry or personal protection inside the home, they can select the appropriate magazine capacity for their intended use.

Primed For CCW

The author’s test pistol featured a crisp trigger with a 6.1-pound pull weight.

There are many opinions as to what an appropriate trigger weight should be on a self-defense gun. There is one school of thought that a heavier trigger is safer because it requires more intention. I disagree with this school of thought, which probably developed with negligent discharges. When it comes to deciding trigger weight, my recommendation would be to base that number on the individual shooter. For shooters who exercise good trigger-finger discipline, a good trigger weight for a self-defense gun can safely fall between 5 to 8 pounds.

RELATED STORY: Four Walther Pistols Used by James Bond – The PPK, P5 Compact, P99 and PPK/S

If the weight is any lighter, then the shooter may fire a round while prepping the trigger, and any heavier than that and the weight could actually impact speed, accuracy and even the shooter’s physical ability to break the shot. The 9mm version of the PPS M2 has a trigger weight of 6.1 pounds, which falls right in with what I would consider to be a solid self-defense trigger weight. Additionally, there is no external manual safety, which is something I ensure is not on any firearm I intend to carry or use for self-defense. That’s just one less thing to fumble with under stress.

The final feature of the Walther PPS M2 that enhances its self-defense appeal is its low-profile metal sights. Those carrying this firearm concealed will see the benefit of these sights—the ability to draw the firearm from concealment without it snagging on clothing. The trade-off is that there are no hard angles to catch on clothing if a shooter needed to manipulate or charge the firearm one handed. Given the odds, it is probably better to have low-profile sights. In addition the rear sight can be adjusted for windage, allowing you to fine-tune the pistol for your ammunition.

There are only two other features that I hope to see on future releases of the PPS M2. The first feature is the reversible or ambidextrous magazine release. I typically mount my magazine releases on the right side of the gun for consistency. I can comfortably reach the magazine release now, but I try not to deviate on the placement of controls from one handgun to another.

The other feature that was previously on the PPS but not on the PPS M2 is the accessory rail. This firearm is one that I would use for concealed carry and for home defense. Although I may not mount a flashlight on it, I think the ability to mount a light is a feature that many people, looking for firearms to carry concealed or to use in home defense, might want. I’m comfortable with a two-handed flashlight technique, but I encourage everyone using a gun for self-defense to have access to an illumination source.

M2 Upgrade

Walther’s PPS M2 made some substantial improvements from the original PPS. The modifications made to it make this firearm much more suited for concealed carry and home defense. Although most of the modifications were relatively minor, they have a huge impact on the versatility of this slim-line firearm.

RELATED STORY: 6 Walther Handguns Perfect For Concealed Carry Defense

Shooters who invest in the M2 will be able to change magazines faster, carry this firearm in the elements without corrosion, draw from concealment and shoot more comfortably than those outfitted with the original version. It wasn’t hard for me to walk away from a purchase of the original PPS since I was unable to operate the magazine release effectively, but I don’t see myself walking away from the PPS M2 quite as easily.

For more information, visit http://www.waltherarms.com or call 479-242-8500.

The post Fit To Fight: The Walther PPS M2 9mm Pistol appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

I have lost count of the number of times I have heard a fellow shooter say, “The 1911 pistol is the perfect handgun just the way John Moses Browning invented it!” But according to Webster, the definition of perfection is “something that cannot be improved.” Well, while I will no doubt anger many of its aficionados, I must state the obvious: The 1911 pistol is not perfect.

This is because the 1911 pistol is a man-made machine. A bullet-shooting machine to be sure, but a machine nonetheless. And any machine can and most likely will malfunction at one time or another. Ever since the first machines were invented, humans have been trying to make them as reliable as possible. And with his 1911 pistol, Browning succeeded to a greater degree than any of his contemporaries and many of the gun designers who came after him.

But while the service-type 1911 was known for its ability to function under some horrendous conditions, the loose tolerances that made it reliable kept accuracy from being one of its strong points. While this was not a problem in combat, it was for serious target shooters. The result was that more and more custom gunsmiths began “tweaking” the pistol to see if they could coax more accuracy from it without decreasing its overall reliability.

Today there are any number of companies producing 1911s that range from plain G.I.-style pistols to so-called “race guns.” One company whose 1911s have become known for reliability and accuracy, as well as looking darn good in the process, is Kimber.

Three Of A Kind

Kimber’s new Eclipse Series includes (from left to right) the Ultra II, Pro II and Custom II, which come in compact, Commander and full sizes with Crimson Trace Lasergrips to meet your self-defense needs.

Kimber entered the 1911 market in the mid-1990s, and over the years its product line has expanded to where the company now offers a complete line of high-end, single-stack 1911 pistols that have every feature demanded by today’s serious defensive and competitive shooters. All the customer has to do is take them out of the box, load the magazines and they’re ready to go.

RELATED STORY: Gun Review – Kimber Micro Advocate .380 ACP

Kimber recently introduced a number of new models, including the Eclipse Series. The Eclipse Series consists of three pistols—the Eclipse Custom II (LG) is a Government-sized pistol with a 5-inch barrel; the Eclipse Pro II (LG) is the Commander-sized member of the family and sports a 4-inch tube and shorter slide; and the Eclipse Ultra II (LG) is the smallest of the group with a 3-inch barrel and a shortened grip frame.

All three pistols feature stainless steel slides with polished sides and black-finished tops that reduce glare during sighting. The Custom II’s slide has grasping grooves on the front and rear, while the Pro II and Ultra II have a single set on the rear of their slides. All are sharply cut, allowing a firm grasp, even with wet of oily hands. To ensure that spent cases get out of the way quickly, all three pistols’ ejection ports are lowered and flared.

Along with a fast-targeting Crimson Trace laser, the Kimber Eclipse Ultra II (LG) comes equipped with snag-free Meprolight tritium sights featuring large dots that are easy to see in a variety of lighting conditions.

Dovetail cuts in their slides contain Meprolight tritium three-dot night sights, which can be adjusted for windage. The Ultra II and Pro II models are fitted with bushingless barrels. Custom IIs have traditional muzzle bushings to position their barrels. All three have full-length recoil spring guide rods for improved reliability and consistent lock-up, which improves accuracy.

RELATED STORY: Carry Small, Shoot Big with Kimber’s Micro Crimson Carry

As with the top ends, the stainless steel frames have polished sides while their undersurfaces sport a black finish. This contrasting appearance is very attractive and really sets these pistols apart from similar designs. Ergonomics, handling and recoil control all get a boost from beavertail grip safeties, checkered frontstraps and mainspring housings, and all three pistols have metal relieved under the triggerguard for a high, secure purchase.

Other controls include moderately extended, single-sided thumb safeties and skeletonized triggers and hammers. The slide-stop levers and magazine releases are all normally sized, which is just how I like them. Lastly, the magazine wells have been beveled, so shooters can expect to perform fumble-free reloads. For tests I used two 7-round magazines, one with an extended baseplate (KimPro Tac mag) and the other with a flush baseplate.

Laser Focus

“…it is a nice-feeling pistol, and I was especially taken by the frame checkering…”

The most unique feature of this trio of Kimbers is that they come standard with checkered Slatewood Crimson Trace Lasergrips, which feature an integral laser sight in the top of the right grip panel. A pair of batteries in the grip panels supply power while the on/off switch is located in the bottom of the left panel. Finger pressure on the rubber-encased activation pad on the Lasergrips’ frontstrap activates the laser.

RELATED STORY: Kimber’s Ultra CDP II – Built From The Ground Up For Everyday Carry

Mounting a laser sight on a handgun allows rapid target acquisition, especially in low-light conditions. A shooter can also engage targets from behind cover without exposing too much of themselves. Another advantage is that you can fire accurately without having to bring the pistol to eye level, which could be very useful if you are in an awkward position, must fire one-handed or if one of your hands/arms has been disabled. Finally, “painting” an attacker with a red or green laser has sometimes been known to have a mollifying effect on aggressive tendencies.

My “right out of the box” impressions of the Ultra II were that it is a nice-feeling pistol, and I was especially taken by the frame checkering and the large, easy-to-see sights. According to my trigger-pull gauge, the trigger broke crisply with a bit over 4 pounds of pressure.

Range Workout

My wife, Becky, and I headed out to the range the next day to see how this attenuated .45 ACP performed. As all gun writers’ standard operation procedure requires that we poke holes in paper at a measured distance, I set up a series of targets at 10 yards and, after sitting down behind my MTM K-Zone rest, proceeded to fire a series of five-shot groups with the Ultra II. I was pleasantly surprised when I produced several sub-2-inch groups. That’s not too bad for a “snubbie” semi-automatic.

As Becky and I dodged intermittent rain showers, I belted on a Galco Yaqui Belt Slide holster and ran series of drills on a pair of combat targets set at 5 and 7 yards. The large sights allowed me to acquire and transition between targets quickly, and the crisp trigger allowed me to place my shots accurately. While the checkered grip frame and grip panels provided good recoil control, when using the magazine with the flush baseplate, my little finger kept slipping off under recoil. But with the extended baseplate magazine, I was able to get a full, secure purchase on the pistol, which greatly aided in recoil control without sacrificing concealability.

Out of curiosity, I fired the Eclipse Ultra II with several full-length, eight-round magazines provided by Brownells, and I am pleased to report that the pistol functioned perfectly with them. If I used the Kimber for concealed carry, I would carry these magazines for reloads.

Turning on the Crimson Trace Lasergrips, I proceeded to engage a target at 5 yards, firing the pistol from waist level. Once I got the hang of holding that bouncing little red dot (fairly) still, I fired some 30 rounds that chewed up the center of the target in a most pleasing manner.

While I have never been overly fond of laser sights, these drills with the CT-equipped Kimber have come much closer to convincing me that a pistol with this type of laser setup could be very useful in a close-range defensive situation and would definitely be a wise choice for home defense.

Although Officer-sized 1911s aren’t necessarily my bag, I have to confess that Kimber’s Eclipse Ultra II has softened this attitude to a significant degree. I found it to be concealable, controllable and accurate. So if your idea of the perfect concealed-carry gun is a subcompact 1911, then the Kimber Ultra II should fill your bill.

For more information, visit http://www.kimberamerica.com or call 888-243-4522.

The post Gun Test: Kimber Eclipse Ultra II appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Heckler & Koch started it, Glock perfected it and today virtually every arms maker offers some type of polymer-framed handgun. And there’s good reason for that—polymer makes amazing things possible. The SCCY CPX-2 and Beretta Nano 9mm semi-autos are two perfect examples of what polymer can provide in terms of versatility, resilience and cost effectiveness. They also represent two very different approaches to the same end and ideal candidates for this “Tale of the Tape” installment.

Polymer frames allow one very affordable option: color choices. The Beretta Nano has interchangeable frames in a handful of colors that can be interchanged with the handgun’s innovative, removable fire control subchassis, which contains the frame rails, trigger and firing mechanism—the essential elements that comprise the gun. Beretta offers several Nano frame options, including Flat Dark Earth, Ranger Green and pink. The SCCY CPX-2 is offered in a virtual color wheel of more than 20 frame and slide color options, but its frame is not interchangeable.

For this “Tale of the Tape,” I got my hands on Beretta’s standard all-black Nano and a two-tone SCCY CPX-2 with a polished stainless slide and a Sniper Grey frame. Polymer makes the difference for both guns, as both are very affordable. Nano frames are priced at just $39 and there is no extra charge for any color option when purchasing the CPX-2.

Notes On The Nano

Beretta designed the Nano so that one fire control subchassis could be used in several grip frames—all while still being very compact.

The 9mm Beretta Nano has truly subcompact dimensions, measuring 5.63 inches in length, 4.17 inches in height and 0.9 inches in width while maintaining an empty weight of 19.8 ounces. The Nano’s shape is also eye-catching with a rakish angle to the slide that tapers toward the muzzle, making it a natural for quick reholstering. The Nano ideally fits the average hand with a flat baseplate magazine, which places the little finger under the base. With an extended-capacity magazine, the pistol’s height increases to 5 inches and provides a full-hand grip. A large, curved triggerguard makes getting to work a quick affair, even wearing gloves, and there is still ample room for a two-handed hold with plenty of clearance behind the muzzle of the 3-inch barrel.

The Nano is one of the most foolproof and easiest-to-handle subcompact 9mm semi-autos on the market. Fundamentally, the Nano is very straightforward in its design and operation. It’s a striker-fired, short-recoil design combined with a blade trigger safety and an automatic striker block, which eliminates any external controls except for the mag release and trigger. In fact, there isn’t even a slide release, which makes the gun essentially ambidextrous when reloading. Just pull the slide slightly to the rear and let it go.

RELATED STORY: The Next-Gen Beretta Pico

To help mitigate harsh recoil, Beretta uses a double recoil spring—one wound around the guide rod and another around the plunger. The only external indications of the gun’s condition are the action of the automatic striker block, which rises up though an opening in the top of the slide when the trigger is drawn to the rear, and a loaded-chamber indicator. When a round is chambered, the extractor protrudes just slightly outward from the slide. Other than that, the gun has no obvious tells. The trigger position appears the same (fully forward, toggle extended) whether the slide has been cycled or not. The magazine release is also reversible, and the Nano does not use a magazine disconnect. It will discharge a chambered round with the magazine removed. The only drawback to the striker-fired design is that there is no second-strike capability in the event of a misfire. It requires drawing the slide back 0.31 inches to reset the striker.

The Nano has a black Pronox-finished slide fitted with a windage-adjustable, white-dot rear sight that is locked in place by two standard hex-head setscrews. The white-dot front sight is uniquely locked into a horizontal dovetailed channel with a single hex-head setscrew, making both sights easily interchangeable.

To field-strip the Nano, simply clear the gun, point it in a safe direction and pull the trigger. Then use the edge of a shell casing to rotate the takedown screw on the right side of the frame. The slide, barrel, recoil spring and guide-rod assembly can then be pulled forward off the polymer subframe. Reassembly is faster, as the takedown screw automatically resets and locks itself when the slide is replaced. (There is also a recessed striker deactivation button on top of the gun, which can be depressed with a pen point to deactivate the action for field-stripping, rather than pulling the trigger).

Overall, this is about as simple as a semi-auto can get, and the trigger pull is no worse than many DAO revolvers and semi-autos, with an average pull of 8.5 pounds, 0.75 inches of take-up, a crisp break and a quick reset.

SCCY CPX-2

The 9mm SCCY CPX-2 was born for concealed carry with a recoil-absorbing grip, a reliable internal hammer, a smooth DAO trigger and a 10+1 capacity. And it only costs $334.

Right out of the box, the CPX-2 has one notable advantage over the Nano—an internal, hammer-fired DAO action with second-strike capability. The gun’s trigger pull averages 9.5 pounds with 1 inch of take-up, a crisp break and zero overtravel. It does, however, take almost a full release of the trigger to reset.

SCCY builds all of its components in-house; there is no outsourcing of parts except for springs. It even builds its own 10-round magazines. Yes, you read that right: 10 rounds. The CPX-2 is a mere 0.07 inches longer and 0.62 inches taller than the Nano, but with a finger extension on the magazine that provides a full-hand grip, and it’s 1.2 inches wide, including the slide-release lever. With an empty weight of 15.5 ounces, it is a hair lighter than the Nano.

RELATED STORY: Quad-Locked & Loaded – The SCCY CPX-3

SCCY was founded in 2003 by Joe Roebuck, SCCY’s CEO and the company’s head of design and engineering. All of the company’s guns are precision built using the very latest CNC machining and inspection technology. Every SCCY pistol is built to tolerances that far exceed its price point, which is what makes this 9mm an interesting counterpoint to the Nano. The Beretta retails for $450 while the CPX-2 has an MSRP of $314 and comes standard with two magazines, dovetailed white-dot sights and a reversible magazine release. The SCCY also field-strips easily by locking the slide back (thus clearing the action), removing the magazine and pulling a single takedown pin. Reassembly is in reverse order.

These two polymer-framed 9mm semi-autos end up with as much in common as not. Neither has a notable size advantage over the other, while the CPX-2 holds a four-round standard-capacity edge. Four is a lot. The Nano requires giving up its modest height advantage to cut that margin by two. The Nano has a 3-inch barrel while the CPX-2 has a 3.1-inch barrel. It all comes down to handing and accuracy.

Range Report

For a baseline comparison test, I selected Sig Sauer’s 115-grain FMJs. The Nano averaged 1,090 fps while the CPX-2 averaged 1,070 fps. From 7 yards, the Nano and CPX-2 created five-shot groups of 1.75 and 1.2 inches, respectively. Though the Nano’s trigger pull is lighter than the CPX-2’s, the latter’s trigger was smoother and has a wider shoe, making it easier to handle overall. The CPX-2 also generates slightly less felt recoil (due in part to the CPX-2’s backstrap design) and is a tad faster to get back on target. The CPX-2’s drawback is its longer reset.

RELATED STORY: Tale of the Tape – SIG P938-22 Target vs. S&W M&P22

The bottom line is that Beretta has 490 years behind its name while SCCY has barely passed its first decade. All the same, for around $135 less than the Nano, the CPX-2 stacks up as equal or superior in just about every category except frame interchangeability. Both are relatively new, thus the question consumer’s need to ask themselves when making the choice between the CPX-2 and the Nano is almost as old as Beretta itself: What’s in a name?

The post Tale Of The Tape: Beretta Nano Vs. SCCY CPX-2 appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Remington is many things. It is the oldest firearms company to still be operating in America, and it is the biggest producer of rifles and shotguns in America. It is not traditionally known as a handgun company. This is a bit ironic as handgun manufacturing is not an alien concept to Remington, which made derringers and revolvers used during and after the Civil War, including the New Model Army cap-and-ball revolver. Remington also made the semi-automatic Model 51 in the years between World War I and World War II.

In recent years, Remington made a conscious decision to re-enter the handgun market in full force, staring with the 1911 R1. Its latest handgun, however, goes in the opposite direction. Instead of a full-sized .45 ACP, Remington has introduced the RM380, a semi-automatic pocket pistol chambered in .380 ACP with a 6+1 capacity. Although it’s designed to compete with other pocket pistols in this same chambering, the Remington RM380 offers so much more.

Deep-Cover .380

The RM380 offers solid accuracy on par with larger pistols.

This double-action-only, hammer-fired pistol features tilt-barrel, locked-breech operation and all-metal construction. There’s no polymer here except for the grip panels, which can be removed and replaced. Remington was also very careful not to roll this pistol out until it had been thoroughly vetted. Indeed, the company’s own extensive testing found that the RM380 has a useful, no-repair-needed lifespan that is thousands of rounds past any of its competitors. Every pistol is fired with a full magazine before it leaves the factory and random production guns are put through extensive torture testing.

RELATED STORY: VIDEO – Remington’s Ultra-Covert RM380 Pocket Pistol

I shot an early prototype of this pistol, firing over 100 rounds on a gun that many others were also shooting. It was reliable and accurate with one problem: The right side grip panel had loosened with use, and this was causing a trigger linkage blockage, preventing the gun from firing. Remington has addressed this issue in its final production guns by adding a third grip screw, and I tested the production gun again, with hundreds of rounds fired by myself and others, without any further issues whatsoever.

The 2.9-inch barrel features an enlarged cone design.

The steel slide features actual sights machined into it. These will not come loose and are very low profile and snag-free. The downside is that replacing the sights will require machining the slide. I would add a dab of white paint to the front sight for improved visibility, but that is just my preference. The slide features an external extractor and wide serrations for easy manipulations even in inclement conditions. The 2.9-inch, 410 stainless steel barrel is blackened like the slide and features an enlarged cone design for a tight lockup between barrel and slide, improving accuracy.

The frame is made from 7075 aluminum, which keeps the pistol very lightweight but also helps extend the gun’s durability and longevity. The frontstrap of the frame features aggressive checkering for a very firm hold, although I would have added checkering to the backstrap as well. The triggerguard is undercut to allow for a higher grip, providing better control of the pistol. The higher grip also brings the bore more in line with the hand, helping to reduce perceived recoil and muzzle flip.

Note the RM380’s ambidextrous magazine release.

Remington has also optimized the grip angle for improved comfort and a more natural point of aim. The small but distinct beavertail at the back helps prevent “slide bite” and allows for a more instinctive grip. The polymer grip panels are also checkered for an improved grip, and customizable aftermarket grips will also be available.

RELATED STORY: Bicentennial Celebration – 200 Years of Remington

Another pleasing feature is the slide stop on the left side of the frame. This securely locks the slide to the rear on an empty magazine or manually. It is rather small and difficult to use as a slide release, but not impossible if so desired. Sure to please southpaws, however, will be the fully ambidextrous, push-button, frame-mounted magazine release. The small, triangle-shaped release sits below the thickness of the grip panels so there is no danger of the magazine being inadvertently released, say, during pocket carry. The magazine release is also aggressively checkered, easy to use and allows the steel magazines to drop free.

The grips can be replaced for a customized feel.

The steel hammer is bobbed flat with the rear of the slide for a very smooth and snag-free draw. It should be noted that there are no external safeties on the RM380 and there is no internal drop safety either, except for a passive block within the slide. However, according to Remington, the RM380 has been tested using SAAMI Jar-Off, Drop and Rotation test criteria and passed, so it is safe to carry with a live round in the chamber.

There is also a loaded-chamber indicator at the top rear of the barrel that can be seen from the ejection port. That said, this is a double-action-only pistol and the steel trigger has a long pull that measured nearly 10 pounds on my trigger gauge. It also requires a full release to reset, so fire it like you would a revolver. The hammer-fired system also allows for a second-strike capability in case of a recalcitrant primer.

Modern Upgrades

Internally, the RM380 features a dual recoil spring system around a steel recoil guide rod. This system works very well and helps to tame recoil while also making the slide easy to operate, something those with weaker hands will appreciate. The clever dual spring design also extends the need for replacement to 2,500 rounds. Another welcome feature not always seen with pocket pistols is that Remington includes a spare magazine with the gun, and this spare features a good-sized finger extension that allows almost a full grip on the gun.

RELATED STORY: Urban Legend – The Remington Model 700 Stainless 5R

People who know their guns will notice more than a passing similarity between the RM380 and the Rohrbaugh R9. That is not a coincidence. Remington bought the rights to this pistol and based the RM380 on its design. However, the similarities end there.

Remington made significant changes, most notably the chambering in .380 ACP instead of 9mm. If you look at the top of the RM380 magazines you can see a spacer as these are, or were, 9mm magazines in the original design. Remington moved the magazine release from the heel of the grip to the back of the triggerguard, added the slide lock and changed the recoil system to make it much more durable. Best of all, Remington can produce this pistol for less than half the cost of a Rohrbaugh.

On The Range

On the range, the RM380 I received for testing performed just as well as the production samples I had previously shot. I did have a slight hiccup at the start with the flush-fit magazine. When fully loaded with six rounds, the slide would lock open after the fifth round fired with another round still in the magazine. This odd malfunction occurred with the first three full magazines I fired but never again after that, and it did not occur at all with the spare finger-extension magazine. I chalk it up to a slight break-in period, but if there is any doubt in your magazine’s reliability, make sure to replace it.

This small pistol does an excellent job of absorbing recoil and only just starts to get slightly uncomfortable after 100 rounds or so.

RELATED STORY: 7 Ways To Soup Up Your Remington Model 700

It should also be noted that Remington specifically warns against using any +P or +P+ ammunition. The long trigger pull takes a bit of getting used to for those of us now accustomed to striker-fired guns, but it is smooth and consistent with a clean break.

For accuracy testing, I fired off hand at 7 yards. Better accuracy results could certainly have been achieved firing from a stable benchrest, but that is not how this pistol is meant to be used. It is a defensive pistol, and I tested it as such.

Group sizes across three different types of hollow-point defensive ammunition averaged about 3.5 inches at that distance, which is certainly good enough for any defensive use.

The Remington RM380 is not the smallest or the lightest or the cheapest .380 ACP pocket pistol you can buy, but it is the most durable and exceptionally well made. Remington planned the roll out of this gun well indeed, and already a Crimson Trace red laser unit is available as well as several holster offerings, including those from CrossBreed and Recluse, among others.

For more information, visit http://www.remington.com or call 800-243-9700.

The post Micro To The Max: Remington’s RM380 Pistol appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

The grip panels on your 1911 pistol provide that crucial connection point between your hands and your firearm. The right panels fit your hand, fit your gun, fit your environmental needs and fit your lifestyle. Maybe they will even include an accessory, like a magazine well or laser. The choice is yours—and the market is full of some excellent choices.

Here is a collection of best bets from some of the top aftermarket grip makers in the industry. While we tried to cover every price point, make sure you dig a little deeper into each of these companies to find an amazing range of price and options to perfectly suit your needs.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Archangel AA108 Aluminum Mag Well Grips
http://www.archangelmanufacturing.com

Altamont Premier Super Rosewood Classic
http://www.altamontco.com

Chip McCormick Rosewood Slim Carry
http://www.cmcmags.com

Crimson Trace LG-401G Lasergrips
http://www.crimsontrace.com

Eagle Kirinite Green Pearl Grips
https://www.eaglegrips.com

Ed Brown Double-Diamond Laminate Grips
http://www.edbrown.com

Ergo Warrior Grips
http://www.ergogrips.net

FAB Defense Mag Well Funnel Grip
http://www.themakogroup.com

Hogue OverMolded Rubber Grips
http://www.hogueinc.com

Kimber Smooth Stipple/Scallop Grips
http://www.kimberamerica.com

Magpul 1911 MOE Grip Panels
https://www.magpul.com

Nighthawk Cocobolo Finger Groove Pin Point
http://www.nighthawkcustom.com

Pachmayr Renegade Wood Laminate Pistol Grips
http://www.pachmayr.com

Pearce PG1911-1 Finger Groove Inserts
http://www.pearcegrip.com

Raasco Pinstripe Grips
https://www.raasco.com

Recover Tactical CC3H Grip & Rail System
http://www.recovertactical.com

Sig Sauer 1911 Rosewood Grips
http://www.sigsauer.com

Valkyrie Dynamics Cobra Skeleton Grips
http://www.1911compensator.com

VZ 320 Carbon Fiber Orange Grips
https://www.vzgrips.com

Wilson Combat G10 Starburst Grips
http://www.wilsoncombat.com

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Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat: 9mm vs. .45 ACP 1911s

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10 GI-Style M1911 and M1911A1 Pistols For Today’s Shooters

8 Competition 1911 Pistols Ready Right Out Of The Box

The post 20 Aftermarket Grip Panels For Your 1911 Pistol appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

The Sig Sauer P229 has been one of Sig’s most popular models for a number of years, and not only does it have a big following in law enforcement, but also with legally armed citizens who are looking for “top drawer” ordnance for self-defense use. Now the Sig Sauer Custom Shop has taken the P229 and shortened the barrel length from 3.9 to 3.5 inches, resulting in a pistol with an overall length of 6.7 inches, which translates into a pistol that’s more compact and easier to draw from a holster.

The basic P229 frame has been retained in the variant, which allows the use of standard P229 magazines, so there is no reduction in cartridge capacity. This new P229C SAS is available in .357 SIG and .40 S&W calibers. Soon an X-Change system will allow it to be converted to 9mm. With a standard magazine, you get 12+1 rounds of firepower in two very effective chamberings.

Custom Upgrades

A very noticeable feature of the P229C SAS is the lack of an accessory rail on the dust cover, a concession to concealability. Note also that the pistol has been given Sig’s Anti-Snag treatment, meaning all the sharp edges have been rounded to help prevent the pistol catching on one’s holster or clothing. The pistol’s G10 grips, with their “alligator skin” checkered panels, are combined with a checkered frontstrap to provide a good gripping surface, dry or wet.

The width of the gun has also been reduced from 1.5 to 1.3 inches due to the thinner grip panels. The whole package has a non-reflective matte-black finish; the slide has been treated with durable Nitron. It comes standard with fixed, low-profile SIGLITE night sights.

RELATED STORY: Sig Sauer’s Soft-Shooting P238 Spartan Pistol

A look at the left side of the P229C SAS indicates that it is a traditional double-action/single-action design (DA/SA), which means the first shot is fired DA and the cycling of the slide causes subsequent shots to be fired in SA mode. This hammer-fired pistol has an exposed spur for cocking and a lever situated between the slide release catch and the disassembly latch, which is used to safely lower the cocked hammer. The DA pull I’ll have to guesstimate at about 15 pounds and stacks towards the end of the trigger’s travel. SA pull is 6.5 pounds on average with around 0.25 inches of take-up for safety, plus there’s a touch of creep and overtravel. Another standard Custom Shop feature is the Short Reset Trigger (SRT), which reduces the trigger reset travel by 60 percent.

There are no manual or magazine safeties on the P229C SAS; it has the usual Sig internal safeties that prevent the gun from being fired unless the trigger is intentionally pulled. The magazine catch is checkered, located to the rear of the triggerguard and easily operated by the user’s thumb. Another difference between the standard P229 and this version is the lack of a “hook” on the front-portion of the triggerguard. The steel magazine is matte finished with witness holes for five, 10 and 12 cartridges. The follower is black polymer, with an easily removal floorplate that fits flush with the bottom of the grip frame.

Slight extensions on the G10 grips are beveled in the area of the magazine well to assist in faster insertion. Basic disassembly for cleaning is simple and enumerated in the owner’s manual. Fit and finish on my test gun was up to the usual top-drawer level one expects on Sig Sauer pistols. Each pistol comes in a black plastic case, with a compartmented foam liner, an extra magazine, a safety padlock, a manual and a sample of Lucas Oil Extreme Duty gun lubricant.

On Target

The P229C SAS handled very well at the range.

The SIG P229C SAS I requested to test is chambered for the .357 SIG cartridge. This powerful round almost duplicates .357 Mag performance in loadings with similar bullet weights, and in this model it gives you 13 rounds instead of the typical six or eight in a revolver. For my evaluation, I selected .357 SIG ammunition from CorBon with a 115-grain JHP bullet, a Federal Premium load with a 125-grain JHP and a Hornady Custom load with a 147-grain XTP HP bullet. All of these bullets are traditional hollow points with serrated jackets extending to the tip of the hollow nose.

RELATED STORY: Transformer – The Sig Sauer P320

I set up bullseye targets at a distance of 15 yards and fired three 5-shot groups with each brand of the test ammunition. At 31 ounces loaded, the compact pistol had noticeable recoil and muzzle flip, but the sights were easy to see and I was pleased with the accuracy level. My best group measured 1.08 inches with the Federal cartridges. Second place went to the CorBon load with a 1.89-inch cluster. The overall average for all three of the .357 SIG loads out of the P229C SAS was just 2.39 inches and point of aim/point of impact were well regulated.

This being a new version of the P229, there was no specific holster I could locate for it (yet), so I chose my Uncle Mike’s Super Belt Slide. This comfortable and versatile rig has an adjustable thumb-break safety strap that can be lengthened or shortened in the protective Strap Traps using a factory-furnished tool. The holster is made of black Kodra nylon or Mirage nylon (like mine) that looks like fine leather but is more durable. The extra-thin laminate conforms with body contours, providing a flattened profile for superb concealment. With its “pancake” design and triple belt-slots, it will adapt to fit almost any medium-sized autoloader I’ve tried in it. I paired the holster with an open-top Fobus single magazine carrier that is fashioned from sturdy Kydex and has a paddle back for easy on/off applications.

Tactical Test

The author tested the pistol with a CNS target.

With holster and magazine carrier affixed onto my belt, I loaded my Sig P229C SAS magazines with a mix of the .357 SIG test cartridges, six rounds in each. Why six rounds you ask? I decided that for the SIG P229C SAS practical shooting evaluation I was going to use a new target system I’d been introduced to recently called the CNS-OSS Target Kit. It was developed by Circle the Wagons Training in Scottsdale, Arizona. Owner and Director Jay Wurts runs this self-protection training school, but realized that not everyone could attend a “personal instruction” defensive shooting course. As a certified NRA firearms instructor with a military background, Jay Wurts wanted to find a way to teach CNS (central nervous system) defensive targeting to enable the fabled “one-shot stop” (OSS).

Wurt’s CNS-OSS instruction kit comes with three realistic threat targets and three CNS targets. The threat target is mated with the CNS target; one atop the other so that after the shooting drill the user can see if his/her shots directed at the threat target actually hit inside the three CNS zones for incapacitation.

RELATED STORY: Gun Review – Sig Sauer’s P229 Legion Pistol

For my SIG P229C SAS practical evaluation, I chose the “Knife Threat Target” and performed a modified version of Drill 1. This simulates a knife-armed attacker approaching head-on in a stealthy manner. I had the Threat target and CNS target stapled one atop the other and I placed it 3 yards downrange. I made some verbal commands to my “bad guy,” then drew my SIG pistol and fired six rounds—two were fired at the face/neck (Zone 1) and the rest to the thoracic area (Zones 2 and 3). I then moved to 6 yards and fired six more rounds in the same manner.

Returning to the 3 yard line, I drew and fired a series of three double-taps, starting each string from the holster. The instructions have the shooter firing at the CNS target uncovered at times, but I shot the entire 18 rounds with the Threat target covering the CNS target. I ended up with four of six shots in Zone 1 and just five of 12 in Zone 3. So half my shots were inside incapacitating zones.

Final Shots

The P229C SAS proved easy to carry and draw.

I found the P229C SAS was easy to control in rapid fire. This was primarily due to the excellent ergonomics of the grip frame, the G10 grips and the frontstrap checkering. I had zero malfunctions all day and did not experience the DA-to-SA transition problem some shooters gripe about. The gun’s magazines dropped free when ejected and the white “dot” surrounding the tritium capsule in the SIGLITE sights made sight acquisition a snap.

RELATED STORY: Sig Sauer’s MPX-P Redefines Home Defense Firepower

The only thing I had to consciously watch was holstering before I lowered the hammer. This does take some practice to build habit and muscle memory. That’s one good reason for a bit of a stiff trigger pull, to help prevent the user shooting his/her leg while inadvertently holstering a cocked pistol. I encountered no difficulty in drawing the pistol from or replacing it in the Uncle Mike’s holster. On the whole, I found the performance level of the Sig Sauer P229C SAS outstanding.

For more information, visit http://www.sigsauer.com or call 866-345-6744.

The post Custom .357 Knockout: The Sig Sauer P229C SAS appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Enter into a conversation with anyone about concealed carry and the first issue will be what size pistol you should carry. My first recollection of that discussion was in 1983 with a police officer and Master Class IPSC shooter. At the time, semi-automatics were not approved firearms yet they were often carried “off-duty.” For many, policy violations were secondary to being properly armed. In this case, the other officer carried a lightly customized, full-sized 1911 in 45 ACP. Given that the issued weapon was a six-shot revolver, two extra rounds and a spare magazine were a huge advantage. To be honest, the “wonder nines” were not all that wonderful back then and 9mm ammunition was not what it is today. The huge number of compact and subcompact pistols that exist today were not even a consideration at the time. So for semi-autos, 1911s were still the choice of many professionals, and more often than not, full-sized versions were carried. Almost universally, the reasons were similar. They were 100-percent reliable, provided better ballistics and were no more difficult to conceal than smaller pistols. This truly set the tone for me as a concealed carry professional, a tone that still exists to this day.

When it came to revolvers, the same was often true. My first real duty revolver was a 4-inch Colt Python. That revolver served me through the academy and my entire time as a reserve with the sheriff’s office. That did not change until my employment our department switched to the Smith & Wesson Model 686 by policy. Off-duty weapons were authorized, but only one: the five-shot Chief’s Special.

The same argument arose and the big revolver won the day. Sure, the five-shot was smaller and easier to conceal, but that is not the only issue. The move down to .38 Special, the loss of one round, and the ballistics of a 2-inch barrel made it a problem. If that pistol was necessary off-duty, it was probably for a really bad situation and every advantage was required. Lastly, there is the cost. As a rule, if an agency does not issue a second pistol for off-duty carry, an officer will carry their issue pistol. In 1989, my $15,000 a year salary all but precluded such a purchase, and the situation is the same today. Most officers simply do not have the money to buy a second pistol. It is no different for most concealed carry holders—most have the money for one pistol. The bottom line was simple: You had to find a way to comfortably carry and conceal your primary weapon, which was typically either a full-size pistol or revolver.

Balancing Act

From a purely practical point of view, as pistols get smaller you are making a compromise. To this day, the most effective self-defense pistols utilize 4-inch or longer barrels. The laws of physics are not altered by a need for comfort. For well over 10 years, this was evident on the range as a rangemaster for the police department. As convenient as our issued subcompact 9mm was, many officers suffered malfunctions, and what ability they had to hit the target was flushed right down the toilet. Sure, some were fine, but many had issues. It has a short sight radius, and like all small automatics, they are more prone to a less-than-firm grip. That is not the gun’s fault—it’s just a matter of physics.

RELATED STORY: Stealthy Styles – 7 Methods of Concealed Carry

Almost without fail, that small pistol was sold to someone else and the move was made back to the full-size pistol. That was true of all of them. A recent “off-duty” shoot made this even clearer. A solid 60 percent of the little guns simply did not run through the whole qualification, and many simply could not hit the side of a barn. It was almost funny to see those with five-shot revolvers trying to make it through a 20-round course of fire with speedloaders that never leave the range bag except to qualify. Not to mention the officer or two who had his pistol fall out of the $5 inside-the-pants holster he “regularly used.”

What you are willing to give up for comfort’s sake? It is no different for any concealed carry holder. Do you carry what is comfortable or what will win the fight? What are you willing to compromise in order to strike a balance? In truth, with a little bit of effort, you may not need to compromise.

Holsters & Belts

Kydex is strong yet lightweight, making it a great option for full-sized pistols.

So how do you carry a large pistol? It is all in the accessories. The first and foremost is the holster. Having carried a 4-inch or longer 1911 or revolver for well over 25 years now, that may be the most important purchase other than the pistol. It always makes me cringe when I see someone spend well over a grand on a pistol only to get the cheapest possible holster they can find on the market. Any pistol carried in a poorly designed holster will be uncomfortable and may be downright dangerous.

The holster industry makes many fantastic holsters that carry your full-sized pistol firmly against the body, support its weight and allow for comfortable carry all day long. Done correctly, Kydex is an excellent holster material, but they are not all created equally. Having recently run some belt slide holsters from JM Custom Kydex, they feel as good as my inside-the-pants holsters and are of the highest possible quality. The use of this material and some custom work allow the holster to wrap around the waist a bit, making for fantastic comfort and concealment. BlackHawk, Blade-Tech and Comp-Tac are all excellent holster makers, and there are several others. You just need to make sure the holster holds the gun firmly, close to the body, and rides at a height that allows the muzzle to be covered with the proper clothing.

RELATED STORY: Concealed Carry Holster & Belt Combos For Full-Size Handguns

When it comes to leather, you really need to step up and get good quality. Galco makes some of the best holsters available on the market. My Smith & Wesson .44 Mag with a 2-inch barrel rides in one all the time. It places it high on the belt, holds it firmly and has been carried for days on end on trips, especially to those places where semi-automatics are considered evil. My Mitch Rosen IWB holster has held dozens of 1911 pistols over the last 10 years and still works perfectly.

A full-sized pistol can be carried in a quality holster comfortably, especially with the correct belt. Put a full-sized pistol in a great holster and slide it on the belt you got at the big box store and you are in for disaster. Get a real pistol belt made to hold a pistol. That should be the case regardless of the pistol’s size. Manufacturers have really stepped up to the plate. Both BlackHawk and Galco make pistol belts that rival the biggest fashion names for craftsmanship, and they look just like any other belt. There are many others, and all are designed to carry a pistol comfortably and not look like a pistol belt.

Concealment

Make sure your attire won’t interfere with your safety.

So how do you cover up the iron? Well, it takes some thought, and maybe a bit of compromise to the fashion idols, but it can be done. Long before carrying a pistol on a plane was such an ordeal, I carried full-sized 1911 pistol for three weeks for training in Hawaii. When not training, the entire trip consisted of shorts, sandals and Hawaiian shirts. All that was needed was an undershirt to protect against the IWB holster and a large outer shirt. Luckily, that was the fashion out there, so no one had any idea. I was just another tourist—not an off-duty cop at training.

RELATED STORY: 10 Full-Size CCW Classics

Later, as big T-shirts became the craze, I used the same techniques. The hardware was concealed with a breathable undershirt and an oversized T-shirt. This allowed comfortable carry in even the 100-degree summers in Utah. Winter is easy (if you have one), as coats make the process simple. Then it is more about covering it up and still being able to get at it. Summer is the hardest season in which to achieve proper concealment.

Today, the choices are endless. BlackHawk yielded the best to date for me. Its 1700 shirt is perfect. Walking in the door with the shirt on, my wife commented on how nice my new dress shirt was—now that is concealment. She had no idea it was made for concealed carry. It gives you a collared shirt to wear no matter the climate, and it looks nothing like a concealed carry shirt. Yet, the 1700 is comfortable, breathes and conceals my full-size pistols every day. One of these has been covering up a S&W 9mm Pro for several weeks now. Other companies offer similar products these days, and many of them work fantastically for concealing a full-sized pistol.

Dressed For Success

Galco’s V-Hawk comes with both belt loops and C-hooks.

Just about everything in life requires some compromise. Carrying a concealed weapon is no different. For many, the need to stay fashionable is more important than the pistol they carry. For others, it is about the ease of concealment, as opposed to the effort made to conceal. There are also those who are about bringing the best gun to the fight, and a bit of compromise to fashion or ease is not an issue.

RELATED STORY: Big Gun, Will Carry – How To Conceal Full-Size Handguns

It’s just important to realize that among all the attention on smaller and smaller pistols for concealed carry, the full-sized pistol is still viable and may be the best choice. All it takes is some thought, some effort and an understanding that you may have to spend a bit up front to save a ton later. Given that your carry weapon is a lifesaving tool, carrying a full-size pistol just may be the best decision you ever make.

The post Practical Concealed Carry: How to Carry A Full-Size Pistol appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

The following is a press release from Kahr

Kahr Firearms Group is proud to introduce the latest finish for their ever popular CW9, the Black Carbon Fiber. The textured weave provides a real 3D dimensional appearance to the 9mm and the textured grip feels more stable in your hand.

RELATED STORY: VIDEO – Kahr Arms’ Limited-Edition CT380 Tungsten

This pistol features a 3.6″ barrel with conventional rifling and 1-10 right-hand twist, a polymer frame with black carbon fiber print, and a matte stainless steel slide. The gun measures just 5.9″ in overall length, 4.5″ in height and weighs 15.8 oz. This is the only firearm in the entire Kahr product line that has a drift adjustable white 3-dot sight. It offers a trigger cocking DAO, lock-breach, “Browning” type recoil lug and passive striker block with no magazine disconnect. Capacity is 7+1 and MSRP is $495.

RELATED STORY: 3 Polymer-Framed Compacts by Kahr Arms with .380 to .40 Stopping Power

For more information about any of the fine Kahr Arms products, visit www.kahr.com or visit your nearest dealer today.

About Kahr Arms

Kahr Arms, an innovative firearms manufacturer, was founded on fifteen years of manufacturing service in precision metalworking industries. Kahr incorporates the inherited professional, technical expertise into all of its operations. Kahr’s parent company, established in 1981, has been a leading supplier of computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools and applications engineering. In 1986, the company expanded by forming a manufacturing division which provides quality contract machining, manufacturing and assembly services for diverse industries, including aerospace, automotive, electronics, medical equipment, scientific instrumentation and telecommunications. This division offers in-house engineering and precision tooling services, as well as, secondary operations that complement the machining and manufacturing capabilities. Kahr’s corporate headquarters are located in Blauvelt, New York. Production and assembly operations are located in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the region commonly known as “Gun Valley.”

For more information, visit http://www.kahr.com.

The post Kahr Unveils Black Carbon Fiber Finish For CW9 appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

The following is a press release from American Tactical

American Tactical, a world-wide importer of firearms, ammunition and tactical equipment to the USA, is proud to introduce the GSG FireFly.

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Together, American Tactical and German Sport Guns (GSG) have brought numerous .22LR firearms to American gun enthusiasts over the years, and the FireFly is the latest in these offerings. The FireFly brings lightweight versatility with its polymer finish available in black, green and tan. It has a total length of 7.2 inches, total height of 5.3 inches, and is just 1.5 inches wide. The firefly weighs under 25 ounces with the magazine. Its 4″ steel barrel is available threaded or non-threaded.

The GSG FireFly features a wear-resistant alloy frame outfitted with an integrated accessory rail. The slide features adjustable sights, and along with the rugged blowback system, fixed barrel and superior ergonomic grip, the GSG FireFly delivers exceptional accuracy. Additional safeties include an internal locking device and slide mounted ambidextrous safety.

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The Firefly comes with a 10-round capacity magazine and has an MSRP of $269.95.

For more information on American Tactical, visit http://www.americantactical.us.

The post American Tactical Unveils The GSG FireFly Pistol appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

The following is a press release from Wilson Combat

The Ultralight Carry Commander is equipped with all the performance and cosmetic features that defensive experts and 1911 enthusiasts demand in a custom 1911 concealed carry handgun.

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At the heart of this exciting new model is a 4.25″ bushing barrel top end mated to a lightweight aluminum alloy frame. Although the lightweight frame is 60% lighter than a comparable steel frame, the tough aluminum alloy selected and hard anodized frame coating under our Armor-Tuff ® coating will protect it for many years of hard use.

The ULC Commander’s full-size grip enhances high round count training sessions while the Wilson Combat exclusive round butt promotes comfortable, all-day concealment. The concealment grip safety and hammer further enhance the Ultralight Carry Commander’s low profile.

Subtle Wilson Combat performance and cosmetic options adorn the Ultralight Carry Commander. The main cosmetic options like chamber fluting, serrations and flush cut and reverse crowned barrel add a touch of practical class.

RELATED STORY: 5 High-End Compact 1911 Pistols by Wilson Combat

Offered in .45 ACP and 9mm, the Ultralight Carry Commander will be a favorite of 1911 enthusiasts who want their signature carrygun to merge traditional and modern styling in a way only Wilson Combat’s master pistolsmiths can achieve.

For more information, visit http://www.wilsoncombat.com.

The post Wilson Combat’s Ultralight Carry Commander appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.