“Can every one who truly needs a firearm for self-protection afford a Kimber stuffed full of Hydra-shoks?” Student of the Gun firearms guru Paul Markel asks, rhetorically [via ammoland.com]. “The reality of our world is that many of those most in need for a firearm for personal defense are also those with the lowest level of disposable income. Do the poor of the nation have the right to self-defense? Or, is self-protection with arms a privilege reserved for those who can afford more expensive tools?” Wait. Don’t tell me. I know this. But seriously, the Hi-Point pistol may be an enthusiast’s last choice of handgun, but . . .

not everyone is an enthusiast. And hats off to the company for producing a gun at that price point that’s drop-safe and goes bang when you pull the trigger. Lest we forget, Lorcin lovers, it was not always thus.

That said, I still think a revolver is the best choice for a financially-strapped consumer who wants to strap-up. Unfortunately, the cheapest of the breed tend to clock-in at $300, new. Used revolvers get down to the two Benjamins range, but I understand that some low-income buyers can’t or don’t want to shop around.

Is there a market here? If there was, someone would have filled it. Pity.

[h/t andypantera69]

The post Paul Markel: In Defense of the Hi-Point Pistol [VIDEO] appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

The firearm for this review was provided by the Kentucky Gun Company.

CZ-USA has introduced a couple new firearms this year, which I’m really digging. It definitely makes my job easier — I’d much rather review a completely brand new firearm than the latest variation on a theme from the GLOCK or H&K factory. Earlier in the year the “hot new thing” from CZ was the Scorpion EVO 3 pistol, a pistol caliber firearm designed to compete with the SIG SAUER MPX and others coming on the market. Today we’re looking at their newest offering, a pistol sized semi-auto rifle designed to compete with the other various and sundry modern semi-auto rifles. But in an already crowded space, is there room for the foreign import?

Let’s get this out of the way at the start: what we have here is, without a doubt, a SCAR knockoff. I was on the FNH USA shooting team. I have owned two SCAR rifles, one of which I have taken apart a few times and SBR’ed, and worked on el jefe RF’s SCAR rifles. I am intimately familiar with every corner of that gun, and I can say without a doubt that this was so close to a SCAR that I thought the FFL had made a mistake when they first took it out of the box to show me.

The FN SCAR went into production in 2004, and the project to design what would become the CZ Bren 805 didn’t even get off the ground until 2005. The SCAR was still the hot new thing and obviously on the minds of the designers when they went to the drawing board for this gun. That said, they might have actually done a better job on the design than FN.

Overall the design is pretty close to the SCAR series. There’s a massive CNC machined bolt carrier group housed within a similarly CNC’ed upper receiver (which is the serialized part) with a fixed and reciprocating charging handle installed on the bolt carrier itself. The barrel and gas piston assembly slides into the front of the receiver and is bolted in place, making it easy to swap for caliber changes if needed. The guts of the gun are inserted through the rear, and held in place using a rear end plate which is quickly removed for cleaning and maintenance. The polymer lower receiver houses the trigger pack and magazine well, and is kept in place with a couple pins.

Like I said, basically a SCAR. But there are some important differences.

When you pull the gun apart, the very first thing you do is push out the takedown pins. In the SCAR these pins are captured in the lower receiver so they don’t go walkabout when you’re cleaning the gun, but in the CZ Bren they can be completely removed. They’re the same pins from the new Scorpion EVO S3 it appears, at least in design.

The other major change is something I really like. With the SCAR, the short stroke gas piston system is contained within a small housing near the gas port and the bolt carrier is significantly lengthened in order to have the bolt carrier meet up with the piston. For the Bren, the piston has been extended back into the receiver so that the bolt carrier can be significantly smaller and lighter. This increases the possible cyclic rate of the gun and also reduces the scope-destroying “second recoil” problem that SCAR rifles tend to have, a second impulse that moves through the gun when the tank-like bolt carrier slams home.

Another thing mitigating that felt recoil is the tune-able nature of the gas system. Like the SCAR the gas plug can be rotated to adjust the level of gas entering the system (and therefore the rearward velocity of the bolt) which is great both for those running silencers (gun mufflers increase the gas pressure and therefore the cyclic rate, often leading to more wear on the gun) and those looking to take some of the recoil out of the gun.

You can see that lengthened gas piston through one of the side ports in the receiver. Something else you can see here is the distinct lack of rails on the side of the gun. The SCAR series ships with some chunky rails on the side and bottom of the gun that make the firearm feel much chunkier than it really is, but the CZ guys decided to go with some flat sections on the gun instead of the usual railpocalypse seen on modern rifles. There is a full length top rail built into the receiver, and a bottom rail as well that doesn’t feel nearly as chunky as the SCAR equivalent. That’s perfect for doing things like attaching a bipod or other mall ninja esque stuff. There’s also a sling attachment point, which is nice.

Gripping the firearm feels easy and natural. For someone with massive hands like me, that is. People with smaller hands may have a different experience. Anyway, the flat sections on the side of the gun provide plenty of surface area to get a comfortable grip and the raised end sections give you a great reference point for your hand. I like it, more than the SCAR actually.

The fire controls are housed in the lower receiver, and are (mostly) ambidextrous. The magazine release is on both sides of the gun, and so is the safety selector switch (also in a much more comfortable position than on the Scorpion pistol). The only thing that isn’t duplicated is the bolt catch, which actually is only a bolt catch and is only located on the left side of the gun. Normally a bolt catch can be used not only for the eponymous task of locking the bolt to the rear in the firearm, but it can also release the bolt when a fresh magazine has been inserted. The CZ Bren’s bolt catch is a one trick pony — you will need to grip the charging handle and pull it to the rear to disengage the bolt catch when inserting a new magazine.

That’s a little annoying for me. When it comes to speed, a bolt catch that is also a bolt release (a bolt “catch and release”?) is essential. Using the charging handle will always work, but that whole “economy of motion” idea comes into play when you start using guns for competition shooting and the like. Fewer motions to achieve the intended goal means faster times, and the one trick pony bolt catch makes that less possible.

You may notice that I’m harping on this bolt catch and the takedown pins a little bit. There’s a reason: those are the sole complaints I have about this gun.

The trigger is normally where things come off the rails, but in this case CZ has done a great job. The trigger is a nice two stage affair with a smooth first stage and a rather crisp second stage, and while that’s not my ideal choice for a run-and-gun configured rifle firearm like this it isn’t bad. Normally you would expect a single stage trigger on a gun like this and a two stage trigger on something with some longer legs (like a marksman variant with a longer barrel) but if you had to choose one trigger for both situations a two stage trigger would be my choice.

Another nice feature: the backstrap on the pistol grip can be swapped to accommodate smaller and larger hands. I like that. I would have liked a standard AR-15 compatible grip more, but if you’re going to take this route then making it adjustable from day one is the way to go.

Out on the range the gun is a sincere joy to fire. The trigger is nice, the gun doesn’t have any rough patches to scuff your dainty hands, and the massive muzzle brake on the end of the barrel does a great job mitigating any recoil that may be left after the barrel’s apparent unfortunate date with a mohel. The charging handle doesn’t get in the way during normal operation, and if it does you can easily swap the side of the gun where it sits.

The gun ships with a set of iron sights attached almost identical to those on the earlier Scorpion Evo S3. They work just fine, and as iron sights go they’re pretty nice. The rear sight has two apertures (close range and long range) and is adjustable for windage, while the front sight is adjustable for elevation. Both come fitted to the full length top rail machined into the receiver.

That’s another difference with the SCAR. On that gun the front sight is permanently attached to the gas block, which was a major annoyance of mine. With this gun the front sight comes off easily and is just as easily discarded.

For accuracy testing I grabbed a box of Eagle Eye Ammunition 69gr .223 Remington ammunition (official ammo sponsors of TTAG’s gun reviews) and headed out to the range. I tested this gun at 25 yards with a scope and at the more customary 30 feet with the iron sights, and for a pistol version of a full size rifle the results were pretty sweet.

Admittedly I probably should have used a bipod, but I wanted to see how the gun would do just resting on the box it came in. For a pistol sized rifle that’s pretty awesome accuracy, and even without the scope and the rest it still impresses. For a home defense firearm this would be a damn fine choice, but I would like to see slightly larger holes. Perhaps a 300 BLK version is in order?

A fine shooting firearm is a thing of beauty, but the question we are trying to answer is whether this is worth the money. In a word: yes.

This is a fairly unapologetic knockoff of the SCAR series of guns, but there are some distinct differences that may actually make it better. The shorter bolt carrier, the improved gas system, and the factory two stage trigger are all things that FN should have adopted into their design but it was CZ that came out with them first in a similar package. In every other way this gun feels like a sleeker and dare I say sexier version of the SCAR than the SCAR itself, which is surprising since this firearm retails for just about a full thousand dollars less than the SCAR. The only caveat with this firearm is that there aren’t any replacement parts available yet, but the speed with which people started producing stuff for the Scorpion EVO S3 makes me think that it won’t be long before we see replacement barrels and stocks galore.

I wouldn’t consider paying full price for a SCAR, but I would definitely pay full price for this.

Specifications: CZ Bren 805 PS1 Pistol

Caliber: 5.56 NATO
Action: Semi-auto, short stroke piston
Barrel: 11″ cold hammer forged
Weight: 6.7 pounds
MSRP: $1,982 (~$1,650 street)

Ratings (out of five stars):

Accuracy: * * * *
The short barrel is definitely no bueno for the 5.56 NATO round, but the accuracy is hard to argue with.

Ergonomics: * * * *
Caveat: for a pistol version of a rifle. This is much more comfortable to fire than the Scorpion EVO S3, but not quite as nice as some of the slick tubed AR pistols.

Reliability: * * * * *
Not a single complaint.

Customization: *
Right now there’s nothing, but there appears to be a ton of stuff on the horizon. The ability to customize the gun is present, CZ just needs to make the parts available to take advantage of that design. Since the gun has been in service for almost a decade with European governments there’s definitely some stuff out there, it just needs to get here. Soon.

Overall: * * * *
I have some very very minor complaints about the gun, but overall this is an excellent firearm. A SCAR without the SCAR price tag, very easy to SBR, and fairly sexy to boot. It ain’t cheap, but quality doesn’t come cheap these days.

The post Gun Review: CZ Bren 805 PS1 Pistol appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

Winchester’s Train & Defend ammunition works exactly as advertised. I achieved the same ballistic results with both Train and Defend .45-caliber rounds. Make the jump for targets. Click here for ShootingTheBull410’s review of Winchester Train & Defend 9mm round.

Winchester Train & Defend .45 Train ammunition. Seven rounds, seven yards, fired from a Wilson Combat X-TAC Commander. (Never mind the Sharpie.)

Winchester Train & Defend .45 Defend ammunition. Seven rounds, seven yards, fired from a Wilson Combat X-TAC Commander. (Never mind the Sharpie.)

The post Winchester Train & Defend Ammunition (The Shortest Ammo Review You’ll Ever Read) appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

(The Walther PPQ .45 for this review was provided by the Kentucky Gun Company.)

If you only carry a .45 because they don’t make a .46, then Walther pistols have probably never been on your radar. It would be the ultimate understatement to say that the venerable German gun manufacturer Walther GmbH Sportwaffen has been slow to embrace John Browning’s greatest cartridge. But all that changed with the release of the PPQ 45. Simply stated, the PPQ 45 is an upsized version of the excellent PPQ. Question is, can you upsize a 9mm PPQ and still maintain its excellent handling characteristics and ergonomics? . . .

Walther released its Police Pistol Quick (“PPQ”) in 9mm in 2011. It was essentially an improvement on the GLOCK family of striker-fired pistols, featuring better ergonomics, a better trigger, and improved aesthetics. I really sung the praises of the 5-inch slide version of 9mm PPQ, and I stand by those assessments a year and another 3000 rounds later. So I was thrilled when I got the call from TTAG HQ asking me to put the new “big brother” of the 9mm PPQ through its paces.

As is standard industry practice, Walther tested the waters by first only introducing the PPQ in 9×19 and .40 S&W. Despite the fact that gun shops often place the PPQ on their second shelf, the PPQ has proven itself to be a top-shelf contender that blows the GLOCK away in virtually every category; except perhaps availability of accessories. Despite not being pushed hard by many dealers, the reception has – apparently – been good enough to cause Walther to step up and offer the PPQ in the uber-manly and uber-American .45 ACP chambering.

With a list of features a mile long, Walther has hit another home run, on paper anyway:

• 4.25 inch polygonal-rifled barrel.
• 12+1 round magazine capacity.
• 5.6 lb trigger with .4 inch travel and .1 inch reset.
• Tenifer finish.
• Ambidextrous slide stop; reversible mag release.
• Front & rear slide serrations.
• Picatinny rail on frame.
• Removable backstraps.

Oh, and did I mention it has a polygonal hammer-forged barrel?

Of course, what’s good on paper only tells half the story. I’ll conduct this review in two parts; for Part I, I have put 500 rounds downrange and give you my initial impressions as part of this article. I’ll follow this review up with a more a rigorous 6-month field evaluation after which I’ll be able to provide more data points and a more definitive conclusions.

Trigger

You can’t begin to talk about the PPQ 45 without talking about the trigger. The PPQ trigger features a light and fairly smooth take-up that hits an obvious wall after a ¼ inch or so. Then another 4.5 pounds of pressure and a 1/10 of an inch is all it takes to release the striker. The trigger resets in 1/10 of an inch with an audible click. Double taps are super quick due to this reset. The trigger is remarkably crisp and lacks any annoying bumps or stacks.

If I had to criticize the trigger at all, it’s only because it’s light. The factory lists the trigger weight at 5.6 lbs, but as noted above, our sample broke more than a pound lighter than advertised.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love the light trigger…for range work. Light triggers are great for accuracy, but not so great for safety – unless you train a lot. If you train with your pistol on a regular basis, this isn’t so much of an issue. But if you only go to range a couple of times a year (and hence may have rusty gun handling skills) a light trigger combined with no manual safety could be a problematic combo.

Finish

Walther applies a tough Tenifer finish to the PPQ’s slide and barrel. Tenifer is a brand name of a type of salt bath ferritic nitrocarburizing, which is also known as liquid ferritic nitrocarburizing or liquid nitrocarburizing. Based on my experience with other pistols I’ve owned that were finished in Tenifer, it’s as tough and durable as any of the modern finishes out there – with the possible exception of whatever is on my HK USP-T.

To test out the finish, I dunked the PPQ in the ocean surf and sand, then threw it in the melted ice water in the bottom of my Yeti cooler overnight, and then let it dry. The next day, there was some surface rust on the extractor and one of the roll pins, which came off easily with a brass brush. The Tenifer held up fairly well to this abuse, but there were some scratches from the sand and/or coral reef. These scratches were hard to capture on film, as they are only obvious when seen from certain angles. (See photo above).

Operator Controls

I really like the PPQ’s stock dual oversized slide stops because they are very comfortable to operate and easy to find (even for folks with small hands). With most 1911s, I have to break my grip in order to reach the slide stop, but with the Walther PPQ its right where I can get to it.

Another useful feature for southpaws is the magazine release. It’s a traditional American “button” style release, which is more popular here in the states than the European paddle style release located in the trigger guard. While not truly ambidextrous like the paddle design, the button style release is reversible: the operator can switch the button from the left side to the right in a matter of a minute or two.

Handgrip & Backstraps

In reviewing the PPQ 5-inch slide 9mm, I noted that the PPQ may just be the finest example of Walther’s technology and research on the topic of ergonomics. Fortunately, the PPQ 45 continues in the tradition of the smaller pistol. The PPQ 45’s grip is slightly larger in girth, as the mag well is perhaps a millimeter or so wider (side to side) and longer (front to back). However, it’s remarkable how closely the PPQ 45 matches the feel of its smaller 9mm sibling.  Holding them side by side, you don’t feel much of a difference.

My understanding is that the PPQ 45 is supposed to ship with three backstraps, but my T&E sample shipped from Kentucky Gun Co. with only two. These can be swapped out in a matter of minutes by pushing out the small roll pin located on the bottom of the grip (see photo above). I did switch out the grips in the 9mm, and it was a relatively simple task if you have the right punch (not included).

Walther’s cross-directional textured tactical grip provides a good grip without being uncomfortable. Like many aspects of pistol design, this boils down to user preference. I’ve heard some complain that the PPQ’s grip texture isn’t aggressive enough, but I prefer it to the more aggressive texture of guns such as, say, the traditional Springfield XD style grips.  I recently had my Sig Sauer P229 modified to add the “E2 grips,” and I have to say I’m quite enamoured with the sandpaper-like feel of those grips.  But I’m not complaining about the texture of the Walther grips.

Sights

The sights on the PPQ 45 are a standard three-dot variety, and are made of polymer. The rear sight is adjustable for windage. These sights work well in daylight hours, and if this gun is used as a range toy or competition pistol, there is probably no need to change them out. Nonetheless, steel night sights are available, and I suspect I will upgrade these at some point in the future.

Rail

The PPQ 45 features the same type of integral picatinny rail as can be found on its smaller siblings. Rails are fairly standard these days, and folks either love them or hate them, so there isn’t much extra to say on this point.

 Magazines

The pistol comes with two 12-round steel mags, which are manufactured for Walther by the Italian firm Mec-Gar. Mec-Gar is undoubtedly one of the top manufacturers of high-quality OEM pistol magazines, and its client list boasts the likes of Smith & Wesson, Beretta, Ruger, Steyr, SIG SAUER, Colt, CZ, etc. Replacement mags should run around $31-42, depending on where you buy.

Disassembly

Disassembly is very GLOCK-like, only slightly more simple. Like a GLOCK, the striker must be in a de-cocked position, which requires that you pull the trigger on an empty chamber. After that, you simply pull down on the takedown catch and the slide can be removed. The takedown catch is much easier to manipulate than the two small levers found on a GLOCK.

The following photo shows the “guts” of the frame, for those who are curious:

Accuracy

The PPQ .45 is undoubtedly the most accurate .45 ACP pistol in my (admittedly modest) collection of .45 ACP pistols. Well, stated more correctly, it may not be the most accurate in an absolute sense, but I do shoot this pistol more accurately than I do my other .45 ACPs.

The group shown above is three shots fired with cheap Federal aluminum case ammo from 21 yards. the group measures .91 inches center to center.  Candidly, I’m glad I had a witness, because I’m not sure I could do it again on command.

While not all my groups were this good, I could fire the Walther PPQ 45 much more accurately and quickly than my HK USP T or a typical 1911. In fact, sub 2-inch groups at 20 yards were typical / expected, and I think the gun could do even better in more capable hands.  More importantly, however, this is the first .45 ACP with which I can achieve fast accurate double taps (split times in the .2 to .3 range). I think it’s the ergonomics and light trigger that sets this gun apart in the accuracy department, although I’m sure the Walther barrel helps as well.

Walther provides a test target with each PPQ 45, showing four shots fired at fifteen meters (49.2 ft). The four-shot group measures 1.2 inches.  This type of accuracy is certainly consistent with my field evaluations to date.

Reliability

To test the reliability of the PPQ, I shot 500 rounds using 10 different loads. My selection of ammo including top shelf loads such as Remington Golden Saber, Hornady Critical Defense, Federal Hydra-Shok and SIG SAUER Elite Performance HPs. I also launched a number of different types of value-priced ammo, including Federal American Eagle brass cased, Federal red box aluminum cased, bulk pack UMC, and Wally World Winchester white box. The Walther PPQ ate everything I fed it, and even functioned well when totally wet. Like the PPQ 9mm, I have a very high degree of confidence in this pistol.

Carry Case and Accessories

The Walther PPQ 45 comes with a nice enough plastic case, and includes two magazines, a chamber flag, a small box containing the parts needed to reverse the mag release, and a lock. I believe the pistol is supposed to ship with a magazine loader, but my sample didn’t have one.

Conclusion

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not really a “.45 guy.”  Primarily, this is because the ammo is expensive when compared to 9mm.  Moreover, high quality 1911s tend to be expensive. One of my clients gave me a HK USP-T in .45 ACP, but I don’t shoot it worth a damn. I have a Beretta 8045 Cougar that I really love to shoot, but it features the old Walther P-38 decocker design which I don’t like, and it only has an 8+1 capacity. Thus, this is the first mid-priced .45 ACP I have come across that I would carry on a daily basis. My first impressions are that Walther has hit another home run. Stay tuned to TTAG for an update next spring.

Specifications:

Caliber: .45 ACP
Action: Semi auto, short recoil, locked breech
Capacity: 12+1
Magazines:   2ea 12 round steel by Mec-Gar, 10-round “commie state” mags are also available.
Barrel Length: 4.25 inches
Overall Length: 7.4 inches
Height: 5.8 inches
Width: 1.3 inches
Weight: 1 lb, 13 ounces empty (as tested)
Frame: Polymer
Finish: Tenifer
Sights: 3-dot low profile polymer; steel night sights available
Features: Short reset trigger, fully ambidextrous slide stop, reversible mag release
Cost: $699 MSRP (street price should be in the $660 range for now)

Ratings (Out of Five Stars):
All ratings are relative compared to the other weapons in the gun’s category. Overall rating is not mathematically derived from the previous component ratings and encompasses all aspects of the firearm including those not discussed.

Accuracy: * * * * *
Based on my initial shooting impressions, this pistol is top of its class.

Ergonomics: * * * * * 
Hard to say which is better as between the PPQ 45 or the HK 45. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.

Reliability * * * * *
Ran like a champ.

Customization: * * * 
Here is the one area where Walther doesn’t enjoy the same benefits of larger companies like GLOCK and Smith & Wesson. As of this writing, accessories and aftermarket parts are still a bit lacking for the 9mm version, when compared to some of the other brands. That means custom kydex holsters are your best bet…for now.

Overall Rating: * * * * *
Should be a GLOCK killer, but probably won’t be due to a lack of a push from gun dealers.

(The Walther PPQ .45 for this review was provided by the Kentucky Gun Company.)

The post Gun Review: Walther PPQ .45 ACP appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

Press release:

Dayton, OH -(AmmoLand.com)- Hi-Point pistols are known for their robust construction and affordable prices. Now they’re going camouflage. Okay not that much camo – that you can’t find it when you need it – but the colors are pretty cool. They also match the recently released new line of Hi-Point camo carbines so now one can have a matched set since Hi-Point pistol and carbine magazines are fully interchangeable in .40 and .45 of the same caliber. The hydro-dipped camouflage patterns are . . .

Digital Desert Tan; Woodland (made up of subdued green, brown, black, grey, and beige); and a fun wild pink/black camo pattern. www.hi-pointfirearms.com (click the Products tab).

Hi-Point pistols are available in .380 ACP, 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. The .380 has a new compensator (not suppressor) model available for an additional $8.00.

Camouflage Pattern Hi-Point MSRP:

• .380………….. $188.00 (compensated model add $8.00). Pink camo only.
• 9mm…………. $229.00 Available in all three camo colors.
• .40 S&W…….$239.00 Available in all three camo colors.
• .45 ACP……..$239.00 Available in all three camo colors.

These new durable camo colors and patterns are a fun and attractive option for Hi-Point customers who want more than a standard black pistol and at a price point for a pistol they can afford to actually use the heck out of.

About MKS Supply, LLC:

MKS Supply insists on high quality, reliable firearms. We insist on guns that are easy to own and service. Most of all, we insist on value.

For more information, please visit www.MKSSupply.com and www.MKSChiappa.com.

About Hi-Point Firearms:

Hi-Point offers affordably-priced semi-automatic handguns in a range of the most popular calibers including: 380 ACP, 9mm , 40 S&W, and 45 ACP. Hi-Point firearms are very popular with recreational target shooters, hunters, campers, law enforcement and anyone seeking an affordable, American-made firearm. Whichever model you choose, you are assured of reliability and accuracy at an affordable price.

For more information, visit: www.hi-pointfirearms.com.

Read more: http://www.ammoland.com/2015/09/hi-point-firearms-go-camo/#ixzz3lMcY7yDc
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
Follow us: @Ammoland on Twitter | Ammoland on Facebook

The post New from Hi-Point: Camo Pattern appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

In this stylistic, almost dreamlike video, Polenar Tactical gives us a first look into the manufacturing and QA of “the first pistol ever to be produced entirely in Slovenia,” the Rex Zero 1 made by a company called Arex. I must say, this a delightful break from the typical, fake operator operating operationally gun promo, and what it shows looks highly impressive. On the other hand, I can’t help but think. . .

That if I wanted a SIG SAUER, I’d just buy one from SIG. Of course, no idea yet if the Rex Zero 1 intends to create what appears to be a SIG clone and beat SIG on price. And/or try to beat SIG on quality, refinement, or features. Actually, it looks like it may have a little Walther P88 or Zastava 99 DNA mixed into it as well.

A T&E sample has been requested, as apparently we’ll begin to see them in the U.S. very soon via importer/distributor FIME Group. Stay tuned.

[h/t LostLamb]

The post First Look: Rex Zero 1 Pistol by Arex in Slovenia appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

“Never before has a company successfully managed to produce a handgun with an integral silencer that is holsterable and hearing safe with any factory ammunition,” SilencerCo’s press release boasts [after the jump]. “This product is primed to take the industry by storm.” Yes, well, they would say that, wouldn’t they? “While this isn’t a huge surprise,” TTAG’s Nick Leghorn opined at its intro, “it’s certainly intriguing.” There’s a big gap between “intriguing” and “best seller.” A lot of that depends on . . .

the amount of noise generated (I have tinnitus thanks to a “hearing safe” suppressed Remington 700), consumer willingness to jump through the hoops to get an NFA tax stamp and the firearm’s price (which remains unspecified). There’s also the fact that the SilencerCo Maxim 9 is maximum ugly. And minimally compatible with discreet open carry – despite the company’s claims of holsterability. So, over to you, our Armed Intelligentsia. Would you buy one of these? At what price?

——

The biggest announcement at SilencerCo’s recent Maxim Vice event was the reveal of the Maxim 9 – an integrally suppressed 9mm pistol.

Never before has a company successfully managed to produce a handgun with an integral silencer that is holsterable and hearing safe with any factory ammunition.

This product is primed to take the industry by storm, and we’re proud to to show it to you – our loyal SilencerCo supporters – first.

We’re keeping exact product details under wraps since it is still in the final design stages, but one thing is certain – the Maxim 9 will forever change the way people think about firearms when they realize that there is no longer any reason guns have to be loud.

About SilencerCo

Founded in West Valley, Utah in 2008, SilencerCo started with a belief in the fundamental premise that firearms don’t have to be loud and has now become the market leader in sound suppressors, muzzle devices and related products. By investing in innovation, customer service, organic manufacturing, advocacy, education and talent, SilencerCo is now focused on making firearms hearing-safe for all hunting and shooting applications, introducing products that have never been made before, and making the buying experience a better one.

For more information, please visit WWW.SILENCERCO.COM

The post SilencerCo’s Maxim 9 Integrally Suppressed 9mm Pistol. Want One? appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

“Ruben Kendrick had just stepped out of the bathroom of a Citizens Bank in Warren [MI] when he was confronted with a bank robber pointing a gun in his face,” freep.com reports. “Moments later, Kendrick, 60, was able to draw a pistol of his own – and he emptied the gun as the suspect tried to flee, authorities said.” As scandalous as that may sound to those who recoil at the thought of recoil – firing wantonly at a bad guy’s back! – authorities are providing new details of the robbery which put Mr. Kendrick’s actions in perspective. . .

The teller asked [the bank robber] to have a seat. But instead of waiting, Mann took out a semi-automatic handgun and pointed it at her, according to the complaint.

Kendrick was standing near the counter when Mann then trained the gun on him. He told Kendrick to step behind the counter with three other bank employees.

But Kendrick said that he couldn’t. Mann then grabbed him by the back of the neck and pushed him to one side of the counter, the complaint said.

Mann then demanded that he be given “all the (expletive) money,” with no hidden dye packs, according to the complaint.

Students of armed self-defense note: the more aggression a bad guy displays in the commission of a crime, the more likely he is to use his weapon. When bank robber Mann grabbed bank employee Kendrick, it was a signal that a “simple” robbery could get very, very bloody. That’s without considering the robber’s body language, word choice or tone of voice. The fact that Mann knew about dye packs also indicated it wasn’t his first rodeo.

Indeed it wasn’t. freep.com casually tosses in the fact that Mann “has a violent criminal history, having been convicted of second-degree murder and assault/bodily harm less than murder in 1989.” Not that Kendrick or anyone one else knew that at the time, but again, subconscious cues. And retroactive props.

Employees handed [Mann] the cash, but Kendrick looked over his shoulder and put a round in the chamber of his concealed Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9 mm, which could hold eight rounds, according to Fouts and Warren Police. He had a license to carry a concealed weapon, Fouts said.

Then Kendrick opened fire. He emptied the rounds, hitting the robber three times – once in each arm, and once in a leg. Another shot smashed the glass of a bank’s window.

Mann never returned fire, though his Colt Mark IV was found to be loaded.

Moments later, Mann staggered out of the bank and fell. Of the $11,000 or so he dropped, about $2,000 is still missing, Fouts said.

Click here to read Ralph’s review of the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield in 9mm. The gun comes complete with two magazines: 7- and 8-rounders. According to this report, Mann didn’t keep one in the pipe. (Not ideal: chambering a round takes time, makes noise and limits capacity).

Anyway, assuming Kendrick shot at Mann seven times (using the seven-round mag), he achieved a 42 percent hit ratio in the middle of an armed robbery. That’s nothing to sneeze at.

Kendrick’s adversary was carrying a Colt Mark IV semi-automatic pistol, either a Series 70 or Series 80 model. (Colt stopped manufacturing the Model 70 in 1983 to make the gun drop-safe, then reintroduced it in 2003) Like all “standard” 1911’s, the Mark IV accepts seven-round magazines. Although Mann might have kept a round chambered, we’re still talking approximate like-vs.-like capacity wise. Yes but . . .

Mann’s gun was a .45, Kendrick’s a 9mm. You can debate caliber efficacy until the cows come home, but I know which gun I’d rather carry. Do carry. That said, the firearm wasn’t the determining factor of the outcome of this confrontation, was it? Truth be told, it hardly ever is.

The post MI Bank Shootout: Smith & Wesson Shield vs. Colt Mark IV appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

My brother – Duane Weingarten – recounted an interesting incident with gear that had been hanging in a closet for 30 years:

Back in the late 70’s Revolvers and leather duty gear was the norm. When I took my first LEO job it was with a rural department with six road deputies. I brought Bianchi leather duty gear, which I wore until I left that department and moved onward and upwards to a 500 man state LE agency. The state agency supplied all the necessary gear that they thought an officer needed. I went from revolver to a semi auto. In the last few months I have been moving from a house I lived in for 34 plus years to another. I was packing one of closets up when I found my old duty belt . . .

Back in those days, there was less concern about liability, and one carried what one wanted. In the speed holder pouches were three Safariland comp two speed loaders. I carried HKS before that, the HKS are good tough and reliable loaders. I found them to be a bit slower than the comp twos. During my first police recruit school where I took top shot, one of the older instructors took exception to my use of speed loaders, saying it was cheating. He didn’t want to give me credit for the perfect 300 of 300 score.

The leather and ammo had been hanging around for around 30 years. The leather looked really good and still functions as it should. The nickel plated 357 magnum handloads are 125 grain jacketed hollow points that I shot and carried with the small Department. They were a little tarnished but other wise looked just fine.

I buckled on the old leather after letting it out a couple of notches.   I am not a 150lb 20-something any more. I dropped my stainless security six into its old holster and walked out the door to my range 100 feet away.

I drew the revolver, grabbed a speed loader, and proceeded to shoot all 18 rounds into the target. My speed loader skills have diminished some after decades of carrying an auto. I don’t do 1 second reloads any more. But the leather, ammo, speed loaders and revolver all functioned as they should. The group on the paper was shot with 30 year old ammo, double action.

Some of the best values in gear can be found on the used market. Do not ignore it just because it is older. It can be an excellent value for those on a tight budget.

——–

Duane Weingarten  (pdsolutions@hotmail.com) has retired and now teaches advanced self defense and shooting skills by appointment. Facilities include a 600-yard private range and over a mile of private trails for vehicle and “jungle lane” scenarios.

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included. Link to Gun Watch

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Shooting and VIP ticket holders to the 2015 Texas Firearms Festival – November 14 and 15 at Best of the West Shooting Sports – are set to get to grips with Walther Arms’ semi-automatic pistols. Ticket holders won’t get to ring steel with all of Walther’s 12 models. They’ll have to choose their weapon. That’s not so easy Mr. Bond . . .

Do you want to sample the CCP (Concealed Carry Pistol)? Its SOFTCOIL™ Technology uses a gas-delayed blowback system to slow down and delay the rearward motion of the slide, reducing felt recoil, making it easier to get back on target quickly. Fancy Bonding with the Walther PPK? Step up to the firing line and make ready. And then there’s PPQ M1. . .

Walther’s polymer firearm is an ergonomic delight. Holding the gun is like sharing hands with a concert pianist. Once you’ve wrapped your mitts around the PPQ, other guns seems like concrete blocks. Not to belabor the point, the gun practically snuggles into your hand. You have to hold it to believe it. So . . . hold it! Love it! Buy it! Check out the prices at the Sportsman’s Finest gun sales tent. 

The PPQ also has one of the best if not the best factory trigger on the market. We’re talking about a smooth 5.5 to 6lbs. trigger pull followed by a break as crisp and clean as a freshly washed Fuji apple. Watch that trigger reset! PPQ stands for “Police Pistol Quick” and they ain’t lying; it’s a 0.1″ trigger reset. The company’s website says the PPQ’s trigger “facilitates” double-taps. Again, no joke. If you’re looking to sling a lot of lead downrange quickly and accurately, the PPQ is the gun to have.

And now you can have it in .45.

The fully-ambidextrous Walther Arms PPQ 45 has all the features that make its smaller-calibered siblings a firm favorite with firearms fanatics, such as the totally awesome trigger (did we mention that?), a corrosion-proof Tenifer™-finish and low-profile three-dot sights. For gun owners who believe that a self-0defense gun’s caliber should always start with a “4” this is the gun for you. But don’t take our word for it! Come and shoot it!

Click here to buy your tickets to the 2015 Texas Firearms Festival. Prices go up October 1. Once we’ve sold 3k Shooter and VIP tickets, that’s it. No mas.

The post Walther Arms PPQ 45 at the 2015 Texas Firearms Festival. Come and Shoot it! appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

The other day, we riffed on Crimson Trace’s appeal to OFWGs. Specifically, their assertion that laser-equipped pistols were a boon to Americans looking to exercise their natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms with an addition degree of accuracy (should push come to shove). One of our commentators said he was saving up for a green laser-equipped pistol, the better choice for daytime use. Well, here you go! “The popular Smith & Wesson M&P BODYGUARD 380 pistol is now available with a factory-installed green Laserguard laser sight from Crimson Trace,” Smith’s ammoland.com presser proclaims. [Full text after the jump.] If he gets one, all his friends will be, well, you know . . .

The popular Smith & Wesson M&P BODYGUARD 380 pistol is now available with a factory-installed green Laserguard laser sight from Crimson Trace.

Offering enhanced versatility and security for concealed-carry gun owners, the addition of the green Laserguard allows for improved sight acquisition during daytime use. The green Laserguard is factory installed on the non-integrated laser M&P BODYGUARD 380 models.

To activate the laser, firearm users engage Crimson Trace’s Instinctive Activation switch, which utilizes a button to easily activate the laser when the firearm is held in a natural firing grip. The laser is fully adjustable for windage and elevation.

“The M&P BODYGUARD 380 with green Laserguard by Crimson Trace is the latest addition to extend our M&P line of firearms with green lasers. This new model joins the extremely popular M&P Shield pistol in 9mm and 40 S&W, both of which are also available with a factory installed green Laserguard,” said Jan Mladek, General Manager of the M&P Brand for Smith & Wesson.

The M&P BODYGUARD 380 retains original design features including a 2¾-inch barrel, which contributes to an overall length of 5¼ inches and an unloaded weight of just 12.3 ounces. With its slim-line ergonomic grip, the pistol fits comfortably in the hand and points naturally. Compact, sleek and ergonomic, the M&P BODYGUARD 380 provides owners with optimal personal protection in an easy-to-carry platform.

Additional features on the M&P BODYGUARD 380 include a high-strength polymer frame with a stainless steel slide and barrel. The pistol’s double-action fire control system allows for rapid second-strike capability. Adding to its simplicity, the new M&P BODYGUARD 380 is standard with a manual thumb safety and an external take down lever and slide stop. To help aid in quick sight acquisition when the laser sight is not in use, the pistol is standard with stainless steel, drift adjustable dovetail sights. The M&P BODYGUARD 380 has a 6+1 capacity, comes with two magazines and is backed by Smith & Wesson’s lifetime service policy.

For more information on the new M&P BODYGUARD 380 pistol with Crimson Trace Green Laserguard, please visit www.smith-wesson.com.

About Smith & Wesson:

Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC) is a U.S.-based leader in firearm manufacturing and design, delivering a broad portfolio of quality firearms, related products, and training to the global military, law enforcement, and consumer markets. The company’s firearm division brands include Smith & Wesson, M&P, and Thompson/Center Arms. As an industry leading manufacturer of shooting, reloading, gunsmithing and gun cleaning supplies, the company’s accessories division produces innovative, top quality products under Battenfeld Technologies, Inc., including Caldwell Shooting Supplies, Wheeler Engineering, Tipton Gun Cleaning Supplies, Frankford Arsenal Reloading Tools, Lockdown Vault Accessories, and Hooyman Premium Tree Saws. Smith & Wesson facilities are located in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, and Missouri.

For more information on Smith & Wesson, call (800) 331-0852 or log on to www.smith-wesson.com.

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FN is back! Once again, the Belgian-born gunmaker’s bringing the noise to the 2015 Texas Firearms Festival on November 14 and 15 at Best of the West Shooting Sports in Liberty Hill. “We’ll be bringing a lot of guns,” FN’s Wright Llewallen promises. “We don’t want to go home with a single one.” Aside from sampling the handguns and rifles they’ll be demoing in their bay, ticket holders will have a shot at a wider range of Festival-priced FN’s to go. Specifically . . .

• FNS-9 and FNS-9c (9mm and .40) 
• FNX-9
• P90 bullpup rifle
• SCAR-17 modern sporting rifle
• FN 15 – DMR, Tactical and 1776 models
• SLP 3-gun shotgun
• SCI over-and-under shotgun

FNH USA is also bringing their FiveseveN pistol (Texas Governor Perry’s bedside gun) and FNX-45 Tactical. On the firing line, Shooter and VIP ticket holders will get trigger time with their choice of an FNS-9, FNS-9c or FNX-9 pistol; or a FN15 rifle (exact model to be named later). A brief look at those guns . . . 

FNS-9/FNX-9 – Developed for the armed forces, the double-action, striker-fired FNS-9 is fully ambidextrous (slide stop lever and magazine release) for ease of operation with either hand, from any firing position. The gun’s MIL-STD 1913 mounting rail accommodates tactical lights and lasers. The slide and barrel are stainless steel; the latter cold hammer forged for durability, reliability and long-term accuracy. The guns’ checkered polymer frame has two interchangeable backstraps with lanyard eyelets.

FN 15 – Like the pistols, the FN15 is also built to “withstand the varied and unrelentingly harsh conditions of battlefields around the world, ready to perform in any condition on the firing line.” The FN15 is also available with a cold hammer forged barrel. If you want to own a rifle that look, shoots and carries like a mil spec AR15, FN’s got the gun for you. 

Be warned! If you don’t want to be tempted to add an FN firearm to your collection, a gun that will become a legacy for your descendants, don’t come and shoot the FNS-9 and FN15. If you can withstand temptation, or don’t see the point of withstanding temptation, click here and buy your ticket now to the 2015 Texas Firearms Festival. If you haven’t already, prices go up in three days. After that tickets will sell out and be unavailable at any price.

The post FNH USA At the 2015 Texas Firearms Festival. Come and Shoot It! appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

Longtime readers may remember our formerly regular feature “Which Gun Would You Grab?” Unfortunately, the gentleman who produced the series for us went on to better (i.e. paying) things. A recent visit to Houston’s Collectors Firearms inspired me to reinstate WGWYG, starting with a brace of Desert Eagles in divergent attire. I reckon the gun above is reminiscent of the Transformers transformer known as Bumblebee. Whatever could we do with it? As Captain America proclaimed, until we can close that portal, our priority’s containment! Here’s Cap’s gat. . .

I know: I forgot to do the “set-up.” I didn’t give you a situation in which you had to choose one of the other of these .50AE firearms. Well, I can’t think of one. Can you? Meanwhile – and that could be a very long while – grab one! Ah . . . but which?

The post Which Gun Would You Grab: Bumblebee or Captain American Desert Eagle .50AE? appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

Inter Ordnance makes AKs and AR15s on Florida’s “Space Coast.” The company boasts that its new locale helps business because “we have been able to hire top quality engineers and assembly personnel, who worked before for NASA and defense contractors.” Meanwhile, IO hired Eduardo Debarros to be their VP of Production. Debarros worked for Taurus for more than 20 years, expanding Taurus’ production from 100 guns a week to more than 5000 guns a week. IO Inc is hoping that Eduardo can help expand and optimize their product lines, reduce waste and improve quality. Here’s what he’s working with . . .

IO invited journalists to their Sunshine State base to sample products both old and new and meet with company officials. Most of the products that IO Inc submitted to the assembled crows were existing guns, like the AKM247 (AK), and its many variants, the M214 Sniper (AK), the M214 Nano (AK) and the M215 (AR).

IO has added an under-folding and side-folding stock option to their AKM247 models (the AKM247-UF and AKM247-SF). They’re also working on upping production of the M214 Nano (currently only 10 a day), gearing-up within the next few months.

One of the new items: a PPS43-C Polish import pistol chambered in 7.62x25mm Tokarev with a 9.8″ barrel. This was converted to a closed bolt Semi-Auto from the original open bolt full-auto configuration. Since the quantity is limited (just 500 guns), my guess is they will be hard to find.

Another update. Apparently IO has some sourcing problems with the Venom .45 ACP pistol’s slides. They’re moving away from forgings, planning on machine the slide from billet in-house. They’re hoping to have them available at this January’s SHOT Show.

Also in the works: a concept for an “SBR ready” AKM247 with a pinned fake “suppressor” attached to the barrel. That way,  you can file your paperwork, pay your $200, get a tax stamp and then, with a lot less hassle, remove the “suppressor” and have your SBR ready to go. No other work needed. This will be a nice and simple way to get an AK SBR without having to do a ton of the work that is required to change a barrel, etc. IO’s hoping to have this available next year.

At the Range

Last year things went pretty smoothly. This time around . . .

One of the M214 Nanos had the bolt carrier come off track and get stuck. There were a few failure-to-feed and a few failure-to-fire issues. Bad surplus ammo appeared to cause the firing issues, whiled the failures-to-feed were likely caused by some new magazines that needed to be smacked around a bit. After a few uses, and some oil, most – but not all – of the issues went away. There were also a few instances of the rim of cases getting ripped off. Over-gassed guns? Old ammunition? Something.

[Northern California’s The Gun Range is planning to put some of the IO Inc products into their rental program to see how they perform under some real abuse. That will be a great stress test; everyone knows how people treat rentals. I’ll reach out to see how everything is holding up and report back.]

Customer Service

IO company officials discussed customer service frequently. Many distributors in attendance said how much they appreciated IO Inc’s customer service.

IO Inc offers a lifetime warranty on all of their products. In talking with a few shops and distributors, the failure rate of delivered guns is better than some larger brands. I don’t have any specific numbers, but “very low” was tossed around more than a few times by various third parties. That said, the time on the range was a little disheartening no matter what anyone says. You pays your money . . .

Price List

Here is a list of all of IO Inc’s current/future products and their MSRP prices.

The post What’s Cooking at Inter Ordnance appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

Via getzone.com

Hickok45 demonstrates what a snub nose .44 Magnum can do to a piece of paper held next to the cylinder when it’s fired. As the pressure and burning powder from the discharge are released, anything next to the … Read More

The post Pro Tip: How Not To Shoot a Revolver appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

The DA/SA thing was never attractive to me (until I shot the P229 Legion) but I can see why it appeals to some shooters. I am, however, a big fan of single stack 9mm pistols. I like their relative slimness, their lighter weight and easy carriability (if that’s a word). Now jumping back into the 9mm single stack game is SIG SAUER with the reintroduction of the P225. Here’s their press release . . .

SIG SAUER^® Reintroduces the P225 Platform

NEWINGTON, N.H. (November 5, 2015) — SIG SAUER, Inc., has returned the venerable P225^® pistol to its catalog and is now shipping the classic handgun to dealers and distributors.

The P225-A1 retains the exceptional look and feel of the original P225, but features an enhanced trigger and the precision manufacturing and quality from the state-of-the-art SIG SAUER^® facility.

“We set out to re-create the fantastic ergonomics of the P225, but we also wanted to make the best P225 ever built,” said John Brasseur, Director of Product Management for SIG SAUER, Inc. “While the original West German P225 was a fantastic pistol, the degree of precision and accuracy we can obtain now makes this the ultimate expression of the P225.”

The P225-A1 is a single-stack 9mm pistol with the time-tested double-action/single-action trigger system. A fully machined stainless steel slide is finished in the durable Nitron^® finish. A hard coat anodized frame sports two-piece grips with the SIG mark medallion.

With a lineage as the long-time handgun of the West German police, and a popular concealed carry option in the American market, the P225-A1 is a time-tested performer. The slim slide profile and shorter barrel length is easy to carry yet retains the familiar controls of its full-size batterymate the P226^®.

Featuring the accuracy, reliability and durability of all SIG SAUER products, the P225-A1 combines the elements of the company’s history with the cutting-edge manufacturing of modern day SIG.

The P225-A1 is now shipping and available at SIG SAUER dealers across the country.

For more information, please visit us at www.sigsauer.com.

Follow SIG SAUER on social media, including Facebook at www.facebook.com/sigsauerinc, Instagram at www.instagram.com/sigsauerinc, and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/sigsauerinc.

 

About SIG SAUER, Inc.

SIG SAUER, Inc. is a New Hampshire-based weapons systems provider leading the industry in American innovation, ingenuity, and manufacturing. SIG SAUER^® brings a dedication to superior quality, ultimate reliability, and unmatched performance that has made it the brand of choice among responsible citizens, and many of the world’s most elite military, government, and law enforcement units. As a complete systems provider, SIG SAUER offers a full array of products to meet any mission parameter, from handguns and rifles to silencers, optics, ammunition, accessories, and airguns. The largest member of a worldwide business group of firearms manufacturers that includes SIG SAUER GmbH & Co. KG in Germany and Swiss Arms AG in Switzerland, SIG SAUER is an ISO 9001: 2008 certified company with approximately 1,000 employees. For more information on SIG SAUER, any of its products, or the SIG SAUER Academy^SM, log on to www.sigsauer.com.

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“A man stopped for public drinking on Staten Island had two submachine guns on him, police said.” That’s the 411 (911?) from nbcnewyork.com. “When the officers opened the bag, police say they found an Intratec Model AB-10 submachine gun and a Calico Model M-9 submachine gun.” Even though the correct models of the pistols are given in the story, they are still misidentified as submachine guns. With all the scorn that has been heaped on media outlets for their ignorance about guns over the last 60 years, you would think that news reporters or editors would . . .

perform a quick Google search to check facts before reporting on firearm models. My impression is that they don’t because they are busy (who isn’t) and because they are *proud* of their ignorance about guns. It shows that they are a “real progressive.” Anyway, you can see from the picture above that the pistols have been badly abused. The corrosion is serious. It’s not clear if the guns still function.

Looks can be deceiving. I’ve seen firearms that looked like rusted junk become completely functional with a little cleaning and lubrication.

The article doesn’t say if any magazines were confiscated with the pistols. While the Intratec AB-10 never really caught on, the Calico is rather rare and pricey. Magazines are especially difficult to find. They are an interesting piece of technology, even if they are big, awkward and clumsy – like the journalism that described them.

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Gun Watch

The post NBC and NYPD Mis-ID Intratec Model AB-10 and Calico Model M-9 as “Submachine Guns” appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

It’s interesting to note that rapper 50 Cent reckons the bullet fragment embedded in his tongue is great for oral sex (hence the headline). What amazes me: he correctly uses the word “metaphor” to describe an aspect of his song writing. I suppose I could write something about Fiddy glorifying “gun violence” by treating it so cavalierly, but that would be churlish. Suffice it to say, much of the rapper’s music does that already.

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Personally, I prefer Carling Black Label to the Browning Black Label 1911 in .380. Well I did before TTAG reader and Texas Firearms Festival armed self-defense simulator guy Louis Bonham started my beerducation. Now it’s a wash. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a .380 … that a .45-caliber 1911 doesn’t fix. Sure, the BL is smaller and lighter than its big brother. But it’s still not a pocket pistol. And we all know that .45’s are capable of stopping anything short of SEAL Team 6. Providing there are no more than six of them.

The post NRA Gun of the Week: Browning Black Label 1911 in .380 appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

Thank you to the 6500 readers who voted in our poll pitting the venerable GLOCK 19 against Springfield Armory’s XD Mod.2. As you can see from the screen cap above, the GLOCK edged-out the Springfield by a margin of 52 to 48 percent. I’d say that was well within the margin of error, but the whole poll is inherently erroneous (being an opt-in Internet poll posted on a pro-gun website). Despite the image above, I chose the Springfield XD Mod.2 as the better gun. It’s got a better grip, offers a more natural point-of-aim and I prefer the XD’s trigger. But there’s no question that . . .

the GLOCK 19 is worthy of any gun buyer’s hard-earned cash. It’s the perfect size, provides famous reliability (for those who must-have reliability sur tout) and offers excellent capacity. If the GLOCK 19 had a better trigger . . .

A problem easily and completely fixed by the installation of a GHOST trigger, which only adds about $20 to the price of Gaston’s gun. I fitted one on to my 19 (along with night sights) to make it the perfect go-to gun. Aside from my other perfect go-to handguns – which cost a damn sight more. Respect to both competitors. They both raised the bar for every other mass market handgun maker. Our new poll is up!

The post GLOCK 19 Barely Beats Springfield XD Mod.2 in Completely Unscientific TTAG Online Poll appeared first on The Truth About Guns.