Even the most “reliable” handgun can fail or experience a malfunction. More often than not, pistol malfunctions are not shooter induced. Causes range from cleaning and maintenance to loading and/or inserting the magazine improperly and poor grip placement.

Your first thought should be “what am I doing to cause this?” Once certain it’s not you, then look at mechanical issues.

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Diagnosing pistol malfunctions is for repair purposes and should not be part of your malfunction clearing protocol. Do not pattern “identification” into your routine for malfunction clearing, just fix it and move on.

If a malfunction is experienced during training use your standard routine to get back in the fight, then look at diagnosis. There is a clear delineation between “running” your gun and fixing it — don’t mix them up.

Pistol malfunctions generally fit into three categories:

• Failures to extract include stovepipes or brass sticking in the ejection port.
• Double feeds are generally magazine issues — weak springs, dirt, worn followers, etc.
• Failure to go into battery (or return the slide forward) is often a dirty or dry pistol, but can be recoil springs.

Everything else puts you out of the fight and needs bench work. Some call it “catastrophic.” Mostly it means the gun is not repairable short of a bench, tools and a gunsmith, all of which are probably absent in a fight.

Shooter Induced

The most common malfunction remains a failure to seat the magazine. Use the base of your palm pushing firmly until it locks in place. Pull on the magazine if you can. Do not tap, whack, or punish the magazine.

If it will not seat with firm pressure hammering, it may cause more problems. If it still won’t seat, remove the magazine, push off one round and repeat. Never “overload” your magazines. If it says 12 rounds load 12; that extra room is there for a reason. It could damage the spring and may not seat no matter what you do.

Handguns today have the slide stop in different positions. If your slide locks to the rear prematurely or fails to lock open on the last round, think about your grip. You may be holding the slide stop down or pushing it up. You can alter your grip or replace the slide stop. Don’t bend, grind or alter the one in your gun. Either change your grip or get one made for that purpose.

Carbon, dirt or lint buildup on or in your handgun may result in a failure to go into battery (locking forward). Proper slide movement and magazine operation are critical. Gumming up the works can cause serious issues. If it won’t go into battery, it will not fire; so clean, maintain and oil your handguns. 

Mechanical

Improperly maintained or worn magazines are the most common cause of double feeds. Use the best magazines you can get, keep them clean and check the springs periodically. Replace what parts you can, or the entire magazine, but keep them clean and maintained. Just dropping them on the range deck, dirt, snow or mud can cause problems, so check them frequently.

When the slide fails to lock forward (go into battery,) it may be your recoil (or return) spring or assembly. Most have a designated “life” based on time or round count. Replace them using the manufacturer’s recommendations (or sooner). Springs lose tension, or it may be the wrong tension. Bent or broken springs happen all the time. The more you shoot your pistol the more critical this is and high pressure ammunition accelerates the process.

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Failures to eject are generally failures to extract. A dirty, worn or broken extractor will leave the brass in the chamber or not eject it completely. It’s the most common cause of any malfunction leaving brass in the chamber or ejection port. Repair can be simple or require a gunsmith. Make certain to visually inspect your extractor at every cleaning for wear, chips and proper tension. Watch your brass ejection pattern. If it is dribbling out the side, hitting you in the head or spraying all over the place, then it’s time to check your extractor.

More serious issues require diagnosis by a practiced gunsmith. Ejectors, barrel fit, strikers, internal workings — none will get fixed in a fight or on the range as a rule and fail much less frequently, requiring much less focus.

Malfunction Clearance

Let’s start with a failure to go into battery; that used to put you out of the fight, not today. Return springs are lighter, so a dirty pistol will often see this. During high-round count training, most of my striker fired handguns will do this.

Keeping the weapon pointed in a safe direction, trigger finger clear, use the palm edge of your off hand to “tap” the back of the slide. It should snap into battery. If not, move on to the methods below.

Only two pistol malfunctions (Type 1 and 2) are fixable in a fight with two methods used to clear them. Performed in order, they fix most things. Anything worse (Type 3) and it’s bench time. You can tap, rack, slam, tackle and tickle all you want and it won’t work. It’s a good time for gun No. 2 or plan B.

If pressing the trigger does not yield proper results, it’s likely a failure to seat the magazine or failure to eject.

For a Type 1 clearance, first seat the magazine, press firmly and pull down if you can. Second, run the slide making sure NOT to cover the ejection port. Then get back on target and do what needs to be done, or not done.

If that does not work move directly to the Type 2 clearance:

• Step No. 1: Lock the slide to the rear.
• Step No. 2: Remove the magazine. I suggest retaining it since it may be your only magazine.
• Step No. 3: Run the slide once, twice, maybe three times — that usually does the trick. But clear everything out of the chamber.
• Step No. 4: Insert and seat your magazine, run the slide (loading your gun) and get back on target.

Pistol Malfunctions: Bottom Line 

Most of this is easily avoided, use a gun that works. Clean it, maintain it, practice often. It’s not 100 percent, but avoids most issues.

Simple failures are fixed by seating the magazine and running the slide. If not, unloading, clearing and reloading will fix the rest.

Practice so you seamlessly move from one to the other. Dry practice is great for this. Most of us carry one gun, so keeping it running in a fight is critical and these methods for clearing pistol malfunctions should get that done most of the time, and that’s about as good as it gets.

The post The Right Way to Identify and Clear Pistol Malfunctions appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

More bad news for tech-savvy gun owners. Days after YouTube introduced new rules cracking down on gun content, Reddit has followed suit. The enormously popular discussion website just announced a new policy prohibiting users from soliciting or facilitating transactions or gifts involving “certain goods and services.” What’s at the top of the list? You guessed it. Read Reddit’s announcement below.

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Hello All—

We want to let you know that we have made a new addition to our content policy forbidding transactions for certain goods and services. As of today, users may not use Reddit to solicit or facilitate any transaction or gift involving certain goods and services, including:

• Firearms, ammunition, or explosives;
• Drugs, including alcohol and tobacco, or any controlled substances (except advertisements placed in accordance with our advertising policy);
• Paid services involving physical sexual contact;
• Stolen goods;
• Personal information;
• Falsified official documents or currency

When considering a gift or transaction of goods or services not prohibited by this policy, keep in mind that Reddit is not intended to be used as a marketplace and takes no responsibility for any transactions individual users might decide to undertake in spite of this. Always remember: you are dealing with strangers on the internet.

As a result of the new rules, several gun-related user boards—called “subreddits”—have gone the way of the dodo. These include /r/gundeals; /r/gundealsFU; /r/gunsforsale; /r/brassSwap; r/gunnitforward; r/CanadaGunsEE; r/AKMarketplace; r/secretsniper; /r/GunsNotForSale; and /r/airsoftmarket.

Reddit Policy Reaction

Needless to say, the changes aren’t going over well with some in the Reddit community.

“This is really, really stupid,” one user said. “I don’t participate in any of those subs, but this is a huge issue for me. I remember when I found Reddit in 2010 and the most likable thing about it was the ‘hands-off’ policy. Reddit was able to be multiple different things with multiple different groups with multiple different political ideology.”

“So why lump Firearms in with drugs, prostitution, theft, and falsifying documents? Last I checked, guns were still legal in the U.S.,” another user added.

“Seriously Reddit?! I can’t believe you banned /r/gundeals! Gundeals and /r/gundealsFU were NEVER a marketplace for firearms, it’s a collection of links to actual stores. You should seriously unban them! It’s ridiculous that you’re lumping gundeals in with other subs that facilitated illegal activities,” yet another user chimed in.

When asked if the new policy would cover firearm accessories, the Reddit-Policy account replied, “Accessories are not impacted, neither are communities organized around shooting sports or hunting.”

The r/Guns subreddit, which has over 360,000 subscribers, remains active.

The post First YouTube, Now Reddit: Site Bans Gun ‘Transactions’ & ‘Gifts’ appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

For the everyday citizen, acquiring and then shooting personal firearms should not only be educational and preparative for possible self-defense scenarios, but it should also be fun. And why not? Too often we find ourselves being too serious about having or using our firearms that we often lose the joy behind it.

Angstadt Arms recently teamed up with Sharps Bros. to help a little in that regard. Much like the personal flair we like to put on other toys or collectibles, from pool cues to hot rods and even to walking sticks in our old age, these two companies are offering a little flair for a firearm that you’ll not find every day at the range. This latest item is Angstadt Arms’ Jack 9 pistol, and it’s something you’ll need to see up close to believe.

Angstadt’s Answer

Angstadt Arms is a firearms manufacturer located in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. In business for a little over three years, the company specializes in  AR-style firearms that operate with pistol-caliber ammunition, and it’s already enjoying good success with its products, even on an international level.

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The company decided to use the AR platform for the basis of its products. These products are pistol-caliber rifles, pistols and personal-defense weapons (PDWs). The main twist here is that, aside from their build specifications and quality, these products are built around Glock pistol magazines—specifically 9mm models to start.

For those who want a little bit more of a hands-on approach, Angstadt Arms also offers parts for customers to build their own firearms if they choose. Additionally, as this article is being written, Angstadt is finalizing production on firearms that will also accept .45 ACP and 10mm Glock magazines as well. So it seems that the company’s products are seeing much success in the marketplace.

Rich Angstadt began his shooting career over two decades ago and has spent much of that time involved with competitive shooting. His decision to get into firearms manufacturing was a result of trying to build something that he wanted for himself. According to Angstadt, most 9mm carbines on the market weren’t purpose- built from the ground up to fire the 9mm. He felt they were cobbled together from various sources without any real adherence to standards or specs. He wanted to change that by building what he believed an AR-style 9mm carbine should be, and so it began.

Jack Arrives

The inspiration behind the Angstadt Jack 9 pistol came from the Jack 9 lower that was developed by Sharps Bros. As you can see, a skull is basically carved out of the front portion of the lower receiver. In fact, the magazine is inserted into a beveled well that is shaped to be the skull’s mouth and teeth. For those who like that type of thing, it’s a grim design that lets others know you’re serious about your work.

The Jack 9 lower receiver was originally designed for 5.56mm and 7.62mm ARs; the design was so well received that Angstadt Arms approached Sharps Bros. about making some for its pistol-caliber carbines. Once the deal was agreed upon, Angstadt provided the specs for its lower receivers. Sharps Bros. then constructed the receivers according to those specs while working in the Jack sculpting process. The end result is a fierce little receiver that has the same menacing profile as its larger counterparts.

The basic lower receivers produced by Sharps Bros. are constructed from 7075-T6 aluminum and sport a Type III hardcoat anodizing. The receivers are also designed so that the bolt will lock back after the last round is fired, and Sharps states that they’ll work with other 9mm uppers, though right now they’re currently only available through Angstadt Arms.

Introduction

I was introduced to the Angstadt Jack 9 pistol at a get-together in Marion, North Carolina. Having an Angstadt carbine of my own, I had some familiarity with the company’s lineup, though not with this particular model. The Jack 9 is built on the UDP-9 foundation that is the basis for most of Angstadt’s products—unless you’re interested in a .357 SIG or .40 S&W model.

Like the lower, the upper receiver is made from 7075-T6 aluminum, and the handguard is a proprietary design with M-LOK slots for accessories. For furniture, the pistol sports a Magpul MOE-K2 grip and a Shockwave stabilizing brace for shooting the pistol one-handed. This brace is a 12-position affair that is stopped with a setscrew once positioned at the proper length. Also, the gun accepts double-stack 9mm Glock mags and comes with a 15-rounder.

For the shooting demonstration that day, the Angstadt folks also included a few items that they dressed the Jack 9 up with so we would get the full benefit of shooting the pistol. First up on deck was a Holosun HS503C red-dot sight in a Fortis Manufacturing mount. Though not part of the package, they turned out to be great additions at the range. Two more add-ons included SLR Rifleworks’ Synergy Mini Comp and a hand stop to ensure our support hands never slipped over the barrel. Finally, a Radian Weapons ambidextrous safety was installed to help take care of the lefties in the crowd.

BATFE Rules

Many people were quite excited when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) issued a determination letter about the Shockwave stabilizing brace in April of 2017. Previously, the understanding was that if a person fired a pistol with such a brace against his or her shoulder, then that person will have essentially created a short-barreled rifle (SBR) subject to NFA regulations. While this “perspective” was rubbish, nobody wanted to run afoul of NFA laws because of the penalties involved.

This past April, however, the BATFE clarified that firing from the shoulder does not in itself redesign the firearm. Therefore, those who engaged in this activity would not be held accountable under NFA laws going forward. This seemed to be a great victory for those who were interested in this subject area and felt that holding the arm brace against the shoulder did not in fact redesignate the weapon.

Though this was good news, many people did happen to overlook other parts of the letter where the BATFE further clarified its decision about stabilizing braces. They stated that if someone took affirmative steps to alter the nature of the brace, such as permanently affixing the brace to act as a stock, or removing the strap and firing from the shoulder, those steps would redesign the nature of the weapon and make it an SBR. In short, leave the brace as it is when it comes out of the package. This includes the strap.

Range Performance

I sometimes find that the payoff isn’t worth getting an AR-style pistol because of its quirks, but that wasn’t the case with the Jack 9. Shooting from a bench at 25 yards and with the assistance of the Holosun red-dot sight, the accuracy results we got were exemplary. We shot a nice mix of premium loads, including Federal’s 147-grain +P and 124-grain HST rounds, Speer’s 124-grain +P Gold Dots and Sig Sauer’s 124-grain Elite V-Crown JHP offering.

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Sub-2-inch groups were acquired with three of the four loads. The single best group of the four was with the Federal 147-grain +P HST load, coming in at just 1.44 inches. The same load took the crown for the best average size group at 1.76 inches.

The Jack 9’s reliability was much like its accuracy—top shelf. During the shooting, there wasn’t a single malfunction with the different loads that we tried. This includes some Sig Sauer 124-grain FMJs during the plinking phase and while shooting at the steel targets.

The trigger on the Jack 9 broke at just 6.5 pounds. That’s certainly not a match trigger, but it’s light enough to not be unpleasant or interfere with accurate shot placement. We also found that the SLR Synergy Mini Comp did an excellent job of reducing the already moderate recoil of the 9mm pistol. Between the weight of the gun and the compensator, the Jack 9 barely budged while firing.

Standing Out

The Jack 9 pistol has a bit of a spooky flair to it, and with the skull sculpted into the receiver by Sharps Bros., it’s more than just a reminder of what awaits those who dare tread where no welcome awaits. I like the character the skull gives to the weapon and wouldn’t mind a little color thrown in to make it really visible. Hopefully that’ll be available in the future.

At $1,389, this isn’t a bargain-basement buy. But, as it’s noted quite often, you get what you pay for. Angstadt’s products, including this pistol, are top-quality items that were designed from the ground up to wrap around a Glock magazine to achieve the best performance possible. With my experience with the Jack 9 pistol and other models I have tried, I have no hesitation recommending the Jack 9 to those who want to add something wicked to their collection.

If marching to your own drummer is the way you roll, and you like the best, the Angstadt Arms Jack 9 should be at the very top of your list. It’s definitely a pistol that won’t come along every day.

Angstadt Jack 9 Specs

Angstadt Jack 9 Performance

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity measured in fps by chronograph and accuracy measured in inches for three 5-shot groups at 25 yards.

For more information, visit angstadtarms.com.

This article was originally published in the March/April 2018 issue of “Combat Handguns” To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Angstadt Jack 9: Running an AR Pistol from Angstadt, Sharps Bros appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

As experienced shooters, our heads sometimes explode when we watch movies and television shows. The hero or heroine ends up pulling out their trusty blaster to shoot the bad guy and there it is, a pistol grip that is so horrible you wonder how they are even able to hold the gun, let alone shoot it.

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This usually shows up as “tea cupping” where the shooter puts the base of the gun into the palm of the support hand.

While I could rant on, I know I am preaching to the choir and will save the ink. The upside of this, however, is that it spurs discussion of just what a “good” pistol grip is. While opinions can vary, there are a couple ways to hold your semi-automatic pistol that work well.

Foundations of a Good Pistol Grip

Handguns can be a difficult weapon to shoot accurately. They are relatively small and most have a trigger pull that is more than twice the actual weight of the gun. The best way to deal with this is a good grip.

A good pistol grip is critical if we are to enjoy any sort of accuracy and follow-up shots.

The best grip will have the barrel generally in line with the bones in your strong side forearm to begin with. The web of your primary hand should be high on the back of the gun and fully under the back strap. This is the base for the strong side hand regardless of what you choose to do with your support side hand. On that point there are two options that work best.

Thumbs Forward

First is the grip used by most professional and serious shooters. It is referred to as “thumbs forward.”

As you grip the gun with your strong side, your thumb should be pointing down the slide. The support side hand will have equally as firm a grip.

Your fingers will wrap over the top of your first hand and your thumb will be pointed down the slide as well. The thumb from your strong side hand will now rest on top of the muscle of your support side hand.

This “thumbs forward” grip allows the large muscle of your thumb to settle up against the gun. This in turn will create a full 360-degree grip with no weak spots or openings. This is the key to not only accurate shooting, but to fast follow-up shots as well.

Interlocked Thumbs

A second pistol grip that is both common and reliable is the “interlocked thumbs” grip.

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The base of this grip starts with an identical setup with the strong side hand. The difference is all in the thumb position of the support side hand.

Instead of running the support side thumb down the side of the gun, it lays over the top of the strong side thumb. This grip still allows us a good 360-degree grip and is more comfortable for some people.

The “interlocked thumbs” grip is especially good if the shooter has wrist or shoulder issues.

It does make extending both arms equally more of a challenge, but it has served people well for decades.

Having a Firm Grip

Regardless of what grip you choose, it is important to be consistent in your hand position. This comes with practice and repetition. The thing that brings these grips together though is how firmly you hold the gun.

There are volumes of opinions on this topic, but I will speak from experience and say grab the gun like you mean it. We want to manage recoil and keep our gun on sight as much as possible. Because of that, we need to have a firm grip on the gun.

Some are concerned with “over gripping” the gun and I can understand that. We don’t want to crush the gun, but we can in no way just gently hold it either. The lighter the grip, the more the gun will jump during recoil.

If you build a solid platform with your body and use a firm grip, the recoil will be absorbed by the body and can be more easily managed.

Remember that we are only trying to manage the recoil. Unless it is a very small caliber handgun, we are trying to do our best to work with it.

Regardless of hand strength, the gun is going to move because of the speed of the action. A good grip is the foundation that recoil management is built on.

Final Thoughts

Of course, there are other grips out there that people use effectively. What I find, however, is there are grips people have developed on their own over time.

I have seen some very “interesting” grips over my years as an instructor. While not traditional, some of the shooters using those grips performed very well.

In the end though I encourage shooters to use one of the two grips we have discussed. This is especially true if you are a new shooter just learning the fundamentals.

A good pistol grip is the building block for fast and accurate shooting — that translates to enjoyable shooting for a lifetime.

For more, please visit ForceOptionsUSA.com.

The post Pistol Grip 101: 2 Ways to Properly Hold and Shoot Your Handgun appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

We’re big fans of the Ruger Mark IV around here—a simple, one-button takedown? What’s not to like?—so when Ruger announces anything new in its Mark IV family, we naturally take note. That’s why we wanted to give you a heads up that the Mark IV 22/45 Lite pistol is now being offered in a new finish for 2018: diamond gray. The pistol is already available in black, red, OD green and magenta.

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The Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite features a lightweight precision-molded, polymer grip frame. It also includes an aerospace-grade aluminum upper receiver. The receiver is now available in the aforementioned anodized diamond gray finish. In addition, the receiver sports pattern-drilled vents, giving it a custom look at an affordable price.

Chambered in .22 LR, the Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite has a 4.4-inch barrel; checkered 1911-style grip panels; adjustable rear sight; overall weight of 25 ounces; and an overall length of 8.4 inches. Furthermore, it boasts the one-button takedown we mentioned up top for easy field-stripping; contoured ejection port; factory-installed Picatinny rail; push-button magazine release; and an ambidextrous manual safety. This model is now also available with a non-threaded barrel.

Shipping out with two 10-round magazine, the MSRP on the Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite is $559.

Check out the specs below. For more, visit Ruger.com.

Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite Specs

• Capacity: 10
• Receiver Material: Aluminum
• Front Sight: Fixed
• Barrel Length: 4.40″
• Grip Frame: Polymer
• Grips: Checkered 1911-Style
• Finish: Diamond Gray Anodized
• Width: 1.22″
• Rear Sight: Adjustable
• Barrel Style: Threaded and Non-Threaded
• Thread Pattern: 1/2″-28
• Weight: 25 oz.
• Overall Length: 8.40″
• Height: 5.50″
• Grooves: 6
• Twist: 1:16″ RH
• CA Approved: No
• MA Approved & Certified: No
• Suggested Retail: $559

The post Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite: Now Available in Diamond Gray appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

It’s fair to say that the launch of the Full Conceal pistol has been met with a mixture of skepticism and curiosity. After all, it’s a folding Glock that promises 21+1 rounds of 9mm and a cell phone footprint. Naturally, that’s going to invite some proverbial sideways glances. But the firearms industry is nothing if not innovative, and we believe all innovations deserve a fair shake. YouTuber Graham Baates agrees, which is why he wanted to take a closer look at the Full Conceal M3D.

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Full Conceal M3D Tests

In the video above, Baates puts the Full Conceal M3D through a battery of tests. The first test is for magazine compatibility. Here, Baates tests the M3D with a variety of magazines, including the PMag that comes with the gun; TorkMag; ETS; Jagemann; ProMag; SGM Tactical and a few others.

Next, Baates tests out some hollow point defensive rounds in the M3D. These include Federal’s 150 gr and 124 gr HST; Speer 115gr GDHP; and Hornady’s 100 gr FTX Critical Defense Lite.

Finally, Baates conducts a practicality test. This involves drawing and shooting the folding gun from a pocket, both with and without a round in the chamber.

So how’d the Full Conceal M3D do? Watch the video above to find out.

To see more of Graham Baates’ videos, go to YouTube.com.

“Graham Baates” is a pen name used by a 15-year active U.S. Army veteran who spent most of his time in the tactical side of the Intelligence community including tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Post-Army, Graham spent some time in the 3-Gun circuit before becoming a full-time NRA Certified defensive handgun instructor and now works as an industry writer while curating a YouTube channel on the side.

The post WATCH: The Full Conceal M3D Folding Glock Actually Works appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

When you are unfamiliar with the different kinds of firearms that can be used for personal protection and home defense, selecting your first weapon can be overwhelming. You want to make the right choice. More importantly, however, you need the right training to use the gun properly.

I had to go through this process when I advised my wife, my daughter-in-law, my two sons and other novices who needed different degrees of assistance when they wanted to select firearms for protection. While all of this is second nature to me, I recently got my wife to kick things up a notch and transition to a semi-automatic pistol in addition to the .38 Special revolvers that she is already comfortable using.

Transitioning

Because my wife now suffers from a touch of carpel tunnel syndrome, she is only barely able to retract the slides on my 9mm Sig P228 and P226 Navy, my 9mm Glock 17 and my friend Larry’s 9mm Glock 19. So far, between the Sigs and the Glocks, my wife clearly shoots a 9mm Sig P228 the best. Naturally, I hope that with continued training it will become second nature for my wife to use the decoking lever to lower the hammer and make her pistol safe if she ever has to fire a few rounds from the P228. I also plan to continue to train my wife to use my G17 in lieu of the G19, which produced too much felt recoil for her liking.

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My other concern is that my wife may not be able to clear a stoppage or execute a slingshot combat reload in the event that one magazine of ammunition is not enough to take care of a serious threat. But the important thing here is that my wife wanted to become a more proficient shooter.

Even when I had my wife operate my .22-caliber Beretta Model 70S or a full-sized Springfield 9mm 1911, we still ran into problems. My wife had to deal with the thumb safety lever that needed to be lowered when it came time to discharge a single action. This is a potentially very serious problem because anyone who delays or forgets to lower the thumb safety lever on a 1911 can lose their life in a deadly-force situation.

Sixgun Solution

Personally, I was hoping that my wife would find it easy to operate the slide on a soft-shooting 9mm Glock so she would not have to worry about the decocking levers on some pistols. Unfortunately, the problem with a DAO or DAK pistol is that you have to override the hammer when you rack the slide to the rear on an unloaded pistol. One trick that I showed my wife is to point a DA/SA pistol in a safe direction, then cock the hammer before racking the slide back, all while keeping her finger out of the triggerguard. I showed my wife this method because I knew she would never be able to rack the slide on a DA/SA pistol without some help.

The bottom line is that after trying every option at my disposal, I came to the conclusion that my wife is better off using a Smith & Wesson six-shot .38 Special revolver for personal protection and home defense.

Home Alone

My wife is not the only member of my family who I have had to help with issues regarding trying to find the right handgun. When my oldest son, a police officer, got married, I wanted my daughter-in-law to be well armed and protected when our son wasn’t home. Since her father is a retired police sergeant, my daughter-in-law is someone who has been around firearms her entire life.

One thing I taught my daughter-in-law right from the start: Using a pistol that is equipped with an accessory rail makes it possible to attach a tactical light to your sidearm so you can have one hand free to carry a child to safety or call 911 with a cell phone. It is also harder for an intruder to reach out and grab your handgun than it is to reach out and grab a rifle or shotgun barrel as you walk by a room in a dark hallway.

I initially loaned my daughter-in-law a five-shot S&W Model 60 revolver in .38 Special, but the trigger on S&W J-Frame wheelguns can be on the heavy side (except for the Centennial models). Even though the trigger on the 2-inch-barreled Model 64 that she used for a while was a dramatic improvement, the pistol my daughter-in-law ended up liking the most was a 9mm Sig P229 with a DAK trigger, night sights and an accessory rail. When she trained more and proved that she could kick things up a notch, my son gave his wife a .40- caliber version for personal and home defense.

Training Children

Furthermore, as the father of two sons who are now 29 and 24 years of age, I know what it is like to train your children to safely and effectively use various kinds of firearms for personal protection, recreational shooting and home defense. I started training our sons to shoot at an early age because they grew up in a home where firearms were accessible and always present because I was a police officer who later went on to make a career as a federal agent in the U.S. Customs Service.

When my sons were old enough to comprehend the true meaning of the word “hot,” I decided it was time to let them know that the rules in our home regarding firearms were very simple. Rule #1: My sons could ask to inspect, touch and even hold any of my issued or personally owned firearms as long as they were unloaded and I was present. Rule #2: My sons would never violate rule number one until they were old enough to legally own, possess and carry firearms on their own.

Handling & Cleaning

After displaying my collection of issued and personally owned firearms, I began to teach my sons about different handguns, rifles, carbines, submachine guns and shotguns. In addition, we had these show-and-tell sessions on a regular basis. My plan was to take the mystery out of firearms by letting my sons know that my guns were the tools of my profession. Furthermore, I wanted to let them know that they required a certain level of proficiency. Consequently, after I explained how various firearms worked, I let my sons physically examine and handle every firearm in my collection. I also let them watch me clean my firearms to show them the importance of properly maintaining your equipment at all times. When the time was right—a parent will know that time—I took them shooting and trained them to become proficient marksmen.

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First Hits

I started training my oldest son when he was 8 years old to safely operate and shoot a .22-caliber Walther PPK. Later on, when both of my sons were old enough to train together, I issued them a pair of .22-caliber Beretta 71s with two spare magazines each. I also allowed my sons to train with a pair of rimfire Colt Peacemaker revolvers.

Next Steps for Gun Carrying

Once my two sons displayed an appropriate level of skill and they expressed the desire to kick their training tempo up a notch, I laid out a course of fire in a remote area in the high desert that could only be accessed by a 4×4 vehicle. For safety purposes, I had both of my sons walk through the course of fire with me by their side so they knew the layout of the training area. Initially, I had each of my sons run through this maze of arroyos and hilly terrain by themselves.

I stayed close by to relay commands and keep an eye on my sons as they engaged numerous targets and executed two combat reloads while taking the appropriate cover. When they were ready, I had my sons operate as a team with me close enough behind them to intervene if either of my boys forgot the safety rules. As a father, I was very impressed with the way my two sons performed individually and as a team.

In addition, once my sons got a bit older, we started training with law enforcement service handguns in various calibers, including the 9mm, .40 S&W. .357 SIG and .45 ACP. Both of my sons did well and eventually completed college and became armed professionals who carry Glock pistols on a daily basis.

In the end, train and train hard for the heavy responsibility of carrying a firearm—one you might use to protect yourself and your loved ones.

This article was originally published in “Pocket Pistols” 2017 #186. To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Tactics to Help Family Members Learn Responsible Gun Carrying appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Texas is synonymous with serious guns and a firebrand attitude. People who live there are, above all things, proud to be Texans and Americans. While friendly and open, Texans are serious about what they do and take pride in their work. I had all of this in mind when I attended an event with a relatively new 1911 builder based in northern Texas. Republic Forge could easily be called the biggest little gun builder in Texas. [Editor’s note: Republic Forge has since relocated to New Mexico]. The company has already earned a solid reputation as a builder of serious guns after launching only three short years ago. That is a pretty incredible climb in such a short time.

I had the pleasure of talking in detail with Republic Forge’s master gunsmith, Jeff Meister, and it quickly became apparent why the company had had become so well known. The name Republic Forge isn’t the product of a random company name generator. The owners and staff are hardcore Texans and patriots. The company was founded by Benny Deal, who is very proud to say that his pistols are “made by Americans, for the Republic.”

While some companies throw around “American made,” few have gone to the extent that Deal did in laying out the company. Even the equipment and components that are used to make the guns are American made. This proved to be a challenge when forming the company in 2013. It took over a year to find the right equipment and components to make the plan a reality. Benny Deal says, “We’re an American company making American-made guns on American-made benches with American-made tools, and we’re not sacrificing quality for anything.”

Have It Your Way

To add an even more unique twist on what it does, Republic Forge has created a very interesting way to order a gun. The company has a “Build Your Own 1911” interface on its website. This allows you to get the specific build that you really want in a classic high-end 1911.

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The site allows you to choose from dozens of options. There are eight different models, 10 frame colors, 10 grip styles, five different calibers and two different sight options, to name just a few. Once you decide what you want, the gunsmiths go to work. Everything is hand-fitted to ensure that the gun is perfect. Almost all of the pieces that hit the gunsmiths’ benches are oversized to allow them the ability to create the best fit possible. The result is a silky-smooth action with no wiggle or looseness. The minute you pick the finished gun up, you’ll know that it is a serious pistol. And while Republic Forge is primarily a custom builder, the company does provide a few models for dealers that reflect the most popular options.

With all of that as a backdrop, Jeff Meister was quick to get a gun into my hands for testing.

Behold The Monolith

The model of choice would be Republic’s Monolith Stryker 1911 in .45 ACP. This would prove to be an interesting choice because it might be considered a bit of a departure from the company’s “regular” guns.

The Monolith Stryker is what I would consider a weapon with a tactical application. It is a bridge between what John Moses Browning originally conceptualized and the needs of a modern tactical environment. The pistol has a “working gun” feel to it thanks to its design features. It has a strong carbon-steel frame and slide, and the latter has front and rear cocking serrations. This is important for a gun designed to protect its user while in harm’s way. The serrations make the slide easy to manipulate even with hands wet from water or even blood. It also has a squared triggerguard and 25-lpi checkering on the frontstrap and mainspring housing, creating a good grip surface without becoming a cheese grater.

Staying in the fighting realm, the Monolith Stryker is fitted with an ambidextrous thumb safety. This is a solid feature that makes it a little easier to shoot from your support side if needed. To help feed the gun as quickly as possible, it also comes with a blended Smith & Alexander magazine well.

Trigger

Like most people, I am quick to see what the trigger is like on a gun. With the Monolith Stryker, I found the trigger to be firm but not overly so. It broke at a very nice 3.5 pounds according to my trigger pull gauge. While this isn’t a competition weight by any means, it is perfect for what is essentially a duty weapon. You simply don’t want a feather- light trigger on a fighting gun. There was no slop or wiggle in the trigger, and it offered a very nice, short reset.

While the gun has a very tactical look, the inclusion of Republic Forge’s iconic hammer with a Texas star cut into the head screamed, “Remember the Alamo.” Wrapping it all up is a good-looking bronze Cerakote finish to offset the pistol’s black controls.

Silent Running

One of the design features of this specific gun is its ability to be run suppressed. The gun came with a Jarvis threaded barrel and XS suppressor- height night sights. The obvious task at this point would be getting a suppressor worthy of installation on this attractive Texas blaster.

I looked no further than Palmetto State Defense and its new Stak 45 suppressor. This South-Carolina-based company is a premium rifle and silencer manufacturer that specializes in the AR platform and sound suppression units. It takes pride in not mass producing any of its products, and the Stak 45 is the pinnacle of that work ethic. In addition, it’s the lightest .45 ACP can on the market, and it’s by far one of the most unique looking. It is constructed of aluminum with stainless steel baffles and weighs only 8.55 ounces. Furthermore, it has a unique open-tube design that cools faster with a highly efficient, user-serviceable baffle design. It would prove to be a solid addition to the Monolith Stryker.

In The Field

I’m generally not a fan of bench-testing a handgun for accuracy. I believe it takes the gun out of its element, and yet I found myself at a bench. Curiosity had gotten the best of me, and I wondered just how well the gun would perform. So, with a variety of ammo in hand, I started putting rounds downrange.

The groups quickly became just what I expected they would be—a collection of cloverleaves and ragged holes. I found the gun equally accurate and easy to run in a free-hand fashion. Moving from two-handed to single-handed and even support-hand shooting, the Monolith Stryker kept pushing rounds downrange on command.

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The Stak 45 suppressor only made things nicer. While the .45 ACP is pokey and runs well under the supersonic 1,126-fps threshold, it can be quieter. The Stak 45 proved that as I heard several people at the range mimicking the sound of the suppressor with pew, pew sounds. The can was light and did an exceptional job of taking the edge off a long day of shooting. It is also simply a cool-looking suppressor. You are lying if you say that aspect doesn’t matter.

During all of the testing, I did not experience a single failure. Granted, I did lubricate the pistol as suggested. Which brings up a point that most people miss regarding 1911s. They require oil, plain and simple. Even a high-end gun, like those emerging from Republic Forge, need proper lubrication. This is shocking to those who have only cut their teeth on striker-fired guns. You take care of your guns, and they will take care of you.

Choose Wisely

The 1911 is an iconic gun worthy of some serious consideration. Yet it’s not for everyone. Larry Vickers expressed it best when he explained how to decide if you should buy a 1911. His formula is simple: Go outside and look at your lawnmower. If it is dirty, covered in grass and exposed to the elements, then a 1911 may not be for you. If, on the other hand, you take care of your mower by cleaning, maintaining and storing it correctly, you get a pass into the John Browning club.

Rarely is a purchase from Republic Forge a person’s first 1911. Owner Benny Deal says that “Republic Forge pistols are not built for beginners. They are built for shooters.” Republic Forge also subscribes to the one-gun/one-gunsmith philosophy. That means there will only be one person working on your gun. This commitment to building your perfect gun includes the gunsmith calling you to discuss the details of your gun. The result is a beautiful gun worthy of your investment and the Republic Forge name. These smiths get their hands dirty every day to make custom pistols that will give you the thrill of a lifetime.

Republic Forge Monolith Stryker Specs

Republic Forge Monolith Stryker Performance

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity measured in fps by chronograph and accuracy measured in inches for three 5-shot groups at 15 yards.

For more information, visit republicforge.com.

This article was originally published in the March/April 2018 issue of “Combat Handguns” To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Gun Review: Republic Forge’s Suppressor-Ready Monolith Stryker 1911 appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

As a gun writer I have the luxury of shooting some of the best guns on the planet. I put them through their paces and offer some humble insight into their performance. The feedback I get is always interesting and in many cases is centered on gun prices.

While I shoot a spectrum of guns, in many cases the pistols especially fall into the premium category. What is inevitable are comments essentially saying, “How much?!?” This is followed by descriptive phrases like, “Holy crap!” “What the heck?” “That’s too expensive!” and other much more colorful thoughts.

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While sticker shock is a part of life in everything of quality, handguns seem to elicit the greatest reaction. Because of that, I would like to offer a few thoughts on getting over handgun sticker shock.

A Different Build

All guns are not created equally. This is the truth of life. The factors that dictate the cost of a gun are generally based on the design and construction.

Guns that start to enter the “expensive” realm are in many cases partially or even completely hand built. Not just assembled, but hand fit and tuned. All of this is especially true in the world of 1911s.

The act of making the components are precision centered as opposed to just stamping out parts. The slide and frame are meticulously mated and fit to provide the absolute best performance. Individual parts are hand finished and painstakingly put in to assure a proper fit and function. These guns are a mix of superior function and art.

High-end handguns are the product of craftsmen that are experts in their trade. These skills can only be developed over time and with great effort and expense. Throw into the mix the fact that most of these guns are not mass produced and require premium raw materials to even get started and the price begins to grow.

The Car Comparison

One of the best analogies I have heard compares the gun market to the car market. You simply aren’t going to find a BMW at a used Toyota price. Why? Because of what you get with BMW.

The quality and performance difference, which is a driving factor in cars, is the same in guns.

One factor I attribute this disconnect on gun prices to is simply a failure by many people to understand what is involved.

We live in a modern world where presses and machines spit out parts without blinking. These are then assembled by hired help who are in most cases genuinely concerned with the quality of their product. However, inserting a spring then pushing it down the assembly line is a world away from a firearm built by a gunsmith.

In most high-end shops only one or two people will be the ones working on a gun. They will literally build it by hand. Every part involved is adjusted, fitted, finished and installed by these smiths. The product of this type of dedication is a handgun with exceptional performance and function.

The gunsmiths are able to do things to the gun that mass production cannot. In many cases they take the time to chamfer edges and polish any potential sticking points. What you get is a gun that can go from the box to holster without modification.

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With most mass produced guns the first thing most people do it change the trigger or the sights or whatever.

Custom Examples

A good example of this is the Nighthawk Custom Shadow Hawk Government 1911. This gun is a collaboration between Nighthawk and Steve Fisher.

The Shadow Hawk is custom designed, with every part of it carefully considered. From a machined steel one-piece mag well/mainspring housing to a black flat faced trigger, Nighthawk designed the gun to excel at every turn.

Nighthawk topped the pistol with Trijicon tall tritium night sights to mate perfectly with a Trijicon RMR. It is a fantastic design to say the least.

While the Nighthawk looks the part of a custom gun, the master smiths over at Wilson Combat can make magic with something that looks “ordinary.”

The Wilson Combat Classic represents a classic looking gun that has every bit the custom attention as the rest of its guns.

It is a marriage between the timeless look and function of a traditional 1911 pistol and modern custom features; these include Wilson Lo-Mount Adjustable Rear Sights, a High-Ride Bullet Proof beavertail grip safety and beautiful Cocobolo Double Diamond grips.

Mix into that the standard Wilson commitment to perfectly fitting all components and you have a gun that is more than you see.

Final Thoughts on Gun Prices

I feel compelled to state that I have no problem with most mass-produced guns. Manufacturing practices and new materials allow companies to build good guns at a very affordable price. These guns fill a very important role in the firearms world and have been instrumental in helping many people get their first firearm.

We must, however, draw a distinction between an off the rack suit and one tailored by experts with high-end material to fit you. That is the difference that matters.

The debate then rages on to, “Is it worth it?” Well, that is a personal decision.

While there are multiple points regarding custom guns that are measurable, such as accuracy, much of its appeal will be personal.

What causes a bit of a chuckle at times when I encounter an “it’s not worth it” shooter is experience. I acknowledge that their new polymer blaster is a decent gun, but I ask if they have ever shot the expensive gun in question. More times than not, the answer is “no.” In fact, after a little more digging I find that they have never strayed beyond their striker-fired world.

Once again, there is nothing wrong with that. What I would suggest though is to at least go handle one of these high-end masterpieces. If life allows, get one onto the range. What you will soon see is that there is a world of difference between off-the-shelf and custom.

I would warn you to be careful because the experience will ruin you for cheap guns. It’s like going from bargain whiskey to good Scotch: you will not want to go back.

The post Stop Complaining About Gun Prices, Not All Guns Are Created Equal appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

“Ten shots quick!” was the advertising ploy of Savage Arms of Utica, N.Y., when it rolled out its new .32 ACP semi-automatic pistol in April of 1908. Actually, if you carried a round in the chamber, as recommended back in the day, you had a 10+1 capacity, which was two cartridges more than any other handgun at the time. The staggered or double-column magazine was also a unique feature back then.

During that era, the Savage Model 1907 was considered a pocket pistol and intended for use in self-defense or law enforcement. The little pistol was an offshoot of the larger Savage Model 1907 in .45 ACP (later called the Model 1911), which was designed to compete in the military trials for a new .45-caliber, semi-automatic service sidearm. The Savage pistol ended up being the only competition to the Colt Model 1911, but ultimately, it could not beat the Colt during a shooting endurance test in March of 1911. Savage named its .32 ACP autopistol the Model 1907 in reference to the patent date of the gun’s design: April 25, 1907.

Savage Beginnings

The Savage 1907 was an interesting pistol, and the owner of the company, Arthur W. Savage, was also quite interesting. A Briton born in Jamaica in 1857, he had a religious upbringing, but longing for adventure, he moved to Australia in the mid-1870s, where he lived with the natives for about two years, became a sheep-shearer and even worked as a hotel bouncer in Brisbane. In 1879, as a cattle station manager, Savage married and, with one child in tow, moved to England for a year in 1884 before returning to Jamaica, where he managed a banana plantation. In 1886, he and his family moved to New York City, where he worked for a publisher of scientific materials, a position that seemed to stimulate his inventiveness.

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With countries such as Great Britain and the United States moving away from single-shot military rifles, Savage labored on a design for a repeating rifle. By the early 1890s, the Savage family had relocated to Utica, New York, where Arthur became manager of the Belt Line Railroad. In his free time, he continued working on his rifle and came up with a lever-action concept that included a rotary magazine that allowed the safe use of pointed spitzer-type cartridges. The design evolved into the well-known Savage Model 99, an earlier version of which had competed against (and lost to) the Krag-Jørgensen in an attempt to become the U.S. service rifle in 1892.

Savage End

Pocket pistols were becoming more popular in the early 20th century, so in 1906, Savage obtained the rights to a design patented in 1905 that led to military (and later commercial) versions of the Model 1907. About that time, Savage sold some of his Savage Arms shares, resigned as general manager and moved to California to pursue an orange-growing venture. The next year, he started a tire company. His first wife died in 1919. He remarried, but his second wife died in 1922.

Meanwhile, Savage continued to dabble in firearms. He had a short-lived .22 rifle and also took a contract during World War I to produce slides for Colt 1911 pistols. Savage and his four sons tried their hands at various other enterprises, such as oil wells, gold mines and brick, pipe and tile manufacturing. The family also ran a municipal water company for a time.

Finally, after developing a painful, incurable cancer, Arthur W. Savage, the adventurer, entrepreneur, inventor and arms-maker—a man who had always controlled his own destiny—took his own life in September of 1938.

Gun Details

Arthur Savage likely had little to do with the Model 1907 pistol. The plan for the handgun was based on E.H. Searle’s November 1905 patent (and a later April 1907 patent) that covered the pistol’s design, operation and staggered magazine.

Although production was slow at first, the Model 1907 pocket pistol looked to have the qualities of a successful product. Like the larger military version, the smaller pistol had only 34 parts and no screws to hold it together, and it was easy to disassemble without tools. It used the same twisting-barrel/delayed-blowback mechanism as the .45 pistol. It was chambered for the .32 ACP cartridge, which was popular at the time and considered a fairly potent round. With its 71-grain FMJ bullet moving at about 900 fps, it would penetrate 5 inches when fired into stacked 0.875-inch soft-pine boards from 15 feet, a standard test at the time.

That was good performance compared to the .32 S&W and .38 S&W cartridges, which were also used in small-framed pocket revolvers of the period. The .32 S&W launched an 85-grain lead bullet at about 705 fps to penetrate 3 inches of pine boards. The .38 S&W propelled a 146-grain lead bullet at 685 fps and would penetrate 4 inches of pine boards. Further, the Savage Model 1907 allowed 11 shots compared to the typical five offered by many revolvers of the time.

More Features

The Savage 1907 also had something that the mostly square-sided autoloaders like the Colt didn’t have: an Art Deco look. The front portion of the slide was round, encircling the barrel and recoil spring, which were fluted back to the rear portion of the ejection port, where the widely spaced and well-defined slide serrations began. The rear end—the breech plug—was pinched and enclosed the lower part of the cocking lever (the part that looks like a hammer). The grip frame flowed gracefully down through the well-rounded front- and backstraps, which held checkered, hard-rubber grips in dovetailed slots. The unique magazine catch was on a lower, rounded part of the frontstrap, where it could be activated by the little finger or ring finger. It had the only exposed pin on the pistol.

The sights were low in profile but not too bad for a gun from that time. The only other control was the small combination safety/slide stop on the left side of the frame, below the rear sight. The fit and finish were first rate, and overall, the Savage Model 1907 had an unusual yet pleasing appearance.

Personal Model

My Savage Model 1907 was made in 1914. It’s in very good condition, with 95 percent of its polished blued finish and the mottled colors on the casehardened trigger readily visible. The gun has experienced little wear and tear. The grips are in great shape, with the Savage emblem at the center. A legend has arisen regarding the Native American profile in full headdress used as the company logo. It’s said to be that of an Indian chief who obtained several Savage rifles for his tribe and was so impressed that he offered his likeness to be used as an endorsement. One of the grip panels on my gun is slightly brown, which is common on these pistols because of oxidation or ultraviolet exposure.

The variation tables in Bailey Browner’s book Savage Pistols identify my pistol as a Model 1907 Modification No. 2. One of the features on that variation is the large, stylized Savage logo on the frame above the left grip panel. “SAFE” is stamped on the upper frame, above a half-moon slot, and “FIRE” appears lower on the grip frame. The ejection port was also cut to allow a view of the barrel breech, letting the shooter verify if there was a round in the chamber. The extractor, which runs along the barrel from the front to the rear of the port, also protrudes slightly when a cartridge is chambered, providing a visual and tactile indicator.

This particular variation is also marked on the top of the slide with “Cal. 32” and “7.65 .M-M.” The 10-round box magazine has four rounded, rectangular witness holes and two magazine catch slots in the front.

Savage Ads

At first, the Savage ads for the new pistol stressed the “10 shots quick!” and “Aims as easy as pointing your finger” slogans. However, accolades soon flowed into the company from notable users such as William F. Cody, firearms expert E.C. Crossman, former outlaw Al Jennings, William Pinkerton of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, W.J. Burns of the Burns International Detective Agency, lawman-turned-sportswriter W.B. “Bat” Masterson, and Major Richard Sylvester, president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

In one of the Savage ads, Masterson said, “A tenderfoot with a Savage Automatic and the nerve to stand his ground could have run the worst six-shooter man the West ever knew right off the range.” By writing to Savage, you could obtain for free a short booklet authored by Masterson, The Tenderfoot’s Turn, a tome about Old West gunslingers. Also available for the asking was another booklet titled It Banishes Fear, which was a combination promotional brochure, catalog, technical manual and user’s guide written in the vernacular of the period. It’s worth reading. Savage ads appeared in such popular periodicals as Life, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Weekly, Field & Stream and The Saturday Evening Post, among others. The times certainly have changed, haven’t they?

Breaking It Down

As mentioned, taking the Savage Model 1907 down for cleaning is uncomplicated. Unload the gun and double-check it for safety. Then, retract the slide fully and put the safety lever on “safe” to lock the slide in position. Turn the breechblock containing the cocking lever (hammer) clockwise about 45 degrees, and then, squeezing backward on the cocking lever, fully rotate the breechblock 90 degrees, which lets you pull it straight back and remove it from the slide. With a firm grip on the slide, move the safety to “fire” and pull the trigger. The slide can be moved forward off the frame. The barrel can then be removed. Reassembly is in the reverse order, but you must squeeze the cocking lever hard as you reinsert the breechblock, and make sure you put it in the same way it came out. Reversing the direction will get it stuck.

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Here’s another situation to be aware of. Because the gun lacks pins and screws, most internal parts in the frame are held in place by gravity and fiction. A tip I saw was to use a wooden clothespin to hold the parts in place while you clean the pistol, clamping the pin over the dust cover of the frame through the triggerguard. I found this out the hard way when I first took the gun apart.

Rediscovered Treasure

Another item of interest is the website rediscovered-shooting-treasures.com, where you can obtain replicas of the Model 1907’s factory box, owner’s manual and other items. I ordered a cardboard box that came with a textured black exterior and a plain white interior. There’s an orange label on the right end of the box top and a caution label on the lid. Inside the lid is another period label, and you get a gummed label you can apply inside the box with information on your pistol. I also got the Savage owner’s manual. It’s made to look aged, and it even helped me with reassembling the pistol. You can also get a reprint of Masterson’s The Tenderfoot’s Turn, and of course, I had to have that.

Range Testing

A while ago, I won a box of Remington .32 ACP 71-grain FMJ cartridges in a raffle. But having nothing to shoot them in, I kept them in my ammo locker just in case. But I finally got the chance. I took the Model 1907 to my favorite outdoor range and, loading the magazine to capacity, set up some bullseye targets at the 10-yardline.

Shooting with a sandbag rest from the bench, even with the miniscule sights and my 59-year-old eyes, I shot a few decent five-shot groups with the Remington ammo. The best measured 1.64 inches, and the average was 1.98 inches—not too bad for a gun over 100 years old.

I also did some plinking at a couple of hanging bowling pins. The impacts of the little .32 ACP slugs made them twitch and turn. I used all but 11 rounds from the box of Remington ammunition and did not have any malfunctions. The recoil was negligible and rapid firing was easy.

The old pistol was a pleasure to shoot, and I’m now among folks such as Buffalo Bill and Bat Masterson who were ardent admirers. The old Savage ads—“10 shots quick! As easy as pointing your finger!”—weren’t that far off!

Savage 1907 Specs

This article was originally published in “Military Surplus” 2018. To order a copy and subscribe, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post 10 Shots Quick! Looking Back at the Savage 1907 Pocket Pistol appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Often the hardest part of keeping a pistol concealed is keeping the butt from printing or becoming exposed as the wearer moves. While one solution is to carry a compact pistol, this gives up the advantages inherent with having a longer barrel and slide.

For that reason, many experienced shooters prefer a gun with a compact frame and a full-sized slide. The traditional example is the Colt Concealed Carry Officer, which uses a 4.25-inch Commander-style barrel and slide mated with the shorter six-round Officer’s Model frame. The shorter butt makes the gun easier to conceal while retaining the accuracy potential of the Commander-length slide.

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For polymer pistols, the same effect is achieved by removing material from the grip frame. This grip reduction has become an especially popular modification for the Smith & Wesson M&P line due to the lack of an “intermediate” size option between the full-sized, 17-round M&P9 and the 12-round M&P9c.

While this creates a more concealable handgun that retains the advantages of a longer barrel and slide, there are some drawbacks. The biggest is that it is a one-way trip. Once material is removed from the grip, it cannot be replaced. This process also requires one of the interchangeable palm swells to be permanently affixed, so the ability to change the grip size is also lost. This affects the pistol’s versatility and resale value.

This is where the new Hybrid kit from Cole Partnership & Training and ATEi comes in. The Hybrid kit allows the user to mount the M&P9’s 4.25-inch 9mm barrel and full-sized slide on a M&P9c frame (in place of the compact pistol’s 3.5-inch barrel and smaller slide) without permanently modifying the gun. As of now, the kit is only available for the 9mm versions of the pistol.

Behind The Kit

The Hybrid kit is the brainchild of Matthew Cole of Cole Partnership & Training in Las Vegas. “I wanted to bring a Glock-19-sized pistol to the M&P,” he said. “My goal was for something that did not require any permanent modifications to the firearm, was completely reversible and allowed the use of existing holsters.”

Cole partnered with Douglas Holloway of ATEi to bring the idea to fruition. The result is a three-piece kit covered by two U.S. patents. The kit includes a new non-captive, flat-coil recoil spring, a full-length steel guide rod and a horseshoe-shaped spacer block that fills the gap between the M&P9c frame and the full-sized slide. The kit is available in either black nitride or nickel-boron finishes. I received both versions for testing. The Hybrid kit requires an M&P9c for the host frame and a full-sized M&P9 for the donor slide and barrel.

First Steps

To install the unit, remove the barrel and captive recoil spring assembly from the full-sized slide. Slide the horseshoe-shaped spacer block onto the frame rails from the rear with the flat side facing forward (toward the muzzle) until it is fully flush against the underlug. Then reinstall the barrel, install the new non-captive recoil spring and the full-length guide rod. Now you can install the unit on the compact frame as normal. The original full-sized captive recoil spring cannot be used. It will not function properly with the spacer block installed.

I originally installed the kit with the black nitride spacer block for photos. This piece slid onto the slide and back off again easily. When I switched to the nickel-boron spacer, the extra thickness of the coating caused it to drag until it got stuck about three quarters of the way down the slide. I thought I might need a brass hammer to tap it into place but finally was able to free it enough to move it into position. A later inspection showed that some of the finish had worn off in the process.

Finishing Installation

The non-captive recoil spring was also a little tricky to install. The force required to compress the spring made it difficult to hold it in place without it kinking, binding or flying loose. Since I had to install and remove the kit several times, I got better at it, but this part of the procedure did take some time to complete. Eye protection is recommended at this point.

The field-stripping process as is normal, except on some pistols you may need to pull the slide slightly past the point where the slide stop engages before moving the takedown lever. This is due to tolerance stacking of the various parts. This wasn’t an issue on my pistol.

Once assembled, the resulting S&W can use either compact or full-sized magazines. The nose profile of the slide is close enough to stock to allow the use of holsters made for the standard full-sized M&P9. Since the compact model is used for the donor frame and no rail extensions are added, only rail accessories designed for the compact model will fit on the rail.

Hybrid Testing

I tested the nickel-boron kit at the range with a variety of target and self-defense ammunition. I carried the Hybrid with my Comp-Tac QB-1 multi-fit holster.

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The Hybrid lived up to its name on the range. I first fired both my full-sized and compact M&P pistols before field-stripping
them to install the Hybrid kit. The first thing I noticed was the muzzle-heavy feel when compared to the compact gun. The extra weight up front improved my recoil management and aided in shot-to-shot recovery. Of course, the tradeoff was that the smaller frame held fewer rounds than the full-sized pistol. The longer sight radius and slightly increased velocity due to the longer barrel may also have been beneficial, but the improved recoil control was the most obvious improvement over the stock Smith & Wesson M&P9c.

For function testing, I fired about 300 rounds of mixed FMJ target ammo, including Federal’s 115-grain Hi-Shok JHPs and Speer’s 124-grain Gold Dot and 147-grain JHPs. I fired with a two-handed grip, dominant hand only and support hand only. During testing, I experienced two failures to eject, both with Winchester 115-grain FMJ ammo.

Final Thoughts

I believe the Hybrid kit for Smith & Wesson’s semi-auto M&P pistols is a high-performance part for dedicated shooters. The combo of a compact frame and a full-length slide is the best of both worlds in terms of concealability and effectiveness. The ability to switch back to the standard configuration at will makes this a no-brainer over a costly and permanent grip reduction. The ability to use any standard holsters for the full-sized M&P is a bonus.

As with any defensive pistol, the owner will have to test it to confirm functioning with their preferred self-defense ammunition. The Hybrid kit retails for $136 and is currently only available from ATEi.

For more information, visit ateiguns.com.

This article is from the January/February 2018 issue of  “Combat Handguns” magazine. To order a copy and subscribe, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post How to Add a Full-Sized Barrel & Slide to the S&W M&P9c appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Two months ago, Smith & Wesson released its M&P380 Shield EZ pistol, which boasts an easy-to-rack slide; magazine with a load assist button for easy reloading; and an easy-to-clean design.

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New From Smith & Wesson: The M&P380 Shield EZ Pistol

The .380 ACP gun, built for personal defense and EDC, is available with or without an ambidextrous, manual thumb safety.

Smith & Wesson has now issued an advisory warning consumers that the safety could move from the fire to the “On” position when firing. The cause of this is “a high level of felt recoil” caused by certain ammunition. Read the advisory in full below:

Like any firearm, the function of the M&P 380 Shield EZ Manual Thumb Safety pistol can be influenced by the type and quality of ammunition used with the pistol.  In the case of the M&P 380 Shield EZ Manual Thumb Safety, we have found that in very rare circumstances, ammunition that produces a high level of felt recoil can cause the manual safety to move from the fire to the “safety on” position during firing.  Should this occur, you will not be able to fire the next round unless and until the manual safety is reset to the fire position.

At Smith & Wesson, we are committed to designing and producing firearms that meet the highest quality and performance standards.  To ensure that every Smith & Wesson handgun meets our standards for reliability and performance, as of April 4, 2018, we have engineered the manual safety so that it will be less susceptible to the influence of ammunition weight, velocity and loads. Any M&P 380 Shield EZ Manual Thumb Safetypistol produced before April 4, is eligible for a no-cost upgrade.  To determine if this consumer advisory applies to your pistol, please utilize our serial number verification tool on our consumer advisory page. Click here to navigate to that page.

If your pistol is subject to this advisory, please call Smith & Wesson at 1-800-331-0852 or email us at MP380EZAdvisory@Smith-Wesson.com. A FedEx return label and shipping instructions to facilitate the return of your M&P 380 Shield EZ pistol will be mailed to you promptly. If you have any questions, you may call 1-800-331-0852 for more information.

WARNING: READ AND FOLLOW THE WARNINGS IN YOUR OWNER’S MANUAL.  NEVER USE “PLUS-P” (+P), “PLUS-P-PLUS” (+P+); OR RELOADED AMMUNITION WITH THE M&P 380 EZ.  ALWAYS USE FACTORY MANUFACTURED AMMUNITION PRODUCED TO SAAMI SPECIFICATIONS.

Smith & Wesson M&P Shield EZ Specs

• SKU: 180023
• Model: M&P 380 SHIELD EZ
• Caliber: 380 Auto
• Capacity: 8+1
• Barrel Length: 3.675″ / 9.3 cm
• Overall Length: 6.7″
• Front Sight: White Dot
• Rear Sight: Adjustable White Dot
• Action: Internal Hammer Fired
• Grip: Polymer
• Weight: 18.5 oz / 524.5g
• Barrel Material: Stainless Steel – Armornite Finish
• Slide Material: Stainless Steel – Armornite Finish
• Frame Material: Polymer
• Purpose: Concealed Carry, Home Protection, Personal Protection

The post S&W Issues Consumer Advisory for M&P380 Shield EZ Pistol appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Some people want to have lots of guns, because collections are awesome. And some people want to have just enough to do most of what you’ll ever need to do with one. Guns, after all, are tools, and the right tools can do a whole lot. But what are the “must-have guns”?

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In truth, just about everything you’ll never need from a gun can be done with just five. This includes everything from range work to personal protection to hunting.

Granted, there are some notable omissions, which we’ll go over as well.

Without further ado, here are the five “must-have guns” you should consider.

Remington 870 (12-Gauge Pump Action Shotgun)

Unless you compete in certain specific shooting events, all the shotgun you’ll ever need is a 12-gauge pump action shotgun. This is perhaps the most useful of all of firearms. The Remington 870 is the most popular example, though the Mossberg 500 is right behind it. Plenty of other brands also make respectable examples too.

Despite what some people say, the fact is you don’t need a 3-½” magnum for waterfowl. Ballistic testing has shown the larger shell doesn’t pay enough dividends to make the shoulder-dislocating recoil worth it.

Good ammunition, a good choke, and good placement with a 3-inch shell are more than adequate to put down geese, ducks, sandhill crane and so on.

You can also get after turkeys, upland birds and small game while you’re at it.

Get a model with a swappable rifled barrel and you can load slug or sabot for big game. Those boys in the Midwest seem to do just fine with them, and they’re also great for hogs.

Among long guns, the shotgun is the preferred home protection system among long guns. Plenty of people take out the plug and load five for guarding the home and replace it when they hit the goose field, turkey woods or duck blind. Loaded with 00 or 000 buckshot, it will make mincemeat of the most savage intruder.

Sure, you could sub the pump for a decent semi-auto and everything previously mentioned applies. Unless you shoot skeet or trap competitively and are mandated to have a over-under or side-by-side, a 12-gauge pump is all you need.

S&W M&P Shield 9mm (Compact Concealed Carry Pistol)

The civilian carrier arguably doesn’t need the kind of carrying capacity law enforcement officers and military personnel do, because civilians don’t generally get into extended shootouts. For concealed carry, a compact or subcompact pistol like the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm is all the handgun you’ll need.

There are plenty of other great choices. Glock 19 or Glock 26, the M&P Compact, CZ 75 Compact, Sig P320 Compact, Sig P225 or P229, Springfield XD-S or XD Mod2 Subcompact, a decent Commander or Officer frame 1911 — so, so many great guns to mention.

A pistol that can be fired accurately and safely when operated by the user — and also that can be easily packed in a concealed carry holster and carried discreetly — is not hard to find and not expensive to obtain.

You can do all the target shooting you want with hardball, then load it up with JHP for CCW use.

Sure, having a bigger handgun for home defense is desirable — and are even more fun to shoot — but a decent compact is all the handgun you’ll likely ever need.

Ruger 10/22 (.22 LR Rifle)

There are two uses for a .22 LR rifle: Plinking and small game. You can do a lot of both for not much money.

The Ruger 10/22 is the most popular model; it’s in every gun store, it’s been in production since the 1960s and there are all sorts of accessories for it.

However, plenty of other examples exist, such as competing guns by Mossberg, Marlin, Remington, Savage and plenty others besides. You can choose semi-auto, bolt-action, even lever action rimfires by Henry, which are a joy to shoot.

When it comes to hunting, small game is the most bang for the buck in terms of what you have to spend to get after them. It’s also the most neglected category of game.

Start reading the hunting literature and it’s almost all about big game; deer, elk, moose, bear, sheep, African game and so on. But the truth is that far more meals have been made of squirrel, grouse, rabbits, possum and so on than bighorn sheep.

As to recreational shooting, well, what else needs to be said? You can do more shooting with .22 LR than anything else, and for dirt cheap.

Ruger GP100 (Magnum Revolver for Woods Carry)

If you have to carry a big gun in the woods, one of the best choices is a Ruger GP100 or other service-size magnum revolver. A 10mm semi-auto also works very well.

For most of the Lower 48, the most you’d have to worry about is black bear, and maybe a wolf or a coyote or a snake. Elk and moose can certainly be a threat, but they are naturally skittish for the most part; attacks are very rare.

If you do a lot of backcountry travel in grizzly country, size up to a .41 Magnum or larger. For most people, a .357 Magnum or 10mm is all the packing gun you’ll need. If you want a full-size gun for home protection, that gives it dual roles.

Winchester Model 70 (Bolt-Action Rifle)

Bolt-action rifles like the Winchester Model 70 — or Savage 110 and Remington 700 — may have given way to the AR platform in terms of sales. However, in terms of efficacy and usefulness they still have the edge (given an appropriate selection of caliber).

Chassis-based rifle systems are more popular for long-range target shooting, but a quality stocked rifle is just as capable given appropriate selection. And oh yes, you can reach out and touch that target at 1,000 yards if you have a good rifle, a good scope and a proper cartridge.

You can also put a lot of meat in the freezer.

Much has been written about hunting calibers. Suffice it to say, some work best on medium game, some are best for big and/or dangerous game, and some will do everything up to the great bears.

The latter are among the most popular chamberings — .270 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, .308, .30-06 and .300 Winchester Magnum are do-it-all calibers. You can even find light loadings for varminting in the latter three (though your shoulder won’t like it).

Every one of these loadings — and there are plenty more for which this can be said — will down every game species in North America short of grizzly bear, though certain loadings of .30-06 and .300 Win Mag are capable of the feat. They will also do for many game species in Africa short of dangerous game.

For the typical person, a rifle is not the best choice of personal defense weapon, as the effective range is upward of 1,000 yards. Sniper shots have been recorded with .308, .06 and .300 Win Mag up to one mile. The typical person lives in a residential area, so this really isn’t an appropriate choice of firearm for that purpose.

However, you can do all the long range target shooting you want. With care, you can get a lifetime of hunting and adventures in as well.

Notable ‘Must-Have Guns’ Omissions: AR-15

Some will notice the AR-15 isn’t listed here. It’s a fantastic platform, but it’s practical uses are limited in the base platform.

The AR-15 is capable as a home defense weapon, though intermediate rifle cartridges are a lot for the urban environment.

As a hunting rifle, an AR-15 in 5.56mm NATO/.223 Remington is so lacking compared to even a .243 that it’s not even paltry. It’s good for varminting and coyotes, but is terrible for small game. It should only be used for medium game in expert hands or as a last resort.

Granted, uppers chambered for different rounds that are capable hunting rounds can be installed; the AR-10 is the same operating system with a lower sized for .308, which is a very capable long range target round and hunting round. The base AR, however, is much more common and has these deficiencies.

The AR-15 in military guise as the M4, M16 and so on have served our armed forces and law enforcement personnel very well. They are a whole boatload of fun at the range, be in no doubt. But it is not good for much beyond that, at least in the base chambering.

Notable ‘Must-Have Guns’ Omissions: Magnum Rifles

When it comes to the largest and most dangerous of game, magnum rifles are needed.

For Africa, the .375 H&H Magnum is considered the bare minimum. Some consider the .338 Winchester Magnum the minimum for the great bears of North America. However, the typical hunter doesn’t spend much time pursuing these animals.

A rifle in these chamberings, for the typical person, is going to sit there collecting dust. If you’re going to hunt in Alaska, or anywhere for grizzly, or in Africa, then you will need it. If not, then you won’t.

Notable ‘Must-Have Guns’ Omissions: Service Pistol

Most people don’t need a service pistol, either. They are more fun to shoot and more accurate, for the most part, than subcompact and compact pistols. They are also good for home defense. But the reason why subcompact pistols like the S&W M&P Shield, Glock 26 and so on are so popular is they are easy to conceal and carry.

That Government 1911, Glock 17, Sig P226 and so on? Not so much. You’ll get less out of it than a compact. Granted, some people size up in winter, but again, you get more bang for the buck, so to speak, with a handgun that’s more packable.

What do you think, though? Is there a type of gun you think everyone should have?

About the author: Sam Hoober is a contributing editor for Alien Gear Holsters, a subsidiary of Tedder Industries.

The post The 5 Must-Have Guns for Every Purpose Imaginable appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

When any major new gun gets introduced into the marketplace, holster companies usually announce fits for it shortly thereafter. That’s exactly the case with Galco, which is now offering a slate of holsters designed to accommodate the newly-released Ruger Security-9 pistol.

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Security-9 Holsters

In a press release, Galco confirmed that no less than 10 of its inside-the-waistband holsters will now fit the Security-9. These holsters include the Corvus, KingTuk, KingTuk Air, N3, Scout, SkyOps, Stow-N-Go, Summer Comfort, V-Hawk and WalkAbout designs. The company also said in a separate presser its Miami Classic and Miami Classic II shoulder holsters would work with the gun.

In addition to those offerings, multiple belt holsters, magazine carriers, holster handbags and day planner holsters are available for the Security-9.

Security-9 Basics

First announced back in December, the Ruger Security-9 is a mid-sized pistol built for everyday carry and self defense. The gun is chambered in 9mm and uses a 15-round, double-stack magazine. It sports an easy-to-rack blued, through-hardened alloy steel slide; short, crisp trigger pull; drift adjustable 3-dot sights; and an ergonomic glass-filled nylon grip frame with an integral accessory rail;

The Security-9 also features a four-inch barrel; tips the scales at 23.7 ounces with an empty magazine; measures 7.24 inches in overall length and five inches in height. The pistol uses the same Secure Action as the LCP II, which is derived from a hammer-fired LCP fire control system.

To learn about all the holsters available for the Ruger Security-9, visit GalcoGunleather.com.

The post Galco Confirms 10 IWB, 2 Shoulder Holsters for Ruger Security-9 appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Last year at SHOT Show, Remington unveiled its first-ever polymer-framed striker-fired pistol, the RP9. Now Big Green has confirmed that another pistol in that lineup, the RP45, is now shipping.

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Chambered in .45 ACP as opposed to the RP9’s 9mm, the full-size Remington RP45 features a 4.5-inch, PVD coated stainless steel barrel and a 15+1 magazine capacity. It also includes a single action trigger; drift adjustable sights; Picatinny rail; interchangeable small, medium and large back straps; ambidextrous slide release; loaded chamber indicator; and a grip circumference that fits a majority of shooters.

In addition, the RP45 measures 7.91 inches in overall length and tips the scales at 26.4 ounces empty. Meanwhile, the height is 5.56 inches and width is 1.27 inches.

Shipping out with two magazines, the RP45 is available at a MSRP of $418.09 for the standard version. A model that includes 3-dot tritium night sights for enhanced low light visibility is priced at $504.

See the Remington RP45 features and specs below. For more from Remington, go to Remington.com.

Remington RP45 Features and Benefits

• Two double stack magazines, one of the highest standard 45 Auto mag capacities
• Smallest full-size grip circumference, fits 95% of all shooters
• Ambidextrous Slide Release for improved control for left and right-handed shooters
• Smooth single action trigger with a crisp tactile reset
• 3 Dot tritium night sight (night sight model only)
• PVD coated stainless steel barrel for greater accuracy and durability
• Standard picatinny rail
• Interchangeable back straps (Small, medium, and large)
• Optimized grip angle for reduced felt recoil and points instinctively
• Rear sight fighting surface
• Tactile loaded chamber indicator

Specs

• Caliber: 45 Auto
• Mag Capacity: 15+1
• Barrel Length: 4.5″
• Overall Width: 1.27″
• OAL Length: 7.91″
• Overall Height: 5.56″
• Trigger Pull (lb.): 5.5 – 8
• Finish: PVD
• Grips: Polymer
• Avg. Wt. Empty (oz.): 26.4
• MSRP: $418.09 (standard), $504 (night sight)

The post The Remington RP45 Handgun Is Now Shipping to Dealers appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

A rapper who goes by the name “Lizk” (pronounced “licks”) has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for a third strike felony after he brandished a gun in a music video.

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Lizk’s Arrest

It all started on Dec. 14, 2016, when the video for the song “No Air” was uploaded to YouTube. According to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, it showed Lizk, whose real name is Deandre Rogers, rapping, “dissing” rival gang members, talking up his own gang—Lizk is a known affiliate of the G-Mobb and Starz gang—and carrying a gun.

The very next day, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department started surveilling Lizk. They followed him to a restaurant and then observed him getting into the back of a Mercedes. Deputies pulled the vehicle over and found a Glock 21 with 17 rounds. Another car Lizk had used earlier in the day was found to have a Glock 27 with 12 rounds.

Consequently, Lizk was arrested and charged with felony firearm possession. He was convicted on March 2, 2018, and sentenced last Friday. Under California’s “Three Strikes” law, he was given 30 years to life in prison. Lizk’s first prior strike was for assault with a firearm. In that case, he and an associate shot two rival gang members multiple times. The second strike was for carrying an unregistered concealed handgun in a vehicle. He also has two misdemeanor convictions for resisting arrest.

Detective Kenny Shelton of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department’s Gang Suppression Unit told the Sacramento Bee that plans were already in motion to contact Lizk after the video was released, but those plans were expedited when they actually watched the video.

The post Lizk: Rapper Gets 30 Years to Life After Carrying Gun in Music Video appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Smith & Wesson’s SW22 Victory pistol lineup now includes the SW22 Victory Target Model, a gun designed for competitive shooting.

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Chambered in .22 LR, the SW22 Victory Target Model sports target sights, a custom target thumb rest grip and a polished feed ramp. It also includes a 5.5-inch bull barrel; target trigger with an adjustable trigger stop; black blade front sight and adjustable rear; polymer target thumb test grip panels for left and right-handed shooters; beveled mag well; and a Picatinny style rail.

“Since the launch of the SW22 Victory pistol in 2015, our customers have asked for a model specifically built for target shooting competitions.  With that in mind, we designed the new SW22 Victory Target Model with target grips and sights to provide our customers with an ideal target shooting pistol,” Jan Mladek, GM of the Smith & Wesson and M&P brands, said in a press release.

Boasting a 10+1 round capacity, the SW22 Victory Target Model pistol ships out with two magazines and is available at a MSRP of $429.

For more, visit smith-wesson.com.

S&W SW22 Victory Target Model

• Caliber: 22 LR
• Capacity: 10+1
• Safety: Thumb Safety
• Barrel Length: 5.5″ / 14 cm
• Overall Length: 9.2″
• Front Sight: Black Blade
• Rear Sight: Square Notch Black Blade
• Action: Single Action
• Grip: Polymer with target thumb rest
• Weight: 36.0 oz / 1,020.6g
• Barrel Material: Stainless Steel
• Slide Material: Stainless Steel
• Frame Material: Stainless Steel
• Slide Finish: Stainless Steel
• Purpose: Competition Shooting, Hunting, Recreational Shooting, State Compliance

The post Smith & Wesson Unveils the SW22 Victory Target Model Pistol appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

International Firearm Corporation (IFC) is an Oklahoma-based outfit that imports firearms from overseas. One of the companies it works with is BUL Ltd. out of Israel. IFC just announced it is bringing the BUL 1911 Classic Series pistol lineup to American shores.

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The BUL 1911 Classic Series consists of three different models: the Government, Commander and Ultra. The Government has a five-inch barrel; front and rear slide serrations; enlarged safety lever; and a mag well with full-length G10 grips.

Next up is the BUL Commander 1911. It features a 4.25-inch barrel, as well as a a black oxide on the frame and a stainless steel slide. It has the same G10 grips and front and rear slide serrations as the Government model.

Lastly, the Ultra 1911 is touted as the lights and most compact option. It weighs in at just 1.51 pounds and comes with a 3.25-inch barrel built on an officer size aluminum frame. It also features G10 grips.

In a press release, IFC says the “BUL 1911 Classic Series was created because the 1911 design has served in conflicts around the world, trusted by law enforcement as well as civilians for personal defense. As most 1911 enthusiasts know, the options on this platform are almost endless, so BUL took the enhancements they believed to be the most important and combined them into our 1911 line in an attempt to cater for every need.”

All three BUL 1911 Classic Series guns are priced at $649. Specs for each are below. For more, go to internationalfirearmcorporation.com.

BUL 1911 – Government

• Caliber: 9mm/.45 ACP/9×21
• Barrel: 5-inch bushing barrel/bull barrel
• Slide: Front and rear serrations
• Finish: Black oxide/stainless steel
• Trigger: 3.5-4 lbs w
• Safety: Enlarged safety lever
• Sights: 3 dot system, fixed rear, drift adjustable front
• Weight: 1134 g/2.5 lbs approx. (9mm bull barrel unloaded)

BUL 1911 – Commander

• Caliber: 9mm/.45 ACP/9×21
• Barrel: 4.25-inch bull barrel
• Slide: Front and rear serrations
• Finish: Black oxide/stainless steel
• Trigger: 3.5-4 lbs w
• Safety: Enlarged safety lever
• Sights: 3 dot system, fixed rear, drift adjustable front
• Weight: 1044 g/2.3 lbs approx. (9mm bull barrel unloaded)

BUL 1911 – Ultra

• Caliber: 9mm/.45 ACP/9×21
• Barrel: 3.25-inch bull barrel
• Frame: Officer size aluminum
• Frame Finish: Black hard anodized/electroless plating
• Trigger: 3.5-4 lbs w
• Safety: Enlarged safety lever
• Sights: Fixed front and adjustable rear
• Weight: 688 g/1.516 lbs approx. (.45 ACP unloaded)

The post New From IFC: BUL 1911 Classic Series Pistols appeared first on Personal Defense World.

With a box of parts from Wilson Combat and a frame and slide from Caspian Arms, I was about to begin building my own custom 1911 by hand. Thankfully, I was at the Brownells 1911 Builders Course, which is part of the NRA Summer Program held at America’s oldest gunsmithing college, Trinidad State Junior College (TSJC) in Colorado. This is an intense one-week course in the art of building a rock-solid 1911.

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To instruct this course, Brownells sent its best: Mike Watkins. Mike is a senior gun technician at Brownells, and his accolades include membership in the elite American Pistolsmith Guild. He has been the guild’s president and Pistolsmith of the Year, and he’s currently chairman of the scholarship committee. Mike also teaches and builds the 1911 the old-fashioned way—with files.

In fact, filing was Mike’s highest recommendation for learning how to successfully build a 1911. To him, filing makes or breaks a custom 1911. And you can build any style of 1911 in the course, but it is set up to take a gun all the way to a base model IPSC pistol with a compensator. I chose to build a simple carry gun instead, so I ordered a frame and slide from Caspian Arms. The frame sported a rail for accessories. Wilson Combat was an easy choice for parts, and when it came to putting the gun together, I was almost disappointed—the parts were too good. Several didn’t need any fitting right out of the box.

Course Rundown

Mike identified a few points that are critical to creating an accurate 1911, including how the barrel interfaces with the slide and how the slide and frame fit together. He also insisted that the barrel bushing should require a tool to be removed. And just as filing was a good recommendation for preparing the parts, deburring was a close second. Burrs created from the machining process can create havoc when it comes time to hand-fit each part. Mike repeatedly encouraged students to ensure that machining burrs were knocked off all of the edges and that all holes were cleaned, countersunk and, if necessary, reamed before starting on the build.

The frame rails were trued with a smooth file until the rear of the slide would just start on the front of the rails. Now for some advice: Make sure you invest in permanent markers. You should use a marker to black the frame rails, and then, when you try to install the slide, if any black is scraped off, that’s where you need to file.

When I had the slide completely on the frame, lapping compound was applied. The Slide Lapping Tool from Brownells helped to gently move the slide back and forth until it ran smoothly. With the lapping compound removed, the slide fit just right. Next up was fitting the barrel.

Initial Barrel Prep

Match barrels have oversized hoods. They are too long and too wide, so, once again, you must use a file. The sides of the hood are carefully filed to leave an ever-so-slight gap between the sides and the slide. The sides are touchy, but the length is critical. The goal is to have the back of the hood completely touch the breech face. Mike displayed some of his personal guns, which had shiny arcs at the top of their breeches. This was polishing from the tight fit he had accomplished.

Cutting the barrel feet to lock up on the slide stop pin instead of the link is accomplished with the Brownells 1911 Lug Cutter. This tool cuts a curve across the feet to match up with the slide stop pin. The slide is pressed against the turning cutter until the thumb safety can engage. But don’t let the tool throw you—hand filing is still required.

Mike explained how to select the proper barrel link. You start by measuring the barrel feet height. Then measure the web between the link holes and choose a link set one size larger than the barrel feet. There is still some fitting to go, but this will get you close with the least math and extra material to work with. The Wilson Barrel Link Kit contains links in five sizes. You can always measure and order the proper size, but that will add extra shipping costs and time while waiting on the part to arrive.

Next Steps

A note about a match barrel where “gunsmithing is required”: The chambers on these match barrels are cut short. You will have to ream the chamber to the correct depth after you have otherwise completed the fitting. This requires a reamer in the proper caliber. It is not a difficult process, but the reamer is a unique tool that you must have access to.

The last step here is fitting the barrel bushing. Match-grade bushings are oversized, and the class used a lathe. The outside diameter is turned just until the bushing barely fits inside the slide. Remember, your goal is to have the bushing so tight that you must use a bushing wrench to turn it. The inside diameter is turned for a 0.001-inch clearance. This is done using a boring bar in the lathe.

More Components

Fitting the fire control group and safeties came next, and the quality of the Wilson parts made this process a snap, as very little fitting was required. Fitting the sear, which should have been difficult, was very easy thanks to the Brownells Ed Brown 1911 Sear Jig. Installing the trigger and thumb safety was a matter of working a fine file on very fine surfaces. The grip safety highlighted my weakness with precise measurements. I could have taken off a big chuck of metal right off the bat, but I filed a little and fitted it repeatedly until I almost went crazy. I made a four-hour job out of a 30-minute one. Lesson learned. Blending the grip safety to the frame is a personal choice, and it takes a lot of elbow grease and patience.

I installed Novak sights on the slide. Caspian already cut the front and rear dovetails for these sights. After deburring the dovetail cuts, most of the fitting is done to the sights, not the slide. This makes it easier to adjust or replace the sights in the future. I used my thumb to press the sights halfway into their dovetails so that only a light tap with a hammer would drive them each fully into place.

Additional Assembly

Much of the remaining assembly process was simply deburring and fitting parts like the firing pin and stop plate. The extractor is nothing but a spring that must be adjusted to function in this environment. Wiegand makes an adjustment tool that assists in properly bending the extractor, and its tension gauge allows you to set the weight precisely. The ejector is easy to fit but difficult to retain. It’s held in place by a very small cross pin that requires a notch to be filed in the ejector leg. Mark it and file it. Don’t try to do this with a drill or even a mill, as you might walk off the hole and damager your beautiful frame.

Fit & Finish

Although my new 1911 could be finished in any number of styles, I decided to tip my hat to John Browning. The exterior finish is one of the only aspects not covered in the Brownells course, so I sent my gun to Cerakote, which has in-house trainers that teach and certify Cerakote appliers nationwide. I challenged them to apply an aged, vintage finish to my custom 1911, and they succeeded magnificently. Finally, I added a set of double-diamond-checkered rosewood grip panels from VZ Grips. At first glance, my 1911 could be a beautifully preserved 100-year-old piece.

I asked Mike about the common discussion regarding the differences between a competition 1911 and one carried for self-defense. Mike is an avid IPSC competitor and points out that a simple malfunction can use up enough time to put a shooter out of the running and that his competitive gun fires some 25,000 rounds a year without a failure. A 1911 built to this competitive standards should be reliable enough for a self-defense gun. Mike did add a caveat, however, that if you live in dusty West Texas as he did for 50 years, your pistol might need to have slightly looser slide tolerances.

So, what was this all about? Well, I wanted to know if I could actually build a 1911. Turns out I can. I wanted to do more than laying my money down and walking out the door with someone else’s idea. Undoubtedly, I got that in spades. I wanted more enjoyment out of life. I got it. This was quite an adventure. I highly recommend this course.

For More Information

Brownells
brownells.com

Wilson Combat
wilsoncombat.com

Caspian Arms
caspianarms.com

This article is from the November/December 2017 issue of  “Combat Handguns” magazine. To order a copy and subscribe, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post New ‘Old Slabslides’: How to Build a 1911 Handgun appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Ruger continues to tweak and its expand its various pistol and rifle lineups; the latest announcement is the availability of the SR1911 Officer-Style handgun. Read the official email blast below:

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The SR1911 Officer-Style pistol is compact for comfortable all day carry, featuring a 3.60″ barrel length. This new configuration also features genuine Novak sights; deluxe G-10 grip panels; an aluminum grip frame; a bushingless black nitride coated bull barrel and full-length steel guide rod.

In addition to those features, the SR1911 Officer-Style sports a checkered backstrap; lightweight, aluminum, skeletonized trigger with adjustable overtravel stop and a crisp, no creep, light trigger pull with a quick, positive reset; skeletonized hammer and titanium firing pin; oversized beavertail grip safety; extended thumb safety and slide stop lever; oversized ejection port; extended magazine release; visual inspection port; rounded mainspring housing and rear slide serrations.

Chambered in 9mm, the SR1911 Officer-Style sports an overall length of 7.25 inches. It also tips the scales at 27.2 ounces and is five inches in overall height. This gun has a 7+1 capacity and ships out with two stainless steel magazines.

MSRP on the SR1911 Officer-Style is $979.

For more, go to Ruger.com.

Ruger SR1911 Officer-Style

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 7+1
• Slide Material: Stainless Steel
• Barrel Length: 3.60″
• Grip Frame: Anodized Aluminum
• Grip Panels: Deluxe Checkered G-10
• Model Type: Lightweight Officer-Style
• Slide Finish: Low-Glare Stainless
• Width: 1.34″
• Sights: Drift Adjustable Novak 3-Dot
• Weight: 27.2 oz.
• Overall Length: 7.25″
• Height: 5″
• Grooves: 6
• Twist: 1:10″ RH
• CA Approved: No
• MA Approved & Certified: No
• Suggested Retail: $979

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