By its very nature, concealed carry demands compact pistols. Large and heavy handguns are hard to hide and carry for very long. The current concealed-carry trend is precisely why pocket pistols like Remington’s RM380 are so popular. The trick with these derringer-like handguns is shooting them accurately. Some believe they don’t provide the same precision as larger handguns. But the real problem is that these handguns are harder to shoot. This is partly due to their diminutive proportions and somewhat exaggerated recoil, but mostly because of their short sight radius.

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Sighting In

A full-sized handgun with a 5-inch barrel can have a 7-inch sight radius. If you’re sight alignment is off by 0.1 inches, at 10 yards your bullet will strike about 5 inches from your intended point of aim. By comparison, Remington’s RM380 has a sight radius of only 4 inches. In addition, a 0.1-inch error in sight alignment with the RM380 will cause the bullet to land about 9 inches off target.

The point here is that every error in sight alignment you make with a pocket pistol will induce an error in shot placement about twice as large as you would experience with a full- or duty-sized handgun. The little guns still have the precision—it’s just harder for humans to extract it.

Additionally, the sights on pocket pistols are notoriously small. This is not an indication of the quality, but a trait of a pistol intended to be carried in a pocket. Lasers can help, but interestingly, when laser sights were first offered, many shooters looked at them as a crutch or novelty. However, when Crimson Trace introduced its Lasergrips—replacement handgun grips with an integrated and instinctively activating laser—the opinions of open-minded shooters began to change. Now with the Laserguard, which mounts forward of the triggerguard, that same instinctive activation is offered without a grip modification.

About a year ago, I attended an event at Gunsite Academy where Remington introduced its RM380. Over two days, I fired about 1,000 rounds through the pocket pistol and was impressed—not just at how well it functioned, but at how comfortable it was to shoot. Based on that experience, I ordered an RM380 and have carried it off and on ever since.

Still, as with just about every other pocket pistol, I found the sights rudimentary. Fortunately, when Remington was developing the RM380, the company worked with Crimson Trace so a laser would be available when the gun was introduced. Crimson Trace engineered one of its Laserguard units to perfectly fit the RM380. In fact, you can buy a brand-new RM380 that comes with one.

I ordered a Laserguard for my little Remington and, after installation and zeroing, conducted some drills out of my book, “Handgun Training for Personal Protection.” I did this specifically to see exactly how much the laser would improve my accuracy and speed.

RM380 Drill Time

The Forty-Five Drill is a great representation of self-defense shooting skills because, to some extent, it replicates a real-world encounter. You consequently start standing 5 yards from a target with a 5-inch kill zone. The goal is to draw from concealment and get five hits inside the 5-inch kill zone in less than five seconds. Furthermore, the drill gets its name from its four elements of five. Without the laser, my average time was 4.75 seconds. Out of the 25 shots, I missed the kill zone three times. With the laser, my average was 3.46 seconds with two misses. That’s a speed increase of 27 percent. It exists because the laser is much easier to see and position on target than the minimalist sights.

The Failure Drill might be the most used and copied defensive handgun drill. Initially, it was developed for the shooter to learn to fire a shot to the head after realizing two torso shots did not stop the threat. The drill has morphed into many variations, and aside from any practical application, it’s a great test of skill. This is because the shooter runs hard to get the two torso hits but must slow down for the headshot. Using the RM380 without the laser, my average time for five runs was 3.67 seconds. Out of the 15 shots, I missed the head zone one time. With the laser, my average was 2.74 seconds with no misses—my shots were consequently more accurate and the average engagement time was 25-percent faster on average.

Crimson Advantage

Aside from the fact that a laser sight can make a pocket pistol easier to get hits with, there are numerous other advantages. Obviously, when it comes to shooting in low-light situations, lasers are a much better option than any fixed or even glow-in-the-dark sights. This is partly because the laser is so much easier to see, but also partly because you can maintain your focus on the threat with a laser sight.

Being able to focus on the threat is helpful in other ways, too. It can help you shoot faster because you do not have to shift your focus from the threat to the sights, and then concentrate on three different things: the threat, the rear sight and the front sight. And, in a situation where you’re holding a suspect at gunpoint, you can lower the gun below your line of sight, allowing you to fully observe the threat. This lets you deal with the situation while knowing you have a perfect hold, and you can shoot accurately and instantly at any time. Laser sights are also perfectly suited to any situation where you cannot get your handgun up in front of your face to see the sights.

You could be in a variety of unconventional potions during a lethal attack and need to respond with gunfire immediately, or you may be injured and cannot get the pistol between your eyes and the bad guy.

Of course, any time lasers sights are discussed, the argument is offered that the batteries may fail. This is a fact, but it’s also the reason that, when you train with a handgun, you should train to draw to the sights. If during the drawstroke you see the laser before your sights are acquired, you can engage immediately. If the laser is not seen, then you default to the sights and engage accordingly.

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Seeing Crimson

Regardless of whether your pocket pistol is the Remington RM380 or not, Crimson Trace has an extensive line of laser grips and Laserguard units for pocket pistols. You can choose between red or green laser models with prices in most cases ranging between $200 and $300. For some ultra-compact pistols, the company even offers the Laserguard Pro. Furthermore, it combines a 150-lumen LED light with a laser. Crimson Trace also has a free instructional DVD that walks you through all of the advantages of laser sights. If you buy a laser sight now, Crimson Trace will supply you with batteries for the rest of your life. That’s almost as good as free donuts!

Concealed carry is all about small guns; they’re the guns you’re most likely to actually have with you. In addition, small guns are harder to shoot accurately. Savvy up and put a laser on your defensive handgun. Whether it’s a large gun or a little gun, a laser will help you shoot better and faster. Though some still believe lasers are a gimmick or even a bad idea, the results speak for themselves. Only fools remain reluctant to accept progress when presented with the facts.

This article was originally published in the spring 2017 issue of “Pocket Pistols.” To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Laser’s Edge: Testing a Crimson Trace Laser on the Remington RM380 appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Mention Iver Johnson to someone of my age and background and the first thing that’ll pop into their mind is an “Owl’s Head” revolver in .32 or .38 S&W, with a small hinged frame and a nickel- plated finish. Those days are long gone, however. Today, Iver Johnson is known for offering high-quality 1911-style pistols and shotguns.

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Based in Florida, the company imports its 1911 line from the Philippines while the long guns are Turkish-made. The 1911-style pistols come in full-sized, Commander and compact versions with a variety of options like adjustable or fixed sights, extended or “GI” controls, Cerakote and hydrographic finishes, wood or synthetic grips and tactical rails. I counted at least 18 versions in the company’s catalog.

In 2015, the company introduced a new model called the Eagle XL. Iver Johnson’s full-sized Eagle 1911 pistols have target/competition features like adjustable sights, extended safeties and slide releases as well as other “combat” features. What sets the Eagle XL apart is its long slide and 6-inch barrel.

Long & Strong

My test Eagle XL came in a black plastic carrying case lined on the inside with foam rubber. A safety padlock and owner’s manual were included. The pistol itself has a very business-like appearance thanks to its matte blue finish; the only shiny part is the rear portion of the barrel, which is visible through the Eagle XL’s generously sized ejection port.

A cursory examination of the pistol’s exterior showed that a high degree of care was taken with the fit and finish. The wood-to-metal and metal-to-metal areas meshed perfectly, with no obvious machine marks or blemishes. The top of the extended slide is rounded, and the front sight and fully adjustable BoMar rear sight are affixed in dovetail cuts. The rear sight notch has a white outline around it, and the back of the sight is finely serrated.

The slide itself is serrated both front and rear with 19 closely spaced serrations on each end. The forged slide and cast frame are both CNC-machined and hand-fitted for top-notch accuracy right out of the box. The 6-inch barrel has conventional rifling and comes with a solid barrel bushing; the recoil spring, guide and plug are strictly GI. All of Iver Johnson’s 1911 pistols are “Series 70” based.

More Details

The hammer on the Eagle XL is in the “long loop” style and offers good purchase for thumb cocking. Three holes adorn the trigger, which is serrated and long like the original 1911’s. There’s a marginal amount of take-up and creep before the 5-pound trigger breaks, releasing the sear with no backlash. An extended beavertail grip safety eliminates hammer bite, and a memory bump makes it easy to engage the safety with a firm grip.

One feature I really like is the pistol’s flat, serrated mainspring housing. There are no serrations or checkering on the frontstrap. Double-diamond-checkered walnut grip panels with company’s owl’s head logo come standard on the Iver Johnson Eagle XL, plus you get one 8-round ACT-MAG magazine that has a bumper-type floorplate. The magazine catch is serrated and in the usual location behind the trigger on the left side of the frame.

As you might expect of an all-steel, extended- slide 1911, this one isn’t a lightweight, and it tips the scale at 42 ounces unloaded. One other option is a ported barrel and slide to help reduce muzzle flip during rapid fire; this enhancement adds $75 to the price of the pistol. Even with the extended slide, disassembly for cleaning is the same as any GI 1911.

Range Kit

This isn’t the first long-slide 1911 ever produced, so there’s sure to be full-sized holsters out there. But I decided I didn’t want a rig that was too bulky to the carry the Iver Johnson Eagle XL. So I went minimal with the versatile Galco Quick Slide holster. This belt-slide holster allows you to carry any 1911, no matter the barrel/slide length. It’s constructed of premium double-stitched saddle leather with deep hand molding that provides good retention. Its two-piece construction is contoured to the body for low-profile concealment and comfort. The forward cant also aids in concealment and rapid presentation. The Quick Slide is available in black or Havana brown, which is the color I selected.

I prefer heavier .45 ACP loads, and the three cartridges I chose to use in this evaluation reflect that preference: HPR’s 230-grain HyperClean JHPs, Sig Sauer’s 200-grain Elite Performance V-Crown JHPs and Speer’s 230-grain Gold Dot JHPs, which features a deep hollow cavity, a serrated jacket nose and Uni-Cor jacket bonding that virtually eliminates core/jacket separation while providing excellent expansion and penetration. The bullet is loaded in a nickel-plated case.

Combat Test

I had one of those rare February days where the temperature was about 45 degrees. Of course I headed for the range! The first chore was to set up my chronograph and get some velocity measurements. I was curious to see how much velocities would go up using the Eagle XL with its 6-inch barrel. The 200-grain Sig Sauer V-Crown JHP load boasts a factory-stated velocity of 918 fps, but out of the Eagle XL, it produced an even 1,000-fps average. According to my chronograph, the 230-grain HPR and Speer Gold Dot JHPs averaged 897 and 905 fps, respectively.

For the accuracy evaluation, I moved to the bench and used a sandbag rest to create five-shot groups on a target 25 yards away with each of the .45 ACP test cartridges. The best group, per my dial calipers, came in at 1.34 inches with the HPR 230-grain JHPs. The 200-grain Sig Sauer V-Crown JHPs came in second with a cluster that measured approximately 1.98 inches.

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Next, I slid the Galco Quick Slide holster onto my belt along with a single magazine pouch with an extra magazine. I loaded each magazine with six random rounds and ran through a 30-round combat qualification course using a B-27 silhouette target. Distances varied from 3 to 15 yards and included one-handed (strong and support- hand only) shooting, double-taps, a triple-tap body armor drill as well as standing and kneeling barricade shooting. Each stage was timed, and there were a number of magazine changes forced by the limited number of rounds loaded in the magazines. My score out of a possible 300 was 294-13X after I blew one out into the 8-ring from the left-side barricade at 15 yards.

Final Thoughts

The results I obtained with the Iver Johnson Eagle XL were more than satisfactory. I only experienced two malfunctions, which amounted to the pistol not going fully into battery. This could have been an ammo problem. However, it was most likely a symptom that the gun wasn’t “broken in” yet. I suspect with more shooting that this problem will subside. It was interesting that the slide seems to work more slowly than that on a standard-length 1911. This caused no malfunctions or diminished the accuracy potential, but it was noticeable.

The Eagle XL’s extra weight helped tame the .45 ACP recoil and muzzle flip. All of the controls worked well and were easy to manipulate. The gun was shooting a bit to the right at the range, so I moved the adjustable BoMar-style rear sight to compensate accordingly. Overall, I was impressed with the Iver Johnson Eagle XL, and I think it would make a good competition pistol.

Iver Johnson Eagle XL Specs

Iver Johnson Eagle XL Performance

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

For more information, visit iverjohnsonarms.com.

This article was originally published in “The Complete Book of Guns” 2017. To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Gun Test: The Iver Johnson Eagle XL .45 1911 Pistol appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Smith & Wesson acquired Crimson Trace back in 2016 for $95 million, so it only makes sense that the company would slap some lasers on its firearms. The latest product to pair the two is the M&P M2.0 Compact pistol. This model can now be bought with a green Crimson Trace Laserguard factory-installed.

“The M&P M2.0 Compact Series with Crimson Trace Green Laserguard combines two best-in-class products,” Jan Mladek, the GM of the Smith & Wesson and M&P brands, said in a statement. “The pre-installed Crimson Trace Green Laserguard was designed specifically to fit the M&P M2.0 pistol with a seamless fit and matching texture, providing our consumers with a superior personal protection solution at an excellent value.”

This M&P M2.0 Compact is available in 9mm and .40 S&W, and with or without an ambi thumb safety. It also features an aggressively-textured grip; four interchangeable palmswell grip inserts; and a light, crisp trigger with a tactile and audible reset. Meanwhile, the green Crimson Trace Laserguard itself is windage and elevation-adjustable.

Smith’s laser-equipped M&P M2.0 Compact sports a four-inch barrel and comes standard with a white=dot front and white two-dot rear sight. Its magazine capacity is 15+1 in 9mm and 13+1 in .40 S&W.

Shipping out with two magazines, including two magazine extender sleeves for full-size mags, the MSRP on this model is $699.

For more, go to smith-wesson.com.

S&W M&P M2.0 Compact With Crimson Trace Green Laserguard

• Caliber: 9mm/.40 S&W
• Capacity: 15+1 (9mm), 13+1 (.40 S&W)
• Barrel Length: 4″ / 10.2 cm
• Overall Length: 7.3″
• Front Sight: Steel – White Dot
• Rear Sight: Steel – White Two-Dot
• Action: Striker Fire
• Grip: Polymer
• Weight: 27.8 oz / 788.1g (9mm), 28.8 oz / 816.5g (.40 S&W)
• Barrel Material: Stainless Steel – Armornite Finish
• Slide Material: Stainless Steel – Armornite Finish
• Frame Material: Polymer
• Purpose: Concealed Carry, Home Protection, Law Enforcement & Military, Personal Protection, Recreational Shooting

The post S&W’s M&P M2.0 Compact Now Available With Crimson Trace Laser appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Some “dead” cartridges just seem to stay alive; the 10mm is the perfect example. Specifically, let’s examine the 10mm pistol.

Having used the 10mm for more than two decades, its demise has been repeatedly predicted but has never actually occurred. Carried on duty, concealed, for SWAT and occasional hunting, it remains a favorite.

Roughly the ballistic equivalent of the .41 Magnum revolver cartridge — another one that won’t die — it has maintained a following since its very inception. Popularity has ebbed and flowed, but it’s never waned. In fact, it keeps rising.

Once limited to a couple handguns, there are several offered today, more each year. Commercial ammunition once sparse is widely available in numerous loads from major manufacturers. It has become one of the most versatile pistol cartridges you can use; one reason it’s still around. But what role does it really fill?

10mm Pistol Versatility 

The 10mm’s biggest strength is the ability to wear almost any hat a pistol round can.

Loaded with light- to mid-weight bullets (125-140 grains) it’s a superb self-defense round. With 125-grain controlled expansion ammunition, it delivers impressive energy with controlled penetration and devastating wound channels. Even at very high velocities — many at more than 1,500 feet per second — recoil remains almost light.

Move to the 150-160 grain loads and you get more energy and greater penetration, especially through media with only a slight increase in recoil.

Companies like Doubletap Ammunition, Buffalo Bore and Underwood manufacture some of the best 10mm self-defense and duty ammunition you can field.

Barnes makes an excellent 155 grain TAC-XP in its VOR-TX line that performs incredibly well even at lower velocities (1,200 fps). It’s perfect for older 1911 pistols.

Hornady does much the same thing with its Critical Duty line using a 175 grain bullet at 1,150 fps from a 5-inch barrel.

If you are looking to hunt, the 10mm may be the best semi-auto hunting cartridge on the market today. Loaded with 200- to 230- grain hard cast bullets, you can reach impressive levels of penetration for larger game.

Doubletap Ammunition makes its own 200-grain hard cast bullet designed specifically for deep penetration and 100 percent weight retention at 1,300 fps. It has been used to take Cape buffalo using a 6-inch 1911 more than once.

Move to a revolver and you can hand load even more impressive rounds that remain very controllable.

Home or self-defense, duty or off duty, target or hunting — the 10mm is capable of doing them all. 

Multiple Platforms

Use the correct load and the 10mm will excel in semi-automatic pistols, revolvers and even submachine guns.

For years the FBI Hostage Rescue Team fielded HK MP5/10s chambered in 10mm. It may very well be the best subgun cartridge ever used. Recoil is minimal allowing for solid control with pinpoint accuracy.

Using one many years ago, I put 20 rounds into less than two inches at 50 yards from a kneeling position. Given its 8.85-inch barrel, it easily penetrates a number of barriers using the correct ammunition.

Modern pistol caliber carbines are starting to build in this caliber and they can be impressive.

Colt’s Delta Elite is the most prolific platform for the 10mm. It is followed by the Glock 20, Glock 29 and the latest Glock 40 using a 6-inch barrel.

Glock 20s are currently used by agencies in Alaska as a primary pistol. I carried one for years as my duty weapon.

Glock’s 40 MOS allows the use of an RDS and is perfect for hunting hogs or any number of game animals. Tanfoglio made one for years and it became a very popular competition pistol.

Several manufacturers make new 1911s in this caliber including Springfield Armory’s latest: the TRP.

Early Colt Delta Elites benefit from the light loads, but modern 1911s are all capable of shooting the heavier and faster loads. My personal carry Delta Elite gets a steady diet of 155- to 180-grain loads at 1,200-1,500 fps. It has received that treatment for years with no issues. Custom 1911s chambered in this caliber seem to grow in numbers every year.

10mm Revolvers

Revolvers are a perfect platform for this caliber.

Smith and Wesson’s Model 610, although out of production, remains very popular and garners impressive prices.

Custom revolvers in both single- and double-action are common. One of the newest and most affordable is Lipsey’s custom Ruger Blackhawk. Available in both a 4.625- and 6.5-inch barrels, it includes a .40 S&W cylinder. Practice all your single action skills with what has become inexpensive and available .40 caliber and take the 10mm to the hunt.

Smooth, strong, and built to Ruger’s standards, it is an excellent hunting handgun that is easy to carry. Need a dependable back up in the back country? This may be it. Many experienced guides prefer a single-action revolver and this one packs a true wallop at a retail price that won’t break the bank ($875).

Bottom Line

So where does the 10mm pistol fit? Just about anywhere.

The only place it really does not seem to work is as a compact. A few commander-sized pistols have been made, but recoil is pretty intensive.

For anything else there is a 10mm that will fit. Concealed carry, home and vehicle defense, duty, tactical teams, hunting — anywhere you need or want the power this cartridge brings to the table. Few cartridges can go from the holster to the hunt with nothing more than a magazine swap.

Is it for everyone? Absolutely not. But nor is it the monster many make it out to be. Every person I have introduced this caliber to immediately says, “Oh, it’s not that bad.”

Give it a try. You will be surprised.

The post What Is the 10mm Pistol’s Place in the Current Market? appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Most American shooters probably aren’t familiar with the name Arex. Established in 1994, the Slovenian company produces products for the defense industry and, at one time, for FN Browning. In 2012, a significant investment by owner Ivan Kralj in a cold-hammer-forging machine gave the company all the equipment it needed to produce a complete pistol.

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Last year, I reviewed the Arex Rex Zero 1S and was impressed with its quality and accuracy. Imported by the FIME Group out of Las Vegas, the Rex Zero 1S gave shooters in the United States a chance to see what a small European company whose intense focus on quality control is capable of.

When I contacted the FIME Group about getting a test sample of the Rex Zero 1S, I learned Walker English was part of this new company as the director of sales. I’ve known Walker over 20 years, and most of that time the retired Marine was with Arsenal. He informed me that Arsenal’s owner, Vartan Barsoumian, had set up FIME for importing the new Slovenian gun. I had a test sample almost immediately. I shot it, wrote it up and had nearly forgotten the Rex Zero 1S as I moved on with other projects. That is until Walker called me a couple months ago and invited me to tour the Arex factory in Ljubljana, Slovenia. An all-expenses-paid trip to Europe to hang out with some other gun writers and meet the people that made the cool pistol? I was all in!

When I landed in Slovenia, I was met by Vartan Barsoumian and FIME’s newly named vice president, Brian Hardy. It was just a 40-minute drive from the airport to our hotel. The countryside enthralled me with its rich green hills, small farms, quaint red-tiled-roof villages and churches.

The Military Arms Channel’s Tim Harmsen made the trip along with his videographer. So too did The Firearms Blog’s James Reeves, American Rifleman’s B. Gil Horman and Cheaper Than Dirt’s Dave Dolbee. I was in good company!

We arrived at our accommodations, the Hotel Grad Otocec, an honest-to-God European castle, with an accommodating staff standing by, poised to help in any possible way. My room, despite being centuries old, was amazing in every respect, including the view of the river from my window. This is not quite what I’ve grown accustom to as a gun writer!

After a pleasant Sunday tour of downtown Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital city, and a dinner with Arex and FIME personnel, it was time to get to work. Monday morning found us at the Arex factory. After a brief welcome from Arex owner Ivan Kralj, we were introduced to other company executives, including Product Director Grega Kralj, Ivan’s oldest son. Established in 1994, Arex currently has over 120 employees and 25,000 square feet of manufacturing space. The company has been ISO 9001 rated since 2008.

Behind The Curtain

I’ve been on plenty of factory tours here in the United States. The one thing that impressed me about the Arex factory was its cleanliness. No oil-stained concrete floors or cutting fluid leaking from the machines or piles of machine chips laying on the floor. Every part of the factory that we viewed was spotless, and raw materials and components were meticulously organized.

Arex’s tool shop is a very important part of the facility. It makes all prototype parts and fixtures for production. Ivan started a program to bring in interested high-school-aged kids to teach them the fundamentals of machining on the manual machines. He has a high retention rate of these highly motivated and enthusiastic youngsters. We met several former students who now hold key positions in production or quality control.

Among the machinery is an EDM wire cutter and five-axis milling machine. “If you make your own tools, you control the entire manufacturing process,” Walker English said.

The quality-control department occupies a significant portion of the factory’s floor. Each manufactured part is inspected, and batch numbers are machined onto them to track and monitor tolerances. Even the tools used to manufacture products have files that record their wear and work history.

Smooth Operation

The facility is in an old building, but it’s been modernized with several expansions. For instance, the cold-hammer-forging machine, about the length of a small plane, is housed in a separate area that required its own 10-foot-deep concrete foundation to prevent the machine from collapsing the building with its heavy vibration. Arex’s two indoor ranges, and the hallways leading to them, were trenched from above and had their concrete walls poured very thick.

Arex personnel test-fire each gun, starting with two overloaded rounds that possess 35-percent more pressure than standard ammunition. After a visual inspection, the gun is then fired with one magazine of ammunition in single-action (SA) mode. Another magazine is fired in double action (DA). The technician then fires another 10 rounds to zero the gun’s sights. A total of 32 rounds must be fired without failure for the gun to ship.

What’s Next

With our facility tour completed, we adjourned to a conference room to see what’s next for Arex. Since I first wrote about the Rex Zero 1S, Arex has introduced a compact model, the Arex Rex 1CP, with a shorter barrel, slide and frame. Both of these guns will be offered in an electroless nickel finish with the same wear and corrosion resistance of Tenifer. Pricing shouldn’t be more than 10 percent of the standard gun’s cost.

Arex displayed some sample guns in the conference room outfitted with walnut grip panels, and we were told that these should be available in late fall of 2017. FIME will also offer Hogue G10 grips in green, Flat Dark Earth and black. Additionally, TruGlo night sights will be available for all offerings.

In an effort to add value for consumers, FIME will give a free polymer paddle holster to everyone who has purchased a Rex Zero 1S before December 31, 2017. The holster features an easy-on/off paddle that is adjustable for both cant and retention. The holster will work with both the Rex Zero 1S and 1CP.

“Our customers are the most important focus of our company,” Walker said. “We wanted to kick off the accessory lineup with something that not only says ‘thank you’ to the tens of thousands of customers that initially bought our pistol, but also shows that we are honored and humbled by the fact that they have chosen a Rex to defend and protect their lives and their families lives over our competition.” Customers can submit the required information online at fimegroup.com.

Alpha Awesomeness

The one new product that made everyone sit up and take notice was the Arex Rex Alpha. It’s Arex’s entry into the competition field. The company’s goal was to build a race gun for IPSC as well as USPSA competitors. The Alpha’s frame is machined from recoil-dampening steel, which should also hold up to the tens of thousands of rounds a shooter will put through it during its lifetime. The slide has been extended to 5 inches. It sports lightening cuts so that it will cycle reliably with minor-powered 9mm ammunition. For targeting, the pistol uses a fiber-optic front and a fully adjustable rear sight.

The Rex Alpha retains the ambidextrous magazine release of the Rex Zero 1S, which Arex has drilled and tapped to accept an extended paddle for rapid reloads. Extended manual thumb safety paddles have also been used so the shooter does not have to shift their firing grip to engage or disengage them.

The Alpha’s grip frame has been thinned. The gun has a high-swept beavertail and an undercut triggerguard to give the shooter a high hold on the gun to minimize muzzle flip. Checkering is cut into the frontstrap, and the magazine well is flared for fast, fumble-free reloads. The flaring opens the magazine well by approximately 50 percent, so it is a worthwhile feature.

Reigning On The Range

The Rex Alpha felt great in my hand. I was certain that I’d be able to shoot it quickly and accurately. Turns out I didn’t have to wait long to try it.

Our last full day in Slovenia found us at Ivan Kralj’s private range. Built on a hill, like everything else in Slovenia, the range will eventually feature a large lodge, for which he just poured the foundation, as well as sporting clays and a rifle range. Realizing the underground range at the factory wouldn’t suit our needs, Kralj had a crew move some earth around and built three nice pistol bays for us.

In one bay, there were several variations of the Rex Zero 1CP model and in another there was the new tactical model, the Arex Rex Zero 1T, outfitted with a suppressor and red-dot sight. The first bay I went to contained the new Rex Alpha. Arex’s pro shooter, Maks Hvalec, stood by to detail the gun for us again and put on a small demonstration of his and the Alpha’s abilities. As I watched him shoot at an array of targets, I noticed the muzzle hardly moved. He explained his rounds were loaded at just above the minimum power factor, yet the slide cycled smoothly. When I finally got to shoot, I noted that the DA pull felt to be between 7 and 8 pounds. The SA pull felt like it was just over 2 pounds.

Though it has been years since I competed in USPSA matches, I shot the Alpha quickly and accurately. The red fiber-optic sight never seemed to recoil off target, making transitions between targets very easy. I did reloads from the bench, with tapered magazines easily sliding home.

Thumbs Up

I like the Alpha a lot and I wasn’t alone in my sentiments. American Rifleman’s B. Gil Horman said, “I need to own that gun. I love the way it shoots!” When I asked him if he shoots competitively, he said, “No, I just enjoy shooting an accurate centerfire gun with hardly any recoil. But if I owned an Alpha, I might have to start shooting matches.”

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Journey’s End

The event finished with a superb dinner prepared by Ivan Kralj at his hunting cabin just a short drive from his range. It included homemade wine; locally made cheeses; salamis and breads; mushroom soup made with mushrooms collected from Kralj’s forest; and a main course of barbecued chicken and pork. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful event.

Arex’s Rex Zero 1S, 1CP, 1T and new Alpha pistols will build the base for many more new and intriguing products from this small Slovenian company whose main goal is to build flawless guns and sell them for an affordable price. Keep an eye on Arex; the company is sure to build something that will impress you! The FIME Group, based in Las Vegas, Nevada will be the exclusive importer for the United States.

Arex Rex Zero 1S Specs

Arex Rex Zero 1S Performance

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group from 25 yards. 

For more information, visit fimegroup.com.

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

The post Road Trip: Testing 4 Arex Rex Pistols at Arex’s Slovenia Factory appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Two residents used an AR-15 and a 9mm handgun to take down seven suspects in a Florida home invasion turned deadly last Sunday.

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Florida Home Invasion

The Baker County Sheriff’s Office says four men were asleep at their home in Glen St. Mary at around 4 a.m. when they were suddenly awakened by loud noises and yelling. Outside the home were seven individuals. Some of them were armed. All of them were masked to conceal their identities.

News4Jax says one of the suspects outside yelled, “Sheriff’s Office!” before kicking open the front door. Multiple suspects then made their way into the home; reports don’t say if all seven entered.

Realizing they were in danger, two of the residents armed themselves—one with an AR-15 and one with a 9mm handgun—and exited their respective bedrooms. A confrontation ensued. One of the suspects fired off a round before the residents started shooting. A resident later said he fired 30 rounds from his AR-15 during the gunfight.

Three suspects were shot by the residents. The remaining four managed to take off in a vehicle. The residents—who were uninjured—then “retreated to another part of the home” and dialed 911, News4Jax reports.

Arrests and Charges

Responding Baker County Sheriff’s deputies managed to intercept the getaway vehicle as it fled the scene. They also found dried blood on the front steps of the home, a bloodstained mask with a bullet hole through it, and a .380 ACP pistol nearby. In addition, they recovered the AR-15 and 9mm handgun used by the residents.

One of the suspects shot has been identified as 18-year-old Cory Lauramore. He died of gunshot wounds to his head. A second suspect, 24-year-old William Lauramore, was treated and released into police custody. The third wounded suspect, an unidentified 16-year-old juvenile, is still being treated at a local hospital.

Police have charged William Lauramore, Joseph Albino, 24; Zachary Bell, 20; Christian Watkins, 19; and a 15-year-old suspect; with home invasion. Additional charges could be added at a later date.

The Baker County Sheriff’s Office said the home invasion was a result of an “ongoing feud between the suspects” and residents. The feud “was fueled by derogatory and threatening rhetoric between the two groups on social media platforms and eventually escalated to this shooting.”

No charges have been brought against the residents—who said they acted in self defense—at this time.

The post Florida Home Invasion: 2 Men Use AR-15, 9mm Gun to Stop 7 Suspects appeared first on Personal Defense World.

If you’re in the market for a Sig Sauer P365 holster, CrossBreed has some options worth considering.

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CrossBreed’s Sig P365 Holster Options

The Missouri-based company said in a press release that its best-selling inside-the-waistband holsters can accommodate Sig’s latest subcompact. We’re talking rigs like the SuperTuck Deluxe, Founder Series, MiniTuck and Freedom Carry. In addition, if you prefer to carry the P365 outside the waistband, CrossBreed has you covered there, too. Models like the DropSlide, SnapSlide, and SuperSlide are available for just that purpose.

A quick visit to CrossBreed’s website shows a grand total of 43 options are available for the P365. That’s factoring in IWB, OWB, CrossBreed’s Pac Mat, purses, mag carriers, pocket holsters and belly bands.

All these holsters are backed by CrossBreed’s “Two Week, Try it Free Guarantee.” Essentially, once you get a holster, you can try it out for two weeks. If you’re not satisfied, you can return it and you’ll get your money back.

Sig P365

Introduced back in January, the Sig Sauer P365 is a 9mm striker-fired pistol. It features a patent-pending, narrow-neck, modified double-stack magazine holding 10 rounds flush and extended. It also holds one in the chamber for a full capacity of 11 rounds. An optional 12-round extended mag also gives this micro gun a full-size 13-round capacity. In addition, the P365 measures one-inch wide; 5.8 inches long; and 4.3-inches tall. The barrel length is 3.1 inches. It tips the scales at 17.8 ounces with an empty mag.

The Sig P365 also features a fully-textured polymer grip; slim line rail; stainless steel slide with front and rear serrations; undercut triggerguard; and SIGLITE night sights.

To see a full list of the Sig P365 holsters currently available, go to crossbreedholsters.com.

The post CrossBreed Introduces New Sig P365 Holster Options appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Everything on the planet can be distilled down to physics. Actions have their reactions. Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion. Unless, of course, an external force is applied to it. Those aren’t just good ideas. They’re laws.

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It is in the clever manipulation of these physical laws that firearms can be appreciated as such remarkably elegant little machines. While there are literally thousands of disparate methods man has devised to throw handgun bullets downrange, Steyr’s L40-A1 is an innovative solution indeed.

Steyr Arms has been in the business of producing weapons since 1864. Its line boasts some of the best sporting weapons, military long guns and combat handguns in the world. The Steyr L40-A1 represents a fresh take on the subject of polymer-framed defensive pistols.

Overview

The basic L40 design has actually been around for a while. Its progenitor, the .40 S&W Steyr M40, was first released in 1999 alongside the M9 in 9mm and was focused on the law enforcement and civilian self-defense markets. Compact models with the S9 and S40 designations came along subsequently. The M357 in .357 SIG followed soon thereafter. Now the L40-A1 represents the species’ next evolutionary step with an improved trigger, a longer barrel and optimized ergonomics.

At first brush, the new L40-A1 just looks different. In a sea of polymer-framed handguns, the L40-A1 would be right at home on the set of a science-fiction movie. The grip-to-frame angle is exceptionally rakish and therefore akin to Georg Luger’s classic P.08 or the Glock. The unconventional contour of the grip and the railed dust cover conspire to make the gun look like something out of RoboCop.

The Steyr L40-A1 features some truly innovative technology along with its more conventional features. The gun is striker-fired. It has a predictable trigger pull that is monotonously consistent shot to shot. Unlike some other contemporary designs, the trigger and its built-in safety tab are wide enough to spread out the pressure for a comfortable squeeze. The trigger breaks crisply and sports a nice short reset. There is also a rotating key lock that will effectively render the gun safe.

A Closer Look

The L40-A1 has a non-reversible magazine release button for its drop-free, 12-round magazines. The standard gun comes with two magazines. A cutout in the grip frame makes it easy to remove the magazine in the unlikely instance that it gets stuck and needs a little extra help.

The 4.53-inch, cold-hammer-forged, fully supported barrel is about half an inch longer than that of its M40-A1 predecessor. The slide has a cool beveled cross-section that serves to make the gun easier to conceal than some of its blockier competitors.

One of the most unusual aspects of the Steyr L40-A1 is its trapezoidal sight system. The front sight is a white triangle. The rear sight sports a pair of corresponding lines. When these steel sights are oriented on target, they form a unique and aesthetically pleasing geometric construction that draws the eye. With practice, the gun comes up on target. The brain adjusts the weapon’s orientation until the trapezoidal sights are appropriately arrayed without conscious thought. Finally, the gun disassembles without manipulation of the trigger.

Rounds downrange

Despite its fairly lightweight chassis, the L40-A1’s unconventional geometry does a great job of taming the recoil of the heavy .40 S&W. During testing, magazine changes were smooth and fast, and it wasn’t a chore to zip through a magazine fairly quickly while keeping all of the rounds in the black.

The L40-A1 shoots straight and runs great. Despite sending a lot of rounds downrange, I experienced no failures. The L40-A1’s innovative geometry and long barrel render an ample sight radius and a pleasant shooting experience. The trapezoidal sight system provides a sharp aiming point that lends itself to precise shooting while remaining sufficiently fast for high-octane tactical situations.

Packing heat for personal protection is always a tradeoff. In a real conflict, what you want is a tricked-out, suppressed M4 Carbine with an EOTech holographic sight and half a dozen loaded PMAGs. Truth be told, what you really want are drone strikes on call, heavy armor support on site, and tactical air support stacked up all the way to the moon. But what you can actually have is what you can comfortably carry for long periods on your person. That brings us back to the real world pretty quickly.

Real World

A .25 ACP pocket pistol is great to carry, but in a serious fight I’d honestly sooner have a proper club. A .44 Magnum Desert Eagle takes all the ambiguity out of a social exchange of gunfire, but it needs a shoulder sling or training wheels to tote around. The Steyr L40-A1 really is a good compromise.

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The L40-A1 is no bulkier than its competition, and it’s slimmer than most. The gun rides perfectly in a duty holster and can be hidden under loose clothing should the need arise. In action, the gun is fast, accurate and brings plenty of downrange thump. I was legitimately taken with the innovative geometry of the weapon. The unconventional layout of the frame and barrel drops the line of recoil down to align with the operator’s wrist and forearm. This feature transmits the recoil impulse linearly and diminishes any rotational movement around the wrist so as to minimize muzzle flip. What all that engineering diatribe distills down to is a powerful handgun that carries well and shoots great.

Duty Ready

The Steyr L40-A1 is designed for duty use. While concealable, there are easier guns to hide. However, for a piece to keep by your bed, strap on your thigh or tuck in your glove box, you would be hard pressed to improve upon the Steyr L40-A1. All that and it is still handy enough to ride discreetly underneath a coat. Rugged, accurate, reliable and genuinely innovative, the Steyr L40-A1 is a fully mature weapon system that brings some serious new levels of “cool” to the tactical table.

Steyr L40-A1 Specs

For more information, visit steyarms.com.

This article was originally published in “The Complete Book of Guns” 2017. To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Striker-Fired .40: A Look at the Steyr L40-A1 Pistol appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Glock handguns are popular—Yes, we realize that’s one of the biggest understatements ever posted to this site—and with this popularity comes a whole subset of companies ready to offer aftermarket parts for them. One of those companies is Suarez International, and one of Suarez’s latest products is its new Supermatch SI-43 Glock 43 slide.

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Suarez says it built the SI-43 Glock 43 slide for the shooter who wants the benefits of its Supermatch slide, but doesn’t want to run a red Trijicon RMR or cut the slide to accept another red dot. Made from 17-4 aerospace stainless steel, it features ergonomically angled and shaped serrations; tighter tolerances for enhanced accuracy; ejection port lowered by .100″; integral “blood groove” design and a Suarez logo.

All of these features combine to “create a slide that is deadly accurate, combat-ergonomic, as well as aesthetically pleasing,” Suarez claims in the product listing.

The Suarez Supermatch SI-43 slide for the Glock 43 comes in either a black melonite or NP3 coating. MSRP for the former is $239.99, while the latter will raise the price to $259.99. Details are below.

For more, visit suarezinternational.com.

Suarez Supermatch SI-43 Glock 43 Slide Features

• Tighter tolerances for increased accuracy, reliability, and performance.
• Precision manufactured from heat treated 17-4 aerospace stainless steel.
• Serrations are ergonomically angled and shaped for ease of use under duress.
• Barrel locking manufactured with tighter tolerances.
• When used with a match-quality barrel, accuracy will be greatly increased.
• The ejection port lowered by .100″, and contoured for reliable and predictable ejection of spent cases.
• Guaranteed to function 100 percent on all Glock frames with quality ammunition.

Options and Upgrades

• Stripped or assembled with Glock factory internals.
• Various choices in standard and cowitness sights.
• Choice to cut for any appropriate red dot, or leave it plain with iron sights.

The post Suarez International Rolls Out Supermatch SI-43 Glock 43 Slide appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Editor’s note: We at Personal Defense World know full well that a gun’s paint job, engraving and the like have no bearing on a person’s mindset during a self-defense encounter, a day at the range or anytime for that matter. Just like listening to heavy metal music or having arms covered in tattoos doesn’t make you a card-carrying member of a murderous cult.

The shooter’s state of mind is a critical issue in shooting cases. It can make the difference between murder, manslaughter, excusable homicide and justifiable homicide. Prosecutors in criminal cases and plaintiff’s bar in civil lawsuits are well aware that for generations, the American public—the jury pool—has been brainwashed against gun owners by anti-gun media and politicians. It should come as no surprise when those trying to pillory the shooter claim that his gun was extra deadly. Consequently, they’ll claim the defendant must be extra dangerous to the public at large.

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It doesn’t help when the everyday-carry gun involved is emblazoned with words or images that would seem reckless or bloodthirsty to the average non-gun person. Simply put, the optics of it all don’t look good. The example most often cited in gun forum discussions is The Punisher skull. It’s the icon of a comic book character, a vigilante who slaughters “bad guys.”

The Punisher skull has become a legal matter in another respect. The character belongs to Marvel Comics, and Marvel has taken a dim view of it being appropriated by other companies.

Poor Taste

Inflammatory gun decorations hit the news in the fourth quarter of 2017 in Case One, Arizona v. Philip Brailsford. The defendant was one of several Mesa Police officers who responded in January 2016 to a call reporting a man with a gun in the fifth-floor window of a local hotel. Prone in the hall outside his room, and ordered to crawl toward the officers and not reach toward his back or be shot, bodycams captured the suspect suddenly reaching toward his back. That’s when Brailsford fired five .223 rounds, killing him. Much of the public saw it as a helpless drunk who turned out to be unarmed, and screamed, “Murder!” So did the prosecutor’s office.

Brailsford’s accusers made a huge deal out of the words “You’re F***ed” etched on the inside of his AR-15’s dust cover. They claimed it showed him to be bloodthirsty. This ignored the fact that no sane person would knowingly shoot an unarmed man in front of several witnesses and body cameras, including his own.

Verdict

Often, issues like “he had hollow points” or “he owned too many guns” or “his gun was a nasty one instead of a nice Elmer Fudd one” can be killed early in motions in limine. These are pre-trial motions where the judge determines what evidence will be allowed in front of the jury. The test is a balance of probative value (i.e., will this evidence help the jury find the truth of the matter) versus prejudicial potential (“Your Honor, opposing counsel is only using this to inflame the passions of the jury against my client”). In this case, the defense prevailed, and the slogan on the dust cover was kept out. The jury found Brailsford not guilty of the murder charge, the lesser included manslaughter charge or anything else.

Some on the internet have already taken this to mean that inflammatory words or symbols on a gun don’t matter. This is far from the truth. I would expect that it cost many thousands of dollars in legal fees and trial prep for the defense to prevail in that particular motion in limine. The slogan on the gun helped convince prosecutors to bring the murder charge in the first place. And it cost the officer his job.

Post-Acquittal

After the acquittal, the Phoenix New Times reported, “Mesa Police fired Brailsford a few weeks later for performance issues, and also because the officer had ‘You’re F***ed’ engraved on his rifle’s dust cover. (Apparently, that hadn’t been seen as a problem before the shooting.) He had been with the force almost three years.” Fired over an etching on a gun? AZCentral reported, “Brailsford was fired by the Mesa Police Department on March 21 in connection with the fatal shooting.

“The department also cited an inappropriate etching on Brailsford’s AR-15 patrol rifle as a violation of the department’s service weapons policy. Records released Tuesday offered more information on the etchings. ‘You’re F***ed’ was etched onto Brailsford’s weapon, an internal investigation report stated. In addition, an investigator found the words ‘molon labe‘ engraved on the outside dust cover. The Greek words, a classical expression of defiance, loosely translate to ‘come and take them.'”

Ignored in all this apparently was the fact that the only person who would ever see the logo on the inside of the dust cover would be the shooter when he looked down to see why his AR-15 had stopped working. It would be a reminder to keep his weapon properly lubed and maintained. This is a lifesaving rescue tool for himself, brother and sister officers, and the public he was sworn to protect. I don’t know if the defense used that argument to win the motion in limine, but I hope they did.

Gun Decorations: Related Cases

Noted defensive firearms instructor Marty Hayes, the founder of the first post-self-defense legal support group, the Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network (ACLDN), has also been an expert witness in shooting cases for about 28 years. He has been known to say, “In every case I did, the opposing side tried to somehow make the shooter’s gun a witness against him.”

In the November 2017 edition of the ACLDN Journal, retired defense attorney Mark Seiden discusses Case Two, Florida v. Luis Alvarez, in which gun modification became a major issue. He has seen it come up in other cases as well.

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I’ve seen the same. Many years ago, I learned of Case Three. In that shooting case, made a huge deal out of the fact that the defendant had used a Colt Cobra. As if the very name of the venomous snake denoted what the courts call “indicia of malice.” I thought that was a fluke until I became involved in Case Four, Massachusetts v. Robert Tessitore, where the prosecutor likewise tried to suck melodrama out of the defendant’s ownership of a Cobra. And in that case, the Cobra wasn’t even the death weapon. (We won an acquittal on the homicide charges. The point is, it was one more costly fight the defendant had to go through.)

Nothing Is Certain

Sometimes, as in Case One, the defense wins the motion in limine and the matter is kept out. However, the jury is generally allowed to examine the death weapon in evidence. Something like “Smile, Wait for Flash” engraved on the gun muzzle will be seen by the jury. In those circumstances, since it will happen in the jury room, the defense will no longer have a chance to explain anything. Yet in another notorious 2017 trial, Case Five, the San Francisco jury in California v. Jose Ines Garcia Zarate found the defendant not guilty in the death of Kate Steinle. The defense claimed the gun went off from an accidental discharge. They blamed the discharge on a too-sensitive trigger on a stolen Sig Sauer P239. Reports say that the jury was never allowed to handle the death weapon and feel its relatively heavy double-action trigger.

By the way, I haven’t seen a case in which a Punisher skull on a gun became an issue. It may simply be that no one has yet been stupid enough to so decorate an everyday-carry gun that ended up being used in a controversial shooting.

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

The post How Gun Decorations Can Send the Wrong Message to a Jury appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Ernest Langdon, owner of Langdon Tactical and overall Beretta guru, has teamed up with Beretta USA to create the new Beretta 92 Elite LTT pistol.

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Ultimate 92 Package

Billed as the “ultimate 92 package,” the 92 Elite LTT features a Vertec/M9A3 slide with front cocking serrations; dovetail fiber optic front and square notch rear sight; stainless 4.7-inch barrel with a target crown; steel guide rod and a beveled rear slide.

Meanwhile, the M9A1 frame sports a checkered front and back strap; beveled mag well with no lanyard loop; exclusive radiused trigger guard and rear slide rail; VZ/LTT G10 grips; stainless steel trigger; and hex head grip screws. In addition, it features an oversized mag release button, a D model hammer spring and a skeletonized hammer.

“Beretta’s commitment to listening and building guns customers request is something shooters have hoped for from all manufacturers,” Ernest Langdon said. “I think this is the most shootable platform to date. We took the favored M9A1 frame, the Vertec slide, adding front cocking serrations, and an exclusive radiused trigger guard to create the flattest and softest shooting full-size 92 package.”

Why The Elite LTT?

Langdon also went into his motivation for creating the Elite LTT.

“For almost 15 years, I’ve been combining multiple guns to build a platform that I want,” Langdon said. “It’s always been a compromise; no front cocking serrations, no flat hammer spring cap, the lanyard loop has always been there, G-model Vertec slides have been virtually impossible to find. Even when I would find a G-Vertec slide, I had to buy a complete M9A1, then buy the steel trigger, then buy the Elite Hammer Spring Cap, radius the back of the slide and trigger guard, etc. My 92 was always a ‘Frankenstein’ gun. So, together, Beretta USA and I built the ultimate 92, the Elite LTT.”

Langdon Tactical is taking pre-orders on the Elite LTT now. The gun is priced at $999. You can also get a LTT trigger job, which will boost the price up to $1,164.

For more, go to langdontactical.com.

The post Langdon Tactical Reveals the Beretta 92 Elite LTT Pistol appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Ed Brown is rolling out new handguns as part of its 50th anniversary celebration this year; the latest model to be unveiled is the Executive Commander 1911.

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Part of the “Elite” pistol series, the Executive Commander is basically Ed Brown’s Executive Elite pistol in Commander length. As such, it features a 4.25-inch slide and barrel, along with a single stack Government frame. The slide includes a french border; ball endmill cuts; flattened and serrated top and serrated rear; and a plain black fixed rear and gold beat front sight. In addition, the gun’s front strap and mainspring housing boast a sleek 25lpi checkering, offering up a classy and traditional look.

Available in 9mm (stainless slide only), .38 Super (stainless slide only) and .45 ACP, the Executive Commander has a 9-round magazine capacity. It tips the scales at around 38 ounces with an unloaded magazine. It also sports an overall length of eight inches and overall height of 5.5 inches.

“The addition of the Executive Commander is just another example of listening to our customers and offering the products they want. We’ve been in the business of building the finest custom 1911 in the world, for 50 years now!” Ed Brown sales and marketing director John May said in a press release.

Fully customizable with more than 100 options and backed by a lifetime warranty, the MSRP on the Ed Brown Executive Commander is $3,395.

For more on Ed Brown, go to edbrown.com.

Ed Brown Executive Commander Features & Specs

• Available Calibers:  9mm (Stainless slide only), 38 Super (Stainless slide only), 45 ACP
• Barrel Length: 4.25″
• Weight: 38 ounces with magazine
• 4.25″ Commander model slide, single stack Government frame
• Exclusive 25 LPI checkering on forestrap and mainspring housing
• Plain black rear sight, gold bead front sight
• Custom options included:  French border, ball endmill cuts, flattened and serrated top of slide, serrated rear of slide.

The post NEW HANDGUN: The Ed Brown Executive Commander 1911 appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Beretta is expanding its APX pistol family with the new APX Compact and APX Centurion. The former is built for concealed carry, while the latter is a mid-sized model.

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According to Beretta’s presser, these pistols are similar to the rest of the APX lineup in that they sport sport aggressive slide serrations and a trigger that breaks at six pounds with a clear tactile and audible short reset. These models also feature a low bore axis; ambidextrous slide catch; and reversible magazine release.

Thanks to the end-user removable serialized chassis, the APX Compact and APX Centurion can be modified with Beretta’s replaceable grip frame housings in FDE, wolf grey, black and olive drab.

The APX Compact is available as a 13+1 (9mm) or 10+1 (.40 S&W) with a flush fit mag. It can also accepted full and Centurion-sized APX mags. The APX Centurion, meanwhile, comes as a 15+1 (9mm) or 13+1 (.40 S&W) with a flush fit magazine. It can also accept full-sized APX magazines.

The APX Compact is available now, while the APX Centurion is due out later this month. Both models are priced at $575. Specs are below.

For more, visit Beretta.com.

Beretta APX Compact

Beretta APX Centurion

The post NEW: Beretta APX Compact & APX Centurion Pistols appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Never one to rest on its laurels, Smith & Wesson continues to announce new handguns at a breakneck pace; the latest model to be revealed is a M&P M2.0 Compact pistol with a 3.6-inch barrel. It comes with the same features and magazine capacity found in the four-inch-barreled M2.0 models.

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“When we launched the M&P M2.0 Compact pistol series with a 4-inch barrel last September, we knew it was just the first step in expanding the popular Compact pistol size offering. During the development process, there was considerable interest in a shorter, 3.6-inch barrel concept, and with this introduction, we’re now able to offer our consumers a lighter, shorter compact pistol for concealed carry. While the barrel length is shorter, the M&P M2.0 Compact 3.6-inch pistol maintains the 15 round, 9mm magazine capacity of the Compact series– an important requirement for many of our customers,” Jan Mladek, GM of the Smith & Wesson and M&P brands, said in a statement.

The 3.6-inch-barreled M&P M2.0 Compact comes with or without an ambidextrous thumb safety. In addition, this model sports an aggressively-textured grip; four interchangeable palmswell grip inserts; M2.0 trigger with a tactile, audible reset; white-dot front sight; and a white two-dot rear sight.

This gun is available in both 9mm and .40 S&W. The 9mm variant has a 15-round capacity, while the .40 S&W is a 13-rounder. The pistol ships with two magazines. Two magazine extender sleeves are also included for use with full size mags, Smith’s presser says.

MSRP on the 3.6-inch M&P M2.0 Compact pistol is $569.

For more, visit Smith-Wesson.com.

M&P M2.0 Compact 3.6″ Specs

• Caliber: 9mm or .40 S&W
• Capacity: 15+1 (9mm), 13+1 (.40 S&W)
• Barrel Length: 3.6″ / 9.1 cm
• Overall Length: 6.8″
• Front Sight: Steel – White Dot
• Rear Sight: Steel – White Two Dot
• Action: Striker Fire
• Grip: Polymer
• Weight: 25.9 oz / 734.3g (9mm), 26.7 oz / 756.9g (.40 S&W)
• Barrel Material: Stainless Steel – Armornite Finish
• Slide Material: Stainless Steel – Armornite Finish
• Frame Material: PolymerPurpose: Enthusiast, Home Protection, Personal Protection, Recreational Shooting

The post S&W Adds M&P M2.0 Compact Pistol With 3.6-Inch Barrel appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Sig Sauer has introduced the P229 SAO as the sixth pistol in its members-only Legion Series of firearms.

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Chambered in 9mm, the hammer-fired Legion P229 SAO comes equipped with Sig’s X-Ray 3 day/night sight setup. This compact pistol is all metal with a proprietary Legion gray coated slide and frame; Sig Master Shop-inspired trigger; enhanced checkering on the front strap and under the trigger guard; and high checkered black G10 grips with a Legion medallion.

Like the five other Legion Series pistols, the Legion P229 SAO also sports a reduced and contoured beavertail. This allows for a higher grip but a reduced profile, which eliminates printing.

Developed with the input of elite professionals, the Legion Series is basically a program that aims to give buyers an exclusive experience. Anybody who buys a Legion Series firearm gets a thermo-mold carrying case; custom challenge coin; and access to Legion gear and swag.

“The P229 is one of Sig Sauer’s classic pistols and is iconic amongst shooting enthusiasts. It is widely regarded as one of the best designed and proportioned pistols within the elite shooting community,” said Tom Taylor, Sig’s Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of Commercial Sales, said in a press release. “We are really excited to introduce the much anticipated P229 SAO to our Legion Series because it was our Legion members that asked for this variation. The Legion Series P229 SAO pistol is the natural evolution of the shared mission of Sig Sauer and our Legion members – to never settle.”

Shipping out with three 15-round magazines—or 10-rounders if necessary—the MSRP on the Sig Legion P220 SAO is $1,413. Specs are below.

For more, visit SigSauer.com.

Sig Sauer Legion P229 SAO

The post Sig Sauer Reveals Legion Series P229 SAO Pistol appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Century Arms has rolled out a new version of its Canik TP9SFx pistol; this one comes in flat dark earth for some tacticool flavoring.

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Tacticool TP9SFx

“Canik is always listening to the feedback received from consumers,” Jason Karvois, Century Arms’ Director of Sales, said in a press release. “Flat Dark Earth is a popular color choice for the military and tactical gear available today, making it an easy decision to bring this line extension to market.”

Built as a competitive shooting pistol ready to rock right out of the box, the 9mm TP9SFx in FDE sports dovetail sight cuts for Warren Tactical sights; 5.2-inch barrel; interchangeable backstraps; extended slide stop; extended magazine release; Cerakote slide; and a threaded hole on the optic mounting plate for use with an optional ambi cocking handle in competitive matches.

Century Arms says consumers will also have an option of buying the FDE TP9SFx with a Vortex Viper optic toward the end of May. The Viper easily mounts onto the slide and boasts a 6 MOA red dot. In addition, this gun ships out with two magazines with extended baseplates for a 20-round capacity.

The flat dark earth TP9SFx is available now. The MSRP isn’t mentioned in the press release, but it’s listed at $499 on a couple of different sites.

For more on Century Arms and Canik, visit CenturyArms.com.

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Smith & Wesson’s Performance Center has added four new SW22 Victory Target pistols to its lineup.

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Performance Center SW22 Victory Target Pistols

The new Performance Center SW22 Victory Target models are available with either a six-inch fluted or six-inch carbon fiber barrel. Additionally, they come with or without a Vortex Viper Red red dot sight.

The four handguns also share many features, including a .22 LR chambering; Picatinny-style rail for optics; custom muzzle brake; extended magazine release; custom polished feed ramp; beveled magazine well; flat-face target trigger; trigger adjustable for take-up and overtravel; and Tandemkross hiveGrips which feature a target thumb rest grip.

In a press release, S&W says these pistols were designed specifically for target shooting competitions.

“The Performance Center SW22 Victory Target pistols are competition-ready and have been designed for the serious target shooter. These pistols have all of the upgrades needed to make them competition-ready, including adjustable target triggers, specialty target barrels, and grips. The Performance Center SW22 Victory Target pistols have custom features, available right out of the box from the Performance Center,” Performance Center GM Tony Miele said.

The two PC SW22 Victory Target pistols equipped with the Vortex Viper red dot—and either carbon fiber or fluted barrels—are priced at $868. In addition, the standard models with the same barrel options minus the optic are priced at $672.

For more information, go to Smith-Wesson.com.

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Ohio-based Faxon Firearms has an introduced a new lineup of slides designed for Smith & Wesson‘s M&P pistols.

Faxon Firearms’ Patriot & Hellfire Slides

The first two models in this series are the Patriot and Hellfire. Both are machined in-house from 17-4 stainless steel. In addition, they’re ready to accept Glock sights. They also sport Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) finishes. The slides boast front, rear and top serrations to boost slide manipulation for shooters.

Furthermore, these slides feature an optics-ready cut. The profiles are available with either a Trijicon RMR cut, or what the press release calls a “multi-optics system” capable of accepting the Vortex Venom, Vortex Viper and Burris FastFire. The Patriot and Hellfire also have machined posts that help with locating the optic and absorbing recoil.

“We’re excited to continue our growth into the pistol market with our M&P Patriot and Hellfire slides. Manufacturing slides completely in-house from bar stock gives us the ability to create new profiles and optics mounting solutions that many other companies simply can’t achieve. Coupled with our Match Series pistol barrels, we really have a strong and innovative offering for our customers,” Bob George, Faxon’s director of sales and business development, said in a press release.

MSRP on the Faxon Firearms Patriot slide is $499. The Hellfire is priced at $525.

For more from Faxon Firearms, visit faxonfirearms.com.

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Walther is now shipping its PPS M2 RMSc, a carry gun that comes equipped with a RMSc red dot from Shield Sights. More on this new model via the press release below:

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Walther Arms, Inc. is now shipping PPS M2 packages with a brand-new Shield RMSc optic. The RMSc is a perfect fit for the slim profile of the PPS M2. The addition of the reflex mini sight enhances target acquisition while maintaining peripheral vision, yet allows the user to co-witness with factory iron sights. The RMSc is parallax free, and features a clear polymer optic lens that can withstand greater impact than products using glass optics. The PPS M2 slide is milled to accept the RMSc and will include a cover plate should the user ever desire to remove the optic.   

“Incorporating a high-quality micro red-dot into the PPS M2 platform, without adding bulk to the gun, addresses the growing consumer interest in red-dot mounted carry pistols,” said Bret Vorhees, Director of Product Development at Walther Arms. “With quick target acquisition, co-witnessed iron sights, and maintaining a thin profile, the PPS M2 RMSc truly is the ultimate single stack carry option on the market.”

Walther has priced the PPS M2 RMSc at $699. See a rundown of specs below.

For more, go to waltherarms.com.

Walther PPS M2 RMSc

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Smith & Wesson’s Pro Series models are billed as bridging the gap between factory pistols and the Performance Center; essentially, they’re factory guns with upgraded, ready-to-rock features and specs. Earlier this year, the company introduced the Performance Center SW1911 Pro Series pistol in 9mm. Recognizing that a 1911 chambered in 9mm is a thorny proposition, our friend Graham Baates decided to run this gun.

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Graham starts out  by conducting a full mag +1 range test from 17 yards out using Freedom Munitions’ 9mm 115gr ammo. Next up is what Graham refers to as the “What’s for Dinner?” section of the video, where he tests a number of different loads from 165gr down to 65gr. He then wraps up with a field accuracy test, shooting five rounds from seven yards using Nosler 115gr Match.

So how’d the SW1911 Pro Series 9mm fare? Watch the video above to find out. See the features and specs on this gun below.

SW1911 Pro Series 9mm 1911 Features

• Oversized external extractor
• 3-hole curved trigger with overtravel stop
• Full length guide rod
• Round butt frame
• Grip safety
• Ambidextrous Thumb Safety

SW1911 Pro Series 9mm 1911 Specifications

• SKU: 178053
• Model: PERFORMANCE CENTER SW1911 PRO SERIES 9mm
• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 8+1
• Barrel Length: 3″ / 7.6 cm
• Overall Length: 6.9″
• Front Sight: Dovetail White Dot
• Rear Sight: Fixed White 2-Dot
• Action: Single Action
• Grip: Fully Stippled Synthetic
• Weight: 26.2 oz / 742.8g
• Barrel Material: Stainless Steel
• Slide Material: Stainless Steel
• Frame Material: Scandium Alloy

“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 The S&W PC SW1911 Pro Series 9mm 1911 Delivers on the Range appeared first on Personal Defense World.