In 2016, a small firm that few people knew about created quite a stir when it sent out an e-blast for its new semi-auto pistol. Dubbed the Hudson H9, the new gun was touted as a marriage between the 1911 and a striker-fired pistol. Its dramatic profile and sculpted contours generated intense interest among firearms industry professionals.

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I have to admit that I was one of those people who stood in line for over an hour at the SHOT Show Range Day to hold and shoot the new H9. I’d received the e-blast announcement and scoured the company’s website every couple days looking for more information. After handling the H9 and firing one magazine of 9mm rounds through it, I was convinced that it was indeed a combination of the best aspects of a striker-fired gun and the 1911. But what I found even more interesting are the design features that borrowed from neither parent’s lineage.

Breaking Ground

The H9 was designed by husband-and-wife team Cy and Lauren Hudson, who created Hudson Manufacturing and spent four years’ worth of research, development and just plain hard work. When Cy, a West Point graduate, was in his last year of duty with the Army, the couple tried to figure out what to do next. But they both shared a passion for shooting.

Lauren said, “We both love shooting the 1911, but the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield is the gun we both carry. What if we could combine the best features of both guns? After doing some research, we decided the idea had merit.”

“But we knew we couldn’t build a company by starting with a compact, single-stack carry pistol,” Cy said. “I believe in this market you need to create a duty-sized pistol first, then build a family of guns around it.”

Barrel & Recoil Spring

The H9 is a semi-auto 9mm pistol with a 15+1 capacity. It’s obvious that the grip angle and magazine release are 1911 inspired, as is the trigger. After stripping the gun, I found that the barrel did not have a link like a 1911, or even a fixed cutout like the Browning Hi-Power. The low placement of the single recoil spring also left me with questions. These two features are neither 1911 nor striker-gun inspired and are the basis for a number of patents.

Cy responded, “We wanted to drop the barrel as close to the hand as possible, and we wanted it to be a short-recoil- operated pistol. We didn’t want to change a system that has been trusted for decades, especially in today’s market. We also know a traditional Browning link or link-less lockup would have taken up real estate where we needed to eliminate it. So, we moved it forward and placed the big front locking lug where it would contact the takedown pin.

“We wanted to bring the pistol down to the hand instead of bringing the hand up to the pistol. That basically became a real estate option that resulted in one of our favorite things about our design: The slide bottoms out on that recoil spring below the plane of your wrist. The wrist is your biomechanical pivot point. When the slide cycles above the wrist, it creates torque. But on the H9, it goes straight back into the wrist and reduces torque.”

Next Steps

With the barrel cam moved forward and down to engage the takedown pin, there wasn’t room for a recoil spring in the traditional location. Cy continued, “We could have gone the route of the Walther P5 and put two nested recoils springs along the grooves, but that would have made the gun really wide and bulky, so we moved it down and utilized the space in front of the triggerguard.” The location of the single flat recoil spring and guide rod gives the H9 its distinctive appearance.

Lauren added, “I guess, to our benefit, we didn’t have the history of designing other firearms, so we didn’t have any preexisting design goals like the camming system having to be directly above the center of mass. We could move things forward and down and reimagine things in a different configuration. I think the drive was to take off a good deal of real estate on the grip and put some functional components in front of the triggerguard.”

Chassis Design

The frame assembly is machined from 4140 steel and it houses the chassis, or frame insert, which contains the ejector, rails, ambidextrous slide stop, sear and disconnector. With the frame insert in place, it captures the recoil spring guide rod. On the H9, the chassis is the serialized part, meaning this part can be moved from frame to frame. This is interesting because Hudson recently announced the H9A with a few improvements. Those improvements include a lightweight alloy frame that shaves nearly 8 ounces from the weight of the H9. You should be able to move the chassis without buying a completely new gun. As Lauren put it, “We spent extra time during development to make sure universal parts could make for a family of pistols.”

Hudson machine-checkers the H9’s frontstrap with a very fine pattern to give the shooter a secure firing grip without being so coarse as to tear skin or catch on clothing. The magazine well is flared for quick reloads; a relief cut at the front of the mag well can help a shooter remove a stuck magazine. The grip panels are G10 like the backstrap, which has fine checkering near the bottom. There’s even a relief at the heel for a lanyard, and the magazine release is reversible.

More Details

Even though the H9 is a striker-fired gun, the trigger feels very much like a 1911’s. It is a non- pivoting trigger that tracks straight back. My test sample’s trigger broke at 4.5 pounds with just a little bit of take-up and almost no overtravel. Hudson has also equipped the gun with a trigger safety that pivots at the trigger’s bottom instead of near the trigger’s center. This was one of the ongoing refinements the Hudsons made during the gun’s development. Lauren had problems disengaging the safety because her fingers naturally went to the bottom of the trigger. So, it was moved and now shooters will disengage it instinctively without compromising their trigger pull. Rather than placing a small blade in the center of the trigger, Hudson made its trigger safety blade as wide as the trigger shoe for better comfort.

Finally, Hudson equips the H9 with great sights right out of the box. Cy told me they use the same front and rear sight cuts as those on the S&W M&P pistols. This means you can easily add aftermarket M&P sights if you wish. That being said, the H9 uses a Trijicon HD front sight with a tritium insert surrounded by a florescent orange ring that draws the eye’s focus to it like nothing else I have used. The rear sight possesses a U-shaped notch, and the front sight almost seems to center itself. It’s a slick setup, and I don’t think anyone would need to change these sights.

Raining Lead

All of my accuracy testing was doneat 25 yards, shooting from a DOA Tactical Bench and using a Millett BenchMaster for support. I was able to get a rock-solid hold on the H9’s sights as the flat light rail on the gun’s frame was wobble free on the BenchMaster. I was able to keep the sights on target as I pressed the H9’s trigger straight back.

Aguila’s 115-grain FMJs took honors for the smallest group, with five shots clustering into 0.61 inches. This is economically-priced range ammunition, and its accuracy was a pleasant surprise. It fed and cycled fine in the H9. Another pleasant surprise was the NovX 65-grain ARX load. Using a copper/polymer bullet weighing just 65 grains and loaded into a stainless steel case, this load had a velocity just a few feet per second shy of 1,800 fps and generated a whopping 466 foot-pounds of energy. My best five shot group with the Novx rounds measured just 0.72 inches. It also cycled flawlessly, but the felt recoil was much lighter than even the 115-grain rounds. I used a wide variety of bullet weights—each with a different overall length and profile, and the H9 was flawless with every load I tried.

More Testing

For the field portion of my testing, I used an MGM BC-C Zone steel target, which approximates a USPSA target with the D-zone removed. At 15 yards, I would draw and fire the H9, attempting to place two hits on the target with the shortest amount of time between shots. Using a PACT electronic timer to measure my splits, or time between shots, I fired 25 double-taps using Precision Delta’s 124-grain JHP rounds. My times ran from 0.16 to 0.23 seconds, with the average being 0.19 seconds. It’s been many years since I was an active competitor and practiced this exercise regularly, yet the H9 made these quick double-taps seem effortless.

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I attribute this to two factors. First, the placement of the H9’s recoil spring not only reduced the gun’s torque but also its muzzle flip. I was back on target quicker than I have ever been with any type of handgun. Secondly, the trigger has a positive reset. There’s nothing mushy about it, and I never experienced any trigger freeze. The H9’s sights were also a big help.

Hudson Manufacturing ships the H9 with three 15-round magazines. The magazines use a polymer follower and basepad that can easily be removed for cleaning. My test sample also came without a manual safety. However, the Hudsons informed me that manual thumb safeties will be available shortly. They also said owners will be able to install them easily. I like the gun as it was set up, but it’s nice to have the option of a thumb safety.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I am very impressed with the H9. With over 400 rounds through it, I have yet to have any sort of failure or stoppage. It possesses an uncanny degree of accuracy and excellent ergonomics. But I think it is the gun’s engineering that made me want to own it. It’s one thing to innovate, but taking an idea from concept to production is a different matter. My test sample exhibits an exemplary degree of fit and finish so well executed that it’s hard to imagine this is the company’s first year in production. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next for this young couple and Hudson Manufacturing!

Hudson H9 Specs

Hudson H9 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, visit hudsonmfg.com.

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 Hudson H9: Testing Hudson Manufacturing’s Hybrid 9mm Pistol appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Guncrafter Industries has introduced its Hellcat X2 pistol lineup. Built on the 2011 (double stack 1911) platform, the Hellcat X2 is available in Government and Commander configurations. Both models are available in 9mm or .40 S&W. Both also sport a black Cerakote over melonite finish on the slides.

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The Hellcat X2 Government pistol features a steel full size frame; five-inch match grade stainless steel barrel with a TiN (Titanium nitride) coating and Guncrafter’s BattleCrown bushing; Bomar adjustable rear sight and fiber optic front sight; Frag pattern grip and mainspring housing; and match grade trigger. Meanwhile, the Hellcat X2 Commander includes essentially the same features, but it has an aluminum frame and grip; 4.25-inch barrel without the TiN finish; and GI tritium sights.

Both guns offer a 17+1 round capacity in 9mm and ship with two fitted and tuned mags. The suggested retail price on each model is $3,895. Specs are below.

For more, go to guncrafterindustries.com.

Hellcat X2 Government

• Steel Full Size Frame & Aluminum Grip with 5″ Slide
• Black Cerakote over our Melonite, for the ultimate in looks and protection
• The BattleCrown Super Heavy Duty Bushing
• Slide Top Serrations
• 17+1 in 9mm
• Match Grade Stainless Steel Barrel with TiN Coating
• Match Grade Trigger
• Frag Pattern Grip & Mainspring Housing
• Bomar Adjustable Rear Sight & Fiber Optic Front Sight
• Flush Cut & Deep Crowned Barrel
• Flush Cut Slide Stop & Chamfered Frame
• Ball End Mill Cuts
• Slide Lightening Cuts
• Fully Dehorned-Standard
• Extreme Reliability Work
• Two fitted and Tuned Magazines
• Black GI Logo Cordura Case

Hellcat X2 Commander

• Aluminum Frame and Grip with a 4.25″ Slide
• Black Cerakote over our Melonite, for the ultimate in looks and protection
• The BattleCrown Super Heavy Duty Bushing
• Slide Top Serrations
• Match Grade Stainless Steel Barrel
• Match Grade Trigger
• Frag Pattern Grip & Mainspring Housing
• GI Tritium Sights
• 9mm Capacity: 17+1
• Flush Cut & Deep Crowned Barrel
• Flush Cut Slide Stop & Chamfered Frame
• Ball End Mill Cuts
• Slide Lightening Cuts
• 27 oz Unloaded
• Fully Dehorned-Standard
• Extreme Reliability Work
• Two fitted and Tuned Magazines
• Black GI Logo Cordura Case

The post Guncrafter Industries Releases Hellcat X2 2011 Pistols appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Switzerland’s historic policy of armed neutrality has always been enforced by citizen soldiers capable of defending their country’s mountainous terrain with their marksmanship abilities. As a result, the Swiss have put great emphasis on the quality of their weapons. As soldiers typically stayed in the army for decades after completing their initial service and took their weapons home with them, Swiss small arms were not only designed to be accurate but also durable. Upon completion of reserve service, many Swiss soldiers purchased their weapons and continued to shoot in the many rifle and pistol matches throughout Switzerland.

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Often, the weapons were passed from father to son and continued to be shot generation after generation. I had one friend in Switzerland who became an officer in the Swiss army shortly after the 9mm Sig Sauer P220 was adopted as the P75 to replace the P210. In addition to his pistol, he also inherited his grandfather’s Swiss Luger and his father’s SIG P210 pistols.

Prior to World War II, the Swiss army began searching for a replacement for the Luger pistol. One requirement was that it chamber the 9x19mm cartridge rather than the 7.65x21mm round used in the Swiss Luger. In 1937, Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG) licensed the Petter design used in the French M1935 pistol. SIG engineers improved upon this design, resulting in the SP47/8 pistol. Among the innovative design features in the SP47/8 was the use of full-length external rails on the slide mated with full-length internal rails on the frame. This enhanced slide alignment has contributed to the SIG design’s excellent accuracy.

Most importantly for a pistol that would serve the Swiss army, the SP47/8, despite and because of the tight tolerances, proved highly reliable. Also noteworthy in the SP47/8’s design was the modular hammer unit that could lifted out of the frame when the slide was removed to allow for lubrication or access to the hammer spring.

Classic P210

The SP47/8’s accuracy standard held that the gun had to group five shots into 2 inches at 50 meters using Swiss military-issued PP41 match-grade 9mm ammunition. That standard of accuracy continued for later versions of the SP47/8 throughout its production. In addition to the slide/frame matchup, the SP47/8’s accuracy was also a result of the high-quality steel barrel and crisp trigger.

Officially adopted by the Swiss army in 1949, the pistol was designated the P49, with military pistols having a serial number with an “A” prefix. The PP41 was adopted as the standard Swiss army cartridge. Initially, civilian versions of the pistol were designated the SP47/8, but in the 1950s that was changed to P210, the designation by which it is best known.

Details

For a pistol that has attained such iconic status, the P210/P49 has a very basic design, especially by contemporary standards. It has a single-stack, eight-round magazine, fixed sights, a single- action trigger and a heel-mounted magazine release. Compared to many contemporary combat pistols with more modern actions and double-stack magazines, not to mention ambidextrous frame-mounted magazine releases, the P210 seems pretty retro. However, I would note that the P210 is not a “spray and pray” pistol. It’s designed for shooters who can take advantage of its accuracy, in some cases to engage at a distance beyond that easily obtainable by modern “wondernines.”

Accuracy

That longer-distance accuracy is what first drew me to the P210. I was working on close-protection details in some pretty dangerous places and wanted a pistol that would let me engage an attacker, especially one armed with a rifle or submachine gun, at 50 to 100 yards. I switched from carrying two Browning Hi-Powers to a single Hi-Power and a SIG P210. And I realize that went against the conventional wisdom that backup pistols should use the same magazines. However, I carried a 13-round magazine in my Browning and had two spare 20-round magazines of the type used by the SAS. For my P210, I carried three 8-round magazines. Speaking of magazines, I should note that I only used Swiss-made factory P210 magazines—no aftermarket ones. Original SIG mags always been expensive and somewhat hard to find.

I never could shoot my P210 to the “2 inches at 50 meters” standard, but I could get 2-inch groups at 25 meters on a good day, which is as well as I did with any other pistol. More importantly, I could shoot the P210 at 50 meters better than any other pistol I owned, and I could keep half of my shots or better on a silhouette target at 100 meters.

Enter The P210 Target

In 2005, the Neuhausen branch of Sig Sauer ceased production of the P210. I felt a sense of loss, even though I knew that my P210 would outlast me. However, in 2010, Sig Sauer introduced the P210 Legend, which was made in Germany. Most of the features of the P210 were retained, though the bottom magazine release was replaced by a frame-mounted button. This definitely sped up the reloading process. I also found the wooden grips on the Legend fatter than those on my P210, but they were still comfortable. The Legend also had an extended beavertail for those who had problems with hammer bite. I tested the Legend and found it accurate and reliable. I was glad that a P210 was available for those who wanted one, even if it wasn’t made in Neuhausen.

The next logical step was to produce the P210 here in the U.S., and in January of 2016, Sig Sauer announced that it would begin production of the P210 in Exeter, New Hampshire. It took some time, but I recently got my hands on the P210 Target model and have been shooting it ever since.

This is a P210, but not quite the P210 that I have become accustomed to. It still has the external slide rails and internal frame rails, the hammer group still is removable, and the trigger pull is still quite good. The slide has roughly the same shape, but it is slightly different. The frame-mounted safety of the P210 Legend is retained, but in a more convenient location farther back—think Colt 1911. This is a certainly an improvement in ease of operation.

More Details

The grips on the P210 Target are oversized, thus requiring a thick slam pad on the magazine. I can’t say the grips are uncomfortable; they’re just big. Since I have always used the P210 as a carry gun, I’ve had to adjust to the grips a bit. But don’t get me wrong: They’re actually comfortable for shooting.

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And I have been shooting the P210. I have taken it to the range three times and put at least 100 rounds through it each time. On one occasion a friend, also a P210 fan, was with me and put another 100 rounds or so through it. With somewhere between 400 and 500 rounds through it without a single cleaning, the gun still functions flawlessly. That’s the level of reliability I expect from a P210, or any SIG for that matter.

For accuracy tests, my friend and I each fired five-shot groups at 25 yards with five different types of ammo. I took the best group with each load, no matter who shot it. And the pistol’s accuracy was remarkably consistent, with all shots falling between 2.3 and 3 inches. Then my friend set up a police training silhouette at 100 yards and fired five Federal 115-grain FMJs to create a 9.5-inch group. During another session, I fired nine rounds at a similar silhouette at 100 yards and hit it six times. I also shot at plates at 100 yards, hitting a bit over half the time.

Parting Shots

As you can see, the P210 Target is quite accurate. It has some ergonomic improvements, and the sights combine with the trigger pull and tight tolerances to make for a very accurate pistol. Also, compared to the prices of used Swiss-made P210s, the MSRP of $1,699 should appeal to shooters who want to own a new P210. Plus, spare magazines will be available for a more reasonable price than they have typically been.

I’m not always a believer that newer is better. I really like my classic SIG P210 and certainly plan to keep shooting it. However, I am also not a believer that newer is worse—it’s just different. I like the idea that a version of the legendary P210 is available for a new generation of shooters, especially since it’s made right here in the U.S.

Sig Sauer P210 Target Specs

Sig Sauer P210 Target Performance 

*Bullet weight measured in grains and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 25 yards.

For more information, visit sigsauer.com.

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 the SIG P210 Target Stacks Up Against a Classic P210 appeared first on Personal Defense World.

The SilencerCo Maxim 9’s debut at SHOT Show 2017 turned many heads. After nearly three years of development, the Maxim 9 starting shipping in May of 2017. SilencerCo bills it as the “world’s first integrally suppressed 9mm handgun that is holster-able and hearing safe with all types of 9mm ammunition.”

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Yes, multi-purpose suppressors are more versatile, but as with most adaptable products, they are good for many things but perfect for none. Having a dedicated suppressor, or in this case a dedicated suppressed handgun, proves itself to be the best solution of all.

The most striking difference between the Maxim 9 and a traditional handgun with a mounted suppressor is its size and shape. The Maxim 9’s integrated baffle system sits in front of the barrel and the baffle chambers extend downward, below the frame. Rather than the typical round design, the Maxim 9’s baffle chambers are rectangular with most of the baffle below the barrel. Not only is the resulting suppressor length approximately half that of traditional units, but the weight and center of gravity shifts dramatically backward toward the shooter, making the Maxim easier to control in regard to both recoil and over-swing when shooting multiple targets.

Mod To The Max

Bolted to the frame, the Maxim 9’s suppressor is a modular design allowing the shooter to choose between short and long configurations. You can remove or add baffles with an Allen wrench. The baffles interlock together so they’re always properly aligned. The Maxim 9 also ships with rods for both configurations. The primary baffle (baffle one), baffle four and the front cap are utilized in both configurations. Baffles two and three are removed for the short configuration.

In the long configuration with all its baffles, the Maxim 9 measures in at 10.75 inches. That’s a far cry shorter than a handgun with a traditional screw-on suppressor. My Glock 17 measures 14.75 inches with a Shark Hammerhead 9mm suppressor. The 4 inches of reduced length makes navigating doorways, hallways and corners far easier.

Cutting 1.21 inches off the length, the short configuration measures 9.54 inches for even greater weight reduction and maneuverability. Of course, while the gun is lighter and shorter, the suppression level is also reduced as well. The short configuration is ear-safe with subsonic 147-grain or heavier ammunition. SilencerCo rates the short configuration at 139.9 decibels with 147-grain ammo.

Silence Is Golden

With all of its baffles attached, the long configuration is ear-safe for all commercial 9mm ammunition. It is rated at 137.1, 138.3 and 136.3 decibels with 115-, 124- and 147-grain rounds, respectively.

The internationally recognized limit for hearing damage from short impulse sound is 140 decibels. Each 3-decibel reduction is equivalent to a 50-percent reduction in harmful noise, so the difference between the Maxim 9’s configurations is significant. I leave mine in the long configuration so I don’t have to worry about being ear-safe regardless of the ammo I use.

The Maxim 9’s baffles are made from 7075-T6 aluminum and are finished with black Cerakote. Removing them from the firearm, the baffles, front cap and long rods weigh 7.5 ounces. In the short configuration, the baffles, front cap and short rods reduce the weight by approximately 2 ounces.

Fantastic Firsts

Rather than using a modified version of an existing pistol, as SilencerCo did with its first prototypes, the company determined that the only way to make the Maxim 9 everything it wanted would be to design it from scratch. The end result is a radical departure from traditional semi-auto pistol designs. Bringing the extremely unique concept to life would be a major achievement for any gun manufacturer, yet this impressive achievement was accomplished by a suppressor company as its first foray into firearm manufacturing.

Like many of today’s popular handguns, the Maxim 9 is striker- fired. And it utilizes traditional Glock magazines. However, that’s where the similarities end. Rather than a full-length slide, the Maxim 9’s is only about half as long as the frame. It starts at the rear of the gun and continues only until the forward portion of the ejection port. The reduced slide length translates to less mass moving during the firing cycling, which helps to reduce felt recoil. Less mass, less movement.

Both sides of the slide are adorned with deep, wide serrations, making it very easy to grasp and rack the slide. If it were up to me, all cocking serrations would be made like this.

Rather than the traditional recoil spring that encompasses the barrel, the Maxim 9’s spring is located within the slide along with the striker and other components. The slide rides along two internal recoil rods within the slide as well as metal rails in the frame.

The construction concept of the Maxim 9 is similar to Sig’s P250 and P320 pistols in that it uses a polymer grip frame that encompasses an internal subchassis. This metal chassis holds the trigger mechanism, sear assembly, disconnector and suppressor baffles among other components.

Get A Grip

When I heard that the Maxim 9 used Glock magazines, I expected an overly large, rectangular grip. But I was quite surprised with well the Maxim 9’s grip turned out. The frontstrap is gently curved on both sides, greatly diminishing the traditional, rectangular shape. The curves create slight finger grooves that feel great in my hand, and I don’t usually like finger grooves. The curves not only reduce the circumference for better a grip, but they’re also remarkably comfortable. So much so that I coined the phrase “A Glock without the block” to describe it.

The texturing on the grip consists of a series of rectangular patterns and lines that offers a good gripping surface without overtaxing the skin.

The magazine ejects easily, and the magazine basepad protrudes slightly from the bottom of the grip frame so it’s easy to grab if the magazine needs to be stripped out in the event of a double feed, for example.

An added benefit of the curved grip shape is that the magazine release is remarkably easy to reach and activate, even for small hands. A left-handed version of the magazine release button is included so it can be swapped out by the end-user.

Slide

The Maxim 9 also has an ambidextrous slide catch. While I prefer the gross movement of grasping the slide and pulling it to the rear to release it, pressing the slide catch down with my thumb was quite easy even with a magazine inserted. This is a task achieved by few other designs.

Trigger

The trigger housing is nicely undercut, providing the shooter with a high grip. Measuring nearly 7 pounds, the trigger is a bit heavier than I traditionally prefer, but its smooth travel keeps it from being a distraction.

Safety

Safety features include a trigger safety—much like most other striker- fired guns—a firing pin block to mechanically block the firing pin channel until the trigger is pressed, and a sear that engages the firing pin in order to prevent it from moving forward without pulling the trigger. The Maxim 9 passes both SAAMI and NIJ drop tests.

Weight

As I mentioned, the Maxim 9 tips the scales at 39 ounces unloaded in long configuration and 37 ounces in short configuration. This compares to 40.6 ounces unloaded for the Glock 17 with a Shark suppressor mounted.

Additional Details

The Maxim 9’s underside sports KeyMod attachment points to mount an available rail section for mounting lights and/or lasers. The top section of the suppressor sports a removable cover plate to mount increasingly popular reflex sights. SilencerCo currently offers mounts for the Trijicon RMR and Vortex’s Viper and Venom sights.

The barrel length remains the same 4.38 inches regardless of suppressor configuration. The Maxim 9 is rated for +P+ ammunition in the full-length configuration, subsonic only for the short.

The Maxim 9’s sights are set up in a three-dot configuration with tritium for night use. The rear sight can be swapped for any that fit a Glock. However, SilencerCo recommends that the front sight not be changed. It was specifically designed to withstand the high level of heat generated at the suppressor’s end. Aftermarket sights that SilencerCo tested either melted or their inserts fell out.

Disassembly

As you may have surmised, disassembly is like no other pistol. To remove the slide for field-stripping, press and hold in the recoil rod retainer button located at the rear of the slide, then rotate the recoil rod lever located on the top of the slide. This will release the slide, allowing it to slide backwards for removal. The trigger does not need to be pulled for disassembly. In fact, SilencerCo warns against the practice. Reverse the steps for reassembly. It took me a few tries at first, but once I understood the disassembly process, it became quite easy.

The frame can be removed from the subchassis for full cleaning by way of a single roll pin once the slide as been removed. SilencerCo recommends field cleaning after every firing and a full cleaning every 500 to 1,000 rounds.

Shipment

The Maxim 9 ships with two Magpul 17-round Glock magazines, both sets of suppressor rods, a left-hand magazine release, an Allen wrench and a gun lock.

Range Work

I started my function test of the Maxim 9 with a few hundred rounds of Winchester and Federal 115-grain FMJ fodder. With perfect results, I then tested it with quality defensive hollow-point ammunition from Black Hills, Hornady, CorBon and Remington that included a mix of 115-, 124- and 135-grain bullet weights in both standard and +P pressures. As with the FMJ stuff, I am happy to report that the Maxim 9 swallowed every round without hesitation.

I used the long configuration throughout the tests. The sound suppression was very good. I had no problems with excessive noise with any of the ammo.

I previously mentioned that the 7-pound trigger was heavier than I prefer, but when shooting at defensive speed, the extra trigger weight wasn’t noticeable. Putting this into perspective, the Maxim 9 is not designed as a precision target gun, and the trigger works well for its intended purpose.

After Action Report

Shooting the Maxim 9 alongside my Glock with its Shark suppressor, my primary practical tests were to compare perceived recoil and controllability. The results were dramatic. While the overall weight of the two guns is comparable, the balance point of the Maxim 9 is far closer to the grip than the Glock, which has the full suppressor mass in front of the gun. Swinging the guns back and forth on multiple target drills showed a distinct advantage to the Maxim 9. I noticed the same with the upward momentum when shooting from a low-ready position.

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I received the same results when testing for recoil. The Maxim 9 proved that the closer the weight is to the shooter’s hand, the easier it is to control the gun’s movement.

Another benefit of the Maxim 9 that I didn’t even think about until I hit the range is that, unlike traditional threaded suppressors that have a tendency to loosen under fire, the Maxim 9’s baffles always remain in place.

Final Thoughts

Tallying the results against a handgun with a traditional suppressor, the Maxim 9, with its integrated baffle system, is easier to maneuver in tight quarters, easier to control due to its center point being closer to the hand, and it offers less felt recoil. This puts the SilencerCo Maxim 9 at the top of my list. To me, it’s a gun that has truly lived up to the hype. I recommend trying one for yourself if you get the opportunity. Watch out, though, you’re going to want one!

SilencerCo Maxim 9 Specs

SilencerCo Maxim 9 Performance 

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for three 5-shot groups at 50 yards.

For more information, visit silencerco.com.

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 TESTED: The SilencerCo Maxim 9 Integrally Suppressed Pistol appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Remington—whose parent company just emerged from bankruptcy—has teamed up with Travis Tomasie on a new 1911 called the 1911 R1 Tomasie Custom. The hook is that the gun is an exact reproduction of the gun Tomasie uses in competitive shooting matches.

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Available in .40 S&W with a five-inch ramped, match-grade bull barrel, the 1911 R1 Tomasie Custom features an oversized magwell; match grade adjustable trigger; lightened skeletonized hammer; fiber optic front sight and fully adjustable LPA target rear sight; PVD coating; and machined G10 VZ operator grips.

“Working together with Remington engineers, we’ve developed a double stack 1911 that meets my demanding specifications, and is built with pride in Huntsville, Alabama.  Utilizing premium components, this pistol offers the consumer extraordinary accuracy, reliability, and shootability,” said Team Remington captain and World and National Shooting Champion Tomasie.

“The R1 Tomasie Custom is chambered in .40 S&W to meet Major Power Factor scoring, under the rules of the USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association) and IPSC (International Practical Shooting Federation). I personally inspect and test every single R1 1911 Tomasie Custom.”

Tipping the scales at 41 ounces empty and measuring 8.5 inches in OAL, the 1911 R1 Tomasie Custom is available now at a MSRP of $1,650.

For more, go to Remington.com.

1911 R1 Tomasie Custom

• Caliber: .40 S&W
• Magazine Capacity: 18+1
• Barrel Length: 5″
• Overall Width: 1.4″
• Overall Length: 8.5″
• Trigger Pull (Lb.): 3.5-5
• Finish: PVD
• Grips: G10
• Weight (Empty): 41 oz.
• MSRP: $1,650

The post Remington, Travis Tomasie Launch the 1911 R1 Tomasie Custom appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Recent events illustrate what a dangerous world we inhabit, with terrorist attacks growing in frequency. If there were only one piece of advice I could give readers, it is to receive professional firearms training. This especially applies to all concealed carriers, no matter your perceived skill level. If you encounter a hostile situation, you’ll most likely be defending yourself with a handgun. That’s definitely not the best choice, especially when compared to a rifle. This is because a pistol is a compromise between portability and performance.

Suarez International is known for its exceptional training courses, and it has also emerged as leader in customizing handguns to better deal with realistic tactical situations. The Suarez Guttersnipe Package for the Glock 43 is an excellent example of this.

Built For Fighting

The term “guttersnipe” harkens back to the iconic ASP handgun from the 1970s, where custom gunsmith Paris Theodore totally reworked the S&W Model 39 to excel in close quarters. The unique sighting system on the ASP, referred to as a “guttersnipe” sight, was a narrowing, triangular channel with fluorescent yellow panels. The sides all pointed at the target when the sight was properly aligned. It was a quick system.

What sets the Suarez package apart is the amount of testing and development that has gone into it. The Guttersnipe Package turns a G43 into a superior covert-carry handgun that excels in gunfighting—not just the reactive defense most often associated with smaller-framed handguns. For example, the gun is available with a Shield RMS reflex sight that is co-witnessed with tritium suppressor-height sights. Suarez has come to appreciate the British-made reflex sight for its ruggedness; Shield has over 30 years in the firearms industry; it’s sold tens of thousands of red dots sold to the British military. But more on this sight in a minute.

More Upgrades

The Glock 43 can also be upgraded with a Suarez International match-grade barrel sporting 1/2×28-tpi muzzle threading. Suarez barrels are created from Lothar-Walther chrome-moly blanks and feature 1-in-10-inch twist rates. The Lothar-Walther blanks are machined here in the U.S. from a solid steel billet—almost three-quarters of the block is machined away to produce a single barrel. Then it’s finished in black Melonite inside and out.

Suarez also adds its own flat trigger, an important enhancement in terms of accuracy. Geometrically, flat triggers improve mechanical leverage. They also allow you to consistently place your shooting finger in the most advantageous position for consistent operation every time. The entire action of the Guttersnipe is also polished and tuned.

Finally, the polymer frame is textured by hand for enhanced purchase and retention. Various colors are available for the frame, including covert gray, black, white and coyote.

Zeroing In

It’s become very popular to mount miniature reflex sights on handguns. Just think of the number of manufacturers that now offer guns with slides pre-cut for these optics. Most reflex sights are large, however, and would fit better on an offensive handgun than a viable inside-the-waistband concealed carry weapon. But the Guttersnipe G43 perfectly blends concealed-carry compactness with the red-dot capabilities of larger-framed weapons, so its performance exceeds its size.

Suarez International began work on handguns with reflex sights years ago to answer a question posed by many of the company’s students: how to enhance their primary method of defense—the handgun. Suarez International never advocates gear as a substitute for skill ingrained by training and practice, but Gabe Suarez felt that upgraded gear could assist in this particular quest. He quickly established himself as a leader driving the handgun-mounted reflex sight concept, both in theory and application.

Proficiency with a handgun is one of the most perishable gun-handling skills. This is further impacted as we get older, with changes in our vision causing increased difficulty in transitioning focus between sights and target. The solution Suarez arrived at was the same as most had already opted for with their rifles. The addition of a reflex sight to your AR or AK generally improves your shooting skills in terms of accuracy, speed and proficiency in engaging moving targets. While technically a little more challenging due to the size constraints of handguns, this is what Suarez decided on as the best course of action.

Advantages

Competition handguns have sported enhanced sights, including red dots and magnified optics, for decades now. But the sights were typically big and ungainly affairs. Even the complex custom mounts used for competition are less than ideal for everyday carry. Thankfully, several companies are now offering smaller reflex sights that make pistols much more effective, and the Shield RMS is a perfect example.

Users of the Suarez Guttersnipe find that they no longer have to switch focus from the target to the sights. This invariably eliminates the front-sight focus so difficult for older shooters to overcome. They can now do as nature intends for them to do and focus on the threat. Moreover, because it’s far easier to pick up the red dot than three pieces of steel, users often find they can take shots beyond what was considered possible with iron sights alone. Hitting steel at 100 yards on the first shot is very possible with the Guttersnipe, as well as running CQB drills at times that were considered impossible to achieve before. All because the concept uses the eyes in a more normal manner.

One key part of the sighting system repeatedly stressed in Gabe’s writings and videos is having the red-dot co-witness with the handgun’s iron sights. There are many reasons for this. First, anything electronic can fail—no matter how rugged. Thus, it is important to have backup sights ready. Secondly, Gabe has discovered the fastest way to get on target is to locate the front sight with the red dot soon to follow. Lastly, the elevated irons around the red dot provide an instant verification that the optic is zeroed.

Trigger Time

I tested the Suarez Guttersnipe at the Echo Valley Training Center (EVTC) in West Virginia. My first priorities were making sure the Glock was still as reliable as before. The Shield RMS also had to prove itself as a worthy addition. Another concern was being able to find the RMS’ red dot just as quickly as the tritium front sight.

The Shield RMS immediately assisted in engaging targets at close distances. The red dot proved easy to pick up rapidly and facilitated shooting with both eyes open. The Shield RMS made it easier to engage multiple targets in rapid sequence with faster transitions between targets compared to iron sights. At the same time, it provided adequate accuracy out to 100 yards. I was able to superimpose the aiming point on the target without obscuring it, as the dot isn’t overly large. Also, the Shield RMS, which weighs less than an ounce, withstood the recoil and heat generated by repeated long strings of fire.

To see if the Guttersnipe would still work for concealed carry, I used both DeSantis and Galco holsters during the testing. Holsters with generous open-cut tops were the easiest to use with the Shield RMS installed. My drills consisted of drawing from concealment to see if I could obtain the proper sight picture quickly. I also engaged various targets from behind cover and on the move. I reloaded the Guttersnipe often to get a feel for the gun and make sure the reflex sight’s red-dot reticle was easy to pick up and get back on target. As I learned rather quickly, the Guttersnipe has great potential in terms of accuracy, speed and extending effective engagement distances.

Near & Far

The ability to use the Suarez Guttersnipe G43 as an everyday-carry handgun is what sets it apart from other pistols topped with red-dot sights. Point shooting is still possible using the Shield’s window as a “ghost ring”—albeit a large one—if forced to react instinctively to a threat. The Shield RMS came into its own for precise fire at any range desired by placing the red dot on the target and applying correct trigger control. During speed drills involving plate racks and dueling trees, my run times were closer to those with a pistol-caliber carbine than a handgun. Another advantage of the Guttersnipe is it allows for the easy incorporation of a suppressor while maintaining the same sight picture.

The Suarez Guttersnipe G43 is a compact handgun that pushes the envelope while still maintaining real-world applications. It increases the effectiveness of a compact concealed-carry handgun beyond what most thought capable.

Suarez Guttersnipe G43 Specs

Suarez Guttersnipe G43 Performance

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

For more information, visit suarezinternational.com.

This article was originally published in “Concealed Carry Handguns” 2018 #211. To order a copy and subscribe, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post How the Suarez Guttersnipe Package Can Amp Up Your G43 appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Smith & Wesson’s M&P M2.0 lineup continues to grow; the latest addition to the series is a M&P45 M2.0 pistol in flat dark earth.

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Chambered in .45 ACP, the M&P45 M2.0 features a 4.6-inch barrel; no thumb safety; and comes standard with TruGlo TFX sights to boost visibility in all conditions. Here we also have a molded polymer frame for comfort and durability; Cerakote flat dark earth slide for enhanced corrosion resistance; four interchangeable palmswell inserts; and an 18-degree grip angle for a natural point of aim.

“The M&P45 M2.0 pistol with TRUGLO TFX sights delivers a rugged, striker-fired pistol that features the popular M2.0 enhancements, including the new M2.0 crisp, lighter trigger and aggressive grip texturing,” Smith’s presser adds.

The M&P45 M2.0 represents the first M2.0 pistol in FDE chambered in .45 ACP. The M&P M2.0 pistol lineup already includes the previously released M&P9 and M&P40 FDE pistols with TruGlo TFX sights.

MSRP on this model, which comes with a one-year limited warranty and lifetime service policy, is $699. Check out the full spec breakdown below.

For more, go to Smith-Wesson.com.

M&P45 M2.0

• SKU: 11769
• Model: M&P45 M2.0 TRUGLO TFX Sights
• Caliber: 45 AUTO
• Capacity: 10+1
• Barrel Length: 4.6″ / 11.7 cm
• Overall Length: 7.9″
• Front Sight: TRUGLO TFX
• Rear Sight: TRUGLO TFX
• Action: Striker Fire
• Grip: Polymer
• Weight: 29.9 oz / 847.7g
• Barrel Material: Stainless Steel – Armornite
• Slide Material: Stainless Steel – Armornite
• Frame Material: Polymer
• Purpose: Home Protection, Personal Protection, Recreational Shooting

The post S&W’s M&P45 M2.0 Pistol Gets Flat Dark Earth Finish appeared first on Personal Defense World.

A few months ago, we mourned the end of an era when Browning announced it was discontinuing its legendary Hi-Power pistol. Luckily, Turkey-based gun maker TISAS has stepped in and filled the void, offering up what is essentially a Hi-Power clone with its new Regent BR9. The gun is being imported into the U.S. via LKCI out of Ohio.

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If you know the Hi-Power, you know the Regent BR9. Chambered in 9mm, this pistol features a 4.6-inch barrel and ships out with two 13-round Mec-Gar mags. It also comes with a magazine disconnect and a Hi-Power-style safety and extractor. In addition, it weighs in at 29.5 ounces unloaded and measures 7.75 inches in overall length. Best of all, Brownells product manager Paul Levy—in the video below—says the Regent BR9 works with standard Hi-Power components.

The Regent BR9 is available in either an all-black Cerakote or a stainless finish. It’s priced at $519 in black and $559 in stainless steel on LKCI’s website. Brownells has it listed for $550.

See the specs below. In addition to the Brownells video, check out a tabletop review and a shooting impressions video from our friend Graham Baates.

For more, go to lkcillc.com.

TISAS Regent BR9

• Action Type: Semi-Auto
• Caliber: 9mm
• Barrel Length: 4.6 inches
• Height: 5 inches
• Trigger Pull: 88 ounces
• Trigger: Single-Action
• Capacity: 13
• Length: 7.75 inches
• Width: 1.37 inches
• Weight Unloaded: 29.5 ounces

The post VIDEOS: LKCI’s TISAS Regent BR9 Is a Browning Hi-Power Clone appeared first on Personal Defense World.

People go through several stages of evolution as shooters. The first step is to simply conquer the anxiety and trepidation that go with shooting a handgun. It’s just not a natural act to operate a device that creates a small explosion less than 2 feet from your face. Once you embrace this, you will then begin to advance to smooth operation and developing an ability to easily run the gun. The fear is gone, and now you are focusing on other aspects of shooting. Once that part is mastered, you will enter a stage that will last a lifetime.

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This is the accuracy stage, and it is never ending. Like an attempt to reach the speed of light, you will feel at times like you are not making any gains when in fact you have come a very long way. While your shooting skills have the most effect on accuracy, you’ll soon begin to appreciate accurate guns. You will outgrow the plain-Jane blaster that helped you enter the handgun world and begin looking at guns built for precision. One of the best on the market right now is the Kimber Team Match II.

Olympic Trainer

The Team Match II is the apex of production pistols offered by Kimber. The pistol is the choice of shooters who won’t settle for anything less than the best. So, you’re probably asking yourself, “What makes it so special?” Well, I am glad you asked. The pistol was designed specifically for the USA Shooting Rapid Fire Pistol Team to use in national and international competitions to train for the Olympics.

This 1911 starts with a 5-inch, match-grade barrel. But Kimber’s barrel-fitting process speaks volumes about the company’s commitment to accuracy. The stainless steel barrel is specifically oversized so Kimber Custom Shop gunsmiths must fit it by hand for optimal accuracy. The barrel is paired with a stainless, match-grade bushing and a 12-pound recoil spring with a full-length guide rod.

The surrounding stainless steel slide has a matte black KimPro II finish and all-black steel sights. The front sight is mounted in a dovetail cut, and the rear sight is adjustable. With a 6.8-inch sight radius, the gun is very well balanced and has a natural point of aim. The slide also has front and rear serrations as well as a 24-karat gold USA Shooting logo.

Additional Details

The stainless steel frame has an attractive satin silver finish and partially textured rosewood grip panels. You’ll also find 30-lines-per-inch checkering on the frontstrap and mainspring housing. For even more style, the pistol’s controls (minus the trigger) are black, including the extended, ambidextrous thumb safety, slide stop, magazine release and skeletonized hammer. This is a striking-looking gun. You get plenty of bling here.

The skeletonized aluminum trigger is everything you would expect from a Kimber match pistol. It comes from the factory tuned for a crisp, clean, 4.5-pound pull with no wiggle or play. The reset is short as well, making sequential shots even better.

As a tip of the hat to the competitive nature of this gun, Kimber has included an extended and beveled mag well—something that has become a standard in shooting sports today. When you’re trying to feed your gun as quickly as possible, this mag well design is extremely helpful.

How It Shoots

I hear what you’re saying. That all sounds nice, but let’s get to the meat of the matter: Does it shoot? Yes. Yes, it does.

I received my sample Team Match II in the middle of the summer here in Arizona. That means I had to test the gun indoors and thus was limited to 25 yards. I mention this because I fully believe the gun can perform well at greater distances, but I’d have to explore that another day. The model I received was chambered in 9mm, but Kimber also offers the gun in .45 ACP. The 9mm uses nine-round magazines.

The first order of business was to shoot the gun for groups. While I would normally do this off-hand at pace, I felt this gun deserved a more focused test. I shot five-round groups using a support bag, and I was thankful I used it. The best group came in at an inch with two other brands of ammo producing groups less than 2 inches wide.

I chose a spectrum of ammo because I wanted to see if the Team Match II had any dietary issues that some high-end guns exhibit. But that wasn’t the case here. I ran hollow points and ball ammo through the gun without a single malfunction. That said, I would discourage the use of bargain-basement ammo with this gun. In fact, I discourage its use with any gun simply because it puts unnecessary wear and tear to your pistol. Skip a couple expensive coffees and buy good ammo.

Precise Shooter

I have been a fan of the 1911’s trigger since I first cut my teeth on one way back when. The 1911 simply has a nice trigger that is predisposed to accurate shooting. The premium match-grade trigger in this pistol only enhanced that love affair. Every shot broke cleanly, and the trigger reset was smooth and short. Since my range wasn’t set up for rapid-fire-style competition, I had to wing it a bit and shoot my next series of shots strong-side only. Once again, the gun’s balance and excellent trigger gave me good groups.

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The truth we must all acknowledge, however, is that a person with the ability to have a pistol dedicated exclusively to hyper-accurate target shooting is a rarity. Most of our guns are going to do double duty. They will be recreational shooters as well as possible carry guns. With that in mind, I ran a set of defensive handgun drills from 3 to 10 yards. I ran the drills from my strong and support sides, and the Team Match II was exceptional. The ambidextrous thumb safety shined here and made support-side shooting a little easier for me. Reloading was also a breeze thanks to the magazine well.

By the time I was done, all the of targets had a good fist-sized hole in the center-mass area. The one main challenge of this gun as a defensive pistol is its lack of night sights. Of course, this is an odd argument considering the gun is not designed for defensive carry. It is the equivalent of complaining because your Ferrari does not come standard with a cup holder. But, in the end, the gun is absolutely capable of fighting should the need arise.

Supporting Our Own

The Team Match II is a solid gun that is certainly worthy of the logo emblazoned on its slide. Kimber is dedicated to supporting our athletes, and this gun is a good example of that. In fact, the company generously donates $100 of every Team Match II pistol sale to the USA Shooting program. To date, Kimber donated over $1.3 million. That overwhelming number also demonstrates just how many Team Match IIs have been sold.

This gun is a solid choice for anyone who is interested in seeing just how accurate they can be. Using my standard ragged-hole drill, I was able to put five rounds into almost the exact same hole. While not scientific by any means, it is a good example of what this pistol can do. If you really want to see what you’ve got, the Team Match II is the gun for you.

Kimber Team Match II Specs

Kimber Team Match II Performance 

*Bullet weight measured in grains and accuracy in inches for three 5-shot groups at 25 yards.

For more information, visit kimberamerica.com.

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 Gun Review: The USA Shooting-Approved Kimber Team Match II Pistol appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Many of its fans claim that the 1911 is the “perfect” combat handgun just as it is. But like anything mechanical, machines can always be improved over time. Truthfully, it was only a matter of time before the “Polymer Revolution” caught up with John Moses Browning’s 1911.

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American Tactical of Summerville, South Carolina, offers an extensive line of 1911 pistols, and one of the newest additions to its stable is the 100-percent American-made Firepower Xtreme Hybrid (FHX) in .45 ACP.

Many readers probably wonder if we pundits ever get bored of writing about so many 1911s. Well, I will freely admit that it does take something special to get me excited about “another 1911.” But it only takes one glance to realize that this new FXH-45 is more than that.

The Power Of Plastic

You realize this upon picking up the pistol because it’s light—really light. An unloaded FXH-45 tips the scales at 27.5 ounces, which is about 10 ounces lighter than most steel-framed Government Model 1911 pistols.

To accomplish this, American Tactical uses an injection-molded polymer frame (Are you traditionalists out there quivering with anger right about now?) with dual 7075-T6 aluminum inserts that provide rigidity and strength. The frame has integral finger grooves on the frontstrap and a recurved triggerguard. It also has what might be the most radically undercut triggerguard I have ever seen. This design allows the shooter to get a very high grip on the pistol for enhanced recoil control. The mainspring housing is sharply checkered that further aids in providing a secure, non-slip purchase for positive handling.

The steel slide reciprocates on a separate hardened aluminum alloy insert in the frame, and as we have come to expect on modern combat-type pistols, an accessory rail on the dust cover allows the shooter to mount lights, lasers or other tactical accessories.

In a departure from most polymer-framed pistols, the FXH-45 features separate grip panels that can be replaced with any grips designed for the 1911. An ambidextrous thumb safety is also standard equipment, and the grip safety has an extended tang with a palm swell for positive deactivation. The skeletonized aluminum trigger can also be adjusted for overtravel.

Additional Details

The FXH-45’s 100-percent stainless steel slide also sets it apart from the average 1911. First of all, it has a black nitride finish that is both attractive and subdued, which is what you want on a pistol designed for combat. Dual grasping grooves grace the slide while six ports near the muzzle end add a distinctive look. In case you’re wondering, no gases are vented through the ports, and they don’t act as recoil-reducing devices.

Metal has been relieved from the top and both sides of the slide, which, along with the ports, ensures its weight is proper for functioning with ammunition of differing ballistics. The FXH-45’s ejection port is also lowered and flared to ensure reliable ejection of spent cases.

As is becoming increasingly popular on modern semi-auto pistols, the rear of the slide has a removable top plate that permits installing an American Tactical optics mount for the popular Trijicon RMR and Burris FastFire reflex sights.

I am not a fan of the three-white-dot sights that come standard on most pistols today, so I was thrilled to see that the FXH-45 was fitted with a plain black rear sight and red fiber-optic front sight, which happens to be my preferred setup, as they allow me to acquire a sight picture and transition between targets much faster. For owners who wish to change the sights, the slide is cut to permit mounting aftermarket Glock-style sights.

Inside the slide you’ll find a match-grade, 5-inch, 416 stainless steel barrel while the recoil system and internal extractor are exactly the way John Moses Browning designed them. Why try and reinvent something that has worked just fine for well over a century?

Trigger Time

My wife, Becky, and I took advantage of a cold December afternoon to run the FXH-45 through its paces. First, we tested it for accuracy from an MTM K-Zone rest at 25 yards with four loads stuffed with bullets weighing between 114 and 230 grains. It performed best with Black Hills’ 200-grain LSWC target ammo, a load that many 1911s have to be tuned for to run reliably. Well, the FXH-45 just ate up a box of them and spat out the empties.

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To see how the FXH-45 handled off-hand, we set up a pair of IPSC targets and, after belting on a Galco Yaqui Slide belt holster, ran it through a variation of the so-called “Mozambique” (or “failure to stop”) drill. You start facing the targets with your pistol holstered. Upon a signal, you draw your pistol and engage the first target with two “body” shots and then one in the “head.” You then repeat the drill on the second target.

I ran these drills a half-dozen times and am pleased to relate that all of the rounds I sent in the targets’ direction impacted inside their A-zones and “heads.” We did experience a single malfunction when one of my JHP handloads hung up on the feed ramp. Other than that, the FXH-45 ran like gangbusters.

Despite the pistol’s light weight, the recoil was extremely controllable. This is probably because of the polymer frame helps absorb some of the recoil, and the undercut triggerguard provides for a very high grip.

After Action Report

As I usually do in these articles, I want to voice one complaint and one suggestion. The edges of the magazine well were not beveled, and on a several occasions I caught the lips of the mag on them while reloading. I would like to see American Tactical bevel the edges of the well more aggressively. They could also add a funnel to ensure smooth reloads. As for my suggestion: When are we going to see a 9mm?

The FXH-45’s light weight will make for comfortable all-day carry. And it can also serve as a home-defense gun and compete in matches. Let’s face it, plastic pistols are here to stay, so why not just enjoy them? This handgun is certainly enjoyable, so make sure you check it out.

American Tactical FXH-45 Specs

American Tactical FXH-45 Performance 

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

For more information, visit americantactical.us.

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 Gun Review: The ATI FXH-45 Ain’t Your Grandpappy’s 1911 appeared first on Personal Defense World.

In the handgunning world, a Commander is a slightly shorter, lighter version of Colt‘s legendary Model 1911 pistol.

In 1949, the U.S. Army began trials to find a lighter handgun for issue to officers or those needing a handier sidearm. The pistol had to be chambered in 9mm. In addition, it could not exceed 7 inches in length or weigh more than 25 ounces.

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Candidates included Browning Hi-Power variants from the John Inglis firm of Canada, which had produced Hi-Powers during WWII, and Belgium’s Fabrique Nationale, while Smith & Wesson entered what would become its Model 39 five years later. Colt entered a modified version of its M1911 pistol that was chambered in 9mm, had an aluminum alloy frame, a shorter 4.25-inch barrel, weighed 27 ounces and utilized a nine-round magazine. None of them met the military’s requirements, which resulted in the M1911 remaining standard issue for another three-plus decades.

In 1950, Colt moved its candidate into regular production as the Colt Commander. It was the first large aluminum-framed pistol in major production, and the first Colt pistol to be chambered in 9mm, though .45 ACP and .38 Super variants were also available. The Commander was an instant hit with those 1911 aficionados who wanted a smaller, lighter pistol for concealed or uniformed carry. In 1970, Colt introduced the steel-framed Combat Commander and the original pistol was re-baptized as the Lightweight Commander.

During its 65-year production life, Colt has offered several variations of the Commander, with the most recent being the Wiley Clapp Stainless Commander, which is available exclusively through TALO distributors.

Wiley’s Own

For those wondering, TALO is a wholesale buying cooperative that was started in 1965 by fishing and hunting wholesalers in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. It commissions limited editions of firearms from various manufacturers and distributes them to stocking sporting goods dealers across the U.S. Some of the most recent are Colt’s line of Wiley Clapp 1911s, including the Wiley Clapp CCO, Lightweight Commander, Stainless Commander and Government Model.

Wiley Clapp served in the U.S. Army and as a police officer for many years. He’s become a well-known member of the firearms world, contributing to many magazines and publishing a number of books on handguns and law enforcement weapons and tactics.

TALO asked for Wiley’s input in designing a series of Colts intended for serious defensive purposes, and while the four resulting pistols are indeed attractive, they do not contain any superfluous accessories or ornamentation. Or, as Wiley put it so well, these 1911s contain “Everything you need, nothing you don’t.”

Details

I recently had the opportunity to run one of the Colt Wiley Clapp Stainless Commanders through its paces. When I opened the parcel it arrived in, I was impressed by the fact that the 1911 was both plain looking and very attractive.

The pistol’s stainless finish was flawless yet subdued. Which is exactly what you would want on a pistol designed to be carried concealed. It also has the features that are considered mandatory on a combat 1911 today, including an extended beavertail grip safety with a palm swell, an undercut triggerguard to allow the shooter to get a higher grip on the pistol for better handling and recoil control, a lowered and flared ejection port to get rid of spent cases reliably and an aggressively beveled magazine well to smooth out reloading.

The Commander is fitted with some of the most unique-looking grips I’ve ever seen. They are smooth except for finely checkered sections that match up with the three fingers that actually wrap around the grip. When combined with the 25-lpi checkering on the frontstrap and mainspring housing you get an extremely firm purchase on the pistol even with wet hands or when wearing gloves.

The pistol features a plain black Novak LoMount rear sight while the Novak front sight blade features a brass bead. This is exactly the type of setup I prefer on handguns, as it allows you to line up the sights quickly and acquire the target without trying to line up those three white dots most pistols now come equipped with.

A Closer Look

The Colt Wiley Clapp Stainless Commander has a 4.25-inch, stainless, National Match barrel. The recoil system is just the way John Moses Browning designed it. I mean, why screw around with something that has worked just fine for 100-plus years?

Other than the aforementioned grip safety, the pistol lacks the extended controls that are considered de rigueur by many 1911 shooters today. Like the magazine release and slide stop, the thumb safety is of the short “GI” style, and the pistol is fitted with the traditional Commander-style rowel hammer. Why aren’t these devices extended/elongated as they are on the majority of 1911s today? Well, as Wiley put it bluntly, they’re not necessary and may hang up when the pistol is drawn from concealment.

The one other major difference between this Commander and most production Colt 1911s is that it uses the original Series 70 firing system rather than the Series 80 firing system with the internal firing pin block safety. It is claimed by some that this provides a smoother, lighter trigger pull. But Wiley wanted the Series 70 and that’s what he got; since the trigger on my test pistol broke crisply at exactly 3.5 pounds, I cannot disagree with Mr. Clapp!

Rounds Downrange

I test-fired the Commander for accuracy from a rest at 25 yards. I was pleased to see that it shot to the point of aim with three different factory loads and one of my favorite handloads, producing groups ranging from 1.5 to 3 inches in size.

I’ve grown bored with running standard off-hand drills, so I decided to put the Colt through a more interesting exercise—the El Presidente. Developed by Colonel Jeff Copper, this drill requires drawing the pistol and firing multiple shots on each target, transitioning between targets, performing combat reloads and reengaging targets.

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I began with my back to three IPSC targets and my hands raised above my shoulders. Upon a signal, I turned, drew the pistol and fired a double-tap at each target. I then performed a combat reload and reengaged each target with more shot pairs. I repeated this drill five times. When my wife, Becky, and I examined the targets, I was very pleased to discover that every round I fired impacted inside the targets’ A zones. Or as Becky put it with a sly grin on her face, “You done good, son!”

Afterwards, Becky ran the Colt through the same drill three times and kept the majority of her rounds inside the A zones. Which I feel is darn good shooting, as she had not fired a 1911 in some time, and this was the first .45 ACP pistol she ever fired (like me, she is a fan of the 9mm).

Final Thoughts

We were both impressed with how the checkered frontstrap and mainspring housing provided a firm purchase and aided in recoil control. I believe that the modifications Wiley suggested make this one of the best-handling Commander-sized 1911s I’ve ever had the pleasure of shooting. There is only one complaint I had about it. After extensive firing, the brass bead on the front sight became blackened with residue and had to be repeatedly wiped off. For that reason I would like to see Colt offer this pistol with the option of a red fiber-optic front sight. Other than that, it was a real winner. Or, as Becky would no doubt say to Wiley, “You done good, son!”

Colt Wiley Clapp Stainless Commander Specs

Colt Wiley Clapp Stainless Commander Performance 

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

For more information, visit colt.com.

This article was originally published in the 2016 issue of “America’s Handgun: Model 1911.” To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Gun Review: Colt Wiley Clapp Stainless Commander 1911 appeared first on Personal Defense World.

In 1929, Carl Walther Waffenfabrik introduced a revolutionary new pistol that changed literally everything about combat handguns. The Polizeipistole (PP) was designed for law enforcement use and combined the revolver’s double-action/single-action (DA/SA) trigger with a compact semi-automatic handgun design. The gun world would never be the same.

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The Walther PP utilized a fairly uncomplicated blowback mechanism and was offered in .22 LR, .25 ACP, .32 ACP and .380 ACP. And, thanks to its ingenious design, the gun could be safely carried with a round in the chamber ready to fire via a long DA trigger pull. Subsequent trigger pulls in SA mode were lighter and shorter. The PP incorporated a reliable internal safety mechanism, a handy magazine release and a last-round-hold-open feature, all in a remarkably svelte, compact and stylish chassis.

The smaller PPK (Polizeipistole Kriminalmodell, or Police Pistol Detective Model) went on to become the definitive variant, and it is one of the world’s most iconic close-quarters defensive handguns. The Walther P38 used essentially the same trigger in an attempt to replace Georg Luger’s P08 during World War II. The PP and PPK armed a rogues’ gallery of Nazis throughout that planetary conflict.

The overwhelming majority of PPK pistols issued throughout WWII were chambered in .32 ACP. While this indeed made for a compact and sweet-shooting handgun, the downrange performance of this anemic cartridge was fairly underwhelming, particularly when launching FMJ bullets. Where the American M1911A1 in .45 ACP was a brawny handgun designed for serious close combat, the PPK was actually better suited as an executioner’s tool.

War Stories

Elvis Presley was fond of an engraved PPK sporting his characteristic “TCB” (“Taking Care of Business”) motto. Legend has it that the King gave his personal PPK to Hawaii Five-O actor Jack Lord as a gift in 1973.

The most famous user of the iconic Walther PPK, however, is not even a real guy. Ian Fleming’s fictional MI6 agent James Bond carried a .25 ACP Beretta 418 in his earliest adventures. A firearms expert named Geoffrey Boothroyd eventually convinced Fleming to swap Bond’s standard handgun out for a PPK just in time for his run-in with Dr. No in 1958.

The United States was always the largest postwar market for PPK handguns, and the design was amended slightly to accommodate the 1968 Gun Control Act, which established morphological criteria that had to be met for small handguns to be importable into the U.S. The subsequent PPK/S sported a slightly longer frame that held an extra round in the magazine. While Walther still offered the smaller calibers, most post-war PPK pistols fed .380 ACP ammunition. Walther now produces the PPK and PPK/S in Arkansas.

Design Influence

While the internal safety features and loaded-chamber indicator of the PPK have become de rigueur on many modern combat handguns, it was the DA/SA trigger that really made a splash. The same basic mechanism drove most handguns until the 1990s. Familiar weapons like the Beretta M9, the Sig P226, the CZ 75 and various Smith & Wesson semi-autos of the day all used some variation of this trigger system. This design reigned supreme until Gaston Glock debuted the striker-fired Safe Action trigger system that has since transformed modern combat handguns.

While most law enforcement pistols employ striker-fired triggers these days, the DA/SA mechanism remains a brisk seller. Many serious gunmen, myself included, enjoy the added safety of a long trigger pull for the first round out of the holster. Despite a literal lifetime of trying, I can never seem to shoot to precisely the same point of aim in both modes. However, I am personally acquainted with three accidental discharges that spawned from striker-fired handguns, two of which inflicted severe officer injuries. The DA/SA trigger still has a place among modern handguns even today.

Walther PPK/S

But let’s take a closer look at the PPK/S. This is a steel-framed, blowback-operated pistol with a rotating hammer-drop safety mounted on the left side of the slide. The thumb easily accesses this device when the gun is fired right-handed. The magazine release is thumb-activated like that of the revered 1911. The sights are fixed and fairly small, though the top of the slide sports wavy serrations to minimize glare.

The slide on the PPK/S locks to the rear automatically after the last round in the magazine is fired. Swap magazines and snatch the slide back slightly to release it over a fresh magazine. The recoil is snappy for a .380 ACP handgun given its unlocked blowback action. However, the gun remains both fun to shoot and a personal favorite.

Next-Gen Treatment

That Walther is an established innovator in the field of combat handguns is indisputable. One of its most modern designs, however, remains absolutely unique among dozens of competitors. The Walther CCP uses a gas-delayed blowback operating system to put 9mm power into a .380-sized chassis. Walther calls this the Softcoil system.

Most modern combat rifles are gas-operated. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but not many. The details vary, and these individual details sell a lot of guns. However, most modern combat rifles tap a bit of gas off near the muzzle and use this energy to cycle the action and fire another round. Such contrivances allow a weapon to be much smaller and lighter than might be the case were the gun driven by pure unvarnished blowback. In the case of the CCP, Walther engineers took a basic gas piston design and turned it around backwards. In so doing, they slowed the action down rather than sped it up. The result is absolutely inspired.

CCP

The polymer-framed Walther CCP is subsequently thin, lightweight and portable. The CCP was designed from the outset for concealed-carry applications, and everything about the gun is optimized for this role. There are no sharp angles to snag, and thanks to the gas-retarded operating system, the slide is remarkably easy to rack.

The CCP is indeed lightweight and svelte in hand. There is an exposed manual safety on the left side for peace of mind as well as an external manual slide release, also on the left. The reversible magazine release is in the same spot as that of the PPK/S. The stippling on the grip is pronounced without being uncomfortable. I have big hands and the CCP fits both my petite bride and me comparably well. While utterly reliable, the CCP is tedious to disassemble.

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The striker-fired trigger is consistent from the first shot to the last. I did find the trigger to be longer and grittier than that of most striker-fired designs; the CCP tames the 9mm cartridge splendidly. It also renders fine accuracy at close combat ranges. Riding in a CrossBreed IWB holster, the gun is small enough to be comfortable yet adequately powerful for serious social uses.

Old & New

Both the PPK/S and the CCP have kept me company as concealed-carry tools on countless occasions. The PPK/S carries an inimitable ambience, while the CCP is arguably the most innovative compact 9mm on the American firearms market. Both guns shoot plenty straight to defend your person during outings to the sorts of places where the Wild Things roam. Each of these two weapons fulfills the same mission in very different ways.

A man much smarter than am I once opined that variety is the spice of life. While I would take issue with that statement as it applies to perhaps spouses, such stuff is the rocket fuel that launched many a gun nerd into the limitless ether of modern gun collecting. While the vast majority of modern defensive handguns owe their parentage to the singular brilliance of one John Moses Browning and his locked-breech, recoil-operated Hi-Power, both the PPK/S and CCP follow their own unique paths.

The original Walther PPK introduced the world to a novel trigger system that subsequently dominated military handgun designs for generations. The CCP took something familiar and pedestrian and turned it on its ear. In so doing, the CCP established for itself a unique niche in the remarkably busy field of modern defensive handguns. The CCP is as cutting edge as tomorrow’s headlines, and the PPK/S remains relevant today nearly nine decades after its introduction. Between these two guns we get a glimpse into the genius that has characterized Walther firearms for nearly a century.

Walther CCP & Walther PPK/S Specs

Walther CCP Performance

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps per manufacturer specifications and accuracy in inches for best four-shot group at 18 meters.

Walther PPK/S Performance

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps per manufacturer specifications and accuracy in inches for best four-shot group at 18 meters.

For more information, visit waltherarms.com.

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

The post Comparing the Walther CCP and Walther PPK/S for Self Defense appeared first on Personal Defense World.

The Glock 19X is now available with a 10-round magazine for those living in states with magazine capacity restrictions.

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Glock’s 19X comes with a standard 17-round magazine and two 17+2-round magazines. But those magazines were of no use to those living in less, shall we say, “free” states, including New York, Connecticut, California, Hawaii, Maryland and Massachusetts. Washington, D.C. also has a 10-round limit. Thus, the Glock 19X can now be shipped out with 10-rounders.

Released at the beginning of the year, the Glock 19X pairs a full-size Glock 17 frame with a compact Glock 19 slide. It features a 4.02-inch Glock Marksman Barrel (GMB) with hexagonal rifling; no finger grooves; ambidextrous slide stop levers; and a lanyard loop. It also boasts the company’s first-ever factory colored slide, finished with a nPVD slide coating to mitigate corrosion. The gun sports a coyote tan color.

The 19X is the commercial version of Glock’s submission for the U.S. Army’s Modular Handgun System competition. The only difference is that the civilian model doesn’t come with a manual safety.

The 10-round Glock 19X is available at dealers now. For more information, visit us.glock.com.

Glock 19X Specs

• Caliber/System: 9×19 / Safe Action
• Length: 189 mm / 7.44 in.
• Height: 139 mm / 5.47 in.
• Width: 33.00 mm / 1.30 in.
• Length Between Sights: 151 mm / 5.94 in.
• Barrel Length: 102 mm / 4.02 in.
• Unloaded Weight: 704 g / 24.83 oz.
• Loaded Weight: 890 g / 31.39 oz.
• Trigger Pull: 5.8 lb / 26 N
• Trigger Travel: ~12.5 mm / 0.49 in.
• Barrel Rifling: Enhanced hexagonal profile with right-hand twist (GMB)
• Length of Twist: 250 mm / 9.84 in.
• Magazine Capacity: 17/19 (Standard), 10 (Restricted)

The post Glock 19X Now Available in New York with 10-Round Magazine appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Handguns have always been popular for personal protection, and they sell very well today, even though the gun market has slowed a bit in the last year. The brisk sales are partly explained by a Pew Research Center study in which the majority of male and female respondents said they own guns for protection rather than hunting or other sports.

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And it’s also due to a 30-year increase in the number of states that have “shall-issue” concealed-carry laws. Therefore, it’s no surprise that this year has seen a number of semi-automatic pistols and revolvers designed to meet the evolving tastes and needs of a strong market. There have been some entirely new handguns unveiled, as well as many newly released variations of already popular models.

Check out 39 new handguns to get excited about for summer 2018.

This article was originally published in “Concealed Carry Handguns” 2018 #211. To order a copy and subscribe, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

Archon Type B

Loaded with features like advanced locking technology; a low bore axis; a flat short-reset trigger; a polymer frame with an integral beavertail; a Picatinny rail; and aggressive grip frame texturing, the innovative 9mm Type B pistol from Archon Firearms could reshape industry standards. This pistol handles extremely well in rapid fire and has a 4.29-inch barrel while measuring 7.59 inches long and weighing 29.6 ounces unloaded. Uniquely, the gun comes with four 15-round magazines. (archonfirearms.com)

Beretta APX FDE

A service-grade pistol, the polymer-framed, striker-fired APX debuted last year. For 2018, Beretta has added a Flat Dark Earth (FDE) version in 9mm to its lineup. The modular frame allows you to customize the pistol to fit your hands, and the slide has wide cocking grooves along its entire length. Its 6-pound trigger provides both an audible and tactile short reset. The barrel is 4.6 inches long while the gun has an overall length of 8.5 inches and an unloaded weight of 33.3 ounces. (beretta.com)

Bond/TALO Snake Slayer

Talo Distributors has commissioned a special edition of the .45 Colt/.410 Snake Slayer derringer from Bond Arms. This small, two-shot, single-action handgun is only 5.5 inches long and has 3.5-inch barrels. It only weighs 22 ounces and can fire either deep-penetrating .45 Colt ammo or any 3-inch .410 load, including the newer buckshot loads that are very popular for personal defense. It has a matte stainless steel finish and fixed sights. (taloinc.com)

Canik TP9 Elite Combat

Used by military and police units, Turkey’s Canik pistols have garnered a good reputation. The newest version is this TP9 Elite Combat, which is suppressor-ready with elevated sights and a threaded barrel. It’s also designed to accept a miniature reflex sight. The striker-fired TP9 has a 4.9-inch barrel, a 7.28-inch overall length and an unloaded weight of 28.32 ounces. The gun also comes with an FDE finish, ambidextrous controls and interchangeable backstraps. (canikusa.com)

Caracal Enhanced F (Suppressor Ready)

Caracal is now offering American-made Enhanced F 9mm pistols with threaded 4.64-inch barrels, elevated three-dot sights and durable polymer frames. Each pistol is 7.5 inches long, and the slide as a QPQ nitride finish for enhanced corrosion resistance. Finally, the ergonomically designed polymer grip frame allows for smooth handling and lower felt recoil. (caracalusa.com)

Chiappa Rhino 30DS

Chiappa is now offering its Rhino 30DS with an olive green frame and barrel shroud. This six-shot, 3-inch-barreled, .357 Magnum revolver has a fiber-optic front sight and an adjustable rear sight. Like all Rhino revolvers, it has a double-action/single-action (DA/SA) firing mechanism and fires from the bottom chamber in the cylinder, which causes it to have much less muzzle rise. (chiappafirearms.com)

Colt Night Cobra

Colt has introduced a new version of its innovative Cobra snub-nose revolver. The new pistol, the Night Cobra, and has a matte black finish and a Trijicon tritium insert in its fixed front sight. The rear sight is the traditional notch in the top of the frame. The Night Cobra is designed for pocket carry with a spurless bobbed hammer and a smooth, low-friction polymer grip. However, this six-shooter is also more than suitable for belt or IWB carry as well. The pistol is 7.2 inches long, 4.9 inches tall and 1.4 inches wide. It weighs about 25 ounces unloaded, which helps it absorb the extra recoil of +P ammunition. (colt.com)

Coonan MOT 10

Renowned for its .357 Magnum 1911s, Coonan Arms has adapted its design to create a stainless steel pistol to take the popular 10mm Auto cartridge. It comes with a 5-inch barrel, a unique full-length dust cover, black walnut grips, Novak sights, a skeletonized Commander-style hammer, an extended manual safety and slide stop, and an 8+1 capacity. The MOT 10 is 8.6 inches long and weighs 39.2 ounces unloaded. (coonaninc.com)

CZ AccuShadow 2

Crafted by the CZ Custom Shop, this new version of the CZ-75-based Shadow 2 ups the accuracy level with a 1911-style “AccuBushing” that anchors the barrel to the slide. The custom skeletonized hammer makes the DA/SA trigger lighter and smoother with a hand-fitted disconnector providing a short reset. The pistol also has a 4.89-inch barrel, a fiber-optic front sight, a HAJO rear sight and an ambidextrous safety. (cz-usa.com)

EAA Witness Polymer 1911 Commander

If you want a Commander-sized 1911 that weighs less, consider EAA’s Witness Polymer 1911 series. The company is now offering 4.25-inch-barreled versions with polymer frames in 9mm and .45 ACP. You’ll also notice an accessory rail, a flat mainspring housing, an extended beavertail, a conical barrel and a windage-adjustable rear sight. An Officer’s-sized model is also in the works. (eaacorp.com)

Eagle Grand Power Q100

From Slovakia comes a service-sized, polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol with a 4.3-inch rotary-locking barrel for reduced recoil and muzzle flip, front and rear slide serrations, an ergonomic polymer frame with interchangeable backstraps, a Picatinny rail and ambidextrous controls. This 9mm has a 15+1 capacity, an overall length of 8 inches and an unloaded weight of 26.1 ounces. (eagleimportsinc.com)

FN FNX-45 FDE/BK

For 2018, FN has unveiled limited-edition pistols with Flat Dark Earth frames and black slides and other components. The model shown, the FNX-45 FDE/BLK, offers a 15+1 capacity in .45 ACP and comes with a 4.5-inch barrel, a DA/SA action, ambidextrous controls and fixed three-dot sights. The pistol is 7.4 inches long overall and weighs 33.2 ounces unloaded. (fnamerica.com)

Glock 19X

After unveiling its new Gen5 models, Glock recently released the G19X, essentially the pistol the company submitted for the U.S. Army’s Modular Handgun System trials. Basically, Glock took a full-sized G17 Gen5 frame and mated it to a compact G19 slide for better handling without sacrificing any capacity. It also features a Glock Marksman barrel, an ambidextrous slide stop, an “nPVD” slide finish and a smoother 5.8-pound trigger pull. (glock.com)

Hudson H9A

While Hudson Manufacturing unveiled the all-steel 9mm H9 in 2017, the company has now introduced the H9A, an aluminum-framed version with polymer grip panels and a matching backstrap for reduced weight—only 26 ounces unloaded. Like the H9, this pistol has a 1911-style grip frame and straight-back trigger pull paired with a striker-fired mechanism, a unique barrel-camming system and an exceptionally low bore axis. (hudsonmfg.com)

Kahr CM9 Kryptek Camo

This variation of the value-priced CM9 from Kahr is distinguished by its Kyrptek camo polymer frame and Cerakote Armor black slide. Like all other CM9s, it is very small and lightweight. It’s 5.42 inches long, 4 inches tall, 0.9 inches thick and has a 3-inch barrel. It weighs only 15.9 ounces unloaded and has a 6+1 capacity. (kahr.com)

Kahr CW380 Kryptek Camo

This variation of Kahr’s ultra-compact CW380 also has a Kryptek camo polymer frame and a Cerakote Armor black slide. It is both smaller and lighter than the “CM” series gun with the same color scheme. In addition, it is 4.96 inches long, 3.9 inches tall and 0.75 inches wide. It weighs a little less than 12 ounces with an unloaded magazine but it still holds 6+1 rounds of .380 ACP ammunition for a fighting chance. (kahr.com)

Kahr S9

The striker-fired S9 is one of the first models in Kahr’s new “S” series of compact semi-autos. It features a redesigned magazine basepad and grip. It also has a rail on the dust cover to attach lights, lasers or light/laser combination units. The pistol has a 3.6-inch barrel with conventional rifling and holds 7+1 rounds of 9mm ammunition. It is 5.9 inches long, 4.5 inches tall, 0.9 inches wide and weighs 17.7 ounces with an unloaded magazine. (kahr.com)

Kimber Aegis Elite Pro (OI)

Reflex sights are becoming more and more common on handguns destined for defensive and law enforcement use. If you’re a 1911 devotee and want a red-dot-equipped .45 ACP pistol ready to go right out of the box, the Aegis Elite Pro (OI) is a great option. Its milled slide carries a Vortex 6-MOA Venom reflex sight, elevated iron sights, Aegis-pattern serrations and textured G10 grip panels. With a 4-inch barrel, it’s only 7.7 inches long and weighs 38 ounces. (kimberamerica.com)

Kimber K6s 3″

Kimber has introduced a new version of its six-shot, double-action-only, .357 Magnum K6s with a 3-inch barrel. The extra barrel length gives this revolver a longer sight radius for easier shot placement at distances beyond 10 yards. The longer barrel also generates greater velocities with magnum loads, increasing the power of every shot, which helps promote expansion of hollow points. This particular K6s is 7.62 inches long, 4.46 inches tall and 1.39 inches wide. This stainless steel handgun also weighs 25.1 ounces. (kimberamerica.com)

Kimber K6s CDP

The K6s is the smallest, lightest, six-shot .357 Magnum revolver on the market at 23 ounces unloaded. This new CDP (Custom Defense Package) version features a DLC-finished frame, a brushed stainless 2-inch barrel and cylinder, three-dot tritium night sights and one of the smoothest factory DAO triggers you’ll ever experience. It also has laminate grips and Kimber’s “carry melt” treatment for added concealability. (kimberamerica.com)

Kimber Micro 9 CDP (DN)

Kimber’s new Micro 9 CDP (DN) is a scaled-down 9mm 1911 with a Hogue Wraparound grip and TruGlo Pro TFX day/night sights. It also has a “carry melt” treatment so there are no sharp edges to cut hands or abrade clothing—a very desirable feature for a concealed-carry gun. The CDP (DN) also has an aluminum frame and a matte stainless steel slide. and it’s 6.1 inches long, 4.07 inches tall and 1.08 inches wide. Even so, it has a 3.15-inch barrel and holds 7+1. Unloaded, it weighs 15.6 ounces. (kimberamerica.com)

Nighthawk Agent 2

A top-shelf 1911, the new Agent 2 is meticulously crafted to provide match-grade form and function. It’s chambered in 9mm or .45 ACP with a match-grade, 5-inch barrel; a faceted slide with windows, front and rear slide serrations; an accessory rail; a Heinie Ledge rear sight; a fiber-optic front sight; RailScales G10 grips; a one-piece magazine well/mainspring housing; and a smoke Cerakote finish. (nighthawkcustom.com)

Ruger EC9s

The EC9s is Ruger’s new value-priced, subcompact, striker-fired 9mm. Ruger engineers developed new machining techniques that allowed them to reduce the complexity involved in manufacturing the slide, and they’ve passed the savings on to the customer. This new pistol is just 6 inches long, 4.5 inches tall and 0.9 inches wide. It weighs only 17.2 ounces unloaded and has a through-hardened steel slide, a polymer frame and a matte black oxide finish. It only costs $299. (ruger.com)

Ruger LCRx

Four new Ruger LCRx revolvers are now available: .22 WMR, .327 Federal Magnum and 9mm models with 1.87-inch barrels as well as a 3-inch-barreled .22 WMR. All four feature Hogue Tamer Monogrips, aluminum frames and stainless steel cylinders with black PVD finishes. The front sights are replaceable, and the snubbies have U-notch rear sights while the 3-inch-barreled .22 WMR has an adjustable rear sight. All four models have hammer spurs that allows you to choose between single- and double-action shooting. (ruger.com)

Ruger GP100

Ruger is now offering standard production versions of the GP100 in .357 Magnum with seven-shot cylinders. Available with a 2.5-, 4.2- or 6-inch full-underlug barrel, they each weigh between 36 and 43.5 ounces unloaded and measure from 8 to 10.38 inches long overall. Standard features include fully adjustable rear sights, fiber-optic front sights and cushioned rubber grips with hardwood side inserts. (ruger.com)

Ruger Security-9

Alluding back to the Ruger Security-Six, a .357 Magnum service revolver introduced in 1972, the new Security-9 will appeal to budget-conscious police officers and legally armed citizens. With a 4-inch barrel, an overall length of 7.24 inches and an unloaded weight of 23.7 ounces, it’s compact but has a 15+1 capacity of 9mm ammunition. Ruggedly built with a glass-filled nylon frame and hardened steel slide, it has front and rear serrations, fixed sights, an accessory rail and a textured grip frame. (ruger.com)

Ruger SP101

Ruger is now offering the SP101 revolver in .327 Federal Magnum and 9mm. The former has a 3-inch barrel, fixed sights and holds six rounds of ammo. It can also be used with .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long and .32 H&R Magnum ammo. It is 8 inches long and weighs 27 ounces unloaded, which gives this handgun enough heft for excellent recoil control with magnum loads. The 9mm version has a 2.25-inch barrel and a five-shot cylinder. It is 7.2 inches long and weighs 25 ounces unloaded. (ruger.com)

Ruger SR1911 Officer-Style

Ruger has come out with a smaller version of its popular 9mm SR1911 pistol. This “Officer-Style” version weighs just 27.2 ounces unloaded. It’s also 7.25 inches long, 5 inches tall and 1.34 inches wide. It holds 7+1 rounds and comes with drift-adjustable Novak three-dot sights. Finally, this attractive pistol has a matte stainless steel slide, a matte black aluminum frame and checkered G10 grip panels for a sure hold. (ruger.com)

SAR USA SR9

Rigorously tested before production, the Turkish-made 9mm SR9 has withstood over 200,000 rounds and extreme environmental trials. It is a polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol that has proven tough and reliable. It has a 4.4-inch barrel, is 7.5 inches in overall length, weighs 27.1 ounces empty and has a 17+1 cartridge capacity. The grip frame has an integral accessory rail and textured side panels, and the slide boasts front and rear serrations as well as fixed three-dot sights. (sarusa.com)

Sig Sauer P365

Sig’s new P365 is a very small 9mm carry pistol with a very large 10+1 capacity. At SHOT, a factory representative attributed the increase in capacity to the P365’s “stack and a half” magazine design. In addition, there’s an optional extended 12-round magazine that can be purchased from the factory. This pistol comes fully equipped with X-Ray day/night sights, a polymer frame and a Nitron-coated stainless steel slide. It is striker-fired, +P rated and weighs only 17.8 ounces unloaded while being 5.8 inches long, 4.3 inches tall and 1-inch wide. (sigsauer.com)

Smith & Wesson M&P Shield M2.0

Smith & Wesson’s popular M&P Shield pistols in 9mm and .40 S&W are now available with the company’s M2.0 series upgrades, including new grip texturing as well as an improved trigger with an upgraded pull and reset. S&W is also offering these M2.0 pistols with built-in Crimson Trace lasers that are activated by pressing a button on the dust cover. Both the 9mm and .40 S&W versions are 6.1 inches long and have matte black Armornite finishes on their slides. (smith-wesson.com)

Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model 686/686 Plus

For 2018, the S&W Performance Center is offering two stainless.357 Magnum L-Frame revolvers: one with a 4-inch barrel and six-shot cylinder, and the other with a 5-inch barrel with seven-shot cylinder that takes moon clips. Both have competition-ready features such as vent-ribbed barrels, unfluted cylinders, chromed teardrop hammer spurs, speed-release thumbpieces, adjustable rear sights, interchangeable orange front sights and Hogue grips. (smith-wesson.com)

Springfield  911

Springfield’s new 911 is a 1911-style .380 ACP semi-auto that is just 5.5 inches long, 3.9 inches tall and weighs only 12.6 ounces unloaded. The 911’s slide is 416 stainless steel, which can be had with a stainless or black nitride finish, and the frame is 7075-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum frame. The 911 comes with both a flush-fitting six-round magazine and an extended seven-round magazine. It also has G10 grips that provide excellent control. Finally, the 911 comes with Pro-Glo front and rear tritium sights, and Springfield will soon offer a version with a Viridian green laser. (springfield-armory.com)

Springfield RO Elite Operator

The Range Officer (RO) Elite Operator comes in 9mm and .45 ACP with a 5-inch, stainless steel, match-grade barrel, a crisp Gen 2 trigger and a GI recoil system. Its thin textured G10 grips provide a comfortable and secure hold, and Springfield includes a fiber-optic front sight and a white-dot rear sight. The slide has front and rear serrations, and the entire gun has a “Black-T” finish. Finally, a rail is built into the dust cover for accessories. (springfieldarmory.com)

Springfield XD-E .45 ACP

This January, Springfield introduced a new 3.3-inch-barreled .45 ACP version of its hammer-fired XD-E. This DA/SA pistol is 6.75 inches long, 5 inches tall, 1-inch wide and weighs 23 ounces unloaded. It comes with a six-round magazine as well as a seven-round magazine with a Mag X-Tension. The slide has a Melonite finish, and the frame is made from textured polymer. The fiber-optic front sight is paired with a low-profile, two-dot rear sight. Finally, the XD-E has a manual thumb safety/decocker. (springfield-armory.com)

Springfield XD-S Mod.2

For those who prefer striker-fired pistols, Springfield also introduced a new Mod.2 version of the .45 ACP XD-S. This single- stack pistol is 6.5 inches long, 4.4 inches tall and 0.98 inches wide. It weighs 21.5 ounces unloaded, and the barrel is 3.3 inches long. It comes with both five- and six-round magazines. The frame is black polymer with an enhanced gripping surface, and the slide is forged steel with a Melonite finish. The red fiber-optic front sight is paired with a two-dot rear sight. (springfield-armory.com)

Taurus Model 692

An exciting addition for 2018, this is a seven-shot, medium-frame .357 Magnum revolver in stainless or matte black that, with a simple cylinder change, can be converted to fire 9mm rounds using Taurus’ Stellar clips. It’s a traditional DA/SA design with a fixed ramp front sight, an adjustable rear sight and a black “Ribber” grip. Taurus offers the revolver with either a 3- or 6.5-inch barrel. (taurususa.com)

Taurus Model 856

Taurus’ new Model 856 revolver is available in both matte blued carbon-steel and matte stainless steel variants. This six-shot DA/DA revolver has a 2-inch barrel with a fixed front sight. The rear sight is a U-shaped notch in the top of the frame. It’s 6.55 inches overall, 4.8 inches tall, 1.41 inches wide and 22 ounces unloaded, making it well suited for concealed carry. (taurususa.com)

Walther PPQ SC

Walther is now offering a Sub-Compact (SC) version of the striker-fired PPQ 9mm. The pistol comes with polymer three-dot sights, and the rear unit is adjustable for windage. (Metal self-illuminating sights are available as an option.) The PPQ SC holds 10+1 rounds, and it comes with a dust- cover rail for mounting a light or laser. This is a fast-handling pistol with a 5.6-pound trigger pull. It also has two drop safeties and a firing pin block for safe carry. The grip has non-slip, cross-directional texturing, and two interchangeable backstraps are included. (waltherarms.com)

The post 39 New Handguns to Get Excited About for Summer 2018 appeared first on Personal Defense World.

GlockStore’s Lenny Magill recently showed off a unique Glock 19 Gen4 pistol from the GlockStore Custom Shop in San Diego. How unique? Well, let’s just say there are custom Glocks, and then there are custom Glocks. This would fall into the latter category. Watch the video above for a closer look.

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GlockStore’s Custom Glock 19 Gen4

There are two things that jump out immediately on this customized Glock 19 Gen4. The first is the polished gold titanium nitride refinish on the slide, which also features added front serrations. The second thing is the white marble hydrographic dip refinish on the frame. The dip finish is clear-coated to ensure it holds up under regular use.

Furthermore, the gun comes with GlockStore’s Metallic Pin & Extended Controls Kit, which includes an extended slide lock; trigger pin; trigger housing pin; locking block pin; and OEM extended slide stop lever. In keeping with the established theme, the pins and extended controls are finished in gold.

Additional Details

Meanwhile, the gun also has a serrated, extended aluminum magazine catch, as well as a Big Mouth aluminum mag well. The included magazine comes with GlockStore’s Heavy Extended Aluminum Magazine Base Plate. All three items are in gold.

Rounding out the features on this custom G19 are a Gen4 heavy tungsten guide rod, in addition to a flat face pyramid trigger. The trigger shoe is red, the insert is black and the safety is gold.

It all adds up to an eye-catching package. The price isn’t mentioned; Magill he was just about to ship it off to the customer who ordered it.

For more on GlockStore, go to GlockStore.com.

The post WATCH: GlockStore’s Lenny Magill Shows Off Marble & Gold Glock 19 appeared first on Personal Defense World.

A few months ago, Auto-Ordnance unveiled its Victory Girls 1911. The gun pays tribute to the women who bolstered industry here in the United States while our boys fought the Axis powers overseas during World War II. Here’s the description of the gun, via the product listing on Auto-Ordnance’s website:

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Beginning with a base 1911A1 GI Model in .45ACP, it has the standard 5” barrel, seven round magazine, and US property logo wood grips. The Victory Girls model is then customized with deep cut laser engraving of a pin-up girl on the right side, and an updated “Rosie the Riveter” on the left. It also features the USAAC Star Roundel on both sides of the frame. The pistol is then given a worn look with a two color Cerakote finish of Armor Black and Gunmetal Grey to resemble a World War 2 Fighter Plane

The Auto-Ordnance 1911BKO frame incorporates GI specs, and features a matte black finished frame, barrel, and slide. The carbon steel slide, sear, and disconnector are machined from solid bar stock, then heat treated properly to assure durability and long life over many thousands of rounds. The low-profile sights feature a blade front sight and a rear drift adjustable for windage. The grip is brown checkered plastic, with wood optional on the 1911BKOW model.

This model 1911 pistol is chambered in .45 ACP, has a 5” barrel, 8.5” overall length, and weighs 39 oz. The 1911BKO is 100 percent made in the USA, and ships with one 7-round magazine. The BKO has a thumb safety, grip safety, and firing pin block.

Sure, that all sounds great, but how does it run? Our friend Graham Baates decided to find out. In the video above, Graham runs through his usual battery of tests. He starts out with a full mag +1 test from about 17 yards out. He then does his “What’s for Dinner” test. For that, he uses Federal’s 165gr Hydra-Shok; Winchester’s 230gr Winchester PDX1 Defender; 185gr Sig V-Crown; 185gr Legend Pro; Hornady’s 185gr FTX Critical Defense; and Remington’s 185gr Golden Saber. Lastly, Graham conducts a field accuracy test, shooting five rounds from seven yards out using Nosler 230gr Match.

Watch out the video above to find out how the Auto-Ordnance Victory Girls 1911 did on the range. Check out the specs on the gun below.

Auto-Ordnance Victory Girls 1911

• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Barrel: 5″ Standard
• Length: 8.5″ Overall
• Weight: 39 oz
• Sights: Blade front, rear drift adjustable for windage
• Grip: Checkered Wood Grips with U.S. Logo
• Magazine: One 7 Round

“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 Auto-Ordnance Victory Girls 1911 Gets a Range Workout appeared first on Personal Defense World.

A Tennessee mother used a pistol to scare off her son’s friend who allegedly sexually assaulted her during a sleepover earlier this week.

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Tennessee Mom Pulls Pistol

WREG says that on the night of the sleepover, the mother had collected all of the alcohol around the Arlington house—presumably to prevent her son and his friend from drinking—and locked her bedroom door. At around 2:30 a.m., however, she was suddenly awoken by a knock.

The mother opened the bedroom door; in stormed her son’s friend, identified as 18-year-old Jordan Corter. The criminal complaint obtained by Fox 13 Memphis says that Corter forced the mother onto the bed and proceeded to stick his hand down her pajama shorts.

As Corter began to touch her inappropriately, the mother pulled herself away, doing so with such force that she gave herself a black eye. According to WMC-TV, she then kneed Corter in the groin and went to grab a pistol. She aimed the pistol at Corter’s face and told him to leave immediately.

Jordan Corter Arrest

Fox 13 Memphis says police were notified about the incident the following day when the mother told her boss at work what had happened. Arrest records cited by WREG indicate that when police went to Corter’s house, he admitted to the attack. He reportedly told authorities that he “forced the victim to do the things she didn’t want to do.”

Corter then began to break down and said he “should not be forgiven.”

Police took Corter into custody. He’s been charged with attempted rape and sexual battery. His bond is set at $30,000.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office posted about the incident on Facebook, warning citizens to “know who you invite into your home.”

Meanwhile, Corter’s step-grandfather has defended him, telling WREG that “He’s a good kid. He just graduated high school.”

The post TN Teen Tries to Rape Friend’s Mom at Sleepover, Mom Pulls Pistol appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Eagle Imports has announced that the Grand Power Stribog semi-auto pistol carbine is now available to customers in the United States.

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Chambered in 9mm, the Grand Power Stribog—named after the mythical Slavic god of wind and storms—features an eight-inch threaded barrel with a thread protector; M-LOK accessory rails; flip-up front and rear sights; and ambidextrous safety and magazine releases. An optional back plate AR tube adaptor is available for those who want to attach a pistol brace.

In addition, the Stribog boasts a lightweight, anodized aluminum alloy construction, as well as a dual mass slide that mitigates recoil and boosts overall control for the shooter.

“The Stribog was originally designed as a sub gun and is sold with a stock in Europe and other parts of the world,” Eagle Imports president Michael Sodini said. “We’re excited to bring the 9mm pistol version to the American market. It’s extremely fun to shoot and there is an optional adapter for a stabilizing pistol brace. It’s one of my new favorites for sport shooting and close protection.”

Shipping out with two 20-round magazines (30- and 10-round magazines are available for purchase separately), the MSRP on the Grand Power Stribog is $869. See the specs below.

For more, go to grandpower.eagleimportsinc.com.

Grand Power Stribog Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: Dynamic Blowback Mass Bolt
• Capacity: 20+1
• Barrel Length: 8″
• Front Sight: Flip-up
• Rear Sight: Flip-up
• Finish: Black
• Grips: Polymer
• Construction: HTS Aluminum Alloy
• Safety: Ambidextrous External Safety
• Weight: 82 oz.
• Length: 14.74”
• Height: 8″
• MSRP: $869

The post The Grand Power Stribog Pistol Carbine Is Now Available Stateside appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Kahr Arms has been known for making prime examples of concealed carry-friendly semi-auto pistols since 1995. The company’s current lineup stays true to its core characteristics: quality craftsmanship and thin profiles.

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One way Kahr achieves such thin profiles with its guns is its unique offset barrel lugs. Most pistols have lugs centered along the axis, requiring the trigger mechanism to be moved behind them. Kahr’s offset lug system allows the trigger mechanism to occupy the same space, providing a more compact package. The company also use a cocking cam trigger system that unlocks a passive safety and releases the firing pin. This camming action creates one of its signature features: the smooth trigger. Kahrs are known for their long, smooth trigger presses. Once you become accustomed to the press, it’s just wonderful.

The CM9 and PM9 have become some of Kahr Arms’ most popular concealed-carry pistols. Their short grips and slides, coupled with their thin profiles, make them an obvious choice. The CM9 and PM9 both pack six rounds into flush-fitting, stainless steel magazines. On the other hand, the P9 gives you a barrel over half an inch longer as well as an extra 9mm round on tap. I chose to customize the P9 specifically because it comes with a polygonal-rifled barrel and enhanced slide machine work, but the same modifications can be made to most of Kahr’s lineup.

Pike Performance

Pike Spraggins has been customizing pistols since opening MOD 1 Firearms in 2012 after a law enforcement career spanning 20 years. I’ve admired his craftsmanship since meeting him. Pike churns out countless Glocks and S&W M&Ps, so the P9 was a nice change of pace. This is the second Kahr pistol I’ve had him work his magic on, and I’ve been left speechless every time.

The frame was the first item to tackle. From the factory, the grip provides tame side texturing, but the front- and backstrap are aggressive. This makes sense for its intended usage. The tame side panels prevent snagging on clothing or scratching skin. The aggressive front- and backstrap texturing provides bite and grip when the pistol is fired. Unfortunately, a long practice session leaves my hands worse for wear.

Pike stippled the polymer frame, providing an even, uniform texture. There is enough traction to be confident without being uncomfortable after a range session. The attention to detail in the lines is a good indicator of the quality of work Pike performs.

Slide Work

The P9’s slide received the most work. Kahr provides useful rear cocking serrations, but with the P9’s extended slide, there is plenty of real estate to allocate to matching forward cocking serrations. Pike expertly matched the factory rear serrations up front after carefully removing the factory roll marks.

While the CNC mill was removing material from the Kahr’s slide, the end mills made their way to the top rear of the slide. They removed just enough material to allow a Shield RMS reflex sight to be nestled in where the factory rear sight once lived.

After the slide was machined, it was thoroughly deburred and then cleaned in an aluminum-oxide blast cabinet. Next, it was given a dark gray Cerakote finish. This color is a special blend done by MOD 1 that sets itself apart from all the standard Cerakote offerings. The ceramic- based coating provides protection and mutes the factory slide’s silver color. But the slide wasn’t the only part to get this special treatment. The slide stop lever and trigger were also coated before reassembly. The customization work on the P9 would run most people around $479. That includes inletting the slide for the reflex sight, adding forward cocking serrations and other slide enhancements, stippling the frame and applying Cerakote.

Shield Solution

The Shield RMS is unique in that it provides an integrated rear sight channel. This eliminates the more traditional requirements of mounting the optic in front of the rear dovetail and installing taller iron sights. The RMS was inlet into the slide as deep as the slide’s internals would allow. There was still around a 0.1-inch difference in where the factory rear sight had been, so Kahr sent me a slightly taller front sight. This ensures that the RMS’ integrated rear and new taller front sight would still have the same point of impact as the factory sights.

The RMS has a few other features worth mentioning. The sight is designed so you can replace the CR2032 battery without having to remove the optic from the slide. In addition, the aluminum body provides a tough exoskeleton for the electronics housed inside. The RMS is also only 1-inch wide and weighs a paltry 0.61 ounces. It is thin enough to fit on most single-stack 9mm pistols like the Glock 43 and S&W M&P Shield without adding much to the profile. Many competing red dots are simply too large to fit on these pistols properly.

Weight also matters on a pistol meant for daily carry. Adding the weight of a red-dot sight can adversely affect the slide’s functioning. Gun manufacturers tune the recoil spring weight to work with the slide weight and most common ammunition. When you change the slide weight too much one way or the other, the recoil spring is no longer tuned properly. The machine work that was performed on this slide offsets the extra weight nicely, and no negative side effects were noted. In fact, with the machine work done to the slide, adding the optic only increased the slide weight from about 8.915 to 8.918 ounces.

PJ Holster

This is designed to be a carry pistol, so a quality holster was required to make the experience enjoyable. PJ Holster was started in 2011 with the goal to make holsters simple, practical and affordable. This company has been my concealed-carry holster provider of choice ever since I moved to a CCW state. Depending on weather and clothing choices, I alternate between the company’s inside-the-waistband and outside-the-waistband holster models.

PJ’s design choice of building its holsters from single sheets of Kydex yields a holster with no extraneous screws, weight or bulk. Its designs are as minimalistic as you can get while providing whole-gun coverage, belt clips and proper gun retention. The outside-the-waistband example shown here boasts a Black Raptor Tactical finish along with a 1.5-inch belt clip. PJ also provided a matching magazine carrier. I’d always recommend carrying an extra magazine, especially while carrying a single-stack pistol with a limited capacity.

Lakeline’s Add-Ons

The last two additions to the pistol before it hit the range were both from Lakeline LLC. This company sent me a stainless steel guide rod and machined aluminum magazine followers. The aluminum followers have an improved shape that aids in feeding the rounds more reliably. They also prevent the top round from popping out—something many who carry spare Kahr mags have experienced. The metal design is also more robust than the Kahr factory plastic components. The factory plastic follower relies on a metal insert to catch the slide stop when the magazine runs dry. The metal version can’t fail there.

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The guide rod is machined from 316 stainless. It is harder than the factory rod, which helps prevent the spring from gouging the rod. Not having a gouged rod makes the action feel smoother in operation. Both parts are cheap insurance against letting some small issues detract from an otherwise top-quality pistol.

Top of the Line

A pistol can look like a million bucks, but if it shoots like a $2 bill, it is pretty much worthless. Thankfully, this custom Kahr P9 shoots better than its price would dictate. The barrel, produced from a Lothar Walther blank, provides excellent accuracy.

I tested the pistol with Speer 124-grain and Blazer Brass 124-grain ammo. All of the ammo provided satisfactory results and functioned properly. The gun was previously broken in with Speer 124-grain Gold Dot hollow points before any custom work was performed. It was deemed carry ready at that time. No malfunctions were experienced in testing after all the work was finished. Testing outside in subfreezing temperatures was less than ideal, but even so, the P9 managed 1.06- and 0.97-inch groups with the Blazer Brass and Speer ammo, respectively, off-hand at 10 yards. For a concealed-carry pistol, I found that more than adequate. With more ideal conditions and a supported position, I’m confident the gun would be shooting near cloverleaves.

The Shield RMS allowed a full trigger press as soon as the dot was on target. Using traditional iron sights, you have to wait until the front and rear sight are aligned, then focus on the front sight awhile initiating the trigger press. The single-plane nature of red dots eliminates the need for alignment. If the dot is on target, you are free to fire.

Kahr Arms makes superb concealed-carry pistols, but with a few functional additions, these guns can be custom-tailored to meet your needs perfectly. With a little help from MOD 1 Firearms, Shield, PJ Holsters and Lakeline LLC, I now have a superb custom solution.

Custom Kahr P9 Specs

For More Information

KahrArms
kahr.com

Lakeline LLC
lakelinellc.com

MOD 1 Firearms
mod1firearms.com

PJ Holster
pjholster.com

Shield
shieldpsd.com

This article was originally published in “Concealed Carry Handguns” 2018 #211. To order a copy and subscribe, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post 5 Customizations to Amp Up a 9mm Kahr P9 Pistol appeared first on Personal Defense World.

A few days after announcing that its Stribog 9mm pistol carbine was available stateside, Grand Power has revealed that the Q1S pistol, made in Slovenia, is now shipping in the United States via Eagle Imports.

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The Grand Power Q1S is a striker-fired subcompact gun chambered in 9mm. It features a 3.7-inch barrel with Grand Power’s signature rotating barrel locking system for low felt recoil; Picatinny rail for accessories; fully ambidextrous controls; and a convenient, ergonomic shape for the end user.

In addition, this gun comes with a micrometer adjustable steel rear and plastic front sight. It also weighs in at 28.10 ounces, measures 8.7 inches in overall length, and has a 12+1 capacity.

“We’re excited to bring the best of both worlds to American gun owners,” Eagle Imports, Inc. president Michael Sodini said. “The Grand Power Q1S combines the size and tried-and-true locking principle of the P11 model with a reliable striker-fire trigger mechanism. It’s truly a pleasure to own and shoot.”

The Grand Power Q1S, which comes with a lifetime service contract for original owners, is available at a MSRP of $574. See the specs below.

For more, go to grandpower.eagleimportsinc.com.

Grand Power Q1S Specifications

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: Striker
• Capacity: 12+1
• Barrel Length: 3.7”
• Front Sight: Plastic
• Rear Sight: Micrometer Adjustable Steel
• Finish: Black
• Grip: Polymer
• Frame: Steel
• Slide: Steel
• Safety: Firing Pin Safety, Trigger Safety
• Weight: 28.10 oz.
• Length: 8.70”
• Height: 4.60”
• Width: 1.40”
• MSRP: $574

The post Now Shipping in the US: The Grand Power Q1S 9mm Pistol appeared first on Personal Defense World.