Combat Handguns 2014-05

8/9/2019 Combat Handguns 2014-05

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/combat-handguns-2014-05 1/100





It’s my choice.

It’s my right.

It’s my Taurus.

TM

CarryOnMovement.com /TaurusUSA

@taurususa

TM

Brittney L. Decatur, GA

738 FS





6 IT HAPPENED TO ME

nighttime intruder/gas station robbery

8 SELF-DEFENSE & THE LAW

stand your ground—five cases profiled

24 RIMFIRES

stealthy .22s

40

LADIES ONLY self-defense 101

58

HANDGUN HIDEeveryday concealment options

80 ASK THE PROS Robert Vogel answers our questions

88 LETTERS

top-gun Todd Jarrett/S&W M&P45C

90 NEW PRODUCTS new guns and gear that caught our eye

93 WEBSITE DIRECTORY

visit these sites for further information

94 CLASSIFIED ADS

products and services of interest

98 GUNSITE GOSSIP

a Jeff Cooper retrospective

FEATURES

COLUMNS

CONTENTSMARCH 2014

VOLUME 35 NUMBER 3

ON THE COVER ON THE COVER

In This IssueGlock has long been on the cutting edgeof handgun design—indeed, eversince the making of its first autopistol,the G17. It’s an engineering traditionthat continues into 2014, which sees theintroduction of two very different, yetvery complimentary, Glock handguns,the G41 Gen4 and the G42. The former isa full-size .45 ACP measuring 8.9inches long overall and boasting thefull complement of Gen4 features.

The G42, on—or, in—the other hand,is Glock’s smallest pistol, a .94-inch-slim .380 that may prove to be the mostsmooth-shooting pocket pistol on themarket. Combined with the third of ourcover guns, the highly popular G30S .45,the G41 Gen4 and G42 offer the useran unbeatable array of self-defensefirepower. Of course, Glock’s aren’t theonly new guns we’re covering in ourexciting May issue—be sure to checkout our comprehensive reviews of theupgraded Springfield XD-S .45, the 9mmWalther PPQ M2 5-inch and the big-bore Kimber TLE/RL II 10mm, to name

just a few. Also on tap are columnson suppressed .22s, deep-cover carryholsters, and the ins and outs of StandYour Ground—essential reading for theserious self-defending citizen.—MD

10

16

3444

52

68

®

10 NEXT-GEN GLOCKS By Jim Schaffer

The G30S, G41 Gen4 and G42: advanced .45 and .380 firepower!

16 SPRINGFIELD XD-S By Dennis Adler

Upgraded pocket .45 shoots smooth, hits heavy and carries easy!

28 KIMBER TLE/RL II By Dave Bahde

SWAT-born 1911 brings tactical touches to the powerhouse 10mm platform!

34

WALTHER PPQ M2 5-INCH By Dennis AdlerSelf-defense 9mm boasts Govt.-model dimensions and top-gun performance!

44 METRO ARMS BOBCUT 1911 .45 ACP By William Bell All-steel big bore bred for reliability and knockdown power!

52 SMITH & WESSON M686 SSR By Martin D. Topper Enhanced .357 self-defender delivers Performance Center superiority!

62 STEYR M40-A1 By Chad Thompson Futuristic .40 delivers unbeatable ergonomics and 12+1 rounds of firepower!

68 SIG SAUER P516 By Doug Larson 5.56mm megapistol delivers devastating firepower at ranges short and long!



combathandguns.com

Glock’s six shots end late-night break-in! Driver’s 1911 sends would-be robber fleeing!

IT HAPPENED TO ME!

DON’T BE A VICTIM!

PublisherStanley R. Harris

Executive PublisherVirginia Commander

Group PublisherShirley Steffen

Associate PublisherKarin Levine

Editor-at-LargeMichael O. Humphries

Managing EditorMark DeLucas

Junior Managing EditorsLaura LancasterChad Hollingsworth

Copy EditorRyan Pasquale

Art DirectorSocrates Gomez

Advertising RepresentativeLeticia Henry

Advertising Coordinator

Emily LeeProduction DirectorDennis M. Wheeler

Circulation/Marketing DirectorRichard Fogel

Single Copy Sales ManagerRichard Ciotta

Social Media DirectorClaudia Bircu

Advertising Production ManagerDanielle Correa

Director Digital and Mobile PublishingKim Shay

Cover PhotoSean Utley

Send editorial queries [email protected]

Harris Tactical Group can be reached at:Phone: 212-807-7100; Fax: 212-463-9958combathandguns.compersonaldefenseworld.com

Comments:personaldefenseworld @harris-pub.com

Subscription/Back Issues:[email protected]@harris-pub.com

To the Readers: Be advised that there may be productsrepresented in this magazine as to which the sale,possession or interstate transportation thereof maybe restricted, prohibited or subject to special licensingrequirements. Prospective purchasers should consultthe local law enforcement authorities in their area. Allof the information in this magazine is based upon thepersonal experience of individuals who may be usingspecific tools, products, equipment and componentsunder particular conditions and circumstances, someor all of which may not be reported in the particulararticle and which this magazine has not otherwiseverified. Nothing herein is intended to constitute amanual for the use of any product or the carrying outof any procedure or process. This magazine and itsofficers and employees accept no responsibility for anyliability, injuries or damages arising out of any person’sattempt to rely upon any information contained herein.

COMBAT HANDGUNS (ISSN-1043-7584) is publishedeight times per year by Harris Publications, Inc., 1115Broadway, NYC, NY 10010. Single copy price: $5.99 inUSA, $6.99 in Canada. Submissions of manuscripts,illustrations and/or photographs must be accom-panied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Thepublisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicitedmaterial. Copyright © 2014 by Harris Publications,Inc. All rights reserved under International and Pan

American Copyright Conventions. Reproduction inwhole or in part without written permission of thepublisher is strictly prohibited. Printed in the USA.

®

R O G E R

B E T H K E

I L L U S T R A T I O N

NighttimeIntruderI was home one night

while my husband

worked the late shift.

We lived in a good area,

but I’ve always been

concerned about safety,

as I’m usually alone

at night. We’ve always

tried to keep that fact

quiet, so no one knew.

On one night, I had putmy children to bed and

was in my bedroom

watching TV. Everything

made it seem like it was

a normal night. But that

was about to change.

While watching a

show, I heard a sound

and initially just chalked

it up to something on the TV. I figured

my imagination was just getting the best

of me and did not want to overreact.

However, as I continued to listen, the

hairs on the back of my neck stood upas I realized the sound was coming from

downstairs. It was still relatively early, so

I knew it wasn’t my husband because he

rarely got home early.

To give some background, after we

first got married, my husband insisted

I learn to use a gun. He kept it pretty

simple, and I settled on learning to use

a Glock 9mm and keeping it in the house

for me. I thought it handled well, was

easy to use, and I could shoot very well

with it on the range. In fact, he insisted

we go to the range with it at least once a

month so I remained familiar with it.

When the sounds emanating from

downstairs continued, I quickly went and

got my Glock and proceeded to qui-

etly check the kids’ room to ensure that

they were safe. They were my first and

foremost concern. I had my phone and

realized then that I should call for help,

but, prior to my calling 911, I peeked my

head out of the bedroom door and looked

down the steps to the first floor. What I

saw terrified me—I noticed an intruder

standing at the bottom of the stairs.

The moment was frozen in time as Inoticed a knife in his hand; it seemed to

last longer than it probably did. I suddenly

felt like I was in cement as fear overtook

me. I knew we were all in danger but

couldn’t get my mind or body moving to

respond. What finally broke the stalematewas when the intruder started charging

up the stairs. As he climbed, I’m not sure

what happened, but, in an almost out-

of-body experience, my arm holding the

pistol raised up. I aimed the pistol and

pulled the trigger.

The investigation afterwards showed

that I pulled the trigger six times. The

next thing I recall was the intruder falling

backwards down the stairs and crashing

onto the bottom floor. I called 911, and

within minutes the police and ambulance

were there. They later told me that the

intruder didn’t make it and that he had a

prior history of burglaries and rape. Had

I not had my pistol, I may have been an-

other victim, and my children would have

been placed in extreme danger.—EN,PA

Gas Station RobberyOn a hot summer day, on my way home

from work, I stopped for gas at a small

station in Nashville, Tennessee. As I was

pumping gas, I noticed a man on a bike on

the other side of the road staring at me

intently. When traffic cleared, he clumsily

peddled the bicycle across the road and

As the knife-wielding intruder grimly climbed thestairs, the would-be victim raised her Glock andfired, defending her life and the lives of her children.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 78





08 COMBAT HANDGUNS May 2014 combathandguns.com

SELF-DEFENSE & THE LAW

Will immunity from criminal charges keep you out ofcivil court? As five real-life cases show, the devil is inthe details! BY MASSAD AYOOB PHOTO BY PATRICK LANHAM

ontrary to claims by gunprohibitionists and the anti-self-defense crowd, it is falseto say that Stand Your Groundlaws allow people to shoot

anyone they’re remotely afraid of. It takesa lot more than a claim of self-defense toachieve immunity from criminal prosecu-tion or civil lawsuits arising from suchacts. Let’s delve into some of the compli-cated elements involved.

Actually reading the immunity clauses,one finds that the determination that ashooting was in self-defense protectsthe shooter from being brought to trial ineither criminal or civil court. Rememberthe old saying, “The devil is in the de-tails?” That’s on point here. The operativeterm is “determined.”

Determination Issues What constitutes a “determination” ofself-defense? The answers are a bitfuzzy here, because we’re talking aboutrelatively new laws that have not beenfully and widely tested by the highestappellate courts. In Florida, certainly, afinding of self-defense in a Stand YourGround hearing should be, by statute, asolid bar against a lawsuit over the inci-dent being allowed to continue. Anothersolid determination is what is called a“memorandum of closure” issued bythe prosecutor’s office. This is an officialdetermination, in writing, by that office,

stating that an investigation has deter-

mined the shooting to have been in lawfulself-defense.

In Case One, a woman called for herson to help her when she found an in-truder on their property. The son grabbeda gun and came to her aid. When theinterloper came at them both, he fired toprotect his mother. The gun blast killedthe suspect.

The event was thoroughly investigated.It was a clear-cut case of self-defense,and the prosecutor’s office assured thefamily and their attorneys that they hadno intent of bringing any charges againstthe shooter. But, for whatever reason, theprosecutor’s office chose not to issue a

memorandum of closure.

Since in Florida the Stand Your Groundhearing is reserved for criminal cases andnot applicable to civil cases, there wasno official determination of self-defense.Without it, there was no bar to a massivelawsuit against the shooter’s family, whoowned the property where the obviously justified homicide took place. Last I knew,the case was proceeding, and the shooterand his family were facing huge legal feesto defend themselves in court.

It is important to note that not havingbeen charged criminally (or even havingbeen tried and acquitted in criminal court)will not automatically bar a civil lawsuitfrom arising out of the same incident.The reason is the different standards ofproof required in those two separate legaltheaters. Charges may be dropped, ora defendant acquitted by judge or jury,because the prosecution could not proveguilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Lawprofessors generally describe “beyonda reasonable doubt” as a certainty highin the 90th percentile. But a civil lawsuit judgment only requires a “preponderanceof evidence” standard. Preponderance of

evidence is only a greater-than-50-per-cent certainty of wrongdoing on the part

STAND YOUR GROUNDLEGALITIES

statin that an investi ation has deter- emorandum of closure.

C

“It is important to note that not havingbeen charged criminally (or even havingbeen tried and acquitted in criminal court)will not automatically bar a civil lawsuitfrom arising out of the same incident. Thereason is the different standards of proof

required in those two legal theaters.”



combathandguns.com May 2014 COMBAT HANDGUNS 09

of the defendant. An example I referencein regards to this subject because it is sowidely known to the American public is

the O.J. Simpson matter. In Case Two, atthe criminal trial, Simpson was acquittedof a double homicide because the jury wasnot convinced beyond a reasonable doubtthat he was guilty. But in Case Three,Simpson’s trial in civil court, Simpson wassued by the victims’ families, resulting ina crushing verdict against him becausethe second jury was convinced that, morelikely than not, Simpson had perpetratedthe killings.

Not RetroactiveIn several states good people are seekingreform legislation similar to that in Texasand Florida to protect law-abiding citizensfrom unmeritorious criminal charges orcivil lawsuits after they have been forcedto shoot violent criminals in self-defense.Such laws have done a great deal ofgood already. However, if you have to usedeadly force to save your life tomorrow,and such a law passes in your state theday after tomorrow, understand that youmay not have retroactive protection.

A few years ago, I flew to Texas twiceto speak for a rancher who had killed a

burglar. This gentleman came home tofind that his house had been broken into.

The burglar, leaving the house with abag of stolen goods that included loadedguns, ran to his car. He gunned the vehicletoward the homeowner, his foreman andthe foreman’s son while simultaneouslyreaching toward the stolen guns in thefront seat. The homeowner fired a singleshot, which killed the criminal and verylikely saved his own life and those of thetwo other people he was protecting.

On my first trip there I spoke in Case

Four, during the grand jury proceeding.The grand jury understood this argumentand returned “no true bill,” effectively rul-ing that no crime had been committed bythe homeowner. However, I had to comeback later to speak for him again at trialwhen he was sued by the family of the de-ceased in what was essentially Case Five.Why? Because even though Texas hadpassed legislation that provided immunity

to lawsuits arising from the use of force inself-defense, the law had gone into effectshortly after this shooting and was there-fore held to not apply. He went on to win incivil court, too. But, by the time it was allover, he said he had incurred six figuresworth of legal fees and related costs.

Negligence ExemptionSuch immunities against prosecution andlawsuits as they exist in some Stand YourGround laws are strictly limited to justifi-able self-defense incidents. Negligence,such as an unintended discharge, is abso-

lutely not covered, and neither is recklessdisregard for human life. If this sort ofthing becomes the core of a “plaintiff’stheory of the case,” and the plaintiff’s law-yer convinces the judge that he has a solidargument, you can expect the Stand YourGround protection to be set aside and thelawsuit against you to proceed.

Final ThoughtsThis writer is a strong supporter of CastleDoctrine and Stand Your Ground laws. Atthe same time, decades of working in thecriminal and civil justice systems haveshown me that simplistic interpretationsof inherently complicated things rarelylead to good outcomes. If you’ve beencounting on these laws, read and studythem in detail. The better you understandthem and act within their parameters, themore likely they’ll be of help to you if theterrible day ever comes when you actuallyneed them.

Try to remember that “devil in thedetails” saying. The better you know thelaw and act within it, the more likely you’llbe to instead quote the great architect

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who said, “Godis in the details.”

“In several statesgood people areseeking reformlegislation similar

to that in Texas andFlorida to protectlaw-abiding citizensfrom unmeritoriouscriminal chargesor civil lawsuitsafter they havebeen forced to shootviolent criminals inself-defense. Suchlaws have done agreat deal of goodalready.”



combathandguns.com

NEXT-GENDEFENDERSG41 Gen4, G30S and G42:advanced .45 and .380 firepowerto break any threat, anywhere!BY JAMES SCHAFFER

PHOTOS BY SEAN UTLEY

10 COMBAT HANDGUNS May 2014

SPECIAL REPORT

•

Glock’s newest thundergun, the .45-caliber, 5.31-inch-

barreled Glock 41 Gen4 delivers stellar accuracy at CQBdistances and beyond. Included with the pistol are fourinterchangeable backstraps for a custom grip.



combathandguns.como b a d ns..combathandguns.com May 2014 COMBAT HANDGUNS 11

•

•

lock continues to design and engi-neer pistols for all users and types ofsituations—a fact well exemplified byGlock’s three latest models, the Glock30S, released in 2013 to wide acclaim,and the brand-new Glock 41 Gen4 andGlock 42, in .45 ACP and .380 ACP,respectively. All three models havea niche, if you will: The Glock 30S is a“covert” Glock, the mighty Glock 41 iswell suited for an overt role, and therevolutionary slim-line, subcompact

Glock 42 may well set a new standard for deep-concealment pocket pistols.

It should be said that the majority of Glocks inexistence today are chambered in 9mm. Theseinclude the service-size Glock 17, the versatile andcompact Glock 19 and the subcompact Glock 26.There’s also the competition-optimized, 5.3-inch-barreled Glock 34, which has won just about every

pistol competition in which it’s allowed, from“Practical” to “Defensive” to “Steel Challenge.” Inholsters and hands worldwide, from law enforce-ment officers to members of the military to legallyqualified private citizens, “it’s a 9mm world,” asnoted pistol expert Ken Hackathorn says.

Two of the Glocks we are looking at here,however, are chambered in another historically

significant caliber, .45 ACP. Designed at roughlythe same time (1905) as the 9mm cartridge(1902), .45 ACP is sold in significant numbersto American citizens and law enforcement

officers alike. It has also been used byspecial operations teams in combat

deployments overseas. Glock hasbeen making .45-caliber pistols

for almost a quarter of acentury, beginning with the

Glock 21 in 1990. Thesubcompact Glock 30

followed a few yearslater, with SF (ShortFrame) and Gen4variants produced

G

Combining the slim slide dimensions of the

Glock 36 with the frame of a Glock 30 SF,the Glock 30S packs up to 10+1 rounds of .45firepower in a highly concealable package.

Glock’ssmallest pistol,

the Glock 42,chambered in.380, measures

less than aninch thick andweighs just

13.76 ouncesempty. Dual

recoil springsprovide fora degree of

controlabilityrare in a

pocket pistol.




thereafter. The first single-stack maga-zine Glock produced was in .45 ACP (forthe Glock 36, which remains in produc-tion today).

COVERT CARRY

A recent variant of Glock’s .45 ACPmodels is the Glock 30S. Designed tothe specifications of the Los AngelesPolice Department’s Special InvestigationSection (SIS), which was looking for apowerful, concealable handgun thatwould give them an edge over today’sheavily armed bad guys, the G30S is inessence a Glock 36 slim-slide mountedonto a Glock 30 SF (Short Frame) frame.The Glock 36’s slide aided in deep-coverconcealment, and the Short Frame,with its reduced trigger reach (about 2to 3mm), made a noticeable differencein the pistol’s “triggernometry.” As anadded bonus, the Glock 30 frames acceptthe larger Glock 21 13-round magazines,giving the gun a totally loaded capacity of

14 rounds of powerful .45 ACP. With someminor parts modifications, the hybrid was

tested, accepted and placed in productionas the G30S.

Glock’s subcompact .45 ACPs alreadyhave an outstanding reputation for ac-curacy—years ago, your correspondent,using a G30, put a group of .45 ACP intothe “head” of a B-27 police silhouettetarget at 50 yards—and the G30S provedno different. Testing the gun for theMay 2013 issue of Combat Handguns,D.K. Pridgen shots groups measuring1.38, 1.32 and 1.11 inches at 25 yards.“This kind of accuracy is well beyondwhat is typically needed in average self-defense circumstances,” Pridgen wrote,“but for more extreme circumstances,it will provide the user with a real confi-dence boost.”

Needless to say, the SIS was quitepleased with the G30S, and so, appar-

ently, is the shooting public, which hasmade the gun a best seller. That the G30S

>>>G30S/G41 GEN4/G42

Each uniquelycapable, the G42(top), the G30S(middle) and G41Gen4 (bottom) offerthe user an unbeat-able, versatile arrayof self-defensefirepower.



combathandguns.com May 2014

COMBAT HANDGUNS 13

comes equipped with the usual comple-ment of outstanding Glock features,including the Safe Action fire controlsystem, proprietary super-hard andcorrosion-resistant surface finish, anddual recoil spring system for controllabil-ity and longevity, only adds to the pistol’sappeal. The G30S is at once a typicalGlock—reliable, accurate and ultra-rug-ged—and a uniquely powerful and easy-handling deep-cover .45 semi-auto.

OVERT FIREPOWER

While the Glock 30S fills a covert need,there are situations in which conceal-

SPECIFICATIONS

GLOCK 42

Caliber .380 ACP

Barrel 3.25 inches

OA Length 5.94 inches

Weight 13.76 ounces (empty)

Grips Polymer

Sights Fixed

Action Safe Action

Finish Black, surface-hardened

Capacity 6+1

MSRP Not available

GLOCK 30S

Caliber .45 ACP

Barrel 3.7 inches

OA Length 6.9 inchesWeight 22.95 ounces (empty)

Grips Polymer

Sights Fixed

Action Safe Action


Capacity 10+1

MSRP Not available

GLOCK 41 Gen4

Caliber .45 ACP

Barrel 5.31 inches


Weight 27 ounces (empty)

Grips Polymer

Sights Fixed

Action Safe Action


Capacity 13+1

MSRP Not available




ment is not a primary concern. A power-ful, reliable and accurate pistol is still acritical piece of equipment for uniform

and SWAT personnel. And, as renownedinstructor Clint Smith has stated andshown, one can “dress around” the gunto conceal it. (One demonstration Clintwas fond of showing his classes wasappearing in casual dress and “un-concealing” over a dozen handguns!)In the realm of full-size combat pistols,one would be hard-pressed to find amodel more suitable than the new Glock41 Gen4 in .45 ACP.

Using a Glock Gen4 frame, with itsmultiple backstrap system that includesfour backstrap sizes, two of them bea-vertails, a reversible magazine catch, ahigh-traction texturing that wraps fullyaround the gripping surface, the G41sports a 5.3-inch, barrel. The GlockSafe Action system, with its adjustabletrigger-pull weight capability, is includedin the design and contributes to the gun’scompetition-worthy range results. Theextended slide length of 8.31 inches givesusers a sight radius right at 7.5 inches, alength that also has a salutatory influ-ence on accuracy. The G41 has an outlinereminiscent of the earlier “Practical/

Tactical” models in 9mm and .40 calibers(the Glock 34 and Glock 35, respectively).CONTINUED ON PAGE 82

>>>G30S/G41 GEN4/G42

Though differently sized, the G41Gen4 .45 (left) and the G42 .380(right) boast equally easy-to-witness white-outline sights.



Solo® pistols combine unequaled Kimber® quality and 9mm power in a package

that weighs just 17 ounces. Borrowing proven 1911 ergonomics, they have a

natural pointability that improves both speed and accuracy while making themsurprisingly comfortable to shoot. Solo slides and barrels are machined from

stainless steel, and frames are cut from the finest aluminum. Five models are

offered, including 2 with Crimson Trace Lasergrips. No other micro-compact

pistol can match the performance of a Solo. Not even close. Visit a Kimber

Master Dealer and see for yourself.

©2013, Kimber Mfg., Inc. All rights reserved. Information and specifications are for reference only and subject to change without notice.

kimberamerica.com

(888) 243-4522

T H E C H O I C E O F A M E R I C A ’ S B E S T

Solo pistols have a single action striker-fired

trigger with a smooth, consistent pull that

breaks clean at 6.5-7.5 pounds for fast and

accurate shooting.

Steel sights are securely mounted in

machined dovetails. CDP and DC models

have night sights. Other versions have

sights with large white dots.

A manual ambidextrous thumb safety,

checkered slide release and ambidextrous

magazine release button enable intuitive,

fast and safe operation.

Kimber offers nearly 200 purpose-built pistols and rifles to meet any need.

Small. Powerful. Dependable.

Kimber Solo 9mm Pistols.

The Solo® CDP (LG) and Solo® DC (top) weigh only 17 ounces. Just over

1 inch wide and with a barrel length of 2.75 inches, they e stablish a

new benchmark for concealed carry performance.



combathandguns.com

COMBAT TEST

SPRINGFIELD

Upgraded pocket .45 shoots smooth,hits heavy and carries easy!BY DENNIS ADLER PHOTOS BY STEVE WOODS

In 2012 Springfield Armory re-

wrote the book on large-caliber,

concealed-carry handguns with its

introduction of the XD-S 3.3 semi-

auto. As one of the smallest semi-

auto .45 ACPs ever developed, the

XD-S became the blueprint for the

9mm model that followed, as wellas for the latest .45 ACP and 9mm

models, which were introduced

this year. Externally, the new

models look almost identical to the

2012 edition; internally, there is a

difference in the internal opera-

tion of the grip safety, which has

been redesigned along with the

sear, grip safety spring and sear

spring. Another minor internal

upgrade has also improved trigger

operation by smoothing out trigger

pull. The only external difference,

however, is a small roll pin added

to the grip safety in order to distin-

guish the new models.

All XD-S semi-autos have twoexternal safety mechanisms, theUltra Safety Assurance (USA) toggletrigger (which is what most semi-autos with blade-type trigger safetysystems rely upon solely) com-bined with a secondary 1911-typegrip safety. Both must be properlyengaged in order for the XD-S tofire. Another advantage is that XD-S

models will discharge a chambered

round with the magazine removed.Not having a magazine disconnectis one of those debatable features,but many individuals who rely on afirearm for personal defense favorsemi-autos that can operate withouta magazine just in case. “In case of

what?” you ask. The possibilities areas simple as losing a magazine in aconfrontation (an antagonist man-ages to hit the magazine release ina struggle), or being in the middleof a tactical magazine change whenyou suddenly have to fire the gun, tosomething as grim as not being ableto reload a magazine and havingonly enough time to drop a singleround into the chamber and releasethe slide to fire. An unlikely scenarioperhaps, but unlikely isn’t the samething as impossible.

The XD-S series is about morethan just achieving size reduction;it is about building a semi-auto thatis also strong enough to handlemodern .45 ACP personal-defenseammunition while remaining bothcontrollable and accurate. Buildinga subcompact .45 ACP handgun thatmeets these requirements has beenthe goal of everyone from Colt (asfar back as the 1950s) to customgunmakers like Detonics (in the late1970s) to contemporary manufac-

turers like Springfield Armory.




The new Springfield XD-S .45 delivers extreme

big-bore power in a stunningly small package.The lightweight XD-S, which measures less

than 1 inch wide, packs 5+1 rounds of .45 ACP.




The improved XD-S .45 is the latestwithin Springfield’s numerous variationsof .45 ACP semi-autos derived from theXD and XD(M) lines. While the larger XDseries (available in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45ACP) found great acceptance within thegeneral firearms community, the smallerXD(M) became one of the most popularpersonal-protection .45 ACP semi-autosand led the company to think even small-er with the .40 S&W XD(M) Compact. Thisultra-compact pistol raised the bar evenhigher and set Springfield’s designers onthe path to developing the XD-S. Buildinga gun that would be smaller than theXDM Compact and chambered in .45 ACPbecame their number-one goal.

GUN DETAILS

Part and parcel of building a smaller .45was maintaining a reasonable 5+1 stan-

dard capacity in .45 ACP, and achievingexcellent weight and balance in the handto reduce recoil. Internally, the gun’sspecialized recoil spring-and-plunger de-sign helps mitigate the recoil one mightexpect from a comparatively lightweight,polymer-framed handgun, making theXD-S more manageable and quickerto get back on target than expected—quicker in fact than many larger .45 ACPsubcompacts.

The XD-S utilizes a striker-firedsystem that Springfield Armory hasfine-tuned to reduce trigger take-up and

enable a short reset. Including engage-ment of the blade trigger safety, thereis about 0.5 inches of travel, and thetrigger pull remains crisp and consis-tent with every shot, requiring a nominal6.875 pounds on average. This is slightlyheavier than first-generation XD-S mod-els, and it comes as a result of internalchanges to the action. Nevertheless, fora striker-fired semi-auto, it remains acomparatively light trigger with negligible

D E N

N I S A

D L E R P

H O T O S

SPECIFICATIONS

SPRINGFIELD XD-S

Caliber .45 ACP

Barrel 3.3 inches



Grips Polymer

Sights Dovetail rear,fiber-optic front

Action SA

Finish Matte black

Capacity 5+1

MSRP $599-$669

The XD-S comes stan-dard with a syntheticpaddle holster (above)for ease of carry. Thepistol can also be usedwith the DeSantis

Nemesis pocketholster (right).

>>> SPRINGFIELD XD-S .45 ACP

•

The author tested the XD-S on a verycold day, running it for accuracy at15 yards. There were no malfunc-tions, and accuracy was quite good.




stacking and overtravel. Technically, thetrigger system on striker-fired pistols isneither a single action (SA) nor a doubleaction (DA), since there is no hammerfor the trigger to act upon. The sameargument can be made for any striker-

fired semi-auto, but more often than notyou’ll see them described as SA/DA (andsome actually are). Despite this, they aremostly regarded as double-action-only(DAO) designs.

Despite having two external safeties,the XD-S has a clean, uncluttered profilewith a slightly raised slide release and abeveled takedown lever, both on the leftside of the frame. Neither has an edgelikely to catch on clothing or impededraw or re-holstering. The checkered,ambidextrous magazine releases areslightly angled and require a firm pressto operate. There is also a loaded-cham-ber indicator that can be seen and, moreimportantly, felt should the user findhim- or herself in a situation that makesa visual check impractical. The loaded-chamber indicator is located behind theejector port on top of the slide. The frontedge projects upward when a round ischambered—just enough to either seeit under your line of sight, or surrepti-tiously feel it by running a finger overthe top of the slide. Additionally, if thetrigger has been pulled and the action

hasn’t cycled, the trigger will lock backat its rearmost position. When the action

The slim, single-stack XD-S .45

comes standard with a white-dot rear sight and a very easy-to-witness fiber-optic front.




is cycled the trigger extends forward0.62 inches to the ready position. That,however, does not guarantee that around is chambered, only that the gunis ready to fire; thus, the loaded-cham-ber indicator is a very important feature.

Given the gun’s modest weight of 21.5

ounces empty, and its overall length of6.3 inches with a 3.3 inch barrel, height of4.4 inches from the base of the magazineto the top of the rear sight and slide widthof 0.9 inches, the XD-S fits into multipleconcealed-carry categories—from sub-compact to pocket pistol. With the latestinternal improvements, the new genera-tion for 2014 is an even better handlinggun with its improved trigger pull andinternal safety upgrades.

Standard features on all XD-S .45 ACPand 9mm models include drift adjust-able front and rear sights (white-dot rear

and red fiber-optic front), ambidextrousindexing thumb rests and interchange-able backstrap panels to tailor the fit ofthe gun to an individual’s hand.

Another area where the XD-S excelsis the ease with which it can be disas-sembled. First, with the gun pointed in asafe direction, remove the magazine andunload the firearm. Then, draw back theslide to the rear and lock it open, pushingup the slide stop lever. After checking tosee if the chamber is empty, rotate thedisassembly lever clockwise to a vertical12 o’clock position. Then, pull the slideslightly to the rear to release the slide-stop lever. With a firm grip on the slide,allow the slide to move forward until the

spring tension is released. While holdingthe slide, pull the trigger with the firearmpointed in a safe direction to fully unlockthe slide from the frame. Remove therecoil system from the slide, and removethe barrel from the slide. The firearmis now fully field-stripped and readyfor cleaning.

Normally, I will try a variety of holsterswith test guns to find the one that worksbest. Springfield, however, offers its gunswith a complete set of accessories, whichincludes an XD Gear PH1 injection-mold-ed, thermoplastic paddle holster form fitto the gun. The paddle rig is easy to posi-tion around the waist for a comfortablefit and maximum concealment. It has a

slight forward cant for ease of carry anddraw, but since the injection-molded rig

“The XD-Sfeels moresubstantial inthe hand thanexpected be-cause it hasa nicely sizedgrip frame andgrip safety...”

Federal Premium 800 2.25230 Hydra-Shok JHP

Hornady 185 FTX 940 2.75

Speer 185 HP 950 2.25

BULLET WEIGHT MEASURED IN GRAINS , VELOCITY IN FEET

PER SECOND ( FPS) BY CHRONOGRAPH , AND ACCURACY IN INCHES FOR FIVE -SHOT GROUPS AT 15 YARDS.

PERFORMANCE

SPRINGFIELD XD-S .45 ACP

LOAD VELOCITY ACCURACY


A 1911-style

grip safety islocated in theupper back-

strap potion of

the polymerframe. Note the

interchange-able backstrap

system.

-






is not adjustable for cant, it will not workfor crossdraw carry, and it is also onlyavailable in a right-handed version atpresent. The XD-S is also small enoughto fit in any of several pocket holsterson the market specially designed for thegun, including the DeSantis Nemesis.This alone gives the XD-S an advantageover almost every other ultra-compact.45 ACP pistol available.

RANGE TESTThe XD-S feels more substantial in thehand than expected because it has anicely sized grip frame and grip safety,and a center of balance in line with themagazine release, which is spaced 3.5inches from the muzzle. There is also arecurve at the back of the triggerguardthat allows the middle finger to resthigher up under the triggerguard. Theweight distribution is unusual for a poly-

mer-framed semi-auto, which generally

feel muzzle heavy—not so the XD-S. Fullyloaded, the XD-S’ carry weight averages29 ounces. For most individuals, thelittle finger will tuck under the magazinefloorplate unless the optional extended-capacity magazine is used. The extendedmagazine increases capacity from 5+1 to7+1 while providing a substantial 1 inch ofadditional grip surface. It does, however,make pocket holster carry more difficult.

For subcompact handguns with bar-rel lengths of 4 inches or less, standardtarget distance is 15 yards (45 feet). Forthe XD-S in .45 ACP, I tested FederalPremium 230-grain Hydra-Shok,Hornady Critical Defense 185-grain FTXand Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection185-grain hollow-point (HP) ammuni-tion. All tests were fired off-handusing a Weaver stance anda two-handed hold.

Federal cleared

the ProChrono chronograph’s traps atan average of 800 feet per second (fps),Hornady at 940 fps and Speer at 950 fps.Recoil was most substantial with Hydra-Shok, as would be expected, but even theheavyweight ammo delivered less recoilthan anticipated for a subcompact pistol.With very difficult weather conditionsand temperatures ranging from 18 to 32degrees Fahrenheit during the test, the

Springfield XD-S performed admirably,placing all rounds within the nine, 10 andX rings of a B-27 silhouette target. Allhits scored five points on the B-27, withgroups averaging 2.25 to 2.75 inches.While not a target-quality result, froma defensive position all rounds struckin center body mass, and that is whatcounts. Switching to the XD-S in 9mm,

124-grain Hydra-Shok, 115-grain FTXand 115-grain Gold Dot, the Speer

averaged 1.95 inches, FederalPremium averaged 3.75 (withfour measuring 2.1 inches) andHornady delivered a 3-inch av-erage. The target was an IPSCcardboard silhouette—all hitslanded in the “A” section.

FINAL THOUGHTSAs a defensive handgunfor concealed carry,the Springfield XD-Sin .45 ACP delivers thestopping power of .45ACP in a size more com-monly expected of a 9mm.And for those who prefer

9mm over .45 ACP, theXD-S in 9mm offers all of the

same features, 7+1 standard ca-pacity and even more manageable recoil.For pocket or holster carry, this is with-out a doubt one of the best go-to guns onthe market for anyone desiring maximumperformance in a small, pocketable .45ACP or 9mm package. For more informa-tion, visit springfieldarmory.com or call

800-680-6866.

The dustcover section of the XD-S’polymer frame under the barrelfeatures a short strip of accessoryrail for the mounting ofultra-compact lightsand/or laser units.

“With very difficult weather conditions andtemperatures ranging from 18 to 32 degreesFahrenheit during the test, the Springfield XD-Sperformed admirably, placing all rounds within

the nine, 10 and X rings of a B-27 silhouette target.”


4





RIMFIRES

he suppressed .22 rimfire pistol certainly hasan aura of mystery and intrigue about it. It looks

and feels like it belongs in the pages of a spynovel in the hands of a secret agent on assign-ment behind the Iron Curtain and in need ofdiscretion. There is no question that suppressed.22 pistols are cool, but it’s quite wrong to thinkof them as some sort of assassin’s weapon. The

fact is that they are the ideal beginner’s pistol.The .22 Long Rifle (LR) rimfire cartridge is already well

established as ideal for first-time shooters because of its lowrecoil. The cartridge’s availability, low cost, and high fun coeffi-cient also make it the most popular all-around cartridge. Addinga suppressor makes it even better, and a growing number ofmanufacturers are for this very reason including threaded bar-rels as a standard option on their .22 pistols.

Elements Of SilenceI own a Walther P22 and recently acquired the excellent AAC

Element 2 suppressor. Thanks to its titanium construction,the suppressor adds only 4 ounces to the pistol, which keepsit very light and easy to handle. The slight bit of extra weightsoaks up some of the already light recoil, and since the extraweight is all at the front it also keeps the muzzle on target withvirtually zero climb. This makes shooting fast and staying ontarget extremely easy.

The extra length the Element 2 adds to the front of the pis-tol—just over 5 inches—also helps emphasize muzzle aware-ness for beginners and the importance of keeping the pistolpointed in a safe direction. The Element 2 is only an inch indiameter, so it stays very compact, and it has a tough Cerakoteblack finish and stainless steel baffles for durability and ulti-mate corrosion resistance. It can be disassembled for cleaning,which is not something you need to do very often, but the .22LRcan shoot pretty dirty, so the occasional cleaning is a good idea.

Of course, the main advantage to adding a suppressor is thesubsequent reduction in the noise levels associated with shoot-ing. Here the Element 2 is superb: It has a rated sound reductionof 41 decibels (dB). This is quite a bit better than your averagehearing protection, which provides between 20 and 33 dBs ofnoise reduction.

A good way to think about noise levels is with various com-parisons. Normal conversation is 40 to 60 dBs; at 85 dBs it ispossible to sustain hearing damage with continuous noise. Agas-powered chainsaw reaches about 110 dBs, and at 120 dBshearing damage can occur from a single occurrence. Your ears

will hurt at 130 dBs, and a high-powered rifle will produce 160 to170 dBs. Even the best suppressors will only reduce the sound

Sleek, silent systems

that deliver rapid,accurate shooting!

BY JORGE AMSELLE

PHOTOS BY SEAN UTLEY

STEALTHY

.22S

T


Walther P22’s threaded barrel accepts AAC’s Element suppressor.



level to the comfortable range but notnecessarily the safe range.

The .22LR cartridge is not typi-cally a major noise-maker, and decibellevels unsuppressed can range from90 to 120 dB depending on a variety offactors such as ammunition and typeof firearms used. A 40-dB reductionbrings the sound level down to that ofnormal conversation (not loud barroomconversation). Indeed, when shootingmy suppressed P22, I have no need forhearing protection at all. It sounds likeyou are shooting a CO2-powered pelletgun instead of a firearm.

The only other factor to considerin the sound of the suppressed .22LRis the velocity of the bullet. Rimfireammunition in this caliber can rangefrom standard cartridges that travel

at just over 1,100 feet per second (fps)to hyper-velocity rounds that exceed1,400 fps. The speed of sound is about1,140 fps depending on elevation andatmospheric conditions. When a bulletbreaks the sound barrier, you get asonic boom which defeats your sound-suppression intent.

As a result, those who want theultimate in sound suppression will usesub-sonic ammunition. However, in apistol this isn’t really necessary. Theshorter barrel length means that thebullets do not reach their maximum

velocity (which is rated using longerrifle barrels). Pretty much all .22LR willshoot subsonic out of a pistol, or about1,000 fps. I also tested this out usinghigh-velocity and sub-sonic ammunitionand could not notice any difference.

“I recently tooka first-timeshooter to the

range who wasextremelynervous andsensitive to thesound firearmsmake...The sup-pressed .22 was agame changer inher instruction.”


COMBAT HANDGUNS 25



Hands-On TimeI recently took a first-time shooter to therange who was extremely nervous andsensitive to the sound firearms make,especially the concussive effect of the

muzzle blast going past you with center-fire handguns and rifles. To a long-timeshooter, this muzzle blast is unnoticeableunless you are shooting a cannon, but

some are more sensitive than others.Despite her trepidation she was verycomfortable with the suppressed P22.With very little instruction she was easilyable to keep shots on target and gained

confidence and skill. This was someonewho, when I had previously brought herto the range, had decided she didn’t wantto try it. The suppressed .22 was a gamechanger in her instruction.

In general, suppressors offer a lot ofbenefits. In low light they preserve night

vision by eliminating muzzle flash. Thebaffles are temporarily trapping the es-caping gasses, and any unburned powder

that would otherwise exit the barrel andcreate a muzzle flash is also trapped andburned inside the baffles. These bafflesalso act as a sort of muzzle brake helping

to reduce recoil, and the suppressor itselfcan improve barrel harmonics, increas-ing accuracy.

The basic suppressor is not exactlynew technology. It was originally invented

and marketed in 1902 by Hiram PercyMaxim, whose father invented the Maxim

Machine Gun. It basically works like amuffler on a car, and even PresidentTheodore Roosevelt used a suppressed

Model 1894 lever action .30-30 rifle tokeep pests out of his backyard withoutbothering his neighbors.

To get one you will need to fill out a bit

of paperwork, as suppressors are regu-lated under the National Firearms Act of1934. Thirty-nine states currently allowthe private ownership of suppressors,and many of them also allow their use

for hunting. Once you get Uncle Sam’sOK, make sure to keep a copy of the taxstamp with you whenever you take yoursuppressor out to shoot so you can proveit is legally registered.

There are a lot of quality .22LR sup-pressors available. The commonality ofthe threads on the barrels allow the samesuppressor to be used on a variety of rim-

fire pistols and rifles, and most rimfiresuppressors will work with .22LR, .17HMR and .22 Magnum cartridges. AACmaintains a very informative website onsuppressors that they call their Silencer

University, which provides instruction

and a quiz that walks you through all thedetails. To learn more please visit www.aaccanu.com or call 770-925-9988.

RIMFIRES

Aside fromdampening thepistol’s sound

signature, asuppressor addssignificantly

to the pistol’soverall length,

absorbing recoiland making it a

useful tool forteaching muzzleawareness.






KI

combathandguns.com

COMBAT TEST


Harnessingthe long-rangepower of the

10mm cartridgeand housing itin the endur-ingly popular1911 platform,updated with anintegral acces-sory rail,Kimber’s8.7-inch-long-overall TLE/RL II deliverstop-notch,dependableperformance.

The 1911 pistol has long been a steady favorite of tacticaloperators. But, in recent years, it’s also surged in popular-ity among civilians. Production pistols are better made nowthan ever before, with features to meet most any need.Improvements in machining and manufacture has made themmore reliable and accurate. While well-built 1911 pistols arenot cheap, they are more affordable today than in years past.My first 1911 pistol, purchased over 20 years ago, cost closeto $1,500 after minimal upgrades. Today that gets you anexcellent factory 1911 with features not even available inthe 1990s.

As the use of weapon-mounted lights continues to grow, 1911manufacturers have worked hard to meet demand. Mountinga light to a home-defense pistol is an excellent idea, allowingyou to clearly identify the threat. For those carrying on duty orin a tactical rig, they are almost a necessity. Tactical lights aresmaller, more powerful and more rugged, making them wellsuited to use in any environment. Once a rarity, duty pistols withlights are now almost the norm.

One of the most popular 1911 pistols designed to meet theneed for light and laser attachment is the Kimber TLE/RL II. The

Custom TLE (Tactical Law Enforcement) was designed with in-put from the Los Angeles Police Department’s SWAT team, and



BER TLE

RL II


COMBAT HANDGUNS 29

SWAT-born 1911brings tacticaltouches to the

powerhouse10mm platform.

BY DAVE BAHDE

PHOTOS BY STEVE WOODS

they carry it today in .45 ACP. It is simple, rugged and includesa rail for the addition of a tactical light. Although designed by aSWAT team, it has gained traction among civilian 1911 shooters.With a retail price of $1,178 for the .45 and $1,252 for the 10mm,it is one of the most affordable tactical 1911 pistols on themarket, putting it within reach of many potential users. Onceonly available in .45 ACP, the 10mm option adds an entirely newdimension to this pistol.

Much like the 1911 pistol, the 10mm cartridge is experienc-ing a resurgence. It has a number of advantages and continuesto stick around, slowly winning over new shooters. It remainsmy favorite combat pistol cartridge—two of my most well-usedcarry pistols are chambered in 10mm. Loaded properly, it pen-etrates deeply, yet it expands quickly and efficiently in soft tis-sue. Recoil is manageable in most platforms while maintainingexcellent reliability. Accuracy with the 10mm can be astounding.It remains one of the flattest shooting pistol cartridges you cancarry, providing for usable accuracy in a pistol out to 100 yards.

GUN DETAILS

Kimber has been one of the industry’s most consistent sup-

porters of the 10mm cartridge. When interest waned with somegun makers, you could still get a Kimber Eclipse in 10mm, one

of which served me well for years. Other pistols were available,but none so well equipped at a reasonable price. The only thingmissing for me was a rail, and the TLE/RL II has taken care ofthat.

This RL II starts with a steel frame with a high cut front strapand 30-lpi checkering. The trigger is an aluminum, match-grade, standard-length trigger set to 4.5 pounds. As a Custom IIpistol, it uses a firing-pin safety. Activated using the grip safety,it meets many requirements set forth by police agencies andeven a few states. Among some 1911 users, this always lights afire, but for me it’s never been an issue. I’ve owned at least half-a-dozen Kimbers with firing-pin safeties over the years, andnone has ever failed. It does allow for a crisp trigger though,and most people never even notice that it’s there. Checkering isused on the mainspring housing, allowing for a solid grip. Themag well is beveled for positive magazine changes. A short railis included to allow for tactical lights or other devices. An ex-tended grip safety ensures a high grip, and black synthetic gripsround out the lower receiver.

A fully supported stainless steel, match-grade barrel is fittedto the steel slide. Cocking serrations are situated at the front

and back. The full-length guide rod maintains solid accuracy,while the stainless steel bushing ensures reliability. Sighting




is accom-plished usingMeprolightthree-dot nightsights with ano-snag rear.Two seven-roundKimber flush-fitmagazines areprovided and areshipped in a nicehard case.

I tested the gunusing my SureFireX300 with a DG1 switch.Having used the lightfor years, I think it’s one of the best pistollights on the market. I’m still gettingused to the DG1 switch, but it showsgreat promise. Allowing for the use ofthe light with a squeeze of the grip, itmakes it simple and usable with eitherhand. While testing, I also wore my VTACBattle Belt. The whole point of the rail isto attach a light or laser, and this setupnicely accommodates accessorized pis-

tols. Finally, I used my JM Custom Kydexconcealment holster, which is designedfor railed pistols without the light.

RANGE TIME

If there is a weak point in the 10mm 1911pistol, it is the magazine. Each pistolseems to favor different magazines.Those supplied with the Kimber TLE/RL

II most closely resemble factory ColtCustom Delta Elite magazines.Holding eight rounds, they use arounded follower. Over the years,they’ve proven themselves tobe very reliable, as they werewhile testing the Kimber.Both the Kimber-suppliedmagazines and several ofmy Colt factory maga-zines worked flawlessly.Another fantastic maga-

zine is Tripp Research’s10mm magazine. Built from theground up as a nine-round magazine, it

is one of the best-made magazines avail-able. Like the Colt and Kimber mags,they worked great in the TLE/RL II withall of the ammunition tested. Still, a fewother magazines experienced glitches,and with decades of time behind 10mm1911 pistols, I recommend testing yourpistol using your self-defense round withany magazine you intend to carry. Brandname and cost are not always relevant:Some pistols just won’t run every time

with some magazines. In this case,the Kimber TLE/RL II ran the suppliedmagazines flawlessly with every type ofammunition tested.

Accuracy with with this cartridge canbe amazing, even out of factory pistols.This pistol was no exception, with its bestgroup measuring 1.26 inches at 25 yardsusing the Underwood 180-grain SpeerBonded JHP. This was no Ransom Rest, just my wrists resting on a sandbag. Notsure a pistol gets any more accurate.Everything shot within 2 inches at 25yards, with most in the 1.5-inch range.

One of the 10mm’s advantages is itsflat shooting characteristics. Shootingat 50 yards, you need only hold a bit highand it still hits in the center. Using someHSM 180-grain Gold Dot, hits on a 6-inchround target at 50 yards were regular.Moving back to 100 yards using a smallsilhouette target yielded similar results.Just for kicks, two magazines were fired

>>>KIMBER TLE/RL II

The author tested the Kimber withSureFire’s X300 light and was happywith its performance and handling.

The Kimber TLE/RL II 10mmfeatures double diamond-patternsynthetic grips and sports finelycut checkering on the front strapfor an enhanced grip.

D A V I D B

A H D E P

H O T O



from off-hand on a typical IPSC silhou-ette steel target from 100 yards. With 12

out of 16 hits on the steel, it proved tobe about as accurate as you can makea pistol at 100 yards while keeping itcombat reliable.

Heating things up, this pistol nevermissed a beat. Most rapid fire was ac-complished using Federal 180-grain FMJor Blazer 200-grain TMJ ammunition.Pretty much as fast as the trigger could

be pulled, the RL II just kept running.Over the course of a very hot day and afew hundred rounds, it never malfunc-tioned with the Tripp magazines. It wassoft shooting, accurate, reliable and wellbalanced. The front sight was easy topick up, although the rear will lose its

dots if it sticks around.While most of the testing was done

using my older SureFire X300, I useda Streamlight TLR-1 HL as well. Bothworked fine, but the HL requires a bit ofwork on the holster. The same is truewith the newer SureFire X300 U, as the

SPECIFICATIONS

KIMBER TLE/RL II

Caliber 10mm

Barrel 5 inches


Weight 39 ounces

Grips Synthetic

Sights Meprolight three-dot

Action Semi-auto

Finish Matte black

Capacity 8+1

MSRP $1,252

The TLE/RL II’s extended beavertailgrip safety cups the Commander-stylehammer to help prevent “hammer bite”on the web of the shooting hand.




bezel is just a bit larger. Having seenyears of hard use, my Safariland holsterhad already been altered to fit, but

just be aware that if you move to thesehigher-intensity lights that the differencecan be extremely noticeable in regards toperformance.

BOTTOM LINE

Given my affinity for the 10mm round,this was a fun test. With no railed 10mm1911 in my safe, the test took on a dif-ferent tone. If it worked, my plan was tokeep it, and sure enough it worked great.It was reliable, accurate and comfort-able to shoot. It fit nicely in both myconcealed carry and duty holsters. Whilenot feature rich, it has what most userswill ever need. Aside from some smallalterations, it will remain as tested whenit finally lands in my safe. With an MSRPof $1,252, it is affordable by quality 1911standards, and it worked right out of thebox. Kimber has already had great suc-cess with the TLE/RL II line in .45 ACP,but adding the 10mm just opens it up toa larger market. If you are looking fora quality 1911 in 10mm with a rail, thisshould be one of the first you look at For

more information, visit kimberamerica.com or call 888-243-4522.


CorBon 135 Pow’R Ball 1,472 1.75

Hornady 165 FTX 1,222 1.62

HSM 180 Gold Dot 1,225 1.57

Underwood 180 Sp. Bonded 1,247 1.26

Winchester 175 Silvertip 1,225 1.58

PERFORMANCE

KIMBER TLE/RL II 10mm


BULLET WEIGHT MEASURED IN GRAINS , VELOCITY IN FEET PER SECOND ( FPS) BY CHRONOGRAPH , AND ACCURACY IN INCHES FOR BEST FIVE -SHOT GROUPS AT 15YARDS.

KIMBER TLE/RL II

The integral strip of Picatinny rail

on the dustcover allows users toeasily attach accessories. Note thepistol’s full-length guide rod.





COMBAT TEST

combathandguns.com34 COMBAT HANDGUNS May 2014

Self-defense9mm goes long,boasting Government-modeldimensions and top-gun level performance!BY

DENNIS ADLER PHOTOS BY STEVE WOODS

PPQ M2 5-INCH




Almost everyone who has carried a Government model hasdealt with the weight of the gun (36 to 39 ounces on aver-age), which, over more than a century, has changed verylittle regardless of caliber (.45 ACP, .38 Super, 9mm, 10mmand .22 LR). The advantages of a full-sized, 5-inch-barreled,semi-automatic pistol have also changed little in the last 100years—the longer sight radius, excellent balance in the hand,improved accuracy (with target sights) and reliability. Theseare qualities that have not only made the 1911 the worldstandard, but also perpetuated its design into the 21st century.What, you might ask, has this to do with Walther’s latest 9mm?In the case of the PPQ M2 5-inch, the answer is everything.

GUN DETAILSFor the legendary German arms-maker, this is not a typical

handgun, not even by the standards of the company’s PPQdesign, introduced in 2011. The very latest development of

Walther’s polymer-framed P99-based semi-autos, the PPQ M25-inch, by virtue of its 1-inch-longer barrel and slide, puts itinto a category of handguns generally served by Colt and other1911-style pistols, as well a handful of 5-inch-barreled tacti-cal semi-autos and sporting models, including the polymer-framed Glock 34 and 35. It does not, however, fall into thecategory normally associated with Walther’s polymer-framed9mm semi-autos. For example, the longer 8-inch slide on thePPQ M2 5-inch is ported with six heat-dissipating vents. Ithas easy-to-operate, elongated, ambidextrous slide releases,adjustable white-dot target sights and a large, round, button-style magazine release. The magazine release is brand new.(Previous polymer-framed Walthers, including the PPQ, haveutilized the ambidextrous, triggerguard-mounted magazinerelease first introduced on the P99.) It is a noteworthy change

to the gun’s fundamental design (thus the M2 designation).Unfortunately, while the new button-style release is reversible

Walther has taken its well-regarded PPQ M2

semi-auto pistol and elongated it, extending thebarrel length to 5 inches to wring maximum per-formance from the gun’s 15+1 9mm payload. The

PPQ M2 5-inch, also available in .40 S&W, featuresambidextrous, elongated slide releases and a new

frame-mounted magazine release button.




>>>WALTHER PPQ M2 5-INCH

for left-handedshooters, itis not trulyambidextrous

like the originaltriggerguard paddle

release. According toWalther research, consumersprefer a traditional grip-mounted

magazine release. Formany who have previ-ously owned and carriedP99 models and P99variations like the 2011PPQ (M1), it seems like astep backwards.

Differing opinionsaside, the new, largebutton release is a

well-thought-out design, setbeside a deeply relieved surface that

makes accessing the release easy andabove a ledge that prevents inadvertentactivation. It is also easy to operate,with only modest effort required by thestrong-hand thumb. Were it ambidex-trous, instead of reversible, it would bebetter. But for those more familiar withGovernment-sized pistols, the tradi-tional magazine release may actually bean asset.

On the front end of the PPQ’s 8-inchslide are serrations for easier slidemanipulation. Note the integrated rail.




The striker-fired PPQ M2 utilizes atraditional short-recoil, locked-breechdesign, incorporating a modified

Browning locking system that has thebarrel engaging the slide with a single,large lug. The principal difference be-tween previous Walther single-action/double-action (SA/DA) and double-action-only (DAO) models and the PPQseries is the latter’s use of a Glock-typesafety incorporated into the triggermechanism. Walther calls their varia-tion the “Quick Defense” trigger system,which was first seen on the P99 QA.

While most striker-fired semi-automatics using this type of triggersafety are designated as DAO (such as

Glocks), in practice they all function asSAs. Once the trigger is pulled, it willnot reset unless the gun discharges andthe slide cycles through its operationto reset the trigger and partially pre-tension the striker. A true striker-firedDAO or SA/DA (like the Walther P99) willallow the trigger to repeatedly operatewithout either prerequisite. Thus, thePPQ M2 is technically an SA.

Walther’s implementation in thePPQ M2 of the “Quick Defense” triggeralso does away with the P99’s decock-ing system, which allowed striker-firedWalther models to be decocked witha chambered round and thus carriedin a “safe” condition. Walther literallyinstituted this design in the 1930s withthe first hammer-fired 9mm pistol tofeature a decocking lever, the P.38.However, unlike the P.38, the P99 andall subsequent models based on itsdesign are striker-fired, and once de-cocked the first shot must be fired DA.(One can also pull the slide slightly tothe rear and reset the striker. This alsoapplies to the new PPQ series.)

A primary feature of the SA/DAor DAO design, however, is second-

SPECIFICATIONS

WALTHER PPQ M2

Caliber 9mm

Barrel 5 inches


Weight 26 ounces (empty)Grips Polymer

Sights Front blade, adjustable rear

Action SA

Finish Matte black

Capacity 15+1

MSRP $749




strike capability in the event of a failedcartridge primer. So the trade-off withWalther’s new “Quick Defense” triggercomes down to a matter of weighing theodds that a cartridge primer will failand, more to the point, that a secondstrike will successfully fire it. The timeit takes to partially cycle the slide toreset a striker (about 0.5 inches on thePPQ M2) versus simply pulling the trig-ger again (on the P99 and PPX) is thefundamental difference. Ultimately, thisbecomes a matter of personal prefer-ence in gun handling and whether one iscomfortable with a trigger safety versusa decocker, manual safety or DAO trig-ger. Given the number of handguns nowusing the Glock-type articulated bladetrigger safety, that question seems tohave answered itself.

Ideally suited for target and practicalshooting, the 5-inch PPQ M2 has adjust-able, low-profile white-dot sights thatare very easy to acquire. The polymerframe and grip angle are ideal to main-

tain a low bore axis and come with two

PERFORMANCE

WALTHER PPQ M2 9mm


Federal Premium 1,140 1.93Hydra-Shok 124 JHP

Hornady Critical 1,210 1.93Defense 115 FTX

Winchester 1,215 2.25115 FMJ

BULLET WEIGHT MEASURED IN GRAINS , VELOCITY IN FEET -PER-SECOND ( FPS) BY CHRONOGRAPH AND ACCURACY IN INCHES FOR BEST FIVE -SHOT GROUPS AT 25YARDS.



At 25 yards, the long-barreledPPQ M2 delivered a five-shot groupof 1.93 inches with the Hornady

115-grain FTX—a result matched

by the Federal 124-grain JHP.





“The [pistol’s] trigger pull is short...there is

zero overtravel, and reset is very quick.

This is exactly what you want from a striker-fired semi-auto...”

The PPQ M2’s longer 8-inch slideprovides an excellent sight

radius. The gun also features anadjustable white-dot rear and

fixed white-dot front sight.



he event began like a typical“girls weekend” of fun—awelcome reception completewith a nice glass of wine, ex-cellent accommodations and

a “get to know you” reception before

dinner. Interspersed with the ladies ofall ages were young college students,a few husbands, our instructors andseveral campus luminaries. AnotherHillsdale College Ladies for Libertyshooting camp was about to begin.

Hillsdale College is a four-yearliberal arts school located in ruralsouthern Michigan on 400 acres ofbeautifully maintained land. Founded in1884, Hillsdale is fiercely independent,accepting no federal or state funding,and was the second college in the UnitedStates to admit women on par with men.

This seemed like a perfect setting tobring several generations of womentogether to learn about firearms and theempowerment of exercising our SecondAmendment rights.

The first morning of this five-day eventbegan in the classroom with foundinginstructor Bonita Fraim talking aboutthe range bags we’d been issued andhow students could purchase the sameSmith & Wesson M&P handgun that we’dbe using all week. Smith & Wesson wasa major sponsor of the event, providingrange bags, hats, T-shirts and other freegoodies for the students.

Bonita then turned the classroom overto Defense Training International’s (DTI)Vicki Farnam, our lead firearms instruc-tor for the week. Vicki is a veteran policeand military firearms instructor andthe author of several excellent books,including Teaching Women to Shoot: A

Law Enforcement Instructor’s Guide. Shebrought with her an eclectic and dynamicgroup of three additional female instruc-tors, including a cop, an engineer andher daughter, Wendi, a rancher from

Wyoming. In her familiar no-nonsensetone, Vicki told us that the week would be

a tough and challenging one, but that wewould “be rewarded in the end.” Someof the ladies looked doubtful, othersnervous, and still others were eager toget to it.

Most of the students had little orno experience with firearms. As wewent around the room and introducedourselves, some stated they just wantedto learn more about guns, get over their

fear of shooting and have fun on therange with their spouses. Others said

they wanted to learn to protect them-selves, obtain a concealed-carry permitor improve their pistol skills. Thesewomen were as diverse as their home-towns; they were doctors, ranchers,horsewomen, teachers, tennis players,homemakers and more. They told amus-ing stories and shared unusual life expe-riences. They were unabashedly patrioticand incredibly eager to learn, and Vicki

Farnam was ready for the challenge oftraining this unusual group.

LADIES ONLY


T

At Ladies for Liberty, dozens of women

go back to school to train in the lifesavingarts of handgun self-defense!BY BETSY BRANTNER SMITH PHOTOS COURTESY HILLSDALE COLLEGE

The Hillsdale College

Ladies for Libertycourse saw women of all

ages and backgrounds

learning and practicingthe essentials of using

and carrying a handgun.

“By that first afternoon, women whohad never touched a firearm wereproudly wearing one on their hip.Hillsdale College and Vicki Farnam’sstaff had set the tone for success.”

SELF-DEFENSE 101







Y O U C A N C A R R Y

P E A C E O F M I N D

N O M A T T E R

W H A T ’ S O N H I S.

The TAC-XPD™ Defense Bullet from Barnes, the optimized solution for carry

or home defense. Engineered to deliver top performance in life-threatening

situations. Techni-Crom™ plated cases and coated, all-copper bullets

SURGXFH VPRRWK UHOLDEOH ðULQJ ZLWK YLUWXDOO\ QR PX]]OH ñDVK

Available in 380 Auto, 9mm Luger,

40 S&W and 45 Auto.

^^^IHYULZI\SSL[ZJVT



combathandguns.com

All-steel big bore bred for reliability anddelivering plenty of knockdown power!BY WILLIAM BELL PHOTOS BY STEVE WOODS

COMBAT TEST


I continue to be amazed by the popularity of the 1911 pistol.Even with 100-plus years of service, it just keeps on keepingon, with new models being introduced on a continuous basis.One of the latest is from Eagle Imports (the same folks thatbring you the Bersa handgun line), the MAC 1911 Bobcut.Like a number of other reasonably priced 1911s on today’smarket, the Bobcut hails from Metro Arms Corporation(MAC) in the Philippines. A former competitive shooternamed Hector Rodriguez developed the MAC 1911 line, andthese products are well known worldwide for their quality,performance and accuracy.

GUN DETAILSThe Bobcut is a Commander-sized 1911 with a 4.25-inch barrel.It gets its name from the diagonal cut on the backstrap at thebottom of the grip frame. This cut gives the pistol a round-buttprofile that aids in concealability. Both the frame and hammer-forged slide are made from 4140 steel, which contributes to itsempty weight of 34.58 ounces. Two finish options are available,deep blue or hard chrome, and both are polished on the “flats”and have a sandblasted matte finish on the top of the slide andother areas of the bottom and sides. Custom hardwood gripsfeatures a fish-scale pattern, and the MAC emblem comesstandard. The Bobcut is chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge

and has an 8+1 capacity with the factory-supplied magazine.This pistol is just chock full of standard features that in

times past would only be found on a customized 1911. On top ofthe slide, a Novak-type rear sight is mounted in a dovetail. Onmy hard-chrome sample pistol, the rear sight is blue, and thebackside facing the shooter is finely serrated to reduce glare.It’s fully adjustable for windage and elevation. The red fiber-optic front sight is also attached via a dovetail cut in the slide.

The ejection port is lowered and flared to reduce brassdeformation, and there are 10 well-defined serrations on therear of the slide. If you retract the slide and look inside, you’llnote the barrel is throated, and the surrounding area is expertlypolished for reliable operation. Both sides of the slide have theMAC emblem near the rear, while the left side of the slide islaser-cut with the MAC 1911 and Bobcut logo. The extractorand firing-pin retention plate are blued and give a nice contrastto the chrome-matte finish. The hammer is a sketelonized,Commander-style version, and the Bobcut is equipped with afull-length guide rod for the recoil spring.

Moving down to the frame, at the rear is an extended, ambi-dextrous manual safety, and the grip safety is enhanced typewith an extended beavertail. The slide release is strictly GI,but it looks to me like the magazine release button is slightlyelongated, as it has a higher profile than the one on my stock1911A1. The combat trigger is long and has three holes forweight reduction; it is also adjustable for overtravel. The trigger

on my test piece had a tiny amount of take-up before break-ing cleanly at 4 pounds. Thank goodness there was no squared



“ A CLOSE INSPECTION

OF THE EXTERIOR OFTHE MAC 1911 BOBCUT

REVEALED EXCELLENT

ATTENTION TO THE

FINISH AND THE

WOOD-TO-METAL FIT

ON THE GRIPS.”

The Metro Arms Corporation Bobcut1911 .45 ACP combines reasonable

pricing with practical, top-notch-qualityupgrades and enhancements.




W

I L L I A M B

E L L P H O T O

triggerguard or Picatinny rail to spoilthe looks of this classically simple,handsome handgun. Another nice andpractical touch was the stippling onthe front and backstraps of the gripframe—what I’d describe as an overlap-ping dish pattern that allowed me toeffectively keep a good hold on the MAC1911 Bobcut during rapid-fire shootingexercises. The stippling stops just abovethe “Bob cut” on the mainspring hous-ing, so as not to abrade the palm.

My test Bobcut came in a plastic guncase that has inlets on the inside for thepistol and spare magazines, as well asa compartment for the owner’s manual.One 8-round magazine with a blued fin-ish comes standard. The magazine haswitness holes on both sides and a thickpolymer baseplate to assist in properseating during a fast combat reload. Aclose inspection of the exterior of theMAC 1911 Bobcut revealed excellentattention to both the finish and the wood-to-metal fit on the grips. My test gun hadabout a pint of oil in and on it, so it hadto be thoroughly cleaned out; you mighthave to do the same if you get somethingother than the display model from yourdealer. It disassembles like any 1911 witha guide rod, so see your owner’s manualfor further details on that.

As this was to be a practical test of theMAC 1911 Bobcut, I needed some leath-er, and at this point I recalled being senta 1911 holster by Thomas Tedder, presi-dent of Old Faithful Holsters. This is a

small, family-owned business that catersto those wanting a holster that combines


“I WAS VERY

IMPRESSED WITH

THE BOBCUT’S

HANDLING

CHARACTERISTICS.

THE STIPPLING

ON THE GRIPS

HELPED ME MAIN-

TAIN CONTROL

DURING RAPID-

FIRE SHOOTING.”

>>> MAC 1911 BOBCUT

The author ran the MAC Bobcut through

some rapid-fire drills for function andaccuracy testing and was impressedwith its solid, no-fault performance.

T C MAC 1911 BO

The autho ran the AC obcut through

s e rap -fire drills for function andaccuracy sting and was impressed with its so d, -f lt fo .

The MAC Bobcut 1911 features a 4.25-

inch barrel and a full-length guide rod.

Note the fiber-optic front sight.




comfort and maximum concealment. Tothis end, Tedder has amalgamated qual-ity, American-made leather with Kydexto make a rig that looks a little bulky,but which keeps the sharp edges of thepistol away from your body and providesgood handgun retention. The outsizedleather apron of the High Rider OWBholster can be had with clips or slots forbelt attachment. This apron comes up allthe way to just above the top of the slideand extends out to form to the hip of thewearer. The more you wear it, the better

it gets. Attached to the apron using hex-head screws is the Kydex body, which is

SPECIFICATIONS

MAC 1911 BOBCUT

Caliber .45 ACP

Barrel 4.25 inches


Weight 34.58 ounces (empty)Grips Custom hardwood

Sights Fiber-optic front,Novak-style rear

Action SA

Finish Hard chrome

Capacity 8+1

MSRP $978

The MAC Bobcut 1911 featuresan extended beavertail grip safetywith a memory pad and ambidex-

trous manual safeties.




molded for the particular pistol. My hol-

ster came with several lengths of screwsto adjust the tension on the handgun.The holster has a straight up and downcant (or lack thereof) that is easily ad- justed on the clip version, and I suspectif you wanted to make some holes in theapron you could change the cant on thebelt-slot model, too. I found that the HighRider held the handgun very close to thebody and did not allow the pistol to printunder a light jacket or a loose-fitting,un-tucked Hawaiian shirt. To carry anextra magazine—which one should al-ways do—I utilized an open pouch with apaddle back for quick on/off applicationsfrom Fobus Holsters. The model 3901-45is made for 1911 single-stack magazines

and is lightweight and low profile. Made

of injection-molded, high-density plastic,it not only holds the magazine securely,but also will not come off the belt whenquickly withdrawing said magazine.

RANGE TIME

Next came a visit to my ammo lockerfor some .45 ACP test loads. As this is acompact .45, I wanted to do most of myshooting with some favorite 230-grainloads. Starting off would be Black Hills’new factory cartridges loaded with XTP jacketed-hollow-point (JHP) bullets.Next up was the CorBon +P load that hadgaping “flying ashtray”-type JHP bullets.For something a bit lighter in weight, Iselected some Federal Personal Defensecartridges that have a classic 185-grainJHP. These would be chronographed forvelocity measurements and then firedfrom the bench at a distance of 25 yardsto evaluate the practical accuracy poten-tial of the MAC 1911 Bobcut.

One of my favorite Dirty Harry quotesis, “A man has to know his limitations,”and as I approach my sixth decade onthis planet, I know I’m not the shot I

used to be. So, at 25 yards, I use a big-

PERFORMANCE

MAC 1911 BOBCUT .45 ACP


Black Hills 230 JHP 843 3.14

CorBon 230 JHP +P 921 3.57

Federal 185 JHP 933 3.82

BULLET WEIGHT MEASURED IN GRAINS , VELOCITY IN FEET

PER SECOND ( FPS) BY CHRONOGRAPH , AND ACCURACY IN INCHES FOR BEST FIVE -SHOT GROUPS AT 25 YARDS. CONTINUED ON PAGE 92

>>> MAC 1911 BOBCUT

The rear sight assembly features

light-diffusing horizontal grooves on itsrear face for an enhanced sight picture.











it also makes it swing with little effort.A smooth, effortless swing is importantwhen engaging multiple targets.

There were no obvious defects in work-manship on the exterior of the SSR, so Itook it home and gave it a detailed benchexamination. A close examination for toolmarks and conformity indicated that allsurfaces were thoroughly finished, mark-ings were crisp and evenly impressed,and there were no uneven lines or sharpedges. Chambers were evenly chamfered,

the bolt notches were square, and facets

on the extrac-tor were properlyconformed and cleanedged. In addition, thealignment of the cylinder cranewas straight, with no gap betweenthe crane and frame, and the bore wasbright with clean-cut rifling. The cylinder/barrel gap measured 0.006-inches on allchambers.

Given the gun’s good fit and finish, itwas no surprise that it functioned well.

Timing was dead-on, and the bolt locked

The stainless steel M686 SSR, customizedby the Smith & Wesson Performance Center,offers shooters six rounds of .357/.38firepower. Highly accurate and built fortough duty, the M686 SSR also sports asmooth, handsome, satin finish.




D R . M A R T I N D . T O P P E R P

H O T O

on all chambers well before the hammerwas at full-cock. The double-action (DA)and single-action (SA) trigger pulls werevery smooth. There was no increase ineffort (i.e., stacking) as the trigger waspulled to the rear. The DA trigger pullwas consistently 10 pounds to 10.5pounds, and SA pull was 3.5 pounds to4 pounds. The sear broke cleanly withabout 0.125 inches of overtravel. Theaction was very good for a stock revolver,and at least some of this fine performancecan be attributed to the use of a bossedmainspring.

The SSR came with an extra set ofHogue black rubber Monogrips, whichwere installed during the bench examina-tion. The wood grips were nicely made,but too small for my extra-large hands.Therefore, all shooting was done with theHogue grips.

RANGE TIME

The SSR was fired for accuracy andvelocity at the Volusia County Gun &Hunt Club. Tactical drills were run at theVolusia Club, and the SSR was also usedto fire the Army L Course at the FlaglerGun & Archery Club during a weekly“bullseye” match.

>>> SMITH & WESSON M686 SSR

“The SSR provesthat rumors of theservice revolver’s

demise are indeedpremature.”




COMBAT HANDGUNS 55

Accuracy and velocity tests were con-ducted with five loads that were gracious-ly provided by their manufacturers. Theseincluded Black Hills’ .38 Special 148-grainwadcutter (WC), HPR’s .38 Special

158-grain XTP HP, Winchester’s 125-grainPDX1 .357 Magnum, Remington’s125-grain .357 Magnum SJHP andCorBon’s 140-grain .357 Magnum JHP.

Accuracy tests were performed at 25yards. An MTM front sight rifle rest wasused to support the gun, and a LeupoldKenai spotting scope was used to checkgroups. Averages for three 5-shot groupsranged from 2.4 inches with the BlackHills .38 Special 148-grain wadcut-

SPECIFICATIONS

SMITH & WESSON M686 SSR

Caliber .38 Special, .357 Magnum

Barrel 4 inches



Grips Wood

Sights Adjustable rear,interchangeable front

Action SA/DA

Finish Satin stainless

Capacity 6

MSRP $969

The recessed crown at the muzzle

protects the rifling from damage.Note the angled underlug.




ters to 4.07 inches with Winchester’s125-grain PDX1 .357 Magnum load. The

best single group, fired with the BlackHills wadcutters, measured 1.64 inches.The 125-grain magnum loads printedabout 1.5 inches lower than the CorBon140-grain magnum load, and about 2.5

inches lower than the 148-grain and158-grain .38 Special loads. Since the

140-grain loads were dead-on, I chose notto change the sights. The sights neededno adjustment prior to testing. The SSR

printed dead-on from the factory.Velocity tests were conducted using

a Pact 1XP chronograph. Five shots ofeach load were measured at a distance

of 15 inches from the muzzle. The fastestload was Remington’s 125-grain .357

>>> SMITH & WESSON M686 SSR

“The customfeatures of the

SSR provideadvanced han-dling qualitiesthat maximizethe ‘Jack of All

Trades’ natureof revolvers...”


PERFORMANCE

SMITH & WESSON M686 SSR.38 Special


Black Hills 148 SW 700 1.64

High Precision Range 712 2.81158 XTP HP

SMITH & WESSON M686 SSR.357 Magnum


CorBon 140 JHP 1,237 4.07

Remington 125 SJHP 1,472 3.14

Winchester 125 1,297 3.52PDX1 BJHP




COMBAT HANDGUNS 57

The M686 SSR has a black, fully adjust-

able rear sight assembly for precisionshooting as well as an exposed hammer.

Magnum SJHP; it averaged 1,472 feet persecond (fps). The latest version of Sierra’sInfinity Ballistic software indicates thatthis velocity generates 601 foot-pounds ofmuzzle energy. The Remington 125-grainSJHP magnum load isn’t new, and it’s not

bonded, but it’s been a very consistentperformer over the past 30 years. Theslowest load was Black Hills’ 148-grainwadcutter target load. All of the otherloads produced velocities that were closeto factory ballistics.

The Army L bullseye match wasfired with Winchester’s 125-grain PDX1Magnums. Tactical drills were fired withRemington’s .38 Special 130-grain FMJload and the CorBon and Remington .357Magnum loads. There were no misfiresor mechanical problems during the drillsor any other live fire tests. The SSR easilydigested every load it was fed.

During the bullseye match, I shot theSSR one-handed for the 25-yard slow fire,and two-handed for the 25-yard timed fireand 15-yard rapid-fire stages. Slow firewas shot in the SA mode, and the othertwo stages were fired DA. All shots wereon target during each stage, and the bestscore was a 93-5X during the 15-yard,rapid-fire stage. The SSR’s 38-ounceweight handled recoil very well, and theHogue grips provided for a very solidpurchase on the gun.

Two tactical drills were conducted. ICONTINUED ON PAGE 84



HANDGUN HIDE


he popularity of slim, single-stack, concealed-carry pistolsis unmistakable. They arethin and comfortable tocarry. Many concealed-carry

proponents are jumping on the slim gunbandwagon because it encourages dailycarry. With a slim gun, you can gener-ally just slip it into your daily attire with-out much effort. While there are manydifferent options available, each dresssituation may require a different holster.Let’s look at a few of them.

Belly BandThe beauty of a slim carry gun is youcan be active! The CrossBreed ModularBelly Band is a relatively new holsterthat fills a specific need. It featuresan elastic band with a Kydex holsterattached via Velcro. The elastic bandalso features two sewn-in pockets formagazines and a larger one suitable forhandcuffs. CrossBreed provides withadditional purchase an adhesive-backedVelcro square that you can attachanywhere you may want a holster. Thetight-fitting holster is great because theweight is supported, and it will not saglike a belt holster might. It keeps thefirearm close to the body and does notprint as a belt holster could. The drawstroke is not as fast or efficient, which is

a tradeoff for the advantages it offers. Itcan be a bit hotter to wear compared toa normal holster, too.

The carry method I felt most in needof was a good active carry. It was bysome coincidence that, when I was real-ly thinking about how to solve my carryproblems when trying to jog, I saw anemail announcing the CrossBreed BellyBand. It seemed like the perfect solu-tion for me. My biggest issue was, whentrying to exercise, it is not ideal to wearpants just to wear a belt. Pocket car-rying in athletic shorts also left much

to be desired. The weight of the pistol jostling around in large pockets, beingsupported only by an elastic waist andstring, was very frustrating. The bellyband solves those problems by keepingthe gun up close to your core. The gundoesn’t have the chance to flop aroundor get pulled down by an uncooperativewaistband.

Standard IWBFor standard inside-the-waistband(IWB) carry there are many popularoptions. PJ Holsters makes a fantasticline of Kydex holsters for many pistolsand in several different configurations.The holster shown has slip-over clipsthat do not require you to thread yourbelt through to carry. This is a treat for

people who need to slip the holster onand off multiple times a day. The holsteris very thin and light compared to aleather holster. It provides great reten-tion, is sweat proof and stays open whilethe pistol is drawn, allowing for easyre-holstering.

Before discovering the PJ holster, Ihad a standard leather IWB holster. Itserved me well for a couple years afterbuying my first Kahr, but after a whilethe metal clip got bent up to the pointof being an issue. The problem was theclip flared out at the bottom, and many

times while sitting it would catch thearms of the chair and bend. The simple,sleek clip design that PJ Holsters em-ploy eliminated this problem. When I getready to put on the holster, I simply in-sert the muzzle end into the waistbandand use my fingertips to curl the clipoutward while pushing the holster intoplace. Once the holster is fully seated,I simply squeeze the clip to the belt toensure the lip fully seats onto the belt.After doing this simple procedure theholster stays in place all day.

Hybrid IWBAnother popular IWB holster type isthe Kydex/leather hybrid. CrossBreedHolsters manufactures the MiniTuckholster specifically for smaller guns.

EVERYDAYCONCEALMENTOPTIONSKeep your guns deep under coveranytime, anywhere! BY ZACK CARLSON

T

CrossBreed Modular Belly Band CrossBreed MiniTuck IWBPJ Holsters IWB Holster



SAME SMALL PACKAGE.

SAME BIG PUNCH.BRANDNEW ATTITUDE.

TheLegend Continues.

The NEW .380 Mustang.Improved accuracy. Improved reliability.

More comfortable to shoot.




HANDGUN HIDE

It provides all the benefits of the PJ

holster but includes a leather backing,

which can enhance comfort. The routine

for putting on a hybrid holster is a little

more involved compared to the Kydex

PJ holster, but it is not too bad. I have

found it easier to put on by loosening

the belt and top button of the pants,

then insert the holster where desiredand clip both clips around the belt. Then

button the pants, snug the belt and

insert the pistol into the holster.

Pocket CarryAre you stuck in a suit every day? Does

belt carry not appeal to you? If so, a

pocket holster may be an ideal solution

for you. Pocket carry is incredibly com-

fortable for most users, however the

draw can be slower than other options.

The flat profile helps prevent the gun

from printing. Another advantage for

pocket carry is the ability to inconspicu-

ously grasp the gun in preparation for a

draw. This is hard to do with just about

every other method of carry.

Pocket carry really shines in comfort.

The biggest drawback to pocket carry

for me is that it sacrifices a pocket that

I would normally dedicate to my phone,

as it is recommended that you do not

carry anything else in the same pocket

to avoid confusion while drawing. You

also have to be more selective when

purchasing pants to ensure they have

an adequate opening to get the pistol inand out efficiently.

Ankle CarryAn ankle holster provides a carry

method when no other carry method

is feasible. The main requirements

are that you have pants that are long

enough to conceal the holster and that

the grip of the gun isn’t long enough to

create pant-leg fit issues.

CrossBreed graciously supplied its

small auto ankle holster for this task,

and with it I carried a Kahr CM9 with no

issues. The holster has an adjustable

calf strap affixed with Velcro, which

suspends the main holster via an ad-

justable Velcro strap. The main holster

has another adjustable Velcro strap that

wraps around the ankle. The holster

itself is made of nylon and has Velcro

thumb-break retention.

The weight that a gun-encumbered

ankle holster places on one leg takes

some getting used to, but once your

body adjusts, ankle carry can be a fairlycomfortable mode of concealment.

Personalized CarryBased on my experience with all of

these different options, I would recom-

mend the following: For exercising or

suit carry, a belly band such as the one

manufactured by CrossBreed may be

ideal. If you can’t realistically carry on

the belt and think the belly band isn’t

for you, then ankle carry or pocket carry

might be the answer. If you are carrying

a very small gun, my preferred carry

method is pocket carry. For just aboutall other situations I think IWB carry is

the most versatile and allows for the

fastest and most natural draw.

We have focused on slim, single-

stack semi-automatic handguns, but

most of what has been said can easily

translate to double-stack or larger au-

tos as well as revolvers. The only carry

method I would not recommend for a

double-stack gun is pocket carry. The

thickness creates too many opportu-

nities for it to print and also creates

a more difficult draw. Ankle carry is

debatable, but I think something along

the lines of a Glock subcompact would

be acceptable in an ankle rig.

With all the different carry options

available, it is no wonder that single-

stack carry guns are so popular. Rest

assured, however, that no matter what

you carry, there’s an everyday carry

option that’s right for you.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

CrossBreed Holsters

888-732-5011; crossbreedholsters.com

PJ Holsters

pjholster.com

An ankle is a useful place for concealing

a backup gun. When drawing, be sure tolift your pant leg well above the holster.






“I remember when the SteyrAUG was the bullpup to have due

to its design, and I can see theM40-A1 pistol filling that same

bill in the handgun arena.”

The Steyr M40-A1delivers the respectedcompany’s well-knownquality in a high-performance .40-cal.package. With its 12+1rounds of firepower,ultra-advancedergonomics, wear-resistant Mannoxfinish and integralrail, the pistol standsready for duty.

COMBAT TEST



Rcombathandguns.com May 2014 COMBAT HANDGUNS 63

Futuristic .40-cal deliversunbeatable ergonomics

and 12+1 rounds offight-stopping firepower!

BY

CHAD THOMPSON

PHOTOS BY STEVE WOODS

SteyrM40-A1

Recently, I was fortunate enough to be able to receive and

write about a pistol that I had heard about for a while but

hadn’t had a chance to handle until this opportunity present-

ed itself. My editor located a Steyr M-A1 pistol chambered in

.40 S&W (an M40-A1) and asked me if I was interested in doinga piece on the gun. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance, andquick as a wink I had one of Steyr’s fine pistols at my doorstep.One reason I wanted to get my hands on an M-A1 was that itlooks really cool. Another was just personal and professionalcuriosity about Steyr’s take on the polymer-framed pistol crazeof the new millennium. Steyr has an exceptional reputation

for making long guns, and after handling this pistol, I remaincompletely satisfied with its polymer pistol line—as representedby the M40-A1.

GUN DETAILSI got the pistol in and opened the all-black polymer case. Insidewas the pistol, two magazines and various other items thatcome with the handgun, including the manual, paperwork, twolocks and a couple of keys used to unlock the manual safetychild lock on the right side of the pistol. I looked at the M40-A1before picking it up and was again impressed with the pistol’s





aesthetics. The thing is just cool to lookat. I remember when the Steyr AUG wasthe bullpup to have due to its design, andI can see this pistol filling that same billin the handgun arena. I then picked thepistol up and began my inspection.

The Steyr M40-A1 is a striker-fired,polymer-framed .40-caliber semi-auto

with a completely steel slide assembly. Ituses the Browning short-recoil methodof operation with what is called a linklessdesign, but it actually does have a partiallink attached to the bottom of the barrel.It has an external extractor, and thegrip is one of the most comfortable I’vehandled in a while. The bore axis is nice

SPECIFICATIONS

STEYR M40-A1

Caliber .40 S&W

Barrel 4 inches


Weight 27 ounces

Grips Polymer

Sights White-dot trapezoidal

Action DAO

Finish Mannox

Capacity 12+1

MSRP $560

The trigger features a paddle-style

safety that helps prevent the pistolfrom firing unless the trigger is pulled.




and low, and the pistol points perfectly.The pistol also has a paddle-type safety

on the front of the trigger, like so manyothers of the genre today. The companycalls its finish on these pistols Mannox-coated. The two included magazines areconstructed of steel, and each holds 12rounds of .40-caliber ammunition. Thetwo biggest things that I noticed uponinitial inspection were the sights and therail under the slide. The sights are trian-gular and trapezoidal, and the accessoryrail is a nice added feature.

The slide of the pistol is marked “SteyrMannlicher, Austria,” but the frame hasthe markings of “SAI, Trussville, AL,”

which is the importer for this pistol. Thelast two features I noted and liked werethe loaded-chamber indicator and thereally comfortable finger grooves in thegrip’s front strap. What makes the gripso great is a combination of things. Thefactors are reduced circumference, thehigh tang at the top of the backstrap,the angle of the grip, and the extendedportion at the bottom of the backstrap,which serves two purposes—it is a smallmagazine well, aiding in inserting a newmagazine rapidly, and it has a hole for alanyard attachment.

The rounded triggerguard is still largeenough to accommodate someone wear-ing gloves, and, as I said earlier, the gripangle is one of the most comfortable Ihave felt in a while. Weight is 27 ouncesunloaded, which is mostly due to thepolymer frame and construction.

Taking the gun apart and inspecting itbefore shooting revealed no surprises,save for how simple disassembly wason this excellent handgun. The pistolcomes apart in a manner similar to otherpolymer-framed pistols, but with a few

exceptions. The user first makes sure thepistol is clear, points it in a safe direction

A very unique feature of the Steyr

M40-A1 is the trapezoid-style frontsight for fast sight acquisitionand target engagement.




and dry fires the pistol. Built into thesafety-lock feature on the right side ofthe pistol is a spring-loaded takedownlever that gets pushed in while rotatingthe takedown lever toward the floor—and that’s it! The entire upper now slidesoff the front of the gun, and you begintaking those sub-assemblies apart fromthere. The recoil spring and guide rodare one unit and encapsulated. Then theforged steel barrel (with partial fixedlug) comes out of the slide. One featurethat I love is that the takedown lever ro-tates back up on its own when the slideis replaced properly and pulled to therear. Traditionally, when reassemblingpistols with a rotating takedown lever,the user is required to put the lever backin place manually, but that is not thecase here.

Now, the two main things that I wasintrigued about on the Steyr M40-A1 de-serve a little more detailed description:These are the trapezoidal sights andthe grip angle. First, these sights areway different than standard notch andpost, but that is not to say that is a bad

thing—it just took some getting used to.After a small amount of practice, I found

PERFORMANCE

STEYR M40-A1 .40 S&W


Federal Premium 985 4.50Eagle 180 FMJ

Speer Lawman 920 3.25180 FMJ

Winchester 1,046 3.00165 FMJ

BULLET WEIGHT MEASURED IN GRAINS , VELOCITY IN FEET -PER-SECOND ( FPS) BY CHRONOGRAPH AND ACCURACY IN INCHES FOR BEST FIVE -SHOT GROUPS AT 25YARDS.

>>> STEYR M40-A1

The striker-fired pistol does notfeature a hammer. Note the uniquerear sight that mates with the

gun’s trapezoidal front sight.





The author ran the M40-A1 through its paces and was veryimpressed with its performance. Recoil was manageable,and accuracy was quite good.

them to be quite fast and easy to pickup. Second, this grip design is one ofthe best I have felt in a polymer-framed(or any other) pistol, period. The grip issmaller in diameter than those on a lotof competitors’ pistols, and it has a nicehigh-grip recess in the tang of the pistolthat reduces felt recoil much better thanI expected. In short, it made this .40caliber pistol shoot like a 9mm.

RANGE TIMEI reassembled the Steyr and got thispistol to the range to try it out. For theaccuracy and reliability testing I usedWinchester 165-grain full metal jacket(FMJ), Speer Lawman 180-grain FMJand Federal American Eagle 180-grainFMJ ammunition. The total round countwas only about 150 rounds of ammo,

“When the triggerreset, this gun reallybegan to shine! Folks,there is hardly anytake-up on the reset,and it is nice and fast!” CONTINUED ON PAGE 97



COMBAT TEST

Ultra-accurate 5.56mmmegapistol deliversdevastating firepower at

ranges short and long!BY

DOUG LARSON PHOTOS BY STEVE WOODS

There’s just something about AR-style

pistols that interests a number of AR-15

enthusiasts, and that interest creates

enough demand to spur some AR-15 manu-

facturers to produce them. The enthusiasm

for the pistols could have something to

do with the fact that although they are not

easily carried, aimed or readily concealed,

they can have a self-defense role in certain

special situations. Whatever the reason,

the demand has caused Sig Sauer to offer

a pistol version of its highly successful and

rugged AR-15 rifle.

In 2010, Sig Sauer introduced the SIG516piston-driven AR-15. It was the company’sfirst AR-style gun and was thoroughly testedfor dependability. I witnessed an endurancedemonstration where the gun was buried insand, submerged in water and buried at thebottom of a pond in mud before being fired,all without a single malfunction; no cleaningor lubrication was required to keep it run-

ning. The pistol is of the same basic designand pedigree, so it should be a tough gun.

GUN DETAILSAlthough a 7-inch barrel is offered, the pistolreceived for testing had a 10-inch bar-rel. That length is the same as one of Sig’sshort-barreled rifles, but the pistol does notrequire ATF approval for civilian ownership.The barrel is chrome-lined and makes onetwist in 7 inches, which is good for stabiliz-ing longer, heavier bullets. It is finished withmanganese phosphate for durability andcorrosion resistance. Attached at the front isan A2-style birdcage flash suppressor thatmakes a pretty good attempt at reducing theflash signature, which is difficult with such ashort barrel.

A removable flip-up front sight is attachedto the short Picatinny rail on top of the gasblock. Inside the gas block is the gas valve(or plug) that connects to the piston, whichsends the bolt carrier group to the rear,cycling the action. The plug can be rotatedto one of four positions and features a round

hole into which a cartridge can be inserted tohelp turn it.





COMBAT HANDGUNS 69

The Sig Sauer P516 delivers 30+1 roundsof 5.56mm power in a compact andcontrollable package. Shown equipped

with an Aimpoint Micro H-1 red-dot sightand Sig Sauer’s optional SB15 PistolStabilizing Brace, which slips over the

buffer tube and offers support for thepistol by bracing the shooter’s forearm.




When the valve is in the verticalposition, the system is set for normaloperation. Turning it one notch clockwise(when viewed from the rear) aligns aslightly larger hole in the gas valve withthe gas port in the barrel to deliver abit more power to cycle the gun. This ishelpful if the gun is dirty and isn’t cyclingoptimally, since the shooter can’t reallystop to clean it. Sig recommends notrunning the gun with the valve in this po-sition for long because it puts extra wearand stress on parts.

Turning the plug from the normalposition counter-clockwise one notchaligns a smaller hole in the valve withthe gas port, reducing the amount ofpower delivered to the piston and boltcarrier group. This position is used whena sound suppressor is attached. Witha suppressor, there is more rearward

pressure, and not as much gas is neededto run the gun. To move the plug to thisposition, a small plunger on the front ofthe gas block must be depressed.

If the gas plug is turned two clicksclockwise from the normal position (thisalso requires that the plunger be de-pressed), gas is prevented from enteringthe gas system, which keeps the bolt car-

rier group from cycling and brass from

flying when a round is fired. This positionis used to obtain the highest degree ofsound suppression when using a sup-pressor. Some believe that this cut-offposition also enhances accuracy, but thegun must be cycled by hand.

The piston itself has three gas ringsand fits snugly into the gas valve. One ofthe advantages of a gas piston system is

that fouling and hot gas are not routed

into the receiver, as is the case with adirect-gas-impingement gun. This re-duces stress and heat on the bolt carriergroup, allowing the gun to run withoutas much lubrication, and makes cleanupeasier. The hot gas instead impacts thepiston, so carbon builds up there insteadof in the bolt carrier group. Whereverthe carbon accumulates, though, it still

>>> SIG SAUER P516

The P516’s forend

features four sectionsof Picatinny rail forattaching accessories.




SPECIFICATIONS

SIG SAUER P516

Caliber 5.56x45mm

Barrel 10 inches


Weight 6 pounds (empty)

Grips Synthetic

Sights Flip-up front and rear

Action Semi-auto

Finish Hardcoat anodized

Capacity 30+1

MSRP $1,666

The sturdy flip-up front sight

features a post bracketed by twoheavy-duty protective wings.

“Surrounding

the SIG P516’sfree-floating

barrel and

piston is a

7.25-inch-long

handguardwith Picatin-

ny rails on

all sides.”




needs to be removed periodically in orderfor the gun to keep running. Piston clean-ing cannot be neglected.

Surrounding the free-floating barreland piston is a 7.25-inch-long handguardwith Picatinny rails on all sides. Sigsupplies ERGO ladder-type protectivecovers for the T-marked slots, of which

there are plenty for mounting acces-sories. But do not put a vertical foregripon this pistol—that’s a ticket to jail! Thetwo side rails have quick-detach slingswivel sockets at the front and back for

the attachment of a sling, and there arealso sockets on each side of the lowerreceiver, just in front of the buffer tube. Asling is a very good idea on this pistol be-

cause a holster is pretty much out of thequestion and some convenient method ofcarrying it is needed.

The upper receiver has a standard AR-15 appearance with a T-marked Picatinny

rail running the length of it. At the rear,

Sig supplies a removable flip-up ironsight with large and small apertures. The

gun is also equipped with the standardcharging handle, bolt forward assistand brass deflector; however, inside the

upper receiver the bolt carrier group isdecidedly not standard when comparedto a direct-gas gun.

The carrier does not have a gas key.Instead, it has a boss that is machined

directly into the carrier where the gas keywould otherwise be. The carrier is facet-ed, not round, and has lightening cuts. Itis treated with what appears to be a blacknitride finish instead of phosphate, and

it is not chrome-lined because it doesn’thave to be. Also referred to as Melonite,the black nitride finish is extremely hard,durable and corrosion resistant. The

rear of the carrier is also slightly largerthan a direct-gas bolt carrier in order tofit inside the buffer tube more snug-gly. This reduces carrier tilt, which is anunfortunate consequence of the change

from a direct-gas to a gas-piston system.

However, the modified carrier solvesthe tilt problem even if it does require

>>> SIG SAUER P516

“In 2010, Sig

Sauer intro-

duced the SIG516

piston-driven

AR-15...The pistol

is of the same

basic design

and pedigree,

so it should be

a tough gun.”

(Clockwise from top left). The rear sight is a foldingunit, the gas block sports an adjustable regulator,the top rail accept optics such as the Aimpoint MicroH-1, and the pistol features an ambi mag release.



MADE IN SWITZERLAND

SDP Compact DA/SA 9mm

DRIVEN BY PRECIS ION

SOME CALL IT SWISS MADE PRECISION

WE CALL IT

to deliver outstanding performance through accuracy and reliability, exceeding the expectations of the most demanding

The SPHINX SDP Compact embodies over 130 years of precision manufacturing, integrating SPHINX tactical and

Visit your SPHINX dealer today to discover why the SDP Compact is quickly becoming the top choice for shooters



74 COMBAT HANDGUNS March 2014 combathandguns.com

that the rear of it (and the interior of thetube) be lubricated. The bolt looks likea direct-gas bolt, and the extractor isequipped with a black spring insert anda rubber ring to increase gripping poweron the rim of spent cartridges.

The lower receiver looks similar tothat of a typical AR. However, Sig hasmade some interesting changes. Thefence surrounding the magazine releaseis larger and square instead of round.The magazine release is also ambidex-trous. And, in order to make it easier forthe operator to engage the bolt catch,Sig added an extension to it. The safety

>>> SIG SAUER P516

“the SIG proved to be veryaccurate, with groups aver-

aging about an inch or less.”

The author tested the P516with it braced by a sling.

He was impressed with itsperformance and capabilities.

PERFORMANCE

SIG SAUERP516 5.56MM


BULLET WEIGHT MEASURED IN GRAINS , VELOCITY IN FEET PER SECOND ( FPS) BY CHRONOGRAPH , AND ACCURACY IN INCHES FOR BEST FIVE -SHOT GROUPS AT 25 YARDS.

American Eagle 2,765 0.9462 FMJ

Black Hills 3,044 0.7950 Barnes TSX

Hornady 3,070 0.5055 TAP FPD

D O U G L

A R S O N P

H O T O



selector and trigger are typical for anAR, and the trigger on the test gun brokeat a little more than 8 pounds after some

take-up and a bit of overtravel. It’s nota match-grade trigger, but it’s not meantto be.

The magazine well is beveled toenhance fast reloads, and the gun is sup-

plied with one 10-round magazine. Thepistol grip is a Sig design that increases

the size of the backstrap as compared toan A2 grip. This makes the trigger reachlonger, which some people like. The grip

is also textured on the sides and hasridges front and back to reduce slippage.It also has a trap door in the bottomso that spare parts or batteries can be

stored inside.The buffer tube, or receiver extension,

is heavily knurled for a short distancebehind the receiver; beyond that it issmooth. At the rear is a raised portion

with two flat sides that are apparentlythere to accept the jaws of a wrench forassembly and disassembly. This is notthe standard buffer tube found on an ARrifle, so it will not accept a buttstock.

Don’t attempt to put one on, or you willbe violating the law.

RANGE TIME

Testing was conducted at the ScottsdaleGun Club’s indoor range, where the P516attracted a lot of attention. During testingnot a single malfunction was encoun-tered. From a benchrest, the gun proved

to be very accurate, with groups averag-

ing about an inch or less using an EOTechXPS3 red-dot sight. That is much better


COMBAT HANDGUNS 75

The SB15 does not function as a

stock, but rather as an adjustablebrace for the shooter’s forearm.




accuracy than the average person canexpect to get out of a typical handgun.

In off-hand shooting, the gun is ahandful. But any AR-style pistol is goingto be. All are front heavy and weigh more

than most handguns, so they are hardto hold steady. There are several waysto grip them, and the owner will have toexperiment to find his preferred method.

One way is to hold the pistol grip in thenormal manner with the support handwrapped around the firing hand in aWeaver or isosceles stance. Another isto grasp the handguard with the support

hand, which I found to be much moreusable. Others will hold the magazinewell with the support hand, which is anacceptable alternative.

A major aid to aiming and handlingone of the P516 is Sig’s SB15 PistolStabilizing Brace, which is designed toslip over the buffer tube and help steady

the aim. Once installed, the shooter slipshis forearm through the brace, grasps

the pistol grip and cinches the retainingstrap tight.

The Stabilizing Brace may look

something like a buttstock, but it is notadjustable for length, it is made of flex-ible polymer so it is not solid like a butt-stock, and it is pretty short. Sig sells it

specifically for attaching to the shooter’sforearm to stabilize the gun when using aone-handed stance. And it works!

Users could also opt for an adjustablesling, which, when wrapped around the

back or shoulder can be stretched tightly.The rearward tension against forwardpressure helps to steady the gun. And,with a sling, a person can carry the SigP516 discreetly underneath a long coat,

making the gun a sort of personal de-fense weapon along the lines of a short-barreled rifle. However, a lot of practicewould be needed to develop the skills

necessary to effectively use this weapon.On the other hand, the gun is fun to

shoot and a bit of a novelty. If you wantto attract attention at the range, or justwant to try something different, the Sig

P516 pistol is a gun to consider. For more

information, visit sigsauer.com or call603-772-2302.

>>> SIG SAUER P516

“the SIG P516

is fun to shootand a bit ofa novelty.”



AVAILABLE IN: 9MM LUGER 135 GR | 9MM LUGER +P 135 GR | 40 S&W 175 GR | 45 AUTO +P 220 GR 800.338.3220 | HORNADY.COM

45 AUTO +P 220 GR FLEXLOCK® CRITICAL DUTY®

BARE GELATIN HEAVY CLOTHING PLYWOOD SHEET METAL WALLBOARD GLASS

A M M U N I T I O N

A N A C H I E V E M E N T I N

Barrier Bl ind

Performance1

2

3

4

THE MOST CONSISTENT TACTICAL HANDGUN

AMMO IS NOW AVAILABLE IN 45 AUTO+P!

Urban barriers (heavy clothing, plywood, sheet metal and even auto glass*) are no match for the innovative FlexLock ® bullet loadedin Critical Duty® handgun ammunition. Law enforcement and tactical professionals, as well as law-abiding citizens, now have a trulyadvanced, 21st century ammunition solution that delivers the most consistent and reliable terminal performance on the market.

*As defined by the “FBI Protocol” handgun ammunition tests.

NEW FLEXLOCK® BULLET

FLEX TIP® TECHNOLOGY Initiates consistent expansion every time while preventing clogging.

INTERLOCK® BAND Works to keep the bullet and core from separating for maximum weight retention and

proven terminal performance through all FBI test barriers.

TOUGH BULLET CORE High-antimony lead core delivers controlled expansion for unparalleled terminal

performance consistency through all FBI test barriers.

CANNELURED BULLET Provides a consistent crimp location to ensure no bullet set back during feeding.

1

2

3

4

4 5 4 5 A U T O + P

A U T O + P

N O W A V

A I L A B L E !

N O W A V

A I L A B L E !




nearly fell off of it as he approached thegas pump where I was parked. I lookedat the disheveled and apparently drunkman, and said, “Are you ok?” He just sortof looked at me and said, “Yeah, do youhave any money you could give me?” Iusually only carry a debit card, but, beinga charitable person, I answered, “I havea ton of change in my cup holder.” “Thatwill work,” the man said.

Thinking nothing was up, I sat downin my car and started digging change outof the cup holder. Most of it was pen-nies, but there was a fair amount of silverchange. All of the sudden he was rightthere in my car door. I held out the handfull of change and said, “Sorry, man,this is all I have.” He eyed the handfulof change and asked, “What, that’s it? Ican’t buy anything with that.” Once againI stated that what was in my hand was all

I had. He looked at the change again andsaid in a menacing voice, “There’s an ATMin that store, why don’t you go in thereand get me some money?” That’s when Ithought to myself, “OK, the dynamic haschanged.” I looked at him and said, “Thisis all I have and I’m not going inside to getyou any money. Take it or leave it.”

My free hand was on my 1911, whichwas tucked between the driver’s seat andthe center console of the car, and I knewhe couldn’t see it because of the way Iwas sitting in the car. He narrowed hiseyes and scowled at me and reached in-

side his jacket. As this happened, he said,“Look, boy, you’re gonna...” but before hecould finish his sentence I had my pistolout and visible. I said to him “Back upreal slow and get away from me.”

Startled, he quickly backed off, goton his bike and peddled away as fast ashe could manage. I kept my hand on mypistol and my eyes on him closely untilhe was a few hundred yards away. I thenput my holster on my belt, holsteredthe pistol, and went inside to alert thecashier. My hands were shaking fromthe adrenaline high. “You know, that guyhas been bothering the customers hereall week,” the cashier told me. I replied,“Maybe he’ll think twice before he doesthat again.” I thanked the cashier, got inmy car and drove home, thankful that Ihad my pistol to protect myself.—RT, TN

Tell Us Your Story!Combat Handguns pays $100 for each “It Happened

To Me!” letter that we print. Send yours to Combat

Handguns, 1115 Broadway, New York, NY 10010

or e-mail to [email protected]. Please

include your full name, address, email and phone

number (including area code). A signed release is

required prior to publication.

DON’T BE A VICTIM! CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6





ASK THE PROS


Robert Vogel was raised on a farm inrural Ohio, where guns and shootingwere a part of life, and where at an earlyageRobert learned to shoot and hunt withrifles, shotguns and handguns. At 15, hedecided to become a police officer, join-ing the police academy after high school.

While at the academy, he discoveredcompetitive shooting, launching a careerthat as of this writing has resulted in twoworld and 16 national championshipsacross three Practical/Combat shootingdisciplines.

“For eight and a half years,” Roberttold us, “I served as a full-time streetcop. During most of that tenure I wasa part of the agency’s SWAT team andwas also one of their firearms instruc-tors. In May of 2012, I left full time asthe demands of my shooting/instructingcareer were taking over. So far, I couldn’t

be happier with that decision.”

What was the first handgun you

ever fired? What age were you?

I believe it was my grandfather’s oldWalther P.38 9mm, and I think I was fiveor six. I remember my dad helping me geta grip on it, and then shooting at somecans back in our cow pasture.

How did you get into

competitive shooting?

I discovered IDPA competition when I was19 and in the police academy. I read aboutit in a magazine and decided to try it out.I found the closest club, which was stillan hour away, and just showed up at theirmonthly match.

What’s your favorite style

of shooting?

I call it “practical” shooting, which en-compasses USPSA, IPSC and IDPA. Thesesports I believe do the best job of balanc-ing accuracy, power and speed, which arecrucial if you’re trying to keep things real.The shooting in these disciplines is very

much the same as the shooting requiredin most law enforcement training.

What is your favorite pistol?

I’ve shot Glocks exclusively for abouteight years now and probably have closeto 20. I don’t have a favorite, as they allhave their purposes, but I do really enjoyshooting Limited [class] with my long-slide Glock 24.

What’s your favorite

chambering?

Depending on the competition, I competewith a 9mm, a .40 and sometimes a .45ACP. For real-life carry purposes I oftencarry a Glock 35 in .40. Personally, I don’tthink it matters much with the rightammunition. I’m also a hunter, and haveshot and killed many animals, big andsmall, with Glocks. I don’t think it makes

a lot of difference when you’re talkingabout these three calibers.

What is your favorite type

of holster?

Well, I’m sponsored by Safariland, andthey really do make some great holsters.I’ve been using their Model 5189 holsterfor several years now with great success.It holds the pistol at the right angle anddoesn’t interfere with getting a consistentgrip on the pistol while it’s still in the hol-ster. I also think the ALS system for dutyholsters is the best out there.

What’s your fondest

match memory?

The very first match I ever went to. I was19. I had never competed against anyoneelse, other than friends and family. I hadno idea where I would stack up. There

were about 20 people there, but I was puton the beginner squad and didn’t get to

The former police officer and professional competitive

shooter talks training, favorite guns, dry-fire realitiesand the makings of a championship career!BY COMBAT HANDGUNS

ROBERT VOGEL

“Competitiveshooting, lawenforcement or

self-defensehave this incommon—you’re takinga handgunand tryingto shoot andhit a human-sized

target as fastas you canin differentcircumstances.”

P H O T O C

O U R T E S Y P

A N T E A

O P

R O D U C T I O N S




see some of the better shooters. Theyemailed the results a few days later andI saw I had won High Overall by about 10to 12 seconds, beating several “Experts.”I was floored! From that moment on Inever let up.

What kinds of off-the-range

training do you do throughout

the year?

I’m really not huge on working out, butI do try to stay active. I’m big on gripstrength and train hard on that. I try tobe outside a lot, moving around, doingthings—hunting, hiking, kayaking orsometimes helping my dad on the farm.

Do you think that competitive

shooting has applications for

those who want to train for

self-defense?

Of course it does. Whether you’re talk-ing about competitive shooting (USPSA,IDPA), law enforcement applications oreven concealed carry/self-defense shoot-ing, they all have this in common—youare taking a real handgun and trying toshoot at, and actually hit, a human-sizedtarget as fast as you can hit it under avariety of different circumstances. I don’tcare which of those three you’re mostinterested in, when it comes down to theshooting that is the goal!

There are those, of course, who putdown competitive shooting, but it is

usually because they either have verylimited experience in it or are not verygood…or both.

How often do you dry fire?

In one form or another, just about everyday. For sheer skill building I feel it hasno equal. For every live round that Iactually fire, I probably mimic that roundeight to 10 times in dry fire. It is humannature to fear loud explosions going off infront of our faces, and therefore flinchingor jerking the trigger, especially duringrapid fire, is all too common. We needto train our bodies not to do this in anenvironment where we are very aware ofwhat is going on. This is where dry firecomes into play.

Do you have any advice

for aspiring shooters?

The best advice I can give them is to facetheir fears. Nothing great will ever hap-pen inside your comfort zone. If you havethe fortitude to continually make yourselfdo things that you are nervous doing,you will expand your comfort zone and

achieve things most people will not. Don’tbe a spectator—be a doer!



There is an important difference, how-ever—the top of the G42’s slide is solid.This means the barrel and internals aresealed and can stand up to harsher envi-ronments (e.g., sand, dirt, mud, etc.).

Test firing the new Glock 41 resultedin gratifyingly small groups at 25 yards(well under 4 inches). Glock’s dual recoilspring system and the gun’s longerslide aided in handling and control—the

G41 just seems to “hang” better in thehand(s). The gun’s 13-round standard-capacity magazine is of the Gen4 variety:mag catch cutouts are located on bothsides of the magazine, so the gun’s am-bidextrous magazine catch will lock themagazine in, no matter the mag catch’sposition. With its self-illuminating nightsights and cold-hammer-forged barrelwith octagonal rifling, there is little doubtthat the Glock 41 is capable of success-fully engaging targets out to 100 yards!I think Clint Smith would say this is a“comforting” Glock.

DEEP CONCEALMENT

Moving down to the other end of thesize scale, we come to Glock’s othernew autopistol, the Glock 42 in .380 ACP.Externally, it mimics the iconic silhou-ette of a Glock pistol. Close examination,however, reveals some interesting andsubtle differences. This is a super-slim-line Glock—it’s not even an inch thick(rather, 0.94 inches)! The frame textureis of the Gen4 type, but its roughness hasbeen subdued—as befits a gun that will

spend much of its life hidden in or underclothing and perhaps next to bare skin.


>>>G30S/G41 GEN4/G42

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

Blazer 230 FMJ 807 2.06

Winchester Ranger 929 1.03SXT 230 JHP

Blazer 95 FMJ 847 2.03

Winchester 825 2.0088 JHP

PERFORMANCE

GLOCK 41 GEN4 .45 ACP


Federal Personal 981 1.11Defense 65 HSHP

Winchester PDX1 230 900 1.32Bonded JHP


GLOCK 30S .45 ACP


GLOCK 42 .380 ACP













interchangeable backstrap panels to ac-commodate different-sized hands. Thewidth and height of the 5-inch modelare otherwise identical to the standard4-inch PPQ M2. However, the inte-gral Picatinny rail, combined with theadded slide and barrel length, allowsa little more room for tactical lights orcombination light/laser systems behindthe extended muzzle. And the oversized

triggerguard leaves plenty of room for

a gloved hand to safely operate thetrigger.The biggest advantage of the

5-inch model, however, is its weight.Remember that most Government-sized semi-autos have steel framesand tip the scales at around 39 ounces.The PPQ M2 5-inch weighs in at just 27ounces empty with a 15-round capac-ity magazine (or 11 rounds in .40 S&W).That’s an average of 17 ounces less thana comparably sized 5-inch-barreled,steel-frame, semi-automatic pistol.

RANGE TIMEOne of the first things you becomeaware of when loading the PPQ is theease with which the ambidextrous sliderelease operates, requiring only modesteffort with either hand. The trigger pullis short, with only 0.5 inches of totaltravel (including the trigger safety);there is zero overtravel, and reset isvery quick. Overall, this is exactly whatyou want from a striker-fired semi-autowith this type of trigger safety. Triggerpull on our test gun averaged only 5.15pounds.

The adjustable white-dot rear sightand fixed white-dot front sight on the8-inch slide present an excellent sightpicture under most lighting conditions.Walther also offers low-light sightsas an option, but I found the standardsights very easy to acquire.

One of the great features of a 9mmsemi-auto is its ability to handle a widevariety of ammunition—from good, old-fashioned full metal jacket (FMJ) to thelatest in defensive and law enforcementloads like Hornady Critical Defense

FTX, Federal Premium Hydra-Shok jacketed hollow-point (JHP) and Speer

Gold Dot to standard Winchester 9mmFMJ—without a hiccup. Test ammo forthe PPQ M2 consisted of heavy-hitting124-grain Federal Premium Hydra-Shok JHP, 115-grain Hornady CriticalDefense FTX and the more afford-able but equally reliable Winchester115-grain FMJ, which comes in a100-round value pack.

With a ProChrono chronograph set

up 10 feet from the muzzle, Federal

Premium 124-grain JHPs cleared thetraps at 1,140 feet per second (fps),Hornady 115-grains clocked 1,210fps, and Winchester 115-grain FMJsflew downrange just a hair quicker at1,215 fps. Using a Weaver stance anda two-handed hold (no benchrest), thelong-barreled Walther delivered a bestfive-shot group of 1.93 inches with theHornady 115-grain. The widest groupmeasured just 2.73 inches with twopairs of overlapping shots. Switching tohard-hitting Federal Premium Hydra-Shok, the 124-grain JHP rounds also

averaged a best of 1.93 inches. WithWinchester 115-grain FMJs, groups av-eraged 2.25 inches. In view of my havingfired the gun off-hand from a distanceof 75 feet, those are all respectablegroups. Shooting this gun from a ben-chrest would easily return 1.25-inchgroups for the effort.

FINAL NOTES I have owned Walthers since the 1970s,and every one has been an exceptionalfirearm. For a 127-year-old companythat, for all intents and purposes, in-vented the SA/DA 9mm pistol and de-cocker, to change from that platform tothe PPQ design speaks volumes aboutWalther’s openness to new ideas, evenwhen those ideas abandon two of thefundamental tenets of designs datingback to the 1930s. However, what thePPQ gives up is equally offset by what itgains. The PPQ M2 is as bold for 2013 asthe P99 was in 1996, and the addition ofthe 5-inch M2 version adds yet anotherlayer to this exceptional new series ofWalther semi-auto designs. For more

information, visit waltherarms.com orcall 479-242-8500.

“The PPQ M2 is as bold for 2013 as the P99 was in 1996, andthe addition of the 5-inch M2 version adds yet another layerto this exceptional new series of Walther semi-auto designs.”




www.agiCombat.comor call1-800-797-0867 today!

AMERICAN GUNSMITHING INSTITUTE AGIAt AGI we are worki ng to preserve the gunsmithing ar ts and all of our personal freedoms through every course we produce.

In this FREE introductory gunsmithing lesson featuring Master Gunsmith Robert "Bob" Dunlap you WILL learn:

DISABLED VETERANS Have the Government pay for your training! If you are a disabled Veteranwith a 30% or more disability rating you may qualify for this program through Veterans Affairs.

Your FREE DVD will come with a complete information package on how to get started in gunsmithing FAST. *We just ask that you pay $3.97 for priority

mail shipping. President's Guarantee: I am so confident you will learn how to become a gunsmith by watching this FREE DVD, that I will give you a $10 gift

certificate good towards an AGI course of your choice when you order this package.

Sincerely, Gene Kelly, President, American Gunsmithing Institute

• How to ensure reliable auto-pistol feeding and prevent jams

• Understanding and timing of Remington 870 cartridge stops

• Checking and adjusting "range" on Smith & Wesson revolvers

• Troubleshooting ejection problems on Browning A-5 shotguns

• How a gas system works on a Colt AR-15

• AR-7 trigger repairs

• Secrets of fast and easy gun repair!

• Exclusive teaching method demonstrated in proven

video format that makes learning a snap and much more . . .

The American Gunsmithing Institute is the nation's PREMIER gunsmithing school!

Currently there is a HUGE Demand for gunsmiths.Millions of guns need fixing. Most of the old-time gunsmiths have retired andhaven’t been replaced, because previously there wasn’t a cost effective way to

quickly train individuals to become gunsmiths and help them make money fast.This has created a chronic shortage and a huge opportunity for you.

Gunsmithing is a recession-proof business. It only takes a relatively small investmentto get started and your one time investment in the course could provide you with alifetime of income and opportunity. As soon as you begin watching the videos you will

be able to start making repairs. You don’t have to wait to start gunsmithing!

Anytime you run into a problem, you just pop in the DVD on the subject or model gunyou need information on and do a quick review. Certification not required for

gunsmithing in CA. Not available to residents of OK.

Need assistance in getting started or just want more information?We're here to help - call a student advisor today at 1-800-797-0867

Here's how AGI’s Professional Gunsmithing Course changed Robert Briskey’s life:

" Withi n one short year I opened up my own fi rearms repair and

custom refi ni shing shop. M y business is exceeding my dreams.

The f reedom I enjoy being self -employed is pr iceless. Without the

opportu nity that AGI' s course offered, my dream would be just

that, a dream." Robert T. Bri skey, Battle Hen Armor y

Make your money back in no time: " I had no previous gunsmithi ng experi ence, just basic

knowledge of f irearms. The course in my opinion is well worth

every penny . . . I h ave made back what I spent on the cour seand then some just workin g at it part-tim e. I have even f ixed a

few guns that other gun smith s who went to coll ege swore were

never able to be repair ed." Justin Jones,

Justin's Fir earms and Gunsmithi ng, Blountvil le, TN

*

I 'm an AGI student and a Silver GCA member. I was asked

by a friend if I could fi x the stock of his 870 Remington.

I r ead about the AGI course on stock refin ishing with

Gene Shuey. I sent f or th e course, followed the detailed

step-by-step instru ction s and the stock look ed like new.

No, it looked like a custom job of woodworki ng. I am so

happy with th is fin ished stock. The professional instructi on

and the materials are top notch in this kit. So, from

M edford, Oregon thi s is R.G. Waterbur y thankin g all

of you at AGI for this amazing gift of kn owledge.

www.agiCombat.com1-800-797-0867

A M E R

I C A N

G U N SMIT H I N G

I N S T

I T U T E

T H E N A

T I O N

’ S P R E M I E R

GU N S M I T

H I N G S

C H O O

L

T h i s i s s u e o nl y !

G R E AT G I F T I D E A !

Why wait? Get your FREEintroductory gunsmithing

lesson and completeinformation package today!

*

*

Offer Code:COMBAT2014



LETTERS

9mm ManI’m exclusive to Sigs! I have had boththe 9mm and .40 S&W. After personalexperience in the field and on the range,I traded my .40 S&W Sig P229 SCT fora 9mm Sig P226 TacOps due to themuzzle rise and flip in actual shootingsituations. The .40 S&W caused more-than-average rise and flip of the weaponthan I would consider safe for myself inan actual self-defense situation. Losing

your target in daylight due to muzzle riseand flip and then having to reacquireyour target immediately is bad enoughand deadly, now imagine this samescenario occurring at nighttime! Poweris great and fine, but being able to holdtarget with little to no recovery time iswhat keeps you alive out there!—TD, VIA THE INTERNET

Top-Gun Todd JarrettTodd is the boss! I have seen himcompete a few times and am amazedat his shooting know-how. He is just

about unstoppable when it comes tofast shooting. And accurate, too. If thisAbernathy is the gun that he uses, thenit is good enough for me. I am going tohave to look into getting one built myself.Although I know it won’t make me as agood a shot as Todd is!

By the way, is there any chance ofyour doing a Q&A with Todd on how hegot into shooting, who influenced him,and maybe some tips on how we can bebetter shooters? I think it would be agreat read, and I for one would defi-nitely want to hear what he has to say.Also, any chance of your running somereviews of other competition-ready1911s? I am a fan and carry one myself,but I would like to learn more about onesdesigned for competitive shooting.

Thanks, and keep up the good work!—JD, NC

EDITOR’S RESPONSE

JD, thanks for your note. Todd Jarrett isindeed a remarkably talented shooter, asevidenced by his long list of professionalaction-shooting accomplishments. And,

the Abernathy Custom 1911 is an excel-lent gun according to our reviewer, so

you should be more than happy with onebuilt by them.

As to other competition 1911s, we’llcertainly keep our eye on the lat-est models. Recently, in our August2013 issue, Chad Thompson reviewedFreedom GunWorks’ Freedom Package9mm/.40 competition gun, a slide/barrelinterchangeable pistol that Chad calledthe “total package for the competitorwho wants to use the high-capacity,

2011-style frame and trigger to whichthey are accustomed while being ableto shoot in more than one category.” Tocheck out Chad’s review, visit our web-site, personaldefenseworld.com.

Big-Bore FanaticThanks for the great review of theGuncrafter .50GI Model No. 1 pistol(March ‘14). I am a big-bore fanatic: Iown several .44 Mags and even a .50Desert Eagle, and I have been seriouslyconsidering getting one of these 1911sas well. Although my other big bores are

cool, they are not that easy to carry. Thisone seems like it would be a breeze tocarry as it is the same size as a standard1911. Now, I just have to find the ammo.—JJ, VIA THE INTERNET

Holy Grail, Cont.I love my CZs and especially the 75DPCR Compact. I’ve had both the full-sizeand compact steel-frame models, andnow my everyday-carry pistol is an alloy-frame compact. And yes, HD (Letters,March ‘14), for many CZ lovers the PCRis still the Holy Grail, though CZ-USAhas made huge strides in getting its pis-tols to U.S. shooters. I’m hoping Combat

Handguns will soon do a write up on theP-09 or the updated version of the P-07.—BA, VIA THE INTERNET

S&W M&P45CI own a Smith & Wesson M&P45c likethe one you covered in the February ‘13issue and could not agree more abouthow great a gun it is. I was in a localgun shop in southern Indiana about sixmonths ago looking for a gun for carry. I

went in without any plan for what I wouldget. I just wanted to see what they had.

As soon as I picked up the M&P45c, I fellfor it. It fit my hand perfectly, it pointedgreat and it just seemed “right” to me. Iwanted a .45 ACP, but not one that wastoo large. This one seemed to be justright. I have put more than a thousandrounds through it without a hiccup. Thiswas a combination of FMJ 230-grainersand my preferred carry round, HornadyCritical Defense 185 grain. It just runsand runs and runs. I carry it comfortably

in an inside-the-waistband rig all day. Itis like it is not even there. If anybody elseis looking for a handy .45 carry gun, thisone is a good choice if you ask me!—TJ, IN

EDITOR’S RESPONSE

We’re glad that you enjoyed the review ofthe M&P45c and that it helped you selectyour perfect carry gun. The fact that theM&P45c combines good capacity with amanageable size makes it a great optionfor shooters like you. In fact, Smith &Wesson makes a full line of compact and

powerful handguns, from its popularJ-frame revolver series to the popularShield pistol to the capable Bodyguardseries. There is something there for justabout everybody. Keep shooting, andthanks for reading!

New MillenniumI researched and researched for agood concealed-carry handgun andconsidered a few different options likethe S&W M&P. Then I came across theTaurus Millennium G2 (November ‘13),for the price of $380. I was cautiouswhile pursuing this gun, but I found thatI ultimately got a gun that is worth farmore than its retail price. What a qualityhandgun—stable, accurate, and I lovethe fit of it in my hand!—MT, VIA THE INTERNET

Editor’s Note: Please send your “Letter To TheEditors” to Combat Handguns, 1115 Broadway, NewYork, NY 10010, attention: “Letter To The Editors,”or email to [email protected]. Pleaseinclude your full name, postal and email address andphone number (including area code). On submission,your comments are our property: We may publish

or republish them in any medium, including printand online.


9mm vs. .40 S&W, Sig Sauer’s perfect pairing, top-gun

Todd Jarrett and the S&W M&P45c!

Our Readers Sound Off





ROUNDUP

NEW PRODUCTS


EAA CORP WITNESS PAVONAAs is well known, women are the gun indus-try’s fastest-growing demographic. Not contentto paint a gun pink and call it “ladies only,”European American Armory (EAA) set aboutdesigning a handgun specifically tuned to meetthe needs of the growing female firearms market.The result is the Witness Pavona, a compact,easy-to-load, easy-to-control semi-auto hand-gun. Ergonomically advanced, the Pavonafeatures a distinct, smooth polymer frame with in-tegral checkering and sculptured, contoured lines. ThePavona is tastefully packaged, and comes in a variety ofcalibers and sparkling, colored frames (eaacorp.com).

THE GUN BOXGUN SAFE In a home-invasion scenarioevery second is precious, andspeedy access to your firearmis essential. The Gun Box,designed and developed by masterengineer Ryan Hyde, opens automatically withthe touch of a fingerprint (programmed by the user) or a swipeof the included microchip-bearing ring or wristband. Made from aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, theGun Box can withstand up to 24,000 pounds-per-square-inch of pressure and temperatures over1,000-degrees Fahrenheit. And with its thin, artful, clamshell dimensions, it can be discreetly andeasily hidden from view. The Gun Box also includes an integrated alert system that emits via textmessage immediate notification should it be moved or tampered with. A neoprene interior liningkeeps your firearm held securely in place and prevents scratching (thegunbox.com).

HEIZER PS1 POCKET SHOTGUN The ultimate backup thundergun, the Heizer PS1 stainlesssteel pocket shotgun offers users .45 Colt and .410-gaugepower in an easily concealable yet heavy-duty package.A break-top-action single shot, the PS1 shoots bothcartridges effortlessly. Heizer’s first pistol fired over 5,000.410 shells in just two-and-a-half days of straight firing.A quick-release lever opens the action, and an internalextractor raises the spent shell for a quick reload. Thetrigger has roller bearings in it for a silky smooth triggerpull. Space is provided inside the grip for storing twoadditional rounds. The PS1 also has a grip designed tolower recoil and will be available initially in Isonited Black.Future colors include Desert Tan, Bronze, Prison Pink andPolished Stainless Steel (heizerdefense.com).

LIBERTY SAFE SAFELERT SAFE MONITORThe SafElert firearm safe monitor, made by well-regardedsafe-maker Liberty Safe, allows users to monitor thestatus of their safe, regardless of the brand, from nearlyanywhere in the world. Measuring a compact 3 inches by 2inches by 1 inch, the SafElert can be easily (and discreetly)fit into nearly any sized storage compartment. Shouldyour safe be tampered with, jostled, moved or overheated,the SafElert will alert you immediately via email or textmessage. All the user needs is a wireless router, a safe orsimilar storage compartment, and something worth keep-ing one’s eye on 24/7 (libertysafe.com).

MIDWESTGUN WORKSVZ GRIPS Midwest Gun Works (MGW), agunsmith and firearms parts andaccessories provider located proudlyin Pevely, Missouri, is now providingtop-of-the-line VZ Grips. Machinedfrom G10 and Micarta, MGW’s impec-cably finished VZ Grips both look andfeel great, offering users a solid andsecure gripping surface for handlingand shooting their handguns. MGW’sVZ Grips, offered in an array of colorsand textures, are made to fit a wide

variety of semi-auto pistols, bothfull size and compact, including theBeretta 92 Gunner, the Colt Mustang,the Para P14 and the CZ-75(midwestgunworks.com).

RADETEC AMMOCONTROLDIGITAL COUNTERSay goodbye to the days of wonder-

ing how many rounds you have leftin your magazine. With the RadetecAmmoControl Digital Counter, adigital shot tabulator integratedinto a specialized Radetec grip(configured not unlike a lasergrip), users can closely track theirshot count, receiving a shot-to-shot tally of the number of roundsremaining in the magazine as wellas the total number of roundsfired. Just place the providedRadetec follower in the magazine,install the grips, and you’re goodto go. Two followers, a battery andgrips are included with purchase

(radetec.com).






ger target. Fortunately, I just got somelarge Shoot-N-C targets from BirchwoodCasey that would fit the bill. These wereplaced out at the 25-yard line, and I tooka position on the bench, using a sandbagrest to evaluate the practical accuracypotential of the MAC 1911 Bobcut. Mypoint of aim (POA) was the small blaze-orange oval in the target center. After afew rounds, I remembered what I hadn’tdone and that was to clean all the excesslubricant out of the firing-pin channel,as I was getting some light primer hits.As the shooting continued, this problemworked itself out. Shooting three 5-shotgroups with my three .45 ACP test loads,my best group measured 3.14 inchesusing the Black Hills 230-grain JHPload. Group averages ran from about 3.5inches to almost 3.9 inches.

To test reliability and practical per-formance during rapid-fire shooting andloading, I set up a B-27-type target at 15yards, loaded my magazines with a mixof the test cartridges and moved to the3-yard line to run the MAC 1911 Bobcutthrough a combat qualification course.Drawing from the Old Faithfull holsterand using a point-shoulder stance at acouple of arm’s lengths away, I fired sixshots with the strong-side hand only,then six with the support-side hand,sans sights, with a combat reload in be-tween the two strings. Moving to 7 yards,I drew and fired a series of three double-taps, reloaded, then fired a body armordrill with two shots center-mass andone to the head. After doing that twice,I reloaded and moved to the 15-yardbarricade. I fired two shots from coveron the left side while standing, two fromthe right side while standing and thentwo kneeling from the right side. Out ofa possible 300 points, I managed a 297.

Most of the shots were well-centered inthe 10-ring scoring area, and I lost two

>>> MAC 1911 BOBCUT

“THE BOBCUT

1911 FELT

BETTER IN MY

MEDIUM-SIZED

MITT THAN...

ANY OTHER

1911 PISTOL

I’ VE FIRED.”





The grips and front strap of thepistol have a fish-scale pattern for

enhanced ergonomics and control.

points on one of my headshots that wenta bit high. Not bad considering I don’t doa lot of shooting with single-action (SA)autoloaders, and I even remembered to

flip off the safety just before firing.

FINAL NOTES

I was very impressed with the han-dling characteristics of the MAC 1911Bobcut. The hand-grabbing stippling andfish-scale pattern on the grips helpedme maintain control during rapid-fireshooting. The red fiber-optic front sightwas easy to see for a close-range “flash”sight picture, and the rear sight waswell defined for more deliberate shoot-ing as distances increased. Other thanthe light primer hits early on caused byover-lubrication, I had no malfunctionsattributable to the pistol or ammuni-tion. I liked the heft of the pistol, and theBobcut felt better in my medium-sizedmitt than the grip configuration of anyother 1911 pistol I’ve fired. Both the OldFaithful holster and the Fobus magazinepouch worked famously, and this pistoland holster/mag-pouch combo have myfull recommendation for your consid-eration. For more on the Metro ArmsCorporation, visit metroarms.com or call732-493-0302. For more on Old Faithful

Holsters, visit oldfaithfulholsters.com orcall 479-226-3082.




COMBAT HANDGUNS CLASSIFIEDS




COMBAT HANDGUNS 95




COMBAT HANDGUNS CLASSIFIEDS



>>> STEYR M40-A1

which isn’t a huge amount, but I still ex-perienced no malfunctions. That shouldindicate that the gun is going to workwhen (or if) needed.

Now, .40 S&W usually has a littlesharper recoil than 9mm, but, on theM40-A1, the recoil was mild and easilymanaged no matter what ammo was be-ing used. Handling and ergonomics weregreat, and all the controls were easy tomanipulate. The Steyr pistol’s magazine-release button is located in the traditionalspot, just behind the triggerguard on theleft side of the pistol, and it is a small,horizontal-shaped button. It is steel, justlike the magazines, and is recessed justthe right amount to avoid accidental acti-vation yet remain accessible. The triggerbroke at a clean 5.1 pounds accordingto my Lyman digital trigger-pull gauge.

The trigger pull was short, smooth andlacked any sticking at any point. Whenthe trigger reset, this gun really began toshine! Folks, there is hardly any take-up on the reset, and it is nice and fast!Following the fundamentals of taking outthe trigger slack, a slow steady press andfollow through made for a nice, accurateshot. However, it is after that first shot

that you realize you are holding a differ-ent polymer pistol in your hand. I beganto slowly allow the trigger to reset, andwhen immediately heard and felt a posi-tive click, I knew the gun was ready forthe next shot. As soon as I began to pressagain, the next shot broke cleanly. I amimpressed with the job Steyr has done ontheir trigger for the M40-A1.

All of the shooting I did for the ac-curacy testing on the M40-A1 was fromthe 25-yard line in a benchrest posi-tion. All groups consisted of five con-secutive shots at individual targets. TheWinchester 165-grain had the most ac-curate grouping, with a printing of exactly3 inches for a five-shot group. The Speerwas next with its 180-grain FMJ print-ing at 3.25 inches for its f ive-shot group,and Federal American Eagle 180-grainFMJ was third in line, printing a 4.5-inch

group. I noticed an interesting phenom-enon that I either haven’t seen beforeor have utterly forgotten about. The veryfirst shot I fired, regardless of ammo, wasevery time separate from the rest of thegroup. I don’t know if that is a result ofthe first round being hand-cycled and theothers not, or if it was just me, but it stillinterested me. I also was intrigued by the

fact that the most accurate group hadtwo distinct two-shot groups whose holeswere actually touching each other, asidefrom the first round fired. Again, I’m notsure what that means, if anything, but itdid give me pause when I saw it.

FINAL THOUGHTS

As it happened, I had this pistol in mypossession considerably longer than isusual with a test gun. I admit to hav-ing a bit of pre-conceived notions aboutthe pistol due to its being a relativelyinexpensive handgun. Mark it down ifyou want, but I was wrong to think thatthis pistol might be any less than stellarsimply because it doesn’t cost as muchas some others. For an affordable price,the customer can have an accurate, reli-able pistol not only for concealed carry,but also for home defense or competitive

shooting. The factory trigger is more thanacceptable to the buyer right out of thebox and can easily be mastered with aminimum amount of practice. If you arelooking for an affordable, new-millen-nium handgun based on a time-provendesign, I think you will be pleased withthe Steyr M40-A1! For more information,visit steyrarms.com.




GUNSITE GOSSIP


P H O T O C

O U R T E S Y

G U N S I T E / G U N S I T E . C O M

A JEFF COOPERRETROSPECTIVEExcerpts from Gunsite Gargantuan Gossip!

Note: The intellectual property of Jeff Cooper isowned by Gunsite Academy and reprinted fromGunsite Gossip 3 with their permission. Jeff Cooper’sbooks are available from the ProShop (928-636-4565; gunsite.com) and jeffcooperbooks.com.

“War is God’s way of teachingAmericans geography.”The news people seem to think thatthe object of a military enterprise is toget home. They keep talking as if theonly thing a soldier wants to do is to getback to base. If that is indeed true, hehad best stay there in the first place.The objective of anymilitary enterprise must

be victory, at no matterwhat cost. When you puton that uniform you layyour life on the line—forreasons that must seemgood to you. To maintainthe ideals for which thiscountry was founded, wemust fare forth at leastonce a generation towreak our will upon theenemies of liberty. Thisis the worthiest politi-cal effort, and it must be

extolled rather thandeplored. Men get killedin war, and often enoughthey die unworthy deathslying in a hospital bedstuck full of needles.“Death comes at a crawlor comes with a pounce,but whether he’s slowor spry, it’s not the factthat you’re dead thatcounts, but only how didyou die.” That may be anold-fashioned attitude,but that does not make itwrong.Bear in mind that itis more blessed to givethan to receive. I know a certain amountabout naval gunfire, and I am certainlyimpressed with the truth of thatproposition.It is a continuing annoyance to seepeople messing around with the safetyrules. The four that have been devel-oped over the years suffice entirely asnow stated. There is no need for more,

and we really cannot get by with fewer.However, some half-educated enthu-

siasts keep trying to make up a newset, or to add or subtract, which doesnothing but serve to confuse matters. Amajor point of issue is Rule 1, “All gunsare always loaded.” There are peoplewho insist that we cannot use thisbecause it is not precisely true. Someguns are sometimes unloaded. These

folks maintain that the rule should readthat one should always treat all gunsas if they were loaded. The trouble hereis the “as if,” which leads to the notionthat the instrument at hand may actuallynot be loaded. This leads to disaster,yet we hear it all the time. Sometimesit appears we become so obsessed withthe goal of safety that we lose sight of

the purpose of the exercise. Safety is notfirst. Safety is second. Victory is first.

We have noted an increasing numberof so-called express sights on pistolshere at school. These are the large,round dot front site and a broad, shallowv-rear. This sighting system works quitewell for coarse shooting, and it doeshelp those of us whose eyesight is notwhat it once was. But, we notice on therange that students using it tend to printhigh groups. This is not a serious objec-tion. Group placement is not a decisivefactor across the room.The issue of unsighted fire in de-fensive combat keeps cropping up. Itsadvocates suggest that since peopleare going to use it anyway, we might aswell encourage it. I think this is wrong.What people are “going to do anyway” is

hardly a proper reason forteaching it. It may be that

most people will fire with-out sights when confront-ing lethal hostility, but thatis a reason for the atro-cious missing that we readabout in the newspapers.Here at school we do notcare about how things aredone wrong. We do careabout how to teach peopleto do things right. Themodern technique gets thehits. If only a few peopleunderstand the modern

technique that is regret-table, but that should notlead us astray. In the largeview, it is always only a fewpeople who do anythingright. We can increase thatnumber, and that is why weteach marksmanship.Political correctnessfoolishness is so silly thatit is hard to take seriously,but there it is. It is evenmiscalled, for it is neitherpolitical nor correct. Itis social censorship. Mr.Jefferson is quoted aroundthe inside of his monumentat Washington as standing

foursquare and forever against everyform of tyranny over the mind of man.As he declaimed, and as I hope we allagree, the State may justifiably controlour actions—but never our thoughts.

teachi

mostout signg let

is a reciousabout

ere acare adoneaboutto do tmoderhits. Ifunder

technitable,lead uview, ipeopleright.numbteachPolifoolisit is habut thmiscapoliticis soci“It is more blessed to give than to receive. Iknow...about naval gunfire, and I am certainly

impressed with the truth of that proposition.”



̀ .45ACP

̀ 10+1 Flush, 14+1 Extended

̀ Slim, Ergonomic Grip

` Fits Most P220R and P226R Holsters

Learn more at

SIGSAUER.COM/P227Find us:

MORE POWERPER SQUARE INCH.P227

™

Some say it’s a double-stack P220. Others say it feels

more like a P226. Take hold of the .45ACP, high capacity

P227 and decide for yourself.



Documents

Combat Handguns 2014-05