Tabla de contenidos para July - August 2017 en Combat Handguns

After decades in the criminal justice system and 30-some years of working on federal- and state-level lawsuits related to deadly force, I think I can help to answer a common question among armed citizens: “How is it that people who justifiably fire in self-defense get prosecuted on criminal charges, or sued?” MOTIVATED PROSECUTORS The vast majority of prosecutors in this country live up to their role as a minister of justice, with a duty to exonerate the innocent that weighs every bit as heavily as the duty to prosecute those they believe are guilty. But some don’t. In Case One, a man sustained what proved to be a fatal injury in a police transport van. The incident resulted in a major race riot. The prosecutor charged six police officers and…

1 Practice consistent draws. Your weak hand should meet the gun high in front of your chest while keeping the gun close to the body until it’s pushed out to acquire the sight picture. The finger shouldn’t go into the triggerguard until the gun is horizontal. 2 Your strong-hand grip should be high on the backstrap with the gun in the web of your hand, with 50 percent or less of the grip coming from the strong hand in a two-handed grip. Grip pressure should be front to rear, like pliers, and the trigger finger should go where you need it to operate the trigger smoothly. The heel of the support hand should cover the part of the grip not covered by the strong hand. The strong thumb rides on…

“…XDs have had 30,000 to 40,000 rounds put through them without extractors losing tension.” The magic number seems to be 10,000 for a handgun endurance test. So, in anticipation of eventually reporting on the performance and reliability of a new XD 9mm, I’ve kept a running log of all rounds fired, any malfunctions, parts replacements and maintenance procedures (other than routine cleaning) starting when the gun was purchased. Springfield Armory’s XD 9mm is a polymer-framed, semi-automatic, double-stack 9mm that was introduced early in the 21st century. It was so popular that it spawned the XDM and XD-S series of handguns. The test XD 9mm has been used indoors and out, in rain and shine, for informal shooting sessions, training classes and practice. The maintenance performed was routine and was not…

A well-made gun belt will support the holster and the handgun, help retain the holster in the preferred location and provide a certain level of comfort. A belt that is too thin, too narrow, made of inferior materials or exhibits poor construction will not satisfy these elements. You can’t just take any old belt and call it a gun belt and use it as such. Recently, I became aware of a company called Daltech Force, which produces the heavy-duty BULLBELT. NO BULL HERE: Daltech sent me one of its “Super Stiff” BULLBELTs, and I can attest to the fact that it’s aptly named. Originally designed for an executive security team, this belt will not sag, fold over or stretch. My test belt was made from top-grain bull hide with double-layer…

“The pistol proved capable of consistently hitting steel out to 25 yards.” WHEN STURM, RUGER & COMPANY introduced the SR1911 in 2011, it quickly proved to be a very reliable, well-made and reasonably priced 1911-style pistol in .45 ACP. The public clearly liked it, and for a while it was very hard to get one. Within two years, Ruger introduced a Commander model and, more recently, a Lightweight Commander. Given its record of success, it’s no surprise that Ruger just introduced a new Target model to round out its line of 1911s, and it’s a good one. ZEROING IN As its name implies, the SR1911 Target is a classic target pistol. Like many other target 1911s, this SR1911 has a 5-inch barrel; a Series 70 firing mechanism; a long, skeletonized…

In my day, I read every gun magazine I could find for half a century. After a literal lifetime of study, I have indeed learned a little bit about guns. For those of you who would sooner not squander your entire lives amassing tedious firearms knowledge, however, there is a much simpler, easier option. The American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) produces an “Armorer’s Course” on DVD that packs everything Glock into just over two hours. IN-DEPTH TRAINING: The course begins with an historical overview of the Glock phenomenon. After a safety briefing, the course instructor uses both live and cutaway versions of Glocks to explain in minute detail how everything works. I am a mechanical engineer and a gun nerd of the most hopeless sort, and I learned a great deal…

The AR pistol has always had a conflicted place in the panoply of guns. You can’t shoulder it, so it is difficult to fulfill its accuracy potential. Its size means it is not practical for concealed carry. It fires a rifle cartridge, which seems to some like overkill (it’s not). It is unbalanced and front heavy. Its short barrel means increased muzzle blast, making it uncomfortably loud and bright for home defense, etc. But an interesting thing has happened to change this dynamic and popularize the AR pistol, and the RECCE-11 KMR-A pistol from Bravo Company Manufacturing (BCM) is perfectly suited to take advantage of this development and serve the needs of gun owners and shooters. What changed things? The arm brace. Nowadays there are several varieties of AR arm…

When the majority of us go to the range, we shoot at full paper targets, such as a B-27, human silhouettes, IPSC or IDPA targets. However, in a real self-defense situation, there’s a good chance you’ll be unable to see the entire threat. For instance, in Houston, Texas, a man recently tried to rob a convenience store. The store clerk drew his firearm and a gunfight ensued as the robber ran throughout the store. I’m willing to bet that during this gunfight there were instances where the clerk only saw half of the robber’s body, or perhaps only a leg or an arm was visible to shoot. Recently, in Jacksonville, Florida, two armed men tried to invade a home. Just as they kicked in the front door, the homeowner shot…

Cleaning is important to keep your semi-automatic handgun running. Although people differ on techniques, here are some tips. • Clean your gun regularly. You don’t have to go overboard, but after a range session it’s a good idea to clean and lube to prevent corrosion and make it ready for the next session. • Keep it lubricated. Use a quality gun oil or grease and apply it according to the manufacturer’s directions. With experience, you’ll determine how much is enough, but generally a light coating you can see but doesn’t run is about right. Put it on the slide and frame rails, barrel locking surfaces, where the barrel contacts the slide and anywhere the finish has worn. That indicates a friction point. Once in a while, put a drop on…

The world is changing before our eyes every minute of every day. New technologies propel industry forward with better efficiency, quality and end-user satisfaction. Having developed into somewhat of a curmudgeon by my late 20s, I have sometimes been dragged into accepting change for the past couple of decades. I’m one of those folks who usually likes the old ways better—such as cell phones with buttons, MP3 players just being MP3 players and typing search queries into a text box rather than calling out to an inanimate object on the kitchen countertop. I’m sure you can sense the irony. No such hesitation exists, however, when it comes to the incredible advances made in the firearms industry. Granted, I, along with plenty of other folks, was dubious about mainstream polymer-framed handguns…

The effectiveness of the .357 Magnum is all but legendary. Taken within context, one can see why. It was introduced back in 1935, when choices for controllable yet more powerful revolver cartridges were slim. Although prolific, the .38 Special was anything but a barnstormer. Even given today’s advancements in ballistics, the .38 Special is considered by most experts as a base minimum for self-defense, let alone for use through intermediate barriers. Colt’s .38 Super Automatic was the “penetrator” of the day, with claims of being able to penetrate early body armor and vehicles with a velocity a tad over 1,000 fps. Based on this effectiveness, it started to chip away at the law enforcement market. But revolvers still prevailed as a rule, requiring something to compete, and the .357 Magnum was…

AUTOMOBILES have been used in gunfights for at least 100 years. The roar of the Roaring ’20s was punctuated by the staccato of Tommy Guns and rumbling black sedans. In the early ’30s, savvy federal agents and gangsters carried .38 Supers because their high-velocity 130-grain FMJ bullets shot through cars better than .45-caliber FMJs. For a while, the love affair with the .38 Super was so strong that gunsmith Hyman Lehman actually modified Colt .38 Supers into “baby machine guns” for mob clients. Before the 1930s were over, major ammunition companies were making special “Hi-Way Master,” “Highway Patrol” and other antivehicle loads in .45 ACP, .38 Special and .357 Magnum, and soon urban legends about “block-busting” calibers became commonplace in American folklore. Today, many law enforcement and military shootouts take…

A man suspected of vandalism and attempted arson at a Fresno, California, home in early February was back a month later with a bottle of gas and a lighter. Thankfully, the homeowner had anticipated the man’s return and installed security cameras. But when he came outside to confront the would-be arsonist, the man tried to douse him with gasoline and set him ablaze. This incident happened on March 1, 2017, in southwestern Fresno. And it wasn’t the first altercation between the suspect, Maurilio Miranda, and the homeowner, said Lt. Joe Gomez, police spokesman. Miranda was suspected of breaking 20 windows at the home on February 8, causing about $4,300 of damage. Miranda was arrested and charged with felony vandalism and then released. Two days later, the first fire was lit…

OAL: 8.5 INCHES Both Ruger and Smith & Wesson, with the help of modern steels and cutting-edge design methods, are keeping innovation alive in their respective revolver lines. Recently, both companies have introduced medium-framed revolvers in big-bore calibers for fans of handguns who are looking for the larger calibers, but in a more compact form. For this edition of the “Tale of the Tape,” we’ll take a side-by-side look at both the Ruger GP100 in .44 Special and the Smith & Wesson Model 69 in .44 Magnum. Though there are differences between the two, they both share a common trait that makes them very appealing as big-bore carry pieces. They are both built on the companies’ medium-sized frames, which usually max out at the .357 Magnum. To accommodate the larger…

I first met Chris Cerino at the 2011 Bianchi Cup. It was just after the first season of the History Channel’s Top Shot TV series, and he was just starting his training company, the Cerino Consulting & Training Group. He was an excellent shooter and had an infectious, positive attitude. Later, I took his four-day Diagnostic Pistol Instructor Course and learned more about teaching pistol shooting than I’d acquired in the previous 30 years of teaching people to shoot. A former federal air marshal and a shooting instructor for the agency, Cerino has an analytical approach to training shooters. He has thought out the issues that prevent good performance and has a way of presenting them that’s revealing and helpful. As a former air marshal, Cerino stresses the importance of…

When the United States entered World War I, the military quickly discovered that its inventory of small arms was woefully inadequate for a prolonged conflict. The Model 1911 pistol had been introduced a few years earlier, but sufficient numbers could not be manufactured quickly enough to satisfy the war effort. To meet the increased demand for military handguns, Colt and Smith & Wesson both stepped up to manufactured large-frame revolvers in .45 ACP for our troops. There was, however, one issue that had to be addressed before the Colt New Service and S&W 1917 could be pressed into service. Up until this point in time, double-action (DA) revolvers were designed to function with rimmed cartridges such as the .38 Special or .45 Colt. The rimless .45 ACP was not compatible…

When it comes to marketing a product, the typical approach is to focus on the features and benefits of the product. It isn’t a surprising angle. The physical performance features of a product are easy to quantify and communicate. As a result, the design and manufacturing process is often driven by this marketing focus. When it comes to the latest kitchen appliance or a child’s toy, I’m good with that approach. But when we’re dealing with the design and manufacturing of a defensive handgun, I say, “No thanks!” And based on my recent experience at the Beretta Tactical Summit 2.0, it’s easy to see that Beretta and I are on the same page. BEYOND ORDINARY The Beretta Tactical Summit 2.0 took place in mid-February of 2017 at the O’Gara Training…

Forged in the fire of mystical caves by masters of metal, the hammer Mjölnir emerged as a legend. Wielded by the Norse god Thor, it was a weapon of incredible power that could even level mountains. With Mjölnir in hand, there was nothing that Thor could not do. And while it was capable of incredible power, it was also beautifully crafted as well. If we fast-forward a few millennia, we’ll find another group of master craftsmen forging their very own modern hammer. The not-very-cave-like shop of SSVi has created a signature series of custom Glocks that have each earned the Mjölnir name. MEET THE MJÖLNIRS While such a dramatic buildup may be a bit over the top, seeing these pistols in person certainly invoked a sense of awe. The simple…

I’m not sure why firearms manufacturers have such a difficult time developing triggers that possess the traits that we as shooters are constantly seeking. We want triggers that don’t have a great deal of slop, creep, pre-travel or overtravel; instead, they should offer a smooth pull that helps us all become more accurate shooters. Unfortunately, these latter traits seem to be severely lacking in many new firearms being made today. But there is good news on the horizon if you are a Glock owner. A new, all-veteran-owned American company by the name of Caliber Dynamics has developed a great new drop-in trigger called the Tomahawk that is fairly easy to install and capable of virtually eliminating all of those undesirable traits. HIGH CALIBER After serving his country as an operator…

It was 51 years ago, but I remember the day quite well. We were on the firing line at Maxwell Air Force Base for our introduction to the .38-caliber revolver. Each of the 20 or so men in my flight were given a 6-inch-barreled S&W K-38, two 50-round boxes of 130-grain .38 Special FMJ ammunition and a pair of large, blue, plastic earmuffs. Our tac officer told us that using the earmuffs was optional. On the one hand, he said that battle was noisy, and there was reason to get used to firing under the extra stress of gunfire. On the other, he said we just might want to protect our ears. The choice was up to us. I thought I’d better get used to the noise, so I left…