Tabla de contenidos para September/October 2021 en Combat Handguns

The United States Marine Corps Shooting Team achieved its first National victory in 1911. Over the years the USMC Shooting Team has excelled within the competition arena, but the main intent and purpose goes far beyond winning. Gunnery Sergeant Matt Gundlach, the staff non-commissioned officer in charge of the USMC Shooting Team, recently expanded on that thought. “Each shooter has the opportunity to rise to the top of their peers and join the shooting team,” Gundlach said. “We then strengthen skills of marksmanship and critical thinking, making them more lethal and disciplined shooters with rifle and pistol”. Strengthening each Marine in their skillset and mindset is the heart and soul behind each competition, and always Gundlach’s core motivation when instructing. Gundlach first learned of the Marine Corps Shooting Team in…

DIAMONDBACK’S NEW DBX57 chambered for the 5.7x28mm cartridge combines features from high-capacity semi-automatic carbines and very large handguns with the maneuverability and recoil control of a small-caliber pistol. For people who live in urban areas, a DBX57 loaded with ammo containing lightweight, expanding bullets can help reduce the possibility of collateral damage while still delivering the on-target energy of a 9mm pistol shooting standard velocity loads. As cities become more crowded, protecting an urban family with a DBX57 increasingly makes sense. THE FUTURE IS NOW The DBX57 is not just another pistol made by shortening the barrel and removing the stock of an AR, AK or M1 carbine. However, it combines some features from large revolvers and semi-auto pistols with features of the AR, AK and military and universal M1…

Back in 1898, Colt Patent Firearms introduced a large-frame, double-action revolver that they called the New Service. This heavyduty wheelgun was the basis for two U.S. Military service handguns—the Model 1909 in .45 Colt and the Model 1917 in .45 ACP. They were also utilized by law enforcement agencies such as the New York State Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted police, with both carrying this gun in .45 Colt. The New Service was dropped from Colt’s line in 1944 after they had produced some 356,000 versions of it. In 1990, Colt Manufacturing re-entered the large-frame revolver market when they introduced the Anaconda. This huge handgun looked like an overgrown Python with its vent rib and full underlug barrel, but it was chambered in .44 Magnum. In 1993, it became…

When I told my wife I was heading to the range to test fire a Sarsilmaz, she said, “Gesundheit,” and asked if I had COVID. Sarsilmaz (it sounds just like it is written: sär’·sel·mäz) is a 140-year old Turkish company that makes CNC’d precision parts for everything from airplanes to firearms. Their name means “steady,” but I think that should be Americanized to “rock solid.” Their handguns have been imported into the United States for many years, but always with someone else’s name stamped on the side. And they were quietly overlooked because they were unadvertised, foreign made and obscure. “THE GUN IS ABSOLUTELY SOLID. IT LOOKS GOOD. IT FEELS GOOD. AND IT SHOOTS WELL.” BACKSTORY In 2017 SAR USA was founded, and in 2019 Todd Pearson was hired to…

1 › Exercise common sense at all times. 2 › Never load in haste, and devote all your attention to the job at hand. 3 › Do not ever mix powders in an attempt to experiment with velocities. 4 › Forget the idea of “duplex” loadings. 5 › Observe the maximum load warnings with all cartridges. 6 › Work with one open container of powder at a time. 7 › Watch for pressure signs when working with a new load. 8 › Check all cases for double charges before seating any bullet. 9 › Finally, powder left in your powder measure hoppers for extended periods, overnight or several days should be avoided. Powder needs to be stored in original containers only when not in use.…

Gunsite, the Marines and USPSA competition instilled a love for the famous John Moses Browning design. My collection of guns reflected that, and I had 1911s for carry, target, competition and fun. But I’ve let go of a few of these guns lately to fund purchases of old S&W revolvers. When I say old, I mean pinned and recessed with a hammer-mounted firing pin. I recently delivered two old M19 revolvers along with a Model 13 to Dave Fink of Finks Custom Gunsmithing (finksguns.com) in Chino Valley, Arizona. I first met Dave at a writers’ gathering at Gunsite and prior to this project Dave had taken an old, worthless Colt Officers Match .38 Special revolver with a 7.5-inch barrel and cut it down to 3.5 inches, fabricated a new rear…

Gun prohibitionists clamor for magazine capacity limits. In several states, they’ve succeeded. Will it do any good? Nah. Criminals are by definition law-breakers, and if they’re ready to risk life without parole or execution to commit murder, breaking a magazine limit law will be the least of their concerns. Prohibitionists often ask, “How could a private citizen possibly need more than 10 cartridges to defend themselves and their families?” RUNNING OUT Dying with an empty gun in hand happened with so many cops that the six-shot service revolver went into the police museum to be replaced by the semi-automatic service pistol. Yes, we all know that armed citizens aren’t the police. But never forget, they’re up against the exact same criminals as the police—the criminals whose pattern of violence led…

It seems like just yesterday when Bill Wilson and the folks at Wilson Combat stunned the firearms market with the new EDC X9 pistol. A true revolution in the 1911-style, single-action pistol segment, the EDC X9 featured a host of ingenious innovations that distinguished it from the rest of the pack. From increased capacity to exceptional reliability, the EDC X9 became the new benchmark for single-action 9mm pistols. If you know anything about Bill Wilson, you know he doesn’t sit still very long. He’s up at the crack of dawn and always on the go, constantly working on some kind of project with the aim of building a better mousetrap. It’s the same with his EDC X9 series of pistols. Since its original introduction, not only has Wilson been updating…

Does the 5.7x28mm have sufficient terminal ballistics to reliably stop an armed assailant? Information from the shooting incident at Ft. Hood clearly indicated it was capable of producing incapacitation, and concluded that placement of the shot was an important factor just like with any other cartridge. It also indicated that the 5.7 is clearly capable of producing quick incapacitation when the shot is placed in the torso. Gelatin studies provided a more complete picture. This indicated that penetration depended upon the construction of the bullet used. Unfortunately, it also indicated that one round from the load with the Hornady V-Max bullet did not reliably expand when fired from a 5.7 pistol. This makes sense since that projectile is primarily designed to expand at rifle velocities. When they failed to expand,…

For carry leather, I wanted something that would be versatile and could be used in a variety of situations. As this is a newly reintroduced revolver, there’s not exactly a plethora of holsters out there for it. The good folks at DeSantis Gunhide came up with a winner for me with their Dual Angle Hunter (016) rig. This is a conventional-looking, high-ride belt holster with a thumb-break safety strap. It is made of premium saddle leather and molded to fit my 6-inch Colt Anaconda. My test sample has their tan finish and is lined inside with black suede. The holster is lock-stitched together using waxed, nylon thread and is double-stitched in areas like the welt and on the belt loop. There are both standard belt loops for strongside carry and…

Sig Sauer is kicking ass and taking names in the handgun market. Exeter, New Hampshire, has evolved into the new epicenter of the handgun universe. A Midas-like touch with the P320 and P365 product lineups make this hard to refute. Legacy models such as the P210, P220 and P226 still have loyal followings, as well. The polymer striker-fired Sig P320 quickly evolved into an industry leader for duty and personal defense handguns after arriving on the scene in 2014. Its selection as the U.S. Army’s new sidearm via the MHS (Modular Handgun System) solidified this position. This was followed soon after by all other U.S. branches of service adopting the P320 in its M17 or M18 form. It is hard to convey the pride felt from Sig Sauer CEO Ron…

An experienced hand and a practiced eye are the fitting hallmarks of a master craftsman, but even the most skilled gunsmith relies on precision machining. Both are evident in the unique blend of traditional handwork and expert CNC machine work in the guns of Atlas Gunworks, a Vermont-based maker of high-end 1911-based pistols. Atlas combines the traditional and the modern, machining their own frames, slides and other components on state-of-the-art CNC machines, but also devoting upwards of 20 man-hours of skilled handwork on every pistol. Triggers are tuned by a master gunsmith, and the immaculate finishes for which Atlas is renowned are the result of hand-polishing and buffing. Atlas manufactures its own “modular” frame section, an all-metal version of the 2011-style frame as popularized by its original patent holders—TRI, STI…

There’s no question that compact pistols, AR-style pistols and AR pistols chambered in different calibers have been surging over the last couple of years. In late 2020, with the release of the Ruger 57, there’s also been a resurgence in the 5.7x28mm cartridge. Everyone seems to be trying to figure out how to use this miniature .223 in new and exciting ways. One such example is the CMMG Mk4 PDW pistol that is now chambered for the 5.7x28 round. This thing is much more than just another pistol-caliber carbine though. 5.7×28 BACKSTORY In the early 1980s, NATO put out a call to its ammo buddies. After seeing images of heavy body armor and new helmets on enemies, the military alliance wanted a cartridge that offered a little more punch than…

I’ll never forget the conversation I overheard between two friends at a gun store. It went something to the tune of, “What’s the big deal with 10mm? It’s only a millimeter larger than 9mm.” It made me chuckle to myself because the friend hadn’t learned yet that the “10mm” is only one of two numbers that describe a cartridge’s dimensions. Sure, 10mm bullets are larger and heavier than 9mm bullets, but it’s the extra length and girth of the 10mm Auto’s case that is the power plant. With its increased capacity it can contain quite a bit more highly potent pistol powder, thus the cartridge generates nearly twice the energy of 9mm. When fired out of similar length barrels, 10mm can even exceed the power of .357 Magnum—not bad for…

CALIBER .22 LR BARREL 5.88 inches OA LENGTH 9.9 inches WEIGHT 27 ounces (empty) GRIP UFX w/rubber over molding SIGHTS Fiber-optic front, target rear ACTION Semi-auto FINISH Anodized black CAPACITY 10+1 MSRP $719 CALIBER .22 LR BARREL 6 inches OA LENGTH 11.25 inches WEIGHT 38 ounces (empty) GRIP Tandemkross HiveGrips SIGHTS Fiber-optic front, target rear ACTION Semi-Auto FINISH Brushed stainless CAPACITY 10+1 MSRP $706 (without Vortex Viper RD) In a world where the price of ammunition has skyrocketed as fast as the cost of Bitcoin, some of us have had to pause for a minute to reassess our situations. Going to the range isn’t quite so fun and cathartic when we can hear a cash register ring in the back of our mind with every shot. Novice, pro, gun writer,…

With handgun powders increasing in numbers daily, it might be a good time to move back to a point when fewer is better. Sound strange? There will be a period when your gun room starts to get crowded, the contents of the containers get out of date or just old, and with maybe too much stock on the shelves, you might try to regroup. Because on average your handgun does not use copious amounts of powder, it’s advantageous to start with a few brands while working up to a special load that will suit your defined purpose in the field or on the range, especially with a new handgun or cartridge. Right now, with a little bit of research, I find there are over two dozen powders on the market…

Nearly all skills degrade with time, and shooting skills are among the most perishable. I discovered this the hard way during my freshman year at college when the National Guard Armory on campus held an open range day early in the fall semester. I had been a good shot when I was a Boy Scout, but had shot very little in the six years since and it really showed. After that, I’ve made it a habit to regularly shoot the guns I personally keep for self-protection and hunting. This allows me to not only maintain my skills, but to also adapt my technique over the years as I’ve aged. Unfortunately, shooting can be quite expensive, especially with today’s ammo prices. To help keep costs down I handload and often shoot…

THE 10mm Auto cartridge comes with an interesting history. Most people are aware of this round today, but there was a time when it almost met extinction. Developed in 1983, the goal for the 10mm cartridge was to have it dominate as the premier choice for combat handguns. The cartridge offered a larger caliber bullet than the 9mm and a higher velocity than the .45 ACP. The early 10mm shot a 200-grain projectile at 1,200 feet per second for 640 foot-pounds of muzzle energy (fpe). BEGINNINGS The brain power behind this cartridge came from the late Lieutenant Colonel John Dean “Jeff” Cooper. Cooper was a leading pioneer in self-defense pistol techniques. His teachings have become a foundation for most of what we learn in handgun training and are still highly…

STUDY SHOWS “BUYBACKS” DON’T WORK A paper titled “Have U.S. Gun Buybacks Misfired?” published by the National Bureau of Economic Research has concluded that gun “buybacks” popular with many liberal big-city bureaucrats have no positive effect on criminal violence. Sorry, Beto. “Gun buyback programs (GBPs), which use public funds to purchase civilians’ privately-owned firearms, aim to reduce gun violence,” reads the paper’s abstract. “However, little is known about their effects on firearm-related crime or deaths. Using data from the National Incident Based Reporting System, we find no evidence that GBPs reduce gun crime.” Of course, the term gun “buybacks” is a nonsensical one since the government never owned the guns to begin with. It just sounds better to gun-ban politicians than what such “buybacks” really are—compensated confiscation. FREEDOM’S BIGGER IN…