Tabla de contenidos para March/April 2022 en Combat Handguns

Welcome! Are you ready for rendezvous? Combat Handguns editors along with dozens of our top content creators recently returned from our fifth annual Athlon Outdoors Editorial Rendezvous held in Victor, Idaho. Each year, we invite nearly 30 top firearms and shooting gear companies to our range nestled in the Teton Valley. Over the course of three days, we get the opportunity to shoot thousands of rounds through hundreds of guns—many of which still haven’t been released to the public. That’s not us bragging (although it is a total blast to shoot that many guns), we’re just letting you know that we do this for you, our magazine and online audience, so that we can stay true to our promise of giving you unmatched digital and print content on the latest…

Perhaps one of the most popular brands of pistols being used for competition today is CZ. With all-steel models like the Shadow 2 and the TS 2 dominating the competition landscape, it’s safe to say the folks at CZ know how to put a race gun together. However, the company recently flipped the script on what a CZ competition pistol should look and feel like with the new P-10 F Competition-Ready. It turned a lot of heads at the 2021 Athlon Outdoors editorial Rendezvous in Idaho. By focusing on the P-10 F platform and modifying a few key aspects, CZ now has a competition pistol that not only looks and feels different from its standard offerings but is also at a more accessible price point for those just getting into…

Some of today’s handguns come to us from engineering farms or giant corporations modeling to produce what they can make inexpensively or think consumers want. What if we let a soldier design a handgun from the ground up? What features would be incorporated? Would it be a hearty tank of a lead-thrower with ultimate reliability or something more elegant—a longsword for the 21st century? A stubborn soldier with a dream started a company that now employs more than 100 people and produces world-class pistols. Grand Power started out as sketches and grew through sheer force of will and a refusal to give up. Many of these features—a steel internal chassis, a rotating barrel, four interchangeable backstraps, full truly ambidextrous controls—are just coming into fashion in the U.S., but Grand Power…

If you spend any time at all (shame on you) on internet gun forums, I’d bet dollars to dumpster fires that you’ve seen the topic of R.I.P. ammo come up. Some support its claim of being outrageously effective, while others refer to it as nothing more than a gimmick. This is exactly why I don’t bother with forums. Fortunately, I have better means of gathering data, namely firsthand experience. With plenty of Clear Ballistics 10 percent FBI gel on hand as well as a variety of materials to shoot through, it only made sense to schedule a range day to find out for myself. R.I.P. is only one product from G2 Ammunition. Although this is considered the company’s flagship product, they offer many other types of defensive ammunition in a…

During the shooting portion of the Team Tactics for Two class at the Gunsite Academy, we had a chance to put the Mossberg MC2c 9mm pistol to the test. We rigged up in DeSantis Gunhide Pegasus paddle holsters and double-mag carriers on DeSantis leather gun belts. The MC2c is a compact pistol, a bit larger than Mossberg’s subcompact MC1sc. The MC2c features a 3.9-inch barrel, overall length of 7.1 inches and a height of 4.9 inches. Despite its 13+1-round capacity with flush-fit magazine (15+1 with extended mag), the pistol is a slim 1.1 inches wide. The pistol’s rounded edges make it seem smaller than it is and the ergonomics are very good. I prefer compact pistols over subcompacts as I find them easier to shoot well, while still no problem…

LEGAL GUN OWNERS TO PAY FOR BALDWIN’S CRIME What do you get when a big-time Hollywood anti-gun advocate shoots and kills a photographer with a “prop gun” on a movie set? In the case of October 2021 Alec Baldwin debacle, where the rabid anti-gun activist accidentally killed a photographer and injured the director with a “prop gun” loaded with live ammo, you ironically get calls for more gun control. A week after the tragedy, MarketWatch used the shooting to indicate that maybe it proves more gun laws are needed. “Some are saying the shooting could serve as a warning for society as a whole about the risks and dangers of guns, given how widespread firearm ownership is becoming,” Charles Passy wrote in a story published on the MarketWatch website. Passy…

Who doesn’t love a powerful hand cannon? The bigger the “boom,” the bigger the smile, right? Many of those handheld boom sticks are big, cumbersome and have some serious felt recoil. They’re not exactly conducive for your average nature hike, though. If you’re out in the wilderness and a rather large animal offers you the opportunity to be its next meal, what kind of answer would you give it? Well, Smith & Wesson has decided to answer that age-old question with their newest offering to the M&P (Military & Police) line, the M&P 10mm M2.0. You really don’t want to have to ask a charging bear twice, or have to reload for that matter. A well-placed 10mm projectile traveling at approximately 1,300 fps is a force to be reckoned with.…

The Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous is a gathering of gun nerds that takes place in the shadow of the Grand Tetons mountain range every fall. Manufacturers trot out their latest and greatest, while extraordinarily fortunate geeks like me get to paw over it all and claim it’s work. The super special treat for me this year was a certain retro classic from Springfield Armory. FIND A NEED Did you ever just marvel at the technical brilliance of some remarkable contrivance? When I was a kid a telephone was as big as a sneaker and tethered to the wall. Nowadays there are 7.1 billion smartphones riding about in people’s pockets. They are used by 89.9 percent of the world’s population. Times have certainly changed. While we put-upon American gun owners are indeed…

If you’re dedicated to protecting yourself and family from violent crime you undoubtedly have several carry setups—everything to keep you safe on a late-night run to the convenience store to an end-of-world scenario. Choosing guns for different threat levels is the easy part, but finding quality carry rigs that you can bet your life on is a bit harder. Fortunately, Blackhawk has your six! Originally founded by a Navy SEAL who suffered gear failure during an operation, Blackhawk’s commitment to excellence makes it a first choice among military and law enforcement clients. Now, the responsible armed civilian can enjoy failure-free carry rigs from a trusted supplier. BUILD IT YOUR WAY Blackhawk has just announced a new Custom Kydex Builder on their website so users can design their own carry rig.…

“Faster and faster until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.” Hunter S. Thompson’s quote can be applied to many elements of our modern world, but it’s especially relevant to the firearms industry and the ever-growing “need for speed.” Nowhere is this manifested as strongly as with the relatively new .22 TCM round from the innovative people of Armscor. This 2,000-plus-feet-per-second (fps) round certainly brings the thrill of speed to the range. As a comparison, understand that 115-grain 9mm ammo generally runs in the 1,100-feet-per-second range. While engineering a lightning-fast round looks good on paper, there is obviously a necessity to have a gun capable of shooting that round. Armscor has stepped into that arena, as well. As the parent company of Rock Island Armory, they have put…

It was a gun I didn’t want or need. I was walking the gun show aisles at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona, when I first spotted it. It was an old Colt Officers Model with a 7.5-inch barrel and it was in rough shape. The price tag said $325 and I picked it up to take a closer look. It wore brand-new counterfeit Python grips and looked as though it had been badly rusted, sand papered and then cold blued. Some of the lettering remained on the barrel but the rampant pony was barely visible. I was studying the hand-iwork of whoever refinished this old piece when my thoughts were interrupted. “I just picked that up at an estate sale last week,” said Lyle. “I need to get…

Bear spray is always a good idea to carry with you when in bear country. However, I prefer a different kind of bear spray. My bear spray comes in the form of a 10mm pistol. I needed something to carry on my Can-Am Outlander ATV while trail riding on the beautiful bear-infested trails of northern Michigan—something that could be concealed easily at public food stops, while having the stopping power to take down a bear if need be. I liked the idea of the 10mm round. However, most 10mm pistols are a bit bigger, heavier and harder to conceal. I knew I wanted a Glock-style pistol, but I personally do not like the grip angles of Glocks. I needed a solution, something that looks like a Glock, runs like a…

This past October saw Athlon Outdoors host its fifth annual Rendezvous in Victor, Idaho, near the Grand Tetons. For three days, dozens of gun manufacturers unveiled their latest and greatest wares—many still under wraps—to Athlon editors and content creators, giving us plenty of trigger time to create more content for our various print magazines and websites in the coming months. But this amazing event wouldn’t have been possible without several key sponsors donating goods for every participant. Here we’d like to show our support and fill you in on the great gear that made for another awesome Rendezvous. 5.11 TACTICAL 1. LEGEND LONG SLEEVE SHIRT Here’s a classic go-to button-up shirt for the range, office or anywhere in between. It’s made of soft, enzyme-washed cotton with a touch of elastane,…

Sarsilmaz has been making firearms since 1880. In 2017 I first became familiar with some of their handguns when they were imported by TR Imports. In 2018, SAR USA was formed as an official U.S. presence and importer for Sarsilmaz. I own and so, of course, am familiar with the Sarsilmaz 2000, CM9 Gen 2, B6C, P8L, SR 38 (not currently imported) and ST9 models. All of those pistols had one thing in common—they were all heavily inspired by existing guns from other makers. Furthermore, aside from the larger-sized ST9, I had limited experience with what many would consider a modern, polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol from the company. Sarsilmaz’s SAR9 C escapes the “clone” label and represents a truly new design. Externally the SAR9 C looks like a modern rendition of…

CALIBER .357 Magnum BARREL 1.88 inches OA LENGTH 6.3 inches WEIGHT 13.8 ounces (empty) GRIP Synthetic SIGHTS Tritium front ACTION Double-Action Only FINISH Matte black CAPACITY 5 MSRP $916 CALIBER .38 Special +P BARREL 2 inches OA LENGTH 7.25 inches WEIGHT 24.48 ounces (empty) GRIP Hogue Overmold SIGHTS Gold bead front ACTION Double-Action on FINISH Matte stainless CAPACITY 6 MSRP $699 In this new age of ultra-reliable, polymer-framed, high-capacity semi-auto pistols the old-school, snub-nose revolver is as basic as it gets. Born in a simpler era when optics, weapon lights, lasers and glow-in-the-dark sights weren’t even yet a theoretical fancy, snubbies still have a role to play in our brave new world. That role could be as a reliable backup to a primary weapon or as a niche-specific solution for the coat pocket or…

Recoil is hands-down one of the most frustrating barriers for new shooters. Nothing is more irritating than having your target in sight and then seeing the bullet hole nowhere near it. What went wrong? There are several potential reasons for this. Here are a few tips you can utilize to help control recoil. Stance. Your stance should allow you total control over your gun. You’re in control of the gun—it is not controlling you. Picture a fighting stance: grounded and ready, feet apart, left foot slightly forward (or right foot for left-handed shooters), core and shoulders facing forward with a slight lean towards your target. This enables you to achieve balance and control. Grip. Your grip should be firm. The grip of the gun should be seated into the palm…

YOU’RE FACING A DEADLY THREAT. BUT, YOU’RE NOT A MEMBER OF A SWAT TEAM OR A MILITARY SPECIAL OPS UNIT THAT TRAINS SEVERAL DAYS A WEEK AND HAS A FULL ARRAY OF ARMAMENT AND PROTECTIVE GEAR. AND, THERE ARE JUST THE TWO OF YOU. Maybe you’ve come home from an evening out and find the front door kicked in and your teenager is screaming somewhere in the house. Maybe you’re in a restaurant, shopping mall or office building when active shooters burst in. Maybe you’re left in the wake of a disaster or there are rioters and looters everywhere. The truth is, ordinary citizens can find themselves suddenly thrust into deadly situations where they might need to navigate a dangerous labyrinth, maybe in the dark, maybe in smoke-filled corridors, with…