Table of contents for May/June 2019 in Combat Handguns

A few years ago at an IDPA match, the chief range officer read off the scenario description of one stage for our shooting squad: “You’re at your grill in your backyard barbecuing when a group of home invaders attacks.” One member of our squad scoffed and said, “Who the hell would have a gun on them at their own backyard barbecue?” I was there with my significant other and a couple we regularly shot with. The four of us looked at each other and smiled because we all would have given the same answer: “Every damn one of us.” This topic often comes up in gun forums online. When it does, those who carry guns at home are invariably castigated with statements like, “I don’t live someplace where I need…

We all know that the most important factor in personal defense is having a gun when we need it. But certain activities can make traditional carry difficult. Those who enjoy mountain biking, kayaking, and ATV or horse riding will probably find belt carry awkward. This brings us to chest holsters, which have become increasingly popular of late. When traditional shoulder and hip holsters might get in the way, a chest holster should comfortably support big-bore guns. Whether you’re fly fishing or field dressing a moose, a good chest rig will allow you to do whatever you need to do, unhindered, while keeping your gun close. Let’s take a look at some great options. SIMPLY RUGGED CHESTY PULLER A veteran U.S. Army MP and the founder of Simply Rugged Holsters, Rob…

Every holster needs a gun. That’s just common sense. Don’t be that guy who, at my last indoor range visit, plopped his Ruger SR22 right down on the glass countertop in nothing more than a plastic grocery bag—loose rounds and all. I was horrified, and every jaw in the place had to be scooped off the ground. These days, everyone and their grandmother is offering Kydex and leather holsters. (“Get back to work, Gam Gam!”) But if you want something that stands out, I’d suggest Vedder Holsters. This is a one-stop shop for IWB and OWB rigs, magazine pouches and everything else you need to carry your gun in comfort and style. And when I say “style,” I don’t mean basic black. The ordering process on Vedder’s website allows you…

If you’re a serious handgunner, you already know that “BUG” stands for “backup gun” in the shooting world. As the moniker implies, this is a gun that’s carried in addition to a primary firearm. It’s normally smaller than the primary gun and may or may not be the same caliber. Think of a BUG as an insurance policy: If your primary firearm is out of action, it’s time to deploy your backup. Often, a BUG can be put into play quicker than reloading the primary, which is known as a “New York reload.” Back in my cop days, I carried several different backup guns. The first was a Bauer .25 ACP semi-auto that fit inside a handcuff case. Next came a .22 Magnum High Standard derringer and then a Charter…

In the 1980s, an Austrian company popularized a semi-automatic pistol that utilized a frame and internal components made from polymer. Such a radical concept shook many handgun traditionalists to their very cores, and they were quick to voice their disdain for these so-called “Tupperware pistols.” The traditionalists scoffed at the idea that a “plastic” pistol could stand up to extensive use and reiterated their belief that handguns should be made from real steel, or at least aluminum alloy. To my experience, the most vocal of these naysayers were 1911 fans, many of whom believed that no improvements in handguns had been made since 1911. Well, it wasn’t the first time they were wrong, and it probably won’t be the last! The advantages provided by polymer technology are numerous, but the…

Born with a gun in his hand, Daniel Horner has been winning shooting competitions since infancy. OK, that may be a slight exaggeration, but only slightly. Daniel actually began shooting at the range with his father when he was 6 years old. At the age of 12, he began competing in IDPA matches, and he won his first title when he was 16. For comparison, when I was 16, all I was up to was driving by myself and finally going on dates with boys. At 18, Daniel was recruited by the Army, specifically for the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU). He became one of the most decorated shooters in team history and was selected twice as the Military Marksmanship Association’s Soldier of the Year. Daniel is now a world…

Once again, we’re giving our readers the opportunity to win big. This time it’s all about Sig Sauer, who has come through in a big way to give you everything you need. Between the stylish P320 X-Carry, the acclaimed ROMEO1 reflex sight, the BlackPoint Tactical holster and even 100 rounds of Elite Performance ammo up for grabs, you’ll have everything you need to go from practicing on the range to carrying confidently. So without further ado, let’s take a look at the goods. SIG SAUER P320 X-CARRY The P320 X-Carry brings the maximized shooting experience of its big brother, the X-Five, but in a carry-ready size. The extended, high-cut beavertail and undercut trigger-guard allow you to get a high grip for more control and less felt recoil. The flat X-Series…

OSCAR FREDERICK MOSSBERG emigrated to the United States in 1886. Upon his arrival, he worked at various firearms manufacturing plants and ultimately designed what would be the first Mossberg gun. This might be a surprise to some, but it wasn’t a shotgun. No, it was a uniquely small .22 LR pistol called the Brownie. It was marketed largely to hunters and trappers for the humane killing of wounded or trapped animals. Mossberg and his sons worked out of an old barn behind his house and produced about 500 of these distinctive four-shot pistols between 1907 and 1909. After the company he was working for closed, he and his sons started a firearms company of their own: O.F. Mossberg & Sons. They continued producing the Brownie, and between 1919 and 1932,…

CMMG BANSHEE 300 CALIBER 300 Blackout BARREL 8 inches OA LENGTH 23.8 inches WEIGHT 5.19 pounds (empty) GRIP Magpul MOE SIGHTS None ACTION Direct impingement semi-auto FINISH Titanium Cerakote CAPACITY 30+1 MSRP $1,500 POF-USA P415 CALIBER 300 Blackout BARREL 10.5 inches OA LENGTH 28 inches WEIGHT 6.5 pounds (empty) GRIP Magpul MOE SIGHTS None ACTION Piston-operated semi-auto FINISH Matte black CAPACITY 30+1 MSRP $2,000 One of the most popular calibers for AR-15 platform is currently the 300 Blackout, and one of the reasons for this popularity is the ability to run subsonic ammunition with a relatively whisper-quiet report. This is a great advantage both at the range and at home for defensive use, and admittedly, it’s just plain cool. There are plenty of technical articles about the whys and hows…

Another new variation of the NAA mini-revolver is a Davidson’s exclusive. It’s based on the more traditional Standard Model with the base-pin lock release in the front end of the pin, plus it has a half-moon front sight and comes chambered in .22 LR or .22 Magnum, and you can get an extra cylinder in the other caliber. The Mini-Shadow has a 1.13-inch barrel, a 5-inch overall length and an unloaded weight of 5.9 ounces. But the most unique feature is that the Mini-Shadow has a matte black PVD coating on its stainless steel components. This makes the gun non-reflective as well as more resistant to corrosion, high temperatures and abrasions. Finally, the gun is fitted with black rubber grips with pebble-style texturing. All in all, the Mini-Shadow is a…

Many revolvers are lighter and handier than semi-autos of comparable size, and for me, nothing beats a small revolver for pocket or ankle carry. The minuses, of course, are cartridge capacity and reloading speed, but if you can believe statistics, in typical lethal encounters by armed citizens, having 30 rounds in your gun and on your person isn’t really an issue. I was recently invited to a Taurus shooting event in Florida where I was able to try out some of the company’s new wheelguns. One that I was really impressed with right off the bat was the new Model 856. This revolver is an evolutionary step for the small-framed Model 85, a five-shot .38 Special that has been a Taurus mainstay over the years and has provided economical self-defense…

Since 1974, the name Volquartsen has been synonymous with unmatched accuracy and innovation. The company specializes in rifles and pistols chambered for a variety of rounds, including the ubiquitous .22 LR as well as the .22 WMR, .17 HMR and .17 WSM. It’s also known for making quality aftermarket components for Remington, Ruger, Smith & Wesson and Walther pistols and rifles. This brings us to the Scorpion, which Volquartsen describes as the ultimate target pistol. Of course, it’s impossible not to notice the similarities between the Scorpion and the Ruger MK series of pistols. The appearance is very similar, and the Scorpion has the same operating controls and general mechanics as the Ruger. But the comparison ends there. While a Ruger can be upgraded with Volquartsen parts, the Scorpion takes…

Today’s gun owners are very different from those of the past. In many cases, they expect more for less. Early in my experience, needing a firearm for a specific task was seen as a reason to get another one, but that doesn’t seem to be the case these days. Consumers want to be able to take a single handgun and reconfigure it as needed without needing the services of a gunsmith. And one of the most popular features today is being able to mount a miniature reflex sight on your pistol—something that used to require machining the slide on your own dime. Now you can simply remove a couple of screws, change a plate and add a reflex sight. Don’t have one yet? Leave the cover plate in place. Several…

Concealed carry has evolved, and these days more and more people are looking to put miniature reflex sights on their pistols. These optics make it easier for you to get on target quickly and easily, and improve your accuracy overall. But unless the gun is built specifically for an optic, adding a reflex sight to a pistol can be a costly affair require heavy modifications from a gunsmith. I’m kind of old school when it comes to concealed carry, as I stick to stock pistols with stock sights. But I recently decided to check out this reflex sight craze and find out how I could add one to my carry gun. As I searched for a simple bolt-on option, I soon realized that there was a lot more to this…

IN case you haven’t shot one yet, the Beretta APX has a lot to offer. Its ergonomics and construction quality equal or exceed almost anything in its class, and it’s modular, meaning you can reconfigure the pistol into a compact or subcompact version by simply swapping out the serialized chassis with different grip frames and slide/barrel assemblies. One chassis gives you multiple pistols, all with just a single FFL transfer, saving fees and excise taxes compared to buying multiple pistols. Several variants are currently available, and one of the latest from Beretta is the APX Combat. This full-sized model comes with a threaded barrel, a slide milled to accept miniature reflex sights and two flush-fitting 17-round magazines. My test APX handled very well during manipulations and in live fire. Tactical…