Table of contents for Septmber/October 2019 in Combat Handguns

In the November/December 2018 issue of Combat Handguns, we pointed out the fallacy of believing that once a homicidal gunman is down, he’s out. We delineated several cases showing that, contrary to popular belief, the offender with a remote-control weapon can still commit murder from a sitting, supine or prone position, and shooting him until he is no longer a threat has been proven to be absolutely justifiable. The key element there is the gun, a remote-control weapon. The same would be true with any other weapon that a physically immobile murderer could use to kill innocent victims from some distance away—a wounded terrorist suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest, for example. But what if the downed person is armed with a contact weapon, that is, something with which he…

In the world of fighting handguns, there is nothing as iconic and as American as the 1911, except perhaps the Colt Peacemaker. Aside from type and style, one major difference is that the 1911 is still commonly used today as a defensive sidearm. Even with the advent of new operating systems, modern technologies and space-age materials, the 1911 still holds its own as a formidable combat weapon. As they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same. One company that’s had a significant influence on the 1911 marketplace, especially where production pistols are concerned, is Kimber. For more than two decades, it has offered 1911 pistols in various configurations with features that were previously found only on custom pistols. This made stylized 1911s more accessible to the…

Keeping a gun for home security comes with a good degree of responsibility. As the owner, it is up to you to keep the gun secure from those unauthorized to use it: children, house guests, service technicians and others. You’re also responsible for making sure the gun isn’t stolen. Apart from being used on yourself, the worst thing that could happen is having your stolen gun used in a homicide. Storing a gun in your home is always a balancing act between quick access and security. Ideally, we want the gun to be accessible to us instantly, yet inaccessible to those we don’t want to use it and those who might want to steal it. In this installment of “Righteous Rigs,” we’ll look at three different solutions to keep your…

Have you ever been out at the range firing a .45-caliber pistol and said to yourself, “I sure wish I had one of these chambered for the 9mm”? Or, conversely, if you’re already firing a 9mm, “I sure wish I had one of these guns in .45 caliber”? While your desire for another pistol is completely understandable, too often you’ll stumble upon one of two difficulties. Either you can’t afford another pistol, or you’re one of those poor souls who lives in a jurisdiction where owning multiple handguns can be difficult. Wouldn’t it be nice if you had one pistol that could fire both calibers? Well, I recently had the pleasure of test-firing just such a pistol courtesy of my good friend and gunsmith extraordinaire Jeff Abernathy of Mount Holly,…

We’ve been going to the pros to peek inside their range bags, giving us a firsthand look at everything from their guns to their favorite gear. And we might even pick up a few tips to improve our own shooting. This time, we bring you a double dose: not just one pro, but two. So buckle up and prepare yourself for all things Wilson Combat. Bill and Joyce Wilson are no doubt a dynamic couple. Not only are they both highly accomplished in competition shooting, but they’re also avid hunters of big game here in the states and around the world. Together, they are the heart and soul of Wilson Combat, a leading innovator of high-performance handguns and long guns. If you’ve never had the opportunity to shoot a gun…

On June 26, 2008, I received a permission slip in the mail from New York City’s One Police Plaza allowing the purchase of a Kimber Gold Combat II in .45 ACP. You see, living in New York City at the time meant that before any handgun purchase, it needed to be cleared by the NYPD. But this isn’t about the insane laws and hardship that New York puts on its law-abiding residents. This is about that Kimber 1911. After getting the permission slip, I called Kimber to pay for the gun and have it sent to my local FFL. While we were talking, the Kimber rep mentioned that I probably wouldn’t forget that particular day. He was right, since June 26, 2008 is also the day that the District of…

Target loads are like vacations. When you get tired of shooting full-house ammunition in your 1911, you can load this kind of ammo, slow down and enjoy shooting at a leisurely pace. You’ll feel no stress, no pain—just a good time at the range or out in the field plinking. In addition, you can really hone your accuracy while also sighting in your gun at closer, more comfortable distances and saving money over the cost of factory ammunition. Having the ability to custom-blend a specific handload for your favorite gun is a great advantage. When you make ammo with velocities in the 700-fps range, there’s less fatigue on the barrel and shooter, even with lighter jacketed bullets, and you’ll have more powder left over. You can also save money by…

CALIBER .380 ACP BARREL 2.75 inches OA LENGTH 5.27 inches WEIGHT 12.2 ounces (empty) GRIPS Laminate Macassar SIGHTS Fixed ACTION DAO FINISH Black, stainless CAPACITY 6+1 MSRP $405 CALIBER .380 ACP BARREL 2.75 inches OA LENGTH 5.17 inches WEIGHT 10.6 ounces (empty) GRIP Glass-reinforced nylon SIGHTS Fixed ACTION DAO FINISH Blued CAPACITY 6+1 MSRP $349 It’s been well over a century since John Moses Browning designed the .380 ACP cartridge for the Colt Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless pistol, and the round is still popular today. Despite its moniker, the Pocket Hammerless did have a hammer, but it was hidden within the slide so the pistol could be drawn from concealment without snagging on clothing or other items. Now, more than 110 years later, we are taking a look at a…

To really make this 1911 edition of Combat Handguns truly special, we had the Remington Custom Shop create a one-of-a-kind R1 Commander worthy of a gun giveaway. But that’s not all. As with our previous “Fully Loaded” offerings, we’re giving away a ton of other gear, too, including a Versacarry holster, ammo and more. 1. CUSTOM REMINGTON R1 What started life as a stock production R1 Commander has been transformed by the master gunsmiths at the Remington Custom Shop into a prime example of balancing form and function that every fan of the 1911 platform will respect. The machine-engraved front-strap and flattop add just the right amount of flair, and the undercut triggerguard, ambidextrous thumb safety, beveled slide stop, blended mag well, extended mag release, custom VZ G10 grip panels,…

It’s been more than two years since I was first introduced to the Ruger GP100 in .327 Federal Magnum specially made for Lipsey’s, a major firearms distributor in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The 5-inch, half-lug barrel, blued finish and smooth walnut grips immediately grabbed my attention. This is what a double-action (DA) revolver should look like! That model held seven rounds in its cylinder, and the performance was quite impressive. Two more Lipsey’s exclusives followed in .357 Magnum and .44 Special. These revolvers all essentially look alike but have different capacities and bore sizes. And this year, Ruger and Lipsey’s have unveiled another in the same style, this time in 10mm Auto. A CLOSER LOOK Like the .357 Magnum version, this new 10mm is a six-shooter, but since it chambers a…

I’ve always had an affinity for compact 1911s, and anytime I run across a lightweight version with a stubby barrel, I’ll stop and pay attention. At the 2017 Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous held in Gateway, Colorado, I discovered the 9mm Pro Series SW1911. Smith & Wesson’s Matt Spafford explained to me that the Pro Series of guns bridges the gap between standard production guns and custom guns produced by the S&W Performance Center. These guns feature enhancements and an extra degree of attention to detail not generally lavished on production guns. Spafford handed me a couple of loaded eight-round magazines and told me to shoot at some steel targets set up about 15 yards away. It seemed nearly impossible to miss, and the pistol felt great in my hands. It had…

People often ask me what my favorite pistol is, and I am careful to respond. Some are very passionate about makes and models, calibers and capacities. I will work with whatever platform is in my hand. There are courses where I am exclusively Glock, others Sig. But I do have an affinity for custom-built 1911s, however. There is something about the feel, craftsmanship, accuracy and action that only a 1911 can provide. I am no armorer or gunsmith, nor am I much of a gun geek. I like to shoot, and I have guns. I shoot them, I clean them. I will change out sights and triggers, but that is about as far as my gunsmithing knowledge takes me. I have been shooting 1911s since the early 1990s. I own…

How did you get interested in gunsmithing? I have always loved messing with guns. I figured If I could make a living doing something I loved, then it would make life easier. Twenty years later, I am still making a living and enjoying it every day. How did you wind up at Nighthawk? I was hired right away from another local gun company when Nighthawk started. I was the first Nighthawk employee. What’s your favorite gun? Is there a model you love working on the most? My favorite gun is a Winchester Model 70, but I love working on 1911s. What’s the craziest thing a client has asked you to do? Do a complete custom rebuild on a “pristine” pre-1918 Colt 1911 that was very rare and collectable. What’s the…

In early 2019, Auto-Ordnance released a commemorative pistol to honor our current commander in chief, Donald J. Trump. As he is the 45th president to hold office, it only made sense to customize the most iconic .45 in history, the 1911. When I set eyes on it earlier this year at the SHOT Show, I knew immediately that I wanted to do some work with it. I guess Combat Handguns figured it would take a boisterous New Yorker to truly appreciate this pistol and every one of its well-thought-out details. In a New York minute, I snatched up the assignment and ordered up a sample. When it finally arrived at Long Island Gun Source, co-owner Heather begrudgingly handed it over. As she slid it across the counter, she warned her…

I’m going to warn you right now: If your tastes run “loud,” this article isn’t for you. What do I mean? Well, if you dream of one day owning a lime-green supercar (and have put a spoiler on your Honda Civic in the meantime), if you really want a tiger-striped Desert Eagle, or if your “best Saturday” involves a Michael Bay marathon, I’m going to be blunt: Skip ahead. You can keep on drinking your Bud Light Lime from that red Solo cup. I won’t judge you. This article is dedicated to those who prefer what I’m going to call “quite refinement.” The distinguished and classy. Those who work hard to one day own an Audi or BMW, who don’t need watches much bigger than their wrists. The whiskey sippers.…

March 29, 1911. That’s the date when John Moses Browning’s iconic pistol design was formally adopted by the U.S. Army. The rest is history. Everyone knows the 1911, and nearly every manufacturer has built its own version of it at one time or another. It is a tried-and-true design that has stayed pretty much untouched until its 100th anniversary in 2011, when a new double-stack version, dubbed the 2011, was created. Today, 108 years after the first 1911 was released and just eight years since the 2011 was released, the two platforms are still on top of the market. Here are some of the latest and greatest. ALCHEMY CUSTOM WEAPONRY PRIME ELITE Designed by master gunsmith Rob Schauland, the founder of Alchemy Custom Weaponry, a division of Cabot Gun, the…