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What’s Hot in Handguns?
Anybody who likes the Government Model 1911 is going to love 2011, the 100th anniversary of the famed “.45 automatic,” because you’re undoubtedly going to see some dandy commemoratives, and spruced up “working guns” on the horizon.
But not all is 1911-oriented this year. Chiappa’s new Rhino revolver is finally approved for distribution, there’s a new AR-style pistol, the Titan .410/.45 derringer is being marketed by Cobra, and Glock’s Gen 4 pistols are definitely in the spotlight.
But let’s take an early look at just some of the new entries, beginning with a number of introductions from Para USA (10620 Southern Loop Blvd., Dept. GDTM, Pineville, NC 28134-7381/(704) 930-7600/www.para-usa.com).
There’s a Limited Anniversary Set, with a Para GI45 and a Hi-Cap. The GI45 has three-dot fixed sights, two 7-round magazines, the PK2 finish, 5-inch barrel, stainless steel frame and solid trigger. The Hi-Cap has a stainless frame with accessory rail, Trijicon three-dot tritium night sights, 25lpi front strap checkering, match trigger, a pair of 14-round magazines and the PK2 finish. They come in a wood display box.
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Para’s LDA (Light Double-Action) pistol is now chambered in 9mm. It carries a 7-round magazine, features a 3-inch barrel, spurless flush hammer and rounded grip safety, alloy receiver and black resin double diamond grips. This pistol also wears the PK2 finish.
The GI45S is a stainless version of Para’s popular “basic” .45 auto pistol, the GI Expert. It has a stainless steel barrel and solid metal bushing, medium-length Expert trigger, three-dot fixed sights, skeletonized spur hammer and 8-round magazine. Stocks are checkered polymer.
The Cowboy Action crowd will warm up to the new SASS Wild Bunch 1911 pistol, alluding to the classic Sam Peckinpah western featuring William Holden and the famed Model 1911 in a final reel shootout that stands today as a benchmark of the genre. The pistol has a 5-inch stainless steel barrel, fixed three-dot sights, PK2 finish, solid long trigger, a pair of 7-round magazines, steel frame and weighs 39 ounces.
Ed Brown Products (43825 Muldrow Trail, P.O. Box 492, Dept. GDTM, Perry, MO 63462/(573) 565-3261/www.edbrown.com) will introduce a special run of ten Centennial Collector 1911 pistols, based on the company’s Classic Custom pistol. Each pistol will feature full relief engraving on the flats of the slide, frame and selected components, according to Brown, who also advises that there will be a “mainstream” Centennial pistol offered throughout 2011.
A little change of pace is news that the Titan derringer from Cobra Firearms (1960 S. Milestone Dr., Suite F, Dept. GDTM, Salt Lake City, UT 84104/801-908-8300/www.cobrafirearms.net) has started shipping. I tested this gun earlier in 2010 and it’s a handful! It is a double-barrel derringer on steroids, capable of delivering the solid punches of a .410 shotshell (or slug), or a .45 Colt, and at close range, it’s a real fight stopper.
I was right about Glock (6000 Highlands Parkway, Dept. GDTM, Smyrna, GA 30082/(770) 432-1202/www.glock.com) last year, predicting something new on the lower end and mentioning the Gen 4 pistols, and at this writing, their Model 17 and Model 22 Gen 4 pistols are hot items. The Model 17 is a 9mm with a 17-round capacity with Glock’s trademark polymer frame and the Gen 4 exclusive capability of changing grip circumference by as much as 4mm. It has a new double-buffered recoil spring assembly, and the dust cover and slide nose ring have been redesigned.
Ditto on the Model 22, chambered in .40 S&W. There’s a short frame version and a reversible magazine release with a larger surface area.
Browning (One Browning Place, Dept. GDTM, Morgan, UT 84050/(801) 876-2711/www.browning.com) had not announced any new handguns for 2011 but the Buck Mark line “is doing very well,” according to spokesman Paul Thompson. Expect that to continue into the new year, as rimfire semi-autos remain extremely popular.
The semi-auto has a synthetic magazine, checkered wood grip panels, fixed sights and fixed steel barrel. The revolver is available first with a 2-inch barrel, and will be followed (perhaps by this time) by guns with barrels measuring 3, 4, 5 and 6 inches. The handgun’s low barrel design is supposed to reduce muzzle flip during recoil.
Chiappa’s Rhino is a hefty gun, weighing 25 ounces (with the 4-inch barrel), and has a frame made from Ergal, a high-strength alloy with a blued or brushed alloy finish. Stocks are composite rubber or wood, and there will also be a polished stainless version.
Fans of Steyr (7661 Commerce Lane, Dept. GDTM, Trussville, AL 35173/(205) 655-8299/www.steyrarms.com) semi-auto striker-fired pistols can smile because the M-A1 and S-A1 are being brought back to the American market. They began arriving on our shores in the fall, and both pistols are available in either 9mm or .40 S&W. The M-A1 has a 4-inch barrel and is a full size model while the S-A1 is a compact with a 3.6-inch tube.
Both pistols have polymer frames with molded accessory rails, low barrel axis design and an integrated trigger safety with what Steyr calls a “Reset Action System” trigger. They feature a keyed safety lock, low-profile sights and polygonal rifling.
Now comes Rock River Arms’ (1042 Cleveland Road, Dept. GDTM, Colona, IL 61241/(309) 792-5780/www.rockriverarms.com) PDS pistol, and it is a real piece of work. The “PDS” designation refers to this pistol’s patent-pending Piston Driven System that utilizes a “purpose-designed” bolt carrier, an adjustable gas piston and an over-the-barrel spring and guide rod setup. This eliminates the traditional AR-platform recoil system, while preventing gas blow-by to the rear of the receiver.
Chambered for the 5.56mm NATO and .223 Rem.., this beefy handgun features a full-length rail on top for mounting electronic or optical sights and an ambidextrous charging handle. The chrome-lined barrel measures 8 inches and is cut with a 1:9-inch rifling twist. It has a PDS-MD muzzle device with a ½-28 thread, and the gun features a Hogue pistol grip. Overall length is 17.5 inches.
New from CZ-USA (P.O. Box 171073, Dept. GDTM, Kansas City, KS 66117/(800) 955-4486/www.cz-usa.com) is the SP-01 Shadow Custom, a two-tone semi-auto with fixed sights, chambered in 9mm. It’s got an integral accessory rail on the dust cover, and slim-line aluminum grips.
Also new is the CZ Czechmate, another self-loader that is definitely for precision IPSC target work. Chambered in 9mm, this pistol has a C-more 6 moa red dot sight, two spare barrels, a compensator, spare magazines with capacities up to 20 and 26 rounds, and much more. It has a black polycoat finish and comes in a hard case.
The M&P15-22 has a 6-inch carbon steel barrel, 25-round detachable magazine, adjustable front and rear sights, matte black finish and blow-back action. There’s a top rail and shorter rails on the handguard surfaces. I haven’t had the opportunity to shoot one of these handguns, but this model just looks like it will be a hoot for plinking, hunting and even target work.
Speaking of S&W, their SD9 and SD40 semi-auto pistols have plenty of traction with consumers. The SD models have stainless steel 4-inch barrels, a black Melonite finish, the SDT (Self-Defense Trigger) for smooth, consistent trigger squeeze from the first to the last shot. They also boast a slim grip and a rail molded into the frame. The front sight has a tritium tube and the rear sight has two white dots. The SD9 is available with either a 16- or 10-round magazine while the SD40 offers 14- or 10-round magazine capacities, depending upon local laws.
Also from S&W are the Bodyguard 380 pistol and Bodyguard 38 revolver. Both models feature Insight Technology laser technology. The 380 pistol is chambered in .380 ACP and has a manual thumb safety and a 6-round magazine capacity. It is finished with Melonite.
The Bodyguard 38 is chambered in .38 Special and can handle +P ammunition. It has an aluminum alloy upper frame and steel-reinforced polymer lower frame. The cylinder holds 5 rounds.
Back on the 1911 landscape, Dan Wesson (5169 Route 12 South, Dept. GDTM, Norwich, NY 13815/(607) 336-1174/www.danwessonfirearms.com) has announced a new .45-caliber version of the Guardian semi-auto , a Commander-sized gun with a “Bobtail” butt. It has a 4.25-inch barrel, fixed sights, alloy frame and more.
The new year will also see a return of the legendary Dan Wesson Model 715 revolver chambered in .357 Magnum, and the arrival of the Dan Wesson Elite series of pistols. The DW 715 has a 6-round capacity, is available with interchangeable barrel lengths ranging from 2.5 to 10 inches, smooth double action and many other features.
In the Elite series comes the Titan, Mayhem and Havoc semi-auto pistols. The Titan is all steel and based on the 1911 platform, chambered in 10mm Auto. This Commander-size pistol has a 4.25-inch barrel, snake scale serrations, 25 lpi checkering and G-10 grip panels.
The Mayhem model is chambered for .40 S&W, is also all-steel, and is set up for competition with adjustable rear sight, 6-inch slide, Beavertail grip safety and accessory rail.
The Havoc is chambered in both 9mm and .38 Super, with a 4.25-inch barrel, adjustable sight, all-steel construction and many other features.
Available in 9mm. .40 S&W and .45 ACP, the three CW pistols are striker-fired semi-autos have pinned-in polymer front sights, locking breech, passive striker block and a Browning-type recoil lug. The rear sight is drift adjustable with two white dots. Each pistol comes with a single stainless steel magazine. The 9mm holds seven rounds while both the .40 and .45 hold six rounds.
While one suspects there must be something special on the way from Kimber (1 Lawton Street, Dept. GDTM, Yonkers, NY 10705/(888) 243-4522/www.kimbramerica.com) for 2011, they’re being tight-lipped and instead would tell me only that the Super Carry models are “going nuts.”
It certainly hasn’t hurt any to have images of the Super Carry Pro on at least two prominent magazine covers. Of all the Super Carry models, that’s the hottest seller, with its 4-inch barrel, two-tone finish, checkered grips, ambidextrous safety, bobbed heel, three-dot sights and beavertail grip safety.
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