Concealed Carry

We mixed apples and oranges, that is, pistols and revolvers, in the July 2012 issue to see which design worked best for self-protection at close range. The three test guns were the $747 9mm Kimber Solo Carry, the $299 9mm SCCY Industries CPX-2, and the $523 Taurus 40 S&W M405 stainless-steel revolver. Heres an excerpt of that test.

Gun Tests Magazine has named the Charter Arms Pitbull 9mm Luger as the publication’s “Best in Class Revolver” for 2013.

We tested Glock and Springfield Armory compact polymer 45s in a January 2013 head-to-head test. Here's an excerpt of that test.

DoubleTap Defense will add new chamberings — 410/.45 Colt and .40 S&W — to its DoubleTap Tactical Pocket Pistol lines.

Gun Tests’ Houston test team recently obtained four shoulder holsters from the company that offers more of those designs than any other maker: Galco International.

Gun Tests’ South Carolina test team recently obtained a trio of self-defense handguns in the popular Commander-size 1911 frame size to test: the 4.25-inch-barrel SIG Sauer Carry Stainless 1911CA-45-SSS 45 ACP, $1142; and the new Ruger SR1911CMD No. 6702 45 ACP, $829. The third gun was a 4-inch-barrel aluminum-frame Kimber Pro CDP.

BrassFetcher.com has done an eye-opening comparison of the terminal effectiveness of FMJ vs JHP bullet designs from handguns chambered in 22 LR, 25 ACP, 32 ACP, 380 ACP, 9mm Makarov, 9mm Police, 38 Special, 9mm Luger, and 45 ACP.

Three handguns recently tested in Gun Tests magazine are now listed for auction on GunBroker.com by the FFL owner, Winkle’s Great Guns of Houston, Texas.

We tested two Caracal 9mm handguns (which have since been recalled) against two 45 ACP handguns in a September 2012 showdown of self-defense pistols. The 45s were the Springfield Armory Lightweight Champion Operator PX9115LP 45 ACP, $1076, and the Dan Wesson ECO 01969 45 ACP, $1662. Here's an excerpt of that report.

(GunReports.com) — To help a Gun Tests reader find 380 ACP pistols that he might like, the magazine's staff assembled a Value Guide of previously tested 380 ACP pistols and listed them on GunReports.com.

Kahr Arms has announced that shipping will be delayed on two pistols. From the company’s website: Due to the unprecedented demand on our entire line of American-made “C”-series products, the highly anticipated launch of the CW3833 and the CM4543 has been delayed until late fall.

The Professional is a complete rebuild, including the installation of a match-grade barrel and complete refinishing. Other parts listed for installation include match hammer and sear, speed trigger, titanium firing pin with extra heavy firing pin spring, beavertail grip safety, ambidextrous thumb safety, low mount Novak rear sight with matching dovetail front sight, 3-dot tritium inserts, magwell, 20-lpi checkering on the front strap, checkered cocobolo grips, beveling of all external parts, deburr complete pistol internally, apply a "Black T" finish to the complete pistol and ship with six Metalform seven-round magazines tuned to the pistol.