Pricey 1911 .45 ACPs Versus Glocks .45 GAP Model 37
We pit the STI Lawman and Springfield's ‘Loaded' pistols against the polymer-bodied Glock to see how they match up.
Budget Self-Defense Revolvers: Taurus, Rossi, and Comanche
The $250 Taurus M605B and the $250 Rossi R46102 revolvers set the price point bottom for .357 Magnum service. The $225 Comanche isn't worth the savings, in our estimation.
Tiny and Not-so Tiny Forties: Kahrs PM40 Is Our Carry Pick
For self-defense, we liked the PM40 better than the heavier, bulkier Springfield Sub-Compact XD and CZ's new Rami.
Commander-Length .45s: Para Ordnances LTC Is A Best Buy
The $749 Para Ordnance LTC combined accuracy, reliability, and affordability into one nice package. The Rock River Arms $1,560 Commando Elite is a find, if you can find one. Kimber's lighter $1,060 Tactical Pro II might be best for concealed carry.
A Pair of High-Dollar 1911s: Nowlin Versus Rock River Arms
High-grade 1911s can do a multitude of tasks for their owners. The jobs can include NRA target shooting, various action-oriented competitions, hunting, and of course self-defense. In this report we look at two relatively high-dollar 1911s to see how well they might work for any task to which a good .45 might be put. The companies who made the guns suggested these are target-grade or match-specific weapons. Yet each came with very similar and rather special modifications that told us the story only began with accurate target busting.
We Test Two AR-Style Pistols from Bushmaster and OA
The $1020 OA 98 from Olympic Arms is a steady performer, but Bushmaster's $862 Carbon 15 Model 97 pistol stumbles.
A Pair of Tiny Pocket 9mms: We Pick the PM9 Over the R9s
Kahr's product was by "fahr" a better carry gun than Rohrbaugh's R9s, in our estimation.
Serious Shooting .45s: Springfield Armory Edges out Gunsites Colt
The $1,560 Springfield Armory TRP and the $1,495 Colt Gunsite 1911 45s prove to be "pro tools" worth the extra investment.
Parkerized Mil-Spec 1911 .45s: Springfield Beats Auto Ordnance
Playing G.I. with the Springfield Parkerized Mil-Spec, $559, was more fun than with the Auto Ordnance 1911, $515.
Small-Frame .17 HMR Revolvers: Two Guns We Can Live Without
Taurus's latest $406 .17 HMR revolvers shoot accurately but cannot overcome cartridge-related problems.
Lightweight Carry Options: A 9mm, a .40 S&W, and a .45 GAP
Glock's new $640 Model 37 excels with a brand-new round. Smith & Wesson's titanium $812 4040PD opens new doors, but the $550 FN P9 comes up short.
Big-Bore Semi-Automatic Pistols: Desert Eagle, Wildey Face Off
For some people all that a gun needs is charisma, mainly due to its appearance in a number of Hollywood movies. If the Minneapolis-based firm of Magnum Research has achieved nothing else, then the Desert Eagle's place in history has been assured by its striking profile and big hole in the muzzle.
