Handguns

A carbine and a pistol in the same chambering have much utility for personal defense, and 9mm Luger, 10mm Auto, and 45 ACP are chambered in many such combinations in semi-autos. If you live in a non-restrictive state, that’s great — enjoy. But if you live in a magazine-capacity-restricted state, or in one of the features-limited jurisdictions, then you may need a different duo, say, with a revolver and lever-action rifle.

When speaking about the 40 S&W Auto cartridge these days, we’re reminded of that famous Samuel Clemens quote: “The reports of my death are...

When speaking about the 40 S&W Auto cartridge these days, we’re reminded of that famous Samuel Clemens quote: “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” While you may think the 40 S&W is dead, it is very much alive.

The M&P40 M2.0, in our opinion, offers the best accuracy, grip customization, and recoil management for less money than the other pistols.

The other hammer-fired pistol tested was a SIG P239. This was a police trade-in that came with three steel single-stack magazines. The P239 was produced from 1996 through 2018 and is a metal-frame pistol designed for conceal carry.

The sensation of the Taurus Defender 856 is that it is a six-shot version of the J-frame 85 in which Taurus changed the lockwork and cylinder to make a six-shot hideout revolver, compared to the common five-shot revolver.

Taurus has pioneered a switch-cylinder system in this revolver. There are also 22 Long Rifle/22 Magnum versions. The cylinder is easily changed simply by pressing in a plunger on the right side of the frame.

The M206 is a chunky revolver at 25 ounces. The six-shot double-action has a swing-out cylinder, and its cylinder latch operates differently from the other three revolvers. This latch is pulled to the rear rather than pressed forward to open the cylinder.

The European American Arms Windicator is manufactured by Weihrauch of Germany. The Windicator doesn’t have a side plate and differs considerably in design from the other handguns.

If you're looking for an affordable 9mm pistol that's easy to carry, you should check out the June 2021 issue of Gun Tests magazine.Hi,...

To start, remove the baseplate from an existing OEM Glock 19 magazine. Having a baseplate removal tool makes this easier. When you take the baseplate off, be sure to capture the magazine spring with a finger.

We owe much of the 44 Magnum concept to the late Elmer Keith. Mr. Keith spent a good bit of the early to middle parts of the last century working with (and sometimes blowing up) hot-loaded 44 Special revolvers. As with many great experimenters, he did not let setbacks stop his work. Convinced of the practicality and efficacy of a max-loaded 44, he finally won Smith & Wesson over to his way of thinking, along with Remington ammunition. The revolver that became what we know as the Model 29 (and what Clint Eastwood made really famous in 1971) was introduced in late 1955.