Handguns

Gun Tests Magazine has named the Kimber Pro Custom Defense Package II 45 ACP as the publication’s “Best in Class Pistol” for 2013.

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.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has issued a record-keeping procedure for non-over-the-counter firearm sales by licensees to unlicensed in-state residents that are NICS exempt.

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.

The National Rifle Association recently sold its one millionth copy of the NRA Guide to the Basics of Pistol Shooting. Known as the Basic Pistol handbook, the guide is a comprehensive resource on responsible pistol use and is the foundation of NRA’s popular Basic Pistol and FIRST Steps Pistol Orientation courses.

American Tactical Imports, currently based in Rochester, New York, has begun relocating its operations to Summerville, SC.

For only the third time in more than 100 years, the NRA National Smallbore Rifle Championships will not be held at Camp Perry, OH. Instead, the 2014 championships will move three hours west to the Chief Wa-Ke-De Range in Bristol, IN.

We tested three single-action revolvers suitable for Cowboy Action shooting in an August 2012 showdown. All chambered in the most common CAS competition caliber, 357 Magnum, the choices were the Ruger New Vaquero NV-34 No. 5107, $719; the Heritage Manufacturing Big Bore Rough Rider RR357CH4, $500; and Cimarron's Evil Roy No. ER4104, $770.

The UZI PRO semi-auto pistol designed for the American consumer market is now available. The $1100 UZI PRO UPP9S semi-auto pistol is based on the UZI sub-machine gun (SMG), designed and patented by Uziel Gal, who gave the production rights to the Israeli Ministry of Defense. IWI US, Inc., a subsidiary of Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), imports the firearm domestically.

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.