Handguns

Long ago someone put a shoulder stock on a handgun so he could do a better job of shooting it without becoming a skilled pistolero. The shoulder stock holds the gun steadier than the hands alone can hold it, thus some immediate handgunning success was possible. Some early examples were the shoulder-stocked Third Model Colt Dragoons and 1860 Army Colts of the Civil War era, and there were some earlier uses. We've seen examples of percussion firearms dating to the mid 1830s, and would bet a nickel there exist examples of shoulder-stocked flintlock pistols going back a hundred years earlier.

For this test report we looked at two guns from the early 20th century, both of which types saw plenty of wartime and civilian use. Our test guns are by Mauser and by Browning/Inglis. Both were supplied to us by Collectors Firearms in Houston (www.collectorsfirearms.com). The Mauser was a C96 Model 1921 "Bolo" with short barrel ($2395 plus $395 for the stock at Collectors), and the Browning was a Hi-Power made by Inglis in Canada ($1650 with stock, also Collectors's counter price). Both handguns had walnut stocks, and both had tangent sights with a narrow V-notch combined with a sharpened post front blade, which gave relatively poor sight pictures. We tested the 30 Mauser with Serbian Prvi Partizan FMJ ammo, and the 9mm Hi-Power with Black Hills 147-gr and Winchester BEB 115-gr ammunition. Here is what we found.

(GunReports.com) -- Recently, Gun Tests magazine received a letter urging us to test more deep-concealment guns, claiming that they are the most popular gun of the day. Checking with one of the larger distributors (www.camfour.com), confirmed that it is the subcompact and micro guns that are currently driving the market. In this test we didn’t evaluate a pocket gun, instead shooting a compact pistol that was just one step larger than the smallest model available from the manufacturer.

The first test gun we chose was the $697 XDM 3.8 from Springfield Armory. Since the first XD pistol to hit our shores from Croatia was the Four-inch Service Model, we were tempted to refer to the XDM 3.8 as belonging to a 'sub-service' category. The XDM 3.8 utilized the trigger to release the striker after rearward movement of the slide had loaded the striker spring nearly to full strength. Pressing the trigger on the XD series pistols tops off the compression of the striker spring and releases the trigger.

(GunReports.com) — Stealth Cam’s new Scouting Camera is a compact camera that is easy to conceal in the woods and features a 640x480 digital video with audio (10-180 seconds).

(GunReports.com) – DeSantis Gunhide is making an Intruder holster for the Ruger LCP 380 pistol and a Mini Slide style holster for the Beretta PX4 Storm 9mm/40cal Full-size and Compact.

(GunReports.com) -– Kahr Arms's 100th Anniversary Edition 1911 from Auto-Ordnance will debut at SHOT Show 2011 in January. The 100th Anniversary Edition is a .45 caliber classic style WWII Parkerized 1911 pistol with a 5” barrel. A special engraving on the slide will read “1911 .45 ACP, 1911-2011, 100 Years”.

(GunReports.com) -- New GunReports.com Videos: 1: Tips on buying a gun safe, including internal features, setup, and locating. 2: Todd Jarrett demonstrates how shooting on the move using Crimson Trace laser sights helps accuracy. 3: Watch how to operate and maintain the H&K .22 Rimfire 416 D145RS Tactical Rifle.

(GunReports.com) -- In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the classic 1911 pistol designed by John M. Browning, Browning has introduced a scaled-down, 22 L.R. version of this firearm for 2011. The new Browning 1911-22 pistol is almost an exact replica of the original 1911, just smaller. The new Browning 1911-22 is 85% the size of the original 1911 John M. Browning design.

(GunReports.com) -- Smith & Wesson Corp. is introducing a limited-edition Model 27 revolver dedicated to the 75th Anniversary of the .357 Magnum. Covered with American style scrollwork, the engraved Model 27 revolver features the hand drawn artwork of Smith & Wesson engraver David Mishichak.

(GunReports.com) -- Smith & Wesson Corp. is shipping the new Bodyguard 38 and Bodyguard 380 First Edition firearm sets. The limited edition sets feature one Bodyguard pistol and one Bodyguard revolver with corresponding serial numbers and laser engraving.

(GunReports.com) -- Friends of NRA has announced its 2011 Gun of the Year: a custom-made Colt 1911 that honors the firearm's 100 years of service in the United States Armed Forces. Offered only at local Friends of NRA events, each pistol has a 5-inch barrel, carbon steel polished blued finish, 7+1 capacity, standard grip safety, spur hammer and custom rosewood grips with an NRA medallion recessed on both panels. Every specially produced Colt commemorative pistol in…

(GunReports.com) -- Chiappa Firearms' new .22 LR handgun--which operates like a U.S. Military M-4 Carbine with a 6-inch barrel but without a shoulder stock--will hit the shelves in early 2011. It will be distributed by MKS Supply, Inc., of Dayton, Ohio.

(GunReports.com) -- The Rhino revolver, introduced by Chiappa in mid-September, is now being offered in a matte/brushed electroless nickel finish by MKS Supply, Inc. Unlike other revolvers, the Rhino fires from the bottom chamber @ 6 o'clock, which the companies claim results in less muzzle flip.