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Archive for January 2009 – Page 3

2009 SHOT Show Farewell

By Richard on January 19, 2009 No Comments

Well the 2009 SHOT Show is now history.  Attendance was very good, and the NSSF, who organizes the show, said orders were up 5%.  The rest of the economy may be tanking, but guns are still selling well.

I have been working to get as much information and photos up as I can squeeze into my day.  I hope that everyone has found the information useful.

During the coming weeks, I will continue to post information and product announcements from SHOT.  I met with a lot of people and have secured sights, flashlights, slings, ammo, and more for testing and evaluation in the coming months.

So, stick around…there’s more to come!

Categories : 2009 SHOT Show

Taurus 709 SLIM Pistols a Reality: Information from the SHOT Show

By Richard on January 19, 2009 96 Comments

The Taurus 709 pistols, also known as the Taurus SLIM, is a series of single stack 9mm pistols designed for concealed carry.  They are polymer framed, and offer a choice in slides: blued. stainless steel, and titanium.  The blued and stainless models weight 19 ounces unloaded, and the titanium model shaves another two ounces off of that number.

Taurus SLIM pistol 709 series in 9mm

All three models have a 3.2″ barrel and come with a 7-round, flush magazine and a 9-round extended magazine.  The pistols have the Taurus SA/DA trigger system, meaning once you chamber a round, the trigger pull is a “short, crisp” SA pull.  Should the gun fail to fire, the next trigger pull (second shot capability) is a longer double action shot.  Assuming the gun fires each time, the trigger pulls will all be single action.

Sights are a low profile, but very usable, three-dot system.

Taurus announced the 709 series of single stack 9mm pistols last year, but never shipped them.  During the past year, the Taurus SLIM has undergone several changes.

There are several cosmetic changes, such as the grips:

Taurus SLIM pistol 709 series in 9mm grips

and recess around the take down:

Taurus SLIM pistol 709 series in 9mm take down

The most significant design change has been the addition of a trigger safety.  The original 709 did not have a trigger safety, but the shipping models of the Taurus SLIM will have one.

Taurus SLIM pistol 709 series in 9mm

I had the chance to handle the blued and titanium models at SHOT.  The SA trigger pull was light and felt pretty good for a polymer gun.  The DA pull was much longer, but relatively smooth.

These guns fit in my medium-sized hand pretty well, but someone with large hands may not like the size as much.  These guns should conceal easily in a IWB or belt scabbard.  While not as concealable as a Taurus TCP or Ruger LCP, they do offer the added benefit of a more serious caliber, better sights, more grip surface, and up to 10 rounds on tap before a reload.

I hope Taurus gets these to the dealers soon.  The single stack 9mm is a good choice for concealed carry and if they work well on the range, Taurus may sell a bunch of these.

Categories : 2009 SHOT Show, Concealed Carry, Pistols
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Taurus 738 TCP: .380 ACP Pistol Takes Aim at the Ruger LCP

By Richard on January 17, 2009 103 Comments

Taurus introduced three versions of the TCP, or Taurus Compact Pistol, at the 2009 SHOT Show.  The TCP, also known as the model 738, is a .380 ACP pistol clearly aimed at taking market share from the Ruger LCP.

Taurus TCP pistol

The TCP  is a very small, very thin, very light polymer pocket gun. The sights are described by Taurus as “low-profile,” but I would describe them as almost non-existent.

The Taurus TCP has a slide lock, ambidextrous magazine release, and a loaded chamber indicator. It holds six in the magazine, with an additional eight round magazine available. The TCP has a 3.3″ barrel and an overall length of 5.19″.

It is a double action only (DAO) pistol.  The trigger pull was long and moderately heavy.  I would have liked it a lot more with a shorter trigger pull with the same weight.

The TCP is the lightest gun that Taurus offers weighing only 10.2 ounces with a blued or stainless steel slide, and a mere nine ounces (!) with a titanium slide.  The titanium slide version is so light, you might actually forget you are carrying it.

The Taurus TCP will be manufactured here in the United States.  The Taurus rep on the show floor said pricing would be “around $300″ with the titanium model “about $100 more.”

Taurus TCP pistol slide

 

Categories : 2009 SHOT Show, Concealed Carry, Pistols
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The Taurus Judge Goes Tactical

By Richard on January 17, 2009 3 Comments

Taurus Judge Tactical

Playing off the success of earlier Judge revolvers, Taurus introduced the tactical Judge at the 2009 SHOT Show.  The Taurus 4510TKR-SSR and -BR offer a 3″ ported barrel Judge with a Picatinny rail for lasers and lights.

The new Judge chambers five .45 Colt cartridges or .410 (2.5″) shotshells.  Standard on both the blued and stainless models are the red fiber optic front sight, fixed rear notch, and the Taurus Ribber grips.

Taurus reps said “around $500″ for the retail price on this new Judge.

Taurus Judge Tactical


Categories : 2009 SHOT Show, Revolvers
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Taurus Judge Public Defender

By Richard on January 17, 2009 69 Comments

Taurus Public Defender titanium

Taurus introduced the “Public Defender” revolver, another in the line of the Judge revolvers, at the 2009 SHOT Show.


Chambering the same .45 Colt and .410 shotshells as the other handguns in the Judge line, the Public Defender is built on a smaller frame (the 85 series frame), and is clearly designed for concealed carry.  The Public Defender still chambers five rounds, yet is smaller and lighter, weighing only 28.2 ounces for the stainless or blued versions, and 26 ounces for the blued steel/titanium cylinder model.

Taurus Public Defender blued

The Public Defender has a three inch barrel topped with a red fiber optic sight.  The rear sight is a fixed notch.  The hammer has been reduced, meaning it is less likely to catch on clothing during a draw, but it can still be cocked for a single action, precision shot.  The Public Defender wears a set of the Taurus Ribber grips.

The Public Defender felt a touch front-heavy, but that is probably a good thing for helping to manage recoil.  While this gun is nowhere near the size of a J-frame snubbie, it is noticeably smaller than the previous Judge models.  If you want to carry a .410/.45 Colt, this is the best package to do it concealed.

I spoke with a sales rep on day one of SHOT who said the pricing on the Public Defender would be around $500 for the blued and stainless models.  The titanium model will be about $600.  A Taurus rep on day two of SHOT also quoted me the same general numbers.

Taurus Public Defender


Categories : 2009 SHOT Show, Concealed Carry, Revolvers
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Glock RTF2 Finish on the Glock 22: Thousands of Polymer Spikes

By Richard on January 17, 2009 48 Comments

At the 2009 SHOT Show, Glock introduced a new texture called “RTF2.” Claiming to be the “the new standard for operators working in the harshest conditions imaginable,” the RTF2 features a new style of texturing on the grip frame, and a new serration pattern on the rear of the slide.

Glock 22 RTF2

The new RTF2 texturing on the Glock 22 is described in the Glock literature as “thousands of polymer spikes.”  I couldn’t agree more.  The RTF2 texture was not comfortable to hold.  In fact, it was downright unpleasant.  Yes, the RTF2 texture does seem to increase the bond between hand and gun, but at what cost to the hand?  I would not want to shoot one of these, but I suspect I will have to in the near future.

Glock 22 RTF2

Glock states the “crescent shaped grasping grooves” on the slide “offer a new stylish demension to the term efficient improvement.”  Uh…right.  I’m not sure what efficient improvement was gained, and neither was the Glock representative I spoke with.

Glock 22 RTF2

Fortunately, the Glock representative told me that the RTF2 was limited to the Glock 22 at this time.  Additionally, the G22 can still be purchased with the normal third generation frame.  If the RTF2 proves to be popular, the Glock 17 will be the next firearm to receive the treatment, followed by others in the line.

 

Glock 22 RTF2


Categories : 2009 SHOT Show, Pistols
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Smith and Wesson Model 632 in .327 Magnum: First Impressions

By Richard on January 16, 2009 23 Comments

Smith and Wesson model 632 S&W Revolver in .327 Magnum

I was hoping that Smith and Wesson would introduce a six-shot revolver chambered in .327 Magnum this year.  They did, but this is not what I had in mind.  However, I found myself liking the gun more that I thought I would.

The S&W 632 is a small framed revolver chambered in the hot new .32 introduced by Ruger and ATK last year.  It has a 3″ ported barrel, is blued steel, and has the same rubber Uncle Mike’s grips on it that have been standard on many other small frame Smith’s.

The first thing that struck me is the cylinder seemed much thinner than what I was expecting.  I thought I would pick up the gun and see a cylinder roughly the same size as a Model 10 in .38 Special.  Not so.  The cylinder is definitely less bulky, and it still puts six of the magnum rounds at your disposal.

It had a decent trigger, good sight picture, and felt good in my hand.

Two major problems I have with it.  First, like most Smith and Wesson revolvers, it has the internal lock.  Sorry, guys, but I won’t buy one of your revolvers with those things installed.

The other problem, for me anyway, is the ported barrel.  Yes, porting can help with recoil, but having gasses shoot out of the top of my revolver in a low-light, self-defense shooting is not my idea of enhancing my odds.

If S&W made this (without the lock) in a plain 2″ or 3″ barrel with the internal hammer, they would not be able to keep the dealers in stock.  In this configuration, I am less optimistic.

Categories : 2009 SHOT Show, Revolvers
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Colt Delta Elite: More Information and Photos

By Richard on January 16, 2009 6 Comments

Colt Delta Elite

Frustratingly, there were few Colt sales people at their SHOT Show exhibit.  So, I didn’t get one for long, and what information I got was not terribly helpful.

The re-introduction of the Colt Delta Elite is a special run only.  It is in the 2009 catalog, but only as a special run item.  Colt is not planning on them being a permanent addition to the line-up.  So, if you want one, don’t wait.  It sounds like “when they’re gone, they’re gone!”

Colt Delta Elite close-upThe Colt rep did not know when they were shipping or what the MSRP was going to be.  In fact, they weren’t even sure how many would be produced.

Mostly it seemed like Colt was pushing the black rifles, and the handguns were an afterthought.

Regardless, there was a Delta Elite on the display rack (I had to hunt for it.)  I do not have one of the originals, though I have had the chance to play with them in the past.  The floor model seemed to be the same as the original, which is to say, it is a 1911 platform firing a 10mm cartridge.  It is a well balanced gun, and the trigger on the example I held was great.

Colt Delta Elite front sight problemThe one problem that I spotted immediately was a cosmetic issue with the front sight.  The front sight had white paint smeared all over it.  It looked as if someone added the white paint to the front sight for the “dot” and then dragged their finger through the paint and onto the sight.

While the paint on the sight doesn’t alter how well the gun works, I have to wonder about Colt’s quality control.  Something that obvious should be caught before the gun leaves the assembly plant.  Surely someone should be checking these guns before they put them on the floor at the SHOT Show?

Hopefully, Colt will issue additional information about shipping dates, MSRP, etc. soon.

Categories : 2009 SHOT Show, Pistols
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RKBA Holsters Now Shipping Pocket Holsters for Ruger LCP with Crimson Trace Laserguard

By Richard on January 16, 2009 No Comments

RKBA Holsters make great leather pocket holsters at very reasonable prices.  I carry my Smith and Wesson 642 in a RKBA pocket holster every day.

Now, RKBA Holsters is offering a pocket holster for the Ruger LCP with the Crimson Trace Laserguard.  The pocket holster offers the same great quality as the original LCP holster with the same low price: $32 shipped!

I am a big fan of these holsters ever since I ordered my first one.  Read my original review on the RKBA pocket holster here.  Stephen McElroy runs the company and makes the holsters by hand.  He is a good guy and responds quickly to requests.

Categories : 2009 SHOT Show, Holsters, Optics and Sighting Systems
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2009 SHOT Show Update: Day 2

By Richard on January 16, 2009 1 Comments

I’ve just left day 2 of the 2009 SHOT Show.  I’ve got more photos, product announcements, and information.  As soon as I get back to my home office, I will start getting things posted.

Categories : 2009 SHOT Show
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