Return of the Taurus 942

Taurus is expected to bring the 942 line of revolvers back at the 2020 SHOT Show.

The new versions of the classic wheelguns will be offered in models for both .22 LR and .22 WMR cartridges, but no convertible revolvers are expected at this time.

In addition to the caliber choices, shooters will be able to select from a wide range of finishes, frames and barrel lengths.

Here are the options that will be available:

	942 2" barrel	942 3" barrel	942UL 2" barrel	942UL 3" barrel	942M 2" barrel	942M 3" barrel	942M UL 2" barrel	942M UL 3" barrel
caliber	.22 LR	.22 LR	.22 LR	.22 LR	.22 WMR	.22 WMR	.22 WMR	.22 WMR
capacity	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8
action	DA/SA	DA/SA	DA/SA	DA/SA	DA/SA	DA/SA	DA/SA	DA/SA
barrel length	2"	3"	2"	3"	2"	3"	2"	3"
overall length	6.6"	7.6"	6.6"	7.6"	6.6"	7.6"	6.6"	7.6"
height	4.64"	4.64"	4.64"	4.64"	4.64"	4.64"	4.64"	4.64"
weight	23.6 oz	25.0 oz	17.8 oz	18.8 oz	23.6 oz	25.0 oz	17.8 oz	18.8 oz
frame	alloy or stainless steel	alloy or stainless steel	aluminum	aluminum	alloy or stainless steel	alloy or stainless steel	aluminum	aluminum
finish	matte black or stainless	matte black or stainless	matte black, stainless or anodized colors	matte black, stainless or anodized colors	matte black or stainless	matte black or stainless	matte black, stainless or anodized colors	matte black, stainless or anodized colors
grip	rubber	rubber	rubber	rubber	rubber	rubber	rubber	rubber
MSRP	not available	not available	not available	not available	not available	not available	not available	not available

As you can see in the above table, the company will offer these guns with both steel and aluminum frames. The aluminum has the obvious benefit of decreased weight while the steel frame can offer a longer life for frequent shooters.

As with other guns that have been introduced by Taurus in recent years, the new 942 revolvers will be available in a variety of finishes. On the steel frames, shooters can select either a matte black or stainless finish. Aluminum guns have these choices and expand the palate to include a number of anodized colors.

Exact anodized colors have not been announced, but the company’s 856 line of revolvers is suggestive of the possibilities. That line includes vibrant colors like azure, rouge, bronze and burned orange. Likewise, the Taurus Spectrum .380 ACP pistols have a significant number of color options.

There are many common features in this gun line. For example, all guns have spurred hammers and can be shot in either double-action or single-action modes.

Another common feature is that the front sight is a pinned, black ramp while the rear sight is a plain black, drift adjustable notch.

All of the guns have an 8-shot capacity. The guns are also fitted with the standard Taurus rubber grip with the bull logo at the rounded bottom.

I believe these may be the first new guns to feature the company’s new location on them.Â In 2019, Taurus began a move from Miami, FL to Bainbridge, GA. I’m sure there are a range of reasons for the move, but I know that labor costs, property costs and local taxes are substantially less in the new location.

I’m hoping the company experiences a significant reduction in overhead costs and can reinvest the money back into its quality control processes. The company offers a lot of interesting designs at very affordable prices. However, it has been my experience that the quality of the guns has been very hit-or-miss. If the company can get its QC issues – be they real or just perceived – it can see huge success in the coming years.

I do not have an official word on the pricing of the new 942 revolvers. However, my sources believe the MSRP will be around $350 or less.

Chiappa CBR-9 Black Rhino Pistol: New Personal Defense Handgun

by: Richard Johnson 1 Comment

On the heels of its PDW announcement earlier in the year, Chiappa Firearms has another new gun based on the same design.Â Called the CBR-9 Black Rhino pistol, the new handgun will officially roll out at the 2020 SHOT Show in Las Vegas.

The new pistol uses a steel “upper” receiver that holds all of the mechanical components save the ejector and magazine. Those parts are housed in the polymer lower receiver that also forms the pistol grip.

Chiappa uses a blowback system in the Black Rhino. According to the company, the system is “improved and efficient” with a bolt that is about 50% of the weight of competing products.

Chambered in 9mm, the gun uses proprietary 18-round magazines. The company stated the magazine design is a patented design that prevents the deformation of the feed lips for improved reliability. In other words, don’t expect to slip a 33-round Glock magazine into place.

Good news, however. The company suggests larger magazine capacities may be available at a later date. This would seem to be an obvious play on its part.

One of the most interesting aspects of this new pistol is the collapsible arm brace. Similar to the shoulder stock on the PDW, the arm brace can make this gun extremely compact for transport and provide the additional bracing for someone to shoot the gun more accurately with one hand.

Low profile fiber optic sights are standard, while a top Picatinny rail allows for the addition of a red dot or some other optic. There are also side rails for lights and additional gear.

A few years back, Chiappa introduced the AK-9. That was an AK-style pistol that fed from Beretta 92 magazines. The CBR-9 pistol looks far more refined.

The original personal defense weapon that the Chiappa CBR-9 pistol is based on was unveiled at the 2019 IWA Outdoor Classics trade show in Nuremberg, Germany.Â To my eye, the CBR-9 Black Rhino pistol bears a passing resemblance to the HK MP7 PDW. I’m not suggesting the one is a copy or clone of the other – just that they have a resemblance. Here’s hoping the Chiappa is more affordable than the HK.

SCCY DVG1 – New Striker-Fired 9mm Pistol

by: Richard Johnson 40 Comments

Florida-based SCCY appears ready to launch a new striker-fired pistol called the DVG1. (Scroll down for updates including the crazy price on the red dot version.)

Print advertising for the new SCCY DVG1 handgun appeared in magazines this week though the company does not have any mention of it on its website. Nevertheless, the ad does include a significant amount of information about the new pistols.

The start with, the guns appear to be thinner versions of the existing 9mm CPX-1 and -2 handguns. The lengths and heights are identical – 6.01″ and 5.06″ respectively – but the width has been narrowed from 1.40″ to a svelt 1.0″.

A thinner body has not impacted its capacity. Magazines hold 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition each. This puts up to 11 rounds in the shooter’s hand before a reload is needed. Unloaded, the guns weigh 15.5 ounces.

The really big change for the company is that this gun is a striker-fired pistol. Prior guns from SCCY have been hammer-fired.

Moving to a striker system, SCCY was able to drop the factory trigger pull to about 5.5 pounds. This is substantially less than the company’s other offerings that have a long, moderately heavy pull.

No suggested price is listed for the SCCY DVG1, but I suspect that will be forthcoming shortly.

Specifications

	SCCY DVG1
caliber	9mm
capacity	10+1
action	striker-fired
barrel length	3.1"
overall length	6.01"
height	5.06"
weight	15.5 oz
grip	polymer
finish	matte black
MSRP	$289, $389 for red dot version

I would not be surprised to see a number of follow-on handguns such as a DVG2 that incorporates a manual thumb safety. Likewise, a .380 ACP version of the gun may also be in the works. We’ll just have to wait and see.

I’ve previously handled, shot and reviewed a number of SCCY pistols including a prototype of the CPX-3. With a single exception, all of the guns shot well and were completely reliable. The sole exception was a CPX-2 pistol that was fixed and returned to me within a week.

I look forward to seeing the DVG-1 at the upcoming SHOT Show and getting it on the range for some shooting.

Update

SCCY officially announced the DVG-1 today, and the company added a twist: a second model with a Crimson Trace red dot. This model is designated the DVG-1RD and will come with the CT optic factory mounted.

The optic used is the Crimson Trace CTS-1500. While the CTS-1500 is not listed on the Crimson Trace website, it is the same pistol red dot that is used on the existing SCCY red dot pistols. The closest product on the CT website is the CTS-1400 that uses a 3.25 MOA dot and has an MSRP of $299.

Crimson Trace backs the CTS-1500 optic with a 3-year warranty. It uses a 3.5 MOA dot. The DVG-1RD will only cost $100 more than the standard model. For a factory-mounted, brand name red dot that seems to be a very good deal.

A couple of additional pieces of information about the new guns.

Unlike prior SCCY pistols, the DVG-1 and DVG-1RD will have flat triggers. This style of trigger is enjoyed by many people, but it is a personal preference thing. I don’t know of any data that supports one style of trigger being better than another for accuracy or speed.

Additionally, the company clarified that it will use the Quadlock barrel in this gun. The Quadlock was first used on the company’s .380 ACP pistols.

Tactical Flashlights

by: Richard Johnson 1 Comment

Many of the GHG readers have seen my flashlight reviews (example: my recent SureFire G2X flashlight review) and recognize I take them very seriously.

In an effort to help a broader audience pick a good flashlight, I wroteÂ Introduction to Tactical Flashlights for Self Defense over at the AmmoMan “School of Guns” blog.

If you have the time, I’d really appreciate it if you took a look at that article (it’s not an affiliate link) and left me a little feedback on what you think.

I’ve tried to explain all of the specifications used in flashlight marketing and explained my rationale behind selecting a good quality light. If you think I missed anything or wasn’t quite clear enough, please let me know.

My goal is to serve you. While we may not always agree on a specific gun or tactic, I try to provide the best information I can on the limited budget and time I have.

Also, if you have any thoughts on what people (including me) leave out of flashlight reviews – PLEASE let me know. Just drop a comment below so I can deliver the information you need.

I’ve been rewriting and updating my testing procedures for flashlights and now is the perfect time for me to work your feedback into the criteria.

Smith & Wesson M&P 9EZ Shield

by: Richard Johnson 5 Comments

Building on the success of the M&P 380EZ, Smith & Wesson is introduced the new M&P9 EZ today.

The new gun blends the easy-racking slide of the original pistol with the more powerful 9mm cartridge. This means that people with reduced hand strength are no longer handicapped by the comparatively low powered .380 ACP.

Features of the new M&P 9EZ include:

a slide that is easy to manipulate
a slide with tapered rear slide serrations
magazines with a loading tab for easier insertion of rounds
reversible magazine release
a one-piece trigger design

In the above video, Julie Golob gives you an introduction to the pistol.

	Standard Model	Crimson Trace Model
caliber	9mm	9mm
capacity	8+1	8+1
action	internal hammer fired	internal hammer fired
barrel length	3.675"	3.675"
overall length	6.8"	6.8"
weight	approximately 23.2 oz	approximately 23.8 oz
sights	3 white dot	3 white dot and Crimson Trace Red Laserguard
grip	polymer	polymer
finish	matte black	matte black
MSRP	$479	$479

Guns will be available with and without a thumb safety. All of the pistols will have a grip safety.

Smith & Wesson is also offering a version of the gun with a Crimson Trace Laserguard that uses a red aiming laser. Lasers can be very useful for people when a traditional sight picture is unavailable. For example, if you are knocked to the ground or are using cover that precludes the alignment of gun and eye.

At this time, Smith & Wesson lists all versions of the M&P 9EZ at the same price: $479. It would seem that there is no additional charge for getting the pistol with the Crimson Trace Laserguard.

I found Palmetto State Armory is currently offering the 9mm EZ pistols for $399 here.

Kalashnikov USA Komrad – New Not-A-Shotgun Firearm to Launch on April 2

by: Richard Johnson 19 Comments

Page Navigation

General Information
- Specifications
Range Time
Thoughts & Coming Review
- Disclosure
- Special Thanks

Kalashnikov USA will launch a new non-NFA firearm called the Komrad on April 2. The new gun is similar to the company’s larger KS-12 shotguns but with a shorter 12.5″ barrel and an adjustable length SB Tactical SBA3 pistol brace. It will transfer just as any other firearm without requiring a special tax stamp as would be needed with a short barrel shotgun.

General Information

The Kalashnikov USA Komrad is one of a growing trend of non-NFA firearms that avoid specific classification in United States (federal) law and can be purchased from a normal dealer like any other gun. It is easy to mistake the Komrad for a shotgun as it is a smoothbore firearm that is chambered for the 12 gauge shell. Nevertheless, it is not a shotgun under federal law.

Made in the United States, the new Komrad is a semi-automatic gun based on the Russian Saiga series of firearms. It was not designed in Russia, nor is any part of it made in Russia. However, it is compatible with many Saiga parts including the magazines.

As it ships, the gun comes with two (2) 5-round magazines. Kalashnikov USA also offers 10-round magazines as an optional accessory. Third party drums and other magazines should all work if they are built to the original Saiga 12 specifications.

The Komrad can handle any 2 3/4″ or 3″ shell from birdshot to slugs. It has an adjustable gas regulator to match your ammunition.

Kalashnikov USA ships the gun with pistol-style sights: post front and a notch rear. The gun does have a side mount for adding a red dot with a rail like this one. Also, the gun has three Picatinny-type rails for the addition of a laser, white light, foregrip or other bits of gear.

According to the company representatives, the guns are now in production. Kalashnikov USA will make an official announcement on April 2 when it will have an ample supply ready to ship to buyers.

Specifications

caliber	12 gauge (2 3/4" and 3" shells)
capacity	5-round detachable magazine standard, 10-rounds optional
action	semi-automatic, adjustable gas regulator
barrel length	12.5"
overall length	30.25-33"
weight	7.15 pounds
grip	polymer pistol style with interchangeable inserts
MSRP	TBD (expected to be around $1,000)

Range Time

I was invited to the Kalashnikov USA factory in Pompano Beach, Florida for an introduction to the gun. I had a chance to shoot a production version of the Komrad with both buckshot at slugs. The staff at K-USA provided unlimited ammo to shoot, and there were a total of six media members on hand that gave the gun a good workout.

The Komrad felt good in my hands with the balance point of the rifle seemingly just forward of the magazine well. It moved and pointed easily. It felt quicker to transition between targets than a traditional shotgun like a Remington 870, but I’d like to do a side-by-side comparison of the guns to get a better feel for this.

Shooting heavy 12 gauge loads is not everyone’s cup of tea. However, I am one of those strange birds that do enjoy it. From this gun, the recoil seemed very similar to a traditional shotgun. If I had to guess, I would say that the felt recoil is slightly more – maybe 5-10% – in the Komrad, but I freely admit this is completely subjective. Another shooter might say more or less.

I experienced no malfunctions with this gun. It fed and shot reliably. However, I did see another writer have an issue with cycling a few rounds. He seemed to fix this problem by changing his stance with a more aggressive shoulder forward position.

Thoughts & Coming Review

Non-NFA firearms like the Kalashnikov Komrad are very interesting to me. The Komrad helps to solidify this style of weapon as a mainstream product, and more guns in common use are a good thing in my opinion.

Beyond the political and legal implications of the Komrad, does it have a practical use? Yes.

A short barrel firearm (as compared to the company’s KS-12 shotgun) is easier to maneuver indoors and when moving in and out of a vehicle. For a dad protecting his family in the middle of the night, this can be a valid choice: 5 or 10 rounds of 12 gauge buck is certainly a time-tested method of repelling violent criminals in a home invasion.

Mix in the ability to add a red dot and white light – this has the potential of being a valid home defense option.

I’ve requested one of these new not-a-shotguns for review, and the folks at Kalashnikov USA stated they will make this happen. Once I get it, I will run a lot of ammo through it and put it up against more traditionally sized scatterguns for a full review. If you have specific questions or things you want me to test, please post your requests in the comments section below.

Disclosure

As I stated previously in the article, I was invited to a special shooting event hosted by Kalashnikov USA. This event was paid for by the company including a one night stay at an oceanfront motel and three meals (dinner, breakfast and lunch.) Since I am within driving distance to the company’s factory, I provided my own transportation. However, the company did provide airfare to other attendees.

Kalashnikov USA did not request, nor did I promise any media coverage. But let’s face it – I’m sure they hope to receive it, and providing news and reviews on guns for you is what I do.

Kalashnikov USA is not an advertiser, nor are we in any talks for them to be one. I do not have any financial interest in K-USA or any other gun manufacturer.

GunsHolstersAndGear.com is a for-profit website. I do not use pop-ups, autoplaying videos or other annoying advertising. Rather, I employ affiliate links. If you choose to follow one of my links to a site like Amazon or Brownells and then make a purchase, I earn a small commission (typically between 1-4%) that literally helps me to feed my family. I do not get to see what any individual purchases, and the links do not alter your price.

Special Thanks

A special thank you to B. Gil Horman with the American Rifleman for helping out with the range photo shown above. I hope my photos for you turned out as good as yours for me.