At the 2015 SHOT Show, American Tactical Imports (ATI) is now showing a prototype polymer 1911 pistol. This is the same gun that I first brought news of from the 2014 NASGW expo. The new guns are still in a prototype form, but I have been able to get some of the information about what…
In an effort to assist shooters with limited upper body strength and/or poor technique, Taurus now offers “wings” on the original TCP pistol. The TCP with Wings as it is being called is an intriguing idea, but one that may be flawed in its current form. I had a chance to handle one on the…
Yankee Hill Machine introduced the new YHM-15 pistols at the 2015 SHOT Show. These are new AR-style handguns and will be available in both 9mm and 5.56 NATO. These guns use a new YHM lightweight handguard, threaded barrels and more. Here’s what we’ve learned…
Ed. Update: The Ruger LC9s has been discontinued and is now only sold in the secondary market. The LC9s has been replaced with the Ruger EC9s, which is essentially the same as the original LC9s but with a number of economical manufacturing processes to keep the price down to only $339 (MSRP) in 2022. Ruger…
After launching the single-shot .410/.45 Colt pistol and so-called Pocket AR, Heizer Defense is expanding their line of tiny break-action handguns to include two new rifle calibers. According to several dealers, Heizer will introduce guns called “Pocket Sniper” and “Pocket AK” in 2015. The names suggest the calibers they will be chambered in. Let’s take a…
Smith & Wesson appears to now be making M&P pistols with a carbon fiber finish. Although the company has not made an official statement yet, it appears that four M&P pistols will feature the carbon fiber treatment: the full size 9mm and .40 S&W plus the compact 9mm and .40 S&W.
New for 2015, Dan Wesson introduced a 1911-style pistol that was chambered for the 10mm and .45 ACP cartridges. According to the company, these new pistols were of a quality comparable to the top-of-the-line Dan Wesson Valor pistols. Let’s take a look at the basics of these guns…
Expanding on the popular concealed carry line of handguns, Bersa introduced the BP380CC pistol. This semi-automatic handgun is a single-stack pistol chambered for the .380 ACP cartridge. Standard magazines hold 8 rounds plus one in the chamber. I own a BP9CC, which is essentially the same gun in 9mm. (You can read my review here.)…
The Taurus Curve is the latest new pistol from our Brazilian friends. Taurus International is now making a pistol that is designed to be carried for self-defense, but could be one of the more difficult designs to shoot. What makes this pistol different from other designs is that the polymer frame is curved – hence…
If you are looking for the quickest way to burn money in today’s handgun market, you may want to take a look at the special Arsenal Firearms AF-2011 kit being offered by the International Firearms Corporation. The base AF-2011 pistol is a double barrel 1911-style pistol chambered in either .45 ACP or .38 Super. These…
American Tactical Imports (ATI) is now selling an AR-15 pistol based on the company’s Omni-Hybrid lower. The gun is chambered in 5.56 NATO and weighs a mere 4.75 pounds. ATI introduced the Omni polymer lowers in mid-2012 (read my review of them here) and later updated the receivers with a metal insert for high stress…
Diamondback just announced the company’s first full-size pistol, the DB FS Nine. The new handgun is a striker-fired gun with a polymer frame. This new gun will no doubt be compared to the striker-fired guns already on the market, but it does offer a few interesting features that caught my eye.
Rock Island Armory has a line of 1911 pistols bearing the 2011 Tactical Series title. These pistols are meant to honor the 100-year anniversary of the famed Model 1911, while showing off the latest advancements in pistol accessories for the legendary pistol. One of the newer additions to the 2011 Tactical Series, is a single…
Like all major gun companies, SIG SAUER offers a variety of ways to customize your handguns. In this article, I look at some of the custom SIG pistols that have been offered over the years. Some of these are one-off creations while others have been limited runs that the average shooter could save up his…
I imagine that most of the gun community has heard of the Remington R51 by now. If not here’s the basics: it is a single-stack 9mm pistol based on a historic Remington pistol also called the R51. It has been updated with modern manufacturing and metallurgy, but remains very similar to the original gun.
The NSSF’s SHOT Business magazine is reporting that SIG Sauer is getting ready to introduce a brand new product line called the P320 Modular Pistol. The new SIG P320 will be a striker-fired, polymer framed handgun that is designed to easily change configurations to match the shooter’s hand and use. A shooter can change the…
EAA is now selling a line of pistols designed for women shooters. Unlike some companies that simply paint a gun pink and deem it a “woman’s model,” the new Tanfoglio Witness Pavona guns are seemingly more than just flash. Tanfoglio enhanced aspects of the gun’s operation to make it easier to operate, especially for people who…
SIG Sauer announced a new version of the P290 pistol. The SIG P290 ORB is functionally identical to the P290 ES I reviewed, but it has an oil rubbed bronze coated slide. This is the same finish used on the popular SIG 1911 Spartan pistol that we saw at the 2013 SHOT Show. The new…
I find the new Edge Arms Reliant pistol to be a very intriguing concealed carry handgun. It is a four barrel, subcompact pistol chambered in .22 WMR (aka .22 Magnum). A second pistol chambered in .17 HMR will also be manufactured. The pistol uses a break open design, not unlike the DoubleTap pistol. A lack…
MasterPiece Arms announced the addition of an AR-type pistol to the company lineup. The new MPAR 556 pistol is not-surprisingly based on the company’s MPAR 556 rifle. It is chambered for the 5.56 NATO cartridge and will also fire the .223 Remington. The pistol retains many of the same features found on the rifle version of…
Ever toured a gun factory? A few companies invite the public on guided tours, but walking the factory floor is something normally not done by people outside of the company’s employ. Recently, I was offered the chance to tour the manufacturing facility where Double Tap Defense pistols are made. Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity….
