Categories
Handguns

Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory Pistol

Days ahead of the 2016 SHOT Show, Smith & Wesson announced the return of an affordably-priced, dedicated .22 LR handgun to its line-up: the SW22 Victory. The new gun represents the first sub-$1k .22 LR platform pistol from the company since the Model 22A was discontinued.

As regular shooters will note, Smith & Wesson does make other .22 LR pistols and rifles. With the exception of the Model 41, these guns are essentially centerfire designs that have been reworked for the rimfire cartridge. The new SW22 Victory is truly a dedicated platform.

Categories
Handguns

Ruger American Pistol

As rumored, Ruger announced its new line of handguns called the American Pistol. The new handguns are an impressive addition to the Ruger catalog, and I expect the guns will be extremely hot sellers. I also expect the guns will be a contender for the upcoming US military trials.

In general terms, the American Pistol is a line of duty-sized handguns that use a polymer frame and striker system. Initially, the guns will be available in both 9mm and .45 ACP, though the company hinted that these pistols are just the start of a vast line.

Let’s take a look at the highlights…

Categories
Handguns

Dan Wesson Bruin – Long Slide 10mm, .45 ACP

Just ahead of the new year, CZ-USA released a sneak peek at the new Bruin being manufactured under the Dan Wesson brand. The new pistol is a 1911-style gun in a long slide configuration that will be available in a variety of finishes and two powerful cartridges.

Sporting a 6.3″ match-grade barrel, the new Dan Wesson Bruin will be available in both 10mm and .45 ACP. The gun is quite a looker in both the black and black and bronze two-tone finish. Both versions are fitted with some sharp looking VZ Grips. The black-only gun will be available in both calibers, while its 10mm only for the black & bronze model.

Categories
Handguns

Walther PPQ Q5 Match Pistol

Interested in a new PPQ Match gun from Walther? It looks like the company will introduce one at the 2016 SHOT Show in January.

Details on a new 9mm pistols called the Walther PPQ Q5 Match have begun to leak out. Not much is known about the new guns, but I’ve pieced together details from several different sources to present the best information possible on the new gun.

Categories
Handguns

Chiappa AK-9 Pistol: Your Thoughts?

If you’ve ever wanted a blow-back AK-ish pistol chambered in 9mm that took Beretta 92 magazines, Chiappa has the gun for you!

Expected to be shown at the 2016 SHOT Show, the new AK-9 from Chiappa Firearms is a semi-automatic pistol that has the look of an AK-style pistol but is not likely to share much in common with those guns. The guns use a straight blowback action and are fed from Beretta 92 magazines. The gun ships with a pair of 10-round mags.

[Ed. note: Chiappa has a new PDW-style gun that is much more attractive than this pistol. Check out the new CBR-9 pistol.]

Chiappa equipped the pistol with a 6.3″ barrel. Overall, the gun is 14.25″ in length. Mechanical sights are included, though I suspect many people will prefer to add a red dot of some type using the built-in Picatinny rail. The rear sight is fixed, while the front is adjustable.

Speaking of accessory rails, the gun has one underneath the barrel as well as a pair at the 3 and 6 o’clock positions. The underside rail ends with a ramped hand stop. The side rails are high up on the gun and well above the barrel.

The AK-9 pistol appears to use an AK-style magazine release and safety selector. A swivel is attached to the rear of the gun for a sling.

If you are not familiar with Chiappa, they produce a number of reproduction guns. Many people may be familiar with the Rhino revolvers the company introduced a few years ago. Although the Rhino is a nice shooting gun (even in .357 Magnum,) it is very much a niche gun that does not enjoy widespread popularity. Well, besides being one of the guns used in the remake of Total Recall.

The suggested retail price on this gun is $569. Frankly, this gun doesn’t do anything for me. What about you – are you interested in it at all? Sound off in the comment section below. Just try to keep it PG, please.