Pistols

New Ruger Gun at 2009 NRA Convention: Another Platform Redefined

(Editor’s note: On May 15, Ruger introduced the SR-556: a piston driven AR-15 style rifle.)

Ruger is really stiring up excitement in the firearms world.Â Ruger brought out the SR9, the wildly popular LCP, and the now shipping LCR.Â And Ruger isn’t done yet.

At the 2009 NRA Convention, Ruger wil be announcing another new product that will allegedly redefine a platform.Â May 15 is the announcement date, but speculation is already running wild.Â Here are some of the possibilities…

Polymer Framed 1911

Ruger broke more than a few people’s expectations when it comes to small revolvers, by introducing the part-polymer LCR.Â Ruger could do the same with a polymer-framed 1911.

DoubleStar 1911 Introduced

by: Richard Johnson Leave a Comment

DoubleStar, known for their AR-15 products, has announced a new handgun: the DoubleStar 1911.

The DoubleStar 1911 uses a forged steel frame, and has a beveled magazine well, Novak sights and a National Match stainless steel 5″ barrel.Â The finish is parkerized.Â Customizations are available, including a variety of grips, and a choice in trigger guards.

MSRP is listed as “less than $1,200.”

SIG SAUER P232 Pistols: Updated for 2009

by: Richard Johnson 20 Comments

The SIG SAUER P232 pistol was updated for 2009.Â The new P232 features a newly designed slide that reduces “slide bite” on larger hands and removable sights.

For those not familiar with the SIG SAUERÂ P232, the gun is a .380 ACP pistol that is more substantial in size and weight than the recent crop of .380 pocket guns.Â The P232 runs between 18.5 – 23.6 ounces, has a 3.6″ barrel, and an overall length of 6.6″.Â The action is a DA/SA design and has a capacity of seven plus one.

The SIG P232 is available in three finishes: black Nitron, stainless, and a two-tone stainless slide with a black frame.Â All models of P232 are available with standard or SIGLITE Night Sights.

SIG P232 Specifications

caliber: Â .380 ACP
standard magazine capacity: Â seven rounds
barrel length: Â 3.6″
overall length: Â 6.6″
action: Â double-action/single-action (DA/SA)
trigger pull weight: Â DA: 10 pounds, SA: 4.5 pounds
sight radius: Â 4.7″
MSRP: Â $649 ($720 with factory night sights) for the Nitron version

While sleek and attractive, some people do not like the P232 pistols due to the lack of slide catch. Â This means the shooter will not be able to lock the slide to the rear of the pistol for any reason. Â While this does not negatively impact the reliability of the handgun, it does alter how some things are done. Â For example, you can’t lock the slide back when handing another person the P232. Â If this is important to you, this SIG pistol may not be your best choice.

Sootch00 on YouTube did a review of the updated pistol:

The P232 is easy to shoot, light recoiling pistol due to the size of it. Keep in mind that the trigger is a double-action/single-action design. These tend to be less accurate due to the lack of training most people will invest in learning the system. For the vast majority of people, having a double-action only pistol – like a Glock or Smith & Wesson M&P – is a superior choice.

Glock RTF2 Finish on the Glock 22: Thousands of Polymer Spikes

by: Richard Johnson 53 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.

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

Colt Delta Elite: More Information and Photos

by: Richard Johnson 6 Comments

Frustratingly, there were few Colt sales people at their SHOT Show exhibit.Â 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.Â It is in the 2009 catalog, but only as a special run item.Â Colt is not planning on them being a permanent addition to the line-up.Â So, if you want one, don’t wait.Â It sounds like “when they’re gone, they’re gone!”

The Colt rep did not know when they were shipping or what the MSRP was going to be.Â 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.)Â I do not have one of the originals, though I have had the chance to play with them in the past.Â The floor model seemed to be the same as the original, which is to say, it is a 1911 platform firing a 10mm cartridge.Â It is a well balanced gun, and the trigger on the example I held was great.

The one problem that I spotted immediately was a cosmetic issue with the front sight.Â The front sight had white paint smeared all over it.Â 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.Â Something that obvious should be caught before the gun leaves the assembly plant.Â 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.

SIG P238 – High Quality 380 ACP Single Action Pistol

by: Richard Johnson 68 Comments

The SIG P238 pistol is a single-action, semi-automatic pistol chambered for the .380 ACP cartridge. Â The pistol is considered to be very similar to the workings of a 1911 pistol and is said to have borrowed heavily from the design of the Colt Mustang pistol. Â Most likely, SIG SAUER purchased the rights to manufacture the Mustang from Colt, though under their own label: the P238.

The P238 was introduced by SIG SAUER at the 2009 SHOT Show in Orlando, Florida. Â At that time, there were few quality .380 ACP pistols on the market, but the 2008 introduction of the Ruger LCP proved there was an untapped market demand for them. Â Unlike other manufacturers who were mostly bringing DAO polymer guns to the .308 ACP pocket gun market, SIG SAUER went with a high-quality gun on a metal frame.

The SIG P238 has an anodized aluminum frame and a stainless steel barrel and slide. Â The pistols are single action guns that have a frame mounted safety. Â P238 handguns also have a trigger bar disconnect safety, an automatic firing pin block and a Â hammer safety intercept notch to enhance the pistol’s overall safety.

First P238 Pistols

In the first year of production, SIG only offered two variations of the P238: Â a standard black finish and a two-tone finish. Â The basic model was called the “Nitron,” which is the name of the special corrosion-resistant finish that gave the gun it’s black appearance. Â The Nitron was available with standard SIG “contrast” sights or night sights.

The two-tone model had a black frame with a stainless slide, slide stop, hammer and safety. Â The P238 grips were a stainless steel (silver) color. Â Both the original Nitron and the two tone models are still available from SIG SAUER.

P238 Models

The SIG P238 saw exceptional sales in it’s initial year, and sales of the gun have continued to be very positive. Â Since being introduced, SIG SAUER added numerous variations to the P238 line including various finishes, different grips and a variety of custom etchings.