Pistol

Why the 1911 still rocks…In My Opinion

The 1911 has been around for 100 plus years at this point. The 1911 is an all metal handgun that is completely overweight by today’s standards. She holds 7+1 or in modern magazines 8+1. So roughly half of what a modern .45 ACP carries. A gun ought to retire after a while and yet Browning’s […]

Red Dot Sights on Pistols

Serious competition shooters have been mounting red dot sights to handguns for a long time. In many cases, one can look to competition shooters for future trends in pistol design and employment as competition shooters are often quick to try out and vet concepts to see if it aids in getting times down. It sometimes […]

Upgrading the Glock 19 | Shadow Systems Optics Ready Slide

The Glock 19 is one of the most popular modern pistols on the market. And for good reason. It’s simple design, cost to own, reliability, ease of maintenance and accuracy make it a no-brainer for thousands of owners and agencies alike. Although the pros outweigh the cons, the one thing a Glock isn’t is sexy. […]

Glock Upgrades and Do-It-Yourself Modifications

Glock ‘Safe-Action’ pistols are arguably one of the most prolific pistols in use today by military and law enforcement organizations around the world as well as private citizens. The reasons are many and while this article is not intended to be a review of the pistol, I will list a few that are particularly noteworthy: […]

Smith & Wesson has been updating and upgrading their lineup over the last year. The M&P 2.0 series quieted previous complaints about texture and trigger. We showed you the new Shield 2.0 in November. The Bodyguard hadn't been updated and fans of Browning's .380 ACP began to feel left out. Smith & Wesson heard those cries and has released a handgun that seems perfectly modeled for the non-operator types. Winged slide of the 380 Shield EZ The .380 Shield EZ is aptly named. The pistol has been made easy to operate. Starting with the largest concern for new shooters and those with reduced strength is the slide. While styling looks just like the other M&P 2.0 models the rear of the slide has subtle wings to aid in sling-shot style racking. The action follows the standard Browning locking system which is a rare find for the caliber. Thanks to the locking system the recoil spring is soft enough that I was able to rack the gun with a finger! I don't advocate doing that with a loaded gun, but tried it as a test to just how easy the gun is to rack. The external safety is easy to engage or disengage from either side. The grip safety threw the internet into a frenzy, but deactivation is easy and it serves as simple insurance for those who might carry the gun in a purse or bag. Another interesting feature is in the two included magazines. Clearly numbered magazines with thumb assist. The magazines feature a thumb knob like one might find on a .22. While not the most comfortable thing to push on, it does serve to assist in loading. The slide release/lock also feels to be more pronounced than normal. As stated earlier everything about the 380 Shield EZ is easy! The video above provides some more details on the gun. One more fun note: The 380 Shield EZ is hammer-fired! An internal hammer eliminates any of the negatives about hammer-fired guns and still provides that nice and clean break that we all love about the action. No mush from a striker, no risk of lint or filth preventing the hammer from striking. See the video for how Smith & Wesson managed to fit that system into this new design. For those of you who love to look at numbers, the specifications below are directly from the 380 Shield EZ product page. SKU: 11663 Model: M&P® 380 SHIELD™ EZ™ Manual Thumb Safety Caliber: .380 Auto Capacity: 8+1 Barrel Length: 3.675" / 9.3 cm Overall Length: 6.7" Front Sight: White Dot Rear Sight: Adjustable White Dot Action: Internal Hammer Fired Grip: Polymer Weight: 18.5 oz / 524.5g Barrel Material: Stainless Steel - Armornite® Finish Slide Material: Stainless Steel - Armornite® Finish Frame Material: Polymer Purpose: Concealed Carry, Home Protection, Personal Protection

Smith & Wesson M&P .380 Shield EZ

The .380 Shield EZ is aptly named. The pistol has been made easy to operate. Starting with the largest concern for new shooters and those with reduced strength is the slide. While styling looks just like the other M&P 2.0 models the rear of the slide has subtle wings to aid in sling-shot style racking. […]

17+1 Rounds of 9mm in a 1911 | American Classic XB Tabletop Review

Tactical Tupperware may be the way of the future, but the ergonomics and crisp trigger of a 1911 can’t be denied. Perhaps it’s the handsome lines of Browning’s design or the reassuring heft of a steel frame in hand, but regardless, it’s tough to be a handgunner and not appreciate the 1911. Fortunately, appreciation for […]

Langdon Tactical 92 Elite LTT Pistol

Many of us who served with the Beretta 92 in the form of the M-9 left the gun with an unfair opinion of it. As a former armorer I can verify that at least in the Army and during my service maintenance including things like replacing recoil springs was not done at intervals civilians use. […]

Israeli SOF veteran Garret “Machine” on concealed carry and pistol fundamentals

Garret “Machine” is a SOF veteran of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and is currently a firearms cadre for GORUCK’s firearms training events. Machine is a former Duvdevan operator and is therefore well-versed in counter-terrorism tactics. As an international SOF veteran, he offers a unique perspective on concealed carry techniques and pistol training. Though there might […]

Why I chose the Glock 43 as my concealed carry pistol

I’ve been carrying a concealed pistol now for just about thirty years. I’ve gone through more than my share of different pistols and holsters during that time from a S. & W. Chiefs Special 5 shot revolver to Glocks. The Glock pistols have become my favorite over the years due to its lightweight, easily replaced […]

Rock Island Armory’s Comfy Cannon, the 6 inch 10mm 1911!

Rock Island Armory has tamed the 10mm with a 6″-barreled 1911 known as the Pro Match Ultra. Anyone of those words independently hints at above average, putting them all together almost sounds a bit too far. Fortunately, with Rock Island, it isn’t and this gun delivers with features once considered custom right out of the […]