SEMI-AUTO HANDGUNS

Playin' Favorites

I’m taking advantage of my advancing years and looking at my favorite handguns — an admittedly subjective exercise.

Wilson Combat's EDC X95

If there’s a more bandwagon-centric racket than the firearms industry, I’m not aware of it. There seems to be no saturation point to the AR-platform rifle, 1911 pistol or polymer-striker-fired...

Cutting-Edge Ed Brown FX2

What red-blooded American wouldn’t enjoy wrapping their well-versed fingers in an overhand grip around the stylish slide of a Commander-sized 1911? But this isn't a dream — it's the new Ed...

SIG Custom Works Delivers...

Delivered just in time for the Halloween season, SIG Custom Works has reimagined the manufacturer’s Nightmare series with new blacked-out P220, P226 and P229 models.

Nighthawk Custom Partners With Agency Arms for the Agent 2

Nighthawk raises the 1911 platform to new heights by collaborating with
Agency Arms, Railscales and Hillbilly 223.

Beretta 92X Performance

To the average non-shooting citizen — yes, they exist — a gun is a gun is a gun. Sheesh! How can anyone have such an opaque opinion towards one of the...

the rise and fall of the...

In 2003, a joint effort by GLOCK and an ATK team led by the brilliant Ernest Durham birthed the .45 GAP cartridge. GLOCK’s 13+1 round G21 had, in 13 years,

Para’s Expert GI

Most any US veteran sporting grey or missing hair and the aches and pains of age associated with service prior to the introduction of the Beretta M9 is...

Wilson American Combat...

Wilson introduces the American Combat Pistol (ACP) series in .45 ACP or 9mm. Hand built in Berryville, Arkansas, the ACP features all of the precision,...

SIG's Fastback Emperor...

I was helping open packages and check in guns at the gun store. As I picked up one box, I was admittedly a little giddy with anticipation.

Leaning Left...

Got your attention I’ll bet, but we’re not talking about “that” left here. Left-handed people in many ways are better off today than in the past.

Springfield Armory's...

The new Springfield Armory Micro-Compact Hellcat concealed carry pistol packs as much 9mm as you might carry in a full-sized Browning Hi-Power — all going...

EAA'S MC1911SC Ultimate

Just what is the ultimate 1911 pistol? John Browning birthed the gun back when telephones were both tethered to the wall and rare.

Laugo Arms Alien Pistol

Every once in a while, a gun comes down the pike that makes us take pause. In the case of the Laugo Arms Alien, it has gun owners in awe as if it had, well,...

New Mossberg MC2c

What’s the first thing to pop into your head when you hear mention of Mossberg?

Retro Time Machines

On the way home not too long ago I stopped by Scottsboro Gun & Pawn, which always has an interesting collection of used firearms.

caspian 1911 mods

We touched on these new offerings from Caspian a while ago but I wanted to flesh ’em out a bit. Basically, you can buy a frame and slide,

Taurus .357 Raging Hunter

Shooters buy firearms for many reasons including self-defense, hunting, target shooting and just plain old plinking.

one for the street — one...

Handguns are purchased for a variety of reasons, with self-defense and general outdoor use right at the top.

Glock 44 .22 LR Pistol

When word of the GLOCK 44 trickled out, the keyboard commandos dropped their Cheetos bags and fired up their computers, yet again.

Ruger Security-9 Compact

The three R’s of guns could easily be Rugged, Reliable and Ruger. Add an additional “R” for “Reasonably” priced and you’ve got Ruger’s...

Nighthawk Custom Drop-In...

Try not to be too jealous, but I’ve had an early production model of Nighthawk Custom’s hot new honest-to-gosh drop-in trigger system for 1911s, and the...

Guns We're Excited to See...

Just days away from the 2020 SHOT Show, we can't help but drool thinking about all the new guns we'll get to shoot, handle and see throughout the week.

Sortin' Out The Glocks

Life used to be so simple. When I started seriously shooting, sixguns had names like Outdoorsman, Combat Magnum, Heavy Duty, Triple-Lock and on and on.

80 Percent Arms GST-9 Pistol

The nation’s largest manufacturer of 80% lowers and frames, 80 Percent Arms, is proud of their innovative history of providing do-it-yourself frames and...

Ruger LCPII .22 LR

If you’re looking for a back-up gun, you’ve found it. If you just want a handy .22 for the trail, your pocket around the farm or to teach kids to shoot,...

Looking Like A Million Bucks

Tooling down an Exhibit Hall aisle at the NRA Expo in Fort Worth, I did an abrupt turnaround when a tabletop of color caught my eye. Just another black gun...

A Woebegone Woodsman No More

This all started typically for me. I walked into a gun store on University Avenue in San Diego about 1980 and there, staring at me from the display case,

Ed Brown Fueled Series

Ed Brown Products is proud of their custom-built 1911s — and for good reason. For over 50 years, they’ve set the standard in design and advanced...

Home Defense Handguns

We like shotguns and rifles for home defense, but we really like handguns, too. Full-size handguns are legit options for home defense, but so are...

SIG’s P320 X5 LEGION &...

A short time ago, SIG SAUER introduced a pair of 9mms that could hardly be farther apart in size and application.

Kimber Deploys RAPIDE...

Kimber has added a great new addition to their already stalwart lineup with the RAPIDE (Black Ice).

Wilson Combat X-TAC Commander

To refine is “to improve something by making small changes, in particular, make an idea, theory, or method more subtle and accurate.”

You Asked For It — So We...

It’s only natural the world’s best handgun magazine teamed up with Les Baer Custom to create an exclusive celebration of the classic John Browning 1911...

DA Semi-Autos

It’s been 90 years since Walther made what’s generally considered the first commercially successful DA semi-auto pistol, the model PP. Most previous...

Dan Wesson DWX

A hybrid is defined as combining something from two different elements. When the best of both are combined, a super-hybrid is the result.

.38 Super Or Super .38?

When it came to semi-autos, like many teenagers from my era I had one of the 1911 Government Model .45’s and a source for military hardball.

An Officer And A Gentleman

The folks at Ruger have an annoying habit of releasing new guns I just can’t resist.

Kimber 9mm EVO SP (CS)

Believe it or not, Thomas Alva Edison was a hero of mine. Yeah, that Edison. As a young kid, I wanted to be a scientist.

How Accurate Is 'Accurate'

In my experience handgun shooters don’t obsess about accuracy the way rifle shooters do. Back in the late ’60s and early ’70s when I was getting into...

A Retro-Mod 1911

Pistolsmith Jarret Wehunt has created what looks like a battle-worn WWII era Colt — but there’s actually a race car lurking underneath those familiar...

Black Collar Arms Pork...

As a cop, you quickly learn if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck! Conversely as a gun writer, if looks like a rifle and...

Providing Value with Values

Providing American firearms owners with value since 1990, EAA Corp has searched the world to import quality firearms from respectable international...

Honor Guard 9mm

With a market flooded with poly-framed, striker-fired pistols, how do you go about creating a new gun that would stand apart from all the others?

Dan Wesson 1911 Wraith

As suppressors are fast becoming a popular accessory, it’s no wonder manufacturers are turning out guns with threaded barrels to accommodate their use.

The SCCY CPX-3.380

By now, most gun-people know about the compact 9mm pistols from SCCY, the CPX-1 and CPX-2. They differ only in the presence or absence of a manual safety.

Walther PPQ Q5 Match...

Funny things happen when a manufacturer releases a good gun — everyone wants one, and now! Those who previously purchased an earlier model may feel...

Stoeger's STR-9

I have to admit when I think of Stoeger my first thought turns to shotguns. You know, all those solid and affordable side-by-sides, over-unders, pumps,...

HK's Americanized VP9-B

The two thugs yanked their captive roughly to his feet, a black hood over his head and his hands secured with a zip tie. Any normal man would have panicked,...

One Eye — Or Two?

Should I shoot with one eye open — or two? The short answer is two. Most shooters, most of the time, are better off with both eyes open. Most of the top...

SCCY CPX-3 .380 Pistol

Owning a compact pistol means there’s no excuse for you to go unarmed anymore! Their ease and comfort of carrying means you can be armed at all times. The...

Preferences, Opinions and...

The advice you get when trying to choose a new gun may come from a father, brother, sister, uncle, cousin, co-worker, magazine article, online forum, or...

Hellcat X2 Commander

Some think the 1911 is outdated — too “old school” to be effective today. They’re not only wrong, but spectacularly wrong.

Ruger Flag Series

You’re a Grand Ol’ Flag and what better way to show your patriotic pride by having ol’ Glory ruggedly displayed on your favorite Ruger shooter?

Beretta APX Pistol

Over the past 30-plus years, I’ve written two books on Beretta pistols, so my fondness for the brand should be well known.

Rock Island Armory's

I’ve never been what I would consider a gun collector but rather a gun accumulator. The collector normally focuses intently on one particular type of firearm.

Eating Crow

For a very large part of my life a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 mag is what followed me around. It’s the only gun I’ve had to point at lowlife to get...

LWRCI SMG .45 ACP Pistol

With the AR platform being the most popular sporting/self-defense/duty rifle, it only makes sense it’s becoming our favorite pistol platform also. Built...

Buy or Build Your Perfect...

Deep River Customs offers a wide variety of custom gunsmith services for 1911- and 2011-style pistols, as well as pistolsmithing courses for shooters.

Republic Forge: What...

Every time I hear the name, Republic Forge, thoughts of the United States of America, a Constitutional Republic, is reinforced, stating the type of...

SIG Air P365 Semi-Auto...

If you’re like me, you’re constantly sneaking down to your gunroom or safe for a quick visit. You might even free a few of your friends to hold, fondle...

Remington 1911 R1 Ultralights

Combining legendary 1911 performance with a new lightweight design, the Remington 1911 R1 Ultralight is a great option for today’s shooters.

Taurus TX22

I “get” this gun, I really do. It’s a .22 looking, feeling and working like a medium-sized centerfire competition or carry gun. Training and...

Diamondback AM2

Concealed carriers are the most responsible citizens in society. The folks at Diamondback Firearms know this, and have something to offer fiscally...

First Time Shooters: An...

It’s always fun to introduce people to shooting — and it’s especially enjoyable when they’re such nice people, honestly interested in learning.

Colt's Last Three Cap &...

We’re going to lump the last three Colt cap and ball revolvers together in one article because they were simply modifications and adaptations of...

Kimber Micro 9 Stainless DN

When talking about concealed carry, size matters — especially a lack thereof. The smaller the gun, the easier and more convenient it is to carry, making...

The 1860 Army .44

For about a decade Samuel Colt was quiet as far as introducing new revolver models. Obviously they were using all their factory’s production capacity just...

An Evolutionary Revolution

Charles Darwin’s controversial book On the Origin of Species formulates his theory of evolution by natural selection. Did man evolve from the monkey?

Handguns Of WWII, Part 8

Starting in grade school my primary passion was World War II history and the firearms used. Therefore it was an amazing day when around age 12 my father...

Handguns Of WWII, Part 7

American fighting men anywhere in World War II could have been issued one of two basic .45 caliber pistols. The primary one was the Model 1911A1, and its...

The “High Sabrina” ...

In 2003 a core group of experienced master trainers including six-time shootout survivor and founder Ed Nowicki, formed the International Law Enforcement...

The Babies

As early as 1848 Samuel Colt realized the military market was going to be finite. After all, the U.S. Army was a relatively small organization and those...

Mossberg's New 9mm MC1SC

When you think of Mossberg, I’ll wager the words coming to mind are along the lines of “tough,” “rugged,” “affordable” and “reliable.”

THE COLT WALKER .44

The Colt Single Action Army revolver has to be the most famous, most recognizable handgun in the world. But it didn’t spring from the drawing boards in...

Handguns Of WWII, Part 5

Next to the Luger, Germany’s most recognized World War II handgun was the Walther-designed P38. It’s credited as being the first military pistol with a...

S&W Performance Center M&P...

When S&W released their M&P .380 Shield EZ, it caused a lot of head scratching. Why a mid’ish-sized .380? The question was answered after a host of gun...

Heizer's PK045

It may seem impossible, but here it is. A semi-auto in .45 ACP about the same size as a 9mm compact. The design is brilliant, and the materials and...

New, Old Colt Defender ......

You know the Colt Defender. It’s a classic 1911 for concealed carry, an old-timer showing how to pack .45 ACP into a small, rough and tumble platform....

.25 ACP Ragtime Wonders

Every Era deserves its Index Fossil and no material remnant evokes those carefree days from 1890 until roughly WWI quite as convincingly as the small,...

A Betta' Beretta

In the world of defensive handguns, Beretta is a name to conjure with. And in the world of its popular Model 92, the same’s true of the name Ernest Langdon.

Springfield Armory's XD(M)...

The Springfield Armory XD series of handguns occupies a unique niche at your local gun emporium. These weapons are short-recoil, polymer-framed combat...

Franklin Armory Reformation

We all know SBRs (Short Barrel Rifle) are handy and convenient, along with being top-tier cool on the fun scale … but they have one drawback. Their...

Handguns Of WWII, Part 2

As with so many Americans during most of my life, I felt nothing but disdain for Japanese firearms. In fact in the pages of American Handgunner I’ve...

Safely Practice With Your Gun

You can train with a blue gun or a red gun but it won’t be your gun. But when you do non-shooting training drills with your gun — a real gun —

Safely Practice With Your Gun

You can train with a blue gun or a red gun but it won’t be your gun. But when you do non-shooting training drills with your gun — a real gun —

Handguns Of WWII, Part 1

Luger P08 9mm pistols were considered the best souvenirs by American troops in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) during World War II. That’s...

Kimber KHX Pro (OR) .45 ACP

There’s nothing worse than having to send your beloved “Betsy” away! Separation anxiety, followed by night tremors, cause you to sweat bullets, as you...

Ruger Security-9 Compact

The three R’s of guns could easily be Rugged, Reliable and Ruger. Add an additional “R” for “Reasonably” priced and you’ve got Ruger’s...

Turbocharging Your Glock

Americans simply live to customize stuff. Aftermarket widgets abound to amp up our automobiles, cell phones, fashions — even teeth. In no place is this...

Naroh Arms N1

The Naroh Arms N1 is a sub-compact, single-stack, 7+1, DAO hammer-fired, polymer-framed 9mm pistol that was years in the making. I could stop here, but then...

Behind the Scenes — My...

I’ve become quite enamored with the new MC1sc pistol from Mossberg and have made it my primary pocket carry gun since I picked one up earlier this...

Ruger Custom Shop SR1911

Oh, hi Paul,” I said, answering the phone. It’s always nice to hear from Paul Pluff as he’s usually the bearer of news of note. Paul is a dear old...

Browning and FN’s ...

A little-known fact among modern handgunners is the Hi-Power was truly international in both manufacture and usage. FN had Hi-Powers in full production for...

Performance Center S&W 45...

The mere words “Performance Center” blended with the moniker S&W, brings a wry smile across the lips of those who know a thing or two about guns.

Speedloading Handguns...

Thumbing (electronically) through the July/August 1982 issue of American Handgunner, the editor's note at the end of the "Speedloading Handguns Takes Skill"...

Living Archive: The 9mm Myth

If you prefer a flat handgun that is easier to conceal and carries more rounds than a revolver, you have only to take your pick from the large array of 9mm...

FN 509 Mid-Size Prize...

In a world brimming of poly-framed, striker-fired 9mm pistols, the mere thought of yet another release will surely torque traditionalists’ tempers....

Dan Wesson: Red Hot 9mm’s

To those of us still clinging to the sanctity of the 1911 and the beloved .45 ACP cartridge, technology has chipped away at our core assumptions leaving us...

Behind the Scenes: The...

Ruger’s cool new SR1911 Competition Pistol is our cover gun for the July/Aug 2019 issue of Handgunner. All well and good, and frankly, I’m looking...

Watch the Flying Case!

As long as I can remember, shooting sports aficionados have always had a fascination with the empty case flying from auto-loading firearm as it fires....

Ed Brown EVO-KC9

Ed Brown Products arguably make one of the finest 1911’s on the market. Don’t think so? Then you’ve probably never had the privilege of shooting one!...

Hot SHOT Show Products

In the movie “Amadeus” the king accuses Mozart’s music of having “Too many notes!” and wants him to “…cut some out.” We feel Mozart’s pain...

A New Direction

It’s amazing how far you can end up from where you began. From the unintended discovery of penicillin to the creation of Superglue during the development...

Taurus Officer & Commander

Both my Grandfathers wore overalls to work seven days a week. Farmers, they were the salt of the earth, hardworking, honest men. Far from being city-slicker...

Dan Wesson Turns 50

Dan Wesson, great-grandson of the original Daniel B. Wesson, had a different idea. Not only was he part of the original Wesson family he also served many...

SIG Sauer's M17

That’s what the SIG advertisements call it these days — The Chosen One. After countless hundreds of thousands of rounds, untold man-eons of R and D, and...

Budget-Friendly Handguns

Over the last 10 years, firearms manufacturing has not only improved in terms of quality and efficiency, it’s resulted in more and better handguns.

Real Avid 4-In-1 Tool for...

The 4-in-1 Tool for Glock from Real Avid sets the new standard for multi-tools for guns. This compact tool holds four essential tools for any Glock owner....

The Best Handgun Trigger

Most rifle shooters seem to prefer a trigger with a crisp, virtually motionless single stage break. Ideally, the shooter gradually increases pressure on the...

Hi Power Hi-Powers!

In 2017 this message appeared on the Browning web site: “... the Hi-Power is technically out of production. Current dealer inventories will be the last...

Springfield Armory’s 911 9mm

If you’re serious about concealed carry, and we know you are, Springfield Armory has just the gun! Called the 911, this miniaturized model of the classic...

What I Carry: Kahr Arms CM9

Living in a rural area finds me carrying a firearm in the truck on a daily basis. Our farm is just a few minutes' drive from our home and some type of gun...

Sprucing Up An Old Classic...

The 1911 is the most recognized and highly respected pistol to most mere mortals. Successfully serving our military for 75 years, it became the unparalleled...

Crimson Trace Laserguard...

These days, there's almost no reason not to have a laser aiming system on your gun. Many makes and models of handguns can accommodate a laser. Many holster...

Stoeger STR-9 9mm Pistol...

While Sam Colt’s sixgun was the tool that made men equal, affordable polymer-framed striker-fired pistols are the instruments of choice for today’s...

Roy's Daily Carry Gear

“What do we carry?” feature in Handgunner. In looking back, I wasn’t surprised to note my daily carry stuff has changed a bit.

Rock Island Tac-Ultra FS...

Who doesn’t love an all-steel pistol? Admiring its heft as it’s cradled perfectly in your hand — it feels just right! Build one on JMB’s preeminent...

Stoeger Delivers...

Building upon its legacy of manufacturing quality firearms at an affordable price, Stoeger introduces the all-new STR-9 striker-fired, semi-automatic...

The New Taurus TX22. Love...

Yes, you do need another hi-cap polymer handgun. And this is the one. Here’s why: This gun will be the one you plink all day with, the one you use to...

Kimber EVO SP (CS)

Who doesn’t love a custom gun? Customs scream, “Hey! Look at me! I’m special and different from rest!”

Honor Defense Honor Guard

I know we have plenty of fun here, but today, I’m going to get a tiny bit more serious and talk about a good gun.

Three For The Defense

What happens when a Ruger American, Ruger 9E, and Ruger LC9s all land in our home at the same time? A gentlemanly family feud, of course.

What I Carry: Mossberg’s...

I’ll be frank with you, I almost exclusively carry mid- to full-size pistols in an IWB holster rig when I leave the house. Is it a hassle? Is it a lot of...

The Women's Defensive Handgun

Women face several challenges when it comes to concealed carry. The most significant challenge is the simple fact, despite the growing number of women...

HK VP9SK 9mm

Heckler and Koch entered previously uncharted territory when they produced a polymer-framed, striker-fired combat pistol priced within reach of the common man.

The Bond Bullpup Pistol

There are several other 9mm sub-compact pistols out there, and with the exception of the Bond Bullpup, they have one common problem — their barrels are,...

SIG Sauer "We The People" 1911

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,...

Back-Up Guns:

Your back-up gun should be one you would be willing to bring to a gunfight because when you reach for it, you will be in a gunfight. You’ll be in a...

Smith & Wesson Meets...

The Smith & Wesson Bodyguard .380 ACP pocket pistol is almost — but not quite — awesome. Running on a miniaturized version of John Moses Browning’s...

Kimber's 10mm Super Jägare

It seems every time I turn around, gun manufacturers are introducing new 10mm pistols. What’s up with the resurgence of the Centimeter?

Affordables: The...

The idea for this little series began in a phone conversation with His Eminence Roy, in which it was mentioned we get letters asking to see some...

Returning to its Roots —...

When you think of Mossberg, I bet the words that come to mind are probably along the lines of “tough,” “rugged,” “affordable,” “reliable,”...

An Interview With Mister B.

Don’t ask me how it happened — there ain’t room here. It took years of clandestine meetings with physicists and fakirs, crystal-gazers and crackpots,...

Crimson Trace S&W Shield...

Unless you’re a cat, I know you have trouble seeing in the dark. Being a shooter, I know you also have problems seeing your sights in low/no-light...

Little Big Gun

I’ll be frank with you. I normally have practically zero interest in micro .380s. Am I impressed by the engineering expertise in getting a bullet this...

Pocket Power Perfected

The Springfield XD-S Mod.2 Subcompact is a polymer-framed .45 ACP carry gun thinner than a 9mm GLOCK 43, weighing two oz. less than a .380 ACP Walther PPK/S.

The Overlooked Archetype?

Over the last couple of decades we’ve been inundated with new handgun makes and models. I’m not complaining mind you, competition among manufacturers...

Glock’s G48 and G43X —...

Pardon the pun, but here’s the skinny on the newest additions to the GLOCK line, the “Silver Slimline Series.” We here at FMG Publications were given...

Black Rain Ordnance .458...

Black Rain Ordnance (BRO) is a precision firearm manufacturer specializing in modern sporting rifle design. Founded in 2009, their goal is to design, build...

Who Wants A 3-Wheeled Car?

What’s that? A polymer-framed 9mm? Is it striker-fired? How about a double-column magazine? Accessory rail on the front end, replaceable backstraps on the...

The Taurus Spectrum

The array of colors really catches the eye, and of course, it gave the pistol its name. But, don’t be misled, this is not just another little .380.

The Rock River Arms 1911 Poly

Back in 1996, two brothers named Mark and Chuck Larson started a modest gun company in Cleveland, Illinois, devoted to building the finest 1911 pistols...

Viridian Weapon-Mounted...

Viridian Weapon Technologies has announced the availability of two new weapon-mounted accessories for the Sig Sauer® P365. TheREACTOR® R5 Gen 2 Green...

SCCY Pistols .380 ACP 9mm

Among today’s polymer-frame compact 9mm pistols, there are a few we really like, and it’s a short list.

Volquartsen's LLV-4...

The Volquartsens are, as a company and as people — sterling. Scott Volquartsen is young enough to have plenty of energy, but seasoned enough to read the...

Ruger Security-9

The Ruger Security-9 is arguably the best value in a domestically produced defensive handgun today. This new Ruger pistol sports plenty of whiz-bang...

Guns At Auction

So you have a little dough stashed away the old lady doesn’t know about, and might come in handy at an upcoming auction. Over the decades, the first...

Esthetics In Handguns

Esthetics — also correctly written as aesthetics — are words defined as “the laws and principles determining the beauty in nature, art, taste, etc.”...

Wilson Combat’s Paul...

The Paul Howe Package for GLOCK® from Wilson Combat combines legendary build quality and attention to detail with the 30 years of tactical experience that...

Finding The Cure

Don’t deny yourself a cure for your case of FFS. Help is but a click or call away.

Making Better — Even Better

Until I wrote this, I didn’t realize how much of a Smith & Wesson fan I am. I knew I had a lot of their guns and liked them, but it really struck home...

Affordables: The Hi-Point...

How about a well-made, reliable, accurate 9mm pistol for less than $200? That’s what you get with the Hi-Point C9. The “C” is for “Compact,” and...

Yes... Even You Can Do It!

Stippling is essentially the process of melting a polymer surface and reshaping the texture into what you desire in look and feel. While the term...

The LLAMA OMNI

I’ve always liked the auto-pistol designs of the late Gary Wilhelm. The one I consider the most beautiful was done for Gabilondo y Compania of Vitoria,...

Rock Island's MAPP MS

While looking through the Rock Island Armory catalog, I saw what I believed to be an Italian made CZ-75 Clone, manufactured by Tanfoglio and sold in the...

Old Guns New Generations?

At the age of 34, I don’t consider myself particularly young anymore, but to the best of my knowledge it does make me one of the younger contributors...

Send In The Clones

For dedicated handgunners the workbench is more than a place to develop the latest handload recipe or to clean firearms to within an inch of their lives....

Big Bore Meets Big Block

First, let’s get this out of the way here. This sublime Les Baer Boss model 1911 in .45 ACP costs exactly $2,560 according to their website.

Springfield Armory CUSTOM...

Webster’s defines the term “Art” as “The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as...

North American Arms .32...

North American Arms, the company that revolutionized the mini-revolver, also makes a handy-sized pocket pistol called the Guardian. Available in two sizes,...

SIG SAUER Releases...

SIG SAUER, Inc. is pleased to announce the release of the enhanced MPX Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC), redesigned and upgraded for performance shooting...

Ruger SR1911 9mm...

I’m not saying the folks at Ruger have big ears, but they sure seem to be listening to their customers. (Maybe there’s a lesson there, eh?) One of the...

Springfield Armory’s...

The folks at Springfield Armory (SA) never cease to amaze me — they keep releasing very seductive shooters for our well being. Their TRP 1911’s, Polymer...

S&W’s Performance Center

If there’s anything handier for setting up housekeeping than a good .22 I don’t know what it is. The first gun I ever shot was a Harrington & Richardson...

Bullseye Shooting?

If you were to mention competitive handgun shooting many years ago, no one had to ask if you meant USPSA, IDPA, PPC, cowboy action, metallic silhouette, NRA...

Ed Brown Products...

Ed Brown Product's new KC9 is a beauty. I'll let you absorb all the good info in the press release (below), including the $1,895 MSRP, but I also want...

Precision Shooting

These days a handgunner interested in competition shooting is likely to be attracted to the action/practical shooting sports. Such sports are dynamic,...

Black Aces Tactical Glock...

I’m old enough to remember when Gaston Glock released his radically new striker-fired, polymer-framed funny looking gun. Causing quit the stir; it...

A Radical, Reborn

Taurus took a bold approach to gun design in introducing the Curve .380 ACP pistol. Featuring a melted and contoured shape designed to hug the curvature of...

Competition And Defense

We have two sides of the same stone here, if you will. Both come from the excellent Italian maker Tanfoglio (say it like this: Tan-foe-glio), residing in...

In Hog Heaven

When His Editorship asked me if I wanted to test a Nighthawk Custom pistol, it only took me a second to respond. Did he really think I was going to pass up...

The Double(stack) Life:...

There is a reason for the proliferation of striker-fired handguns in the law enforcement and military communities: capacity As its name suggests, the Glock...

For Fun, RIA’s TCM TAC...

I’ve touted the virtues of this gun before and I’m going to do it again. You will literally have a blast shooting this gun. The ball of fire produced by...

Springfield Armory’s...

The R&D folks at Springfield Armory have been busier than Santa’s elves in mid-December. Both are cranking out toys for all of us good boys and girls. I...

S&W M&P M2.0 3.6" Compact 9mm

We feel ripped off whenever manufacturers reduce their products. I’ve watched toilet paper magically shrink every time I perform a hot tactical reload....

SIG's P320 X-Five

The SIG P320, introduced in 2014–2015 has proven to be a solid success, most notably its acceptance by the U.S. military. It’s also becoming popular as...

Radetec’s Radical Round...

There’s no question about it, we are an electronically obsessed society who love being entertained by battery operated gizmos and gadgets. Batteries bring...

Ruger Officer-Style SR-1911

Having a penchant for Ruger pistols, revolvers and rifles, I cherish them as much as the crazy “cat lady” down the street loves her 83 furry kids …...

Rock Island Armory Ultra...

No doubt about it, carrying a compact-sized cannon is a lot easier to conceal and more comfortable to wear. Give it a 10+1 capacity of .45 ACP ammo and we...

FN 509 Tactical 9mm Pistol

You really can’t eat at the cool kids’ table these days if your tactical handgun doesn’t sport a sound suppressor, a tactical light, and some kind of...

Heckler & Koch VP9SK

For over 50 years, Heckler & Koch (HK) has been a leading designer of small arms and weapons for law enforcement, military forces and civilians worldwide....

Springfield's Quaint Saint

As one who was never bitten by the MSR bug, I suddenly find myself fascinated by the latest iteration of the MSR platform from Springfield Armory.

S&W M&P .380 Shield EZ

The call went something like this: “Hey Roy, can you break free for a quick two-dayer to S&W for a new gun launch?” —

SW1911 Pro Series 9mm

While at S&W I also got to shoot their new tiny 9mm Pro Series 1911 during this casual match we shot.

Rock River Arms PS6000...

Polyanathema, the “hate for polymer,” is rapidly declining among gun enthusiasts. In fact, many are now realizing the benefits polymer-framed pistols...

WWI Handguns

Being as how we’re around the centennial of America’s involvement in World War I, his Editorship Roy gave me the go ahead to cover some combat handguns...

SCCY CPX-3 Affordable .380...

Say what you want about compact pistols, their greatest asset is size — or lack of it. Packing these pistols is surely easier than carrying a full-size...

Springfield's Deep Cover...

Fans of the 911 pistol from Springfield Armory will be happy to hear that the tiny pistol is now available with a black nitride finish. For those unfamiliar...

The U.S. MODEL 1911 .45

When the United States entered World War I on April 6, 1917, the standard sidearm for the US Army, Navy and Marine Corps was the Model 1911 .45 Auto. The...

FMK New Elite Race Pistols...

You remember the fine folks of FMK — For My Kountry? They’re the gun manufacturer ornery enough to base its headquarters in the hostile “anti-gun”...

Springfield Armory 10mm...

In 1777, George Washington ordered the creation of Springfield Armory for the storage of ammunition and gun carriages for the American Revolutionary War.

SIG SAUER P365 9mm...

What gun would you carry with enough firepower to keep your family and yourself safe from a menagerie of threats?

Springfield Professional...

The Springfield Armory Custom Shop Professional Model 1911 has a rich and storied history, having been developed and produced for a pistol contract with the...

Military/FBI Caliber Choices:

We all know when the fan gets hit there will be no screeching police cruisers, fast-roping hostage rescue teams, or hard charging cavalry showing up just in...

Striker Vs. Hammer Which Wins?

We really like sharing thoughts and conversations with Handgunner readers. Editor Roy suggested a column in response to this comment he got: “I’ve shot...

Cimarron's Wild Bunch Of .45's

I’ve always been a fan of Western movies, good Western movies that is, and one of the best ever is The Wild Bunch. When I first saw it back in 1969, it...

Rimfires: Your Secret Weapon?

People seem always to be looking for the “secret,” the magical easy shortcut to shooting skill.

Handguns What's New...

Just when you thought it’d all been done we discover nope, there’s more to come! Here’s just a few to tease, tempt and otherwise give you the...

Harpers Ferry Armory Handguns

What does the name “Harpers Ferry” mean to you? For gun fans and history buffs, it’s tied to a proud tradition of gun making. Fast forward to the 21st...

The "Other" Locking Systems

So you understand everything there is to know about semi autos, right? You get all the ins and outs of your tilting-barrel locked 1911, GLOCK or CZ-75?...

Ruger's Top 10

Ruger was fashionably late to the 1911 party. The right time was 2011, the 100th anniversary of the advent of what is still the best semi-auto design ever...

Wilson Combat's EDC X9

The pistol next to my keyboard is an aluminum-framed 1911 with a fluted match grade barrel measuring 3.8" from back of hood to the deeply crowned muzzle....

It's Hammer Time

One of the most talked-about things at the NRA’s 2017 Annual Meeting in Atlanta was Springfield Armory’s introduction of their XD-E, a traditional...

Coonan .45 ACP "MOT"

Have you ever wondered where firearms manufacturers come up with the names for their handguns? Holding focus groups, maybe even holding a contest among...

Tussey Custom Colt Mustang...

The Mustang, a derivative of the .380 Government Model, is a locked-breech, single-action pistol also originally available in a lightweight “Pocketlite”...

A Working Man's Gun

I stood in Armand Swenson’s garage looking at the stacks of boxed 1911’s lining all three walls people had sent to him for custom builds.

Pistol-Caliber Carbines

His Editorship always encourages we writers to “think outside the box.” How’s this then: some thoughts about carbines firing handgun cartridges? There...

Nighthawk Custom Browning...

A classic since its introduction in the year 1935, it’s known in Europe as the GP for Grande Puissance and in the USA by the English translation, High...

Ultimate Arms And The...

Magnesium, chemical symbol Mg, is in Group 2 in the Periodic Table of the Elements and has an atomic number of 12. It’s the ninth most abundant element in...

The Taurus Millennium G2

The original Taurus PTlll and PT140, introduced way back in 1998, were excellent pistols. So why, now, these “Generation 2.0” versions? Actually, having...

Excel Industries .22 WMR

The new Excel Industries MP-22 Accelerator Pistol chambered in .22 WMR is also available in 5.7x28mm — the famous FNH round. My test pistol tipped the...

Retro Trigger Time With...

The hulking psychopathic cyborg from the future walked into the local gun shop, his preternaturally square jaw locked in a menacing scowl and his glowing...

Thompson/Center Encore?

Recently I was scrutinizing my hunting handguns and I noticed a void in some of the T/C Encore line-up I had. I hadn’t heard much from T/C in some time.

Dan Wesson's Bruin

It’s not difficult to notice the 10mm Auto continues to gain popularity and I’ll confess we’re doing what we can to help out! It’s an amazingly...

A Full-Service Sidearm

Within every legendary handgun company there are individual product lines, generally centered around a specific application, or in modern Tacti-Speak, a...

Go Fancy — Life Is Short

My dreams — good or bad — are vivid. Late in 2015 I had to undergo open heart surgery. Still under the effects of anesthesia a night or two after the...

You Don't Need That — On...

A defensive gun has to work, all the time, and you have to be able to hit with it. This simply means the pistol must be capable of reasonable accuracy, and...

Powder River Precision

Most people who follow the custom pistol world — especially the XD world — are likely aware of Powder River Precision. Founded by pistolsmith Daniel...

Custom CZ's —The...

I was at the Brownells Gunsmith Fair a few years ago talking to a polite young gent in a tie. We were in line for lunch and I had struck up a conversation...

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time in America every handgun was made from steel. Oh sure some few had bits of brass here or there and of course all had stocks (today called...

The RPB MIO SAP And...

For those of us who lived through them, the 1970’s were heady days. Star Wars left movie theaters awash in the copious drool of countless enraptured...

Ankle Carry: Backup, Or...

"Having a gun” is, indeed, a good idea if you need one. People who carry guns for defense (or even sometimes because they have to, like cops), often...

A Tale of Two Nines

Afew years ago I got the idea I needed a full-sized 1911 chambered in 9mm. I thought it would be easy to find one but how wrong I was. By this time...

Dusty's 1911

I think you’re there, Dusty. I think you can do it.” I was talking to my dear friend, Dustin Housel, “Dusty” to everyone, about a year ago. We were...

Dan Wesson ECO 9mm

What is it about the 1911 which keeps it so adored and desired by so many shooters? Surely more modern designs featuring higher capacity and new materials...

A New Trio From Ruger

Usually when manufacturers bring out something new and improved it’s anything but, so it’s a very special occasion when it’s actually accomplished....

.22LR: Velocity Variables

Due to an act of overt, shameless kindness on the part of J.J. Reich and staffers at Vista Outdoors I was able to scrape up a nice assortment of various .22...

The Service Target Handgun

American cops today carry mostly striker-fired duty pistols or hammer-fired SIG or HK double actions, and unless they’ve been customized they always seem...

Getting Back To Basics

I had fun shooting some old battle-weary Colt 1911’s — tossing in a Rock Island Armory basic mil-spec 1911 too — a few issues ago (Insider, July/Aug...

Springfield Armory's Range...

His Editorship, Roy, has some funny ideas. One is we writers should earn our remuneration. I had to look that word up in the dictionary. Another is we...

A Lifetime Spent With Handguns

My life has been full of handguns — to the tune of several hundred. These have been both personally owned, or sent on consignment from their manufacturers...

Gordon Ingram’s...

Small-caliber concealable handguns in a variety of sizes, weights, calibers, and hues are commonplace nowadays. However, back when U.S. gun laws were...

Springfield Armory's Range...

His Editorship, Roy, has some funny ideas. One is we writers should earn our remuneration. I had to look that word up in the dictionary. Another is we...

The Carolina Arms Group 1911

Timex makes superb timepieces. Their watches are built in a variety of plants in a variety of countries from quality materials using state of the art...

Make Mine A 'Trial' Nine

As a wee lad, I lived often with my grandparents and three good-looking aunts, especially one, a tall Northern Italian beauty with long wavy reddish hair...

The .40 S&W: Too Strong or...

While the price of Maseratis has not risen as fast as the cost of health insurance under the oddly named Affordable Care Act, I’m resigned to live without...

SIG’s P320

For those of us who revere the classic P226 and its cousins, the new P320 from SIG/Sauer is very different. Different, though, in good ways. You get the...

Roberts Defense Super...

I met him in a relatively quiet corner at some industry show. SHOT, maybe. Or NRA. Honestly, I can’t recall. The impression stayed with me, though. Rob...

The SCCY’s The Limit

Finally in most parts of our country a law-abiding citizen not averse to a little administrative baggage can legally carry a gun for personal protection....

Springfield Armory's Range...

I’m lookin’ for a word here and can’t find it. What’s the right word to describe something really cool; something with terrific potential — but...

Carries Well, Shoots Well

Sometimes smaller guns make the Concealed Carry Favorites list because even though they’re more difficult to shoot, they’re at least small and easy to...

Kahr CW380 ~ Less Than,...

Kahr’s new CW380, while small, would be too small to hold and shoot well and, therefore, less than ideal for use as a concealed carry pistol. At least,...

DeSantis Scorpion Holster...

For the concealed carry of a handgun I generally regard plastic holsters as those to be used when I need to put a holster on or off quickly and more than...

Taurus PT 1911 AL-R

Near the top of my list of Unsung Handgun Heroes resides a Taurus PT 1911 AL-R, a great house gun or car gun with a long list of standard features and,...

Handguns Of WWII Part 11

It’s perhaps true more people were killed by Soviet handguns in World War II than by those used by any other combatant nation. At least eight, and perhaps...

Handguns Of Dave Lauck

Long before I had much in the way of expendable income for buying sixguns I enjoyed looking at the works of such past gunsmiths as O’Meara, Houchins,...