Handguns

Smith & Wesson’s latest addition to the M&P SHIELD lineup is intended to reduce the barriers to shooting a semiautomatic handgun. The M&P 9 SHIELD EZ is touted as easy to use from all perspectives. Many have said it’s ideal for those with lower grip strength, like women and the elderly, but who wouldn’t want a gun that’s easier to use?

There is a whole industry geared up to supply all of your shooting needs but a fun day in your garage doesn’t require a second mortgage. There is a world of targets and gadgets that are cheap or even free if you know where to look.

Sig has made the leap into the deep end of the pool to compete with the well-established pillars of the micro market, the Smith & Wesson Shield, and the Glock 43 9mms. It certainly looked and felt good, and it held more bullets than its rival competitors, but looks are sometimes deceiving. The true test is when you put a product side by side with its competitors and see how they stack up. So after a not so patient wait to get the newly popular P365 its time to get down to the range, scales and numbers to see how it does.

I got the Ruger PC Charger in for testing and, admittedly, I was very excited about it. This new 9mm pistol can accept a pistol brace, muzzle device, and an optic which makes it easy and convenient to use. Also, this gun has takedown functionality, meaning you can remove the handguard and barrel from the receiver and carry it as a seperate package.

The GST-9 is a modular frame that accepts two different grip extensions. One is shorter, resulting in a grip the same length as a Glock 19. The other is longer, configuring the grip to the same length as a Glock 17. Naturally, magazine compatibility changes when you swap these grips out. When in Glock 19 configuration, you can run Glock 19 magazines and larger. Ditto for the Glock 17 configuration of course.

When I first received the FN Five-seveN (FN 57 from here out), I immediately took notice of how lightweight it is. Coming in at only 21 ounces without the mag, it’s the kind of deceiving that pulls a remark out of anyone that picks one up for the first time. Coupling this fact with my knowledge of the FN 57 being used by military and police across the world, the latter makes a lot more sense. This is a powerful package that carries 20 rounds of 5.7×28 and puts minimal strain on the hip of the person that has to carry it.

SIG’s P365XL is a sub-compact that performs like a full-size pistol. Big enough to handle serious self-defense but small enough to carry concealed. The optics ready XL model features an enhanced frame, flat trigger and increased barrel length while retaining the concealability of the original P365.

It has been 65 years since the Bodyguard was introduced. The fact that it is still in production is a credit to a design that has proven timeless. I have always had an affinity for the little J-frames and the 638 has found a home in my daily lifestyle.

Beretta ticked all the boxes with this pistol and has built us a bona fide shooter. Run, do not walk to your nearest dealer if you’re interested because availability might be spotty for a while.