Handguns

I grew up with the MAC 10, but the gun was rarely portrayed in a favorable light. It was the emblem of the war-on-drugs. Now, though, the old open bolt automatic seems like an antique. Or it did until Masterpiece Arms updated their defender line. This take on the old classic is completely updated, and my new favorite large-framed 9mm.

Dan Wesson double action revolvers are back. It has been about 10 years since there have been new production DW revolvers on the market. CZ USA, which bought the Dan Wesson company in 2005, have made pistols under the name but until late last year a very limited number of revolvers. And not just any revolver, the awesome Dan Wesson model 715 is back and it looks like it is here to stay.

Smaller isn’t always better. You wouldn’t know it from the emphasis on single-stack pistols that is dominating the news lately. But what do you sacrifice? What if I were to tell you that you could have the capacity of a double-stack magazine and it would only be .25″ wider than your single stack? The XD Mod 2 .45 ACP, the latest concealed carry gun from Springfield-Armory, offers just that.

Are you a revolver fan, or a do you pack a pistol? Even if the answer to that question is easy, it may not be as simple to pick a winner in this head-to-head. The Colt Python vs. The Coonan Compact. Which one is a better delivery platform for the hard hitting .357 Magnum?

In the realm of budget 1911s the American Classic stands out for the “extras” they come with. I am not talking about the other stuff in the box, I mean the stuff on the pistol its self. This is a solid commander sized 1911. Metro Arms offers a lot of bang for your buck on this pistol. There are a few fit and finish issues and the mold lines left on some parts does bother me some. But that is being a bit nit-picky. The American Classic Commander works and shoots like a champ, and that is what really matters, right?

Here’s the big dilemma: thousands GLOCK fans bought the GLOCK 42 because they couldn’t buy a 43. Thousands of others bought single stack 9mms from Kel-Tec, Skky, Ruger, Smith, Beretta, Bersa, Taurus, Springfield…. Some even ponied up for some ill-fated Remingtons. And now we all have to decide. Do you stick with what you have? Do you swap your old-standby for a 43?

The 1911 is now 104 years old. Some of you will say that it is not relevant and is, at best, an historic relic that deserves some respect. I am not of that camp. I carry a 1911 as an EDC. But I don’t carry one that looks like it came off of John Mosses’ work bench. Over those 104 years there have been some great and simple modifications to the original design that makes for a better EDC.

So this gun is not exactly old. But Ruger stopped making them in 1973 and they have become more and more collectable and valuable. The name 3 Screw is in reference to the 3 Screws on the side of the frame. The new models have 2 pins. If you are fan of the single action revolver and have never shot one of these you owe it to yourself to do so. In my opinion, they are just about the best production single action revolvers ever made. Bear with me while I attempt to back that statement up!

The GLOCK 43 is a reality. A single stack 9mm that proves the rumors to be true. And GunsAmerica has an inside look at the gun. So how does it stack up to the other GLOCKs? Read on to find out more.