Semi-Autos

The new EMP 4” Lightweight Champion Concealed Carry Contour Model from Springfield Armory has taken an approach that improves on the sound (and popular) EMP concept by combining the best of both worlds: A gun that you can love to shoot as much as you enjoy carrying all day.

While I was testing the Kel-Tec PF-9, everyone I encountered fell into three camps: Those who simply hated the brand, those that felt the gun was such a strong value that perhaps it should replace precious metals as a form of physical currency, and those who had never formed an opinion of the pistol at all. I was a never able to find anyone that had experience with the gun, but was ambivalent about it.

Two weeks ago at the Smith and Wesson factory, I got my hands on something truly exciting, and the day has finally come that we can talk about it. That pistol is the M&P M2.0, a terrific new version of an already great pistol design. It is exceedingly rare that a company listens carefully to all the wants of its consumers, and actually puts those features in its next generation of product. I am very happy to report that S&W is one of those companies.

The Performance Center Ported Shield in 9mm takes the highly popular Shield CCW pistol and adds numerous upgrades. Read on for the full review.

To be taken seriously in any high-stakes 1911 debate, you must know when to raise an eyebrow in approval and when to scoff. And if you want to raise the collective blood pressure and volume level of everyone in the room, just say three words: “polymer framed 1911”. Okay, the last one was really a number, but you know what I mean. But, with a gun like the Witness 1911P from EAA, we may want to reconsider this reaction.

For those of us for whom carrying a 1911 for EDC is the right choice, the Kimber Ultra TLE II makes for a great choice. It is compact, reliable, powerful and downright beautiful.

There have been multiple efforts by companies to create guns in that same mold as the revered CZ-75, but few have come as close to bringing a solid version to market as TriStar. The best part of this effort is the notably affordable price of their offering here in the US. Say hello to the C100.

My first view of the Creed was a few months ago at the Walther HQ in Fort Smith. I was impressed while looking at the pre-production sample, and was shocked to hear the suggested retail of $399.00! I even asked if they were concerned by the price/value relationship with their other guns. They assured me that they would be fine. So, I had a chance to test it recently and here is how it did.

I am normally a Glock guy, as anyone that has trained with me over the last seven years knows. But one thing a life in the military will break you of quickly is brand loyalty. You always have to be looking for an advantage, and in a world were equipment failures cost lives, you don’t care at all where that advantage comes from. So when the chance to review the Smith and Wesson M&P C.O.R.E. with threaded barrel came up, I jumped at the chance.