Guns

We got our first look at the Coonan Compact .357 Magnum 1911s at the SHOT Show today in Vegas. I wish I could have put some rounds through it, but the other people attending the show tend to get nervous about things like that.

The DP-12 is a shotgun that takes all the attributes of the competition and none of their flaws. It is easy to see its inspiration comes from the Kel-Tec KSG, but the similarities end with aesthetics. And the beast is fast. Semi-auto speeds from a pump gun. Imagine the potential.

The Korth Sky Marshall may be the single most innovative 9mm revolver on the market. And I’m not talking about the exterior of the gun. This is one rimless revolver that doesn’t require moon clips, or anything extra. Check it out.

This is the start of a new series I have been thinking about called “Cheap Guns.” I don’t know if cheap is the right word, but it’s the word people use when they encounter a $200 firearm of just about any type. “That’s cheap!” But the next words are something like “I wonder if it is any good.” My goal is to go out and buy some of these guns, some of the more common ones, and go shoot them.

Some high-end 1911s are exceptionally well-built works of art that don’t seem to be designed for daily carry. They’re pretty. Not this one. The Christensen 1911 Commander is one of the most complex versions of the old Browning single-action I’ve ever seen. This titanium framed .45 ACP is built for several lifetimes of daily carry.

Fans of the Ruger 10/22, listen up. The Charger, Ruger’s big .22 pistol based on the 10/22, is back. There are two new versions, and both come packed with features that I hope will be standard on every new Ruger. These fun guns look good, too–read our review.

The Magnum Research Desert Eagle is a big gun. It is Hollywood large. The pistol is so big that it isn’t practical for much of what we use pistols for. Yet the beast of a gun is a heavy hitting .50 AE with a lot of personality. And now, in the all stainless version, the Desert Eagle looks even better. And the built in compensator makes it even more practical. A practical Desert Eagle? Yes. Read on.

Just in time for SHOT 2015, FN America has released a compact version of their FNS. The new FNS-9C is a solid pistol–it shoots well, has great controls, and is ideal for concealed carry. And the best part may be the price tag.

With the upcoming Modular Handgun System trials looming, Beretta has made a surprise addition to their M9 family. The M9A3 is an overhauled M9, and it looks like a solid gun. I had the chance to talk to Beretta’s Vice President of Military Marketing and Sales about the new M9A3, and the role Beretta intends for the new gun, and it has nothing to do with the upcoming trials. But the M9A3 just might shake things up.