Guns

What exactly do you get for the money you’d invest in an Ed Brown 1911? The decision isn’t one you would make on sheer impulse. The Special Forces Carry is one of those rare pistols that is a functional work of art, not because of fancy grips or anything about the finish, but because of the way that all of the pieces come together in a pure union of form and function.

Pocket pistols are not much fun to shoot. Even in .380, they are jumpy and prone to stinging your hand when fired. It’s hard to improve shooting techniques with these little guns. And most are not known for their accuracy. Yet the Kimber Micro CDP defies all of these preconceptions. It is comfortable to shoot, and the accuracy is exceptional for its diminutive size.

Long established firearm manufacturers, with catalogs of full-size models, went back to the drawing board to design smaller, lighter, and more concealable handguns. Some manufacturers executed flawlessly, while other struggled with reliability issues and safety recalls. Diamondback Firearms followed a different path, as is clearly evident in the new full-sized, budget conscious DB FS 9.

I’d put the Sphinx Compact Alpha up against any 9mm I’ve ever fired. It is that capable. The weight of the gun gives it a distinct advantage where it counts. Lighter guns may be easier to carry. Smaller guns may be much easier to conceal. Yet the Sphinx has enough size and enough weight to really make the most out of the platform when it comes out of the holster.

The CMMG Mk9 PDW is one of those guns often defined by what it is not. It is not a modern sporting rifle, exactly. It isn’t a 5.56. It is not a traditional AR pistol (if such a thing exists). But if you’re looking for something larger, faster, and more stable than a full-sized pistol, the Mk9 may be for you. If you are looking for something smaller and less powerful than an AR carbine, the Mk9 is an ideal choice. Not quite a carbine, more than a pistol: the Mk9 shines.

What attracted me to this gun for testing and evaluation is its compact size, light weight and super quick handling. You can think of it as a shotgun carbine. The Beretta 1301 is compact, fast, and agile.

Smith’s homepage cites the intended purposes of their guns, and they say the 686 with its 6 inch barrel is good for recreational shooting, home protection, and handgun hunting. I tend to concur. While it wouldn’t be my first choice for duck hunting, it can do just about everything else. If I could only own one gun (God forbid), my choice would be easy: I’d take this 686.

There are some of us out here in the real world who scrape up funds for gun purchases. We want guns that work, and we don;t want to pay premiums for brand names. Well, here’s one. The Bersa BP9CC is a kickass way to carry concealed. The price tag isn’t going to knock you over, but the gun’s performance just might.

The Traditions Vortek striker- fired in-line muzzleloader shoots more like a GLOCK than it does your average flintlock, yet the high-tech rifle can still be used during those extra days of hunting season when the center-fire rifles and shotguns are forbidden. But once you have the gun loaded and ready, you may not be able to tell the difference.