Handguns

The Handgun Hunter’s Competition is a shooting match that stresses practical handgun hunting scenarios. The match took place in Newcastle, Wyoming. 2021 was the inaugural event, but with the interest it garnered from participants it should be around for many more years.

About a decade ago, give or take, the baseline for what made a great polymer-framed, striker-fired handgun was changed overnight when Walther introduced us to the PPQ. Its ergonomics were all the rage, as was its performance and accuracy – but it was that trigger that knocked the industry on its butt. The light, crisp trigger of the PPQ with its very short and tactile reset had every IDPA shooter in the country taking those make-up shots without adding time to their scores. It is hard to overstate the revolution that was started by that pistol.

Hammer-fired handguns look beautiful, they’re incredibly easy to shoot but something in me seems to believe they’re becoming dated platforms. I know many people are going to stop reading right now but hear me out.

Those who have followed my writing over the years will, no doubt, remember that I am a self-avowed Smith J-frame addict. That being said, more than one friend has encouraged me to take a serious look at Ruger’s little LCR. This assignment was just the nudge I needed.

The new Springfield XD-M Elite Compact OSP is a mouthful to say but a joy to shoot. I’ve got to be honest, before Springfield sent me this pistol to review, I had little to no experience with their handgun offerings aside from their 1911’s. After unboxing this handgun I was incredibly excited to see how it compares to the pistols I’m more accustomed to.

For home defense, concealed carry, and recreational shooting, the SAR9 will do the job and then some. It is a fine pistol, very accurate, rugged, and reliable.

Flashlights that are powered by a battery go back to the early 1900s and the first weapon-mounted light did not appear until 1912 when George A. Seely of San Francisco invented his Night Sight For Firearms. We have come a long way since then.

After shooting the new VP9 for the last few months, I’m starting to get the appeal. It’s a sweet gun. Is it worth the H&K markup? Maybe, maybe not. I can say this: if you can afford the optics-ready VP9, you won’t be disappointed.

Dedicated to Quinn, the founder of Gunblast.com who passed last year, only 500 pieces will be made.