Close Look At: Hot New Handguns

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Updates And Some New Ideas.

Sometimes just a tiny thing can make a big difference. Changing a caliber on a handgun can suddenly make it hugely popular — while introducing a groundbreaking new design is often a giant gamble, even for old school companies. We’ve sorted through what’s out there and have brought you what we feel are solid contenders in the “what’s new” category. It’s not everything out there — and there’s plenty more to swoon over — but this should whet your appetite!

The Ruger LCR has been around for a while now and it’s proven itself as a true workhorse. Some feel the .38 Special is too anemic, the .357 Mag makes follow-up shots practically impossible and the .22 WMR and Long Rifle were fun, but not practical as concealed carry calibers. The new 9mm chambering gives you something to work with. The 147-gr. sub-sonic personal defense rounds are easy to handle, accurate and down range performance is exceptional. Ruger’s 5-round moon clips make loading fast and easy.

With the introduction of the M&P22 Smith and Wesson brings this line to the pure recreational shooter. Ammunition in .22 LR is considerably less expensive than the 9mm, .40 S&W, .357 Ruger and .45 ACP used in the other M&P pistols, making “plinking” a bit more practical. The other consideration for the M&P22 is as a less expensive practice gun for someone who uses an M&P as a work gun. All controls and ergonomics match the bigger guns so practice with the M&P22 makes sense.

Master gunsmiths at S&W’s Performance Center added four new competition-ready models to the M&P pistol line — the M&P Performance Center Ported series. The new models are available in both 4.25″ and 5″ barrels and feature factory-ported barrels and slides along with a user adjustable trigger stop. The guns are chambered in 9mm and .40 S&W and are engineered for the competition shooter.

This new 9mm pistol is a striker-fired DA gun incorporating an “ergonomics in mind”-designed polymer double stack frame and stainless slide. The DB FS Nine has a flared magwell and in conjunction with an ample magazine base pad provides fast positive reloads. The firing chain is a double-action-only system set up at 5.5-pound trigger pull. The barrel is 4.75″ made of chrome-moly steel. The FS Nine features a visual and tactile cocking indicator, fixed 3-dot sights, forward and rear cocking serrations and an integrated Picatinny rail.

The newest addition to Kahr’s double-action compact pistol product line is the CT380. The new .380 ACP caliber is the fourth pistol in the Kahr Value Series to be introduced. The new CT380 features a 3.0″ barrel, an overall length of 5.52″ and a height of 4.4″. It weighs just 11.44 oz without a magazine. The pistol has a black polymer frame and features 4140 steel inserts molded into the front and back of the frame for added rigidity. The slide is solid 416 matte stainless steel. The design is a compact pistol with very little felt recoil for quick follow-up shots. Also, the slide locks back after the last round — a feature missing on a number of other value-priced compact semi-autos.

This isn’t H&K’s first rodeo with a striker-fired firearm. The new VP9 9mm is the product of a 4-year design effort. It’s obvious the HK P30, introduced in 2006, has heavily influenced this gun’s design. The VP9 integrates a new striker- firing system with an enhanced HK “light pull” trigger. It has a short light take-up with a solid SA-type break followed by a short, positive, audible and tactile reset. It has consistent pre-travel and a positive break you could even call crisp. HK, like many major manufacturers, has abandoned the “one gun fits all” idea and includes three changeable backstraps and six side panels. Molded finger grooves on the front of the grip position the hand and help minimize recoil flip. All the controls are fully ambidextrous.

Benny Deal started Republic Forge in order to provide a high-quality, hand-constructed, all-American 1911 and everything about them is red, white and blue. He and master gunsmith, Jeff Meister, set about finding a source of American-made steel, American parts, American machinery and trained American gunsmiths. The difficult task was finding American-made machinery. Almost all the machines and tooling necessary to build guns these days are made in China or Japan. So, they went old school and bought American-made lathes and mills from the ’50’s and ’60’s and completely refurbished them to today’s standards. The guns are made at the Republic Forge facility in Perryton, Texas. The philosophy at Republic Forge is “one gunsmith for each gun.” It’s his baby from the time the raw materials come in the door until the finished gun leaves the factory on its way to its new owner. The Republic Forge Stryker is a Commander size gun with a 4.5″ barrel and a full-size frame. It’s a gun John Browning would be happy with.

Polymer or steel, striker or classic 1911, SIG gives it to you. The latest in their 1911 series is the Nitron Super Target, delivering classic 1911 function and controls. The fiber optic front sight, adjustable rear, slide serrations, stainless slide and frame (with Nitron finish), front strap checkering and exceptional wood grips with integated magwell, are just a few of the features of his sublime auto. Their hot new P320 is SIG’s entry into the striker-fired, polymer pistol arena. The unique modular grip frame and removable fire control system allows caliber and size changes to essentially customize your pistol to fit yourself and your needs. The no-tools takedown forces you to have the mag out and the slide locked back to strip the pistol, ensuring safety at this critical stage. The DA striker system offers a crisp, lightweight trigger. Both pistols showcase SIGs styling and workmanship.

Known for their brawny “derringer”-style 2-shot handguns, for the first time, Bond now offers two California-compliant models, the Big Bear and the Brown Bear (pictured). These are retooled version of their USA Defender series, both in .45 Colt. They are also working to get approval of their interchangeable barrel systems for the two guns. Don’t get eaten by a mountain lion — take a Brown Bear along for your hike!
By Dave Douglas