Handguns

Writing in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, gun-rights advocates Alan Gottlieb and Joe Waldron wrote that “Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, behaving like the would-be ruler of a ‘city state,’ has decided to ignore Washington's longstanding firearms statute regarding the legal carry of concealed handguns by licensed private citizens on city property.”

Crimson Trace and Galco Gun Leather are offering a package consisting of a set of Lasergrips for the Kel-Tec P3AT/P32 and a custom Galco Pocket Protector holster.

Everyone loves the big bullet. But one of the reasons why the models in this test are in production probably has more to do with a recent announcement by the United States military. A proposal was made to move away from the Beretta M9 and substitute a 45 ACP pistol with thumb safety and higher capacity than the traditional 1911 Government model. Plans to adopt such a pistol prompted several manufacturers to produce prototypes. Subsequently, the military decided to stand pat with the Beretta.Nevertheless, participating gun makers thought they might as well let the public decide if these new designs were worthwhile. Thus, all three pistols in this test, the $623 Taurus OSS No. 24/7-OSSDS45B, Springfield Armorys $571 XD45 No. XD9661HCSP, and the $743 Smith & Wesson M&P No. 109107, can be made safe by lifting a thumb-operated safety.Some of the questions we wanted to answer had to do with carry options and ergonomics. To withstand 45 ACP recoil, these guns were bigger and built heavier than the 9mm and 40 S&W models generally associated with polymer design. Would adding a full load of heavy ammunition make the guns too much to carry? What about reliability? Would the magazine springs remain strong enough to lift the final rounds into position? To test this last proposition, one magazine of each gun was left fully loaded with the 230-grain Black Hills JHP +P rounds for 14 days.What about the thumb safeties? Did they interfere with maintaining a natural grip? Would they slow the shooter down in an emergency? Did the thumb safety cause malfunctions? Did we think the addition of the thumb safety made the gun safer to handle both tactically and administratively?For this test, we fired indoors at Houstons Top Gun Handgun Training Center (topgunrange.com). There we tested from a distance of 15 yards from a sandbag rest. We also garnered comment from members of the public thanks to testing alongside one of the many corporate functions hosted by Top Gun staff. Test ammunition included three prime examples of 45 ACP ammunition. For a light-recoiling target round we chose Winchester USAs 185-grain FMJ loads. Next, we tried Federal Premium 230-grain Hydra-Shok JHP rounds, and for maximum power 230-grain JHP +P rounds from Black Hills Ammunition.Heres what we learned:

MIAMI – SLIM is the name of this suave new entry into the Taurus line. Elegant in Blue and Stainless this small pistol can easily fit under a cummerbund or pair of bibs.

Cottonwood, Ariz. - LaserLyte is excited to offer the L-Rail Picatinny Adapter, the latest and greatest Picatinny accessory for firearms.

…Last week, the New Jersey Assembly Judiciary Committee approved legislation that would ban the purchase, transfer, and inheritance of many popular hunting guns, historical American firearms, and large-bore target firearms

GunReports.com has learned that the S&W’s M&P9 Pro Series pistol was used in its first competitive win at the 2008 Texas State International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) Championship.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation has begun urging ATF to adopt an electronic Form 4473 ('E-4473') that would be voluntary for both consumers and dealers

As the mini-movement of open carry gains steam, handgun owners who might consider carrying their handguns openly can expect to hear a lot of hooey about how open carry will ruin the world, as the following shows.

With the Supreme Court poised to hand down a potentially landmark decision in the case, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence fully expects to lose.

New for 2008 Taurus is pleased to offer its popular 1911 with “Bull’s Head Walnut” grips.

Cottonwood, Ariz. - LaserLyte is proud to introduce the new Sub-compact Laser Sight Version Two (V2), the smallest and most versatile railed laser yet