A Baer of a Decision: Monolith, Ultimate Master, Or Premier II?
We review three high-end .45s from a single maker — Les Baer — asking, "Which model offers the most bang for the buck?" In this case, less is plenty.
Pricey 1911 .45 ACPs Versus Glocks .45 GAP Model 37
We pit the STI Lawman and Springfield's ‘Loaded' pistols against the polymer-bodied Glock to see how they match up.
Budget Self-Defense Revolvers: Taurus, Rossi, and Comanche
The $250 Taurus M605B and the $250 Rossi R46102 revolvers set the price point bottom for .357 Magnum service. The $225 Comanche isn't worth the savings, in our estimation.
Tiny and Not-so Tiny Forties: Kahrs PM40 Is Our Carry Pick
For self-defense, we liked the PM40 better than the heavier, bulkier Springfield Sub-Compact XD and CZ's new Rami.
Commander-Length .45s: Para Ordnances LTC Is A Best Buy
The $749 Para Ordnance LTC combined accuracy, reliability, and affordability into one nice package. The Rock River Arms $1,560 Commando Elite is a find, if you can find one. Kimber's lighter $1,060 Tactical Pro II might be best for concealed carry.
A Pair of High-Dollar 1911s: Nowlin Versus Rock River Arms
High-grade 1911s can do a multitude of tasks for their owners. The jobs can include NRA target shooting, various action-oriented competitions, hunting, and of course self-defense. In this report we look at two relatively high-dollar 1911s to see how well they might work for any task to which a good .45 might be put. The companies who made the guns suggested these are target-grade or match-specific weapons. Yet each came with very similar and rather special modifications that told us the story only began with accurate target busting.
We Test Two AR-Style Pistols from Bushmaster and OA
The $1020 OA 98 from Olympic Arms is a steady performer, but Bushmaster's $862 Carbon 15 Model 97 pistol stumbles.
A Pair of Tiny Pocket 9mms: We Pick the PM9 Over the R9s
Kahr's product was by "fahr" a better carry gun than Rohrbaugh's R9s, in our estimation.
Serious Shooting .45s: Springfield Armory Edges out Gunsites Colt
The $1,560 Springfield Armory TRP and the $1,495 Colt Gunsite 1911 45s prove to be "pro tools" worth the extra investment.
Parkerized Mil-Spec 1911 .45s: Springfield Beats Auto Ordnance
Playing G.I. with the Springfield Parkerized Mil-Spec, $559, was more fun than with the Auto Ordnance 1911, $515.
Small-Frame .17 HMR Revolvers: Two Guns We Can Live Without
Taurus's latest $406 .17 HMR revolvers shoot accurately but cannot overcome cartridge-related problems.
Lightweight Carry Options: A 9mm, a .40 S&W, and a .45 GAP
Glock's new $640 Model 37 excels with a brand-new round. Smith & Wesson's titanium $812 4040PD opens new doors, but the $550 FN P9 comes up short.
