Specialty Handguns

DETROIT -- The Detroit Police Department will equip its force with Smith & Wesson Military & Police (M&P) Series pistols and with M&P Series tactical rifles.

BJ Norris of Tyler, Texas, was crowned the Steel Master at the Smith & Wesson U.S. Steel Nationals in Titusville, Fla.

The NRA Competitions Division recently announced four bits of news important to shooters:

Competition at the USPSA STI Double Tap Championship runs March 26-29 at Double Tap Ranch in Wichita Falls, Texas.

JUNEAU - Governor Sarah Palin encouraged U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to support recently adopted regulations allowing concealed weapons in national parks and wildlife refuges. Secretary Salazar has directed a review of the regulations that were approved by the previous administration.

WASHINGTON, D.C.–The Brady Campaign has released its annual state scorecards, which the group claims 'rate each state on the strength of its gun laws.'

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) has introduced the Respecting States’ Rights and Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.

This was one sharp-looking pistol, and fit and finish were well done, we thought. The frame was black polymer and the slide was stainless steel. Both components had sculptured panels and functional cutouts, giving the gun a modern look.

Ruger has several versions of the P345. One has a blued slide; another has a spring-loaded decocker instead of our version's non-rebounding, hammer-dropping, ambidextrous safety; yet another is DAO.

The P220 is available with options that can put the MSRP upwards of $958, but our P220 was the blued base model. Available options include night sights and a nickel-coated slide. The special K-Kote finish is no longer available.

The combination of the white dot on the front sight and the white vertical line inside the rear notch offers fast sight acquisition. If you feel more comfortable with tritium sights, a set of Siglite night sights will cost an extra $100 if sold as original equipment. Send your slide to Sigarms and the factory will install a set of Siglites for $195.

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence today filed suit in federal court asking that the court strike down a last-minute Bush Administration rule change allowing concealed, loaded firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and seeks an injunction to block the rule, which is scheduled to go into effect on January 9, 2009.

TALO Distributors is producing a limited edition Ruger Stainless Vaquero celebrating John Wayne's 100th Anniversary. The stainless .45 LC is a 1000-unit followup to TALO's original blue John Wayne completed in December 2007.

BELLEFONTAINE, OHIO -- AcuSport is selling the new Ruger 22 Charger in an exclusive combination of finishes.