Viewpoints

Reader Wilkins beat us to the punch on this new pistol. Hes not pleased. Reader Urias would like to see a test of AR sights. Reader DeBoer experiences what could be a fatal malfunction.

Ive learned that the Pentagon is set to destroy more than $1 billion worth of excess or surplus ammo. But I have good news! Theres no need to do that: Ill take it. Okay, okay, not all $1 billion. But because Im a helpful guy, Ill take $100 million. That should fill the Gun Tests ammo depot for a year, maybe 18 months if were careful.

You have to have a suitable handgun for personal defense - one that fits your hand, is reliable and effective, and that fits your needs. The same is true of a holster. The primary reason permit holders do not carry on a 24-hour basis is because of comfort. A handgun and the load-bearing holster should be comforting and as comfortable as possible. We tend to go through a number of holsters before finding the right fit. That can get expensive!Recently, a reader took us to task over our extensive coverage of IWB holsters. He said that not everyone can tolerate an inside-the-waistband holster. Despite the advantages in concealed carry, the IWB requires the trousers be purchased an inch larger in size, and most shooters are not willing to revamp their entire wardrobe when obtaining their CWP, he says. Others simply cannot acclimate to the design.The outside-the-waistband holster has many advantages, including speed and security. Some will wear a high-riding OWB and a pulled-out sports shirt and have the same concealment with the OWB as the IWB but with greater comfort. While we believe the IWB has advantages when maximum concealment is needed, there are times when the OWB can be concealed. If you can do that, you are ahead of the game in speed and comfort.In this two-part installment, we cover more than 20 holsters of the OWB type including specialized alternatives to the IWB. As always, we gauged them on a few important attributes. The handgun cannot shift in the holster. The holster cannot sag on the belt, so it must be properly fitted to the belt. The holster must be tight against the body for concealed carry, but it cannot give you a punch in the kidney when you hit a speed bump in the road or step off of a curb. The gun must present the proper grip angle for a rapid presentation from concealment. The trigger guard must be covered. The holster must be well made of good material.While most of our testers prefer a concealment holster without retention straps, we included some with thumb-break retention or other devices. Quite a few experienced raters are adamant about their choices. One deemed the thumb break a suicide strap and another would not use a holster without a thumb break of some type. The majority prefer the open top holster.

In the past we have remarked on these pages that the Ruger No. 1 has a few problems. In fact, it has had no further development since its introduction back in 1967. Bill Ruger copied the graceful Alexander Henry single-shot falling-block design of the 1870s and also the look of the opening lever, and internal hammer of the Farquharson. The Henry stock, of course, was the inspiration for the notch in the forend on Ruger's Tropical No. 1. The new Ruger single shot was a huge success, yet for some reason neither Bill Ruger nor anyone in charge of the company has taken it upon himself to do anything more with the fine No. 1 except to continue producing it, flaws and all, ever since its introduction. There have most likely been production changes along the way to either improve the rifle's strength or its manufacturing ease, but as to its finer points, there has been exactly no progress. Until now.

We decided to wring out a Ruger No. 1 Tropical in 400 Jeffery caliber (aka 450/400 3"), and make whatever improvements we could on it, things that long ago we think Ruger ought to have addressed. We were not able to do all the things we wanted, as you'll see, but we did make some improvements. Here, then, is our report.

The Winchester Model 1873 is billed as the gun that won the West, and rightfully so - there are few rifles that have had such a dramatic impact on the history of the United States. In 2013, Winchester reintroduced the Model 1873 into production for the first time since 1919, offering it in 357/38 special and now also in 44-40 Win and 45 Colt. In the October 2012 issue, we tested a Henry, Cimarron, and Chiappa in 357/38 Special, with the Henry Big Boy rifle winning, closely followed by the Cimarron. So with Winchesters re-entry available, we wanted to see if the new model 1873 would be the gun that won the Test.To ensure a level playing field, we tested the Winchester with the same brands and lots of 38 Special and 357 Magnum ammunition we used for the other three rifles: a designated Cowboy Action load from Black Hills Ammunition, the 158-grain 38 Special CNL (Conical Nose Lead) DCB38N1; some bulk-priced ammunition from Brownells, Winchester USAs 130-grain Q4171 Full Metal Jackets, and Winchester USA 110-grain WINQ4204 357 Magnum Jacketed Hollow Points. As in the earlier test, we shot accuracy from sandbags on a bench at 50 yards. Heres how the gun performed:

Hey, guys! I did a search of your archives to find articles about Dan Wesson 1911s. Only one article, and its been so long that the gun is discontinued. DW is producing 1911s that are equal to the semi-custom guns. How about including some of them in your comparisons? I suggest you begin with the Valor - the flagship model. Youll love it.

I just finished reading a ground-breaking book on African-American men and women who have used firearms, when necessary, to defend their families and communities.

Readers Sellers, Brewer, and Miller think there were better Colts out there to compare to the S&W M10. And Reader Penrod has some heated advice for putting on a balky rubber grip sleeve.

Another big-name firearms manufacturer - Colt - is moving at least some of its operations out of an anti-gun-rights northeastern state to a gun-friendly Southern state. In 2011, Florida Gov. Rick Scott offered Hartford, Ct.-based Colt Manufacturing more than $1 million in incentives to open a new plant at a county-owned building in Kissimmee. Colt has not commented about its plans, but the company has confirmed with local officials that it wants to build military weapons at the Osceola County facility. The move has been delayed because of a merger between two companies operating under the Colt name. With the merger resolved, Colts Manufacturing Company LLC plans to move into its Florida building this year.

As the owner of a Beretta CX4 (albeit in 9mm), I was delighted with your write-up in the March 2014 issue. Mine has been a total delight for several years - reliable, accurate, to easy handle, and very easy to maintain. Everyone who has ever fired my CX4 has been taken with it, particularly with a red dot sight.- Kirk Wyss

The FBI's semi-annual uniform crime data for the first half of 2013 confirms once again what the firearms community already knew, that violent crime has continued to decline while gun sales have continued to climb.

Savage has sold thousands of Model 110 rifles to hunters seeking an inexpensive rifle. Watch for several things when they need fixing.