With so many states passing concealed-carry laws, the market for lightweight and easily hidden handguns has grown exponentially. This has brought gun enthusiasts a vast selection of smaller and lighter handguns in all colors, materials and calibers. Enter SCCY Firearms (pronounced “sky”).

Back in 1998, Joe Roebuck recognized the demand for a safe, affordable and simple-to-use handgun. Roebuck had over three decades of experience in manufacturing, and he applied his vast experience as a mechanical engineer and tool and die maker to design the CPX line of handguns. Roebuck started Skyy Industries in 2003, which later became SCCY Firearms.

All In The Family

I tested my first SCCY pistol—a first-generation CPX-2—back in 2013. The CPX-1 and CPX-2 are compact 9mm models made here in the U.S. with stainless steel slides and barrels machined from bar stock with state-of-the-art CNC machinery. Their 3.1-inch barrels have 1-in-16-inch right-hand twist rates with seven lands and grooves for enhanced accuracy. The receivers are machined from 7075-T6 heat-treated aluminum alloy, also cut from bar stock, while the grip frames are made of Zytel polymer with ergonomic finger grooves and textured sides. The pistols also feature all-steel, fully encapsulated recoil systems designed for easy disassembly and reassembly. The slide locks are steel with Zytel overmolded extensions for ease of operation. As for differences, the CPX-1 has an ambidextrous thumb safety while the CPX-2 does not. That’s it.

These guns use a double-action-only (DAO) firing system consisting of an internal hammer with an inertial firing pin to prevent accidental discharges if dropped. The trigger is designed for shooter comfort and accuracy, with a smooth, consistent 9-pound pull. Along with a custom triggerguard lock and two keys to prevent children from accessing the handgun while stored, two double-stack, 10-round magazines are included with each variant. The magazines come from the SCCY factory with finger extensions installed, but two flat baseplates are also provided.

• RELATED STORY: The SCCY’s the Limit with the Compact CPX-2 9mm

The pistols have three-dot sights, including a steel rear unit that is adjustable for windage with a locking screw that prevents your adjustments from shifting. Finally, all CPX series pistols are guaranteed for life, with a transferable “no questions asked” warranty.

From day one, I was impressed with the clean lines and finish on the CPX-2’s slide, the tolerances between the slide and receiver, and the way the grip frame fits my hand comfortably. Even though the magazines come from the factory with an extended finger rest, I actually preferred the included flat baseplate; it felt more comfortable while I carried the gun. I tested several holsters from different manufacturers—inside- and outside-the-waistband rigs and even pocket holsters. I settled with a simple Galco inside-the-waistband clip-on holster.

The New Breed

SCCY Firearms released the CPX-3 in 2017, which I can only describe as a more compact version of CPX-2. The newest member of the CPX family is chambered in .380 ACP, unlike its 9mm siblings. The CPX-3 has the same overall profile of the CPX-1 and CPX-2 and the same white-dot front sight, drift-adjustable white-dot rear sight and trigger configuration. Because of the lighter recoil of the .380 ACP ammo, Roebuck left the recoil-absorbing cushion slots of the 9mm models off of the grip, just ahead of the backstrap.

But the most important difference is the addition of the Roebuck Quad-Lock system. Traditional handguns seat the front of the barrel in the slide with a round surface resting in a round surface, but the patent-pending Roebuck Quad-Lock system employs an additional point of contact at the front of the barrel, where it rests in the slide. The Quad-Lock utilizes two flat surfaces in a 90-degree V-shape for the round barrel to rest in, which forces the barrel into the exact same position every single time the gun is fired. So, in short, while the traditional method of seating permits variation in where the end of the barrel seats, the Roebuck Quad-Lock eliminates this and allows for more consistent operation shot to shot.

I recently got my hands on the CPX-3 and was able to test it on the range, and that range is one of the best—Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona. There, COO Ken Campbell kindly allowed me to play on Hanneken Range, which is named after Medal of Honor recipient Herman H. Hanneken. I started off by testing the new CPX-3 for reliability, making sure it did what it was supposed to do. I loaded a couple of magazines with Federal American Eagle 95-grain FMJs and just pressed the trigger as fast as I could. It fired, ejected and extracted perfectly.

• RELATED STORY: Battle of the Nines – Kimber Micro 9 vs. SCCY CPX-2

After a minor range reset, I went on to test the CPX-3 for accuracy. I’m not a great shot, but I wanted to see how the DAO pistol performed at a realistic distance. Bear in mind that the CPX-3 is not a competition pistol; it is a concealed-carry defensive handgun. As I have learned from a couple of trainers, self-defense situations rarely happen at 25 to 50 yards. At that distance, you have time to run for help or get to cover. So, I set up USPSA targets with 10-inch TruGlo Tru-See Splatter targets at a distance of 5 yards—a realistic distance for a self-defense situation.

I decided to fire the pistol off-hand; I doubt anyone would have a sandbag or pistol rest in a defensive situation, either. For my test, I used Federal American Eagle 95-grain FMJs, Federal Premium 99-grain Micro HSTs and CorBon’s 80-grain DPXs and 70-grain Pow’RBall rounds. I wanted to see the difference between standard practice rounds and the high-end specialized defense ammunition.

And even though I don’t typically excel with a DAO trigger, I got fairly decent groups. I fired five rounds of each type of ammunition for an average group size of 2.44 inches. For an average shooter such as myself, that kind of accuracy isn’t bad. After the accuracy testing, I chronographed each load to see how the loads performed out of the CPX-3’s 2.96-inch barrel. To my surprise, the average muzzle velocities weren’t that far off from the advertised values of the ammunition tested.

Built To Perform

I really enjoyed testing the CPX-3. For such a small, affordably priced handgun, it performed amazingly well. It was both accurate and reliable. There was little or no felt recoil or noticeable muzzle flip, which is noteworthy for such a lightweight pistol. This compact offering would make a good backup pistol, and with the right ammunition, a great primary.

In short, the CPX-3 is a great self-defense choice for anyone searching for an easily concealed pistol for pocket, purse or belt carry.

SCCY CPX-3 Specs

For more information, visit sccy.com.

This article was originally published in “Pocket Pistols” 2018. To order a copy, go to outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Gun Review: Shooting the SCCY CPX-3 .380 Pistol appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Springfield Armory is starting off the new year by unveiling its 911 .380 pistol.

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Touted as an EDC gun that uses the “frame-to-slide-to-trigger guard relationship” to create unique handling characteristics, the Springfield 911 380 features a hard coat anodized 7075 T6 aluminum frame and black nitride or stainless 416 steel slide. The overall length is 5.5 inches. The gun measures just under four inches in overall height, and has a snag-free profile to make it undetectable under clothing.

The Springfield 911 380 also features Springfield’s Octo-Grip front strap texturing for a secure grip along with a G10 Octo-Grip textured mainspring housing. This along with the crisp, short-reset five-pound trigger shoe by Hogue combine to give the user the feel of shooting a full-sized gun, Springfield says.

Additionally, the pistol has an ambidextrous safety along with an Ameriglo Pro-Glo green tritium front sight inside a yellow luminescent circle, and a tactical rack U-notch rear sight with green tritium inside of white luminescent circles. This setup is designed to give the user an edge in a defensive situation.

This gun also includes a 2.7-inch precision broached barrel with a 1:16 twist; full-length guide rod with a flat wire spring; and a loaded chamber indicator. Weighing in at 12.6 ounces empty, the gun ships out with a 6-round flush and 7-round extended mag.

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“With such great advances made in modern defense ammunition, the .380 has become a seriously viable defensive platform,” Springfield CEO Dennis Reese said in the presser. “Our customers deserve a pistol that makes the most of it. Once you try it, you’ll be as convinced as we are that this is the best .380 pistol choice available.”

The Springfield 911 380 is available in black and stainless, and both of those versions can also be bought with integrated Viridian green laser grips. MSRP is $599 for the standard models, with the prince jumping up to $789 for the laser-equipped versions.

For more information, go to springfield-armory.com.

The post NEW GUN: Introducing the Springfield 911 380 Pistol appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Given the dramatic increase in attacks on law enforcement officers in the past few years, with most, if not all, being uniformed officers with a firearm at hand, why would any sane, responsible person go unarmed? The first rule in any gunfight is to have a gun. I’m not sure who coined this oft-repeated phrase, or any of the others bouncing around the Internet. Jeff Cooper, Mark Moritz and Clint Smith are among those accused of standing before a class and uttering it for the first time.

Even those who believe only a full-sized or compact version is the only handgun capable of effective self-defense will admit that an ultra-compact pocket gun is better than nothing at all. I believe that we shouldn’t denigrate handguns for self-defense just because they’re small enough to fit in a pocket or less traditional locations.

American Minis

Rocky Mountain Arms was founded in 1972 to produce exquisitely made Lilliputian .22-caliber revolvers. These diminutive rimfire revolvers were, and still are, phenomenally popular. The company is now known as North American Arms (NAA), and in 1997, it added a semi-automatic pistol chambered in .32 ACP to its lineup. The gun followed in the steps of NAA’s mini-revolvers with stainless steel construction and extreme attention to detail.

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An updated version of the highly rated and popular Seecamp LWS in .32 ACP, the stainless steel NAA Guardian has all of the positive aspects one could want. A few years later, NAA began offering a slightly larger Guardian in .380 ACP, and more chamberings followed. All NAA Guardian pistols, including two versions handling the bottlenecked .25 and .32 NAA—cartridges based off the .32 and .380 ACP, respectively—are constructed of 17-4 stainless steel.

The investment-cast Guardian frames, built by a Ruger subsidiary, include the integral barrels. This allows Guardians to use a simple, straight-blowback operating system. And just like the frames, the slides are machined from a single stainless steel block with integral sights. Small parts like the magazine release, hammer and trigger are produced using the metal-injection molding (MIM) process.

Demand for these pistols is pretty high, so they’re fairly difficult to come by these days. Luckily, however, I was able to obtain three NAA Guardian pistols to compare in testing. My test samples were chambered in .32 ACP, .380 ACP and .32 NAA.

All three guns were put together very well and exhibited excellent finishes. And though they’re small, NAA Guardian pistols feel good in the hand. Their lines are clean and straight, and there were no sharp edges to dig into my hands or snag on the draw. Their grips are made of hard rubber with pebble-grain texturing, and they do a good job of helping to control recoil.

The double-action-only (DAO) triggers have long, heavy trigger pulls, but this is to provide a measure of safety, as there are no external safeties. The trigger pulls for the three test guns weighed between 10 and 10.8 pounds. Fortunately, the Guardian triggers are pretty smooth, making it easier to chase that last bit of accuracy.

Of course, the Guardians are really intended for reactive draws. The downsized defenders are designed to be pointed at the threat and fired. Taking time to search for those tiny sights during an emergency is a setup for failure.

Guardians also have their magazine releases in the standard location behind the triggerguard. This required me to slightly rotate the pistol in my short-fingered hand, just as I must with pistols from many manufacturers. Each pistol came with two 6-round magazines with highly polished exteriors and metal followers. The baseplates are made of black polymer, and they’re either flat or come with finger hooks.

Carrying the Guardians is simplified by the number of holsters NAA has on hand. The company’s rigs range from pocket to belt models as well as a carrying case known as the Universal Gun Rug that is equipped to carry a Guardian. A creature of habit, I chose a pocket holster to ride on my support side.

Range Time

I only had one sample of ammunition available per pistol for testing. Fortunately, it was all from Hornady, which is currently the sole supplier of .32 NAA ammunition with its 80-grain Critical Defense FTX line. Another member of Hornady’s Critical Defense group is its 90-grain .380 ACP FTX loading. The .32 ACP ammo carries one of Hornady’s excellent hollow-point XTP bullets weighing 35 grains. In short, the Critical Defense and FTX loads are known for being excellent performers.

Drawing a Guardian from any holster is made easier by its snag-proof design. There are no sharp edges or external widgets to catch on a pocket or clothing, a product of the minimal sights. Working with targets placed at reasonable distances, I quickly acclimated to the Guardians’ DAO triggers and polished, exposed hammers riding flush with their slides.

The sights were another subject when firing groups. Rapid draws and firing were not hindered by the sights, even when raised to the eyes. At that point, I just looked over them. Swapping magazines was easiest done using the support hand to pull the magazine from the well and then go for the spare. The depleted magazines tend to wedge against the heel of my shooting hand, however.

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These pistols are designed for up close and personal use—generally within 7 yards. I set my chronograph up and went to work running rounds through the Guardians. Even though I had planned on just a 7-yard distance for the accuracy examination, I just had to see for myself what would happen at longer distances. While many of the hits from the Guardians were found on the targets, some weren’t. This means innocent bystanders could be in danger beyond 7 yards. So, keeping my shooting distance to 7 yards and under, every group averaged around 2.5 inches. This is more than accurate enough for belly-to-belly confrontations and out to 7 yards.

I prefer pistols like the NAA Guardian with flat-baseplate magazines, as there’s just one less chance of snagging during the draw. All three Guardians were controllable with the flat-baseplate magazines, even using Hornady’s modern high-performance ammunition. Compared to polymer-framed pistols, the weight of the Guardians is also helpful with recoil. However, I can see how the polymer finger hooks on the magazines could come in handy for many folks.

I was surprised to discover that the .380 ACP Guardian stoked with Hornady’s 90-grain Critical Defense FTX rounds displayed about the same recoil as the .32 NAA Guardian. Of course, I should have recognized that both cartridges have similar velocities, but the .380 ACP uses a bullet that is 10 grains heavier. The recoil was most noticeable when shooting from the bench, but who practices defensive shooting from the bench? When shots were fired off-hand, the three pistols seemed to have the same recoil.

Parting Shots

Constructed of stainless steel, the NAA Guardian should be just right for pocket and IWB carry. It would likely be just as at home tucked in a pocket of an officer’s armor carrier during a sweltering summer. But I’ve got two pieces of advice. When you carry your Guardian (or any other handgun) in a pants pocket, use a holster. Also, always keep your keys and such out of that designated carry pocket. And a word to the wise: Stainless steel still rusts, just slower. I have seen the results of sweat accumulating without regular maintenance.

For those who carry a single handgun or two or three pistols, the NAA Guardian pistols are excellent choices. They are designed well with true DAO capabilities and simple operating procedures. And you get all of this with MSRPs in the $409 to $456 range.

NAA Guardian Specs

NAA Guardian .32 ACP Performance

NAA Guardian .32 NAA Performance

NAA Guardian .380 ACP Performance

Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 7 yards.

For more information, visit northamericanarms.com.

This article was originally published in “Pocket Pistols” 2018. To order a copy, go to outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Testing 3 NAA Guardian Pistols to See Which One Shoots Best appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Smith & Wesson has unveiled its brand new M&P380 Shield EZ pistol for 2018.

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Designed for personal protection and EDC, the M&P380 Shield EZ represents Smith’s latest addition to its M&P M2.0 family. The press release hypes three main features: an easy-to-rack slide; magazine that includes a load assist button for quick and easy loading; and an easy-to-clean design.

“When we set out to design the M&P380 Shield EZ pistol, our goal was to deliver an all-around, easy to use personal protection pistol – from loading and carrying, to shooting and cleaning,” said Jan Mladek, the GM of M&P and S&W brands. “Throughout the development process, we focused on key areas that customers told us were important- the ease of racking the slide and loading the magazine. With that in mind, we reduced the amount of force required to rack the slide, and developed a magazine that is both easy and efficient to load.

“We have incorporated both of these new features into the M&P380 Shield EZ pistol, allowing consumers of all statures and strengths the opportunity to own, comfortably practice with, and effectively utilize this exciting new pistol. The new M&P380 Shield EZ pistol provides an easy-to-use personal protection option for both first-time shooters and experienced handgunners alike.”

Chambered in .380 ACP, the gun also features a 3.675-inch barrel; 8+1 capacity; 18-degree grip angle for natural point of aim; Picatinny rail for accessories; white-dot front and windage adjustable white-dot rear sights; one-piece, single action trigger for crisp pull with tactile and audible reset; tactile loaded chamber indicator; tapered rear slide serrations; M2.0 enhanced grip texture optimized to size and .380 ACP recoil; reversible magazine release and the option of adding an ambidextrous, manual thumb safety.

Smith’s new EZ pistol is shipping now with two 8-round mags at a MSRP of just $399. See the specs below.

For more information, please visit Smith-Wesson.com.

S&W M&P 380 Shield EZ Specs

• Caliber: .380 Auto
• Capacity: 8+1
• Barrel Length: 3.675″ / 9.3 cm
• Overall Length: 6.7″
• Front Sight: White Dot
• Rear Sight: Adjustable White Dot
• Action: Internal Hammer Fired
• Grip: Polymer
• Weight: 18.5 oz / 524.5g
• Barrel Material: Stainless Steel – Armornite Finish
• Slide Material: Stainless Steel – Armornite Finish
• Frame Material: Polymer
• Purpose: Concealed Carry, Home Protection, Personal Protection

The post New From Smith & Wesson: The M&P380 Shield EZ Pistol appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Sturm, Ruger & Company’s product line includes something for just about every type of shooter. The company produces single-shot, bolt-action and semi-auto rimfire and centerfire rifles, rimfire and centerfire revolvers, semi-automatic pistols and over/under shotguns. I have heard it said that if a shooter “can’t find what they need in Ruger’s catalog, they’re in a lot of trouble!”

The Semi-Auto

Ruger broke into the CCW pistol market in 2008 with the introduction of its Light Compact Pistol (LCP). It was a radical departure from the company’s previous efforts in this area. Despite being chambered for the .380 ACP cartridge, it was smaller and lighter than some .22-, .25- and .32-caliber pistols. The LCP is based upon a glass-filled nylon frame with alloy inserts to provide additional strength and rails for the slide to reciprocate on. The slide itself is machined from hardened steel and features a blued finish.

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As has become almost mandatory with polymer-framed handguns today, the LCP features a double-action-only (DAO) trigger. This not only provides for simple operation—a feature I consider of the utmost importance on any firearm intended for personal protection—but also provides the traditional safety features of a DA revolver, allowing operation without the necessity of manipulating external safety devices. The gun utilizes an internal hammer, which I feel is more reliable than a striker on subcompact pistols.

The LCP uses a “single-strike” trigger, which means that if you have a misfire or are dry firing an empty pistol for practice, it is necessary to partially retract the slide to reset the hammer before you can pull the trigger again. The LCP’s other controls are conveniently located, with the magazine release button in the “proper” position. The slide catch, located above the left grip panel, can be used to lock the slide open, providing a convenient means of cleaning the gun or verifying that the chamber is empty.

The LCP proved a popular item for concealed carry by licensed civilians. It also proved popular as a backup or off-duty weapon with law enforcement officers. But Ruger is well known for constantly improving its products, and the company recently introduced the LCP II.

This pistol features larger sights, an improved double-action-only (DAO) trigger pull, dual grasping grooves on the slide and a newly textured grip frame. A blade-style safety in the face of the trigger combines with a neutrally balanced sear with significant engagement and strong spring tension and a hammer catch to help prevent the hammer from contacting the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled through a complete stroke.

Shortly before the 2017 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, Ruger announced two new handguns for concealed carry. The first was a version of the LCP II with an integral Viridian E-Series red laser. This unit is located on the front of the pistol’s triggerguard and features ambidextrous off/on buttons that can be activated by the shooter’s trigger finger. Despite only adding 1.4 ounces to the pistol’s weight, it cannot be used with holsters designed for the standard LCP II due to its size and location. Because of this, Ruger thoughtfully includes an inside-the-pocket holster with each pistol.

The Wheelgun

The second handgun is an addition to Ruger’s already extensive line of LCR revolvers—the LCRx.

In 2009, Ruger introduced a very unique wheelgun, the .38-caliber Light Compact Revolver, or LCR. It was composed of three modular subcomponents: an upper cylinder frame/barrel assembly, a lower-frame “fire control housing” (FCH) assembly and a cylinder/crane assembly.

The cylinder/frame/barrel assembly consisted of a 7400 series aluminum forging, which served as a housing for the cylinder/crane assembly and the cylinder release catch. A stainless steel barrel is threaded into the barrel shroud.

The dual-diameter cylinder not only sets the LCR apart from other revolvers on the market, but provides additional strength around that section of the chambers where pressures are the highest. Pressing a button on the left behind the cylinder allows shooters to push the cylinder out for loading and unloading. Cylinder locking is accomplished by latching the cylinder center pin into a steel bushing in the recoil shield and a spring-loaded pin in the ejector rod shroud engaging the front of the rod.

All of the moving parts, other than the cylinder release catch, are contained in the FCH. The FCH is constructed from high-density glass-filled nylon. The LCR also uses an internal hammer and a DAO trigger. This unit uses a patented interface between the trigger and hammer. A small friction-reducing cam on the toe of the trigger positions the two parts so that they operate in tandem when the trigger is pulled, rather than resisting each other, as has been the norm in all earlier DA revolver trigger systems.

LCR revolvers also feature transfer bar ignition. When forward, the hammer rests upon the frame and cannot touch the frame-mounted firing pin. A complete stroke of the trigger raises a bar in front of the firing pin that the falling hammer strikes. This drives the firing pin forward to fire the cartridges. Releasing the trigger allows the bar to drop down, leaving the hammer to rest on the frame once more.

Ruger expanded the LCR line to include .22 LR, .327 Federal Magnum, .357 Magnum and 9mm chamberings. While popular, the LCR’s short 1.88-inch barrel and DAO trigger limited its usefulness to close-range shooting. To rectify the situation, in late 2013 Ruger introduced the LCRx revolver with a 3-inch barrel and an external hammer (that’s where the “x” comes in) so that it can be cocked for precise SA shooting. The gun also comes standard with a hand-filling Hogue Tamer Monogrip that provides adhesion whether your hands are wet, dry or oily as well as a ramp front sight with a white insert and a fully adjustable rear for better accuracy at longer distances.

Range Testing

One of the newest additions to Ruger’s LCR series is the LCRx in .22 LR. I feel this is a multitasking revolver capable of being used for plinking, training and small-game hunting. And thanks to its unloaded weight of only 17.3 ounces, even concealed carry.

Ruger kindly supplied me with sample of each of these new handguns to test for our readers. The LCP II was a dainty little thing, probably the smallest .380 ACP pistol I’ve ever held. The Viridian laser sight was easily activated and produced a bright red dot on the target, even in full daylight.

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Before the accuracy testing, I ran two magazines each of five different types of .380 ACP ammo through the little Ruger LCP II: Hornady 90-grain FTXs, Winchester 95-grain Defend JHPs, Browning 95-grain X-Point JHPs and Black Hills’ 100-grain FMJs and 60-grain Xtreme Defense rounds. I’m pleased to relate that I only experienced a single malfunction when one of the Browning JHPs hung up on the feed ramp. Other than that, the petite Ruger semi-auto chugged right along with everything I fed it.

As I believe that attempting to shoot tight groups off a rest with a pistol of this class is not a practical test of its accuracy (to say nothing of an exercise in futility), my test firing was limited to engaging a combat target at 5 yards. I fired the pistol from a low position with the laser sight. With the pistol’s attenuated grip, the recoil was on the snappy side. Once I had the hang of it, however, all but two of the 24 rounds I sent in the direction of the target impacted inside the 9 and 10 rings.

Because of its SA trigger, longer barrel, larger grip and nice sights, I tested the LCRx for accuracy from an MTM K-Zone rest at 15 yards. The LCRx produced five-shot groups running from a bit under 3 inches to an impressive 1.3 inches with Eley ammo. After this informative, albeit unexciting, expenditure of .22 LR ammunition was completed, we set up a combat target. My wife, Becky, proceeded to run some off-hand drills from 7 yards. She had to nurse the heavy DA trigger along, but with the perseverance that she is well known for, she put all but three rounds inside the 10 ring.

We then placed a pair of Birchwood Casey Prairie Chuck targets out at 30 feet and proceeded to see how the .22 LR revolver would serve for small-game hunting or as a trail gun. Once again, the Ruger proved to be a fine-shooting wheelgun and showed us that it was equally capable of turning critters into camp meat if called up to perform such a task.

Fit For Ruger

We found both of Ruger’s newest products to fit the tasks they were designed for to a “T.” If you are looking for an ultra-concealable, subcompact .380 ACP for concealed, the LCP II with the Viridian laser sight would be an ideal choice. If wheelguns are more your forte, then the LCRx is an obvious contender. Its light weight, easy handling characteristics, simplicity of operation and lack of recoil would be perfect for a multitude of tasks, including—you guessed it—concealed carry. And the low cost of .22 LR ammo allows the shooter to get in plenty of practice, something that can’t be said for centerfire calibers.

Admittedly, the .22 LR would not be my first choice for defensive use. But we should remember the old saying “The best gun is the one you have with you.” Or as a local police officer I know who packs a snub-nose .22 in an ankle holster as a backup once said to me, “I don’t know anyone who wants to be shot with a .22. Do you?”

Ruger LCP II With Viridian E-Series Laser Specs

Ruger LCRx Specs

For more information, visit ruger.com.

This article is from the 2018 edition of “Pocket Pistols” magazine. To order a copy, go to outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Righteous Rugers: Running the LCRx .22 & LCP II With Viridian Laser appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

I’m not telling our readers something they didn’t already know when I say that some of the hottest items on today’s handgun market are .380 pistols. The reasons for this dramatic increase of interest in .380 pistols are threefold: materials, ballistics and CCW laws.

As more and more states have adopted “Shall Issue” CCW laws, the demand for small, lightweight handguns has skyrocketed. In the past, quality .380 ACP pistols like the Colt Model 1908 and Walther PP/PPK were all steel, thus they were heavy for the cartridge they fired. But today, the use of polymer frames has lightened them significantly, making them much easier to carry all day.

The .380 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) was designed by John Moses Browning and first chambered in Fabrique Nationale’s Model 1910 pistol. On this side of the pond, Colt, H&R, Remington and Savage Arms all offered .380 ACP pistols.

As originally loaded, the .380 ACP consisted of a straight-walled, rimless case 17mm in length topped with an FMJ bullet weighing 85 to 95 grains, traveling at approximately 900 to 1,000 fps. The use of improved propellants and high-tech JHP bullets has dramatically improved the on-target effectiveness of the .380 ACP cartridge, making it a much more practical choice for defensive purposes without any real increase in recoil.

The .380 Pistols

We felt that it would be interesting if I assembled a selection of new-breed .380 pistols and ran them through a side-by-side shoot-off to see if any provided a significant advantage over the others. So I received a Ruger LCP II, Kahr CT380, Beretta Pico, S&W M&P Bodyguard 380 FDE and Remington RM380 to play with—I mean carefully evaluate in a professional manner.

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Our quintet of compact .380 pistols had a number of similarities and differences. All had steel slides and were locked-breech designs. Four utilized polymer frames while the Remington RM380 was the odd man out with an alloy frame.

Four had double-action-only (DAO) type triggers while the Ruger’s was of the single-action (SA) persuasion. The Beretta, Remington and S&W all had second-strike capabilities. While the Kahr is a striker-fired design, the other four all use hammers to ignite cartridges.

More Details

The Kahr, Beretta and Remington lacked external manual safeties while the S&W had a flush-mounted safety on the frame and the Ruger featured a paddle-type trigger block on the face of its trigger. Four of the pistols had magazine releases (ambidextrous in the case of the Remington) that were pushed in to release the magazine while the Beretta has an ambidextrous paddle under the triggerguard that is pushed down.

The sights on all five .380 pistols were basic: a blade front mated to a square-notch rear. The Beretta had three white dots while the Kahr featured a white-dot front and a white bar on the rear sight. The remaining three had plain black sights. It should be noted that S&W, Ruger and Kahr all offer versions of their pistols with integral laser sights as an option.

In terms of cartridge capacity, the Kahr uses a seven-round magazine while the magazines of the remaining four each hold a half-dozen cartridges. The Kahr also came fitted with a rubber grip sleeve that the company offers as an option.

Rules Of The Ring

I obtained the enthusiastic assistance of my good friends Dick Jones and Perry Windsor, both of whom are avid action pistol competitors and hold CCW licenses. As in earlier “Battle Royales,” it was decided that we would evaluate the pistols in eight areas: ergonomics, trigger control, recoil control, sights, offhand accuracy, ease of reloading, reliability and, considering their role in life, concealability. We felt these categories would give each of us a good overall feel for these compact autoloaders.

I believe that trying to shoot tight groups from a stationary rest with pistols of this class is a poor indication of how they perform. Instead, I decided to see how they would digest different types of ammunition. Accordingly, I ran two magazines each of Hornady 90-grain FTX, Winchester 95-grain Train & Defend, Black Hills 60-grain Honey Badger and Browning 95-grain BXP ammo through each pistol. I was pleased to see that all five pistols digested whatever I stuffed in their magazines and spat out the empty cases with metronome-like regularity.

As is the standard in these “Battle Royales,” I disassembled, cleaned and lubricated each pistol, which would be the only maintenance they would receive throughout the test. If one malfunctioned during testing, we would attempt to correct the problem and keep shooting.

Drills

Off-hand testing consisted of running three drills with IPSC targets kindly provided by the Target Barn set out at “real-life” distances of 3 and 5 yards considering the class of the pistols we were using. We used only a quantity of Bronze 90-grain FMJs from PMC for these practical range drills. Finally, the .380 pistols were carried and drawn from a reliable Galco Front Pocket Horsehide holster.

Our drills included:

• El Presidente: Draw the pistol and double-tap (fire two rounds) on each of three targets at 5 yards. Perform a combat reload and reengage the targets. Reload magazines as necessary and repeat one more time for a total of 24 rounds.
• FBI Drill: Draw the pistol and fire two body shots and one headshot on a pair of targets at 5 yards. Perform a combat reload and reengage the targets. Reload magazines as necessary and repeat one more time for a total of 24 rounds.
• One-Handed Drill: Draw the pistol and fire six rounds on one of three targets at 3 yards, firing all rounds with an unsupported (one-handed) grip. Reload and engage the two remaining targets in the same manner for a total of 18 rounds.

In the end, each shooter would be required to fire a minimum of 66 rounds from each pistol for a total of 330 rounds from all five of the test guns.

Range Time

I met my friends at the Piedmont Handgunners range in Southmont, North Carolina, on a chilly, overcast November morning. After unpacking our gear and setting up the targets, we proceeded to send rounds downrange. One of us would fire a pistol while a second acted as a range officer and the third loaded magazines. Family responsibilities prevented my wife, Becky, from assisting us so my friend, Richard Cole, volunteered to serve as our photographer and score keeper.

As brass piled up on the tarp next to the shooters, it became obvious that these “little” pistols were capable of surprisingly good accuracy with some help from the shooters. In fact, of the more than 1,000 rounds we fired at the targets, very few impacted outside the targets’ A-zones and (when required) “heads.” While it must be admitted that the ranges were short, the triggers and sights on several of our test pistols were not conducive to fine shooting.

There was the usual moaning when I told them they could not pick up the spent brass (yes, some people do reload .380s) until we had finished the paperwork. Richard handed out score sheets and pens, and each of us graded the five pistols on the aforementioned criteria with a one being the poorest and five the highest score. These were then added together to give each pistol a final score in each category.

In-Depth Results

Note: 15 is a perfect score for each category while 120 is a perfect total score. 

Reliability

Early on, we experienced several early slide lock-backs and slow closures with the Kahr, which caused its score to suffer. But after an application of oil, it ran perfectly for the rest of the day. We had two failures to eject and one stovepipe jam with the Ruger and one failure to feed each with the S&W and Beretta while Remington’s pistol just kept chugging along. Considering they were all new out-of-the-box pistols, we considered this performance satisfactory.

Ergonomics

The S&W, Kahr and Remington tied in this category because of their excellent “pointability.” The Ruger’s short grip frame counted against it slightly while the Beretta came in fifth place. Its smooth, narrow grip frame made shooting difficult while the slide stop lever and magazine release were both very difficult to operate. On the plus side, the large finger rest extensions on the Beretta magazines provided a full three-finger grip on the pistol. Note that the Kahr’s slide was very difficult to retract to chamber or clear a round, which would be problematic for someone with small or weak hands.

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Trigger Control

The Remington and S&W both had smooth, stage-free trigger strokes while the Ruger’s single-action trigger was liked by all. Two of the shooters felt the Kahr’s trigger stroke was heavy and a bit gritty, while all three of us agreed that the Beretta’s was long with a heavy let-off.

Recoil Control

The Remington finished first in this category thanks to its wide grip frame and weight. The Kahr was the runner-up thanks to its long grip and rubber sleeve. The S&W’s finger rest magazine basepad allowed a firm purchase, but the Ruger’s smallish, narrow grip was not conducive to rapid fire. All of us felt the Beretta’s grip frame was too narrow, and its lack of any type of checkering/texturing allowed it to move around in the shooter’s hand under recoil, forcing each of us to reacquire a firm purchase every few shots.

Sights

Considering the distances we were shooting at, the sights weren’t a major factor. That being said, all three of us agreed that the Kahr’s bar-dot sights were the fastest to align and provided the best sight picture. The Beretta’s three-dot sights were high, easy to acquire and allowed fast transition between targets.

Off-Hand Accuracy

All five .380 pistols showed they were capable of reliably putting rounds where the shooter wanted them fairly quickly.

Reloading Ease

Let me say right off that it is highly unlikely that the shooter will have to perform a speed reload with this class of pistol. That being said, the magazine releases on the Remington, S&W and Ruger all worked easily, and their magazines fell free, partially loaded or empty, slide forward or locked back. The Kahr’s magazine release was difficult to access, and its magazines did not always fall free and had to be manually started or pulled out. The paddle-type release on the Beretta was difficult to access and awkward to manipulate and, as with the Kahr, magazines sometimes had to be manually extracted. The Beretta’s magazines were quite difficult to fully load. Maybe a loading tool would be a nice option?

Concealability

While all of the test guns were small enough to conceal easily, the size and narrow widths of the Beretta and Ruger gave them perfect scores in this category with the S&W coming one point behind the pair. The Kahr’s long grip sometimes made it a difficult to draw from a pocket holster while the Remington’s width created a bit of a signature.

The Results

As I normally do at these “Battle Royale” shoot-offs, I queried Perry and Dick about their choice as to the pistol with the best handling qualities and which one they would choose to carry on a regular basis. I believe the readers will find our answers interesting.

Dick Jones chose the Remington for handling but couldn’t decide between the Ruger or Beretta for carry. Perry Windose picked the S&W for handling but the Ruger for carry. I personally chose the Remington for handling and concealed carry.

Well, there you have it. My two fellow shooters and I agreed that the most important features of this class of pistol are reliability, accuracy and concealability, and all five of these .380 pistols provide that. The other features will depend on what the individual shooter prefers or needs.

Beretta Pico Specs

• Caliber: .380 ACP
• Barrel: 2.7 inches
• OA Length: 5.1 inches
• Weight: 11.5 (ounces)
• Grip: Polymer
• Sights: Adjustable three-dot
• Action: DAO
• Finish: Matte black, stainless
• Capacity: 6+1
• MSRP: $300

Kahr CT380 Specs

• Caliber: .380 ACP
• Barrel: 3 inches
• OA Length: 5.52 inches
• Weight: 11.45 ounces (empty)
• Grip: Polymer
• Sights: White bar-dot, adjustable
• Action: Striker-fired
• Finish: Matte black, stainless
• Capacity: 7+1
• MSRP: $419

Remington RM380 Specs

• Caliber: .380 ACP
• Barrel: 2.9 inches
• OA Length: 5.27 inches
• Weight: 12.2 ounces (empty)
• Grip: Glass-filled nylon
• Sights: Fixed
• Action: DAO
• Finish: Matte black
• Capacity: 6+1
• MSRP: $436

Ruger LCP II Specs

• Caliber: .380 ACP
• Barrel: 2.75 inches
• OA Length: 5.17 inches
• Weight: 10.6 ounces (empty)
• Grip: Glass-filled nylon
• Sights: Fixed
• Action: SA
• Finish: Matte black
• Capacity: 6+1
• MSRP: $349

S&W M&P Bodyguard 380 Specs

• Caliber: .380 ACP
• Barrel: 2.75 inches
• OA Length: 5.3 inches
• Weight: 12 ounces (empty)
• Grip: Polymer
• Sights: Adjustable front and rear
• Action: DAO
• Finish: Matte black, FDE
• Capacity: 6+1
• MSRP: $379

For More Information

Beretta
beretta.com

Kahr
kahr.com

Remington
remington.com

Ruger
ruger.com

Smith & Wesson
smith-wesson.com

This article is from the March/April 2018 issue of “Combat Handguns” To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Pocket Battle: Scores & Rankings of 5 Popular .380 Pistols appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

Thomas Jefferson once said, “There is not a sprig of grass that shoots uninteresting to me.” His idea was that everything in creation, no matter how small, had a role to play and was worthy of study. Perhaps following Jefferson’s example, Sturm, Ruger & Company understands that guns of all sizes have a role to play in self-defense. While large guns may offer more capacity and larger calibers, very small guns can have a major impact on the lives of those who carry them.

Enter The LCP

I remember being at the SHOT Show in 2008 when the Ruger LCP was introduced. There were small .380 ACP pistols offered by other companies, but the Ruger model seemed to stand on its own due to its combination of features, size and price. Quite a few gun writers and dealers were talking about the gun then, and now, nearly a decade later, many people are still enamored with the gun. Why?

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Fundamentally, the gun lives up to its name. LCP stands for “Lightweight Compact Pistol”—and that’s exactly what it is. It’s about 0.8 inches thick and weighs less than 10 ounces unloaded. Roughly 5 inches long overall, this gun disappears into a pocket or waistband, giving the owner a nearly perfect way to discreetly carry a self-defense firearm.

While the .380 ACP won’t earn top marks for that elusive thing called “stopping power,” it is still a respectable cartridge and an impressive step up from the smaller rounds available on the market. Seven rounds of this classic cartridge would certainly seem to be enough for most personal-protection scenarios. Considering I’ve carried a five-shot J-Frame in a front pocket for much of my adult life, having two additional cartridges without any additional bulk seems like a luxury.

Ruger has always been respected for building dependable firearms. With nearly indestructible handguns like the GP100 in its catalog, the LCP benefits from a halo effect by simply having the company name on the frame. When you mix in the incredibly low suggested retail price of only $259, the question changes from “why” to “why not?”

Pocket Carry

If, in fact, every gun has a role to play, it is clear that the Ruger LCP was born to star as a pocket pistol. Its flat surface minimizes printing while riding in your pants, and its short overall length keeps the butt from peeking out of the top of your pocket. This gun can take a supporting role in an appendix holster, but it is clearly meant for carry inside the pocket, not the waistband.

Should you have any doubt about Ruger’s design intentions, the company includes a pocket holster with the gun. The synthetic holster has a suede-like exterior with a strip of rubber-like material around its midriff. Presumably, the holster’s exterior will help keep the gun from flopping about in a large pocket while anchoring the holster when the gun is drawn from the pants.

Even though the included scabbard did a good job of breaking up the outline of the pistol, I found that it would not consistently part company with the Ruger LCP when I drew the gun. This can lead to the far-less-optimal scenario of sometimes pointing a holster at the target rather than the gun alone.

Other Options

Manufacturers differ on holster designs, but generally the use of a tacky material combined with the use of a wide “wing” to catch on the inside of the pocket is the most reliable method of separating the gun from the scabbard. The rubber strip did not seem to provide any significant friction in my pocket while the wing under the grip isn’t very wide. Instead of curving up to form a hook to catch the pocket corner, it slopes down to make it more likely to simply slip right out of the pocket with the gun. Some break-in time might put this issue to bed, or you can go to Plan B.

Fortunately, there are many other options for pocket rigs on the market. Two of my favorites are the synthetic DeSantis Nemesis and the leather Flat Pocket Holster from RKBA Holsters. Both of these holsters are affordable and have proven themselves in years of use with my guns.

Range Testing

Let’s be perfectly honest: A pocket gun is not an ideal combat handgun. To be small enough to slip into a trouser pocket, certain compromises must be made. For the most part, we are talking about size—the size of the grip, sights magazine and even cartridge all comes into play. Shrink things too much and you wind up with a gun that is too small to be effectively employed or, even worse, one that is unreliable.

The only way to tell if Ruger got it right was to head out to the range with a pack full of ammo. So that’s what I did. I tested the Ruger LCP with 400 rounds of ammunition from the folks at Aguila, Hornady, Liberty Ammunition and Winchester. I believe this is enough rounds to get a feel for the gun and determine if it will be reliable.

One of the concerns I had was the lack of real estate for my hand. With the extended floorplate on the magazine, I barely got two fingers from my medium-sized hand on the gun. Even with a mild cartridge like the .380 ACP, not having a good grip on the pistol can lead to excessive muzzle flip. But I discovered that recoil wasn’t as big a problem as I thought. While a larger grip would definitely make this a complete pussycat to shoot, it would also ruin the gun’s extreme concealability. The recoil was very manageable with all of the loads I tested.

Liberty & Winchester

Liberty Ammunition’s 50-grain JHP load is a speed demon. The company uses a nickel-jacketed, all-copper-core hollow point that is light for the caliber, especially when you consider that most .380 ACP rounds carry 90- or 95-grain projectiles. But the Liberty round’s lighter weight allows the bullet to reach a much higher velocity for greater expansion. In my testing, the Liberty rounds averaged more than 1,300 fps out of the LCP’s 2.75-inch barrel. For a .380, especially a small one, that is an unheard of velocity. Reliability with this round was also perfect, and I didn’t notice any additional recoil, though these rounds tended to hit slightly higher on the target than the others —between half an inch and an inch at 7 yards.

Winchester’s PDX1 turned in the best groups of the day. Completely un-supported, I managed a best five-shot group of 0.99 inches at 7 yards. Not bad at all considering the size of the gun and the age of my eyes. Truthfully, I was not terribly surprised that this load produced the tightest group, as I have found the PDX1 to show excellent accuracy in a number of handguns I have tested.

I mentioned the age of my eyes because the sights on the Ruger LCP are biased toward concealment. In other words, they are pretty darn small. The good news is that they will not catch on your pocket when drawing. However, the downside is they are harder to use—especially under stress and in low-light conditions. For shooting on the range, they are adequate and even better than some of the options from competitive pistols.

Additional Factors

If having better sights is important to you, take a look at Ruger’s LCP Custom. For only $10 more than the standard LCP, you get much larger sights, including a photoluminescent front. For many people, that could be the best $10 investment you will ever make in a pistol.

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The only malfunction I experienced was with the Aguila load. This round is a 95-grain FMJ, or ball, load. I was a bit surprised to see a problem with it, and I cannot be sure of what exactly caused the problem. With about 50 rounds through the gun, the third round in the magazine failed to feed. The spent shell ejected properly, but the nose of the next round appeared to hang on the ramp. Pulling the slide to the rear sharply allowed the cartridge to chamber, and I returned to firing. I experienced no additional problems with the Aguila or the LCP for the rest of the day.

Some companies making small pistols delete the slide stop. This prevents you from locking the slide to the rear for cleaning and inspection. Ruger smartly designed a manual slide hold-open lever into the left side of the gun. While the slide will not lock back when the magazine runs dry, you can manually engage the lever to keep the slide open. To keep things flat, the hold-open lever is relatively small and barely protrudes beyond the frame. For those with arthritis or dexterity issues, it may be somewhat difficult to engage this lever.

Discreet Performer

Overall, I think the Ruger LCP is an outstanding performer for the role it plays. The LCP is not a bedside gun for fighting off a home invasion. Rather, this little gun tucks neatly into tailored pants when discretion is a must. In this context, it delivers good accuracy with a respectable cartridge and capacity. Wrap in the Ruger name and ridiculously inexpensive price, and I only have one question: Why don’t you already own one?

Ruger LCP Specs

• Caliber: .380 ACP
• Barrel: 2.75 inches
• OA Length: 5.16 inches
• Weight: 9.6 ounces (empty)
• Grip: Glass-filled nylon
• Sights: Fixed
• Action: DAO
• Finish: Matte black
• Capacity: 6+1
• MSRP: $259

Ruger LCP Performance

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity measured in fps by chronograph and accuracy measured in inches for best five-shot groups at 7 yards.

For more information, visit ruger.com.

This M&P340 review was originally published in “Pocket Pistols” #186. To subscribe, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Is the Ruger LCP the Best CCW Bang for Your Buck? appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

John Moses Browning’s .380 ACP, developed for the Colt Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless, has soldiered on for more than a century. It’s been used mostly in underperforming full-metal-jacket (FMJ) form until about the past 20 years—and with much ho-hummery among defensive handgun buyers. Pistols chambered for it tended to be comparatively sizable and almost as heavy as some smaller 9mm handguns. The caliber has been an also-ran largely for those reasons. With advances in effective bullet designs and tiny pistols, however, it’s catching up. Balancing an efficient JHP bullet with moderate power and low recoil in a light gun that carries extremely well in a pocket or purse, the combo is not intimidating to shoot. It’s small enough to actually carry instead of being left at home because of weight or bulk.

It’s difficult to say which drives what—smaller pistols driving ammunition makers to higher performance levels, or high-performance ammunition driving gun makers to smaller pistols. Either way, the race in premium defensive ammunition development has positioned the humble .380 ACP well. Some of the better loads rivaling standard 158-grain .38 Special lead round nose (LRN) ammo in terminal effectiveness. And that’s from a thin pistol no longer than 5 inches stem to stern, weighing less than a pound fully loaded.

To see how modern .380s have evolved to keep pace with the defensive ammo they’re chambered for, I’ve tested three of the best on the market from Ruger, Smith & Wesson and Remington.

Ruger LCP

The oldest and smallest of the three pistols tested here—and the lightest at just less than 10 ounces empty—the Ruger LCP was introduced in 2008. It was Ruger’s first entry into the subcompact market. A polymer-framed seven-shooter when fully loaded, the Ruger LCP instantly attracted heavy interest among Ruger fans. It remains one of the company’s best sellers. Not that much bigger than some .25 ACPs available, the pistol is extremely concealable as a primary carry or backup gun. Its popularity has increased to the point where Ruger offers a number of variants. This includes one with a laser, those with carbon or stainless steel slides, and a variety of color schemes.

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The standard Ruger LCP features fixed sights; MIM hammer; short extractor; slide-lock lever; 2.75-inch barrel; textured grip surfaces, and no manual safety. It also features a reinforced plastic trigger; pull-out takedown pin; left-side magazine-release button, and a partially cocked double-action firing mechanism. Rounding out the features are a loaded-chamber window above the extractor; dual recoil spring with a steel guide rod; black-oxide slide finish above a black polymer frame and a six-round, blued-steel magazine. The Ruger pistol ships in a cardboard box with one magazine, a manual, a padlock, a black nylon zipper case and two magazine baseplates. One baseplate is flat and the other has an extended finger rest.

M&P Bodyguard 380

In 2010, Smith & Wesson took a leap onto the polymer pocket-gun bandwagon by introducing two new Bodyguard models—one a five-shot .38 Special revolver and the other a subcompact seven-shot .380 ACP pistol. Of the two, the .380 rode that wagon the hardest. The current M&P Bodyguard 380 line comes in any color you want, provided you want basic black, but you have a choice of six variants, including those with iron sights, red or green Crimson Trace lasers, a natural stainless slide or a darkened stainless slide, and a thumb safety or no thumb safety.

The base model, at almost 12 ounces unloaded, has a stainless slide on top of a polymer frame. It comes with a long extractor; alloy trigger; MIM hammer; slide-lock lever; 2.75-inch barrel; manual safety (or not); double-action-only (DAO) setup; two stainless six-round magazines; swivel-pull takedown pin; left-side magazine release button; windage-adjustable sights made of steel; a dual recoil spring with a steel guide rod; textured grip surfaces with one-and-a-half finger grooves; and two loaded-chamber indicators with a hole in the barrel hood and a window above the extractor. This S&W pistol ships in a cardboard box with a manual; padlock; black nylon zipper case and two magazines—one with a flat baseplate and one with an extended finger rest.

Remington RM380

The newest of the three pistols, Remington introduced the RM380 in 2015. It’s a much-modified version of the design acquired when the company bought Rohrbaugh Firearms and its small 9mm R9 pocket pistol design in 2014. The original Rohrbaugh was an expensive, almost-handmade pistol with a short-lived recoil spring. Remington’s redo retained the concealability and adapted the gun to mass production methods. It also extended the life of the recoil assembly and decreased the caliber and manufacturing costs. As of this writing, only one version of the RM380 is currently available, but if market demand supports it, I’d expect to see at least a couple of others down the road.

The 12.2-ounce Remington is also the heaviest of the three test pistols. This is because of its wider aluminum frame and thicker, heavier stainless steel slide. It comes with fixed sights; 2.9-inch barrel; long extractor; steel trigger; MIM hammer; no manual safety; ambidextrous magazine release; slide-lock lever; textured grip; DAO trigger pull; push-out takedown pin; dual recoil spring with a steel guide rod; two steel six-round magazines and two loaded-chamber indicators with a hole in the barrel hood and a thin window above the extractor. There is no manual safety. This .380 ACP also ships in a cardboard box with a manual, a padlock and two magazines—one with a flat baseplate and one with a finger rest.

Trigger Time

The Bodyguard and the RM380 use true DAO triggers, which means the hammers are never cocked, and they need a deliberate trigger pull to fire. Some carriers consider that a form of safety device, similar to a double-action revolver. I’m among the group that believes no manual safety is needed with a DAO model. As a beneficial side function of the DAO trigger, the design includes a double-strike capability. This lets you keep clicking after a misfire without having to do a “tap-rack-bang” drill to clear or re-cock a tiny pistol. That’s not very easy to accomplish.

The Ruger LCP uses something of a semi-DAO action. Racking the slide leaves the hammer half-cocked, with the shortest trigger travel of the three. It has a shorter pull than a true DAO model but a longer pull than a single-action pistol. That means it has no double-strike capability, though. If it clicks, you must use the tap-rack-bang to get back in the game, and that takes time, two hands and some fiddling.

At the range, the Ruger LCP was easiest to work with trigger-wise. The Bodyguard came in second, and the extremely long, stacking pull of the RM380 made it difficult to deal with for accuracy testing. And it was the slowest of the three by far in rapid-fire speed dumps. With light .380 bullets, and correspondingly lower energy figures compared to more powerful pistols and calibers, one theory of close-in defensive use with these pocket pistols is to smartly empty the gun on target. If that’s your plan, the Remington’s trigger is a definite handicap. Overall, the LCP is the quickest for speed and the best for accurate aimed fire. The Remington trails the pack in both areas.

Sighting Systems

Does anybody care about sights on pocket pistols? I mean, it’s point and pull, right? Wrong. For most scenarios in which these pistols would be considered useful, target sights on such distinctly non-target guns are not absolute requirements. But as the Tueller drill taught us more than 30 years ago, a determined man with a knife at 7 yards can be standing on your toes in 1.5 seconds. You can’t wait until he’s within hip-shooting range to commence firing. Sights—even small sights—have a place, and they matter.

Although none of these pistols shot precisely to the point of aim out of the box, the S&W’s windage-adjustable sights provide at least some room to center a preferred load, and they’re the tallest and most visible of the three. Conversely, the fixed sights of the Remington and Ruger can’t be knocked out of alignment, and they’ll stay where they came forever. They’re also snag-free, and the back of the rear S&W sight is sharp enough to potentially grab a covering pocket holster or lining during a draw. The winner? It depends on your preferences.

Ergonomics

These models have small grip areas, and they’re not one-size-fits-all deals. Larger hands won’t like the smallest, the Ruger LCP, and the flat magazine floorplate allows only a one-finger hold on the abbreviated pistol, even with smaller mitts. The M&P Bodyguard 380’s grip extends down almost a quarter-inch farther, but even there, with its finger groove, it’s still pretty much a one-finger proposition, unless you have the skinny digits of a 4-year-old. The largest grip, the RM380’s, adds another eighth of an inch in length, and with its undercut triggerguard I can get two fingers wrapped around it using the flat floorplate (three using the extended floorplate).

The .380 ACP is a mild caliber to shoot, but it produces some muzzle rise in these tiny pistols. You’ll have to choose between comfort and concealability. The flat-bottomed magazines are fractionally more compact, but not enough to outweigh the control added by the extended finger rest versions—at least for me.

More Details

All of the triggers are smooth-faced, and all the grip areas are well textured and hold still under recoil. The S&W slide lock sticks out enough from the slide to function as a slide release, if you insist. The Remington and Ruger levers are far too small and inaccessible to use as a slide release under pressure (don’t even bother), and the Ruger can be manually locked open via that miniscule lever. However, the Ruger slide does not lock open after the last round is fired. The other two do, and that Ruger feature might be a no-go for some potential buyers.

The Remington’s ambidextrous magazine release button and larger grip dimensions would probably tip the scale for others. It fits more hand sizes, and it’s altogether a more lefty-friendly package, using that button and over-handing the slide instead of trying to thumb the slide release on loading or tap-rack-banging. Advantage: Remington.

Takedown

Most of these pistols will live in the carry-lot/shoot-little category, but eventually you’ll at least need to evict spiders and dust bunnies, and the takedown process is similar on each but not equally convenient.

The M&P Bodyguard 380 uses essentially the same swiveling pin as its full-sized M&P cousins. You manually lock the slide open and swivel the pin down about 95 degrees. You then pull it out and slide the top half forward off the frame rails—no tools are required. The LCP has a mushroom-headed pin that has to be pried out with something like a screwdriver, with its slide locked open. I’ve never been able to get one out with just a thumbnail.

The RM380’s straight-shafted pin is hidden inside the slide, and it can’t be accessed through its holes without some sort of tool, such as a paper clip, to push it out through the left side. It also takes some back and forth on the frame to line up the holes, and you have to manually keep those holes aligned with the frame and slide under recoil spring pressure while you poke the pin in or out. Locking the slide leaves them well separated. For simplicity and ease of disassembly, the S&W takes the cake.

First Shots

I know. These guns are not built for counting points on paper targets. But like the sight issue, accuracy can be a factor. If you’re considering a tiny gun as your only CCW, would you not want to know what it’s capable of if you must push the distance envelope?

Most print reviews hold this class of gun to a 7- or 15-yard standard, but I wanted to see what the test samples might accomplish during controlled situations at 25 yards. That meant shooting each of the guns off a rest during bright sunlight, with six .380 ACP loads that ran from FMJs to one of the newest bullet designs. Firing five-shot groups of each load through each pistol, I was surprised at what they managed with the loads they liked.

Accuracy Results

The 100-grain FMJ load from Black Hills was a disappointing washout at that distance in the Remington and Ruger, with the results spreading out more than a foot and not worth recording. That load performed best—8 inches—with the S&W. However, Black Hills’ new 60-grain, all-copper Xtreme Defense ammunition produced the best group of the day through the Remington RM380, at 2.25 inches. Winchester’s 95-grain PDX1 JHPs came in second, at 4 inches through the S&W M&P Bodyguard 380, and the other loads ran from 4 to 9 inches in their best groups.

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Remember, a sample of one is not binding across the board, and these results came from my samples, my hands and my eyes. Your mileage might vary, good or bad. Just remember that these little pocket pistols can handle human-sized silhouette situations farther than many people believe. Also note that all of the pistols shot high at 25 yards, with many rounds going higher than 12 inches above the point of aim. Straightest shooter? Too close to call.

The Verdict

These guns were reliable with all of the test loads. The only misfeed stoppages occurred while trying to chamber rounds using the Remington slide lock as a release and not sling-shotting the Ruger’s slide hard enough. Also, I had two misfires with a Sig Sauer load in the S&W, one of which lit up on a second strike. Ejection ran from mild and consistent in the Bodyguard and RM380 at 2 to 10 feet to wild and inconsistent (as expected) in the Ruger LCP at up to 30 feet. That doesn’t affect dependability and only matters when it’s time to chase the brass. The Remington has an annoyingly sharp edge above the trigger on the right side, and the S&W typically needs its magazine release depressed to fully seat a magazine.

These subcompacts are good buys as candidates for their intended role. If you’re in the market for a pocket .380, there’s no best among them. It’s just a matter of choosing the features you consider most important for your needs and finding a load that plays well with it. My choice? The S&W, but that’s just because it works best in my hand, and I prefer its trigger over the other two. Your choice is up to you, and I wouldn’t consider any of the three a bad one.

Ruger LCP, S&W M&P Bodyguard 380 and Remington RM380 Specs

This article was originally published in “Concealed Carry Handguns” 2017. To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post 380 Pistol Battle: Ruger LCP vs. S&W Bodyguard 380 vs. Rem RM380 appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

If there’s one thing that can be said about Kahr Arms, it’s that the company produces a compact semi-auto for the concealed carry needs of just about every shooter. In fact, Kahr produces three sizes of compact pistols with approximately 70 different variations. There are so many variations of the Kahr design that one could easily get confused trying to determine what is compact versus subcompact, etc. So, let’s be practical and simply define compact from the perspective of concealed carry. A “compact pistol” is one that can easily be concealed inside the waistband (IWB) or in a large pocket.

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This definition includes semi-auto handguns with barrels under 4 inches, magazines that hold seven or fewer rounds and weigh less than 23 ounces. To me, any pistol that meets these criteria has to be considered compact when today’s average service pistol has a 4-inch barrel, a magazine that holds at least 10 to 15 rounds and a weight of somewhere between 26 and 35 ounces. By these criteria, even the larger Target models from Kahr are really in between compact and full-sized. Therefore, all of the handguns made by Kahr Arms can be seen to closely adhere to the mission that Kahr CEO Justin Moon defined when he set out to design the ideal concealed-carry pistol in the early 1990s.

Kahrs Made To Order

One thing that can be said of Kahr Arms’ pistol lineup is that the buyer has quite a large number of features and calibers to choose from. You can literally get a personalized pistol from the factory. To begin with, compact Kahrs are chambered in four of the most common personal-defense cartridges used in semi-automatics: .380 ACP, 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. There are two main series: the Premium Series and the Value Series. The difference between the Premium and Value Series pistols is important to some buyers. However, there is no difference in terms of reliability or durability. The Premium pistols have polygonal rifling; dovetailed steel front sights; two magazines with flush floorplates; and a higher grade of decoration. The Value Series pistols have conventional rifling, pinned polymer front sights and come with one flush-floorplate magazine. Both grades have good reputations for accuracy and quality.

The main differences are simply the price and level of finish.

Details

Another area of variation is found in the material from which the pistols’ frames are made. The first Kahr pistols had steel frames. Today some models are still available with frames made of stainless steel, but due to customer preference, most Kahrs now come with polymer frames. The barrels are also made of stainless steel and come in eight different lengths between 2.58 and 4 inches depending upon the caliber of the gun and the size of the frame. The slides are stainless steel and may be silver, black, “titanium” or bronze in color. Not all slide finishes are available in every caliber or frame size.

There have also been a few Kahrs with blue polymer frames. Lastly, there are a variety of sights to choose from. Kahrs can have open sights, tritium night sights, laser sights and red or green fiber-optic sights. Given these variations, a buyer is likely to find a Kahr pistol that can fit his or her needs and tastes.

Of course, there is a limit to the number of variations available in a production handgun. For example, all Kahr pistols have the same basic design. In addition, they all have slides machined from 416 series stainless steel; low bore axis to reduce felt recoil; striker-fired ignition system; smooth double-action-only (DAO) trigger that breaks at approximately 6 pounds; striker block safety; offset feed ramp that reduces slide width; and a slim profile grip. The net result is a very flat semi-auto that tends not to print through a shirt or pocket.

CW380 & PM9

It would take many pages to describe every possible Kahr model. Therefore, I asked my friends at the Florida Gun Exchange to go through their inventory and provide a Kahr in each centerfire caliber to give you some idea of the range of variability available in Kahr’s lineup.

The CW380 is a Value Series pistol in .380 ACP that’s only 3.9 inches tall, 4.96 inches long and 0.75 inches wide. It has a 2.58-inch barrel with conventional rifling. It holds six shots in its magazine and one in the chamber. An optional seven-shot magazine with a grip extension is also available. The pistol weighs only 11.5 ounces with the empty flush-fitting magazine in place. These dimensions make it the smallest and lightest Kahr, and a natural for pocket carry. White bar-dot sights come standard, and tritium sights are available.

Part of the Premium Series, the 9mm PM9 is 4 inches tall, 5.42 inches long and 0.9 inches wide at the slide. This pistol has a 3.1-inch barrel, which, given the 9mm’s pressure curve, gives up very little in velocity and bullet energy to a 4-inch-barreled gun. It’s ammunition capacity with the flush-fitting magazine is 6+1 rounds. An available extended magazine with a finger extension holds one more round for a maximum capacity of eight shots. The PM9 is a bit larger than the CW380. However, it comes in at a very light 15.9 ounces with an unloaded flush-fitting magazine. The standard pistol comes with Kahr’s white bar-dot sights; however, the PM9 shown has optional night sights.

CM40 & CM45

The CM40 is a Value Series .40 S&W that has the same dimensions as the PM9, except the slide is only slightly wider at 0.94 inches. Given the wider slide and larger diameter of its 3.1-inch barrel, the weight of this .40-caliber pistol is 1 ounce more than the PM9 with the flush-fitting magazine in the gun. However, 17.7 ounces is still very light for a pistol chambered in this powerful caliber. Because of the larger diameter of the .40 S&W cartridge, this pistol’s flush-fitting magazine holds one less round than that of the PM9; however, Kahr also makes an extended six-round magazine with a finger extension, giving a CM40 with an extended magazine a total capacity of seven shots.

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This Value Series CM45 in .45 ACP is the largest of Kahr’s “Micro” pistols. It is 5.79 inches long, 4.49 inches tall and has a slide width of 1.01 inches. The barrel is 3.14 inches long. Weighing 19.3 ounces with the flush-fitting magazine in place, it is also the heaviest of the CM-series Kahrs. This increase in size is due to the larger architecture of the .45 ACP cartridge and the fact that Kahr has kept the capacity of the CM45 the same as the CM40. As with the other three pistols described here, there is an optional extended magazine with a grip extension.

Range Testing

I had a chance to shoot a CM40 some time ago. I found it to be a handy little pistol that was both reliable and accurate. Despite its small size and short sight radius, the little pistol could be counted on to consistently make headshots at 7 yards and center torso hits at 15 yards. The .40 S&W recoil was surprisingly mild due to the low bore axis of the pistol and the ergonomic shape of the grip. And this pistol’s ability to deliver rapid hits on target at close range was very impressive in light of the .40 S&W’s reputation for recoil. In CQB situations, it would be a formidable tool for neutralizing a threat.

As with the 9mm., the fast pressure curve of the .40 S&W cartridge allowed the CM40 to deliver velocities only about 10 percent below the velocities expected from a full-sized pistol with a 4-inch barrel. This clearly gives the 9mm and .40 S&W an advantage over cartridges that operate at lower pressures when it comes to short-barreled handguns. This ability to conserve velocity and energy in short barrels pays off in bullet expansion. Expansion tests I conducted indicated that every hollow-point bullet fired from the CM40 expanded fully. Overall, the CM40 was an impressive pocket pistol that delivered more stopping power than a traditional snub-nose .38 in a slimmer, trimmer and, in some cases, lighter package.

Concept Kahrs

In 2017, Kahr Arms introduced some additional features on some of the compact pistols, which means that there will be even more choices for the consumer. Four models—the CM9093TU3, CW3833TU3, CT3833TU3 and CM4543TU3—boast three-dot sights; Pachmayr Tactical Grip Gloves and tungsten Cerakote-finished slides; slide stop; and triggers. Given the past success of Kahr’s pistols, their quality, reliability and the company’s continued commitment to provide new choices to its customers, it’s safe to say that these compact Kahrs won’t be driving off into the sunset anytime soon.

Kahr CW380, PM9, CM40 & CM45 Specs

For more information, visit kahr.com.

This article was originally published in the spring 2017 issue of “Pocket Pistols.” To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Compact Kahrs: Examining the Kahr CW380, PM9, CM40 & CM45 appeared first on Gun News | Gun Reviews | Gun Magazine: Personal Defense World.

By its very nature, concealed carry demands compact pistols. Large and heavy handguns are hard to hide and carry for very long. The current concealed-carry trend is precisely why pocket pistols like Remington’s RM380 are so popular. The trick with these derringer-like handguns is shooting them accurately. Some believe they don’t provide the same precision as larger handguns. But the real problem is that these handguns are harder to shoot. This is partly due to their diminutive proportions and somewhat exaggerated recoil, but mostly because of their short sight radius.

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Sighting In

A full-sized handgun with a 5-inch barrel can have a 7-inch sight radius. If you’re sight alignment is off by 0.1 inches, at 10 yards your bullet will strike about 5 inches from your intended point of aim. By comparison, Remington’s RM380 has a sight radius of only 4 inches. In addition, a 0.1-inch error in sight alignment with the RM380 will cause the bullet to land about 9 inches off target.

The point here is that every error in sight alignment you make with a pocket pistol will induce an error in shot placement about twice as large as you would experience with a full- or duty-sized handgun. The little guns still have the precision—it’s just harder for humans to extract it.

Additionally, the sights on pocket pistols are notoriously small. This is not an indication of the quality, but a trait of a pistol intended to be carried in a pocket. Lasers can help, but interestingly, when laser sights were first offered, many shooters looked at them as a crutch or novelty. However, when Crimson Trace introduced its Lasergrips—replacement handgun grips with an integrated and instinctively activating laser—the opinions of open-minded shooters began to change. Now with the Laserguard, which mounts forward of the triggerguard, that same instinctive activation is offered without a grip modification.

About a year ago, I attended an event at Gunsite Academy where Remington introduced its RM380. Over two days, I fired about 1,000 rounds through the pocket pistol and was impressed—not just at how well it functioned, but at how comfortable it was to shoot. Based on that experience, I ordered an RM380 and have carried it off and on ever since.

Still, as with just about every other pocket pistol, I found the sights rudimentary. Fortunately, when Remington was developing the RM380, the company worked with Crimson Trace so a laser would be available when the gun was introduced. Crimson Trace engineered one of its Laserguard units to perfectly fit the RM380. In fact, you can buy a brand-new RM380 that comes with one.

I ordered a Laserguard for my little Remington and, after installation and zeroing, conducted some drills out of my book, “Handgun Training for Personal Protection.” I did this specifically to see exactly how much the laser would improve my accuracy and speed.

RM380 Drill Time

The Forty-Five Drill is a great representation of self-defense shooting skills because, to some extent, it replicates a real-world encounter. You consequently start standing 5 yards from a target with a 5-inch kill zone. The goal is to draw from concealment and get five hits inside the 5-inch kill zone in less than five seconds. Furthermore, the drill gets its name from its four elements of five. Without the laser, my average time was 4.75 seconds. Out of the 25 shots, I missed the kill zone three times. With the laser, my average was 3.46 seconds with two misses. That’s a speed increase of 27 percent. It exists because the laser is much easier to see and position on target than the minimalist sights.

The Failure Drill might be the most used and copied defensive handgun drill. Initially, it was developed for the shooter to learn to fire a shot to the head after realizing two torso shots did not stop the threat. The drill has morphed into many variations, and aside from any practical application, it’s a great test of skill. This is because the shooter runs hard to get the two torso hits but must slow down for the headshot. Using the RM380 without the laser, my average time for five runs was 3.67 seconds. Out of the 15 shots, I missed the head zone one time. With the laser, my average was 2.74 seconds with no misses—my shots were consequently more accurate and the average engagement time was 25-percent faster on average.

Crimson Advantage

Aside from the fact that a laser sight can make a pocket pistol easier to get hits with, there are numerous other advantages. Obviously, when it comes to shooting in low-light situations, lasers are a much better option than any fixed or even glow-in-the-dark sights. This is partly because the laser is so much easier to see, but also partly because you can maintain your focus on the threat with a laser sight.

Being able to focus on the threat is helpful in other ways, too. It can help you shoot faster because you do not have to shift your focus from the threat to the sights, and then concentrate on three different things: the threat, the rear sight and the front sight. And, in a situation where you’re holding a suspect at gunpoint, you can lower the gun below your line of sight, allowing you to fully observe the threat. This lets you deal with the situation while knowing you have a perfect hold, and you can shoot accurately and instantly at any time. Laser sights are also perfectly suited to any situation where you cannot get your handgun up in front of your face to see the sights.

You could be in a variety of unconventional potions during a lethal attack and need to respond with gunfire immediately, or you may be injured and cannot get the pistol between your eyes and the bad guy.

Of course, any time lasers sights are discussed, the argument is offered that the batteries may fail. This is a fact, but it’s also the reason that, when you train with a handgun, you should train to draw to the sights. If during the drawstroke you see the laser before your sights are acquired, you can engage immediately. If the laser is not seen, then you default to the sights and engage accordingly.

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Seeing Crimson

Regardless of whether your pocket pistol is the Remington RM380 or not, Crimson Trace has an extensive line of laser grips and Laserguard units for pocket pistols. You can choose between red or green laser models with prices in most cases ranging between $200 and $300. For some ultra-compact pistols, the company even offers the Laserguard Pro. Furthermore, it combines a 150-lumen LED light with a laser. Crimson Trace also has a free instructional DVD that walks you through all of the advantages of laser sights. If you buy a laser sight now, Crimson Trace will supply you with batteries for the rest of your life. That’s almost as good as free donuts!

Concealed carry is all about small guns; they’re the guns you’re most likely to actually have with you. In addition, small guns are harder to shoot accurately. Savvy up and put a laser on your defensive handgun. Whether it’s a large gun or a little gun, a laser will help you shoot better and faster. Though some still believe lasers are a gimmick or even a bad idea, the results speak for themselves. Only fools remain reluctant to accept progress when presented with the facts.

This article was originally published in the spring 2017 issue of “Pocket Pistols.” To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Laser’s Edge: Testing a Crimson Trace Laser on the Remington RM380 appeared first on Personal Defense World.

In 1929, Carl Walther Waffenfabrik introduced a revolutionary new pistol that changed literally everything about combat handguns. The Polizeipistole (PP) was designed for law enforcement use and combined the revolver’s double-action/single-action (DA/SA) trigger with a compact semi-automatic handgun design. The gun world would never be the same.

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The Walther PP utilized a fairly uncomplicated blowback mechanism and was offered in .22 LR, .25 ACP, .32 ACP and .380 ACP. And, thanks to its ingenious design, the gun could be safely carried with a round in the chamber ready to fire via a long DA trigger pull. Subsequent trigger pulls in SA mode were lighter and shorter. The PP incorporated a reliable internal safety mechanism, a handy magazine release and a last-round-hold-open feature, all in a remarkably svelte, compact and stylish chassis.

The smaller PPK (Polizeipistole Kriminalmodell, or Police Pistol Detective Model) went on to become the definitive variant, and it is one of the world’s most iconic close-quarters defensive handguns. The Walther P38 used essentially the same trigger in an attempt to replace Georg Luger’s P08 during World War II. The PP and PPK armed a rogues’ gallery of Nazis throughout that planetary conflict.

The overwhelming majority of PPK pistols issued throughout WWII were chambered in .32 ACP. While this indeed made for a compact and sweet-shooting handgun, the downrange performance of this anemic cartridge was fairly underwhelming, particularly when launching FMJ bullets. Where the American M1911A1 in .45 ACP was a brawny handgun designed for serious close combat, the PPK was actually better suited as an executioner’s tool.

War Stories

Elvis Presley was fond of an engraved PPK sporting his characteristic “TCB” (“Taking Care of Business”) motto. Legend has it that the King gave his personal PPK to Hawaii Five-O actor Jack Lord as a gift in 1973.

The most famous user of the iconic Walther PPK, however, is not even a real guy. Ian Fleming’s fictional MI6 agent James Bond carried a .25 ACP Beretta 418 in his earliest adventures. A firearms expert named Geoffrey Boothroyd eventually convinced Fleming to swap Bond’s standard handgun out for a PPK just in time for his run-in with Dr. No in 1958.

The United States was always the largest postwar market for PPK handguns, and the design was amended slightly to accommodate the 1968 Gun Control Act, which established morphological criteria that had to be met for small handguns to be importable into the U.S. The subsequent PPK/S sported a slightly longer frame that held an extra round in the magazine. While Walther still offered the smaller calibers, most post-war PPK pistols fed .380 ACP ammunition. Walther now produces the PPK and PPK/S in Arkansas.

Design Influence

While the internal safety features and loaded-chamber indicator of the PPK have become de rigueur on many modern combat handguns, it was the DA/SA trigger that really made a splash. The same basic mechanism drove most handguns until the 1990s. Familiar weapons like the Beretta M9, the Sig P226, the CZ 75 and various Smith & Wesson semi-autos of the day all used some variation of this trigger system. This design reigned supreme until Gaston Glock debuted the striker-fired Safe Action trigger system that has since transformed modern combat handguns.

While most law enforcement pistols employ striker-fired triggers these days, the DA/SA mechanism remains a brisk seller. Many serious gunmen, myself included, enjoy the added safety of a long trigger pull for the first round out of the holster. Despite a literal lifetime of trying, I can never seem to shoot to precisely the same point of aim in both modes. However, I am personally acquainted with three accidental discharges that spawned from striker-fired handguns, two of which inflicted severe officer injuries. The DA/SA trigger still has a place among modern handguns even today.

Walther PPK/S

But let’s take a closer look at the PPK/S. This is a steel-framed, blowback-operated pistol with a rotating hammer-drop safety mounted on the left side of the slide. The thumb easily accesses this device when the gun is fired right-handed. The magazine release is thumb-activated like that of the revered 1911. The sights are fixed and fairly small, though the top of the slide sports wavy serrations to minimize glare.

The slide on the PPK/S locks to the rear automatically after the last round in the magazine is fired. Swap magazines and snatch the slide back slightly to release it over a fresh magazine. The recoil is snappy for a .380 ACP handgun given its unlocked blowback action. However, the gun remains both fun to shoot and a personal favorite.

Next-Gen Treatment

That Walther is an established innovator in the field of combat handguns is indisputable. One of its most modern designs, however, remains absolutely unique among dozens of competitors. The Walther CCP uses a gas-delayed blowback operating system to put 9mm power into a .380-sized chassis. Walther calls this the Softcoil system.

Most modern combat rifles are gas-operated. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but not many. The details vary, and these individual details sell a lot of guns. However, most modern combat rifles tap a bit of gas off near the muzzle and use this energy to cycle the action and fire another round. Such contrivances allow a weapon to be much smaller and lighter than might be the case were the gun driven by pure unvarnished blowback. In the case of the CCP, Walther engineers took a basic gas piston design and turned it around backwards. In so doing, they slowed the action down rather than sped it up. The result is absolutely inspired.

CCP

The polymer-framed Walther CCP is subsequently thin, lightweight and portable. The CCP was designed from the outset for concealed-carry applications, and everything about the gun is optimized for this role. There are no sharp angles to snag, and thanks to the gas-retarded operating system, the slide is remarkably easy to rack.

The CCP is indeed lightweight and svelte in hand. There is an exposed manual safety on the left side for peace of mind as well as an external manual slide release, also on the left. The reversible magazine release is in the same spot as that of the PPK/S. The stippling on the grip is pronounced without being uncomfortable. I have big hands and the CCP fits both my petite bride and me comparably well. While utterly reliable, the CCP is tedious to disassemble.

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The striker-fired trigger is consistent from the first shot to the last. I did find the trigger to be longer and grittier than that of most striker-fired designs; the CCP tames the 9mm cartridge splendidly. It also renders fine accuracy at close combat ranges. Riding in a CrossBreed IWB holster, the gun is small enough to be comfortable yet adequately powerful for serious social uses.

Old & New

Both the PPK/S and the CCP have kept me company as concealed-carry tools on countless occasions. The PPK/S carries an inimitable ambience, while the CCP is arguably the most innovative compact 9mm on the American firearms market. Both guns shoot plenty straight to defend your person during outings to the sorts of places where the Wild Things roam. Each of these two weapons fulfills the same mission in very different ways.

A man much smarter than am I once opined that variety is the spice of life. While I would take issue with that statement as it applies to perhaps spouses, such stuff is the rocket fuel that launched many a gun nerd into the limitless ether of modern gun collecting. While the vast majority of modern defensive handguns owe their parentage to the singular brilliance of one John Moses Browning and his locked-breech, recoil-operated Hi-Power, both the PPK/S and CCP follow their own unique paths.

The original Walther PPK introduced the world to a novel trigger system that subsequently dominated military handgun designs for generations. The CCP took something familiar and pedestrian and turned it on its ear. In so doing, the CCP established for itself a unique niche in the remarkably busy field of modern defensive handguns. The CCP is as cutting edge as tomorrow’s headlines, and the PPK/S remains relevant today nearly nine decades after its introduction. Between these two guns we get a glimpse into the genius that has characterized Walther firearms for nearly a century.

Walther CCP & Walther PPK/S Specs

Walther CCP Performance

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps per manufacturer specifications and accuracy in inches for best four-shot group at 18 meters.

Walther PPK/S Performance

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps per manufacturer specifications and accuracy in inches for best four-shot group at 18 meters.

For more information, visit waltherarms.com.

This article was originally published in the spring 2017 issue of “Pocket Pistols.” To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Comparing the Walther CCP and Walther PPK/S for Self Defense appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Springfield Armory kicked off 2018 by announcing its 911 .380 ACP pistol for EDC. Now the Illinois-based company has revealed it is shipping the gun with a black nitride finish. Black nitride is a corrosion and abrasion-resistant finish. This ensures the gun will withstand harsh use while still maintaining its function and accuracy. The nitriding process involves hardening the outermost later of the stainless steel frame. More on the Springfield 911 in the press release below:

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Springfield 911

Springfield Armory engineers optimized the 911’s frame-to-slide-to-trigger guard relationship to create handling characteristics unique among small pistols. While many pocket guns can be difficult to shoot, Springfield Armory’s gunsmiths specifically designed the comfortable feel, confident control and minimal recoil in their .380 platform to encourage both practice and carry. 

The 911 .380 features a G10 short-reset pivoting trigger with a light 5-pound pull, a differentiating and satisfying feature in such a small pistol. It also has an extended ambidextrous safety to ensure easy manipulation under stressful situations and confirms that the weapon won’t fire before the operator intends. A hammer provides peace of mind with both visual and tactile cues for various modes of carry.

For quick target acquisition, the 911 comes with a bright tritium low-profile tactical rear sight, paired with a low-profile combat Pro-Glo tritium and luminescent front sight.  The low-profile design ensures a snag-free draw, to put the firearm between operator and attacker as quickly as possible. G10 Octo-Grip on the mainspring housing, and Octo-Grip front strap texturing, allows for secure grip contact without tearing up your clothes while carrying concealed.   

The 911 .380 features a flush 6-round magazine or 7 round magazine with a Mag X-Tension.

Touted as an ideal carry pistol or backup gun, the black nitride Springfield 911 is priced at $599. A version with an integrated green Viridian laser is available for $789.

For more information, go to Springfield-Armory.com.

The post Now Shipping: The Springfield 911 .380 Pistol in Black Nitride appeared first on Personal Defense World.

A couple of years ago, a certain pistol made headlines after reporters latched onto the fact that it looked like a smartphone when folded. The name of that pistol was the Ideal Conceal. It appears that pre-orders of the Ideal Conceal are now shipping out to customers.

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In an update posted to YouTube on July 9, which you can see below, Ideal Conceal CEO Kirk Kjellberg confirmed that pre-orders of the gun are shipping in the order in which they were paid. He also said a few dealers were receiving pre-orders. In addition, Kjellberg stated that the company is developing a line of exclusive holsters to accommodate the gun.

The Ideal Conceal is a .380 ACP derringer that, when folded, is roughly the same size as a Samsung Galaxy S7. To unfold it, you grip and rotate the handle away from the body of the firearm. When fully extended, the handle locks into place. To return the handle to the closed position, you depress the handle lock buttons on either side and rotate the handle in the opposite direction.

To load the Ideal Conceal, you open the breach block by sliding the breach block latch away from the muzzle. Then, you rotate the breach block away from the latch. Next, you insert two .380 ACP rounds into the chambers. Finally, you close the breach block by rotating it into a closed position.

The ATF has stated that the Ideal Conceal is not a NFA firearm.

The Ideal Conceal is listed at $575 on the company’s website. Check out the specs on the gun, as supplied by The Firearm Blog in a review a couple of months ago. In addition, see the progress update, as well as a video showing the Ideal Conceal in action.

For more, visit idealconceal.com.

Ideal Conceal Specs

• Weight: 18.3 Ounces (Unloaded)
• Length: 5.5″
• Width: 0.75″
• Height: 3″ (Collapsed; Folded In)
• Height: 5.1875″ (Extended; Folded Out)
• Body & Frame is 100 percent Aluminum
• Made in the U.S.A.

The post NOW SHIPPING: The Ideal Conceal Folding Cell Phone Pistol appeared first on Personal Defense World.

The Taurus Spectrum, a .380 ACP concealed carry pistol first introduced at SHOT Show 2017, is now available out of the box with a Viridian E-Series red laser.

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According to the presser, Viridian’s E Series red laser sight mounts onto the Taurus Spectrum’s trigger guard. It’s visible out to 25 yards in daylight and up to one mile at night. The laser features a fast on-off switch, up to six hours of battery life, and a model-specific design that integrates with the Spectrum’s profile for a slim, trim look and snag-free draw.

“Taurus continues to put out unique, make-sense firearms,” said Viridian President and CEO Brian Hedeen. “The American-made Spectrum is an exciting product and we’re happy to have several laser sights for those who purchase this ideal concealed carry option.”

Not content with the E Series, the Spectrum can also accommodate Viridian’s Reactor Green and Red Gen 2 lasers.

Touted in the press release as a “significant leap forward in micro semi-auto handgun design and performance,” the Taurus Spectrum incorporates ergonomic soft-touch overmold panels into the grip and slide, which the company says boosts “positive operation under stressful conditions.” In addition, the range of color options gives users an added customization opportunity.

The striker-fired Taurus Spectrum .380 pistol with the Viridian E-Series laser is available at a MSRP of $359.

See the specs on the Taurus Spectrum below. For more on Taurus, go to taurususa.com.

Taurus Spectrum

• Caliber: .380 Auto
• Capacity: 6 rds / 7 rds
• Finish: Various Colors
• Grip: Soft-Touch Overmold
• Firing System: Striker
• Action Type: DAO
• Trigger Pull: 7-9 lbs.
• Safety: Internal
• Sights (Front): Integrated Low Profile
• Sights (Rear): Integrated Low Profile
• Slide Material: Stainless Steel
• Slide Finish: Black Melonite or Matte Stainless
• OAL: 5.40″
• Overall Width: 0.89″
• Overall Height: 3.82″
• Barrel Length: 2.8″
• Mag Release: Reversible
• Weight (Unloaded): 10 oz.
• Magazines Included: 2
• Accessories: Cable Lock
• Package Size: 10″ x 6″ x 1.75″
• Package Weight: 1.0 lbs.

The post Taurus Slaps a Viridian Laser on Its Spectrum .380 CCW Pistol appeared first on Personal Defense World.

It doesn’t seem like it has been 10 years since Ruger introduced the LCP, revolutionizing the subcompact pistol world. But, it has. And in those years, numerous other companies have followed suit by bringing out micro .380 ACP handguns. Now, in celebration of a decade of leading the market, Ruger has introduced the Limited Edition LCP.

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Now in most ways this Limited Edition LCP is very much the same handgun that exploded in popularity in 2008. In fact, it still contains the features that make this gun so popular as both a primary and backup weapon. The LCP is compact and light, weighing a mere 9.6 ounces unloaded, with a length of just over 5 inches.

The features that are different include a stainless-steel slide, with front serrations, and an aluminum skeletonized trigger. Ruger also laser engraved “Tenth Anniversary” on the slide to commemorate the anniversary. Everything else is pretty much the same, including the fixed sights and glass-filled nylon frame.

Because of its many features, the LCP is excellent for concealment. Unfortunately, such a small handgun in .380 makes it pretty snappy in regard to recoil. Regardless, shooters still love this subcompact pistol.

The main reason for this is its size. Most concealed-carry advocates will never need to draw their gun. And even if they do, the mere presence of a prepared victim will end the attack. Therefore, a subcompact on the person is much better than a larger, but more powerful, gun at home. Even better, with modern ammunition, the .380 ACP is a decent self-defense round.

Ruger Limited Edition LCP

• Action: Semi auto
• Slide Finish: Stainless Steel
• Barrel Length: 2.75″
• Overall Length: 5.16″
• Height: 3.6″
• Width: .82″
• Weight: 9.6 ozs.
• MSRP: $299

For more information about the Ruger Limited Edition LCP, please visit ruger.com.

The post Ruger Celebrates 10 Years With Limited Edition LCP appeared first on Personal Defense World.

With more and more states offering “shall issue” concealed-carry permits, the demand for small, lightweight, concealable pistols and revolvers has skyrocketed. In addition, the number of law enforcement carrying backup guns is growing. The reason for this is simple: If your primary weapon is snatched, runs out of ammo or malfunctions, you draw your backup gun and get back into the fight.

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You probably already know that .380 ACP pistols are some of the hottest items on today’s handgun market. More and more gun-makers are offering them, and one just introduced one deserves a serious look — the Springfield 911 pistol.

Standout .380

Unlike so many of the pistols currently on the market, the 911 does not make use of a polymer frame or components. Nor does it have a double-action-only trigger. It is a very traditional pistol with an aluminum-alloy frame, a stainless-steel slide, a single-action trigger and an ambidextrous thumb safety. It fact, a cursory examination of the 911 reveals that it is mostly a mini 1911.

But, while the 911 has many traditional 1911 features, disassembling it shows that the barrel locks up via the chamber hood moving up into and bearing on the front of the ejection port, locking the two units together. As the slide reciprocates to the rear, the barrel is cammed downward, allowing the slide to continue rearward extract and eject the case. This is a much simpler system than John Moses Browning’s original 1911 design. It used a linked barrel with lugs that lock into grooves in the top of the slide.

However, the operating drill for the 911 is the same as any 1911. You insert a magazine, rack the slide to chamber a cartridge and then engage the thumb safety. The 911 can be carried in Condition One, which allows you to draw and fire the pistol very quickly and accurately. If you don’t care for this mode of carry, you can carry it with a loaded magazine, an empty chamber and the hammer down (Condition Three). This; however, requires you to rack the slide to chamber a round before it can be fired. Both modes have their proponents and critics, but with proper training, the single-action 1911 is one of the safest handguns ever designed.

Features of the Springfield 911 Pistol

At first glance, you might notice some features on the Springfield 911 that would be right at home on a custom-built 1911. For example, the stainless-steel slide features a lowered and flared ejection port, very attractive cocking grooves and a massive external extractor. That extractor is capable of removing the most recalcitrant spent cases.

The AmeriGlo Pro-Glo front sight has a green tritium insert surrounded by a white luminescent ring. The rear sight has two tritium inserts with white outlines. This makes the sights equally visible in bright and low-light conditions. Both are mounted in dovetail cuts, allowing for easy windage adjustments. A pivoting loaded-chamber indicator on top of the slide, just behind the ejection port, provides a visual and tactile indication of the pistol’s condition.

Springfield’s “Octo-Grip” texturing on the front- and backstraps, combined with the aggressive G10 grip panels, provides a very secure purchase. You’d have to tear the skin off the palms of my hands to take this pistol away from me.

The controls are all located in the proper 1911 positions for easy and secure manipulations. Also, the deeply serrated hammer spur allows for positive manual cocking. It’s also worth noting that the thumb safety can be applied with the hammer cocked or forward. However, unlike a 1911, there is no grip safety.

The pistol comes with a flush-fitting six-round magazine, as well as an extended seven-rounder with a finger rest for a full grip. The beveled magazine-well opening makes for fumble-free reloads. Additionally, the single-action trigger broke crisply with 5.5 pounds, which is just about right for close-range personal defense. Another nice touch is that the 911 comes with a pocket holster, which is a good way to carry.

Rounds Downrange

At our earliest opportunity, my wife, Becky, and I loaded the necessary equipment into our truck and headed to our local gun club. While I do not find it overly exciting, my first task at the range was seeing what kind of five-shot groups the 911 would produce with four different brands of .380 ACP ammo. For this portion of the evaluation, I used an MTM K-Zone rest to tackle targets at 10 yards. And I’m pleased to report that the 911 shot to the point of aim and produced a series of groups in the 2- to 3-inch range. This is more than adequate for a pistol of this class.

Becky then ran a few drills on combat targets placed at 7 yards. Firing the 911 with both supported and unsupported grips, she had no trouble putting rounds where she wanted them. She did; however, experience a few malfunctions; the slide failed to go fully into battery.

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Ringing Steel

Finally, to have a bit of fun — and because I believe it gives you a better idea of how a pistol handles than just punching holes in cardboard targets — we moved over where my club has steel targets. Then, we proceeded to run racks of steel plates with the 911. During these drills, the pistol’s sights came to fore, allowing us to quickly acquire a sight picture and rapidly transition between the half-dozen plates. On occasion, the slide failed to go into battery, so I applied some oil to the pistol, and by the time we had run about 60 rounds through the 911, it was chugging along with complete regularity.

This served to reinforce my belief that you should not use any firearm for defensive purposes until you have run at least 100 rounds through it without a malfunction. In the end, we both came away impressed with Springfield’s little .380 and believe it would be an excellent choice for concealed carry by civilians, as well as undercover or off-duty police officers.

When I test a handgun intended for concealed carry, it is my normal practice to carry it for a week. But before I could mention this, Becky announced that she was going to use the 911 as her carry gun. Ensconced in her purse with a DeSantis Bag Packer holster, she found it easy to carry, fast to acquire and present, and a most comforting companion.

Springfield 911 Pistol

• Caliber: .380 ACP
• Barrel: 2.7 “
• OA Length: 5.5 “
• Weight: 12.6 ozs. (empty)
• Grips: G10
• Sights: AmeriGlo tritium
• Action: SA
• Finish: Black, stainless
• Capacity: 6+1, 7+1
• MSRP: $599

For more information about the Springfield 911 Pistol, please visit springfield-armory.com.

This article was originally published in Concealed Carry Handguns 2019. To order a copy, please visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Why the Springfield 911 Pistol Deserves a Serious Look as Your Next CCW appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Most gun users aren’t the lean and cut operators often seen adorning the pages of magazines. We can’t forget the elderly WWII veteran, for example, or the single mother of two. A sizable number of users don’t have the physical dexterity, for whatever reason, to manipulate the heavy slides on today’s modern fighting pistols. By the same token, there are those who cannot easily manage the overwhelmingly popular 9mm cartridge. Fear not, ye gentle souls. Smith & Wesson has recently introduced the new M&P380 Shield EZ, which just might be the solution to the challenges many gun owners face.

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EZ Enough

With its appearance modeled after Smith & Wesson’s well-received line of M&P pistols, the M&P380 Shield EZ introduces a couple of new features not found previously in the lineup. First, the M&P M2.0 family now boasts a .380 ACP pistol. Second, this gun incorporates a grip safety not unlike a 1911.

In the past, .380 ACP pistols could be found in standard sizes. However, in today’s market, the offerings tend to be in the micro-compact size range. These models often act as a backup to a primary weapon. Smith & Wesson broke with recent convention, however, and offered up the M&P380 Shield EZ in a package size that places it between the M&P Compact and the standard M&P Shield. This makes it a great candidate for concealed carry. But it is still large enough to provide a good sight radius and a decent capacity.

Just a Bit Larger

Despite having a slightly larger footprint than the standard Shield model, with a taller frame and longer barrel and slide, the M&P380 Shield EZ is actually 2-ounces lighter. This gun weighs just 18.5 ounces unloaded. This, of course, is because the EZ fires the lighter .380 ACP cartridge while the standard Shield fires the more powerful 9mm and .40 S&W rounds, requiring beefier components.

Now, the included grip safety is something new for the M&P line. However, it really does make sense for this model. Like the 1911, the EZ will not fire until the grip safety is fully depressed, presumably by the operator’s gripping action. Some enthusiasts and die-hards will eschew this functionality, but remember the target audience for this pistol. The EZ is designed for those who might not be as proficient at operating manual safeties as other gun users. Rather than relying solely on users’ good judgement to keep fingers off the trigger until they are ready to fire, the grip safety provides an extra layer of security.

Also bear in mind that even if they are knowledgeable, those who do not have the hand or finger strength to manipulate a heavier slide may have some trouble with the strength and dexterity required to activate a thumb safety. But for those who insist, Smith & Wesson also makes an EZ model with a thumb safety in addition to the grip safety.

Standing Out

Personally, I think the EZ is the best-looking M&P model of the bunch. There’s something about the scalloped slide that gives the pistol a sleek and sexy look. The slide incorporates rear cocking serrations and front semi-serrations, similar to other M&P models. I never liked the smaller serrations at the front of the M&P slides, as they are difficult to grip and use effectively. Also, they look more like a machining mistake rather than something done with intent.

For a model that is aimed at an audience who requires components that are easy to manipulate, the semi-serrations aren’t very useful and detract from the pistol’s appearance, in my opinion. However, Smith & Wesson makes up for this with the addition of charging supports at the rear of the slide. Though they are not immediately noticeable, they protrude far enough to provide users with enough material to grip and rack the slide more easily than with serrations alone.

The texturing on the EZ’s grip is subtle but sticky enough for a secure purchase on the pistol. It is not as aggressive as the texturing found on the new M&P M2.0 line of pistols, but it still helps the pistol seat quite nicely. As this will probably be a house gun for most users, it won’t be exposed to elements that might require more aggressive texturing.

Dimensions and Features

Overall, the pistol measures 6.7-inches long and houses a 3.68-inch barrel. Measured at the charging supports, the EZ is 1.08 inches thick, if you exclude the ambidextrous thumb safety. And, when measured from the top of the rear sight, the pistol has a height of 4.9 inches.

While similar in construction and appearance to its M&P brethren, the EZ is not a striker-fired pistol. Instead, it has an internal hammer similar to the M&P22s. This mechanism results in an extremely nice and crisp trigger pull, with my sample measuring an average of 3.63 pounds on a Lyman digital trigger pull gauge.

The EZ also sports a trigger overtravel stop, an accessory rail and a reversible magazine release. Additionally, it comes with two 8-round magazines. The magazines are similar to M&P22 mags in that there are black tabs in the center of the magazine that allow you to bring the follower down with one hand for easy loading with the other. This is another feature that accommodates users with weaker hands and allows them to more easily load the magazines.

Trigger Time

At the range, I tried a few different loads from Sig Sauer, Speer and Magtech. The get-to-know-you phase was conducted with Sig’s 100-grain Elite FMJ ammunition.

As expected, the controls were very easy to manipulate. The slide required little effort to rack. In fact, with an empty chamber and magazine, I was able to push on the front sight with my index finger to get the slide to fully retract to the rear position. The middle tabs on the magazines were also welcome additions that made quickly loading easy.

Shooting the EZ was rather enjoyable. It was similar to shooting a .22 LR pistol. There was hardly any recoil, and the trigger had a fairly short reset, making it easy to get back on target for fast follow-up shots. The three white dots on the sights were quite prominent and very visible. This also aided in the speed department.

Reliability

The EZ was reliable with one exception. I encountered an odd phenomenon with the 100-grain Sig FMJs. On several occasions, the last unfired round would rotate up and catch in the slide similar to a stovepipe jam. This happened with both magazines, but only with the Sig FMJs. None of the premium loads or the two other types of ball rounds experienced this issue. In fact, every other load I tried ran flawlessly.

I did experience a couple of failures to fire, but that was because I had accidentally flipped up the thumb safety during the recoil of the previous round. This was due to my hand size and the proximity of my thumb to the safety. I was not engaging the thumb safety while first shooting the EZ, so I did not start off by riding the safety like one would with a 1911. That was quickly remedied, and I had no more instances of this happening during the testing process.

Smith & Wesson has already issued a notice about this condition and is taking steps with a new design to mitigate such occurrences. Even so, for a pistol with a grip safety, I almost view the thumb safety as a hindrance.

My initial accuracy results while shooting off-hand were very encouraging. From a standing rest, the best five-shot group at 7 yards was only an inch wide. This came with Sig Sauer’s V-Crown JHPs, which also turned in the best average group size of 1.52 inches. As you can see, the EZ is capable of excellent accuracy and reliability with proper load selection.

EZ It Is

All in all, I was very impressed by the new M&P380 Shield EZ, particularly the way it solves problems for the audience for which it is intended. Sure, there was a quirk here and there, but that’s why you should always practice with your firearm and find the best ammo for it.

The important thing is that Smith & Wesson offers a product that is easy to manage and manipulate by those who don’t possess the strength to operate other pistols. The grip safety is intuitive and requires no extra moves. Thanks to the charging supports, the slide is easy to retract. In its more standard size, the EZ offers little recoil to worry about, and the magazines are designed to be loaded with ease.

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One day, when I get older, there may come a time when I might need such a product. I can appreciate what Smith & Wesson has achieved with this new offering. Also, I’m glad it took the initiative to develop a product that puts the capability of effective self-defense within everyone’s reach. EZ does it, and does it well.

M&P380 Shield EZ

• Caliber: .380 ACP
• Barrel: 3.68 inches
• OA Length: 6.7 inches
• Weight: 18.5 ounces (empty)
• Grip: Polymer
• Sights: Three white dot
• Action: DAO
• Finish: Matte black
• Capacity: 8+1
• MSRP: $399

For more information about the Smith & Wesson M&P380 Shield EZ, please visit smith-wesson.com.

This article was originally published in Concealed Carry Handguns 2019. To order a copy, please visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Review: Smith & Wesson’s M&P380 Shield EZ Makes Self Defense Simple appeared first on Personal Defense World.

With improvements in technology, .380 ACP is a viable self-defense round. However, this round tends to be chambered in small, polymer-frame guns. Remington broke from this when it introduced its all-metal .380. Now the company has stepped it up a notch with its RM380 Executive subcompact pistol.

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The RM380 Executive features tough, all-metal construction. While it might not matter in a compact pistol, metal is sturdier than plastic. Also, the RM380 comes with the longest barrel in the subcompact class, measuring 2.9 inches. This is only a fraction of an inch longer than other subcompacts, but it can make a difference in velocity. This equates to more power and better bullet expansion.

Overall, the Executive measures a mere 5.27 inches long and weighs only 12.2 ounces without ammunition. And while the metal construction only adds a few ounces to its weight, those ounces can help reduce felt recoil. That, of course, is the biggest complaint about subcompact pistols. Recoil can be quite snappy in something so small. Many shooters consider these guns to be great on the street but a pain at the range.

Now the Executive comes with an extended beavertail grip, which provides better purchase for drawing and firing. It also features a double-action-only trigger, an ambidextrous magazine release and durable fixed sights. However, its most interesting feature is that the RM380 locks back on an empty magazine. That’s not standard on most subcompact .380 pistols, and it is a nice addition since this gun comes with two magazines.

Remington RM380 Executive

• Caliber: .380 ACP
• Action: Semi-auto
• Barrel Length: 2.9″
• Overall Length: 5.27″
• Height: 3.86″
• Width: .95″
• Weight: 12.2 ozs. (unloaded)
• Trigger: DOA; 10-lb. pull
• Frame: Aluminum
• Slide: Stainless
• Grip Panels: Laminate Macassar
• Capacity: 6+1; come with two magazines
• MSRP: $405

For more information about the Remington RM380 Executive pistol, please visit remington.com.

The post Remington Releases All-Metal RM380 Executive Subcompact Pistol appeared first on Personal Defense World.

When a man walks in, points a gun, demands money and says you’re going to die, you have every right to kill that man. At least, that’s what a prosecutor is saying about a Cincinnati store owner.

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The incident happened back in January when James Douglas allegedly tried to rob the Glenway Pony Keg on Glenway Avenue. Surveillance cameras caught the events on video. This includes a masked man drawing a gun, as well as the store owner drawing her own gun and shooting the suspect.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said that the shooting was justified and he won’t be filing charges.

“As long as I’ve been prosecutor, I’ve said this repeatedly: If you go into a store with a gun and rob it, you forfeit the right not be shot,” Deters said, according to WLWT. “I’m sure it’s traumatic for her, but she did what she had to do.”

Deters also said that Douglas repeatedly stated that he was going to kill the unidentified Cincinnati store owner. Douglas had a loaded pistol, but had failed to chamber a round. So, when the store owner had a distinct advantage, even if she didn’t know it.

Cincinnati Store Owner Complied, But Then Fought Back

The video shows the store owner placing the money in the bag for robber. However, it doesn’t show what made her believe she could draw her gun. Maybe, he turned his back, providing an opportunity. Or perhaps she realized she might as well try since the guy kept saying he was going to kill her. In any case, she waited until the right moment to defend. She had no idea that he didn’t have a round in the chamber, so her compliance until the opportune moment was her best option. And it worked. 

Additionally, this story give credence to the effectiveness of the .380 ACP with today’s ammunition. She hit the man twice, in the chest and the back, and he collapsed inside the store. Sure, the .380 might be considered a mouse gun, but good center of mass hits are more important than power.

The post WATCH: Cincinnati Store Owner ‘Clearly Justified’ After Killing Robber appeared first on Personal Defense World.

One of Smith & Wesson’s latest addition to the concealed-carry handgun market, the M&P380 Shield EZ, has been a popular choice since its 2018 release.

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When the latest Shield arrived at my local gun shop, several of the guys working behind the counter asked to handle the new weapon. A hardcore bunch of gun geeks, the M&P380 Shield EZ produced several approving smiles and positive comments. I typically don’t get in a big hurry to test new guns, but handling this pistol gave me an itch that I had to scratch.

Some Backstory

Smith & Wesson first introduced the Bodyguard 380 semi-auto and Bodyguard 38 revolver a few years ago. To set these handguns apart from the crowd of concealable pocket pistols, these Bodyguard models came with integral lasers. Now, I’m not a fan of integral lasers, and enough gun buyers were likeminded enough to persuade S&W to release M&P Bodyguards without lasers.

More recently, the company rebooted its entire M&P line with new M2.0 pistols. The ever-popular Shield was also upgraded, and it features several improvements over the original design. I won’t dig into the nitty-gritty of the changes, but suffice it to say that customers spoke and Smith & Wesson listened.

The M&P380 Shield EZ, comes with two single-stack, eight-round magazines. The stainless steel barrel is 3.68 inches long, and S&W finishes it in Armornite for enhanced corrosion resistance. S&W also finished the stainless-steel slide in Armornite. Sitting atop the slide are white-dot sights. The rear sight is adjustable via an Allen wrench.

The slide also has fish-scale-like serrations at the front and rear, with the rearmost set protruding a bit to aid in racking the slide. The front serrations are placed in an interesting location. Some semi-auto shooters are in the habit of “press-checking” their weapons to see if it is loaded. They often cup their support hand over the top of the barrel and push the slide back from the muzzle end to see if a round is in the chamber. The problem with this practice is that it tends to put part of the palm or fingers in the path of the muzzle. The forward slide serrations here, however, are at the bottom edge of the slide, which promotes press-checking the pistol with the support hand underneath the barrel, clear of the muzzle.

The action features an internal hammer-fired design. Many .380 ACP pistols incorporate a straight-blowback design owing to the lower operating pressure of the cartridge. Smith & Wesson, however, wisely opted for a tilting-barrel lockup to handle some of the more powerful .380 ACP loadings without having to beef up the recoil spring. This leads to one of the pistol’s best features: its easy-to-rack slide. I hear a lot of complaints from people with weaker hand strength saying that they don’t like how hard it is to rack the slides on some semi-autos. You won’t have that problem here.

Another key feature of this pistol is safety. The design incorporates a grip safety, just like a 1911. Add to that an ambidextrous thumb safety and this pistol gets high marks. Though frowned upon, pistols of this type often get carried in pockets and purses. It doesn’t take much jostling to disengage a thumb safety. The added precaution of a grip safety makes good sense. The thumb safety, however, is optional but adds greater insurance.

The company made the frame of polymer, which helps cut down on weight. The grip area is textured for traction, and you’ll find a rail up front for adding a light or laser if needed.

Taking It Easy

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I tested the M&P380 Shield EZ’s accuracy and reliability by firing various .380 ACP loads. Over two range sessions on different days, I fired about 350 rounds from a steady rest with a target placed 15 yards away.

This pistol had a preference for ammo, with Winchester’s 95-grain PDX1 load coming out on top. This ammo created a five-round cluster that measured only 2.88 inches — the tightest group of all. Next in line were Winchester’s 85-grain Silvertip hollow points, which produced a 2.94-inch best group. This Winchester load, though relatively accurate, didn’t function reliably in this pistol. It failed to feed four times and “stovepiped” twice in 50 rounds. All of the other loads functioned flawlessly. Hornady’s 90-grain Z-MAX ammunition took third place with a 3.77-inch group.

If you are looking for a good candidate for your first carry gun, the M&P380 Shield EZ should be high on your list of consideration. For more information, visit smith-wesson.com.

Smith & Wesson M&P380 Shield EZ

• Caliber: .380 ACP
• Barrel: 3.68″
• OA Length: 6.7″
• Grip: Polymer
• Weight: 18.5 ozs. (empty)
• Sights: Adjustable three-dot
• Action: DAO
• Capacity: 8+1
• MSRP: $399

This article is from the July/August 2018 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com.

The post Smith & Wesson’s M&P380 Shield EZ Is a Strong ‘First Gun’ Candidate appeared first on Personal Defense World.