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Editorial by Eric R. Poole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Gun Room by Garry James . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

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MAY 2016 | VOLUME 60, NUMBER 5 | PUBLISHED MONTHLY GUNS & AMMO

CONTENTS

GUNS & AMMO Magazine, Copyright 2016 by Outdoor Sportsman Group. All rights reserved.

CAUTION: Some advertisements may concern products that are not legally for sale to California residents or residents in other jurisdictions.Guns & Ammo (ISSN# 0017-56 84) May 2016, Volume 60, Number 5. Copyright 2016. Published monthly by OUTDOOR SPORTSMAN GROUP, 1040 6th Ave., 12th Floor, New York, NY 10018-3703. Periodical postage paid at New York, NY,and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change (Form 3 579) to Guns & Ammo, P.O. Box 37539, Boone, IA 50037-0 539. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: 500 R. 46 East, Clifton, NJ 07011. Canada PostPublications Mail Agreement No. 41405030.

Guns & Ammo’ssubscriber coverfeatures newTikka T3x riflesthat providecustom rifle-levelperformanceat budget-levelprices. p. 44

ABOVE: SEAN UTLEY, COVER PHOTOS: MARK FINGAR AND SEAN UTLEY THESUN RISES

INTHEWEST

BY PATRICK SWEENEY

NEW FOR 2016 PREVIEW

37HANDGUNS

Beretta 38

Colt 38Ed Brown 38

Glock 39

Honor Defense 39

Kimber 39Les Baer 40

Nighthawk 40

Ruger 40

SIG Sauer 41Smith & Wesson 41

Springfield Armory 41, 42Walther 42

BY PATRICK SWEENEY

55RIFLES

Colt 56

CORE-15 56Kel-Tec 57

Kimber 57

Mossberg 57, 58

POF-USA 58Ruger 58

Savage 60

SIG Sauer 60

Smith & Wesson 62Springfield Armory 62

Tavor 62Sako Tikka 64

Troy 64

Windham Weaponry 64

BY TOM BECKSTRAND

79SHOTGUNS

Benelli 80

Browning 80CZ 81

Franchi 81

Mossberg 82

Remington 82Stevens 82, 84Weatherby 84

Winchester 84

BY BRAD FITZPATRICK

87AMMO

Armscor 88

Black Hills 88Browning 88

Federal 89

Hornady 89

Ruger 90SIG Sauer 90Winchester 91

BY CHRIS MUDGETT

93OPTICS

Aimpoint 94

Burris 94Bushnell 100

EOTech 96–97

Leupold 96–97

Meopta 96–97Nightforce 98–99

Nikon 98–99

SIG Sauer 98–99

Steiner 100Trijicon 94

Vortex 102

BY TOM BECKSTRAND

INTRODUCING THE KIMBERK6s IN .357 MAGNUM.

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In a world of variables, one fact remains constant: Speed wins.

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you the ultimate advantage. This is Condition Crimson.

AND IN CONDITION CRIMSON™, WE STAND.

Being prepared means making Laser Sights standard equipment on your personal protection firearm.Contact Crimson Trace at 1-800-442-2406 or crimsontrace.com for your FREE catalog and training DVD.

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4 G& A MAY 2016

SUBSCRIPTIONS INQUIRIES: Should you wish to change your address,order new subscriptions, or report a problem with your current subscrip-tion, you can do so by writing Guns & Ammo, P.O. Box 37539, Boone, IA50037-0539, or e-mail us at [email protected],or call TOLL FREE 1-800-800-2666. BE AWARE THAT GUNS & AMMOONLY ACCEPTS SUBSCRIPTION REQUESTS FROM AUTHORIZEDAGENTS! WE MAY NOT HONOR REQUESTS FROM UNAUTHO-RIZED AGENTS, AND YOU THEREFORE MAY LOSE YOUR MONEYIF YOU BUY FROM AN UNAUTHORIZED AGENT. If you are offereda subscription to Guns & Ammo, please call 1-800-800-2666 to deter-mine if the agent is authorized. For more information on subscriptionscams, please visit www.ftc.gov.

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OCCASIONALLY, our subscriber list is made available to reputablefirms offering goods and services that we believe would be of interestto our readers. If you prefer to be excluded, please send your currentaddress label and a note requesting to be excluded from these pro-motions to:

CONTRIBUTIONS: Manuscripts, photographs and artwork must be sub-

mitted to the editorial department with a SASE. The Publisher assumesno responsibility for loss or damage to unsolicited material. Please sendto: Guns & Ammo, 2 News Plaza, Peoria, IL 61614, Attn: Editor

FOR REPRINTS: For Reprints/Eprints or Licensing/Permissions, pleasecontact: Wright’s Media — TOLL FREE 1 (877) 652-5295.

BOOKS, DVD’S & BACK ISSUES: TOLL FREE 1 (800) 260-6397 or visitour on-line store at www.imoutdoors.com/store.

The Publisher and authors make no representations or warranties re-garding the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of the informationcontained in this publication. Any reliance or use of the information issolely at your own risk, and the authors and Publisher disclaim any andall liability relating thereto. Any prices given in this issue were suggestedprices at the press time and are subject to change.

Some advertisements in this magazine may concern products that are notlegally for sale to California residents or residents in other jurisdictions.

GUNS&AMMO® is a registered trademark o f Outdoor Sportsman Group inthe United States.

Outdoor Sportsman Group, 1040 6th Ave., 12th Floor, New York, NY 10018-3703, Attn: Privacy Coordinator

Copyright 2016 by Outdoor Sportsman Group

All Rights Reserved. No part of t his book may be reproduced withoutwritten permission.

Printed in the U.S.A.

gunsandammo.comAn Outdoor Sportsman Group publication

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EDITORIAL

EDITOR Eric R. PooleMANAGING EDITOR Chris Mudgett

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Laura KovarikASSOCIATE EDITOR Katie McCarthy

ART DIRECTOR Michael Ulrich

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Michael AnschuetzGROUP ART DIRECTOR David Kleckner

SENIOR EDITOR Garry James

SENIOR FIELD EDITOR Craig Boddington

HANDGUNS EDITOR Patrick Sweeney

CONTRIBUTORS

Tom Beckstrand, Jeremy Cantrell, Mark Fingar,

Brad Fitzpatrick, Richard King, Skip Knowles,Kyle Lamb, Lukas Lamb, Richard Nance, Alfredo Rico,

Jeremy Stafford, Sean Utley, Len Waldron

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Al Ziegler

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READERBLOWBACK

6 G& A MAY 2016

WRITE US! “Letters,” Guns & Ammo, 2 News Plaza, 3rd Floor,

Peoria, IL 61614, or email us at [email protected]. Please

include your city and state of residence. Letters may be edited for

brevity and clarity.

FAUX SECRETS &

INCORRECT SCIENCE

I always enjoy my Guns & Ammo

magazine and anxiously run to the

mailbox every month like “Ralphie”

looking for his Little Orphan Annie

secret decoder to retrieve my latest

issue. I particularly enjoyed your

“Guns & Gear of Benghazi’s Secret

Soldiers” and the “Taking Down

Terror” articles. Having worked with

both communities, I found it interest-

ing that the editors chose to black out

information on certain systems used

by the contractors, but not the quiet

professionals on the pointy end of

the spear. The “enemy” reads Guns

& Ammo as well as Janes.com, so thefaux secrecy may be cool and in line

with the IC’s “I’ve got a secret and will

have to kill you if I tell you” mentality,

but it should not have been paired

with a similar article outlining in detail

the equipment used in the UBL raid.

“Give me a lever long enough and

a fulcrum on which to place it, and I

shall move the world,” said Archime-

des. The “Understanding Bolt Lugs”

column by Tom Beckstrand was very

informative, but missed the markon one thing. If I recall my physics

correctly, the length of the bolt handle

determines the ease of throw (among

other things). The length of the arc

may interfere with some scopes,

but has nothing to do with the force

required to rotate the bolt.

Darrall Henderson, Ph.D.

Lexington, Kentucky

Dr. Henderson, I appreciate your

interest in the article on bolt lugs and

their influence on handling character-

istics of a rifle. Your quote and insight

about levers is 100-percent correct.

I would never disagree with you or

Archimedes. However, the statement

we need to be careful making is

where you say, “the length of the bolthandle determines the ease of throw.”

That isn’t entirely correct. The critical

component we need to examine is

the cocking ramp located on the bolt’s

underside at the very back of the bolt

body and just forward of the bolt

shroud. When we start tugging on

the bolt handle, this is where the real

action occurs. The 3-lug bolts with a

60-degree throw have a narrower and

shallower ramp that cocks the firing

pin in place when the bolt is opened.The geometry of this cut has every-540.298.8906

.com/g&a

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8 G& A M AY 20 16 | READER BLOWBACK

shorter axial movement of the shallower cocking ramp

found on a 3-lug action. The stiffer spring makes up for the

energy lost because of the shallower ramp, but requires

more force to compress. When we open an action, all

we’re doing is compressing the firing pin spring by sliding

the firing pin up the cocking ramp. The more bolt throw

we have in an action, the deeper our cocking ramp will be

and the more distance we have to compress our firing pinspring. Since our firing pin spring represents nothing more

than potential energy, the longer cocking ramp represents

that longer lever Archimedes sought. The longer the

ramp (lever), the easier it is to get the

potential energy we need. While we

can make firing pins heavier (increas-

ing lock time, which is never a good

thing) and play with reduced power

springs that have just enough energy

to make a primer fire, we can never

get around the effect a short throw

has on the geometry of the cockingramp. This is why a 3-lug action will

always be harder to open than a 2-lug

action assuming the bolt handles are

the same length.

— T. Beckstrand

KUDOS TO TEXAS DPS

Glad to see Dana Loesch’s column

“Brass & Ballots” in Guns & Ammo

magazine. Citing her friend’s expe-rience with the concealed handgun

license (now LTC for License to Carry

Application) used a very limited exam-

ple that doesn’t do the Texas Depart-

ment of Public Safety’s (DPS) Handgun

Licensing Division justice. I’m speaking

from the experience of a DPS-certified

instructor whose organization churns

out from 200 to 250 LTC students a

month. I cannot recall the DPS website

ever being down, but if it was, it

couldn’t have been for more than aday or so. Waiting until it was back up

thing to do with the force

required to open the bolt.

The cocking ramp moves

the firing pin in place when

we open the action. As we

open the action, the firing

pin slides up this ramp

before catching on the searand “cocking.” Every firing

pin needs a fixed amount

of potential energy to det-

onate a primer regardless

of what action type it sits in.

The shallower 3-lug cocking

ramp requires a stiffer firing

pin spring because the

firing pin spring now has to

compensate for the energy

lost (relative to a 2-lugaction with its much deeper

ramp). The loss in potential

energy is due to the much

Since 1 8 8 5

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10 G& A M AY 20 16 | READER BLOWBACK

would have been a much

better option and would

have resulted in far less

hassle than trying to submit

paper application with nota-

rized signatures. The paper

apps may go into a “we’ll

get to it when we can” pile,while the DPS processes

online applications and the

associated class completion

forms quite efficiently, espe-

cially when you consider

that changes in the gun

laws that affect their work-

load don’t appear to come

with an increased budget

to handle the additional

workload. All in all, they doa remarkable job.

David Freeman

North Richland Hills, Texas

MULTIPLE QUESTIONS

I would like to start by saying thank you to those G&A

staffers who are currently serving or are veterans of

law enforcement or our nation’s military. I have some

questions for Mr. Sweeney regarding the ported barrels

on the M&P Shield in the January issue. Looking at the

picture, it appears the flash coming up from the ports is

incredibly bright. How would this affect quick follow-upshots in dim or no-light situations? I would think that

much flash could impair a shooter’s night vision. Would

a wider port angle disperse the gases and flash more

effectively? Also, how much do

we lose in velocity with a ported

barrel? I own an XD subcompact in

9mm with a 3-inch barrel and am

wondering if I swap my barrel to a

4-inch barrel and add ports on the

extended length, would I lose any

velocity.

In an unrelated question, whydon’t gun makers put a tighter

twist in their handguns as they do

with rifles? Would the effect on the

round be minimal over the shorter

distance? Keep up the great work.

John Paradis

Redding, California

John, I’ll bet you were the kid in

class the teacher loved if they were

good at their job and hated if they

weren’t. The answers, in order: No,

the flash isn’t a problem. In fact, the

photographer (Sean Utley) worked

hard to catch it and show it so well.

There’s no need for better disper-

sion. Mag-na-port started porting

guns decades ago. I’ve since had

many firearms ported by them and

no, there is no velocity loss. (I even

did before-and-after testing to

prove it to myself.) Your barrel swap

may add velocity, and it may not.It’s not because of porting. Barrels

vary in the velocity they deliver on a

case-by-case basis. In my 1911s, my

fastest Commander-length barrel

(4¼ in.) is faster than my slowest

5-inch Government model. Go

figure. With some very rare mis-

matches that you have to work to

create, handgun twists are already

plenty fast enough to stabilize

bullets, and faster won’t gain any

accuracy.— P. Sweeney

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Performance: Peltor Sport products perform – on the range,

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MAY 2016 G& A 13EDITORIAL

ERIC R. POOLE

Finding a pistol thatI didn’t know I wanted.

@GUNSANDAMMOMAG

IT STARTED WITH AN ALLIGATOR. With Hoppy Kemp-fer’s Osceola Outfitters in Florida (osceolaoutfitters.com),I was able to check a box on my bucket list and hunt adinosaur. There I managed to harvest an elusive gator forits delicious meat and exotic hide. It was such an intenseand heart-stopping experience that I was hesitant to cut

problem.I am an enthusiastic col-

lector of 1911s and ownseveral significant pieces ofthis pistol’s history rangingfrom pre-World War I raritiesto contemporary military-is-

sued replicas. Unfortunately,I couldn’t imagine subjectingthese 1911s to everyday carryso I considered purchasingmy first high-end 1911 that could compliment the holster;one that I wouldn’t hesitate to wear. I thought, Am I reallyabout to buy a gun just because I have a holster? Yes.

I think the appropriate phrase is “when the tail is wag-ging the dog.” Admittedly, I’m guilty of doing this pre-viously. I’ve bought more than one gun in my life for thesole reason that I couldn’t pass up a sweet deal for a goodquantity of an odd caliber of surplus ammo. (Don’t be too

hard on me; I’m sure you’ve done something similar atleast once or twice.)

Last year, Kimber introduced the Classic Carry Elite andI lusted for it — for weeks. With a superbly polished finish,this .45’s slide was given a modest rose-gold accent for aborder, which was also applied to the left side includingKimber’s scripted branding. At the time, I couldn’t justifyspending nearly $2,500 for yet another 1911 just because I

and the tactical wedge rear helps to sub-consciously direct our eye to the top of thefront sight. Though rich in color and grain,the grips are more than functional, and theircheckering blends art with the tactile naturethat wraps around the frontstrap in 25 lines-

per-inch fashion.I couldn’t bring myself to carry one of myrelics of war, but I can trust my life to thereliable performance of this Kimber.

I’d like to know about your tail wagging experiences.Email me at [email protected].

TAIL WAGGING

PERFORMANCE

LOAD

VELOCITY

(FPS) ES SD

BEST

GROUP (IN.)

AVERAGE

GROUP (IN.)

Black Hills 230-gr. FMJ 836 46 19 1.99 2.32

Win. PDX1 230 gr. 936 60 23 2 2.37

Horn. Crit. Def. 185 gr. 995 34 14 2.7 2.82

Notes: Data is the average of five, five-shot groups fired from a benchrest at 25 yards.

Barrel: 5 in., stainless, match

Overall Length: 8.7 in.

Weight: 2 lbs., 6 oz.

Grips: French walnut,Micarta inlay, checkered

Finish: High polished gunmetaland PVD, rose gold accents

Trigger: 5 lbs., 4 oz. (tested)

Sights: Meprolight Tactical Wedge,3-dot, tritium

MSRP: $2,495

Manufacturer: Kimber, 888-243-4522kimberamerica.com

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to 95 percent condition is

between $400 and $450.

RECONSTITUTED

REMINGTON

Q: I’m sending photo-

graphs of a blackpowder

rifle that has been handed

down through my family.The only original com-

ponents are the barrel,

double-set trigger and

hardware from the original

stock and ramrod. The

wood was dry-rotted and

pretty much destroyed by

carpenter ants. The stock

is a duplicate of what the

original looked like so that

I could use the original

hardware. The double-set

triggers work well with a

replacement hammer/lock

I found. After soaking the

barrel in Kroil oil, it cleaned

up and the pictures show

its condition and surpris-

ingly even some original

finish. The pictures of the

rifle are a very good depic-

tion of how, I believe, it

originally looked. I’ve been

unable to find any history

on early Remington barrelsand am hoping you can tell

me more about this family

heirloom. Thank you for

your time.

J.W.L.

Email

A: First off, I must con-

gratulate you for doing a

beautiful job on the rifle.

Given that the majority

of the piece was virtually

non-existent, you got the

lines just about perfect.

Remington traces its origins

back to 1816 when the

founder, Eliphalet, and his

blacksmith father decided

they could build better rifle

barrels than were currently

available. After checking

out the competition’s wares,

young Eliphalet began

turning out rifled barrels of

exceptional quality to be

sold as separate compo-

nents to those who wanted

to fabricate their own guns.

The next logical step was

to produce a complete

rifle, and this he did. The

resulting flintlock half-stock

performed so well in local

competitions that demand

for Remington rifles turnedthe father and son from

EARLY WALTHER PISTOL

Q: I would like to inquire about the history, value and

veracity of origin for a pistol I inherited from my grandfa-

ther, a World War II veteran. He served in Europe follow-

ing D-Day and came home with this well-worn Walther,

S/N 69XXX, as a wartime souvenir. Stamped along the

left of the slide is “Selbstlade-Pistole Cal 6,35 Walther’s

Patent.” with the Walther banner below. Along the right

is “Carl Walther Waffenfabrik Zella-Mehlis I” with threestylized N’s and crowns stamped sideways on the slide,

barrel and trigger. One continuous groove along the

slide’s top, a knurled barrel cap and magazine release

located aft of the magazine well round out its features.

J.K.

Email

A: Your grandad brought back a Walther Model 5 6.35mm

(.25 ACP) semiauto pistol. These little guns were manufac-

tured beginning in 1913 and were a slight upgrade from

the earlier Model 2, which came out some four years earlier.

These were well-made, popular little repeaters. The photos

indicate the condition of your heirloom leaves something

to be desired, but assuming it is complete and functional, it

is still worth between $125 and $150.

UNUSUAL S&W MODEL 586?

Q: I recently purchased a .357 Mag.,

Smith & Wesson Model 586-1 with an

8½-inch barrel and four settings for

the front sight. It is in excellent con-

dition, but I can’t find it in the “Blue

Book of Gun Values.” Could you tellme about the gun and its value?

B.B.

Virginia

A: The 586 Distinguished Combat

Magnum is a superb .357 revolver

that was offered in several varia-

tions between 1980 and 1999. Barrel

lengths were 4, 6 and 8⁄ 8 inches.

The 586-1 was introduced in 1986

with minor changes to the original,

which consisted of a floating handand radius stud package. Value in 90

MAY 2016 G& A 15GUN ROOM

GARRY JAMES

“Well, that’s one of the darndest things I’veseen in a while and certainly qualifies as themost unusual gun in this month’s column.”

[email protected]

THE AUCTION BLOCKA cased Luger Carbine with matching stock sold fora respectable $12,650, including premiums, at theOct. 7, 2015, James D. Julia auction. This .30 caliber,Model 1902 carbine is in about 98-percent condition.It has an 11¾-inch barrel, three-position rear sightand dished toggle ears. The bore is mirror-like, themechanics are perfect, and its stock is in pristinecondition with sharp checkering and minimalblemishes. The gun comes in a contemporary blackleather presentation case with a brass designationplate on the lid. For more information about this andfuture auctions, contact James D. Julia, jamesdjulia.com, 207-453-7125.

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16 G& A M AY 20 16 | GUN ROOM

blacksmithing into full-time

gun manufacturing. By

1828, the company became

so successful that it moved

to larger quarters in Ilion,

New York. Early Remington

rifles, while of excellent

quality, closely followedthe lines of other sporters

of the period and, with the

exception of the barrels, still

employed locks supplied

from other sources, which

were stamped with the

Remington name. Because

of this, there is much spec-

ulation as to when the first

long arms wholly produced

by Remington really did

appear. I hope this tells youwhat you want to know.

CONVERTED

REVOLVER RIFLE

Q: Enclosed are photos

of a firearm I purchased

several years ago. It is

made up from a Freeman

pistol, however, it has no

stamping on it at all, just

a number on the inside

of the pistol grip frame.

Caliber is marked .32 RF or

a special cartridge madewith a percussion nipple at

the rear. I have seen this

type of category in foreign

shotguns made betweet

1840 and 1850. The wire

stock is hand-forged and of

mediocre workmanship but

the rest of the rifle is very

professionally made. The

forearm is drilled to hold a

cleaning rod but the thim-

ble on the barrel is missing.Please let me know your

ideas on this.G.B.

Arkansas

A: Well, that’s one of

the darndest things I’ve

seen in a while, and it

certainly qualifies as the

most unusual gun in this

month’s column. As you

note, it was built up on a

Freeman revolver, which

was originally a .44-caliberpercussion six-shooter.

Some 2,000 Freemans were

made in 1863 to 1864 and in

original condition are scarce

and fairly pricey. Your “rifle”

looks like it was pretty well

made, I must admit. It is

obviously the work of some

relatively skilled gunsmith.

Too bad it isn’t marked,

as it would be interesting

to know who he was. Therotating block arrangement

was not unique at the time

of manufacture, which I’m

guessing was some time

in the 1870s. The cartridge

with the percussion nipple

did go back a ways and

was used in rifles, shotguns

and pistols — one of the

most notable being the

extremely rare Confeder-

ate Cofer revolver. As I’m

inclined to think your piece

is unique, I cannot tell youmuch more about it other

than I think it’s rather cool!

MODEL 1950 S&W

Q: I bought this 1950

Model Smith & Wesson in

1952. I don’t see it listed

with other models of S&W

and often wonder if it’s a

frame of its own, or one

of the other S&W frames.

The pistol hasn’t been shota lot but has some holster

wear. The serial number is

93XXX. Any idea what it

might be worth?B.W.

Idaho

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GUN ROOM | M AY 2 01 6 G& A 17

A: The Smith & Wesson

.45 Hand Ejector Model of

1950, Military (there were

also a couple of target mod-

els), was introduced in 1951.

It was a square-butt N-frame

that was redesignated as

the Model 22 in 1956. Assuch, it was manufactured

until 1955. The 1950 was a

fine revolver, based on the

earlier .45 ACP Model 1917

but with some improve-

ments. These are fine guns;

they’re one of my favorite

S&Ws, for whatever that’s

worth. Slightly less than

4,000 were made from 1951

to 1966 under both moni-

kers. From the photo yousent, your 1950 looks to be

in about 98 percent condi-

tion — and it has its original

box. As such, according to

the “Thirty-Sixth Edition

Blue Book of Gun Values”

(bluebookofgunvalues.

com), it’s worth $1,800, and

I’d tack on another couple

of C-notes for the box. If

you also have the original

instructions, that’s even

better.

WORLD WAR II PPK

BRING-BACK

Q: I would like to come up

with an estimate of value

for this Walther that my

Dad brought home from

World War II. It was taken

from a German soldier

during a conflict and has

German Eagle markings all

over it. I hope they show in

the photos I sent.At one time we

researched the Walther

serial number, and I

remember it was manufac-

tured in 1941, but I’m not

positive. It is in very good

condition. I’ve shot it and

it handled like a dream.

The only problem I’ve

seen with it is the original

magazine. At the bottom

is a strap of metal that is

cracked, allowing the base

plate to push up on therounds and jam the pistol.

I bought another magazine

for it and that solved the

problem. My insurance

company is arguing with

me about the value. I’ve

stated its worth and they

would like some kind of

corroboration on it.

H.C.

Sandpoint, Idaho

A: This one’s pretty straight-

forward. From the photos, I

notice the pistol has eagle

“N” proofs and a small

eagle “C” mark on the

frame behind the trigger-

guard. The former indicate

the gun was made after

1940, as up until that time

the standard proof was a

crown “N.” The latter is a

police mark. Condition on

your pistol looks to be about

85 percent or so, and assuch is worth in the $1,000

to $1,200 range. Normally,

police guns are in quite nice

shape and that’s what collec-

tors expect to see when they

run across one.

SHOTGUN/

PISTOL INFO

Q: The following is a

letter my friend gave to

me about a shotgun anda pistol that he would like

additional information

about: “The double-barrel

shotgun was brought from

Tennessee by my great

grandfather in 1856. He

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18 G& A M AY 20 16 | GUN ROOM

and his two oldest sons returned to

Tennessee and fought in the Confed-

erate Army using the gun. Afterward

they returned to Texas. The barrels

are 40 inches long and the metal strip

between each barrel is engraved,

‘JAMES CONNING, MOBIL AL’

surrounded with fancy scrollwork.On each side beneath the hound’s-

head hammers is ‘H & JW KING,’ also

surrounded by scrollwork. The gun is

in unrestored condition with original

wood ramrod and Damascus barrels.

I would like information about age,

manufacturer and value, if at all pos-

sible. The pistol also came from my

great grandfather from Tennessee,

but I’m not sure if it was used in the

Civil War. It is in fairly rough condition

with a piece of wood by the barrelon the hammer side missing. The

only information available on it is ‘A

WATERS MILBURY MS 1838’ beneath

the hammer. The pistol is approx-

imately 15-inches long. Both the shot-

gun and the pistol are approx. .50

Cal/10 gauge.”

P.B.

Email

A: First the shotgun. James Conning

was a Mobile, Alabama, gunmaker

who operated between 1841 and

1875. He was also an importer and

marketer of guns and swords. As

the locks are marked H&JW King,

I’m inclined to think the gun was of

domestic production, manufactured

from parts available from various

venders — though the barrels, being

Damascus, could be of foreign origin.

The pistol is a .54 U.S. Model 1836.

These beautiful U.S. martial flintlocks

were made by Asa Waters of Millbury,

Massachusetts, and Robert Johnson

of Middletown, Connecticut, between

1836 and 1841. Large numbers were

converted to percussion and did see

Civil War usage. Without actually

seeing the guns, I really can’t help you

with a valuation.

MYSTERY DAN WESSONREVOLVER

Q: A friend of ours recently broughtme a revolver that belonged to her

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MAY 2016 G& A 19

late husband and is curious of its

value. It is a Dan Wesson Arms .357

revolver. I cannot find a model name

or number anywhere on it. Everything

in “Blue Book of Gun Values” has

a model name or number. I would

imagine it was referred to with a

model number at one time, but I haveno idea what that might have been.

The revolver appears to have a

changeable barrel, as I can see the

“nut” on the end, while the barrel

and “shroud” appear to be separate

pieces. She did not bring me the

barrel wrench, so I do not know if she

has it or even knows where it might

be. It has few rust spots that I think

can be somewhat cleaned up but

it does not look like it’s been main-

tained in quite awhile. The cylinderlockup seems tight with no slop, and

the trigger pull is smooth in double

action and crisp in single action. It

appears to be in good shape mechan-

ically. There is some wear in the blu-

ing near the end of the barrel shroud,

as well as a ding on the right side of

the front sight and corner of the end

of the barrel shroud. I don’t know if

the gun was dropped or banged into

something. The grips show wear and

the grip finish has some bubbling on

the bottom and backside. The initials

“DWA” are found inside one of the

grip panels. An oval appears on both

sides as seen in the pictures. The only

markings I can find on the gun are:

“DAN WESSON ARMS/ 357 MAG-

NUM CTG, DAN WESSON ARMS

MONSON, MASS. U.S.A. 146XXX.”

I’d appreciate any information on this

revolver, including an approximate

value.D.D.

Email

A: From your description and the pho-

tos, it looks like you have a reasonably

early (probably sometime in the 1970s)

Dan Wesson Model 15 Target Model.

Monson, Massachusetts, was the early

address; the firm moved to Palmer,

Massachusetts, in 1992. The gun looks

to be in about 90 percent condition

and as such, is worth in the $425 to$450 range.

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THE CARRY RIG

MAY 2016 G&A 21

“IT LOOKS LIKE A CELLPHONE CASE,” I was

told. The ABDO measured 4.24-inches wide and

6.37-inches tall. Perhaps a case for an iPhone 6

Plus or a Samsung Galaxy S , I thought in return.

It’s not small, but it does hide a gun outside the

waistband (OWB).

The ABDO isn’t for every gun. In fact, Euro-

pean American Armory (EAA) offers a continu-

ously updated “fit list” on its website

(theabdo.com) as well as a sticker applied to theback above the belt clip for quick reference.

The fit list includes the Diamondback DB380,

Kel-Tec P-3AT, Seecamp .32 ACP, Ruger LCP, Beretta

Pico, North American Arms Guardian in .32 and .380 ACP,

Smith & Wesson Bodyguard, and multiple models of the

Taurus 738 TCP. Open the ABDO and you’ll find a plastic

dowel rod that inserts inside the barrel to orient the pistol

vertically. This keeps it from falling out when we slide the

release button causing the door to swing down and open.

Because the rod measures 2.64 inches in length, the typi-

cal .380 cartridge has an overall length of .95 inch and the

barrels of these .32s and .380s average 2.82 inches frombreechface to muzzle, the math quickly confirms that the

length of the rod doesn’t let us carry one of these pistols

with a round in its chamber. To make ready, we have to

either spend an extra half-second charging the slide on a

gun only carrying the rounds we can stuff in its magazine,

or cut down the rod as much as half an inch — or more.

The ABDO is ambidextrous. Should you want to carry it

on the left side, simply remove two small stainless Phil-

lips-head screws from the back panel to relocate the barrel

rod to the other side and reinstall. The only differencebetween carrying the ABDO on one side versus the other

EAA ABDO

A lockable OWB box that conceals.

The ABDO is referred to as a “portablefirearm safe.” This is largely due to

the fact that it can be secured like amini-lockbox with a plastic key, whichcan be carried on a key ring. To openwhen unlocked, simply slide the spring-loaded latch and the hinged door springsopen. $49

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22 G& A M AY 20 16 | THE CARRY RIG

is the operation of the sliding latch.

Right-handed users pull the latch back

to open, and left-handed users push

the latch forward.

Also included with the ABDO is a

brown foam pad. EAA recommends

that this pad be placed on the wall of

the case so that it pushes the pistolout slightly and presents it better for

the draw. I used this pad differently,

placing it on the inside of the door

to gently push against the pistol to

help minimize the rattling sounds as I

walked and moved about.

Construction is solid, and future

models promise to include “smart”

features including GPS tracking,

remote locking and unlocking, and a

self-aware alarm system that automat-

ically locks when removed from a beltwithout authorization.

30-Day Carry I broke a prototype. Sitting in my office chair

on Day One, the ABDO caught the armrest and flew off,

hitting the floor. When it hit, the door opened and the pis-

tol slid a few feet across the floor. To my relief, the Ruger

LCP wasn’t loaded since I was just getting a feel for wear-

ing it. A call to EAA resulted in a replacement, and I was

told that my original ABDO had an old plastic clip design

on a stainless hinge. The new one features a spring-steel

clip with four screws securing it to the back of the case.

I wore the ABDO almost continuously for more than 30

The EAA ABDO disguises one of several compatible .32 or .380 ACP pistols as if it were aprotective cellphone case. EAA even went as far as to mold a device icon to suggest so.

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24 G& A M AY 20 16 | THE CARRY RIG

EAA ABDO (Ambidextrous)

Materials Black plastic (case body); spring steel (clip)

Carry Type OWB

Retention Type Level 2, enclosed case with opening latch and keyed lock

Adjustability None

MSRP $49 (as tested)

Handgun Fit Ruger LCP (tested), Diamondback DB380, Kel-Tec P-3AT and others

Accessory Rail Accommodations Yes, microlights and laser unitsPositions to Carry Hung on a belt or inside a bag/purse

Average Time to Attach 2 seconds

Comfort Rating 3/5

Concealment Clothing None required, untucked shirt or overgarment recommended

Average Draw-to-Fire Time 2.45 seconds

Manufacturer EAA, 321-639-4842, theabdo.comDraw-to-fire time is the average of five clean draws from concealment within the ABDO (unlocked) producing an A-zone hit on a stationarytarget positioned at 21 feet.

1.84 in.

6 .

3 7

i n .

days. Only one person commented on the large “cell-phone case” I was wearing on my hip in public. That said,

if you hide some of the ABDO with an untucked shirt orovergarment, most people never notice.

At the range, it worked as described. Since I do not rec-ommend .380s or guns of a smaller caliber as alternatives tocarrying bigger-bullet guns as your primary sidearm, I viewthis system as a back-up option. You may have a differ-ent opinion. It’s not overpriced, so if you do purchase the

ABDO, I strongly recommendmany sessions at the range

getting familiar with the prod-uct and its operation with yourchosen pistol before potentiallyputting your life or the lives ofothers on the line with whatyou’re hiding inside.— Eric R. Poole

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26 G&A MAY 2016

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MAY 2016 G&A 27

INTRODUCING THE

KIMBER K6s IN .357 MAGNUM.

WORDS BY PATRICK SWEENEY | PHOTOS BY SEAN UTLEY

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28 G& A M AY 20 16 | THE SUN RISES IN THE WEST

A COMMON JOKE IN SOME CIRCLES is to mention an

outrageous change, and then comment about how it predicts

impending doom or the apocalypse of man.

“The polar ice cap is melting, we’re doomed!”

“Big sodas are a scourge and must be banned!”

“Kimber is making a revolver!”

Wait, what? That last one is real.

That was my reaction when I was let in on the secret months

ago. I had been getting vague updates, but I could only guess

until it was in my hands. When I found out, it was one of those

I-have-to-sit-down occasions.

I received more details followed by even more head scratch-

ing. A six-shot, stainless revolver that’s no larger than a five-shot

J-frame. How’d they do that? And when can I shoot one? Theshooting public was let in on the secret at this year’s SHOT Show.

At Media Day at the Range, we finally had a chance to shoot

it. Even representatives from other companies were lining up to

check out the new Kimber K6s. I took a turn, hammered out a

few cylinders full, and was struck by several aspects. The main

takeaways? Wow, that’s a nice trigger pull. For a snubbie firingfull-house .357s, it wasn’t abusive in recoil either.

A marvelous engi-neering feat, Kimberpacked six roundsinto a cylinder nogreater in diameterthan one that other-wise would hold fiverounds.

tools slip and mar the finish,they can be tightened downmore than conventional screws.

The printout fromthe hydraulic test rigshows the unusualtrigger pull of theK6s. Once we get

the trigger movingand the cylinderturning, there is nostacking. Stacking isthe bane of fast andaccurate shooting.

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It took another month before G&A could get range time with

one. Part of the reason for the long lead time, I discovered, was

partly due to the CAD/CAM manufacturing process. We talked at

length with Ron Dudzic, K6s product engineer, about this.

“We used modern design and stress analysis software to refine

the design. We made 3D plastic models and handled them. They

felt great. Then we fired up the machines and made some metal

prototypes to testfire. And that’s when we found that the sleek,curved backstrap …”

A snubbie fedhot loads isgoing to be aflamethrower.That’s just apart of life andworth remem-bering whenshooting theK6s indoors.

Crimson Trace manufactured these grips for Kimber, and theycertainly ease the recoil of .357s. Your choice: laser or no laser?

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THE SUN RISES IN THE WEST | M AY 2 01 6 G& A 31

At this point I couldn’t help myself, I

jumped in and said, “Caused the muzzle

to roll up to the ceiling when you shot it.”

“Yes,” Dudzic replied.

Even in this digital age companies have

to make real prototypes and test them,

because in the real world, real people use

their real product for real reasons. I haveto give Kimber credit here. Many compa-

nies, having already made the investment

in programming time and CNC pre-pro-

duction tooling. The demands of today’s

market would have simply forged ahead

with that design rather than started over.

But start over Kimber did, resulting in a

new backstrap arch to keep the muzzle

from rolling up. While they were at it,

they also made the shape comfortable to

shoot, at least for a snubbie magnum.

That change delayed the introductionwhile they reprogrammed and made new

samples. Having been bitten once, Kimber

was not about to be bitten twice, so those

new samples were mercilessly trashed in

testing before anyone outside of the com-

pany had a chance to see or shoot them.

The two guns the media shot at

Range Day were second pre-production

prototypes of the new design. They were

test-fired more than enough to make sure

they’d survive a day of heavy-handed gun

writer lust and skepticism. Kimber had

spares on hand and fingers crossed.

They shouldn’t have worried; the K6s

was the hit of the show. Everyone was

agog over it, and people I’d never met

were stopping me in the aisles, asking,

“Have you seen the new Kimber revolver?”

But modern manufacturing has many

more details to take care of than ham-

handed gun writers. Without boring you

with the jargon of this business, every

detail has to be tracked, the dimensions

established, and then there is the attention

Kimber paid to assembly. In modern man-

ufacturing systems, the assemblers need

the tools to assemble the firearms quickly,

efficiently and without the potential to

cause cosmetic problems. Kimber made

sure that went smoothly.

What had been planned as a product

available to all after SHOT Show shifted to

being available in May. And again, kudos

to Kimber for the delay, as the revolver

shooters buy will be the better for it.OK, now onto the fun stuff.

The rear sight is serrated, low-profile anda perfect design for a night-sight upgrade.

The front sight is a blade pinned into thebarrel. It will be easy to change if needed.

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The action on the K6s is smooth

and slick. It’s on par with a tricked-out

revolver from back in the day. This is not

a custom or even semi-custom trigger. The

triggers I experienced were production

triggers complete with the normal parts

finish and assembly. If anything, by the

time you pull one of these triggers theycould feel a bit better, as Kimber will have

had more time to refine their processes.

The action is an internal hammer with

floating firing pin. And there’s a transfer

bar safety blocking the hammer. The CAD/

CAM time Kimber spent on design has

paid off big yielding a great trigger pull.

What’s more, it is the easiest action to

“stage” that I have ever felt. Staging is a

double-action shooting method where

shooters use the trigger to bring the

cylinder up to the next cartridge. It locksthe cylinder in place, where the action

has been brought to the equivalent of

single-action already cocked. Treat it as

if it were cocked, if you need to pause

during the process and refine your aim.

This is a lot easier with some actions than

others. The K6s action does not preclude

the other DA shooting method: a single,

straight pull through the action. You can

do either. Both are remarkable.

Another notable feature was that the

trigger did not move until it reached the

required pull. Once we stage the action,

there is no more extra force needed. That

is, once we have the trigger pull up to 8

pounds, the trigger started moving and

the cylinder started rotating. It took a few

more ounces to rotate the cylinder, but

once the cylinder locked up, it does not

require any more trigger weight to com-

plete the trigger movement. The trigger

just slides back to the end of its travel,

and the hammer falls. It doesn’t “stack.”

Stacking is where we get the cylinder up

and the hammer back, and then we have

to add even more force — more trigger

weight — to make it fire. Stacking is bad

for speed and bad for accuracy.

Kimber’s specs list the trigger pull at 9½

to 10½ pounds, but none of the measure-

ments I took with the Lyman trigger-pull

gauge registered more than 9 pounds.

If you handed the K6s to someone,

asked them to dry-fire it and then asked

what they thought the pull was, no onewould’ve said 10 pounds. It’s that good.

In additionto clean andmodern lines ofthe frame, thecylinder latch isa flat, low-profilebutton that ispressed into theframe to accessthe cylinder.

W292S4498 Hillside Rd, Waukesha, WI 53189, Tel: 262-896-6780, Fax: 262-896-6756

www.midwestindustriesinc.com

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THE SUN RISES IN THE WEST | M AY 2 01 6 G& A 33

Kimber doesn’t use a trigger gauge; they

have sophisticated and expensive hydrau-

lic-operated force gauges to measure and

record the trigger pull. The graph shows

exactly what I felt: The force goes up to

load the trigger and work the action, but

once it is locked, the graph is a flat line to

bang. Where was this action when I shotDuty class in PPC competition? In those

days, we paid good money for an action

job that did what this K6s does right out

of the box.

The design effort also allowed Kimber

to pull off a marvelous feat: six shots this

small revolver. The K6s cylinder holds six

rounds and is chambered in .357 Mag-

num. The cylinder has to be tough to han-

dle this. Kimber offset the cylinder bolt so

the locking slots in the cylinder could be

as far away from the individual chambersas possible. Students of solid geometry

will realize that the further we move the

locking bolt off the cylinder axis, the more

difficult it is to keep it fully engaged with

the cylinder slot. Kimber did the work,

and we get six in the size of five.

This allowed engineers to indulge in

a new cylinder contour. Since only the

locking slot radius has to be a cylinder,

Kimber milled flats around the chambers,

turning the cylinder into a rounded hexa-

gon forward of the locking slot radius. I

haven’t met anyone that doesn’t like it.

I asked Dudzic if they heat-treat the

parts before or after machining, and he

answered with a wry smile: “Yes and yes.”

In the vernacular of the machinist,

annealed stainless steel is “gummy” and

not much fun to machine. So Kimber does

an initial heat-treatment to the frame,

sideplate, crane and cylinder, and then

machines them in their state-of-the-art

five-axis CNC centers. Then each part gets

its own particular additional heat-treat-

ment program to provide just the right

combination of hardness and toughness.

Being all steel, the K6s has a comforting

heft to it, which became even more com-

forting when it came time to testfire.

With .38s, the K6s is a pussycat. Even

+Ps are no big deal. I can see the K6s

becoming the new benchmark for those

using a revolver for defense. On the other

hand, shooting the .357 reminds us that

we’ve just touched off a heavy-hitter. Butit wasn’t abusive.

Kimber decisionto offer theK6s as a .357Magnum givesus the option toshoot .38s. Whichwill serve youbest? The authorsuggests thatnew users work

their way up tothe Magnum.

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In all candor I must admit a certain failing of mine: My hand

finds every sharp edge on a firearm. I grip a revolver so high onthe frame that if there had been an exposed hammer on this one,

it would have been pressing against my hand in DA shooting.

The grips that were on my original test sample was laminated

hardwood. They looked good and felt good, but had one corner

that bit me until I bled. That corner will not be there on the

production revolvers because Kimber is shipping the K6s with

Crimson Trace rubber grips in a unique blue-gray color. (I tested

this sample two weeks later for Guns & Ammo TV with excellent

results.) When these revolvers cross the gun counter, we’ll have a

choice of grips with a Crimson Trace laser or without.

In terms of daily carry, short barrels are great but they do trim

velocity. That said, the K6s delivered impressive numbers withthe .357 Magnum loads, and the .38s were zippy for being soft to

PERFORMANCE .38 SPECIAL

LOAD

VELOCITY

(FPS) ES SD

BEST

GROUP

(IN.)

AVERAGE

GROUP

(IN.)

Winchester Defend 130-gr. JHP 765 81 33 1.89 2.92

Winchester Train 130-gr. FMJ 727 57 24 2.03 3.33

Hornady 110-gr. FTX 872 46 19 2.37 3.13

SIG Sauer 125-gr. V-Crown+P 827 58 25 3.12 3.5

Notes: Accuracy results are the average of five, five-shot groups at 15 yards using a sand-bagged rest. Chronograph results are the average of 5 shots measured at 15 feet using anOehler Model 35 Proof.

PERFORMANCE .357 MAGNUM

LOAD

VELOCITY

(FPS) ES SD

BEST

GROUP

(IN.)

AVERAGE

GROUP

(IN.)

SIG Sauer 125-gr. FMJ 1,245 56 21 1.55 4.59

Black Hills (red) 158-gr. JHP 1,031 6 2 2.14 3.12

Hornady 158-gr. JHP/XTP* 1,192 48 19 2.9 3.51

Remington 158-gr. L-SWC 981 111 49 4.06 4.69

Notes: Accuracy results are the average of five, five-shot groups at 15 yards using a sand-bagged rest. Chronograph results are the average of 5 shots, measured at 15 feet using anOehler Model 35 Proof. *The Hornady .357 accuracy was average of four, five-shot groups.

Z Z Z 7 K

R P S V R Q 0 D F K L Q H Q

H W

3 K

6 D O H V # 7 K R P S V R Q 0 D

F K L Q H Q

H W

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MAY 2016 G& A 35

shoot. What you can’t get around is muz-

zle blast. A 2-inch barrel is going to be a

flame-thrower with most .357 loads. The

laws of physics apply here. No amount

of design effort on the part of Kimber is

going to prevent muzzle flash. For that

we would have to ask the ammunition

companies to assist.The .38 Specials faired better in the

accuracy department than the .357s. Keep

in mind that even the largest .357 group

was smaller than the apparent width

of the front sight on the target, and the

smallest .357 groups were brag-worthy.

The last takeaway to remember about

the K6s is with the sleek design. The sights

are replaceable. The front is pinned in,

and the rear is a special dovetail. Night-

sight companies are already hard at work

creating replacements for the front and

rear. The cylinder release is a “push-in”

button type. There is no pulling back or

pushing forward, which keeps the sides

of the frame slim. And last, the sideplate

screws are not slotted screws, they are

modern fasteners, and the K6s comes

with a wrench that fits. They designed the

sideplate fit so it blends in with the lines of

the frame. The result of all these cosmetic

details is that the K6s is clearly a revolver,

but it is a 21st century revolver. It is more

Art Deco than Art Nouveau.

The price? Well, the MSRP is a dollar

under nine Benjamins, which will be a

bit steep to many. Twenty to 30 years ago,

$410 was not an unreasonable price for

an all-stainless, hammerless .38 Special

— and it only held five shots. Now, I can

have six, in .357, for the modern-day

equivalent cost. There isn’t much else to

complain about. (Not to mention the cost

of an action job, grips and sights.) I think

Kimber is going to have to hire an extrashift to keep up.

Kimber is already machining speedloadersfor the K6s. You’ll want more than one.

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LOADS OF CONFIDENCE

ELITE PERFORMANCE AMMUNITION

NOW EVERYONE CAN EXPERIENCE SIG PRECISION

SIG V-Crown™ defense rounds deliver breakthrough, controlled expansion. SIG 300BLK brings out the best in today’s high-performance AR

rifles. SIG FMJ combines affordability with clean-firing, premium components for practice or competition.

Shoot more. Shoot better. Shoot SIG.

SIGAMMO.COM

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MAY 2016 G&A 37

T HE SHOT SHOW is the annualtrade show for the firearmindustry, and it is a sight tobehold. The space is so vast that peo-ple literally navigate by landmarks. The

2016 event proved to be the year ofthe 9mm. Almost every 1911 maker iseven offering a 9, and the tactical arenais making another catch-up to the com-petition world. Trends this year suggestthat .380 is hot again, and 9mm ammois subplanting the need for .40 to exist.Red dot sight pistols are in demand, andcolored guns are the rage. Here’s a shortlist of our favorites to follow up with.

Several pistols are new from the groundup. Others are line extensions. Many aremodels that you and I have been askingabout for a while. They are all handgunsyou should know about. — PATRICK SWEENEY

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38 G&A MAY 2016

TYPE Semiautomatic

CARTRIDGE 9mm

CAPACITY 17+1 rds.

BARREL 5.1 in.

OAL 8.7 in.WEIGHT 5 lbs., 8 oz.

TRIGGER 9 lbs., 8 oz.

TYPE Semiautomatic

CARTRIDGE 9mm

CAPACITY 9+1 rds.

BARREL 4.25 in.

OAL 7.75 in.

WEIGHT 1 lb., 13 oz.


TYPE SemiautomaticCARTRIDGE .45 ACP

CAPACITY 7+1 rds.

BARREL 5.5 in.

OAL 8.5 in.

WEIGHT 2 lbs., 8 oz.


BER ETTA M9A3

In an attempt to lengthen the 30-yearservice record of the M9 and M9A1 pistolswith the U.S. military, early last year Berettaoffered Uncle Sam the M9A3 featuringevery product improvement made to the

92-series since its introduction. Withouteven giving it a hard look, Uncle Samreplied no thanks in favor of the MHSpistol competition. Beretta moved forwardto offer the ultimate 92 to the civilianmarket. Hence, we win. The M9A3 benefitsfrom 17-round PVD sand-resistant mags,the Vertec frame and an optional gripthat arches the backstrap for the feel ofa traditional 92/M9. The dustcover nowintegrates the M9A1 dustcover for lightsand lasers, and the safety is also improved.Replaceable night sights are now standard.beretta.com $1,100

One of the preeminent custom 1911builders, Ed Brown, now operated by Ed’sson Travis, has the reputation of a classic –even conservative – 1911 builder. Imagineour surprise at seeing a 1911 set up for asuppressor, with a red dot sight milled intothe slide and sights that will clear mostsuppressor diameters. That’s right, theSpecial Forces Custom Rail Gun now canbe had in not only suppressor-ready trim,but also with a red dot sight. Put a light-and-laser combo on its rail, and you are sofar from the original 1911A1 in appearancethat even granddad’s head might spin. Butit’s still built to heirloom quality and shouldrun forever.

edbrown.com $3,995

COLT LIGHTWEIGHT COMMANDE R

The Colt Lightweight Commander wasonce the go-to carry gun for serious 1911users. The original has also been the mostgunsmithed because it needed it in orderto be a better carry gun. Well, Colt hastaken care of that. This new version comesin 9mm as well as the classic .45 ACP, andhas been given Novak sights and Wilson’sHigh Ride beavertail. The frontstrap needs

no extra work as it has already been liftedfor a higher grip. The polished car-bon-steel slide slabs and the wood-lookingG10 stocks set off the matte aluminumframe. The price is a lot less than we’vecome to expect from Colt these days.colt.com $949

ED BROWN SPECIAL FORCES SR

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MAY 2016 G&A 39

TYPE Semiautomatic

CARTRIDGE 9mm

CAPACITY 17+1 rds. (G17)

15 + 1 rds. (G19)

BARREL 4.48 in. (G17)

4.02 in. (G19)

OAL 8.03 in. (G17)

7.36 in. (G19)

WEIGHT 1 lb., 9 oz. (G17)

1 lb., 8 oz. (G19)


TYPE Semiautomatic

CARTRIDGE 9mm

CAPACITY 7+1 rds.

BARREL 3.2 in.

OAL 6.2 in.

WEIGHT 1 lb., 6 oz.


TYPE RevolverCARTRIDGE .38/.357 Mag.

CAPACITY 6 rds.

BARREL 2 in.

OAL 6.62 in.

WEIGHT 1 lb., 7oz.

TRIGGER 8 lbs.

GLOCK 17/19 MOS

After the reception Glock received with itsModular Optic System (MOS) G40, it wascertain that the option would find its way toother models. The surprise wasn’t that theydid it right away, but that they went right to

the original Glock pistols, the G17 and theG19. In defensive carry, red dot sights arebecoming a new norm. We’ve even seenthese types of modifications impactingUSPSA with the creation of its new CarryOptic Division. Glock simplified mountingof these optics so we don’t have to pay agunsmith or machinist for the costly machin-ing of the pistol’s slide.glock.com $770

KIMBE R K6S

You could have knocked us over with afeather when we were told that Kimberwas making a revolver. And at SHOT, youhad to brave Black-Friday-sized crowds atKimber’s booth just to get close enoughto handle the K6s. If you had the chance,you would have marveled at how Kimberpacked six shots of .357 Magnum into sucha small package. We’re still baffled as tohow the action can be so smooth and lightfor a production gun and not be a custom.To gild the lily, Kimber will be offering hol-sters, a K6s-specific speedloader and, inpartnership with Crimson Trace, two typesof rubber grips, one with and one withoutan aiming laser.

kimberamerica.com$900

and aesthetics. intended for

carry.

lives on.

HONOR DEFENSE

Honor Defense is a new company out ofGainesville, Georgia, and they make acompact, striker-fired 9mm carry pistol.“So what?” you ask. Simple. At the show,we picked one up out of curiosity, andfor a moment could not speak. It was the best-feeling pistol we handled that day.Removing the magazine from a pistol ascompact as a trim single-stack, this one

holds eight rounds of 9mm and is loadedwith features. Best of all, Honor Defensepistols are 100 percent U.S.-made. Athumb-safety model is also available. G&Ais anxiously looking forward to testing asample in the near future.honordefense.com $500

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40 G&A MAY 2016

NIGHTHAWK HI POWE R

We have loved and hated the Hi Power.We loved the feel and hated the hammerbite. Long ago, 9mm fell out of favor withsteel-gun pistoleros for the .45, and nowthe 9mm is back with more effective bal-listics. Hence, Nighthawk Custom has nowbranched out from 1911-building to includeJohn Browning’s improvement on his 1911.Built on brand-new FN-made MkIII pistols,Nighthawk incorporated all the featureswe’ve been adding for decades. In addition

to the hand-stippled frame, slide andtriggerguard; the Novak sights (the fronthas a brass bead even) and Cerakote finish,the frame now has an integral beavertail tototally preclude hammer bite. Trigger is aclean, crisp 4-pound pull. We love this one.nighthawkcustom.com $2,895

RUGER AMER ICAN PISTOL

Ruger threw down the gauntlet, and

its engineers started from a blank CADscreen, using the new U.S. Army Modu-lar Handgun System requirements as itsguideposts. With an aggressive new look,the American Pistol was designed withnon-stop input from their Voice of theCustomer Program. It is feature-laden,including an ambi slide stop and magcatch. There’s also a modular grip system,and it is rated for sustained +P ammo use.The trigger has a short takeup, and a crispand shorter reset than the average strik-er-fired pistol. This pistol was launched in9mm and .45 ACP, and will offer an optionfor a manual thumb safety.ruger.com $580

LES BAER BLACK BAER

Take all-steel components and put them ina Commander-sized 1911, and then have ateam of pistolsmiths working for a legend-ary drag racer fit them to a level of preci-sion that makes a bank vault look slapped

together. That would be a start in describ-ing the new Black Baer. Baer Custom addsNovak-dovetail Les Baer night sights, a30-LPI hand-checkered frontstrap andinstalls all National Match internals beforefinishing it with a DuPont S coating coloreddead black. At the heart of the Black Baeris a 9mm match barrel with an integral feedramp and fully supported chamber. Theblack Recon grips are more than tacky andcomplimentary to the package. It’s not justa carry gun; It’s a race gun.lesbaer.com $3,160

TYPE Semiautomatic

CARTRIDGE 9mm

CAPACITY 9+1 rds.

BARREL 4.25 in.

OAL 7.75 in.WEIGHT 2 lbs., 2 oz.


TYPE Semiautomatic

CARTRIDGE 9mm

CAPACITY 13+1 rds.

BARREL 4.75 in.

OAL 8.1 in.


TRIGGER 4 lbs.

TYPE Semiautomatic

CARTRIDGE 9mm, .45 ACPCAPACITY 17+1 rds. (9mm),

10+1 rds. (.45 ACP)

BARREL 4.2 in.

OAL 7.5 in.



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MAY 2016 G& A 41

SIG SAU ER P229 W/ OPTIC

Not content with its masterpiece, SIGSauer took the P229 and made it capableof accepting a red dot sight. And since SIGSauer is now a maker of optics, the P229 isbeing developed to accept red dots. SIG

Sauer revealed this model quietly at SHOTShow, so the ones we’ve handled are onlyprototypes. When they become availablelater this year, we’ll benefit from the com-pact size of a P229, but with the capacitywe desire (15 rounds of 9mm or 12 roundsof .40). With practice, you can improveyour speed and precision that SIG Sauer’snew mini red dot sight affords.sigsauer.com $TBD

SPRING FIELD ARMORY EMP4

Since 2007, the EMP has been an excellent

compact 1911. Engineers didn’t modifya magazine to feed the 9mm cartridge;instead, the entire pistol was redevelopedand cut down the middle until the EMPframe was properly sized front-to-back forthe 9mm. Still available, the original EMPwas also offered in .40. Consequently,these improvements made it comfortablefor users with smaller hands wanting a firmgrip on a 1911. This year, the new EMP4continues the original EMP’s achievementswith a ½-inch longer grip and 4-inch barrel.If you want a lightweight 1911 in 9mm forcarry, and you don’t like the feel of full-sizeframes, try the EMP4.springfield-armory.com $1,180

SMITH & WESSO N SW22 VICTORY

We expect a .22LR pistol to be reliable,accurate, soft in recoil and inexpensive.Smith & Wesson went three better. Howabout user-changeable barrels, with a sim-ple tool that comes in the box? The barrelsare suppressor-threaded, and the receiverwill easily accept replacing its adjustablerear sight for a red dot. The SW22 Victoryis a design that is simple to take apart, and

it’s priced for success.smith-wesson.com $409

of a modernrimfire pistol.

for a newrevolver.

of .22 for.

TYPE Semiautomatic

CARTRIDGE 9mm

CAPACITY 15+1 rds.

BARREL 3.9 in.

OAL 7.1 in.WEIGHT 1 lb., 13 oz.

TRIGGER 10 lbs. (DA)

TYPE Semiautomatic

CARTRIDGE .22LR

CAPACITY 10+1 rds.

BARREL 5.5 in.

OAL 9.2 in.

WEIGHT 2 lb., 4 oz.

TRIGGER 5 lbs.

TYPE Semiautomatic

CARTRIDGE 9mmCAPACITY 10+1 rds.

BARREL 4 in.

OAL 7.5 in.


TRIGGER 4 lb., 8 oz.

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42 G&A MAY 2016

The value-packed Range Officer, withNovak sights, a match build and accuracy,now features an accessory rail and is avail-able in 9mm. If you thought shooting was

fun before, a full-size 1911 in 9mm is softin recoil, fast on-target, cheap to feed and,since it’s a Range Officer, it is accurate. Thebarrel has an integral ramp, so cases arefully supported. The RO is a perfect canvasfor customizing, since Springfield Armorydid all the hard work.springfield-armory.com $980

WALTHER P PS M2

Last summer, the Walther PPS bested othercontenders in G&A’s Single-Stack 9mmShootout with the only criticism given to itspaddle magazine release. Walther quicklyadded the PPS M2 to 2016’s lineup andperfected it. They took the 1-inch-flat PPS,changed the magazine release from theTeutonic paddle and converted it to anAmerican-style button. They made the griparea of the frame even more ergonomic,and they added another round to themagazine options (three included).waltherarms.com $470

sight. one gets.

LINE

TYPE Semiautomatic

CARTRIDGE 9mm

CAPACITY 9+1 rds.

BARREL 5 in.OAL 8.6 in.



TYPE Semiautomatic

CARTRIDGE 9mm

CAPACITY 7+1 rds.

BARREL 3.18 in.OAL 6.3 in.

WEIGHT 1 lb., 5 oz.

TRIGGER 6 lbs.

SPRING FIELD ARMORY

RANGE OFFICER OPERATOR 9mm

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INTRODUCING THE

V11™SLWONE OF THE LIGHTEST,FASTEST-HANDLING RIFLES

IN THE DANIEL DEFENSE LINEUP.

Visit DanielDefense.com for more information,

and see the new DDM4V11™SLW at your local

Daniel Defense dealer.

ALSO AVAILABLE

IN MIL SPEC + ™

Cutting weight, not corners, the DDM4V11 SLW tips the scales at just over

six pounds without any compromise in materials, construction, or features.

Built around a Cold Hammer Forged, 14.5”, Lightweight profile barrel, the

V11 SLW has an extended flash suppressor, which is pinned and welded

to reach the NFA-required, 16” minimum barrel length. The mid-length

gas system provides smooth and reliable cycling under any conditions and

reduces both perceived recoil and wear on moving parts.

A free-floating SLiM Rail 12.0 handguard offers incredible weight savings

as well as superior cooling, ergonomics, and modularity while maintaining

the strength and durability expected from Daniel Defense.

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44 G&A MAY 2016

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MAY 2016 G&A 45

FOR THE MONEY

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46 G& A M

Documents

Guns & Ammo - May 2016