Saturday, September 25, 2010

FNX-9

$703
A  Nearly Perfectly Done Double-Action Auto by FNH USA!

"The new FNX offers all of the features that dedicated handgunners want. The ergonomic polymer frame has a low bore axis for less felt recoil and improved control. The grip panels are checkered and ribbed for comfortable, no-snag carry. Four interchangeable backstrap inserts quickly adapt the FNX to your hand size. The profiled stainless steel slide has cocking serrations front and rear, and the 4" hammer-forged stainless steel barrel delivers pinpoint accuracy. Ambidextrous operating controls make the FNX perfect for competition or personal defense. Every FNX is made in the USA." FNH USA

Specs:
  • Caliber: 9mm, .40 (FNX-40)
  • Barrel: 4", 1 in 10" Right-Hand Twist
  • Height: 5.45"
  • Width: 1.55
  • Weight: 21.6 oz.
  • Magazine Capacity: 17 Rounds
  • Double-action/singleaction (DA/SA) operation with decocking/manual safety levers (MS)
Features:
  • Slide Material: Stainless Steel
  • External Extractor with Loaded Chamber Indicator
  • Front and Rear Cocking Serrations
  • Newly designed fixed three-dot combat sights with Deep-V rear notch for greater accuracy
  • Hammer-forged stainlessbarrel
  • Polished chamber and feed ramp
  • Rugged polymer frame construction with replaceable steel frame/slide rails
  • Two interchangeable backstrap inserts with lanyard eyelets
  • MIL-STD 1913 accessory mounting rail
  • Serrated trigger guard
  • Fully-ambidextrous decocking/safety levers, slide stop levers and magazine release button
  • Ring-style external hammer
  • Stainless steel magazine body
  • Low-friction magazine follower
  • Polymer magazine basepad
  • Magazine round indicator
Gun Magazine Reviews:
  • "Nice trigger pull-very smooth in DA"
  • 5 lb single-action trigger pull
  • "Can be carried cocked and locked, like a 1911"
  • Ambi-safety also acts as a decocker
  • Safety lever can be placed on in double-action mode
  • Reversible magazine release, for lefties
  • "Superb Accuracy"
  • "Exceptionally soft-shooting"
  • +P Rated
Comments:
This may be the pistol to finally make me go polymer-style, although I've had my eye on the CZ SP-01 Phantom. Choices, choices.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Lightweight 1911 Style Autos

If you prefer more firepower than today's micro-pistols have to offer, maybe you are looking for something more along the lines of "large and light", such as these .45 auto-pistols, which utilize innovations such as aluminum-alloy frames, and shortened grips and slides:

$1,009
Specs:
  • Caliber: .45 ACP
  • Height: 4.75"
  • Width: 1.28"
  • Weight: 27 oz. (empty)
  • Length 7.7"
  • Mag. Capacity 7
  • Full-length guide rod
  • Materials: Aluminum Frame and Stainless Slide, Match-Grade Steel Barrel
  • Barrel Length: 4"
  • Fixed Sights, 5.7" radius
  • Grips: Black synthetic double diamond
  • Trigger: Aluminum Match Grade, 4-5 lb pull
Notables:
  • Extended left side safety
  • Plastic rear mainspring housing for weight reduction
  • Excellent fit and finish
  • Bushing-less barrel design
  • Excellent Accuracy
  • Excellent Reliability
Negatives:
  • Hard to pick up front sight in low light
  • Lack of grip texture or checkering on front strap
  • Sharp edges around ejection port
  • Special takedown tool needed for disassembly
  • Bullet feed ramp seems prone to damage over time
  • Includes only one magazine

$1,076
Specs:
  • Caliber: .45 ACP
  • Height: 5.5"
  • Length: 7.5
  • Weight 31 oz. (empty)
  • Magazines: two 7-round, blued steel
  • Barrel: 4" stainless steel, match grade, fully supported ramp, bushing-less bull barrel
  • Sights: Fixed, low profile, combat rear, dovetail front, tritium 3-dot
  • Trigger: aluminum match grade, 5-6 lb pull
  • Grips: Cocobolo hardwood
  • Frame: forged aluminum alloy, accessory rail, black hardcoat anodized
  • Slide: forged steel, Black Armory Kote
  • Recoil System: dual spring w/full-length guide rod
Notables:
  • Full-length grip with a shortened slide
  • Steel mainspring housing
  • Ambidextrous safety
  • Excellent trigger, 4.7 lbs
  • Good accuracy
  • Great reliability
  • Good in rapid-fire
  • Quick sight pickup
  • Excellent machine work on the barrel feed ramp
  • Excellent night sights
  • Included holster and mag pouch
Negatives:
  • Lack of grip texture or checkering on front strap
  • Handsome wood grips tended to be slippery
  • Ambi-safety tended to bruise the dominant hand knuckle
  • Safety was super-stiff to operate
  • Sharp edges on ejection port
  • Stiff controls overall, which "did not change with use"
  • "Horrible takedown procedure" (and reassembly) 
$1,200
    "The 1911 C3 is a 7+1 compact .45ACP featuring rosewood custom wood grips and is available in a Two-Tone finish. Weighing in at just under 30 ounces unloaded, each 1911 C3 is machined to exacting tolerances and hand-fitted to insure reliability and performance." Sig Website


    Specs:
    • Item #1911CO-45-TSS-C3
    • Action: Single Action Only
    • Trigger Pull: 5 lbs
    • Length: 7.7"
    • Width: 1.4"
    • Barrel Length: 4.2"
    • Sight Radius: 5.7"
    • Weight Empty: 29.5 oz.
    • Mag Capacity: 7 Rounds
    • Sights: Novak Night Sights
    • Grips: Slim Profile Custom Rosewood Grips
    • Frame Finish: Black Hard Anodized
    • Slide Finish:Stainless
      Notables:
      • Checkered Front Strap, for extra secure grip
      • Easy, no-tools takedown
      • "Super accurate"
      • Stainless slide and barrel
      • "Great reliability"
      • Fixed sights
      Negatives:
      • Lacks accessory rail
      • Safety on one side only
      • Unusually flat at top-of slide
      • Pricier than most comparables
      $1,069

      "This is the stainless version of the original super-compact .45 with truly awesome firepower. There is no smaller, more powerful 1911-style, 10+1 semi-auto .45 ACP in the world." Para USA

      Specs:
      • Product Code: WHX1045S
      • Caliber:  .45 ACP
      • Capacity: 10+1
      • Barrel: 3"
      • Weight: 31 oz.
      • Length: 6.5"
      • Height: 4.5"
      • Action: Single Action
      • Material: Stainless
      Notables:
      • Two 10-round magazines, one with extended grip
      • Blackened version available with Trijicon night sights
      • Bushing-less-barrel design, stainless match-grade
      • Loaded-chamber indicator
      • Colt-style series '80 firing pin safety
      • Slide features Para's Power Extractor
      • Flared ejection port
      • Skeletonized hammer and trigger for weight reduction
      • Good trigger approx. 5 lbs. of pull w/clean break
      • Rubber "O" rings prevent grip screws from backing out
      • Vertical serrations on frontstrap
      • Left-side thumb safety and grip safety w/swelled palm section
      • Front-beveled magazine-well
      • "Exceptional accuracy", 2" at 25 yards-Combat Handguns magazine
      • Bearable recoil w/200 grain handloads
      Negatives:
      • Tended to malfunction if not cleaned and oiled every 150 rounds
      • Magazines difficult to load completely due to stiff springs
      • Hammer drops down even if the slide is not completely closed
      • Punishing to the hands after several hundred rounds

        Thursday, September 2, 2010

        Charter Patriot .327 Magnum

        .327 Magnums continued............

              Charter Arms Patriot
        $536.00
         "Low-recoil snubnose designed for concealed-carry and personal defense."
        Specs:
        • Model: 73270
        • Material: Stainless Steel
        • Grip: Rubber w/finger-grooves
        • Barrel Length: 2.2"
        • Capacity: 6
        • Cal: .327 Federal Magnum
        • Weight: 21 Ounces
        Features:
        • Single Action Trigger Pull of 5 lbs
        • Comfortable Rubber Grips
        • Manageable Recoil "with even the heaviest loads"
        Negatives:
        • Double Action Trigger Pull "well over 10 lbs, but smooth"
        • Sights "hard to line up in low light"
        Notables:
        •  Solid Cylinder Lockup
        • Speer 115 grain Gold Dot clocked at 1,294 fps
        • Good accuracy at combat distance (7 yards)
        Gun News:
        Obama Forbids Sale of Collector M1 Rifles