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.

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:

Kimber Compact Stainless II 45 ACP

$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

Springfield Armory Lightweight Champion Operator # PX9115LP 45 ACP

$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) 

Sig Sauer 1911 C3 #19GS0031 45 ACP

$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

Para USA Warthog

$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

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)

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