Smith & Wesson has occasionally walked on the less-traveled path, and that includes sometimes building revolvers that are distinctively different than any other. That was the case when the company developed and introduced the Model 647 Varminter.

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For a varmint shooter looking for the reliability and functional simplicity inherent in a revolver, I believe there might not be a better choice. Chambered to shoot the popular, powerful and flat-shooting .17 HMR, it’s a perfect match for smaller critters like marmots; badgers; prairie dogs; ground squirrels and, in some situations, coyotes.

Details

The Varminter is a Smith & Wesson Performance Center-built firearm. It comes precision tuned and undergoes a higher degree of attention to detail and performance than some of the company’s other guns. It’s a six-shot, double-action/single-action (DA/SA) revolver equipped with a 12-inch barrel, a front sight blade and an adjustable rear sight. But it also includes two mounting rails. One is on the bottom of the barrel shroud that is removable. It’s typically used to mount the included bipod. A second one is machined into the top of the barrel shroud for optics, such as the included red/green-dot sight.

Aside from the black sights and wooden grips, the Varminter is made of stainless steel with a matte finish. The fluted, 12-inch barrel is attractively paired with a smooth-sided, hexagonal-shaped barrel shroud. And although Smith & Wesson classifies the Varminter as a medium-sized handgun, I found it to be fairly heavy, at 54 ounces unloaded, but not necessarily clumsy feeling.

Like most traditional DA/SA revolvers, I frequently found that shooting it in SA mode made my shots considerably more accurate. When the hammer was manually drawn back and cocked, the trigger pull averaged a pleasing 3.88 pounds. On the other hand, if I attempted to shoot the revolver in DA mode, the trigger pull averaged a stout 11.31 pounds.

The wraparound-style grips on the Varminter are made from some exotic red- and black-grained hardwood, with subtle checkering and the S&W logo etched onto each side. The grips join together at the front but are open in the back, exposing the metal grip frame. The grip isn’t overly large for a handgun of this size. But it seemed to fit my average-sized hand fairly well.

Dog-Town Ready

My first exposure to the Model 647 Varminter came during a Smith & Wesson-sponsored prairie dog shoot near the historic town of Medicine Bow, Wyoming. The writers and editors who attended the event got to shoot a variety of Thompson/Center and S&W products, and as a side benefit, the ranch owner enjoyed a reduction in his nuisance vermin population.

I can think of few hunting scenarios that provide more of a challenge for a handgunner than prairie dog shooting. The targets are small, the shots are often long and the seemingly constant wind is always problematic. Therefore, Smith & Wesson replaced the non-magnified reflex sights that typically come with Model 647 Varminters with Weaver 1.5-4x20mm handgun scopes. During the shoot, I dropped a number of prairie dogs with the Varminter at various ranges, frequently beyond 100 yards. I was surprised I couldn’t actually see the bullets hit the dogs while looking through the scope. Even with the fairly heavy weight of the handgun and the relatively light recoil of the .17 HMR, there was still enough muzzle jump to prohibit that.

The Weaver scope had been mounted in the traditional manner using standard-style scope rings, but I believe quick-release rings might have been a better alternative. Companies like Weaver, Leupold and Warne offer such quick-detach systems, which let you quickly and easily remove the scope to use other sighting methods. And, when the scope is remounted on the firearm, there’s usually no need re-zero it because the rings return perfectly to the same position.

Range Report

I came away from the prairie dog shoot so impressed that I decided to have the Varminter shipped to me for more testing at my private firing range. Although field shooting exposes a firearm to many potential problems, a more controlled shooting environment can be beneficial. Fortunately, the Varminter performed well in both venues.

In the field and at the range, cartridges fed into the cylinder easily and ejected smoothly every time. After firing, the cylinder released and opened with ease, and then snapped back into place sharply without hesitation.

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To evaluate the Varminter’s accuracy, I tested it primarily at 50 yards, shooting three types of ammunition with bullets all weighing 17 grains but of different styles: Federal V-Shok rounds with Speer TNT spitzer bullets, Remington Premier Magnum rounds with Accu-Tip V projectiles and Hornady’s V-MAX ammo.

All three loads produced remarkably similar five-shot groups off the bench. The smallest group came from the Hornady cartridges and measured 1.13 inches. But the performance of the Federal and Remington ammunition wasn’t substantially different. Furthermore, the smallest groups in those cases measured only 1.25 inches. After being satisfied with the Varminter’s capabilities for accurately punching holes in paper, I turned its muzzle toward some tiny Champion Duraseal swinging prairie dog targets set at 100 yards, where I experienced déjà vu. A few of those dogs escaped me, but considerably more were sent swinging as the little .17-caliber bullets hit their mark.

Precise Sixgun

The Model 647 Varminter has many favorable characteristics. It’s clearly made with the attention to detail so common with Smith & Wesson products. I particularly liked that S&W included the red/green-dot sight and bipod. In addition, I really liked the versatility built into this handgun. If you prefer iron sights, that’s easily accommodated. For those of us with eyes that aren’t quite what they used to be, the reflex sight is a great option. And for greater precision, being able to easily mount a handgun scope on the Varminter is a great benefit when it comes to longer shots.

Overall, I couldn’t detect one thing wrong with the design of the Varminter. And if your quest isn’t to rid the world of pests, I found this handgun produced equally good results on critters such as cotton-tailed rabbits.

Smith & Wesson Model 647 Varminter Specs

Smith & Wesson Model 647 Varminter Performance

*Bullet weight measured in grains and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 50 yards.

For more information, visit smith-wesson.com.

This article was originally published in “The Complete Book of Revolvers” 2017. To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Gun Review: Smith & Wesson Model 647 Varminter Revolver appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Engineers make things work. But making them work best for a given application generally falls to those who have end-user experience. From this perspective, we can all be grateful for the partnership between longtime gun writer Wiley Clapp and distributor TALO. Starting with the successful 21st Century Commander, a lightweight .45, Clapp has designed a series of Colt 1911s as well as a 3-inch-barreled Ruger revolver in .357 Magnum. Available with either a stainless or matte blued finish, the Wiley Clapp .357 is based on Ruger’s heavy-duty GP100 frame and features robust Novak fixed sights, user-friendly contouring and wooden grip inserts with Clapp’s trademark “fingerprint” checkering.

Before we get into what makes it his own, a few words are in order about Ruger and the GP100. Many shooters who only know Ruger’s current product line may not realize how influential the company is. Both its first gun, the Mark III .22 LR pistol (introduced somewhat uncannily as the “Standard Model”) and the later 10/22 rifle are industry standards, as evidenced by the fact that other companies manufacture clones of both guns. Ruger’s Single-Six, the first of its single-action revolvers, was introduced in 1953 when TV Westerns and movies had made cowboy-style firearms popular again.

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That model and Ruger’s subsequent sixguns are almost unquestionably responsible for the revived market that led the mighty Colt to bring back the iconic Peacemaker it had discontinued in the late 1940s. The Single-Six also incorporated innovations such as then-groundbreaking investment casting as well as using the more reliable coil springs instead of the leaf-type springs traditionally used in revolvers.

The GP100 came along in 1985, intended as a heavy-duty service or defensive pistol. Closer to Smith & Wesson’s stout L-Frame than the smaller, lighter K-Frame, the robust GP100 features a frame design that does away with the side plates found on most other revolvers in order to add strength and uses a subassembly design that makes the gun easy to service. With its heavy underlug and steel construction, it’s by no means a light gun. But it’s exceptionally tough, which made it a natural fit for Wiley Clapp. Clapp was looking to create a gun that was reliable, rugged and as powerful as possible. But it still had to be manageable for everyone in the family.

Wiley’s Upgrades

Functionally, the Ruger GP100 remains as it has always been, and the upgrades Wiley suggested consist primarily of things that make the gun more user-friendly. The most visible difference (and probably the greatest improvement) is in the sights. Most revolvers provide you with the choice of either a machined groove to serve as a fixed rear sight or an adjustable rear unit that may or may not survive hard use and will almost certainly have sharp edges. The meaty topstrap of the Clapp GP100, though, has been machined to accept a Novak LoMount fixed rear sight. Arguably the most influential rear sight ever used on a handgun, the wedge-shaped LoMount provides a crisp, easily visible sight picture while remaining tough and snag-free.

The wide-notch variant found on the GP100 allows a little more light on either side of the Novak front sight. The sight is a dovetail-mounted front post with a brass bead. I adopted the same combination of a wide-notch Novak LoMount rear with a front gold or brass bead sight on my working guns over eight years ago. I’ve found it to be fast and accurate both on the range and in classes at Gunsite and Thunder Ranch. The same sights also appear on Wiley’s Colt pistols.

More Details

The muzzle, frame and cylinder of the GP100 have been smoothed to remove sharp edges. The the most obvious change is the bevel towards the front of the cylinder. This helps free it up faster from a holster. Although intended more as a field or truck gun than a CCW piece, the 3-inch barrel allows the GP100 to fill both roles. When the first snub-nosed .357s began to hit the market, detractors argued that the shorter barrel would cause such a velocity loss that the end result would be comparable to a .38 Special. But that’s not the case. When I chronographed the same loads from 2-, 3-, and 4-inch-barreled .357s from the same manufacturer, the average velocity loss between the 2- and 4-inch-barreled guns was only about 100 fps, which is negligible for a caliber that can easily break 1,400 fps.

The problem with the 2-inch-barreled guns is the massive blast and recoil, which makes them painful and difficult to shoot. But the 3-inch-barreled Ruger GP100, especially with its underlug, adds recoil-dampening weight up front where you need it without making the gun muzzle heavy or slow to transition from one target to another.

Weight-wise, the Clapp GP100 weighs 36 ounces unloaded, about 3.5 ounces less than my 4-inch-barreled S&W Model 681, which is a fully lugged L-Frame .357, and 4 ounces more than my 3-inch-barreled S&W Model 65, a svelte K-Frame .357 that came it at 32 ounces on the nose. For comparison, a full-sized 1911 typically comes in at around 40 ounces.

Cylinder Latch, Trigger & Grip Frame

Unlike S&W cylinder latches, which push forward, or Colts, which pull to the rear, the Ruger latch pushes inward for a fast, hard-to-miss release. The double-action trigger pull was smooth and consistent throughout the stroke. The crisp single-action pull averaged 3.17 pounds, according to my Lyman digital trigger pull gauge.

The grip frame follows the traditional GP100 layout. Said to have been inspired by the dashboard of Bill Ruger’s BMW, the GP100 uses a stem that protrudes down from the receiver and slips into the Santoprene grip instead of the traditional pair of scales bolted onto either side of a full-profile grip frame. The stem is held in place in the rubber grips by a solid cylindrical locking piece, which is in turn secured by the wooden insert panels on either side. While rubber grips have a bad tendency to make a gun “print,” the wood inserts reduce this while still maintaining the rubber’s recoil reduction properties. It’s not a bad combination, and the GP100 is quite comfortable to shoot.

Range Performance

I broke the revolver in with roughly 390 rounds of Black Hills’ 148-grain .38 Special hollow-base wadcutter ammo as well as a couple hundred rounds of a .38 Special handload assembled with Bullseye powder and 150-grain, lead, semi-wadcutter bullets on a Dillon 550 press. Add in a mixed bag of 180 various .357 Magnum hollow points with bullet weights ranging from 50 to 158 grains, and I fired just a bit under 800 rounds through the GP100. Needless to say, there were no malfunctions.

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Fired from a Ransom Rest, the GP100’s average group size was 2.42 inches at 25 yards with all of the test ammo. The best group measured 1.2 inches. One thing I learned from a previous Ransom Rest test is that, while the GP100 shot .38 Special rounds beautifully off-hand, it didn’t do as well off a rest. It averaged 3.24 inches with my .38 Special handload, and shot similarly with factory .38 Special loads.

I also used Liberty Ammunition’s 50-grain, lead-free Civil Defense load, which has an advertised velocity of 2,100 fps. This load averaged 4.27 inches, most likely because the barrel’s twist rate is doubtless far from optimized for light projectiles moving that fast. Removing the Liberty load and the .38 ammo, the GP100 averaged an impressive 1.75 inches at 25 yards with conventional .357 Magnum loads.

Off-hand, hits at 25 yards and well beyond were basically gimmes with the GP100, and even the recoil of full-power .357 Magnum rounds was manageable during rapid fire. Although most shooters first think of autopistols when considering a defensive gun, it’s unwise to underestimate the .357 Magnum. Its reputation as a fight-stopper is well earned, and it’s difficult to duplicate the accuracy in an autoloader at anywhere near the same price range.

Final Thoughts

Wiley Clapp’s first gun, the 21st Century Commander, boasted that it had “everything you need and nothing you don’t.” It was a winning combination then, and the same philosophy of adding practical features without creating any unnecessary distractions works equally well on the Ruger.

Wiley Clapps Ruger GP100 Specs

Wiley Clapps Ruger GP100 Performance

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for three 6-shot groups at 25 yards.

For more information, visit ruger.com.

This article was originally published in “The Complete Book of Revolvers” 2017. To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Gun Review: The Wiley Clapp Ruger GP100 Revolver appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Two years ago, Kimber entered the revolver market for the first time with its K6s. Since then, the Yonkers, N.Y.-based company has continued to expand the line. With this expansion comes the opportunity; opportunity, that is, for other companies to step up and offer accessories for the gun. Take Crimson Trace, which just released its Master Series Lasergrips laser sight for the stainless K6s.

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At the heart of the LG-952 Lasergrips is its 5mW red laser. The laser is illuminated when the end user utilizes a natural grip which places the user’s finger on top of an included front activation button. This, dear reader, is known as Crimson Trace’s Instant Activation technology. Furthermore, the laser runs on one 1/3N lithium battery and has a battery life of over four hours. It features a master on/off switch to help you manage the battery usage.

The LG-952 Lasergrips sports an eye-catching, full-length rosewood panel on both sides of the grip. The grip also boasts Crimson Trace’s Shock-Stop rubber overmold construction, which absorbs recoil.

Fully adjustable for windage and elevation, the laser sight is easily user-installed with no revolver modifications required. It comes with all the required batteries, installation wrenches and an owner’s manual.

MSRP on the LG-952 is $399. Specs are below.

For more on Crimson Trace, head over to crimsontrace.com.

Crimson Trace LG-952 Lasergrips for Kimber K6s

The post Crimson Trace Unveils LG-952 Lasergrips for the Kimber K6s appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Dick Casull and Jack Fullmer developed the .454 Casull cartridge back in 1957. This stout round is basically an enlarged and strengthened .45 Colt cartridge, just like the .357 Magnum is to the .38 Special and the .44 Magnum is to the .44 Special. The cartridge was first announced in the November 1959 issue of Guns & Ammo magazine.

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The first manufacturer to create a firearm for this powerful cartridge was Freedom Arms, a custom/semi-custom arms-maker located in a scenic mountain valley of western Wyoming. Freedom Arms’ single-action revolvers are considered to be “semi-custom” because they are production firearms, but they are all hand-built to strict specifications. And even though Freedom Arms makes revolvers in many popular calibers, the company’s most well known are chambered for the powerful .454 Casull cartridge.

Freedom Arms makes two versions of the Model 83 in this chambering—the Premier Grade and the Field Grade. The Model 83 Premier Grade has a bright, brushed stainless finish with a little more attention given to cosmetic details. This revolver’s rear sight is screw adjustable for elevation and windage, and the grip panels are made of laminated hardwood with resin bonding. Premier Grade revolvers also come with limited lifetime warranties for the original owner. It should also be mentioned that all Model 83s come with manual sliding bar safeties.

The Model 83 Field Grade is made with the same materials and machining tolerances as the Premier Grade, but it has a more economical matte finish for less glare and the rear sights are screw adjustable for elevation and drift adjustable for windage. The Field Grade comes standard with rosewood grips. It also has a limited one-year warranty to the original owner.

Custom .454 Casulls

These Freedom Arms revolvers in .454 Casull are built to hold five rounds instead of the more traditional six. This is due to the tremendous chamber pressures generated by the .454 Casull. A five-round cylinder provides more material between each chamber to withstand such high pressures when this cartridge is fired.

The two revolvers I tested were both custom made for Peter Pi, the owner and president of CorBon Ammunition. Both are Model 83 Premiere Grade revolvers, but they were customized to Pi’s specifications. The first features a 5.25-inch, octagonal barrel with a Mag-Na-Port “Predator” conversion as well as adjustable iron sights. The second is a Mag-Na-Port “Stalker” conversion with a 7.5-inch, octagonal barrel. This model doesn’t have sights, but instead has a Weaver-style rail on the topstrap to mount optics or red-dot sights.

The first things I noticed about these guns were their meticulous fitting and fine tuning. All of the individual parts of both revolvers felt like they were melted together. The tolerances and fittings were impeccable. The lock work for both triggers was among the best I’ve ever felt. The Predator’s trigger pull weighed less than 2 pounds, and the larger Stalker’s trigger pull weight measured around 3 pounds.

Powerful Pair

I tested both revolvers with one .45 Colt load—Hornady’s 185-grain Critical Defense FTX, which is rated for 920 fps—and two .454 Casull loads from CorBon: 240-grain JHPs with a rated muzzle velocity of 1,450 fps and 250-grain DPX rounds rated for 1,512 fps. My first task was to set up a chronograph and get some velocity data for both revolvers, and I immediately got a firsthand taste of the .454 Casull’s reputation for stout recoil.

The Hornady load had an average muzzle velocity of 1,116 fps through the 5.25-inch-barreled Predator model. The 240- and 250-grain CorBon loads achieved 1,468 and 1,601 fps, respectively. With the 7.5-inch-barreled Stalker, the Hornady ammunition averaged 1,130 fps while the 240- and 250-grain CorBon rounds clocked in at 1,507 and 1,614 fps, respectively. As expected, all three loads were faster than their factory-rated velocities, and the Stalker had consistently faster results because of its longer barrel.

Next came the accuracy portion of the evaluation. I fired all three kinds of ammunition through both revolvers at 15 yards for a preliminary test, and then picked the best ammunition for the final accuracy test. Both revolvers performed magnificently with all three varieties, but the sure winner was CorBon’s .454 Casull 250-grain DPX ammo, which created 2.5-inch groups on average with both revolvers. The Stalker even created a 1.9-inch cluster with the DPX ammo.

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The final portion of the test was focused on the revolvers’ reliability. I loaded each revolver with the 240-grain CorBon rounds and fired it twice, and both of the revolvers performed flawlessly. Fast or slow, no matter how I pulled the hammer and pressed the trigger, each revolver ran reliably, shot after shot.

Standout Performers

In the end, it was easy to see that these .454 Casull revolvers are nothing but outstanding. I’ve fired many different custom firearms in the past, but these revolvers are just about the best built I’ve ever had the pleasure of handling and firing. They are must-haves for recreational shooting, target shooting and hunting.

Speaking of hunting, many North American handgun hunters consider Freedom Arms’ single-action revolvers to be the best available in terms of reliability and accuracy. That’s a ringing endorsement.

If I were in the market for a perfect all-around handgun with accuracy, reliability and the outmost craftsmanship, a Freedom Arms revolver would be right at the top of my list—a firearm that holds the perfect balance between beauty and utility.

Freedom Arms Revolver Specs

Freedom Arms Model 83 Premier Grade Predator Performance

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 25 yards.

Freedom Arms Model 83 Premier Grade Stalker Performance

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 25 yards.

For more information, visit freedomarms.com.

This article was originally published in “The Complete Book of Revolvers” 2017. To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Test: Freedom Arms Model 83 Premier Grade Stalker & Predator appeared first on Personal Defense World.

An armed Texas woman sent a would-be home invader scurrying after she pointed a revolver at him.

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The Incident

CBS affiliate KWTX reports that Laura Williams was at her home in Limestone County, Texas with her 17-year-old daughter Hannah, when she was jolted awake by the sound of her doorbell ringing. She answered the door, only to find a strange man standing in front of her with a shovel. The man asked about a woman who didn’t live at the home.

Williams told the man the woman didn’t live there. She then closed the door and peered through the blinds to see if the man had left. She observed the man standing at the opening of the woods in the front of her house, but he kept looking back.

Sensing danger, Williams woke up her daughter and told her to come with her to the master bedroom. As soon as Williams and her daughter reached the master bedroom, the man started kicking in the front door and hitting it with a shovel.

Williams grabbed a revolver out of her bedside table and went to confront the intruder.

“I had time to grab the revolver and come out the door. So when he came in the shovel was up on his shoulder, he was headed straight towards us,” she told KWTX. “I aimed it at him and said, ‘If you take one more step I’ll kill you.'”

Home Invader Bails

Those words stopped the man in his tracks. He immediately turned to leave the house, but he turned to face Williams once again.

“He said, ‘Well all y’all need to know is y’all need to leave me the F alone,’ and I said ‘I don’t even know you, get out of my house.'” Williams recalled.

The man finally left for good. Williams called 911 while she observed him walking into the woods with the shovel in his hands.

Deputies arrived on the scene 14 minutes later and scoured the area, eventually locating the suspect in a trailer park nearby. He was arrested and identified as 47-year-old Allen Tompkins.

FOX8 reports Tompkins has been charged with burglary of a habitation and taken to jail on a $20,000 bond.

The post Texas Woman to Home Invader: ‘If You Take One More Step I’ll Kill You’ appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Heads up, 10mm fans: Ruger’s GP100 Match Champion wheelgun lineup has a new model available in the cartridge developed by the late, great Col. Jeff Cooper back in 1983.

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Featuring a stainless steel frame, the 10mm Auto GP100 Match Champion sports a half-lug 4.2-inch barrel with an 11-degree target crown, offering up what the company claims is “competition-level accuracy.” It also has a chamfered cylinder and ejector, making loading easier. Speaking of the cylinder, it’s triple-locked into the frame at the front, rear and bottom for positive alignment and reliable operation. In addition, the gun is adorned with custom Hogue hardwood grips with stippled sides.

Meanwhile, this revolver boasts polished and optimized internals; a centering boss on the trigger and centering shims on the hammer result in a “smooth double-action trigger pull and a crisp and consistent let-off,” Ruger says. Furthermore, the adjustable rear sight and fiber-optic front sight produce a sight picture that lets you get rapist acquisition on plates and targets.

Tipping the scales at 37 ounces and measuring 9.5 inches in OAL, the Ruger GP100 Match Champion in 10mm Auto ships with three moon clips. MSRP is $969.

For more, visit Ruger.com.

Ruger GP100 Match Champion Specs

• Caliber: 10mm Auto
• Grips: Hogue Stippled Hardwood
• Front Sight: Fiber Optic
• Rear Sight: Adjustable
• Barrel Length: 4.20″
• Material: Stainless Steel
• Capacity: 6
• Twist: 1:16″ RH
• Finish: Satin Stainless
• Overall Length: 9.50″
• Weight: 37 oz.
• Grooves: 6
• CA Approved: No
• MA Approved & Certified: No
• Suggested Retail: $969

The post New Ruger Revolver: GP100 Match Champion in 10mm Auto appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Remember last week when we told you that Smith & Wesson is releasing a lot of new handguns as of late? We weren’t kidding. Here’s another new one that’s sure to appeal to fans of old school cool: for the first time in 20 years, the Model 19 revolver will be available in S&W’s Classics and Performance Center lineups.

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Smith’s Classics revolver series boasts modernized internal components, but the exterior is all old school. The Model 19 revolver in its Classic format boasts walnut grips; 4.25-inch barrel; black adjustable rear sight; and a red ramp front sight. It also sports a blued finish and a traditional thumbpiece to give it that classic look.

Built for CCW, the Performance Center Model 19 Carry Comp features a three-inch PowerPort vented barrel for managing recoil; tritium front night sight; custom wood and synthetic boot grips; trigger overtravel stop; and a Performance Center tuned action that offers a double-action and single action trigger pull.

Both guns are chambered in .38 S&W Special +P AND .357 Magnum with a six-round cylinder.

“The Model 19 revolver was a popular choice for both law enforcement and civilian customers for nearly 40 years, and after many requests, we’ve decided to reintroduce it to the product line in both Classic and Performance Center models. The Model 19 Classic is designed to replicate the original, while the new Performance Center Model 19 Carry Comp features modern revolver innovation and design for today’s shooters,” Tony Miele, GM of Smith & Wesson’s Performance Center, said in a press release.

MSRP on the Model 19 Classic is $826, while the Performance Center Model 19 Carry Comp is priced at $1,092. Specs for each are listed below.

For more, go to Smith-Wesson.com.

Smith & Wesson Model 19 Revolver – Classic

• SKU: 12040
• Model: Model 19 Classic
• Caliber: 357 Magnum, 38 S&W SPECIAL +P
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel Length: 4.25″ / 10.8 cm
• Overall Length: 9.9″
• Front Sight: Red Ramp
• Rear Sight: Black Blade Adjustable
• Action: Single/Double Action
• Grip: Custom Wood
• Weight: 37.2 oz / 1,054.6g
• Cylinder Material: Carbon Steel
• Barrel Material: Stainless Steel
• Frame Material: Carbon Steel
• Purpose: Enthusiast, Home Protection, Personal Protection, Recreational Shooting

Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model 19 Carry Comp

• SKU: 12039
• Model: PERFORMANCE CENTER Model 19 Carry Comp
• Caliber: 357 Magnum, 38 S&W SPECIAL +P
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel Length: 3″ / 7.6 cm
• Overall Length: 8.0″
• Front Sight: Tritium Night Sight
• Rear Sight: Black Blade Adjustable
• Action: Single/Double Action
• Grip: Custom Wood and Synthetic Included
• Weight: 34.1 oz / 966.7g
• Cylinder Material: Carbon Steel
• Barrel Material: Stainless Steel
• Frame Material: Carbon Steel
• Purpose: Enthusiast, Home Protection, Personal Protection, Recreational Shooting

The post S&W Reintroduces Model 19 Revolver to Classics, PC Lines appeared first on Personal Defense World.

When it comes to big-bore handgunners, Elmer Keith, with his much-publicized experiments in the 1940s and 1950s that eventually led to the introduction of the .44 Magnum by Smith & Wesson and Remington in 1955, gets the bulk of the press. Keith deserves the accolades, no question, but he’s not the only name that merits a look, and certainly not the only big-bore advocate who wasn’t satisfied with the conventional handgun performance levels of the day.

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What Keith did in being instrumental to the development of the .44 Magnum was help to create a powerful cartridge that offered much more terminal energy and range than either of the two top cartridges of the time: the much respected .45 Colt from 1873 and the (still relatively new at the time) .357 Magnum from 1935. For Keith, the .45 Colt had the width and weight, but it couldn’t be pushed hard enough in the existing revolvers of the era because of relatively thin chamber walls and cartridge brass that limited pressures.

The .357 Magnum, on the other hand, did have the steam necessary for flatter trajectories at longer distances, with correspondingly higher velocities and terminal energy figures, along with much thicker chamber walls in production revolvers and stronger brass cases that could safely contain the pressures. But the .357 Magnum wasn’t as effective for large game hunting use as Keith had determined calibers beginning with a “4” could be. The eventual result, after blowing up .45s and extensive tinkering with .44 Specials (because of the thicker chamber walls), was the .44 Magnum, the ceiling that the vast majority of handgunners were willing to tolerate in terms of recoil.

Pushing The Limit

Then along came Dick Casull, a Utah native who was even less satisfied with the status quo. Casull began his own trek into the uncharted wilderness of the true hand-cannon world that not only pushed the traditional .45-caliber envelope that Keith had abandoned, but utterly shredded that envelope forever.

After years of experimentation—first with standard Colts and standard Colt cases, then with specially built Colt and Ruger single-actions using stronger Casull-specific brass cases and a triplex powder charge (three different powders in the same case that burned progressively as the bullet travelled down the bore)—the new wildcat .454 Casull was co-developed in 1957 with Jack Fulmer and introduced to the world in November of 1959.

Billed for many years as the most powerful handgun caliber in existence (Dirty Harry was mistaken about his S&W .44 Magnum), since then the cartridge has picked up momentum as Freedom Arms, Ruger and Taurus began chambering large-frame revolvers capable of standing up to its 65,000-psi pressures, and today there are several commercial loads available for it in a variety of bullet weights and styles. Even though it’s been surpassed by heavier handgun calibers, the .454 Casull is the most popular mainstream heavy artillery for those finding the .44 Magnum to be just a trifle on the tame side for large critter territory.

Super-Sized Hawk

First introduced in late 1987 as a beefed-up version of the original 1979 double-action, large-framed, six-shot Redhawk, the Super Redhawk, with either a 7.5- or 9.5-inch barrel, was built as a heavy-duty .44 Magnum revolver largely for the hunting crowd, with an extended frame snout and milled slots up top for the proprietary Ruger scope ring mounts included with each gun.

The Super Redhawk also featured a different internal design than the original Redhawk, with essentially an up-sized GP100 action that can allow a better trigger pull with its individual hammer and trigger springs than the Redhawk’s single spring, which powered both the hammer and the trigger return. The Super Redhawk also uses the same abbreviated grip “strut” with an enclosed hammer spring as the GP100, allowing for more grip options than the more conventional, fully contoured Redhawk grip frame. In fact, the Super Redhawk and the GP100 can share the same grips interchangeably.

Hunting Companion

There are very few factory-produced revolvers that can safely contain the .454 Casull pressures—the Freedom Arms single action of 1983 was the first, with a five-shot cylinder to maintain sufficient cylinder wall thickness. In 1997, using a special alloy and heat-treating process on the cylinder, Ruger brought out the first double-action .454 Casull revolver with its 7.5-inch-barreled, stainless Super Redhawk variant with the company’s “target grey” finish.

Since then, while sales in the caliber have never set any barns to burning, the .454 Super Redhawks have been popular enough among hardcore handgun hunters and those who share homesteads with unpredictable bruins to keep them in the lineup, and the Ruger website currently shows two .454 versions in satin stainless: the Alaskan model with a 2.5-inch barrel and the full-sized Super Redhawk with a 7.5-inch barrel and a black rubber Hogue Tamer grip. If you hunt hard and long with a handgun, this hefty revolver and caliber combo offers performance and durability you should be taking a look at.

Closer Look

In its latest configuration, the .454 Super Redhawk incorporates the recent recoil plate/firing pin retention upgrades common to all of Ruger’s steel-framed DA revolvers, involving a screw-in plate (firing pin bushing) that’s then pinned, which Ruger says is much more consistent than the older press-fit plate versions. The target grey finish is gone, along with the original plunger-powered interchangeable front sight, which is now a much longer, one-piece base/blade made of steel with a red/orange insert. The sight is solidly attached to the barrel with three slotted-head screws.

Ruger shows sight options for Super Redhawks manufactured after August of 2013 that include 0.61- and 0.533-inch-high red inserts, two green fiber-optics in the same heights and one 0.533-inch-high, Patridge-style brass bead, all for the same $30 price through its website. The rear sight is a white-outline blade in Ruger’s fully adjustable steel base. Ruger’s “pin-less” ejector star is now standard, and another update that’s also common to the steel DA revolvers across the board is the smooth-faced MIM trigger, with larger- frame models like the GPs and Redhawks still retaining their traditional cast hammers.

More Details

Otherwise, the .454 Casull Super Redhawk is one sizable chunk of ordnance, weighing in at 1.5 ounces short of 3.5 pounds unloaded. Graceful and svelte do not apply as descriptors here. Solid, hefty and bet-your-life-rugged do. The sharply checkered hammer gives a non-slip thumb-cocking surface. Ruger’s transfer bar safety has you covered if you do somehow manage to lose control of that hammer. The MIM trigger has no sharp rear edges to pinch the finger in DA use, which may not be an issue for you, but it is for me. The DA pull is stiff but smooth, with a noticeable stacking stop toward the last 0.125 inches of hammer travel as the cylinder locks in place. This allows you to stage the trigger if you choose. On my test sample, the very passable single-action pull weighed 4.75 pounds and exhibited no creep and only a miniscule amount of overtravel.

A good gunsmith could take that SA pull down further, but believe me—on a kicker like this one, you do not want to take it down too far. A hunting revolver needs a clean trigger for longer-range accuracy, but a .454 does not need one so light it trips if you breathe on it before you’re absolutely ready. That has nothing to do with missing the shot on that hunt-of-a-lifetime trophy and everything to do with eliminating forehead dents. Hogue’s big Tamer grip was designed specifically for heavy thumpers and jumpers like the Super Redhawk, with a mildly tacky, non-slip, pebble-grained surface, finger grooves and a blue “gel” insert inside that helps further cushion the web of the hand during the big boomer’s recoil arc.

Burning Powder

While the Super Redhawk has “.454 Casull-.45 Colt” stamped on its frame extension, I don’t see much point in shooting .45 Colts through a large gun you buy for its sheer power, so I tested the revolver at a distance of 50 yards, using its iron sights and a rest, with four full-power .454 Casull loads in four different bullet weights from Buffalo Bore, Winchester and Federal.

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In all, the recoil was tolerable, with the biggest muzzle jump provided by the heaviest 360-grain Buffalo Bore round. This isn’t one of the funnest guns I’ve ever fired, but you don’t buy it for fun. I fired a total of 95 rounds throughout the range session, between chronograph and accuracy testing, and the key to surviving that many .454 rounds in one day is to shoot it with a grip tight enough to keep it from sailing back over your head, but not too tight, and not straight-arming it with your elbows and wrists locked. The gun’s weight works in your favor, and it’s not that hard to keep it from bucking loose. Purely for fun, I shot five of the heavyweights through it one-handed, and that hand lived to type what you’re reading now.

Accuracy

Accuracy-wise, the big Ruger roughly held a 4.5-inch average with three of the four loads’ best five-shot groups, producing a best-of-session 2.18-inch group with the 360-grain Buffalo Bore LBT ammo. All four bullet weights shot to varying locations on the 50-yard target between them; this is one caliber that needs to be zeroed at your anticipated shooting distance with your preferred load and kept to that load.

Just before finishing the session, I fired a full cylinder at my Action Targets steel buffalo silhouette, off-hand, at a lasered 75 yards. Even after the 90-round session leading up to it, and despite never being the steadiest of free-handers, I managed to get four hits out of six shots on the little buffalo. If it’s power and range you need, this Ruger Super Redhawk has it in spades.

Ruger Super Redhawk Specs

Ruger Super Redhawk Performance 

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for the best five-shot groups at 50 yards.

For more information, visit ruger.com.

This article was originally published in “The Complete Book of Guns” 2017. To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Gun Review: Ruger Super Redhawk in .454 Casull appeared first on Personal Defense World.

A wife used a 6-shot revolver to open fire on a pack of bad guys beating on her husband right outside the gates of their home in Lucknow, India. Watch a video of the encounter, complete with a step-by-step breakdown of the lessons learned, above.

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The Attack

The video starts off with the victim opening up his gate and stepping out to talk to a man dressed in black. While the two are talking, two other men wearing bandanas to conceal their faces approach from the victim’s right side and start hitting him. He tries to fight back, but he’s quickly taken to the ground.

Two other men rush in and proceed to punch and kick the victim. Another man then runs over with a stick or baseball bat and starts hitting him.

6-Shot Revolver To The Rescue

That’s when the victim’s wife runs up to the gate and pulls out a 6-shot revolver. As soon as the bad guys catch sight of it, they start to back off. When she fires off a round, most of them bolt. The victim grabs the gun from his wife and threatens another bad guy standing behind the gate; the bad guy runs off, and the victim closes up the gate to the home.

According to India TV, the victim is Abid Ali, a local journalist. It is believed that the bad guys were sent by Ali’s landlord, with whom Ali was allegedly in a dispute over rent. News18 says Ali suffered multiple injuries to his neck, back, head and hands as a result of the attack. Ali’s wife remains unidentified, but news reports say she is a lawyer.

India Gun Laws

Legally obtaining a firearm in India is, to put it mildly, a long and arduous task. Sandhya Ramesh, the senior assistant editor for science at the India publication ThePrint, broke down the process in a thread on her Twitter account. Check it out below:

A thread on how to get a gun in India. (It's not easy).

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

For a civilian to obtain a firearm, a gun license is mandatory. Minimum age for applying for one is 21. The application form asks details about past criminal behavior. The process to get one can take months, even years. pic.twitter.com/N6jSQUuSqp

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

Required documentation: last 3 years’ income tax returns, 2 character certificates from eminent members in your locality, proof of education, proof of age, proof of identity, proof of residence, physical fitness certificate, mental health certificate, narc test, 4 photos.

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

The police performs stringent background checks for 2 months. This includes reviewing the applicant's mental health history, criminal history, interviewing them and their family, interviewing their neighbors re: suspicious and aggressive behavior, domestic violence, and more.

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

All interviews are recorded and sent to both the Criminal Branch and the National Crime Record Bureau for record keeping purposes. Licensing Authority officials then interview the applicant. All reasons for approval or declining of a license are meticulously documented.

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

All applicants have to undergo a mandatory arms handling course that covers how to fire a gun correctly, safe handling, safe storage, and safe transportation.

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

Guns can be issued for three purposes only: self-defence, crop protection, and sport. If you apply for a license for self-defence, you are required to prove imminent/anticipatory threat to your life. Protection from wild animals counts.

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

Licenses are usually issued by state licensing authorities. National licenses that can be used across the country are rare.

The probability of success for obtaining a license is higher if you are 30 and above.

A license is valid for three years.

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

Possession of a gun or a license is not guaranteed by the law or the Constitution. Legally held weapons can be confiscated at any time as seen fit.

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

To purchase a gun with a license, the civilian need to pre-book it with a licensed arms dealer, who in turn procures it from a factory. It can also be purchased from factories in proximity to your residence directly.

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

Indian Ordnance Factory is the only legal manufacturer of guns. Importing guns is illegal.

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

Civilians are allowed possession of only Non-Prohibited Bore (NPB) category weapons. This means two things:

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

1. bolt actions, semi-automatics, barrels shorter than 20 inches are prohibited. In special circumstances, they can be issued (only) by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Central Govt. after receiving a recommendation from the State Home Ministry.

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

These exceptions are always high ranking government officials and their families, defence personnel, and a select few professional shooters. Collectors are also exempted, but all collectibles are non-functional.

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

2. Firearms designed to discharge continuously unless finger is lifted off trigger, ie fully automatics, are completely banned. As are guns that can discharge noxious gases.

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

Air rifles, paintball guns, and blank firing guns are also classified as weapons and require licenses because these can be converted to functioning guns with machinery work.

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

Tasers firing less than 15 feet require a license as well. But the govt has made obtaining this license much easier for women following the infamous 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape case https://t.co/pqYDAyYYlN

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

More documentation required for civilian and arms dealer to obtain a gun from a factory: photocopy of gun license, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the police and the factory owner, transportation license possessed by the factory to transport the gun, residential proof.

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

This process takes at least a month. And upon procuring a firearm, the civilian is required to produce it for inspection to check compliance and record-keeping in the licensing booklet.

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

All public spaces including malls, hospitals, movie theatres, and schools of course, are designated gun-free zones. Any property can apply to become a gun-free zone.

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

Citizens are prohibited from carrying a gun unless it fits in a holster designed for it and sits close to their person. Rucksacks, in case of long rifles.

Brandishing a firearm in public without cause is also prohibited.

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

Accessories designed to stifle the firing of a gun like silencers and flash-hiders are illegal. Possession and manufacture of replica of firearms also requires a license. pic.twitter.com/SCSTetMNFE

— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) February 19, 2018

The post WATCH: Thugs Beat Man, Wife Steps in With 6-Shot Revolver appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Just over four years ago, legendary shooter Jerry Miculek set a world record when he put five .500 Magnum rounds on target from a S&W 500 revolver in 1.14 seconds. Since records are made to be broken, Andrew from the YouTube channel GY6vids set about besting Miculek’s time using the same model. Firing from a distance of 21 feet, Andrew—after several attempts and a most likely a wrist that’s seen better days—breaks Miculek’s record; he got five shots on target in 1.09 seconds. Watch the video above to see it all go down. Below, Andrew details the process. In addition, you can see Miculek’s original record-setting effort.

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S&W 500 Record Attempt Details:

This is the record for fastest 5 shots fired from a 4in barrel Smith & Wesson 500 magnum Revolver. Using factory loaded Hornady 500 magnum 300gr FTX bullets, firing at 2000+ feet per second. While landing all shots on a Paper Target 18in wide & 30in tall @ 21 feet away.

Shooter starts from a Low Ready Position ( Gun in hand ready to shoot, but aiming lower than the intended target). Shooter then reacts to a randomly timed shooting timer “Beep.” Once the shooter hears the timer, he/she engages the target as fast as possible with 5 shots. The Reaction time is not counted toward overall time(Time it takes the shooter to pull up onto target and start shooting), reaction time will be deducted from overall time after 5th shot. All shots must strike the Paper Target at 21feet. This video also shows the record for Fastest 5 shots including reaction time

The Record Time I set while following all the above mentioned details is 1.71 seconds overall time(Including Reaction Time) and 1.09 seconds 5 shot time (Minus reaction time of 0.62 seconds).

The post YouTuber Breaks Miculek’s S&W 500 Record of 5 Shots in 1 Second appeared first on Personal Defense World.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department seized more than 500 firearms from the home of a convicted felon who is reputed to be a collector last week.

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LA Sheriff’s Department Gun Bust

The bust got set into motion when the LASD Palmdale Station got a tip that a man in Agua Dulce—an area 44 miles north of Los Angeles—had a “large arsenal” of firearms. The tipster also mentioned that the man was a convicted felon, which would prevent him from legally owning any firearms at all.

On June 14, a team that included investigators with the LASD Palmdale Station, the ATF and the California DOJ executed a warrant on the home of 60-year-old Manuel Fernandez. 432 firearms were discovered inside the residence, including pistols, revolvers, rifles and shotguns.

Through the course of the investigation, authorities discovered a second home in Agua Dulce connected to Fernandez. Police obtained a warrant for that address. When the home was searched, police found 30 firearms owned by somebody the LASD refers to as a “female associate.” The woman wasn’t home when the warrant was executed; she hasn’t returned to the address. The LASD is preparing to file charges against her.

A follow-up warrant to Fernandez’s home the next day led to the seizure of 91 additional guns. The guns were hidden at various spots throughout the home. Investigators also seized computers, cell phones and hard drives believed to have been used by Fernandez to make the gun buys.

All told, 553 guns police seized during the investigation.

Additional Details

LASD detectives have called upon the ATF for help tracing the “purchase origination” of the guns.

“This case is a testament to the community’s involvement in reducing crime and taking guns out of the hands of criminals,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell. “The swift response … showed the positive result of our campaign ‘See Something, Say Something.'”

According to the Los Angeles Times, “sources familiar” with the case say Fernandez is a gun collector, as opposed to somebody “about to use the guns for violence.”

Nevertheless, police arrested Fernandez and booked him on charges of being a felon in possession of firearms; possession of an assault rifle; felon in possession of ammunition; and possession of large capacity magazines.

The LASD statement doesn’t state the nature of Fernandez’s previous felony conviction. ABC News cites jail records that say Fernandez was sentenced to 486 days in jail for an “unspecified” felony conviction in February 2017. He was released in August 2017.

Fernandez is due to appear in court on July 9.

The post LA Sheriff’s Department Seizes More Than 500 Guns From Felon’s Home appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Smith & Wesson introduced its Model 19 Combat Magnum in November of 1955. It quickly became the queen of S&W’s revolver line.

The Model 19 was a work of art with sleek lines and featured either a deep luster blue or a brilliant nickel finish. The walnut stocks were hand fitted and the internal parts were polished and fitted by real gun smiths. Options included a 2.5-, 4- or 6-inch barrel, a wide target trigger and hammer, a red ramp front sight, and a white outline rear sight blade.

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According to legendary Border Patrol officer, Bill Jordan, it was the perfect gunfighter’s revolver. However, as time progressed, the demand for revolvers was replaced by the craving for polymer wonder nines. Much to my disappointment, in 1999, Smith & Wesson discontinued the Model 19.

Model 19 Revival

At the 2018 NRA Annual Meetings, Smith & Wesson reintroduced the Model 19 in two models: the Classic and the Carry Comp.

The Model 19 Classic features a 4-inch” barrel and retro Magna stocks. It also has a bright blue finish and will appeal to those wanting a retro revolver.

Meanwhile, the Model 19 Carry Comp is a Performance Center model designed as the ideal personal defense fighting revolver.

Model 19 Carry Comp Features

The Performance Center Model 19 Carry Comp is based on an updated K-frame design. At the heart of the Carry Comp is a 3-inch barrel that features a single chamber PowerPort. The actual barrel of the Carry Comp is 2.5 inches with the integral comp adding an additional half-inch.

The new Model 19 features a number of improvements over the original guns; one of which is a ball/detent locking system for the cylinder crane to strengthen the lockup.

The Carry Comp retains traditional Smith sights with a fully adjustable rear sight and a pinned front sight that features a tritium insert. Smith & Wesson’s Performance Center tuned the trigger and installed an over-travel stop.

In addition, the Performance Center rounded the profile of the hammer to reduce the profile for concealed carry.

The double action is smooth with no grit while the single action breaks cleanly at 5 pounds. The stocks are a composite wood material that are similar to boot stock. I noted the actual frame is a round butt shape that allows for more compact stocks.

On the Range

Being an old wheelgunner, I immediately took to the little Carry Comp.

On first examination, I found that the factory stocks were not well-fitted to the frame. They also didn’t fit my hand well. A quick call to the great folks of Crimson Trace solved the problem. I replaced the factory stocks with a set of CTC LG-306 Lasergrips. I have used CTC stocks for more than 20 years and have a great appreciation for them.

As I found, the rear sight blade is significantly shorter and the notch shallower than on a vintage 19; this made indexing the front sight a little more difficult.

On the range the Model 19 Carry Comp handled even the heaviest Magnum loads reasonably well.

I shot both the Speer Gold Dot 125 gr. GDHP and the Federal 158 gr. Hydra Shok Magnum loads. The Gold Dot averaged 1,264 fps while the Hydra Shok averaged 1,144 fps. These are stout loads, but manageable.

I shot the Carry Comp next to an older 3-inch S&W Model 65 in an attempt to judge the effectiveness of the compensator. Subjectively, I would estimate that the Carry Comp has about 30 percent less muzzle flip than the Model 65. The Speer .38 Special +P 125 gr. Gold Dot was much more controllable and pleasant to shoot.

All of the loads produced sub-2-inch groups at 25 yards, as long as I did my job.

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

S&W Performance Center Model 19 Carry Comp Specifications

• Caliber: 357 Magnum; .38 Special
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel Length: 3 inches
• Overall Length: 8 inches
• Front Sight: Tritium Night Sight
• Rear Sight: Black Blade Adjustable
• Action: Single/Double Action
• Grip: Custom Wood and Synthetic Included
• Weight: 34.1 ounces
• Cylinder Material: Carbon Steel
• Barrel Material: Stainless Steel
• Frame Material: Carbon Steel
• Finish: Glassbead Black
• MSRP: $1,092

The post FIRST LOOK: S&W’s Performance Center Model 19 Carry Comp Revolver appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Two years after Kimber introduced the K6s, its first production revolver, the Yonkers, N.Y.-based company is continuing to expand the lineup. Its latest addition, the K6s Classic Engraved, brings a touch of class to the series. Here’s Kimber’s blurb on this new wheelgun:

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The K6s Classic Engraved adds a subtle elegance to the modern concealed carry revolver. A beautiful leaf engraving over subdued brush finish provides a quite sophistication, that when paired with the polished motif rosewood grips completely transforms this contemporary revolver into a true classic.

Chambered in .357 Magnum, the K6s Classic Engraved is a DAO 6-shot revolver with a two-inch stainless steel barrel. In addition to the aforementioned polished motif rosewood grips and leaf engraving with a brush finish, the gun features white 3-dot sights; stainless steel frame; and a non-stacking trigger with a factory setting of 9.5-10 pounds.

The K6s Classic Engraved is 4.46 inches in height. It weighs in at 23 ounces empty and measures 6.62 inches in overall height. MSRP on the gun is $1,455. See a rundown of specs and features below.

For more on Kimber, check out kimberamerica.com.

K6s Classic Engraved Specs

• Height (inches): 4.46
• Weight (ounces) with empty cylinder: 23
• Width (inches): 1.39
• Length (inches): 6.62
• Cylinder capacity: 6
• Action: DAO

Frame

• Material: Stainless steel
• Finish: Engraved over Brushed Stainless
• Serrated backstrap

Barrel

• Length (inches): 2
• Material: Stainless steel
• Finish: Engraved over Brushed Stainless

Sights

• White 3-Dot
• Radius (inches): 4.1

Grips

• Rosewood
• Engraved Pattern

Trigger

• Non-stacking
• Factory setting (approx. pounds) – 9.5-10.5

The post Kimber Expands K6s Revolver Line With New K6s Classic Engraved appeared first on Personal Defense World.

The following snippet on the Ruger Super Redhawk is from the September/October 2018 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine, on sale July 3, 2018. To subscribe, please visit OutdoorGroupStore.com. Story by Paul Scarlata; video by Sean Utley.

The 10mm Ruger Super Redhawk is a member of a small but distinctive community: Revolvers chambered for pistol cartridges. The first were the M1917 revolvers used by the U.S. Army during World War I, which used a pair of stamped-steel half-moon clips, each holding three .45 ACP cartridges, that allowed the extractor to eject the casings.

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With the burgeoning popularity of action pistol shooting in the 1970s, the full-moon clip was developed. It held six cartridges, allowing rapid reloads for shooters (including me) using .45 ACP revolvers in competition.

I’m sure some of you wonder why Ruger would chamber a revolver for the 10mm when there are so many excellent revolver cartridges. But pistol cartridges provide several advantages for wheelgun shooters, the first of which is reloading speed.

Pistol cartridges generally have shorter overall lengths than magnum revolver cartridges. When connected together on a full-moon clip, they can be dropped into a revolver cylinder quickly and ejected faster than the longer cartridges traditionally used in revolvers. Another advantage is that the full-moon clip holds the spent cases together for reliable extraction and ejection, and a stray case cannot slip under the revolver’s extractor, jamming up the works.

As for cost, a perusal of websites shows that 10mm ammunition is cheaper than most .44 Magnum, .454 Casull and .480 Ruger rounds. Lastly—and this is of interest to reloaders—spent brass is easy to find and pick up.

So there you have it. The new Super Redhawk is chambered for a cartridge capable of taking large game with the advantages of more reliable ejection and faster reloading. What’s not to like?

To read the rest of this article on the Super Redhawk, pick up a copy of the September/October 2018 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. Copies are available at OutdoorGroupStore.com.

For even more information, please visit Ruger.com.

Ruger Super Redhawk Specifications

• Caliber: 10mm
• Barrel: 6.5 inches
• OA Length: 12 inches
• Weight: 54 ounces (empty)
• Grips: Cushioned rubber
• Sights: Ramp front, adjustable rear
• Action: DA/SA
• Finish: Satin stainless
• Capacity: 6
• MSRP: $1,159

The post VIDEO: Hitting at 180 Yards with the 10mm Ruger Super Redhawk Revolver appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Charter Arms has manufactured affordable revolvers for sport and defense since the 1960s. Products from its Shelton, Connecticut, facility are 100-percent American made and carry a lifetime warranty.

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The company’s flagship product is the Charter Arms Bulldog. This big-bore revolver punches higher than its weight class with five .44 Special rounds in a light and compact package. And the Bulldog’s design has evolved.

The original featured a blued frame, wooden grips and a 3-inch barrel with an exposed ejector rod. Although that version is still available as the Classic Bulldog, Charter Arms has expanded the product lineup.

Below, check out nine Charter Arms revolvers perfect for personal defense.

This article was originally published in “Concealed Carry Handguns” 2018 #211. To order a copy and subscribe, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

Charter Arms Bulldog Stainless Standard

I recently received a Bulldog Stainless Standard for review. This updated snubbie could be described as the default base model of current-production Bulldogs. The stainless steel components have a matte finish, and the wraparound rubber grips have finger grooves. The gun weighs 21 ounces unloaded. The 2.5-inch barrel features a shrouded ejector rod with a fixed, serrated ramp front sight, and the fixed rear sight sports a generous notch. The gun is a traditional double-action/single-action (DA/SA) design with an exposed hammer. A transfer-bar safety ensures the gun will not fire unless you pull the trigger. The cylinder holds five rounds of .44 Special ammunition and rotates clockwise from the shooter’s view when fired.

The cylinder release latch is on the left side of the frame and is pushed forward to activate. The DA trigger pull was smooth, with some stacking and a clean break. The DA trigger pull weight was more than the 12-pound maximum of my gunsmith’s Lyman digital trigger pull gauge. I estimate it at just more than 12 pounds to be about 13 pounds. The SA trigger pull averaged just more than 3 pounds, with a short amount of take-up and a crisp break.

• Caliber: .44 Special
• Barrel: 2.5 inches
• OA Length: 7.25 inches
• Weight: 21 ounces (empty)
• Grips: Rubber
• Sights: Fixed
• Action: DA/SA
• Finish: Matte stainless
• Capacity: 5
• MSRP: $422

Charter Arms Boomer

A compact version of Charter’s .44 Speciall Bulldog, the Boomer is designed for concealed carry with a double-action-only (DAO) hammer, full wooden or rubber grips and a matte stainless finish. The Boomer’s tapered, 2-inch barrel is ported to reduce muzzle rise, and it has no front sight to snag or delay a quick draw. It’s sleek and compact, but it’ll make plenty of noise when you need it.

• Caliber: .44 Special
• Barrel: 2 inches
• OA Length: 6.75 inches
• Weight: 20 ounces (empty)
• Grips: Rubber or wood
• Sights: Fixed
• Action: DAO
• Finish: Nitride or stainless
• Capacity: 5
• MSRP: $443

Charter Arms Chic Lady

The Chic Lady is part of Charter’s line of colorful revolvers. The heart of the Chic Lady is the popular Undercover Lite, but it has an attractive pink anodized frame and high-polished parts. This is another five-shot model that weighs 12 ounces unloaded. It also features a 2-inch barrel, fixed sights and a traditional hammer spur. It’s also available with Crimson Trace Lasergrips, and each Chic Lady comes with an attractive pink faux-alligator case.

• Caliber: .38 Special +P
• Barrel: 2 inches
• OA Length: 6.75 inches
• Weight: 12 ounces (empty)
• Grips: Rubber
• Sights: Fixed
• Action: DA/SA
• Finish: Pink, stainless
• Capacity: 5
• MSRP: $473

Charter Arms Pitbull .45 ACP

The .45-caliber Pitbull has a unique design with a dual coil spring assembly in the extractor that lets you insert and retain .45 ACP cartridges in each chamber of the cylinder. No moon clips are required. This patented system lets you easily eject spent cartridges for immediate reloading. It has removed the difficulty of rimless loading and ejection and offers the simplicity of rimmed cartridges. A 9mm is also available.

• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Barrel: 2.5 inches
• OA Length: 7.25 inches
• Weight: 22 ounces (empty)
• Grips: Rubber
• Sights: Fixed
• Action: DA/SA
• Finish: Stainless
• Capacity: 5
• MSRP: $489

Charter Arms Southpaw

Don’t fret, lefties. Charter Arms offers a true left-handed revolver. The Southpaw is identical to the Undercover Lite, but it’s completely reverse-engineered. The cylinder releases and opens to the right side for convenience for lefties. This five-shot .38 Special revolver is also available in a two-tone Pink Lady finish.

• Caliber: .38 Special
• Barrel: 2 inches
• OA Length: 6.75 inches
• Weight: 12 ounces (empty)
• Grips: Rubber
• Sights: Fixed
• Action: DA/SA
• Finish: Stainless
• Capacity: 5
• MSRP: $419

Charter Arms Mag Pug SS Standard

Compact yet extremely powerful thanks to its .357 Magnum chambering, the five-shot Mag Pug features a ported 2.2-inch barrel and fixed sights. It weighs 23 ounces unloaded and features a traditional hammer spur and full-sized grips. A target model is also available with a 4-inch barrel and an adjustable rear sight.

• Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Special
• Barrel: 2.2 inches
• Sights: Fixed
• OA Length: 7 inches
• Weight: 23 ounces (empty)
• Grips: Rubber
• Action: DA/SA
• Finish: Stainless
• Capacity: 5
• MSRP: $394

Charter Arms On Duty

The On Duty combines traits from the Undercover Lite and the Off Duty with a unique hammer-block design that allows DA and SA operation while minimizing the risk of snagging the hammer on your clothing. Made of heat-treated aluminum, this five-shot .38 Special features a 2-inch barrel and weighs only 12 ounces unloaded. Comfortable and versatile, the On Duty is a great choice for concealed carry.

• Caliber: .38 Special +P
• Barrel: 2 inches
• OA Length: 6.75 inches
• Weight: 12 ounces (empty)
• Grips: Rubber
• Sights: Fixed
• Action: DA/SA
• Finish: Stainless
• Capacity: 5
• MSRP: $402

Charter Arms Undercover Blue Standard

Charter Arms made its name with the classic Undercover in .38 Special. Today, Charter’s family of .38 Specials has grown to meet the tastes and demands of various shooters. At 16 ounces, this five-shot .38 Special is compact and lightweight. Its 2-inch barrel and safety features make it ideal for concealed-carry situations. It’s a great compro-mise between size, weight and stopping power.

• Caliber: .38 Special +P
• Barrel: 2 inches
• OA Length: 6.75 inches
• Weight: 16 ounces (empty)
• Grips: Rubber
• Sights: Fixed
• Action: DA/SA
• Finish: Blued
• Capacity: 5
• MSRP: $346

Charter Arms Undercover Lite Standard

This revolver lives up to its name by weighing only 12 ounces unloaded. And yet this wheelgun provides impressive stopping power thanks to its .38 Special +P chambering. Constructed of tough aircraft-grade aluminum and steel, the Undercover Lite offers rugged reliability, while the rubber grip is comfortable with finger grooves. This ultra-lightweight five-shot features a 2-inch barrel, fixed sights and a traditional hammer spur.

• Caliber: .38 Special +P
• Barrel: 2 inches
• OA Length: 6.75 inches
• Weight: 12 ounces (empty)
• Grips: Rubber
• Sights: Fixed
• Action: DA/SA
• Finish: Stainless
• Capacity: 5
• MSRP: $397

For more information on Charter Arms, visit charterfirearms.com.

The post 9 Reliable Charter Arms Revolvers for Personal Defense appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Ruger’s LCRx revolver is one of the lightest and handiest personal-protection wheelguns on today’s market. In addition, there are very few personal-defense tasks this lightweight, 3-inch-barreled wheelgun can’t handle. That’s saying a lot. But this revolver lives up to its promise by offering an excellent combination of portability, handling characteristics and power.

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Revolvers with 3-inch barrels have been around for a long time, but they haven’t been very popular. Gun buyers tend to purchase firearms that military and police forces have carried, and back when soldiers and law enforcement officers primarily carried revolvers, they were issued guns with 2- and 4-inch barrels.

On the other hand, civilian needs are often different than those of public servants. The average man or woman isn’t going to make arrests, work undercover or fight in the trenches. John and Jane Doe are more concerned with protecting their home and being able to defend themselves on the street. For these tasks, a 3-inch barrel often makes the best sense for the person who chooses to pack a revolver.

That’s because a 3-inch barrel is short enough to be quite handy but long enough to generate considerable power and have enough of a sight radius for good shot placement. When it comes to handling, 3-inch-barreled revolvers are easily concealed in a handgun safe, an inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster, a purse or an overcoat pocket. They also carry very well in a belt holster while riding horses, hunting and hiking. In addition, their 3-inch barrels point nearly as quickly as a snub-nose revolver’s, yet their longer sight radius makes them a lot easier to aim with than 2-inch-barreled guns. When it comes to ballistics, 3-inch barrels typically generate almost as much muzzle velocity and muzzle energy as 4-inch barrels of the same caliber. Therefore, a 3-inch-barreled revolver is a very good choice for shooters who simply want one wheelgun for personal and home defense rather than several for different purposes.

A Larger LCR

The 3-inch-barreled LCRx in .38 Special +P (officially Model 5431) is part of Ruger’s LCR lineup of revolvers with polymer grip frames. The revolver sent to me for testing is similar in many ways to other .38 Specials LCRs I’ve shot in the past. It has a monolithic frame made of hardcoat anodized 7000-series aluminum; a deeply fluted, five-shot, stainless steel cylinder finished in black Diamondcoat; and Ruger’s patented LCR friction-reducing cam, which gives the gun a smooth, non-stacking trigger pull. The “x” in LCRx means this handgun has a double-action/single-action (DA/SA) trigger. The series was introduced in 2014, and it impressed me in both SA and DA modes.

Even though it is similar to other .38 Special LCRs, the 3-inch-barreled version has a few other interesting features in addition to its barrel length. For example, it has an adjustable rear sight and a larger Hogue Tamer Monogrip. This new revolver’s bigger grip, adjustable sights, longer sight radius and SA capability combine to make it easy to fire accurately at 15 yards. The adjustable sight also allows the Ruger LCRx to be zeroed with different loads.

Additional Features

A few revolvers don’t need adjustable sights because they seem to shoot bullets of different weights to the same point of aim. Unfortunately, however, most don’t, and adjusting the sights so that your chosen defense load shoots to the point of aim is much better for making a precise shot than using a 6 o’clock hold or “Kentucky windage.”

Lastly, this Ruger LCRx is easy to conceal and carry. It’s just 7.5 inches long, 5.8 inches tall and 1.28 inches wide. It weighs just 15.7 ounces unloaded, which makes it light enough to carry all day. Another advantage is that the .38 Special has been popular for over 100 years, so shooters have a broad variety of both .38 Special and .38 Special +P loads to choose from.

Back In Black

The 3-inch-barreled LCRx doesn’t just have a lot of good features—its quality was evident the moment I opened its box at my local gun shop, the Florida Gun Exchange. Externally, the gun was very clean, with no rough edges, scratches or tool marks. The color of its steel, aluminum and polymer components matched very closely, giving the gun a matte black look that was quite attractive. This revolver’s lines are nicely contoured, and its prominent white, ramped front sight was easy to center on targets when aiming. Lastly, the barrel was set squarely in the barrel shroud, and the crown was evenly recessed to protect the 1-in-18.75-inch-twist rifling.

A bench examination of the LCRx’s tightness, timing, trigger pull and cylinder gap clearly showed it is well made. The gun locked up tightly with absolutely no back-and-forth or side-to-side play in the cylinder. The timing was perfect, with the cylinder locking in place about 0.375 inches before the hammer locked on the sear’s full-cock notch. The cylinder gap was 0.006 inches for each of the five chambers, indicating that the cylinder was properly indexed in the frame.

The trigger pull in DA mode was 10.5 pounds, with a small hesitation just before the sear broke and about a quarter-inch of overtravel. The SA pull registered 6.5 pounds, which is a bit heavy. Cocking effort was also heavy. Despite this, the sear broke smoothly and the trigger had the same quarter-inch of overtravel when fired in SA mode. The ejector rod is short, but it extracted cases easily. Fully ejecting the cases required using Massad Ayoob’s “Stressfire” technique in which the ejector is firmly depressed with the palm of the strong hand while the revolver is held in the other one. When reloading, HKS #36A speedloaders worked well in the LCRx.

Live-Fire Testing

I fired the LCRx when it was first released, and I found the grips comfortable. Afterward, I sought out Crimson Trace’s new green laser for the LCRx. I then mounted a set of these Lasergrips on the test gun and went to the Flagler Gun & Archery Club to sight the gun and laser in at 15 yards. The white front sight showed up well, and the green laser was quite visible. I then used the LCRx to shoot the “Army L” portion of the club’s weekly informal Bullseye match. My scores were quite good considering that the LCRx is not a target pistol.

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I scored a 97-4X on the slow-fire stage, shooting in SA mode from an isosceles stance. After that, I fired identical scores of 93-2X for both timed and rapid-fire stages shooting in DA using the same two-hand hold. Not bad for a small revolver designed for concealed carry.

To test the revolver’s accuracy and velocity, I used ammo from Black Hills, CorBon, Federal, Hornady, Remington and Winchester. All of the test loads functioned perfectly, and the LCRx’s accuracy was quite good from the bench at 15 yards. I kept the revolver rested on an MTM Front Sight rifle rest using a sandbag to provide a solid platform under my hands. The 125-grain Black Hills XTP load created the tightest five-shot group, which measured just 1.53 inches. All of the loads shot well, and none turned in a best group that was wider than 3 inches.

Velocity

The velocities were also very good. The performance of the .38 Special was significantly higher in the LCRx’s 3-inch barrel compared to a 2-inch-barreled gun. For example, CorBon’s 110-grain DPX +P produced 1,120 fps in the 3-inch-barreled Ruger as compared to 1,025 fps in a 2-inch-barreled gun. This increase in velocity raised the muzzle energy by 52 foot-pounds. That amounts to a 20-percent improvement in muzzle energy and makes this .38 Special +P load equivalent to a standard-pressure 9mm when its fired in the 3-inch-barreled Ruger.

Final Shots

Given the 15.7-ounce unloaded weight of the LCRx, I expected that the recoil would take its toll after firing 120 rounds from the bench. However, the recoil wasn’t that bad. Even the hot +P load from CorBon produced only 6.29 foot-pounds of recoil. The factory grips and the Crimson Trace Lasergrips both did a good job of managing recoil.

This particular Ruger LCRx is very well made and delivers all of the performance I’ve come to expect from 3-inch-barreled revolvers. Its suggested retail price of $579 is quite reasonable in today’s market; I expect that it will be quite popular for both home defense and carry in the outdoors.

Ruger LCRx Specs

Ruger LCRx Performance 

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 15 yards.

For further information, visit ruger.com.

This article was originally published in “The Complete Book of Revolvers” 2017. To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Gun Review: The 3-Inch-Barreled Ruger LCRx .38 Special Revolver appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Forjas Taurus is a manufacturing conglomerate based out of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The company began manufacturing firearms in 1941, and in 1968, it started exporting revolvers to the U.S. market through a series of dealers and importers. In 1970, the Bangor Punta Corporation, then the parent company of Smith & Wesson, bought 54 percent of Forjas Taurus. Thus, the two companies could easily share gun design and manufacturing information.

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In 1977, the company’s current owners bought Taurus from Bangor Punta, and that ended its ties to Smith & Wesson. But in 1980, after Beretta finished contracts to make firearms for Brazil’s military, Taurus bought the Italian manufacturer’s São Paulo plant along with the tooling, technical drawings and workers needed to make several different pistols. Four years later, the company created a subsidiary, Taurus International, also known as Taurus USA. Its mission: find more efficient ways to tap the U.S. firearms market.

In 1997, Forjas Taurus purchased the rights and equipment to make Rossi-brand revolvers. From its plant in São Leopoldo, Brazil, the company makes several models under the Rossi name.

Back in 2006, Taurus began offering its Judge series of .410/.45 Colt revolvers as well as other innovative designs. One of the company’s newer lines is its Polymer Protector series, which features compact, polymer-framed, double-action/single-action (DA/SA) revolvers specifically designed for concealed carry and self-defense. Two of these Polymer Protector models, known as “DT” revolvers, are chambered for the .357 Magnum/.38 Special. While both feature matte black frames, grips and barrel shrouds, one has a matte stainless cylinder, hammer and trigger while the other has a blued cylinder and a color-casehardened hammer and trigger. I recently got my hands on the latter for testing.

Streamlined .357

This DT revolver is geared toward comfort and ergonomics for all-day carry, from the grip to the general shape and lines of the frame. The sleek polymer frame partially shrouds the hammer to prevent snagging on garments while carrying concealed or while performing a draw from concealment. The semi-shrouded frame also allows the shooter to reach the hammer to manually cock the revolver.

The ejector rod under the 2-inch barrel is fully shrouded by the polymer frame to further the revolver’s snag-free appeal. The cylinder release button is a low-profile design that blends into the polymer frame but is still easy to to operate. The DT is also equipped with ribbed rubber grips for more comfortable shooting and enhanced control. The rear sight is a notch cut into the topstrap, and the front sight has a red fiber-optic insert.

A Closer Look

Like all Taurus firearms, the .357 Magnum DT is equipped with the Taurus Security System (TSS), which allows the shooter to secure the firearm and make it inoperable with the turn of a key. With the TSS is engaged, the firearm can’t be fired or cocked and the cylinder release can’t be activated. Two keys are included. To engage the system, simply insert the key into the hole just under the hammer spur and rotate it one quarter-turn clockwise. Another safety feature built into this revolver is the transfer bar, which prevents the hammer from striking the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled fully to the rear.

Taurus refers to this revolver as being a “small-frame” model, but because of the polymer frame, it’s a little larger than the rest of the small-frame revolvers in Taurus’ lineup. Still, because of its light weight, it’s easy to conceal and carry. Several Kydex and leather holsters are available for the Polymer Protector series revolvers.

Magnum Test

I wanted to test the DT revolver’s capabilities for concealed carry and personal protection, so I chose CorBon DPX .38 Special +P and .357 Magnum loads that are specifically designed for this purpose. Of course, though the DT can fire both types of ammunition, I did most of the testing with the .38 Special ammo for a bit more shooting comfort and less recoil, especially considering the revolver’s light 19.75-ounce weight.

My first step was to measure the velocities of the test loads versus what CorBon listed for each of them. CorBon’s 110-grain .38 Special +P DPX load is rated for a velocity of 1,050 fps; the 125-grain .357 Magnum DPX ammo has a factory-rated velocity of 1,300 fps. CorBon’s solid-copper, hollow-point DPX projectile is designed to retain all of its weight for enhanced penetration and optimum expansion.

After setting up my PACT Professional XP chronograph, I fired a five-shot string with the .38 Special load and achieved an average velocity of 998 fps, which gives an IPSC power factor of 109. Ammo makers usually use longer barrels to test their loads, and given this revolver’s 2-inch barrel, the velocity loss is not very significant. This load should be just as effective in use.

Drawing

I didn’t have a holster on hand to test this lightweight revolver, so I opted to improvise with some unusual carry methods. One was to draw the DT from my front pants pocket. This was easy thanks to the revolver’s shrouded-hammer design. In testing, the hammer never snagged on any fabric and, with little practice, this method became quite effective.

Another method I tested was drawing the DT from the front pocket of a jacket. By using both hands—my weak hand holding the jacket and my strong hand drawing the revolver—this method was even faster and more effective. The DT has a fairly stiff double-action (DA) trigger pull, making an accidental or negligent discharge almost impossible.

Accuracy

Next came the accuracy portion of the evaluation. I tested the revolver in both DA and SA modes at a distance of 7 yards. While the DA trigger pull was fairly heavy—too heavy for my trigger pull gauge—the SA pull was much lighter, breaking at a very respectable and crisp 4.25 pounds. This trigger pull helped me get some very nice shots on the test target. The front sight was also a great asset in terms of fast target acquisitions and follow-up speed.

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As is the case with firing .357 Magnum rounds through lightweight guns, the recoil was quite stout when it came time to test the 125-grain CorBon DPX load, but that’s just physics. The revolver was still accurate with this ammo, but I had a harder time reacquiring the target and getting good follow-up shots. So I wouldn’t recommend .357 Magnum rounds for target shooting and practice—that’s what the .38 Special is for. Practice with the lighter rounds and load the .357s for everyday carry.

Backup Gun

Considering the results, the Taurus DT is effective for self-defense, and it might work well in competition, too. The International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) has a “Back Up Gun,” or BUG, division. It’s growing in popularity; that’ll only continue as more IDPA members continue to use small-frame revolvers like the DT to compete.

With the Polymer Protector DT, technology and ergonomics have combined to create a quality concealed-carry wheelgun. This revolver is sleek, lightweight, strong and incredibly accurate for its intended purposes. It is a truly versatile firearm that should work well for personal defense and competition.

Taurus Polymer Protector Specs

Taurus Polymer Protector Performance 

*Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 15 yards.

For more information, visit taurususa.com.

This article was originally published in “The Complete Book of Revolvers” 2017. To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post Gun Review: Taurus Polymer Protector DT Revolver appeared first on Personal Defense World.

What makes the perfect handgun for new female shooters? That’s a loaded question. Handgun selection depends on what you plan on doing with it. Personal protection is likely to be at the top of that list, but marksmanship, competition, skill building and a number of other reasons make the list as well.

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Whatever the reason a woman has for learning how to shoot, there’s really only one reason that will keep her coming back: It has to be enjoyable. In order for the shooting to be fun, the handgun you’re using has to be comfortable. There’s no fun in getting blisters or raw spots because of rough edges. Equally uncomfortable are sore muscles from a gun that’s too heavy or too big. Even worse are the body aches from training with a weapon that has too much recoil for you to effectively handle. There’s definitely a balance that each woman has to find when it comes to training with a firearm. An appropriate balance of size and caliber is needed to make the experience enjoyable enough to want to do it again and again and again.

Size & Caliber

When it comes to size, you need a handgun that fits your hands and body. There are two things to consider regarding size. First, how does it fit your hands? Is it comfortable? Sometimes the grip is just too big and there’s no way to modify it. Comfort is tough to quantify, and it’s the number one reason you need to “try before you buy.” The second thing to consider is whether or not you’re going to carry your handgun concealed. A small body will not be able to effectively conceal a full-sized handgun, so that will need to be considered.

When it comes to caliber, it’s important to choose one that you can shoot accurately as well as consistently. Anyone can shoot a hand-cannon one time, but to do so often enough to become proficient is unlikely. The firearm is a great equalizer. It does the same thing no matter who pulls the trigger, so it’s important to find the weapon that you can handle effectively. This most likely means a caliber between .380 and .45 ACP. You may need to use your shooting skills for defensive purposes; this is the best range for effectiveness.

The .380 ACP is considered by most to be the power floor, meaning it’s the smallest caliber that has sufficient defensive capabilities. The .45 ACP is at the top of my power range because I find it’s still comfortable to shoot, which means I can train with it. Beyond a .45 ACP, however, and it may get unwieldy and uncomfortable to shoot. One thing I’ve learned is that if it’s not comfortable to shoot, I’m not going to train with it.

The size of the gun and the caliber you choose will determine the amount of recoil you’re going to experience. Too much recoil isn’t necessarily due to the gun being too big for you—it’s just that the mass of the gun matters. More times than not, it’s that the round is too powerful for the reduced frame size. People often think they want a super-small gun until they actually shoot it.

Moving On

Now that we’ve covered the balance of size and caliber, let’s move onto the guns. For this article, we’ll avoid getting bogged down in minutiae and focus our attention on three main groups: striker-fired pistols, revolvers and 1911s. To be fair, you need to try several models out of each category to really know which will fit you best. In the world of handguns “try before you buy” is the mantra you need to follow, or you may find yourself suffering from more than buyer’s remorse. Luckily, it’s quite common now to rent firearms for the sole purpose of trying them out before you make a purchase.

Striker-Fired

So, let’s begin by looking at guns in the striker-fired group. Striker-fired pistols have no external hammer and typically no dedicated mechanical safety lever on the side of the gun. All of the safety mechanisms are built inside the gun and are activated and deactivated by the manipulation of the trigger. The most obvious benefit to not having an external safety is that it’s much quicker to get it into the fight. The options available in the striker-fired realm are enormous, but from my personal experience there are three that are worth mentioning: the Glock 19, Glock 43 and Smith & Wesson M&P CORE.

Glock’s Solution

Glocks make a great choice for women, first-time shooters, men—well, just about anyone. The G19 is a compact 9mm pistol that comes with Glock’s innovative Modular Backstrap System, which allows you to fine-tune the grip size to fit you just right. I like the G19 because it’s slender, a tad bit shorter and easy to carry. This handgun made a world of difference for me when I participated in a defensive handgun course.

I started out with a full-sized Glock 17 and struggled with accuracy because I was constantly fidgeting, trying to get a good grip. The G19 was given to me to try, and just like that, the problem was solved. No, I wasn’t immediately winning class competitions, but my enjoyment level skyrocketed. The G19 just fit me better and was so much more comfortable. It was a perfect fit when I drew it from the holster; I could focus on the skills being practiced. Making the change to the G19 saved the day for me and helped me fully enjoy the rest of the course.

The Glock 43 is another 9mm pistol that I like. Because of its smaller size, it makes for a perfect everyday-carry handgun. The first thing I noticed in handling this gun was its size. Because it uses a single-stack magazine, the gun is very thin, which meant my hands could get a good grip. The second thing I noticed was the trigger. The G43 comes with the standard Glock trigger, which means there was no learning curve—it shot just like the G19. This made for an easy transition between the two pistols and gives me confidence that I can perform well with either one.

Solid Smith & Wesson

The last handgun I want to mention in the striker-fired group is the Smith & Wesson M&P CORE. This is an extremely reliable pistol that is also extremely comfortable to shoot. Due to its low bore axis, it feels natural to draw the weapon and take aim. The benefit to this is increased accuracy. Its slender frame and adjustable grip make it comfortable to shoot, and it looks good, too. The S&W I had the pleasure of shooting had a Trijicon RMR reflex sight mounted on top. This was a great reminder that you do not need to limit yourself to guns with traditional sights.

The benefits of shooting with an optic is that it’s very easy to get on target, improving your speed and accuracy dramatically. These optics have been used in competition circles for decades and are now commonly found on defensive handguns. This pistol is definitely worth checking out as you peruse the many options available.

Wheelguns

A revolver, or wheelgun, is most recognizable by the cylinder that rotates as you pull the trigger, taking you back to the days of the Old West. Even though they have been romanticized by movies and cowboy reenactments, they remain a solid choice for today.

In the revolver world, one of the most enjoyable I’ve shot is the Kimber K6s. The K6s is the lightest .357 Magnum revolver on the market, making it a popular choice for women. What I found to be so nice about the K6s is that Kimber took the time to round all the edges, making it sleek and smooth so it won’t snag on anything.

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Besides the smooth finish, the K6s is an easy gun to shoot because it comes with traditional sights. That’s not common with most snub-nose revolvers. Another reason I enjoyed shooting the K6s so much was its heft. It feels good and solid in your hands, allowing you to shoot without as much kick as you’d think for such a small handgun.

Trusty 1911s

The last group we’ll consider are 1911s. These are easily recognized because they have external thumb and grip safeties. Both the external safety lever and the grip safety must be disengaged for the weapon to fire. With practice, this becomes second nature.

Kimber has produced a real beauty in this category; the compact Kimber Rose Gold Ultra II will definitely make you want to train. The Rose Gold Ultra II is a strikingly beautiful gun with fine etching, smooth edges and a unique rose gold finish that speaks to the era of The Great Gatsby. Besides its good looks, the pistol has the standard 1911 trigger, which is so well known for being smooth and easy to shoot.

I’ve shot full-sized as well as compact 1911s and enjoyed shooting them both mainly because I found them easy to be accurate with. However, I have to be realistic and admit the chances of me carrying a full-sized 1911 are slim, which is why I turned to Kimber’s Rose Gold Ultra II. It’s much smaller, but with its heft, I was able to manage the recoil and achieve an acceptable level of accuracy. And it’s adorable!

New Female Shooters

It’s exciting to introduce anyone to the world of shooting, but if you want women to continue shooting, it must be an enjoyable experience. Which firearm they use will determine how much they enjoy it. It absolutely needs to be comfortable to shoot. There are as many different options of handguns as there are types of women, so take the time to try before you buy to figure out which one is right for you. Maybe you’ll find several. After that, get to the range and become proficient and comfortable with your new friend. It’ll be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

This article was originally published in the winter/spring 2018 issue of “Personal Defense World.” To order a copy and subscribe, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.

The post The 5 Best Pistols & Revolvers for New Female Shooters appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Editor’s Note: In the “Battle Royale” column for the September/October 2018 issue of Combat Handguns, we experienced a sight malfunction with the Colt Cobra. The malfunction caused us to inadvertently, and unfairly, score it with all zeros. We should have printed the following numbers with that particular revolver: Ergonomics: 4; Trigger Control: 5; Recoil Control: 4; and Reloading Ease: 4. Colt sent us a replacement front sight, and here is the standalone review of the new Colt Cobra.

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Our “Battle Royale” consisted of shootouts with five snub-nosed .38 revolvers, one of which was Colt’s new Cobra.

The compact revolver is constructed from stainless steel. It differs from most of the snubbie breed in that it holds six rounds of .38 Special instead of the usual five. Despite this, it’s actually smaller and lighter than some of its five-round competitors.

The double-action trigger mechanism is a completely new design. It provides a smooth trigger stroke, while the hammer can be cocked for precise single-action shooting.

Colt fitted the Cobra with Hogue Overmold grips that provide a secure purchase and enhanced recoil control

My 60-something-year-old eyes were pleased to see that the Cobra also comes standard with a red fiber-optic front sight.

The First Colt Cobra Test

Before we began shooting, we examined all five revolvers. The three of us were impressed by the Colt’s ergonomics, balance, sights and smooth DA trigger stroke.

Unfortunately, as we began firing the second series of drills, we discovered the Cobra no longer had a front sight. The fiber-optic sight is held in by a set screw on the front of the barrel rib. Apparently that screw was not tightened sufficiently — or LocTite had not been applied at the factory — and it came loose under recoil.

We searched for the sight, but trying to find it in the large gravel that carpeted the range was an exercise in futility. As we were unable to complete the drills with the Colt and could not get a replacement sight in time, we gave it a zero score; that, in retrospect, was not fair.

After discussing the situation with my editor and Colt representatives it was decided, that in the name of fairness, we would retest the Cobra and report on its performance accordingly.

Obtaining the able assistance of fellow shooter Butch Simpson, the two of us ran the Cobra through the same three drills we had used in the original Battle Royale.

As before, all shooting was done with Black Hills 100 gr. +P Honey Badger ammunition. We performed reloads with HKS speed loaders.

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Colt Cobra Testing Drills

Five/Five/Five: The shooter begins facing five IPSC targets set out at 5 yards. They draw the revolver and fire one round on each target free style (two-handed), perform a reload and reengage the targets the same way. They then repeats the drill firing the revolver unsupported (one-handed). Lastly, they run it a third time firing the revolver weak-handed.

Paper/Steel/Paper: The shooter begins facing a pair of IPSC targets set out at 5 yards with a Birchwood Casey Self-Setting Popper between them at 8 yards. They draw the revolver and  double taps each target, then shoot down the Popper. The drill is run four more times.

NOTE: On this stage the shooter has the option of firing the revolver in single-action mode when engaging the Popper.

Close Quarter Dump: The shooter begins facing an IPSC target set out at 3 yards. They draw their revolver and, firing it free style, “dump” six rounds on the target as fast as they can, perform a reload and reengage the target. This drill is repeated two more times.

As in the original .38 snubbie “Battle Royale,” we each fired a minimum of 86 rounds through the Cobra.

After running the drills Butch and I graded the Cobra in seven categories: reliability; ergonomics; trigger control; recoil control; sights; off-hand accuracy; and ease of reloading.

We scored runs one through five, with five being the best possible score. Here are the final tallies based on our tests:

Colt Cobra Reliability

The old saying “Six for sure” rang true. We did not experience a single malfunction with the Cobra.

Colt Cobra Ergonomics

The stippled, finger groove Hogue grips allowed a firm purchase and made for a naturally pointing revolver. Both are of vital importance in a handgun that will probably be brought into action quickly to engage “targets” at close range.

Colt Cobra Trigger Control

The Cobra had one of the better DA triggers we’ve felt on a revolver of this class. The stroke was relatively light, smooth, consistent and stage-free, which were much appreciated. Butch felt that the usual “new gun” stiffness would clear up with use.

Colt Cobra Recoil Control

While recoil with the +P ammo was snappy, the rubber Hogue grips absorbed quite a bit of it, making for a soft-shooting snubbie.

Colt Cobra Sights

What can we say? They were excellent. The generous rear notch and red fiber optic front sight allowed fast alignment and target acquisition, all of which helped when transitioning between targets.

Colt Cobra Off-Hand Accuracy

The trigger’s “new gun” stiffness caused both of us to throw several shots outside the targets’ “A” zones, most when firing it with unsupported strong- or weak-handed grips.

Colt Cobra Reloading Ease

Thanks to its longer ejector rod, wider cylinder and the fact that the grips were relieved — so as to not interfere with speed loaders — spent cases were reliably ejected and reloading was relatively fumble free. On several occasions Butch had an ejected case hang up on the cylinder release catch. Also, as the revolver got dirtier, some cases failed to eject completely and had to be manually extracted. However, considering the type of use for such a revolver, we don’t feel either of these could be considered problematic.

In closing, both of us found the Colt Cobra to be an admirable snubbie revolver. It would serve very well for concealed carry or home defense.

For more information, please visit Colt.com.

Colt Cobra Specifications

• Caliber: .38 Special +P
• Overall Length: 7.25 inches
• Barrel Length: 2 inches
• Weight (unloaded): 25 ounces
• Front Sights: Red fiber optic
• Rear Sight: Groove in topstrap
• Capacity: 6
• Construction: Stainless steel
• Grips: Hogue Overmold
• MSRP: $699

The September/October 2018 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine is on sale now. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com.

The post Testing and Scoring the Colt Cobra Revolver Across 7 Categories appeared first on Personal Defense World.

Some folks just love big-bore revolvers. This typically leads to picking up a Smith & Wesson Model 29, Ruger Redhawk or Blackhawk or something along those lines. A lot of these shooters want the .44 Magnum because “Dirty Harry” had one.

Nothing wrong with that at all! However, the dirty little secret is that you should opt for a .45 over a .44, for a variety of reasons.

Big-Bore Revolvers: Cheaper Shooting

Unless you travel all over the country hunting with a handgun, or live on a farm inundated with wild hogs, most (if not all) of your shooting is going to take place at the range.

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Now there are some bona fide recoil junkies out there, but most of us are just not. A bit is okay, fun even, but after a while your hands just hurt. It’s kind of like eating really spicy food. The sizzle makes a dish interesting up to a point, but you eventually learn that most places use it to cover up bad or otherwise weak flavor. After that, it just starts to lose its appeal.

Since .44 Magnum revolvers will shoot .44 Special, many people use them for practice. The .44 Special doesn’t kick as hard, but it isn’t any less expensive than .44 Magnum; it is also in shorter supply on store shelves.

On the other hand, some pistols in .45 Colt also shoot .45 ACP. The projectile is the same and the cases will even fit in the cylinder, but moonclips are required. Of course, most guns will need the cylinder machined to accept moonclips, but it will pay off; .45 ACP is much less expensive than .45 Colt. Also, .45 Auto Rim is available, but it is really hard to find.

Big-Bore Revolvers: Less Wear

Many shooters don’t realize that big-bore revolvers will wear out. Cylinders stretch under recoil and eventually, metal fatigue and the beginnings of plastic deformation set in.

Big-bore luminaries, from Elmer Keith to Jeff Cooper and John Linebaugh, have all remarked that most magnum revolvers can only take so much of the hot loads. The exceptions Linebaugh, Freedom Arms, Magnum Research and select Ruger handguns (Blackhawk and Redhawks; the modern Vaquero is a Cowboy Action gun); some of these are actually chambered in .454 Casull or .460 S&W Magnum, both of which fire .45 Colt. This isn’t new information; that’s why you do most of your .357 Magnum practice with .38 Special or .44 Magnum practice with .44 Special.

With the right .45 Colt, wear will be even less likely, as .45 ACP has low chamber pressures, producing 22,000 psi or less. In fact, most .45 Colt loads produce closer to 15,000 psi.

A decent big-bore revolver usually involves a significant expenditure. Now, do you want to pay a lot of money for a gun that will have to be rebuilt after 1,000 rounds? Or would you rather get one that will last a lot longer? Most people opt for the latter for obvious reasons.

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Big-Bore Revolvers: .45 Colt Power

Most shooters want a .44 Magnum for the power. However, the .45 Colt has a longer case than the .44 Magnum; the .45 Colt was a product of the black powder era.

Handloaders figured out that it held more powder and could be pushed into .44 Magnum performance without too much hassle. In fact, it puts less stress on the gun; hot loads of .45 Colt produce about 80 percent of the chamber pressures of .44 Magnum (around 28,000 psi compared to 36,000 psi) despite achieving the same velocities and muzzle energies.

However, you need to get the right gun. Cowboy guns, such as the various Colt SAA, Remington New Model Army and S&W Model 3 clones will NOT tolerate .45 Colt +P loads. These loads are reserved instead for modern .45 Colt revolvers, such as the Model 25, Ruger Blackhawk and Redhawk revolvers, and other high-end single-action pistols.

So, if you opt for a Model 25 over that 29, or the .45 Colt Redhawk or Blackhawk, you can shoot more for less. If you want full power, .45 Colt +P loads will roar from the barrel, and you can run .45 ACP +P and .45 Super loads as well.

Here’s something else to consider. The modern shooter doesn’t hunt. They shoot targets, and own and carry for self-defense, but do not shop in the grocery store of hard knocks. The .44 Magnum is not the most ideal personal protection gun (.357 Magnum has the edge among revolver rounds) unless one is in bear country.

If that’s you, revolvers in .45 Colt will provide the big magnum experience if you want it. You can also do a bunch of shooting with a lower-cost round, which .44 Magnum does not give you the ability to do.

About the author: Sam Hoober is a contributing editor for Alien Gear Holsters, a subsidiary of Tedder Industries. 

The post Why the .45 Might Be a Better Round Than the .44 for Big-Bore Revolvers appeared first on Personal Defense World.