By R.K. Campbell

The title of this feature is a bold statement. Just the same, I feel that the Beretta Vertec may stake a claim as the best combat handgun yet offered by this respected maker. While the Beretta M9 9mm and the M9A1 continue to enjoy commercial success and an excellent combat reputation, the Beretta Vertec may be hands down the best choice for a dedicated individual that prefers the Beretta system. The pistol neatly solves every complaint that even dedicated Beretta fans may have used to address the Model 92. Reliability has not been a problem with the M9. Accuracy isn’t a problem. But the sights, the inability to mount a weapon light on most models, the grip frame and finish have been criticized. The wound potential power of the 9mm Luger cartridge is a legitimate complaint; just the same, the original specification read “9mm NATO” and it is what it is. Those of us with more flexibility in choosing a personal rather than an issue handgun may obtain and carry the finest rendition of the Beretta handgun yet. The rub is that production seems to have halted for the time being. Just the same, there are many examples available and it isn’t difficult to find a Beretta Vertec to suit your wants.

The pistol is easily recognizable as a variant of the proven Beretta 92 pistol. The primary difference is that the back strap is straight and smaller in cross section than the standard Beretta 92. This makes for better hand fit. It may be said that this grip frame is similar to the comfortable 1911A1-type grip. The pistol also incorporates light rails into the design with a modern rail on the forward dust cover under the slide. The pistol uses the same oscillating wedge lockup that has been in use with the Mauser C96, Walther P 38, Beretta 951 and now the Beretta 92/M9. The pistol’s action has proven reliable and the Vertec builds upon this proven action. The pistol tested for this review is a stainless steel version. The fit and finish of Beretta products is uniformly excellent. Moreover, stainless steel is more resistant to the elements and wear than a blue finish handgun. Stainless is a good choice for a hard-use service-grade handgun. As for the action’s operation, the long but smooth double-action first-shot trigger breaks at just over 12 pounds. The pistol changes to single action fire after the first long double-action trigger press. The slide recoils and cocks the hammer for single-action fire with a smooth 5.5 pound trigger release. There is a touch of take up, but the trigger is crisp in operation with good, fast reset. The double-action trigger felt smoother than the recorded weight when firing, I believe due to the smaller grip. Trigger reach was excellent. While there have been complaints concerning the girth of the Beretta 92 grip frame, these are addressed smartly with the Vertec variation. Similar to the other Beretta 92 variants, the pistol is simple to field strip, clean and maintain. To disassemble the pistol, lock the slide to the rear, be certain the chamber is empty and that there is no magazine in the pistol, then rotate the disassembly lever (located in front of the slide lock) downward. The slide lock may then be released and the slide ran forward off of the frame rails. The recoil spring guide and spring may then be lifted from the barrel. Next, the pin in the barrel locking wedge is pressed and the barrel may be lifted from the slide. This is all that is needed for normal maintenance.

An important difference in the Vertec pistol is the addition of dovetail sights, particularly the front sight. The dovetail front sight isn’t going anywhere, it is firmly attached. However, if you wish you may change the front sight out for a taller or shorter version if needed in order to precisely sight the pistol in. The sights offer a good sight picture and leave nothing to be desired as combat sights. As issued, the handgun is ideal for use with 180 grain JHP loads. Higher velocity loads struck higher on the target, but I was able to compensate without difficulty. While this may seem counterintuitive and against the rule of a heavy bullet firing higher, I believe the difference was due to heftier recoil with the 1100 fps 155 grain loadings. During the firing test the pistol was fired primarily with 180 grain JHP loads as well and practice ammunition with the same bullet weight.

The pistol was also fired with a smaller quantity of 155 grain loads. At no time were any failures to feed, chamber fire or eject when firing well over four hundred .40 caliber Smith & Wesson cartridges. And this is another advantage of this Beretta. The Vertec tested is a variation of the Berretta 96 handgun. The Beretta 96 is a variant of the Beretta 92 chambered in .40 caliber Smith & Wesson. The .40 Smith & Wesson cartridge was developed as a compact but effective cartridge capable of being chambered in 9mm Luger handguns. The .400-inch projectile offers superior wound ballistics. The .40 is also the first handgun cartridge that was designed specifically around a jacketed hollow point bullet. Feed reliability is excellent. The Beretta 96 is identical in size and weight to the Beretta 92. The slide is strengthened to handle the .40 caliber cartridge and spring rates are appropriate for the .40 caliber cartridge. The magazine capacity of the .40 caliber pistol is eleven rounds versus fifteen rounds for the 9mm Luger. Considering the increased wound potential, this is an acceptable trade-off.

The pistol was lubricated and the magazines loaded with Black Hills Ammunition 180 grain FMJ loads prior to the firing tests. The pistol was placed in a Don Hume belt slide holster. The carry condition was fully loaded with a cartridge in the chamber and the safety on. The slide mounted safety acts as both a manual safety and a decocker. The pistol also features a positive firing pin block. In order to quickly manipulate the safety, a strong forward thumb motion is used as the pistol is drawn. The pistol was drawn, the thumb safety disengaged, and man-sized targets were addressed at 5, 7 and 10 yards. The long but smooth double-action trigger press allowed center hits with good speed. Once the first shot was fired, the pistol reverted to single action fire. In single action fire, the pistol was controllable in rapid fire. While there is a difference between the recoil of the 9mm and .40 caliber variants, the difference is not enough to affect the good handling and subdued muzzle flip of the Beretta pistol. Practical accuracy was good. Some Black Hills Ammunition 180 grain JHP was also fired. Results were comparable, with continued good function.

A quantity of the Winchester 180 grain JHP loading was fired for function. This is the original .40 Smith & Wesson service-grade loading. Accuracy and control were good. The 180 grain JHP load in this caliber typically exits the Beretta barrel at 950 to 980 fps. Control is good and the powder burn is usually a full burn, resulting in little muzzle signature. A number of Winchester Silvertip 155 grain load were also fired. This load exhibits a velocity of well over 1,100 fps from the Beretta Vertec. Muzzle flip is increased. This loading offers dynamic expansion and predicted excellent wound ballistics. It is up to the end user to determine if the increased muzzle flip is worth the advantage in expansion. The 180 grain loads have a good reputation in personal defense and service use.

The Beretta Vertec .40 handgun was benchrested for absolute accuracy. Taking every advantage including a solid bench rest firing position, the pistol was fired for accuracy with four different loads. Results were good, service grade at least, with the best grouping demonstrating a five-shot group of 2.75 inches at 25 yards. This is adequate accuracy for any foreseeable chore.

25 yard accuracy, average of two five shot groups:
Black Hills Ammunition 180 grain JHP 2.8 in.
Black Hills Ammunition 180 grain FMJ 3.1 in.
Winchester 180 grain JHP 2.75 in.
Winchester 155 grain Silvertip 3.25 in.

When the results are tabulated, there are several conclusions. First, the Beretta is reliable. There were no failures to feed, chamber, fire or eject. The handling of the pistol was deemed good and the handfit better than a Beretta M9 on hand for comparison. Practical accuracy is good and the pistol is comfortable to fire and use. The pistol is more accurate than all that the finest pistol shot will be able to hold. The Beretta Vertec is a winner and we hope to see more of it.

You may carry a service pistol concealed if the proper gear is chosen. The Beretta was tested with a StealthGearUSA inside the waistband holster. This holster offers a barrier construction that protects the handgun from perspiration and keeps the user comfortable as well. Overall utility is excellent. The Stealth Gear holster earns a high rating for tactical concealment.

The barrel bushing showed good, tight fitting but could be field stripped with the fingers.

By R.K. Campbell

The field of 1911 handguns is crowded. There are many offerings, some of which are purely recreational handguns. The least expensive pistols are made to sell and are seldom worth betting your life on. Among the pistols tested and proven in the “affordable” range is the Magnum Research Desert Eagle. Over the past two years, I have fired approx. 2,000 rounds through several of these handguns. The consensus between myself and other interested shooters is that the pistols are good examples of the breed. They have good features and pricing in the low end of reliable 1911 handguns beginning at about $800. There are many models, however, and you must put in some time and research in choosing the pistol best suited to your needs. The bottom line is these handguns seem to be service grade after extensive testing and the performance is consummate with the reputation of Israel’s firearms industry. It is always good to find a stocking dealer, but increasingly we order a pistol and hope the product that is delivered lives up to the promise. In this case, the Desert Eagle 1911 has lived up to the promise of a reliable 1911 handgun.

The first handgun tested was the 1911 G (“G” stands for Government Model). It is is a full size 1911 pistol with a 5-inch barrel. The Desert Eagle 1911 features controls that are designed to be ergonomic. The original beavertail grip safety, slide lock safety and well-designed grip are all 1911. The pistol features a low bore axis with a good balance that limits muzzle flip. There is little leverage for the handgun to rise in recoil. Trigger compression is straight to the rear and controllable. The slide lock safety is secure, indents firmly, and allows a trained shooter to deliver a brilliantly fast first shot. Upgrades include a speed safety and a wide beavertail type grip safety. The grip safety is more comfortable than the GI type, but more importantly helps lead the hand to the grip and ensures the grip safety is properly depressed.

Like many modern 1911 handguns, the Desert Eagle 1911 features a cast frame and machined slide. While the pistols I have tested were blue steel versions, stainless steel pistols are also included in the lineup. The full size Government Model pistols feature forward cocking serrations. The Commander versions feature a standard slide. The mainspring housing is nicely checkered for a non-slip surface. The grips are credible designs that offer sufficient abrasion for good adhesion when firing the .45 ACP cartridge. The quality of the parts and the fit and finish is good. The Allen screw grip panels require a tool for removal, while the original 1911 grips could be removed with a cartridge case rim. The sights are among the pistol’s best features. The front post is a dovetail unit solidly anchored in place. The rear sight is, by definition, a high profile type that offers rapid acquisition during combat shooting. If you have a sight tool, the rear sight is adjustable for windage. The ejection port is enlarged and scalloped in the modern fashion and a full-length guide rod complicates field strip. On the other hand, some feel that the rigid guide rod is an improvement over the original 1911 design. With the FLGR, the slide assembly may be removed in one piece.

The pistol was field stripped and inspected and there were a minimum number of tool marks. Quality of manufacture seems good. The pistol was lubricated on its long bearing surfaces and a supply of magazines loaded with the Black Hills Ammunition 230 grain FMJ load was prepared. The pistol needs to be proofed with round nose loads of standard weight and velocity before moving to hollow point loads. For a trained shooter, the Government Model 1911 isn’t a hard pistol to control, and we expected good results. Drawing from a D.M. Bullard holster, the pistol proved fast on target and fast to a first shot hit. Firing fifty rounds of 230 grain from Ed Brown magazines proved the pistol comes out of the box running without a break or malfunction. The forward cocking serrations were used to rack the slide and worked well enough.

Moving to the 25 yard line, the Ed Brown magazines were loaded with a different load. In the past, the Black Hills Ammunition 185 grain JHP has given good results in several 1911 handguns and was chosen as an accuracy load. Using a standing solid barricade firing position, the pistol was fired in three runs of five shots each. The Black Hills Ammunition 185 grain JHP averaged four inches for the three groups. 8 rounds from a single magazine of the Black Hills Ammunition 185 grain Barnes Tac-XP +P was fired into a single three and one half inch group. This all-copper bullet is accurate! Both 185 grain loads are good defense loads. They fired about two inches low at 25 yards. Filing the front sight blade would bring sight regulation to standard. After examining the targets, I fired a single magazine loaded with five rounds of the Black Hills 230 grain FMJ load. I did not concentrate on accuracy this time, but still registered a four and one half inch group. Sight regulation was spot on with the
230 grain load.

I have also tested a Commander type Desert Eagle 1911, the DE1911C. Magnum Research advertises a bushingless lockup 1911 with a four-inch barrel…I have not yet encountered this handgun, although I was able to obtain images from the manufacturer. The Desert Eagle 1911 tested most extensively is the DE1911C. C is for Commander. This pistol features the standard design barrel bushing. The barrel bushing is shorter than the Government Model, but works in the same manner. This handgun is set up in the same manner as the Government Model but is slightly lighter and ¾ inch shorter. There are no forward cocking serrations. This handgun is similar in handling and feel to the Government Model. The pistol is faster from the holster, however, due to its short slide and it’s also faster to align on target. It is not as fast to an accurate hit at ranges past 25 yards, but for personal defense the Commander length barrel is an excellent compromise. This handgun has been fired with more diverse loadings than the Government Model. The pistol came out of the box running and gave good results in rapid fire combat shooting and tactical drills. The handgun has been properly cleaned and lubricated and exhibited no malfunctions for a full 500 rounds of mixed ammunition.

While carrying the pistol for personal defense, I adopted two capable holsters. One, the D.M. Bullard Combat design in Rust Elephant, is an excellent strong side holster that offers a good balance of speed and security. The second is a D.M. Bullard IWB design. IWB holsters are easily the most efficient for concealed carry under even a light sport shirt. However, considerable practice is required to execute a rapid presentation from concealed carry. A cocked and locked Commander size .45 in an IWB holster offers good concealment and a high level of protection. I recommend the D.M. Bullard company for first class concealed carry gear.

While the differences in handling between the two pistols were noticeable, they were also similar. The Government Model size is a good service pistol while the Commander is a good concealed carry piece. However, when firing off of the barricade rest, the DE1911C was practically as accurate as the Government Model despite the shorter sight radius. In fact the pistol demonstrated a five shot group of 3.4 inches with the Black Hills 185 grain Barnes Tac-XP +P. Both pistols demonstrated good reliability, however, the Commander pistol failed to extract several times after several weeks of testing at around the 650 round mark. The extractor was removed and the hook appeared to be less than ideal in sharpness. The hook was filed and the pistol reassembled and function resumed. The best course would have been to replace the extractor, but I took this expedient to resume testing. This isn’t uncommon with the 1911, but neither was it welcome.

In the end, the Desert Eagle pistols seem to combine good function and performance. I would pay close attention to the extractor and small parts and give them a close examination. The pistol seems to be well made from good material.

The Daniel Defense rifle is a remarkably friendly design, with everything needed and nothing more. A real work horse.

By R.K. Campbell

When it comes to tactical gear – an overused term in today’s market – much of what is advertised as tactical doesn’t make the grade. I have lost count of the AR-15 type parts guns and gun show specials that I have seen cops attempt to deploy. The break in period to produce a reliable rifle from a disreputable beginning is often long and tortuous. This cuts deeply into both training time and the training budget. Armed professionals must realize that their life is riding on their gear. A rifle with gun show parts doesn’t always have the chrome lined barrel and chamber demanded for proper function. A failure to properly stake the bolt carrier keys is a common deficit among the parts guns. They may have a good name on the receiver but the internals are anyone’s guess. For confidence and superior function a good bet is the Daniel Defense rifle. The Daniel Defense rifle is a quality AR-15 rifle with good features. The company began to gain attention by securing government contracts by means of a difficult procurement process. They enjoy an excellent reputation.

Before we proceed let’s look at the tactical rifle. Professionals define the mission first; then choose the gear. Amateurs adopt a cheap solution and attempt to overreach their gear with unrealistic expectations. There are any number of incidents that have occurred that beg for officers and armed citizens to have a handy, powerful and accurate rifle on hand. These include the Texas Tower incident beginning in the 1960s and fast forwarding to take-over robberies by armed gangs as recently as yesterday.

The rifle gives a qualified user an advantage over a person armed only with a handgun (provided the person wielding the rifle has fortitude and initiative). If the adversary is heavily armed, at least you have a level playing field. You may extend your will past handgun range and you may use the carbine much more efficiently at any range. The AR-15 rifle is the logical first choice, given the many rifles available, availability of support gear, and service history. There are rifles better than others but most of the bad rifles I have seen have been parts guns with poor quality parts and assembly. You pay your money and you take your choice. But there are defining characteristics of a rifle that is intended for general patrol and defense use.

The .223 can be frangible at close range, offering excellent wound ballistics.

The rifle should be chambered for the 5.56mm/.223 Remington cartridge. (I know there is a qualified difference in the two calibers – Black Hills, Hornady and Winchester supply the ammunition I use in my AR-15 rifle and they know what they are doing.) Discussions of wound ballistics can get complicated, ugly and even psychotic quickly. The .223 offers excellent wound ballistics to 125 yards, give or take, depending upon the exact load and the barrel length of the rifle used. The cartridge generates sufficient velocity to insure that the bullet expands violently at modest ranges. This all but insures the bullet stays in the felon’s body in a crowded urban environment. In rural areas the advantage remains. A minimum of well directed rounds will achieve the incapacitation of the threat. The cartridge is very accurate in quality rifles and the high velocity and frangibility of the bullet limits over penetration and ricochet. Once the range is extended past 100 yards, upset and bullet fragmentation is less likely, but this is extraordinary range for civil use. With the proper load such as Black Hills Ammunition 77 grain open tip loads the .223 may be effective to 200 yards, but this is the exception to the rule. Most engagement ranges are short. The rifle should be light enough for constant carry during a stalk of felons in the open, in the woods, or in an urban environment and be short enough for deployment inside buildings. Magazines, slings and support gear should be readily available. The rifle should be equipped with a ghost ring sight that allows rapid engagement of targets at typical encounter ranges but allows accurate shooting with an accuracy standard no less than two MOA at one hundred yards. The rifle must be reliable in action with a minimum of maintenance.

The Daniel Defense rifle is a logical development from a company that has secured military contracts for parts consisting of upgrades for the AR-15 including the forend/rail system. The Daniel Defense rifle is a standard design AR-15 with gas impingement system and all of the AR-15 type controls including the ergonomically designed magazine release and safety. The advanced trademark forend is evident in the design. The Daniel Defense rifle is the modern flat top type with provisions for mounting an optical sight if desired. The rifle is supplied with efficient iron sights from the factory. These battle sights are well designed with excellent utility both for rapid acquisition of the target and for precision fire to 100 yards or more. The archetypical flash suppressor is present. A Blue Force Vickers sling was fitted to the Daniel Defense rifle during the evaluation. This is a well designed sling that offers good comfort and if need be an additional rest when steadying the rifle for off hand fire. The rifle slung easily when walking to the target stand at a long 100 yards. I recommend this sling as a step above the rest.

Length of pull can be important during different tactical applications including when wearing body armor or firing from behind cover. The Daniel Defense stock features three positions for adjustment. The engagements are positive and the stock rugged enough for duty use. The bore is chrome lined with a twist of 1 turn in 7 inches. The bolt was removed and examined; the carrier key is properly staked. Staking the carrier key is an elementary procedure that some makers seem to find to be too much trouble. I leave any rifle without the carrier key properly staked on the shelf and so should you. (If you own such a rifle have the carrier key staked properly sooner rather than later.) The two halves of the receiver fit tightly. Trigger compression is typical AR-15, breaking at 4.5 pounds. The rifle is supplied with a single thirty-round magazine. I supplemented the issued magazine with a set of Brownells AR- 15 magazines. These magazines have given yeoman service and continue to serve in the majority of my AR-15 rifles. Additionally, HK magazines are first class in every way, well worth their price. Good magazines take the worry out of being close.

Shooting

During the evaluation an X bipod from Montie Design was used. The three legged X bipod quickly pins together into a triangular rest yet folds easily for storage. This device is handy, light enough at 12.1 ounces, and offers an excellent steadying device for long range shooting. During the course of the test and evaluation well over 1,000 rounds of ammunition were fired in this rifle including 280 as quickly as we could load magazines – leaving the forend smoking. There were no failures to feed, chamber, fire or eject. The rifle was not cleaned for the first 500 rounds, but began the test well lubricated. We squirted lubrication in the bolt every few hundred rounds. Not ideal maintenance but a test of a hard use rifle. The handling of the rifle cannot be faulted. The rifle comes on target quickly and the sight and trigger combination make for excellent practical accuracy. During the evaluation the majority of rounds fired were Black Hills 55 grain blue box remanufactured loads; although we also fired a good amount of whatever was available including 55, 60 and 62 grain weight bullets. Additionally, several magazines of handloads that were recently put up on Redding dies were also used. The results were good on all counts. This rifle is more accurate than most anyone can hold in off hand fire. There is no discernible difference in off hand fire between these inexpensive practice loads and premium tactical loads. It is all about sight picture, sight alignment and trigger compression. When firing from the barricade or solid bench rest differences in accuracy were more apparent.

There is nothing wrong with the 55 grain FMJ load for all around use at moderate range. This loading breaks up on impact in the body given sufficient velocity and has a good reputation. Public safety and greater efficiency call for different choices. My rule is to practice with the remanufactured or generic loads and deploy the finest loads I am able to obtain. The Daniel Defense rifle digested the various tactical loads from 55, 60, 69 and 77 grain weights with good function and accuracy. It should be noted that the 40 grain varmint or blitz loads seem to have less momentum and one should not trust their reliable function in a less than perfectly maintained rifle. Penetration is limited with the 40 grain load which is useful in running coyotes away from the chickens but not in personal defense. I qualified function and practical accuracy with favored loads including the Black Hills 60 gr. JSP, the Black Hills 40 gr. A Max, the 60 grain A Max loading, the Black Hills 77 grain Open Tip, the Cor Bon 55 gr. JSP, Cor Bon DPX, Cor Bon 69 grain Match, the Hornady 60 grain TAP , the HSM 60 grain A Max and the Winchester 69 grain JSP. All proved accurate and reliable. A trained operator that understands catching the link during trigger reset, controlling the trigger and sights, is able to command the ground in front of the muzzle of the AR-15. Every rifle (or any firearm) has a certain reset. Rather than moving the finger from the trigger during reset a trained operator will keep his finger on the trigger and ride the reset.

The final choice in ammunition demands careful consideration from those who use the rifle. Two basic themes have emerged in .223 rifle loads for serious use. This is to increase wound ballistics with a frangible bullet and the other is to increase penetration for special purposes by use of a heavier bullet. Among the single most successful loads is the Black Hills 77 grain Open Tip. Proven in war time use this load not only offers good wound ballistics but gilt edged accuracy. Another contender is the Winchester 69 grain JSP. The 69 grain JSP expands and stays together like a .30 bullet. An interesting combination comes from HSM, a respected shop that produces custom loaded law enforcement loadings. They have developed a loading that gives excellent barrier penetration with the .223. This restricted design increases tactical and barrier penetration for specific uses. I found this loading accurate and in limited testing of tactical barriers, effective. The HSM load also showed good accuracy.

Naturally we wished to evaluate the rifle at long range. The battle sight offers good utility once learned and in trained hands. At first the front sight may seem wide for long range shooting but it depends upon the target. We do not wish to hazard short range speed by use of a smaller front blade. The front sight completely covers the 12 inch plate at 300 yards. Do the math; you have a challenge that limits shooters to a hit ratio of about fifty per cent. At 200 yards we were on the money at about eighty per cent on the twelve inch gong using the sling without a time limit, and at ninety per cent or better when going prone and using the bipod. If you anticipate firing the rifle often at long range then an optical sight is needed. Most of us will not have that need, and the rifle remains a great problem solver at moderate range. With the inherent accuracy of the type and the great handling and reliability of the Daniel Defense rifle this AR-15 is useful over a broader spectrum than most firearms.

The Daniel Defense rifle is true to the original AR-15 concept of a short, light rifle with plenty of power but light recoil and excellent hit probability. We fired the rifle extensively and did not break it under controlled conditions. A fighting man should not have a favorite weapon but work with what he has. But if you have a choice this is a rifle well worth its price. The Daniel Defense rifle is accurate enough for any mission and offers quality of material and production. That is all we can ask.

One hundred yard groups – three shot groups from a solid bench rest using Bushnell First Strike Red Dot.

By R.K. Campbell

Among the most respected names in the firearms industry is SIGARMS. In this author’s opinion, the SIG P220 is the best of the SIG handguns, although others are better suited to certain goals. Recently one of my associates commented on the SIG P series pistols. He felt that the SIG has reached its nadir in police circles. There are two problems with the SIG, he noted. First, the SIG will never win a contract on the low bid. And second, the SIG requires more training time than the competing double action only types. There is some homework required of the student, but the SIG is not unnecessarily complicated. There are features of the SIG that appeal to many shooters. Some of us prefer a handgun with a positive manual safety, some do not. The SIG has no manual safety but has good safety features. Others like the advantage of a long double action first shot trigger such as found on the original double action first shot SIG. The tactical doctrine calls for the use of the double action press at close range. Once the first shot is fired then you are in a gunfight and a crisp single action trigger press of four pounds or just a little more fires the following rounds. Single action trigger reset of the SIG is a little slower than some, which SIG adherents feel allows better control in a combat situation. There are other advantages of the SIG as well, not the least of which is reliability. The SIG has been proven in any number of extensive police and military test programs. Perhaps the most impressive was the Ohio State Patrol service pistol test program. A total of 190 pistols, ten each of nineteen types were tested to the tune of 228,000 rounds of Winchester and Speer ammunition. The SIG P226 emerged as the single most reliable and ergonomic pistol. Notably only .40 and .45 caliber handguns were tested.

When the U.S. military adopted the M11 (SIG P228) pistol, several were tested to 15,000 rounds. The SIG is as reliable as a pistol may be. Accuracy is second to none. It may be fair to say that the SIG is the single most accurate of service pistols. There are pistols that will out perform the SIG in running a combat course and others that may approach the SIG’s accuracy but none that will best the pistol overall. And running a combat course is not everything. Gun handling, safety features, reliability and accuracy are all important factors. And frankly when you holster a duty approved SIG you know that you have not holstered something that was chosen on the low bid.

Where did the SIG come from and what was the tactical doctrine that determined the features of the pistol? During the late 1960s and early 1970s the first wave of Soviet sponsored terrorism hit Europe hard. The police were largely unprepared and under armed. Most were armed with Walther PP or PPK pistols in .32 ACP caliber. A handful had on hand Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolvers. The West German police began a program to choose a new service pistol. The pistol was to have god safety features, but no manual safety. The reason was the pistol was to be a backup to the long gun in the hands of the new German special teams. The pistol needed to be as simple as possible. There could be no cocking of a hammer or racking a slide to put the piece into action and neither was a manual safety desirable. The pistol had to be instantly ready for action with a press of the trigger. The pistol had to be safe if dropped, and accurate enough for a hostage rescue shot at moderate range. The SIG P220 was a revolutionary pistol in many regards. The slide is a stamping with a steel insert for a breech block. The slide runs inside of the frame, a unique arrangement that makes for a lower bore centerline. This low bore axis limits muzzle flip. The reversed slide rails are an aid in absolute accuracy. The pistol used an aluminum frame for light weight. The SIG introduced a positive firing pin block into police service pistols that would become mandatory for service pistols in the following years. The SIG’s double action trigger offered a long but smooth trigger press of twelve pounds. The majority of the time the single action trigger press records a smooth four and one quarter pounds. The pistol was originally marketed in America under the Browning name as the Browning Double Action (BDA). The BDA earned an excellent reputation in short order. The first P220 was a single column magazine pistol in 9mm. It was introduced in .38 Super and .45 ACP for the American market. The military service trails in 1981 prompted the debut of the high capacity P226 in 9mm, and the compact P228 9mm came later. The P229 with a heavy slide was developed to handle the .40 S&W cartridge. By any standards the SIG P series has been a success story. My personal SIG is a P220 in .45 ACP. This pistol was once touted by authorities such as the late Tom Ferguson as the best police service pistol available. All things considered, Tom had a good argument that is difficult to assail. My experience with the pistol has been positive. The usual problems in dealing with properly mastering a double action first shot pistol present no greater hurdle that with any other double action pistol. The trigger action is smoother and more straight to the rear and controllable than most. The gently curving S grip fits most hands well and allows recoil to come straight to the rear. The frame mounted decocking lever is more ergonomic than the usual slide mounted safety/safety. Shooters of normal hand size easily actuate the Browning type magazine release. Any difficulty with the magazine release may be handled by simply turning the hand a few degrees. The factory magazine holds seven rounds of .45 ACP ammunition. Recently, the high quality custom grade Novak magazines have been made available for the SIG P220. The simplicity of the SIG P220 has great appeal to trainers. Load, decock, holster, draw, and fire. The SIG is comparatively ‘revolver simple’ in training parlance.

I have extensive experience with the type dating back to the late 1970s. The SIG P220 is the single most accurate service pistol I have ever fired. With the then new Black Hills 230 grain JHP, I have fired a singular 15/16 inch 25 yard five shot group with the pistol. This is neither the average nor what I am able to do on demand, but I have done it. The pistol will do 1.5 to 2 inches with quality service ammunition. The personal SIG P220 illustrated has fired well over 10,000 rounds but remains reliable and as accurate. The P220 is a classic handgun, a workhorse and a high quality handgun well worth your attention.

Equinox

A special variant of the SIG P220 is the Equinox. This pistol features special sights, a blackout and stainless contrasting finish that is both durable and attractive, and a light rail. The ability to use a combat light is important in modern tactical doctrine. This handgun is well appointed and more expensive than the blue P220, but offers good performance. The superior sights may offer better practical accuracy. I have tested this pistol extensively using a modern service loading. For some time I have had great respect for the Hornady XTP bullet. The Extreme Terminal Performance bullet offers an excellent balance of expansion and penetration. The Hornady loading is often match grade accurate in both the 200 grain and 230 grain examples. The new Hornady Critical Duty loading is a 220 grain bullet at 1,000 fps. This load builds upon the Critical Defense design more so than the XTP and early testing is promising. An individual armed with the SIG Equinox and the new Hornady loading is arguably as well armed as you can be with a handgun. When all is said and done the SIG P220 is a respected handgun that will never win the low bid but which is appreciated by professionals.

Accuracy results. Fired from a benchrest firing position, average of two five shotgun groups:

The pistol relies upon proven locked breech short recoil principles. There is no barrel bushing and the One Pro relies upon angled camming surfaces for unlock. The barrel hood butts solidly into the slide. There is a positive firing pin block or drop safety. The tall sights seem dated and while they offer a good sight picture a more modern handgun would probably use low profile sights. Just the same, the overall fit and finish of the pistol is excellent and few if any handguns surpass the feel of quality although a few equal the One Pro. The sights ride in a wide dovetail and there is a nicely turned rib that runs along the top of the slide. The machining of the slide is first class and clearly took considerable time to execute. This is not a handgun designed to be produced economically, but a handgun designed to promote excellence.

The frame is nicely finished with the front and back strap each nicely checkered to aid adhesion. The trigger guard is conventional and the trigger is rounded rather than hooked as in other CZ clones. The trigger guard will accommodate gloved hands. The grip frame is engineered to accept a ten-round magazine. The One Pro is a 10 +1 or 11 round .45 ACP pistol. This is quite an engineering feat. The grip frame is no larger than a 9mm CZ 75, as an example, and considerably smaller than a Glock 21 .45 caliber handgun. However, the single bone of contention with the One Pro comes with this grip frame. The bevel at the front strap is not comfortable for all shooters compared to the original CZ 75. The grip panels are skimpy for the frame and seem out of place on such a well-made handgun. The grip panels are roughened for abrasion and do the job but little else. The grip frame is slightly recurved near the base, perhaps in a portion of the Divine Angle. The grip frame isn’t uncomfortable but the angle of the bevel could have been more rounded.

Ergonomically, the decock lever, the magazine release and the slide lock are all within easy reach without resorting to shifting the grip on the handgun. The pistol has a good heft and a good natural point. The One Pro is heavy but sets well in the hand. This weight serves in good stead when firing heavy loads. While lighter .45 caliber handguns are not painful to fire after a few magazines the jolt of recoil begins to take its toll. The One Pro is comfortable to fire in extended training sessions. As an example, the powerful Speer 200 grain Gold Dot +P was used in the One Pro and the recoil was not severe, in fact, downright comfortable. Yet this load breaks 1,000 fps in the One Pro’s 4.5 inch barrel. The pistol is well made of good material and seems smooth in operation but the true test of the handgun is in firing.

When firing the One Pro a consideration was the trigger action. The double action mechanism of the One Pro is the lightest and smoothest I have tested in any handgun. The double action trigger compression was measured on an electronic scale and the trigger breaks at 5 pounds 11 ounces. This is lighter than many single action triggers. Yet, when the trigger is pressed the trigger both cocks and drops the hammer with less than six pounds of pressure. There was some concern that the action might not be sufficient to crack all primers, but this was not the case (some brands of ammunition use harder primers than others). The One Pro never failed to ignite the primer. The single action trigger compression is less than three pounds. When using such a light trigger action the compression felt like a finely tuned target handgun. This pull weight is far too light for a service pistol, in my opinion. The shooter that wished to use such a handgun for personal defense would be advised to adhere to this handgun and no other and to train hard and then fire the pistol often. During the firing test on more than one occasion the author doubled, firing two shots when I intended to fire a single shot, with the single action press. After some acclimation the trigger was mastered sufficiently to rate it controllable. In off-hand combat firing the light trigger isn’t really an advantage as the light press sometimes causes even a trained shooter to clutch the trigger. When firing for groups off of the benchrest the situation was different. The good sights and light trigger action aided in obtaining excellent accuracy. Firing at 25 yards from a solid benchrest, the One Pro sometimes delivered five shot groups hovering around an inch. Almost always human error intervened and the average groups opened to 1.5 to 2.0 inches. Just the same, the One Pro is a very accurate handgun. An observation was made that the single action trigger of the One Pro is free of the modest backlash often exhibited by CZ 75 type trigger actions.

When running combat drills the One Pro showed excellent results. Drawing and engaging targets at 5, 7 and 10 yards, hits were well centered. The transition from double action to a single action trigger presented no difficulty. When performing speed reloads the tapered high capacity magazines allowed rapid replenishment of the ammunition supply. The pistol functioned well with CCI Blazer ball ammunition and brass cased American Eagle ammunition. 230 grain ball loads strike just above the point of aim. This is a good service setting, with the slight off-set easily accounted for at close range. The pistol is dead on with this zero at 50 yards and will probably prove accurate at extended handgun range.

All told, the One Pro is an interesting handgun with much to recommend. It is accurate, reliable, and well made of good material. It is an excellent handgun on every count. While there are less expensive handguns, there are few with the pride of ownership and heritage of this handgun.

Not only raising the bar, but leaping over it

In a time when many industries are cutting workers and cutting costs it is encouraging to see a healthy firearms industry turning out the best products in history. The American consumer seems willing to pay for top quality merchandise and many of the best firearms in the world are made right here in America. When it comes to defensive handguns there are compromises in selecting a model for concealed carry. The pistol must be shorter and lighter than a service pistol and sometimes the caliber is a compromise as well and we have to deal with less of a handle to grasp during recoil. Sometimes compromises are made in magazine capacity. Just the same, deploying a lightweight weapon at all times is better than carrying a heavy handgun only when possible. My handgun is the 1911 and there are a number of lightweight versions that offer excellent protection – and one of the finest is illustrated in these pages.

The lightweight 1911 was in the planning stages before World War Two. The underlying premise was quite practical. Reduce the length and weight of the 1911 while retaining reliability and the fight stopping cartridge. World War Two intervened but the technological advances with aircraft grade aluminum made efficient aluminum frame pistols possible. Before the war, aluminum was rare and expensive to obtain. While various custom gunsmiths continued to produce chopped and channeled versions of the 1911, very few approached the reliability of the 1911 Government Model. The Commander reduced the weight of the pistol by over ten ounces and also shortened the 1911 by 3/4 of an inch. “Old Ugly” is flat but not small and the new pistol was a great step forward for those wishing to carry the highly effective 1911 concealed and in comfort. The tradeoff was increased recoil. The Commander requires about a twenty-five per cent increase in meaningful practice to master but is well worth the time and effort.

The Officer’s Model, the Detonics and various other pistols were introduced that shortened the 1911 even further. Barrel length was reduced to 3.5 and even 3.0 inches and the magazine and butt shortened as well. While opinion varies on the subject, professionals agree that the shorter barrel and slide versions of the 1911 are not as reliable as the Commander length barrel. Modifications to bushingless lockup moved the pistol several steps away from the original template. A consensus among gunsmiths seems to be that a minimum barrel length of four inches is needed in order to ensure reliable function with the 1911 pistol. After much deliberation and experimentation, this author agrees. While there are a number of reliable compact 1911 handguns – the Kimber Ultra Carry comes to mind – with a worst case scenario of poor maintenance and with the widest possible spectrum of ammunition, the 4 inch barrel will always prove more reliable. This brings us to the Kimber Custom Defense Package (CDP). A product of the Kimber Custom Shop, the CDP illustrated is a four inch barrel 1911 with a frame of 7075-T7 aluminum alloy. The frame is finished in a rugged Kimpro finish.

The CDP is in practical terms an upgraded Pro Carry but also much more. The Pro Carry is a great pistol, a respectable carry gun with the same reliability as the CDP. But the Devil is in the details. The CDP features the full length handle of the Government Model. The handle lies flat against the back when worn in a properly designed concealment holster. There is no need for a short butt 1911 in this application. However, the five inch barrel Government model may tend to pinch the skin when worn in an inside the waistband holster. The four inch gun works better for concealed carry and also clears leather more quickly. While a short sight radius may limit precision accuracy at long range the four inch barrel pistol comes on the target more quickly. The frame is aluminum and of course a lightweight pistol kicks more than a steel frame. The front strap is checkered in custom grade style with thirty lines per inch in order to be certain that your hand stays in place during recoil. The grips are perfectly checkered rosewood. The Pro Carry uses rubber grips and if you think that they feel as good or do the same job as rosewood; fine, but remember Steinbeck’s words in The Grapes of Wrath concerning the worn comfort of a pistol grip. After forty years with the 1911 when I wrap my hand around Kimber something says ‘friend.’

The CDP sports a custom grade beavertail grip safety that ensures that you depress the grip safety as you grip the pistol. Some shooters using the thumbs forward grip may allow the palm to rise off of the frame and deactivate the grip safety. Training cures this but the CDP’s grip safety is an advantage. The grip safety releases the trigger at the proper point about half way into compression. The beavertail also funnels the hand into the grip as you acquire the firing grip. The mainspring housing aids in gripping the pistol as well. The magazine well is slightly beveled as an aid in rapid insertion of the magazine. The magazine catch is tight as it should be. Flush fit magazines are preferred for concealed carry. There is nothing wrong with the Kimber magazines. I supplemented the factory magazines with flush fit Metalform magazines and sometimes deploy the excellent, slightly extended and ultra-reliable Metalform eight round magazine. The CDP is virtually devoid of sharp edges as a concealed carry handgun should be. A good example of this is the ambidextrous safety. The safety is among a few designs that is genuinely robust and devoid of sharp edges.

The CDP features self luminous sights with Tritium inserts. The sight design is among the best ever fitted to a handgun. The front sight is a serrated ramp dovetailed into the slide in a far superior fashion to the old tenon attachment. The rear sight is angled to prevent snagging on the draw but presents a bold sight picture. Thankfully there are no forward cocking serrations. I do not use them on a short handgun and, in my opinion; the slide looks cleaner without this addition. Although the Kimber is an aluminum frame handgun +P loads are no problem to fire partly due to the good fit, a beavertail safety that spreads recoil about the palm and also an 18 pound recoil spring. The pistol also features a full length guide rod. The chamber is cut to minimum specifications, good for accuracy, perhaps not so great with lead bullet handloads. Care in handloading ammunition is demanded.

For best control in rapid fire and in target shooting a smooth and tractable trigger action is needed. The Kimber demonstrated a smooth 4.5 pound trigger action as delivered. After 7,500 rounds or so trigger compression has settled into a crisp 4.2 pounds, practically ideal for all around use by a skilled user. The 1911 tends to smooth with use and reach a sweet spot. The Kimber has done that. There are those that feel that a too light trigger will increase the user’s liability. Perhaps I don’t know much about gunfighting but I do have a couple of difficulties under my belt, a degree in Criminal Justice and over two decades of police experience. If the trigger action helps you hit the target, great. If you miss the target and strike an innocent person then you are in a world of trouble regardless of the type of firearm used. Putting a bullet where it will matter is what counts in marksmanship.

The CDP is a great gun chambered for an efficient cartridge. The .45 ACP is among a few cartridges that often demonstrates a full powder burn in a relatively short pistol barrel. The cartridge achieves good velocity with a modest powder charge. The cartridge has been around since about 1905, a bit longer than the 1911 handgun, and has proven its efficiency. Even with a non expanding bullet, the .45 Automatic Colt Pistol cartridge has proven effective in interpersonal combat. Despite claims by those without a leg to stand on and arguably little to no experience in the real world, the small calibers cannot equal the .45 ACP’s ballistics despite the use of well designed modern expanding bullet designs. The .45 ACP is also a low pressure cartridge and that means little wear on the handgun. The .45 ACP is a handloader’s dream compared to many cartridges and that means economy in action. The 1911 pistol and the .45 ACP cartridge are simply an ingenious combination. In the light of the times it simply made sense and the pistol and the cartridge had to work. Good men have died because of inferior equipment.

There are a number of deviations from the original template that some will laud and others condemn. The ambidextrous safety is seen as superfluous for the right handed shooter, but a necessity by the left handed shooter. The Kimber ambi safety is well designed and more robust than most.

The 1911’s virtues included the ability to be field stripped with only a coin or case rim. The Kimber needs an Allen wrench to remove the grips. The pistol also features a full length guide rod. Many custom grade handguns use a full length guide for many reasons, including taming recoil and preventing the recoil spring from kinking. If jammed against a barricade the full length guide rod will prevent the pistol from going out of battery. On the other hand maintenance is more complicated, although the top end is easily brisked off compared to the original pistol. It is removing the guide rod that demands a special tool. If this bothers you remove the full length guide rod and substitute a Commander length guide rod and 20 pound recoil spring. But remember – the CDP is not designed as a service pistol for general issue. It is designed for use as a personal defense pistol and this means a higher standard of maintenance and perhaps a higher demand on the handgun as well.

Leather Gear

For range use a minimalist holster allows ease of demonstration for the instructor and a comfortable carrying platform. The Milt Sparks #88 Mirage is ideal for this use. Unlike the common belt slide, the Mirage rides under the belt, which adds security but also allows considerable ease of concealment if you choose. I like this holster very much. It is convenient and few if any belt slide holsters approach the all-around utility of this well made holster. For use under a covering garment the Milt Sparks 60TK is ideal. This holster offers a good balance of speed and retention and is very well made of good material. The holster rides high and it is a very specific 1911 holster not well suited to some types of handguns. This holster demands a certain break-in period as it is quality gear. Once this break-in is accomplished you have a brilliantly fast holster. For deep concealment beneath a pulled out T shirt or sport jacket nothing conceals like an inside the waistband (IWB) holster. The IWB rides inside the pants, which means the covering garment need only cover the belt line, not the body of the holster. This isn’t an easy holster for a maker to get right. The Milt Sparks Summer Special IWB is the standard by which all others are judged. This holster features dual belt loops, a reinforced holstering welt, a strong spine and a sewn in sight track. This is as good as it gets. I cannot imagine a task these three quality holsters cannot handle and handle well. The 60TK is easily the fastest on the draw and a remarkably concealable holster while the Summer Special conceals the best. The choice depends upon the situation, the season and the covering garment. Milt Sparks offers even more designs but these three are my choices and they are excellent all around holsters that are well made by professionals for the discriminating user.

Shots Fired

The combination of good sights and an excellent trigger compression make for a pistol with the highest hit probability of any I have used. The 1911’s low bore axis and straight to the rear trigger compression are contributing factors but the CDP is designed to enable a trained shooter to make hits quickly at combat ranges. The pistol is capable of good work. At longer ranges the CDP is about as accurate as any five inch barrel handgun you wish to put it up against. When conducting the firing test the new Black Hills steel cased ammunition was used during combat drills. It is good to see Black Hills offering quality affordable steel cased ammunition. This is a good resource when one is too busy to load their own as is often the case these days. For carry use I have deployed the Black Hills 230 grain JHP for many years. I prefer the .45 ACP because it makes a larger hole and the 230 grain JHP has more momentum than a lighter bullet. The 185 grain Black Hills load is reliable and accurate and has about the same energy, but I prefer the heavier .45 ACP bullet. A new loading has given me pause. Black Hills is offering an all copper 185 grain JHP. While a disadvantage of all copper projectiles has been the expense of the bullet, Black Hills offers these loads in fifty round boxes at an attractive price. Copper weighs less than lead in a bullet of equal length. So, if the bullets are an equal length and take up the same volume in the case, the lighter bullet will be driven faster for a given powder charge. A 185 grain .45 is longer than a 185 grain lead core/copper jacket bullet, but shorter than a 230 grain bullet. The all copper bullet, however, retains its integrity after the hollow nose expands. The base and the bullet do not separate, they cannot. So far function and accuracy are excellent. Ballistic testing has shown the bullet performs at least as well as any other hollow point in the caliber. It just may be an honest improvement over the cup and core type hollow point. The light recoil and good accuracy coupled with consistent expansion and penetration may just sway me toward the TAC load.

The combination of first rate quality control and a proven design has proven a winner for Kimber. Coupled with good support gear the Kimber CDP is as good a defensive handgun as currently available and my first choice in a 1911 for daily carry.

When the FBI contracted with FN Herstal for their patrol rifle, there was a lot of attention given to the rifle. After all, this was a prestigious contract and one that was hard won with extensive testing. The FN Patrol rifle isn’t quite the same rifle, just as the Springfield TRP isn’t quite the same pistol as the Springfield Bureau Model, but that doesn’t mean that the FN Patrol rifle isn’t a great performer. It is simply an affordable alternative to a far more expensive rifle. Not that the Patrol Rifle is inexpensive, but it is well worth the price. The controlled feed bolt action that is the heart of the patrol rifle is the same as the modern (and much improved) Winchester Model 70. An important part of the action is the claw type extractor. A tactical rifle should be a controlled feed action. The claw extractor maintains control of the cartridge from the time the cartridge is picked up from the magazine until it is chambered and then fired and extracted. The Winchester and the FN rifle are under the same corporate umbrella and the use of the Winchester action makes sense. Of course, FN has plenty of experience with Mauser type bolt action rifles. The action is smooth with good leverage. The bolt lifts readily and there is plenty of leverage in feeding. The detachable box magazine is a departure from the non detachable magazine found on most bolt action rifles. The magazine is well made of good material. A detachable magazine makes it more difficult to fire a single round in accuracy testing compared to some bolt guns but it is what it is. The detachable magazine is a tactical feature. The detachable magazine is also less likely to produce bedding problems, per my experience.

The stock and the bedding of such a rifle are vital. The FN features an aluminum pillar system embedded in the Hogue Overmolded stock. The Hogue stock offers excellent fit and comfort. The stock allows a good grip and recoil seems light enough, due in part to the recoil absorbing properties of this stock. The rifle is free floated, which is an absolute requirement for accuracy. The rifle barrel was checked for free floating using a number of business cards and the end result qualifies as custom grade. The rifle left nothing to be desired. The sight attachment is a Picatinny type. This is a solid consistent mount system well suited to a tactical rifle. For evaluation purposes, a Barska optical sight was fitted and gave good results. While it is an inexpensive optical sight at no point could we fault the performance of this rifle scope.

In sizing up the rifle, a considerable amount of ammunition was fired including factory loads and handloads. These included examples from HSM, Nosler, Black Hills and Winchester. The level of accuracy was high. The first three bullets fired were touching and continued firing showed excellent results. This is among the easiest rifles I have tested to achieve good accuracy with. While there are other accurate rifles, the FN design comes together well with a well designed stock and an excellent and particularly smooth trigger action. This combination of features in a controlled feed action makes for an excellent all around rifle. As the term patrol rifle indicates, the rifle is intended for critical use and a quality bolt action rifle is more versatile than some realize. Recent actions in which peace officers have been forced to take out dangerous animals proved that the common .223 rifle and pistol calibers are not the ideal choice. A .308 rifle offers a considerable stand off range for engagement. Public safety is served by a single precision shot rather than a flurry of shots. The .308 patrol is clearly accurate and powerful enough for the task and reliability isn’t a concern. While there are more accurate rifles with most engagement ranges less than 200 yards, the FN Patrol Rifle is more than accurate enough for the task. I will stress again that the optical sight used is a hunter’s sight more than a tactical scope but just the same excellent results were obtained. We did not drop test the Barska but it did hold its adjustment in extensive firing. The rifle was fired from a very solid, carefully taken bench rest for accuracy testing. However, we also fired the rifle from standing and from less than perfect positions. As a shooter learns the rifle and manages the trigger action, the rifle becomes more familiar and accuracy results seem better with each outing. Only a few riflemen may shoot right up to the mechanical accuracy of a rifle and this precision firearm is more accurate than most can hold. The FN Patrol Rifle is well worth its price. It is a great addition to a police armory or for anyone interested in a first class bolt action rifle.

Specifications:

Caliber: .308 Winchester
Empty weight: Nine pounds
Barrel length: 24 inches
Twist: One in 12in, R/H
Magazine: Detachable 4-rd.
Stock: Hogue Overmold

Accuracy testing:

Black Hills Gold 168 grain A Max: .6 inch
Black Hills Gold 150 grain: .8 inch
HSM 168 grain MATCH: .8 inch
Nosler Custom 168 grain: 1.0 inch
Winchester USA White Box: 1.6 inches

When discussing any other handgun we take the pistol on its own merits. But when the discussion turns to 1911 type handguns we must look at the history of the pistol. This simply puts the popularity of the type in perspective. The 1911 pistol was adopted by our armed forces in 1911. Civilian sales began around 1912. The pistol proved its mettle in many battles large and small in the United States and Mexico and really made its reputation during World War One. More action followed and in the end the 1911 .45 automatic emerged as the greatest fighting pistol the world has seen. As such it is no surprise the pistol has sometimes been highly in demand. The original maker, Colt, still makes 1911 handguns but there are at least a dozen competitors – perhaps more. There is tremendous competition in the low end range as makers attempt to produce a credible pistol at a price point that all can afford. Compared to the history of the 1911 pistol, the history of the Philippine makers is short but they have made considerable inroads into the United States market. Most of the 1911 clones produced, beginning with the indifferent Spanish makers, have been full size pistols. Shooters Arms Manufacturing (S.A.M.), of Quezon City, Philippines, offers a Commander type 1911 that is marketed in the United States by ATI. The Commander size pistol is simply a 1911 with a four and one quarter inch barrel compared to the standard five inch model. With the four and one quarter inch barrel the standard barrel bushing and locking lugs are maintained. Moving to the four inch and shorter versions it is necessary to use a coned barrel and modify the locking lugs. The Commander size is preferred by many shooters and the type handles in a similar fashion to the Government Model. While the original Commander and the current Colt Lightweight Commander are aluminum frame handguns in order to reduce weight the ATI version is a steel frame pistol. Many shooters prefer the steel frame pistol for longevity and recoil control. The American Tactical Imports offering is of cast, not forged steel. If done properly, casting is not a defect. There were no bubbles or air pockets visible in the steel of the pistol nor did the finish appear porous.

The design philosophy of the company is to offer a product that is of high quality but affordable. Some corners have to be cut in manufacture to produce a low end pistol but just the same we would hope it is finish or frills that are cut and not mechanical integrity. The ATI pistol is not devoid of features, however. While most 1911 pistols in this price range feature original GI sights, the Commander tested has high profile sights similar to the old King’s Hardballer design. These sights offer a bolder sight picture and are easier to acquire in an emergency. They are also much easier to snag on the belt and manipulate the slide when doing a critical one hand stoppage drill. The ejection port is the GI type rather than the popular scalloped type. The grip safety is a beavertail or custom type. This beavertail grip safety aids in several aspects of shooting. First it funnels the hand into the proper grip on the handgun. Second, since this grip safety must be depressed in order for the pistol to fire, the shooter is more likely to fully depress the grip safety during a maximum speed drill with this type of grip safety. The shooter that adopts the popular thumbs forward grip will sometimes raise his palm off of a standard grip safety. With the upswept beavertail safety this problem is alleviated. Finally, to an extent, many shooters find that the larger beavertail safety spreads recoil about the palm more efficiently. The beavertail safety released the trigger about mid way in its travel, ideal for most applications.

The slide lock and magazine release are not extended. This is as it should be on a service grade pistol. The slide lock safety is also a standard type. The fitting of the barrel bushing, barrel to slide fit and slide to frame fit are good. The pistol does not rattle when shook and the slide rolls smoothly over the locking lugs. The hammer is of the burr or rowel type usually referred to simply as a Commander hammer. Despite what appears to be competent fitting of most parts a complaint was lodged concerning the fitting of the slide lock safety. The safety was positive in operation but most who handled the pistol felt that it was too easily swiped off. Many that carry the 1911 have at some time or another found their cocked and locked 1911 with the safety off in a tightly fitted holster. Most of us prefer a strong indent. ATI and SAM need to address this issue if it is common. 1911s are individuals requiring a portion of handfitting and the individual fitter may be at fault. Moving to the feed ramp the requisite 1/32 inch gap between the two portions of the feed ramp, frame and barrel, was present as required for good feed reliability. The supplied grips are checkered walnut. Compared to the smooth slabs found on some pistols these are excellent grips for a service pistol. Trigger compression was measured with the RCBS registering trigger pull gauge. Trigger compression was recorded at six pounds and relatively smooth with no creep or backlash.

The proof of the pistol is in the firing. The ATI .45 was lubricated heavily for range work and twenty three magazines of .45 ACP and several boxes of ammunition traveled to the range. If proven reliable the pistol was destined for personal defense use so only good quality proven ammunition was used so as to not the cloud the issue in the case of a malfunction. Initial testing was done with a mild and accurate number, the Black Hills 230 grain RNL load. While inexpensive and using a lead bullet this load is often match grade accurate in target grade pistols. The ATI .45 proved reliable with this loading. The initial testing involved firing at man sized targets at modest range. Drawing from a DM Bullard holster the FX .45 proved fast on target. A Commander length pistol really seems to leap from the holster and this .45 was no exception. Very fast hits on man sized targets were easily made at 3, 5, 7 and even ten yards. There is no pistol faster to a rapid and accurate first shot hit than the 1911 and the ATI pistol definitely is all 1911. When firing the initial 100 rounds there were no failures to feed, chamber, fire or eject. The ATI pistol did not need a break in period. A few magazines were loaded with the Black Hills 230 grain FMJ, a traditional hardball load. Recoil was greater but control remained good. The 230 grain FMJ .45 is still a credible combat load. This load will exhibit good penetration and a large exit wound.

Since the pistol was destined for personal defense a number of expanding bullet designs were tested. While the full metal jacketed .45 FMJ loads are proven effective against motivated attackers, the hollow point produces a larger wound channel – although shallower in some cases. Public safety also demands a JHP as the wide mouth hollow point is less likely to ricochet as the soft lead core will deform on hard objects and the wide mouth opens on concrete, lamp posts and the like. A magazine each of the Black Hills 185 grain JHP, the Cor Bon 200 grain JHP and the Fiocchi 230 grain JHP were fired. The pistol fed each normally without any hesitation. The pistol seems feed reliable with all bullet styles but a test program is indicated for those that choose to trust a certain load and pistol combination. The ATI pistol turned in a good performance, with no failures to feed, chamber, fire or eject during the test program that stretched to over four hundred rounds during the three weeks we tested the pistol. The .45 pistol was deemed good enough for who it is for and is now carried on a daily basis by an individual that deems his personal safety important. The ATI pistol, if this example is representative of the breed, is a well made and reliable handgun. Accuracy testing:
25 yard bench rest, average of two five shot groups.

Black Hills 200 grain SWC: 3.9 inches
Cor Bon 185 grain JHP +P 3.25 inches
Fiocchi 230 grain JHP: 3.8 inches
Wolf 230 grain FMJ: 4.5 inches
Zero (remanufactured) 230 gr. FMJ: 5.25 inches

Among the more interesting idioms that have passed from the vernacular is the straight pull rifle. The Ross and the Mannlicher are well known but perhaps the best of the breed is the Schmidt Rubin K 31. The rifle was more expensive to procure than most rifles of comparable quality, such as the Mauser 98, but the performance of the K 31 was excellent. In both performance and in quality of manufacture the Schmidt Rubin fit the Swiss rifleman’s ethic. Heralded as a nation of riflemen, the pragmatic Swiss realize that quality may make up for quantity. The Swiss maintain one of the best armed and equipped armies in Europe and their marksmanship training is legendary. All men from ages eighteen to sixty five are either reservists or in the Army. Weapons are secured in the home. This instant readiness and dedication are relied upon to keep the enemy away from the gate and marksmanship is stressed by the government.

The history of the straight pull Schmidt Rubin rifles began with Colonel Eduard Rubin and Colonel Rudolph Schmidt. Rubin directed a state munitions factory while Schmidt was a weapons officer. In conjunction with Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG), Schmidt and Rubin began developing a rifle designed to give Swiss troops every advantage. A new service cartridge was developed around 1883 and initial designs for the rifle were submitted in 1885. The straight pull made perfect sense as the potential for speed was greater than the bolt action rifles developed by most of the other European nations and quality manufacture, reliability and accuracy would be equal to any other type.

The Swiss straight pull apparently borrows nothing from the contemporary Mannlicher straight pull. The Schmidt Rubin rifle uses a bolt handle attached to an actuating rod. The actuating rod is the enabling feature of the design. There is a helical groove in the bolt sleeve that rotates to unlock opposing twin lugs from a recess in the receiver in the original design. To unlock the rifle the bolt is simply pulled to the rear. As the bolt is pulled to the rear, the empty cartridge case is ejected and the bolt is pressed forward to load a fresh case. Like most designs, the straight pull action of the Schmidt Rubin has certain trade offs. Initial extraction power was poor compared to the bolt action Mauser and the receiver had to be long to accommodate the straight pull action. On the other side of the coin, the receiver was practically debris proof. The introduction of smokeless powder and the fantastic advancement afforded by smokeless powder technology altered the development of the rifle. The 1889 modification of the rifle included the new smokeless 7.5×53.5mm cartridge. The resulting rifle was quite interesting although gawky in appearance by modern standards. The cartridge was loaded to typical ballistics of the day, with a heavy for the caliber 210 grain bullet propelled to about 1,970 fps. The powder combination used is best described as an early variant of smokeless powder referred to as semi-smokeless. The rifle went through progressive improvements, with the improvement centered primarily upon the locking lugs though the cocking ring in the rear of the action remained constant. This ring was pulled to the rear and turned to engage as a safety. Alternately, with care, the ring could be lowered to decock the rifle by pressing the trigger as the ring is lowered. For recreational shooters today the only sensible choice is to carry the rifle chamber empty and load it at the range. A modern feature of the rifle is a detachable box magazine that was retained throughout all modifications. Like most European armies, the Swiss adopted a carbine version and also a Kadet version for training.

The greatest news came in ammunition development. A 190 grain load at 2,050 fps was developed but was replaced with a more modern 174 grain Spitzer load clocking in at 2,640 fps. Realizing this new load was too powerful for older rifles, the Swiss changed the cartridge by creating the 7.5x55mm Swiss. The 1911 Schmidt Rubin was among the first of the truly modern Schmidt Rubin rifles and this rifle adopted the six shot magazine as a design feature. This slim-line magazine gave the rifle a more streamlined appearance. The Swiss carefully considered the service rifle and found it larger and heavier than needed. This was probably true of most service rifles immediately after World War One. The modified short rifle adopted by the Swiss was the K 31 carbine. A vital change came with the relocation of the locking lugs to the bolt head. The result of this arrangement is that the locking lugs butt into the receiver ring and this combination allows a more compact receiver. The Karbiner 31 is not only a more modern rifle than most military bolt actions, it is a very good looking rifle. Even though the rifle features a 25.7 inch long barrel it is scarcely longer than the previous carbine. The rifle is fairly heavy at almost nine pounds. Partly as a result of this weight the rifle is regarded as a light kicker although ballistically, the cartridge is comparable to the .308 Winchester. The rest of the story is history.

The Karbiner 31 was very successful and the rifle was the standard issue of the Swiss army until 1958. The K 31 has proven quite accurate due partly to the target grade bedding system. The raceway below the barrel is routed out for greater accuracy. Be certain all band screws are tight and that the tang screw is fully seated, for best accuracy. The bedding is rivaled perhaps only by the Mosin Nagant, another accurate rifle.

During the course of manufacture there were both target and competition versions as well as sniper versions. The rifle illustrated is a joy to handle and fire. The rifle is a later model K 31 with a walnut stock, while many were of less expensive wood. The rifle is very smooth in operation. Everything about the rifle impresses.

A firing test of the rifle was held up for a want of ammunition. During a protracted ammunition drought, all ammunition was short in supply and 7.5 Swiss was not a priority among dealers. We were able to obtain a few rounds of European ammunition that were recreational grade at best, reliable but not exhibiting the accuracy potential of the rifle. Thankfully, Graf and Sons has partnered with Hornady ammunition to offer custom grade loads at an affordable price. When bench resting the rifle, the fixed iron sights proved to be excellent examples of the breed with a clear-cut sight picture. This author has never found a clearer sight picture than this one. Working with the full metal jacketed loads on several occasions, printing three shot, three-inch 100 yard groups were easily obtainable. The bolt proved easily manipulated and ejection was positive. After a few magazines of these loads we let the rifle’s barrel cool and addressed the Hornady loads. The first group was fired with the 165 grain Boat Tail Soft Point and was rewarded with a singular 1.5 inch three shot group. Following that, the 168 grain A Max load was used firing three shot groups, relaxing between shots and allowing the barrel to cool for a few seconds with the bolt open. While one group went into a pleasing 1.25 inch group, the average for the three groups was 1.65 inches. The sights were good and the trigger action aided in accuracy, breaking at a very clean 3 pounds even.

This author’s observations conclude that this is an accurate rifle. It is easy to carry as the balance is in the receiver and tang. While the receiver design may be resistant to dirt and debris, some of the exposed mechanism would be another matter. The 7.5mm cartridge is on a par with the .308 Winchester or 7.62mm NATO, accurate, mild to fire and effective. Overall, the Schmidt Rubin is an impressive rifle that is a welcome addition to any collection.

Among the great revolvers of all time is the Webley. Webley handguns fought in every conflict the British Empire was embroiled in from 1880 to 1963 and beyond. The odds are heavily in favor of the supposition that somewhere the Webley is still serving ably. While designed as rough and ready service revolvers, there is now some collector interest in the Webley. A chaotic loss of factory records has resulted in a daunting proposition to researchers, but then few Webley revolvers are true rarities. The condition of each should be your guide both as a shooter and as a collectible. The Webley is indispensable to anyone who desires to own a complete collection of World War One and World War Two revolvers. The Webley also served as a front line handgun during various Communist insurrections including Korea. The Webley was also a police revolver not only in England but also in practically every country under British influence. Officially, the Webley revolver in one form or another served the Empire as standard issue from 1887 until 1963, when the Browning High Power took its place. Just the same, the revolver was still on hand well into the 1970s at many British outposts.

The important features of the revolver are automatic extraction and double action trigger action. The top break extraction is a very desirable feature in a combat handgun. After expending the gun load, the barrel latch was activated and the barrel grasped to turn the barrel down. The extractor spring sprung the ejector to its full extension, ejecting all shells at once. The only disadvantage was that the shells were all ejected, fired or not. It was devilishly difficult to simply top the revolver off after a round or two had been fired. The American Smith & Wesson break top system was much the same. A competitor in America, the Merwin and Hulbert, used a special system in which the barrel was drawn forward and only fired cases ejected. I mention these competing systems because all had one shortcoming: they were not practical for cartridges longer than the .38 Smith & Wesson, .44 Smith and Wesson or .455 Webley. The leverage and length of the extractor were suitable only for short case revolver rounds.

The Webley Mk I was introduced in 1887 and saw action in Africa against aboriginal tribes. By 1900, the improved MK IV was in use by the British. The MK VI differs considerably from earlier revolvers as there is a step in the grip that gives more positive hand fit during double action fire. The Webley self extracting revolver, as the company called it, had few real competitors, and those armed with substitute standard handguns often complained. It is important to remember that Webley also produced solid frame revolvers for police and civilian use. Among the large numbers of Belgian and Spanish Ironmongery are a great many Webley copies. Some are well fitted, others are best suitable for use as fishing weights, and none are as well made or robust and the genuine Webley. Properly called Webley and Scott revolvers, these revolvers proved reliable in hostile environments including World War One trenches. Interesting to note, the obvious advantages of speed loads for the fast loading Webley revolver was developed as early as 1889 with some speed loaders issued by 1902. My research is imperfect but it seems that speed loaders were never issued in great numbers. The Prideaux speedloader is a complicated all metal device that when found commands as high a price as the handguns themselves.

Immediately after World War One, there was a hue and cry to replace the Webley .455. The Mk VI was larger and heavier than the original revolver but quite comfortable to fire and use. Just the same, the Army called for a smaller caliber revolver. Ease of training was one reason for the adoption of a .38 caliber revolver. Many other nations have regretted going to a smaller caliber handgun, but the British seem to have hit the magic number with the .38 and the loading they used. Restrictions upon the length of cartridge that could be used left little choice. The .38 Short Colt or .38 Smith & Wesson were the only likely choices. The .38 Smith & Wesson was chosen as a base line, with an unusual bullet. The British felt that by using a 200 grain bullet some measure of stopping power would be retained. The original loading was a 200 grain round nose lead bullet at 650 fps. The new cartridge, actually a special loaded .38 Smith & Wesson, as distinct from the longer .38 Special, was termed the .380 or .38/200. The Mk IV Webley revolver is a basically a downsized .455 but also based upon the .38 caliber police revolvers. It is interesting that after expressing much interest in the Webley product, the government deigned it appropriate to develop their own handgun at Enfield Lock Small Arms Factory. The Revolver, No. 2, Mk I is similar in outline and operation to the Webley. It is a break top revolver with simultaneous ejection. Many of the detail changes are primarily for ease of production. As the story goes, after an accident in which a tank driver suffered a self inflicted wound, the Enfield was changed to the Mk I*, denoting a spurless hammer. Essentially, these were double action only handguns. Webley and Scott felt that the situation was more than unfair and brought suit against the government for their actions. The government did pay Webley, but also ordered great quantities of the Webley during World War Two as the Enfield Lock location was not adequate alone to meet the needs of the British Army. Some half a million Webley .38/200 revolvers were produced. This number is approximately four times the production figures for the .455 revolvers.

The revolvers illustrated in this report are typical Webley revolvers. The MK III .455 was produced prior to the Boer war. It is in the original caliber. Quite a few have been altered to accept the .45 Automatic Colt Pistol cartridge with the use of moon clips. This was done as an expedient when Webley ammunition was difficult to impossible to obtain. While the .455 frame has been able to contain this pressure, common sense tells us there is a disparity in pressure. The .455 Webley with its 265 grain RNL bullet generates 650 fps at 12,000 pounds per square inch pressure. The .45 ACP cartridge with a 230 grain RNJ bullet generates 820 fps at 18,000 pounds per square inch. Today, good quality ammunition is available from Hornady. This relieves us of the necessity of facing off the cylinder and recoil plate in order to fire our Webley revolvers – but converted handguns WILL NOT accept the .455 ammunition.

The MK III is very comfortable to fire. While it looks ungainly compared to modern revolvers, the Webley is far from it. The grip feels good in the hand, the double action trigger is smooth, and the sights are good for close range combat shooting. Our extractor spring is weak, which limited the experience, but overall this is a handgun that must have given officers much confidence. Recoil with the .455 Webley is insignificant. The lighter .38 revolver is impressive in fit, finish, and fast handling. This revolver was delivered from Southern Ohio Guns packed in Cosmoline. After the heavy grease was removed and the revolver examined, it was pronounced as new and appeared unfired. Balance is excellent. The Webley .38 is lively in the hand and it gets on the target quickly. The trigger is smooth and the combat style sights are excellent. We were able to obtain a small quantity of Winchester produced .38 Smith & Wesson loads. The 146 grain RNL bullet averaged 580 fps from the revolver’s four inch barrel. Accuracy is problematic in the target sense but good in the true sense of marksmanship, in hitting the target on demand. We fired a four inch group at 15 yards with all six chambers. While the caliber is questionable for combat use, the handling of this revolver is first class. I attempted to duplicate the original loading with a combination of RCBS dies, Starline premium quality new cartridge brass, Winchester primers, WW 231 ball powder, and the Magnus cast bullet at 198 grains. I was able to work up a loading that exhibited 667 fps. The thump in the hand remained pleasant but noticeably stronger than with the 146 grain loading. The British believed that a heavier bullet at lower velocity working over a target over a longer time would be more effective than a lighter higher velocity bullet. There may be something to it. The Webley revolvers are a piece of history that is both interesting and tangible. At present, Webley revolvers are affordable and readily available. They are also shootable, given an example in good condition.