Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2020 i Gun Digest

By a factor of at least 10, the question I get asked more than any other is, “What handgun do you recommend?” And if you’re a regular connoisseur of this magazine, I bet it’s safe to assume that you get asked that question quite often, too. So, what do we tell them? Getting asked that question is like someone asking for our opinion about what vehicle they should buy. There are so many options out there, and the personal preferences so numerous, that the answer is, quite literally, a shot in the dark. Oddly enough, I answer the “which handgun” question with a question of my own: Would you say your hands are small, average, or big? Size matters, and the most comfortable-to-carry micro 9mm on the market is little…

If you’ve purchased a new firearm recently from one of several major manufacturers, you might’ve noticed a small, square pattern of dots, where before only the company’s engraved name appeared along with the gun’s model and serial number. In an industry where the final turn of a filigree’s orientation from one model year to the next doesn’t go without notice, adding a square of asymmetrical pockmarks is sure to raise eyebrows. And to no surprise, it did, too. As more firearms appeared on the market with these marks, discussion boards lit up, recoiling and opining endlessly on the illegible and unwelcome addition. Many views are almost comical if not misinformed, but make no mistake: Your eyes do not deceive you—something is afoot. WHAT IS A DOT PEEN MARKING? A dot…

Most people view bipods as an accessory where less is more; they don’t see the benefit or understand its true importance. The majority of rifle systems I see average about $5,000 with scopes and bipods included. It’s $2,000 for the rifle, $2,400 for the scope, and $100 for the bipod. Looking at this trend, I tend to hurt a few feelings—mainly because they’re doing it wrong. The bipod matters, and putting the right bipod into context should be a top priority. WHY THE BIPOD MATTERS Bipods have to support the rifle in a way that supports precision—not subtracting from it. Yes, a bipod does have a bearing on precision at long range. It’s physics; we want to balance inside the triangle of stability and not teeter on top of the…

Editor’s Note: This article originally ran in the world’s greatest gun book, the Gun Digest 2021 Annual. Need a copy of this 590-page 75th edition? Find it at GunDigestStore.com. For 2020 and into 2021, the trend I see in semi-automatic pistols is more conceal-carry models, particularly in new variations from established models from Smith & Wesson, Mossberg, Sig, and FN, to name a few. More conceal-carry, optic-ready pistols are being produced, too. AR-15-style pistols continue to be released with CMMG, Springfield Armory, and Sig offering models in powerful calibers and stripped-down entry models and well-equipped versions. While those types of pistols make up the majority of new semi-automatics introduced, the real surprise is .22-caliber pistols. Both Ruger and Diamondback Firearms have breathed new life into the 5.7x28mm caliber, and Glock…

“The end result ... is that your AR pistol, SBR, and even carbine and rifle shoots softer.” Short barrels, as in AR pistols, are en vogue. And SBRs are all the rage, for those who can get them. They do, however, have problems. Basically, they require such a sharp gas input to jolt the system into working that they can be harsh in recoil. Adding in a heavier buffer helps, but sometimes you need more. Enter SureFire and their Optimized Bolt Carrier. The OBC-556 was designed by Jim Sullivan, who was the guy who debugged the initial AR-15 for Eugene Stoner and Armalite. I had a chance to visit him a while back (a story for another time) and got the lowdown on the OBC, which he was doing with…

Carrying a semi-auto pistol with a mini red-dot sight (MRDS) isn’t as uncommon as it used to be. Still, plenty of naysayers are out there with cries of how it’ll get you “kilt in da skreets,” but that isn’t as common anymore thanks to advancements in technology. Over the past decade, mini red-dot sights have been used in the most demanding environments by elite law enforcement officers, members of special operations, and legally armed civilians. There are a ton of benefits that can’t be ignored and outweigh the negatives by a large margin, but there are some things that you should know before you jump into the MRDS world. Not all mini red-dot sights are created equal. WHY SWITCH? Finer Aiming Point: Iron sights aren’t as precise an aiming system…

Listings are FREE! Simply go online to create or manage your Gun Show Listing. Login or Register to create an account – GunShows.GunDigestMedia.com *WARNING* Call before you drive to any show Promoters cancel shows and frequently and locations change dates Confirm before you travel DUE TO THE CANCELLING AND REBOOKING OF SHOWS THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE BECAUSE OF COVID -19 PLEASE CALL OR CHECK THE WEBSITE OF THE SHOW PRIOR TO TRAVELING TO THE SHOW. ALABAMA Oct 10-11 AL, Hoover. Fall Gun Show. Hoover Met Complex, 100 Ben Chapman Drive. Nov 28-29 AL, Birmingham. Gun & Knife Show. Civic Center, 2100 Richard Arrington, Jr Blvd. ARKANSAS Oct 31-Nov 1 AR, Conway. Gun Show. Expo Center, 2505 East Oak St. Dec 12-13 AR, Conway. Gun Show. Expo Center, 2505 East Oak…

With a few exceptions, I’ve never been one to fret all that much about what type of cleaning solvent or lubrication I used on my firearms. One of those exceptions deals with any gun that uses real black powder. As magnificent as it is, real black powder, not the modern substitutes, is a very corrosive and stinking propellant and the best—the hands-down best—liquid I’ve found for dealing with it is Ballistol. Ballistol also works on conventional firearms, and I use a lot of it. However, a good friend of mine has started changing my mind about what I should be juicing my guns with. Len Waldron, a Missouri boy who went away to a big school, became an officer in the Army, and later a Wall Street banker as well…

These days, the ammunition shelves seem to be as bare as they’ve ever been. A few, short months ago both guns and ammunition were plentiful. The record gun sales—handgun, rifle, and shotgun—of April, May, and June, coupled with those who want to have an ample supply on hand, have seen ammunition flying off the shelf at an unbelievable rate. Simply put, factories just can’t keep up with demand. More folks are turning to reloading to keep their firearms fed, and while that’s a sound means of keeping yourself in ammunition, there are some points to discuss when it comes to reloading for semi-automatic pistols. Unlike the cartridges designed to function in the cylinder of a revolver—which more often than not use a rimmed cartridge—the semi-autos need a case that’ll feed…

If you don’t consider your defensive handgun a tool, it’s nothing but a toy. A defensive handgun is a damned important tool, because it’s one of the few tools that might actually save your life. Aside from reliability and effectiveness, tools are generally very prosaic and ordinary; you don’t see many gold-plated hammers or engraved screwdrivers. But, as important as hammers and screwdrivers are when you need them, they’re not life-saving important. Because of the importance that’s inexorably linked to a defensive handgun, some are customized not just for performance, but for looks as well. Performance customization comes from a desire to have the ultimate working or infallible tool. Ornateness is an owner’s exclamation of that perfection and the importance of the tool they’ve chosen to place between them and…

When it comes to the practical application of aiming and shooting a defensive handgun, there’s endless arguments about which technique is best. The reality is that if you only practice or use one technique, you’re limiting your ability to deliver peak performance. There is, however, a difference between a beginner learning to shoot a defensive handgun and an experienced shooter wanting to enhance their abilities. The truth of the matter is that without a specific definition of “aiming,” it’s hard to classify any handgun shooting technique applied to an intended target as “unaimed” fire. Aim is, after all, your intent to hit. Aim is also a topic often discussed by clinical psychologist Jordon Peterson—not “aim” as it relates to shooting, but aim as it relates to life. As it turns…

The government model in .45 ACP isn’t for everyone. In fact, it’s not the best choice for a lot of people. Taurus makes 1911s, and they knew the above, so it shouldn’t come as any great surprise to see the pistol we’re testing here. Taurus keeps expanding in the firearms market, and at this rate, they’ll soon have to expand into ICBMs if they aren’t careful. Their latest is the 1911, but in a commander size and chambered in 9mm. The 1911 is so well-known that background and details of the general pistol aren’t needed. What we do need listed are the things that Taurus has changed or has done well, and what utility this pistol has for us. The commander size resulted from the U.S. Army wanting to change…