Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2022 i Guns & Ammo

Trapdoors in the Crimea In previous columns, I have (half-seriously) opined that without the availability of the .45-70 Springfield “Trapdoor” rifles and carbines, probably half of Hollywood’s Golden Age of adventure films would never have been made. Trapdoors were used unaltered and also converted to such things as blunderbusses, jezails, flintlock muskets and even pistols! In the 1936 Warner Brothers and Errol Flynn extravaganza, “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” we saw the indomitable Springfield breech-loader in the guise of a British “Victoria Carbine.” It was bobbed and kitted out with side-mounted slings, brass nosecaps, and faux ramrods. Two were employed during the dramatic “Defense of Chukoti” scene. One was prominently shouldered by child actor Scotty Beckett, who was being encouraged by Flynn to take careful aim at the minions…

MONEY IS A FINITE RESOURCE, but I have no problem finding places to spend it. Guns are my kryptonite. There’s so many, they come in all shapes and sizes and do so many different things! More than once I’ve had to talk myself out of a smoking-good deal for the sake of a happy home and responsible financial plan. If reading that solicited an understanding nod, the gun reviewed here offers respite from the storm. Stoeger’s STR-9SC might not look exotic, but it is. (It’s from Turkey.) I feel that it offers the most “bang for the buck” that I’ve run across in some time. It joins the legion of polymer-framed striker-fired pistols, so what’s it do better than any of the others? It has quality, reliability and accuracy —…

G&A STAFF READERS OFTEN ASK, “What subcompact 9mm pistols are available for everyday carry and cost less than $400?” Guns & Ammo’s editors surveyed the current market for an answer and didn’t find many. You may see quality used pistols such as Glock 43 trade-ins offered for less than $400, but we only found five new models that met the criteria. Each of the five brands listed offer other products that cost less than $400. However, to simplify the answer we kept the results to either the most premium model for the money or the newest variant. BOND ARMS STINGER In 2019, Bond Arms launched its Rough Series, which included single-action pocket pistols based on the Defender series. These tip-up over/under pistols start at $269 in .380 ACP. However, Bond…

AS RESPONSIBLE FIREARM OWNERS, it’s our responsibility to guard our guns. While securely storing a handgun may deter unauthorized access, it can also make it difficult for you to access. That handgun you keep for home defense won’t do any good if you can’t get to it, should you need it. Hornady Security has developed several firearm storage solutions in recent years. Their focus has been on products that offer affordable security and fast access. If you are looking for a way to safely keep a bedside gun, Hornady Security’s new RAPiD Safe Keypad Vault should fit your needs. The RAPiD Safe Keypad Vault weighs a hefty 15 pounds, largely due to the 14-gauge steel construction. Its exterior dimensions measure 13.1 inches by 11 inches by 3.9 inches. Internally, it…

THE LIGHTSABER SARSILMAZ has been making guns in Turkey since 1880. It is the largest small-arms manufacturer in that country. With a long history of firearms production backing the brand’s reputation, Sarsilmaz has set out to bring more stateside awareness to its capabilities through the introduction of reliable, well-engineered handguns purpose-built for the U.S. market. They’re accomplishing this with Miami-based SAR USA. Formed in 2018, SAR USA is the exclusive importer of Sarsilmaz firearms. The flagship is the SAR9, which was adopted by the Turkish armed forces and law enforcement in 2017 after a 90,000-round comparison test. It was subsequently introduced to the U.S. market in 2018 and received a rave review in that year’s February issue of Guns & Ammo. The SAR9 platform has been a success for Sarsilmaz.…

DESPITE GUN CONTROL being a central campaign issue for President Joe Biden, action at the federal level has yet to occur as of this report. In the wake of the tragic school shooting on May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas, that may change. As in most years, the impactful changes are happening at the state level. Thanks to our founder’s framework of democracy, each state chooses its own path in terms of most gun laws. As Guns & Ammo does every year, each state is put into perspective by reviewing the gun-related policies. We then rank them accordingly for our annual “Best States for Gun Owners.” The difference between the lowest- and highest-ranked states is significant. In some areas, gun ownership is heavily regulated and culturally unpopular; safe and legal…

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE, the MP5 is the most recognizable subgun known today. However, the CZ Scorpion has given it a run for its money! The semiautomatic HK SP5 and SP5K sells between $3,000 and $5,000 — when you can find one available. Less collectible clones go for around $1,800. The CZ Scorpion EVO 3 S1 has traded hands for less than $1,200, and the aftermarket stepped up to support CZ’s popular model with enhanced parts, magazines, and muzzle devices. Designed in 1959, the original Czech-manufactured Škorpion vz. 61 was produced between 1963 and 1979. It was chambered for 7.65x17mm Browning (.32 ACP) to meet the Czech Army’s need for an automatic, compact and light submachinegun. But it became a popular export item as well. By the late 1990s,…