Concealed Carry Handguns - June 2014

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FROM THE EDITORS OF WORLD OF FIREPOWER

MAY/JUNE2014

$8.99 U.S. DISPLAY UNTIL: 5/6/14

Engaged Media By Beckett


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THE WORLD CAN BE A DANGEROUS PLACE EQUIP ACCORDINGLY.

TO RECEIVE A FREE 2014 CATALOG AND TRAINING DVD, THE LASERS EDGE,CALL 1-800-442-2406OR VISIT CRIMSONTRACE.COM.


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10 SHOT SHOW SPECIAL COVERAGEWe walked more than 40 miles around the 13-acre

showroom floor at the Shooting, Hunting, and

Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show at the Sands Expo

Center in Las Vegas to find the most innovative, most

exciting, and most useful concealed carry handguns

and gear for 2014. See the best of the best in our

exclusive coverage!

Story & Photos by Dave Norman

22 THE SIG SAUER P938 PISTOL, A SMALLER 1911Sig Sauer took a 1911, streamlined and shrank it,

chambered it in 9mm, and gave it a slide profile

evocative of their P200-series handguns. It was a

bold move, and required a lot of engineering. We

wanted to see how well that paid offso our law

enforcement professionals put it through a field

review to find out if its street-ready!

By Jim Weiss and Mickey Davis

48 KIMBERS POCKET JEWEL: THE SOLO CDPThis double action 9mm pocket gun from Kimber is

surprisingly small, packs a surprising punchand

departs from their usual 1911 engineering in

some creative places. We slip it into a pocket and

head to the range to see this unique approach to

shrinking a 1911!

By Zack Carlson

Departments6 LETTER FROM

THE EDITOR

8 HOT GEAR FORCONCEALED CARRY

130 LAST PAGE

4 MAY/JUNE 2014 CONCEALED CARRY HANDGUNS

Features

Do you just shoot until

the target goes down? Or

do you shoot precisely to

make the target go down?

Explore the difference

with Chuck Taylor.

48 P H O T O B Y K I M B E R

Table of Contents May/June 2014

We tested Sig's P938

in many hands.

The Cover:

Photography By: Kimber,Sig Sauer, Taurus

Design By: Eric Knagg

What else happens when you

shrink a 1911 as much as the

Solo?

PHOTOBYJIMWEISS

22


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Buyers Guides

MAY/JUNE 2014 CONCEALED CARRY HANDGUNS

16 Micro Guns

30 Pocket Pistols

36 Subcompact Semi-Autos

56 Compact Semi-Autos

70 Full-Frame Semi-Autos

90 1911 Handguns

106 Compact Revolvers

116 Medium Revolvers

122 Full-Frame Revolvers

Kahr and Spyderco team up for

new general purpose blades.

Winchester pairs training and defensive

ammunition in a new product line.

The Mi-Bullet

breaks into three

projectiles...teth-

ered together.

PH

OTOBYKAHRARMS

PHOTOBYMIBULLET

PHOTOBYEAA

106

8

8

10

Cheap, powerful, double

action...the Windicator is

hard to beat.


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The 1911 Goes

Undercover

The 9mm is possibly the most

popular cartridge in person

protection, based on current

sales volume of defensive handguns

in that caliber. The

1911 is a perennialfavorite platform for

defensive pistols, and

though polymer

framed striker fired

pistols and double

action only designs

have seen surging

sales, the old style is

a firmly established

favorite.

So what happens

when you bring

together the most

popular modern

defensive caliber,

with the worlds most

popular model type?

Historically, not terribly muchthe

9mm in full-size 1911s hasnt

caught on to any remarkable extent,

though fine examples exist.

Butthen you shrink the platform,

down smaller than an officersmodelsmall enough to make the

new gun a deeply concealable, jack-

et-pocket gun. Now youre talking.

Thats an approach that several

companies have tried, encounter-

ing large design challenges each

timethe 1911 is a marvel of engi-

neering built in perfect synergy

with the .45 ACP. Alter the cham-

bering as drastically as going to

the 9mm, and youre talking about

an overhaul that will leave you with

a completely new gun.

Which is what we find with Sig

Sauers P938, and Kimbers Solo,

reviewed in this issue by our

experts. Neither is

a full-blooded 1911,but then, each was

designed to retain

favorite elements

of 1911 design

while creating guns

unique to solving

the challenge of

putting a comfort-

able, utterly reliable

subcompact 9mm

in your pocket.

Both turned out to

be excellent, and

somewhat familiar

in experienced

hands. Which one is

for you? You have

to decide that for yourself.

Your next challenge will be con-

cealing it effectively, which Brad

Fitzpatrick helps out on in his article

on deep concealment. We have

some new ammunition for yourcarry gun in our SHOT Show

Special Section, and some other

new-for-2014 gear throughout. Its

an exciting time to head to the gun

storeand never has it been more

fun to hit the range.

Best wishes,

A LETTER FROM THE

EDITOR

By Dave Norman

EDITORIALGroup Editorial Manager: Doug JeffreyEditor: Dave NormanManaging Editor: Breanna ArmstrongArt Director: John Bernikow

CONTRIBUTORSChuck Taylor, Brad Fitzpatrick, Mike Dickerson, Zack Carlson

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PHO

TOB

Y

NICK

ROFE

May/June 2014

So whathappens whenyou bringtogether the

most popularmoderndefensivecaliber, with

the worldsmost popularmodel type?


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300 AAC BLACKOUT The terminal effects

that you expect and reliable intermediate-barrier

performance from even the shortest-barreled

carbines and PDWs. Barnes 300 AAC Blackout-

optimized bullets new, over-sized plastic tips

add to our existing bullet technology to keep the

weight down and the velocity

up, for a flatter trajectory

and optimal penetration

even at extended ranges.

338 LAPUA Developed to match the

advancements in rifle accuracy and extended-

range optics. The Barnes 338 Lapua LRX

features a long profile and boattail design that

deliver match-grade accuracy at long range

with an incredibly high ballistic coefficient and

terminal performance.

www.barnesbullets.com 1-800-574-9200

AVAILABLE IN: 110 gr.and 120 gr. TAC-TX

components and

VOR-TX Ammunition.

AVAILABLE IN: 265 gr.

and 280 gr. LRX

components and 280 gr.

LRX VOR-TX Ammunition.

Y O U S H O U L D E R T H E


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HOT GEAR


FOR CONCEALED CARRY

MULTIPLE IMPACTBULLETSFrom Mi-Bullets come multiple impact bul-

lets, a new type of defense roundand newly

available to handgunsthat applies modern

engineering to create increased hit potential

from a single handgun bullet that behaves

somewhat like three different rounds.

Citing research that finds the overwhelm-

ing amount of shots fired in high-stress,

life-or-death situations miss their intended

targets, Mi-Bullet set out to create a multi-

segment, spin-stabilized round that increasesyour hit potential by launching a three-leaf

projectile that breaks apart just inches from

the muzzle, with each part tethered to a common hub in

the middle to limit the total width of the flying projectile

cloud to 10 inches. It achieves maximum diameter around

eight feet from the muzzle.

Does that sound like strung buck from

shotgun defensive rounds? Were curious to see

if theres a relationand to see just how well it

works. Were working right now to get some in for

testing, so we can bring you a field report in anupcoming issue!

Brand: Mi-Bullet

Model: Mi3 Stopper

Type: Multi-Projectile Round

Website: www.mibullet.com

MSRP: $60 (per box for .45 ACP)

Calibers: .380 ACP, .38 SPL,

.357 MAG, 9mm, .45 COLT,

.410 Shotshell

Applications: Civilian Defense,

Law Enforcement

KAHRSPYDERCOKNIVESYour choice of pocket knife says a lot about you

as much as your choice of handgun, though its

the pocket knife that will see far, far more fre-

quent (and mundane) use. A sharp blade carriedlegally can open boxes and mail, break down

cardboard and open obstinate packaging; it can

cut away clothing around a wound, slice rope to

length and serve in so many other capacities.

Spyderco makes blades for every day carry,

and real world use. They recently paired with

Kahr Arms, makers of fantastic defensive

handguns, to design Kahr-branded Spyderco

knives for everyday carry.

In these hot new knives, they have models

designed for tough cutting and slicing tasks that

utilize the latest grip-enhancing Spyderco handledesign along with tough, traditional-style back-

lock blade safeties and keen edges. The Delica 4s

blade is even 2.5 inches for legal carry in a great

number of localities where blade length is

restrictedeven severely sowhile still offering a

full-size knife handle for comfort and control

while cutting.

Brand: Spyderco

Model: Delica 4

Website: www.kahr.com

MSRP: $99

Line: Kahr

Blade Length: 2.5 inches

Overall Length: 6.75 inches

Blade Material: VG-10 Stainless

Weight: 2.5 ounces


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MAY/JUNE 2014 CONCEALED CARRY HANDGUNS

RAMRODZCONVENIENT CLEANINGThe designers behind the RamRodz cleaning

products must have heard the expression fits like

a square peg in a round hole and decided to

invent a better solution than cleaning round bores

with square patches. Their solution: a Q-Tip-like

cotton swab on a bamboo stick, where the cottonis just slightly oversized for a given bore diameter.

After passing copper bristle brushes through

your bore to scrape off powder and metal fouling,

you can use a

RamRodz stick to

soak up the solvents

and remove the gunk.

The bamboo handle

involved with each

one means you dont

have to swap

between patch jags

and brushes on your

cleaning rod, and the

8 inch shafts cleaned

even our longest

handgun barrels. The

bamboo doesnt mar

the metal, of course,

should it contact the

crown or chamber

during cleaning.

Initial testing wevedone shows the idea works, and works great.

Commonly sold in quantities of 200, you can order

them in just about every caliber.

Brand: RamRodz

Type: Cleaning Swab

Website: www.ramrodz.com

MSRP: $10

Quantity: 200

Caliber: Various

Material: Cotton, Bamboo

SUPER LIGHT,SUPER QUIK STANDAs their name implies, Range Systems makes

target-related systems for ranges, from retrieval

units to ballistic blocks that absorb rounds. Their

Quik Stand is meant as a low-priced, very clever

solution to a common problem facing their

customers: how to display a target, especially

at odd ranges or out of square, and in such a

manner as can be quickly repositioned.Their solution is clever: two zinc-coated (for

weather protection) metal junctions into which

you insert 1x1 or 1x2 furring strips (which you

provide yourself and cut to your own length).

One strip goes front to back for feet; one strip

connects the two junctions together, forming the

base of the target stand; one mounts vertically

into each junction as an upright to which you

staple your target, cardboard, etc.

Thumbscrews secure the furring strips,

creating a solid enough target frame that you

can easily drag across the ground to position

your targets however you want. It collapses

easily and takes up very, very little space for

transportation and storage.

Brand: Range Systems

Model: Quik Stand

Website: www.range-systems.com

MSRP: $29.99

Accommodates: 1x2 and 2x2 boards

Coating: Zinc

Secures With: Thumbscrews (provided)


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There is more gear on the market now than ever

for law-abiding concealed carriers, from holstersto handguns to pocket knives to fast-access

clothing that blends right into lifes backgroundand

we saw just about all of it on display at the massive

Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show

this year. Were just back from touring more than 1,600

companies boothsthats right, over 1,6000 different

companies together in one place at one timeto find

you some of the most fascinating, useful, and trend-

setting gear in our industry.

HAD TO USE A COMPASS

To find our way around the show, we had to actually

use a compassto keep following magnetic North as

we navigated more than 13 acres of all indoor show-

room space at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas. It

was a sea of compact handguns and synthetic holster

of ammunition manufacturers and boot makers and

companies selling blast-resistant shooting glasses.And yeahit was totally awesome.

Well have more products next month, and are

arranging a year full of product reviews to look behind

the hype and show you what actually performsand

how far we can push it. This gear, though, was just toocool to keep to ourselves.

SHOT SHOWSPECIAL COVERAGE

IMAGE BY DAVE NORM

IMAGE

BYDAVENORMAN

Your Sneak Peek at the Hottest Gear for 2014

By Editor


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PROJECT CHILDSAFE

A part of the National ShootingSports Foundations public out-reach, Project ChildSafe is afirearm safety and awareness pro-gram that makes cable-stylefirearm locks and informationalbooklets on how to use themandsafely store firearmsavailable for

free to individuals and law enforce-ment agencies (so they may dis-tribute them, free, to gun owners).

They had a big presence atSHOT Show this year, and aredeserving of recognition for theirwork in distributing millions ofchild-resistant firearm locks to gunownersfree of charge. Accordingto Project ChildSafe, they provideresponsible gun owners with the

tools and information they need tosecurely store their guns awayfrom children, at-risk individualsand criminals. Project ChildSafe

has partnered with law enforce-ment agencies in 15,000 commu-nities across the country. Since2003, 36 million firearm safetykits (including a cable-style gunlocking device, lock-installmentinstructions and a safety booklet)have been distributed free

of charge to gun ownersthrough partnerships with lawenforcement in all 50 states andfive U.S. territories.

For more information on gettingyour locks through ProjectChildSafe, or to support them intheir quest to even further reducefirearms-related accidents throughsafe storage education and freelocks, visit them online atwww.projectchildsafe.org

POCKET GLOCK

Until the release of the 42, theonly .380 ACP Glock handguns inthe US were restricted to lawenforcement sales. Now the 42 ison the market, bringing the caliberto civilians (and law enforcement)in a package that is incredibly lightand pretty compactroughly thesame size, though with a slightly

slimmer grip, as their 26 (9mm)and 27 (.40 SW) gunsbut lighter.

The 42 is an interesting proposi-tion, in that its now the smallestGlock youll find on the US mar-ketthe single stack six roundmagazine contributes to thatgreatlyin a caliber that the indus-try is pushing this year towardsfemale shooters, new shooters,

and as a deep concealment orbackup caliber. The overall size,though, is larger in many respectsthan the Ruger LCP and Smith &Wesson Bodyguard, only fraction-ally smaller than the Smith &Wesson Shield, and virtually thesame dimensions as theSpringfield XDsmany of whichcome in 9mm, a more powerfuland much better respected defen-sive cartridge than the .380 ACP.

The 42 has the same ergonom-ics, manual of arms, firing system,etc, as the rest of Glocks hand-guns, making it a natural pairingfor those who train with or carrylarger Glock handgunsespeciallythose who carry the 42 as a deepconcealment backup to their dutyGlock or compact Glock carrygunone set of controls to memo-rize, one ergonomic to get used to,

one manual of arms to commit tomuscle memory, regardless of

which particular Glock you draw inthe moment. That, for many Glockcarriers, could be huge.

GlockMODEL: 42

WEBSITE: www.glock.comMSRP: $475Action: STRCaliber: .380 ACPCapacity: 6+1Barrel Length: 3.25 inchesLength: 5.9 inchesWidth: 0.9 inchesHeight: 4.1 inchesWeight: 14 ouncesFeatures: Smallest Glock onmarket, safety built into trigger,white outline rear sight, very light

MAY/JUNE 2014 CONCEALED CARRY HANDGUNS 1

Whatch for These

Hot .380 ACPs

Beretta Pico. . . . . . . . . $399Glock 42 . . . . . . . . . . . $475Kahr P380 . . . . . . . . . . $649Ruger LC380 . . . . . . . . $449S&W Bodyguard . . . . . $419Sig Sauer P238 . . . . . . $515

Taurus 738 TCP . . . . . . $356

IMAGE

BYGLOCK


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TRAIN & DEFEND

DYNAMIC PAIRING

Youre supposed to train exactly

as you intend to fight, including

using the exact gun and ammuni-

tion you carry. That gets really

expensive when talking about high

round count training days with pre-

mium defensive ammunition ratherthan target loadsbut target loads

often differ somewhat in finer

details like recoil characteristics

and impact points.

With their new Train & Defend line

of ammunition, Winchester seeks to

rectify the situation with a 50 round

box of reasonably priced, reduced

recoil target rounds that are ballisti-

cally paired with newly formulated

reduced recoil personal defense

rounds. The target loads are full

metal jacket, and are loaded withlead-free primersa pretty big deal

for those who train on indoor

ranges, especially where only lead-

free-primed ammunition is allowed.

The defensive rounds, understand-

ably more expensive, are hollow

point affairs designed for excellentballistic performance, with recoil

characteristics and point of impact

at defensive ranges very similarif

not identicalto the training rounds.

Their approach, Winchester toldConcealed Carry Handguns, is

specifically welcoming to newer

shooters with straightforward, visu-

ally similar packaging that clearly

states the purpose of each type of

round: training or defense.

AVAILABLE CALIBERS:

.380 ACP

95 GRAINS

950 FEET PER SECOND

9MM

147 GRAINS

950 FEET PER SECOND

.40 SW

180 GRAINS

925 FEET PER SECOND

.38 SPL

130 GRAINS

925 FEET PER SECOND

WWW.WINCHESTER.COM

Celebrity sightings abounded, as SHOT Showattendees met actor, Marine, and Glock

spokesman R. Lee Ermey (pictured, with fan)

along with many others popular figures.

SIGS 938IN .22 LR!

If our coverage of Sigs P938 has

you itching to try one, consider this

you can also have it in .22 LR.

Unveiled at SHOT is this amazing lit

tle pocket 1911-based single action

pistol with frame-mounted safety,

three dot sights, and familiar

ergonomicsbut chambered ineverybodys favorite rimfire round.

Sig fans have been clamoring for

.22 LR versions of their popular

handguns, and time will tell how

popular this concept becomesits

outwardly identical to their P938, th

9mm subcompact that has a lot of

people talking. So why step down in

power from the 9mm to the .22 LR?

Perhaps when using it as a train-

ing pistol to shoot comparativelyless expensive ammunition than the

9mm ammo from your regular P938

Perhaps as an intriguing cartridge

for those with extreme recoil sensi-

tivity, or other reasons for a seem-

1911s, like the very compact yet full-power .45 ACP (above) and Sig's P938 in .22 LR (below),

remained extremely popular at this year's SHOT Show.

IMAGEBYDAVENORMAN

IMAGESBYWINCHESTER


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ingly peculiar preference for the .22LR over the 9mm. Perhaps as a1911-style-pistol trainer for thosewith extremely small hands.

And perhaps just because itstotally awesome.

TRUE ODDITIES

No SHOT Show highlight collec-tion would be complete without a

quick mention of this namelesspiece of subversive craftsmanship,available exclusively through ArsenalInc. of Las Vegas, Nevada. WhileSHOT Show featured plenty of cre-ative personal defense products,including kubatons and chemicalsprays, knives and handguns,restraints and armor, nothing quitecompared to this surgery-sharpstainless steel blade knife with a sixshot revolver hidden inside the han-dle. This concept harkens back tothe days of flintlock pistols beingbuilt into cutlasses, but providesthe modern spin of concealing thegun entirely inside the polymerhandlesand utilizing revolvercomponents for multiple shotsbefore reloading.

The hole over the blade is themuzzle for the .22 LR bullets, andthe spike over the hole is to keep

the shooters fingers from acciden-tally wrapping over the guard and

thus resting over the muzzle.In speaking with Arsenal Inc., they

wouldnt set an MSRP, choosinginstead to let dealers set theirpricesbut they reported that streetprices are upwards of $4,000.Impractical? Thats in the eye of thebeholder. Expensive? Undoubtedly.

But unique among modern offer-ings and quite show-stopping?

Undeniably.

SUPPRESSOR-FRIENDLY

AMMUNITION

Those who practice with, or carry,.22 LR handguns are familiar withthe distinctive crack of the bulletsbreaching the sound barrierandalong with the cartridge discharging,the noise of a .22 LR from a shortbarreled pistol can be quite painful.To lessen that report, while still offer-ing a round that will cycle mostsemi-automatics (even with suppres-sors), CCI offers theirSuppressor 22 ammu-nition with a 45-grainhollow point projectilepropelled at 970 feetper second.

At that subsonicvelocity, you wont getthe crack of the sonic

boom, and the overallreport is considerably

quieterwhile the heavy-for-caliber45-grain bullet provides increasedrearward energy during accelerationto reliably cycle most slides insemiautomatics. Its worth a lookfor anyone who carries a .22 LR,or practices with one and valuestheir hearing!

WWW.CCI-AMMUNITION.COM

GERBERS DEEP CONCEALMENT

DEFENSIVE BLADE

The perfect pairing for your con-cealed handgun is a concealed knifefor those many times when you needa good general utility blade and thossurprising ones when its suddenservice can mean the differencebetween life and deathcutting seatbelts to free yourself from adestroyed vehicle, slicing ropes in astorm, defeating zip-ties, fending off

Showroom Spy ReportHottest Handgun Style: 1911Surprisingly Popular Caliber for 2014: .380 ACPAny Striker Fired Love:Yes, but surprisingly

tempered this yearAmmo Trend: Lead free primersHolster Trend: Elastic anti-bounce styles

Concealment Garments: More discrete than ever

IMAGEBYDAVENORMAN


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attackers until you can draw(or recover) your gun

Gerber makes great multi-

tools and pocket knives, but

new is their foray into deep

concealment blades like the

Ghoststrike. With various

sheath options, you can wear

it on a neck cord, in their

ankle holster, on your hip, or

horizontally in the small of

your back.

WWW.GERBERGEAR.COM

WOMENS

TACTICAL PANTS

Designed for women, and

designed for rough duty in

hostile environments, 5.11s

Cirrus Pant uses a Teflon

coating to fight moisture,

stains and dirt, and utilizes

a combination of polyester

and cotton material engi-

neered to stretch where you

need it for a full, free range

of motion. The secret to

these pants: theyre cut fora womans figure, without

cutting any corners.

These Cirrus Womens

Pants are engineered for

female law enforcement offi-

cers and military personnel,

tactically-oriented civilians,

competitive shooters, and

other females whose gar-

ments need to perform well

beyond the design parame-ters of department store fash

ionall the while, providing a

fit and overall design tailored

to a womans figure.

MSRP: $74.99

WWW.511TACTICAL.COM

XDS GOES LONG

Most handguns are carried

vertically, with the muzzle

pointing down. That meanstheir big limitations for con-

cealability are height (from th

bottom of the magazine to

the top of the rear sight) and

width (which contributes to

how far from your body it

sticks out), with length from

rear to muzzle being an

almost minor concernwith

that axis extending along a

somewhat straight part of

your body, rather than stick-

ing out from a curve in your

side, you can more easily

conceal a long handgun than

a tall one.

So why not put a four inch

barrel into a subcompact?That was perhaps the germ

of inspiration behind

Springfields 9mm XDs 4.0,

which features a four inch

barrel and consequentlyhigher velocity, longer sight

radius, minimal 2-ounce

Whats Up With the .380 ACP?Glock and Beretta both made huge deals out

of their new .380 ACP guns this year, and othermakerslike Taurus with their 738 TCP, Kahrwith the P380, and Sig Sauer with their P238had .380 ACP pocket guns on display, too. Whatswith the sudden resurgence of marketing and

development behind the .380 ACP?The industry scuttlebutt follows National

Shooting Sports Foundation findings that the newshooters entering our market are more urbanthan ever, are concerned with personal and homeprotection, and are particularly skittish aboutrecoil (and fear of recoil). Readily concealablehandguns are a driving force in the market, andwith many established companies already deeplyinvested in the Big Three9mm, .40 SW, and.45 ACPit was a natural to diversify offerings

into a caliber and platform thats at home insideyour front pants pocket and has newer-shooter-friendly recoil.

Granted, a .380 ACP polymer framed gun willfeel snappier with defensive loads than a full-size9mm with practice loadsbut in the grandscheme of things, the .380 ACP is a less intimi-dating cartridge for newer shooters. Add in thatmore women are getting into shooting now thanever, and that on the balance they have smallerhands than men, and the .380 ACP has a large

and eager market share for whom it may solveseveral problems at once!

The Womens Cirrus Pant from 5.11

Tactical is designed for hard-use,

but with a degree of street-ready

styleand pockets that are actuallyusefulwe dont need to tell our

female readers how rare that is!

The Ghoststrike from Gerber has

great defensive and general utility.IMAGES BY GERBER

The Ghoststrike Ankle Sheath keeps your

blade discrete beneath your pants leg.

IMAGEBY5.1

1TACTICAL


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additional weight, decreased muz-zle flip, and increased accuracypotentialin a pistol that is other-wise the same dimensions as theirXDs 3.3. We banged out a fewflawless runs on plate racks withone at the range before SHOTShow, and were impressed withboth the concept and execution!

SpringfieldMODEL: XDS 9 4.0WEBSITE:

www.springfield-armory.comMSRP: $599Action: DAOCaliber: 9mmCapacity: 7+1Barrel Length: 4 inchesLength: 7 inchesWeight: 25 ounces

Features: 2-dot rear sight, fiberoptic front sight, short reset trigger,long barrel for type

IMAGESBYSPRINGFIELDARMORY

CC


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MICRO

HANDGUNS

PHOTOB

YDAVENORMAN

Tiny FramesMeetSurprising Power!


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Why You Need OneThe smallest practical, production handguns on

the market, these micro guns range from truly

tinylike the micro revolvers from North

American Armsto just about the smallest youcan get for their caliber (like the .45 COLT / .410

bore derringers). If you need a backup gun, look

here first. If you need a deep, deep concealment

gun, or one you can carry in creative locations, a

micro design could fit the bill unlike any other.

Whats Hot AboutMicro Handguns? Tiny SizeThey Hide Anywhere! Great Backup Guns KISS -CompliantSuper Simple! Two Full Power Cartridges

or 5 Shots of .22 Rimfire!

and Whats ChallengingAbout Them? Hard to Shoot Accurately Lowered Velocities

Slow to Reload Limited Shots


18/132


MICRO HANDGUNS

American DerringerMODEL: DA38

WEBSITE: www.amderringer.com

MSRP: $690

Action: DA

Caliber: .38 SPL

Capacity: 2

Barrel Length: 3.3 inches

Length: 4.7 inches

Width: 1.1 inches

Height: 3.3 inches

Weight: 14.5 ounces

Features: Rather unique double-

action derringer, very concealable,

fixed sights

American DerringerMODEL: M7


MSRP: $775

Action: SA

Caliber: 9mm

Capacity: 2

Barrel Length: 3 inchesLength: 4.8 inches

Width: 1.1 inches

Height: 3.3 inches

Weight: 7.5 ounces

Features: Aluminum construction for lightweigh

automatic barrel selection, very light weight

Bond ArmsMODEL: COWBOY DEFENDER

WEBSITE: www.bondarms.com

MSRP: $405

Action: SA

Caliber: .45 COLT / .410 Shotshell

Capacity: 2

Barrel Length: 3 inches

Length: 5 inches

Height: 3.75 inches

Weight: 19 ounces

Features: Interchangeable barrels, spring-loadedcammed locking lever, extremely powerful

Hot Feature: This truly unique

derringer is double actionno

hammers to cock, just point

and squeeze!


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Bond ArmsMODEL: SNAKE SLAYER


MSRP: $505

Action: SA


Capacity: 2


Length: 6.25 inchesHeight: 4.3 inches

Weight: 23.5 ounces

Features: Interchangeable barrels,

fixed sights, automatic extractor

MODEL: TEXAS DEFENDER


MSRP: $415

Action: SA


Capacity: 2


Length: 5 inches

Height: 3.75 inches

Weight: 20 ounces

Features: Interchangeable barrels,

spring-loaded cammed locking lever,extremely powerful, available in a wide

variety of calibers

Hot Feature: Bond Arms derringers

are built with wide barrel interchange-

ability, so you can order barrels in .22

LR through .45 COLT / .410 Shotshell

and a lot of calibers in between!

Bond Arms


20/132

NorthAmericanArms


MICRO HANDGUNS

MODEL: MINI MASTER

WEBSITE:

www.northamericanarms.com

MSRP: $473

Action: SA

Caliber: .22 WMRCapacity: 5


Length: 7.9 inches

Width: 1 inch

Height: 3.7 inches

Weight: 10.8 ounces

Features: Adjustable target sights, vented

top rib, surprisingly long barrel

North American Arms makes the most

popular micro revolvers on the market,

chambering them in .22 SHORT, .22 LR,

andas these two examples of their rather

deep catalog showeven .22 WMR. The

magnum rimfire cartridge helps make up for

the short barrel of the Black Widow Venom,

while the four inch barrel on the Mini Master

gets even more velocity out of the same

magnum defensive cartridges. The addition

of the Laserlyte under barrel laser, whichmakes each into the any given model reall

sets them apart from the rest of North

American Arms extensive catalog of palm-

of-your-hand revolversand extends their

utility to really help you hit what youre aim-

ing at under duress. While the .22 WMR car-

tridge might not be many shooters idea of

an ideal every day carry cartridge, the

diminutive nature of these revolvers makes

them ideal for every day carry backup and

extremely discrete carry where you might no

otherwise be able to go lawfully armed at al

without detection.

MODEL: BLACK WIDOW VENOM

WEBSITE:


MSRP: $423

Action: SA

Caliber: .22 WMR

Capacity: 5


Length: 7.9 inches

Width: 1 inch

Height: 3.7 inches

Weight: 10.8 ounces

Features: Fixed sights, Laserlyte

under barrel laser, vented top rib,

ergonomic two-finger grip

North American Arms

MODEL: DOUBLE TAP

WEBSITE:

www.heizerfirearms.com

MSRP: $499

Action: DA

Caliber: .45 ACP

Capacity: 2


Length: 5.5 inches

Width: 0.7 inchesHeight: 3.9 inches

Weight: 12 ounces

Features: Unique double-action

design, carries two spare rounds

on an included speed strip in

the grip panel

Hot Feature: The Double

Tap holds two more .45

ACP rounds on their custom

stripper clip concealed in

the grip!

Heizer

Defense


21/132


NorthAmericanArms

MODEL: .22 MAG HOLSTER /

GRIP COMBO

WEBSITE:www.northamericanarms.com

MSRP: $244

Action: SA

Caliber: .22 WMR

Capacity: 5


Length: 5.25 in or 5.75 inches

Width: 0.9 inches

Height: 2.9 inches

Weight: 6.2 ounces

Features: Grip folds under pistol,

accepts .22 LR cartridges, doesntprint as a gun

Hot Feature: That grip folds up over the gun so it doesnt

look like a gun as it rides where your pocket knife would!

MODEL: MAG 1.1

WEBSITE:


MSRP: $219

Action: SA

Caliber: .22 WMR

Capacity: 5


Length: 4.75 inches

Width: 0.9 inches

Height: 2.9 inches

Weight: 5.9 ounces

Features: Extremely short for caliber,

reloads by removing the cylinder,exceedingly compact

Discover the

world of firearms at

your fingertips.

www.gunworld.com

Find us on

North American Arms

Visit our new website Today!

Discover theWorld of Firearmsat Your Fingertips.

www.gunworld.com


22/132


THE SIG SAUERP938 PISTOL,A SMALLER 1911

By Jim Weiss and Mickey Davis

with exclusive photos from P.J. Ryan and Jim Weiss

The P938 looked the part for what it was:a miniature 1911. The rear of the grip

and the trigger itself had texture, which is

handy for controlling a small, lightweight

gun pushing out 9mm rounds.


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With dimensions just slightly larger than

its .380ACP counterpart, the P938

packs six plus one rounds of 9mm

into an all-metal frame. The cocked-and-locked,

single-action trigger gives the P938 unmatched

accuracy in a pistol its size. Thats big news for a

little gun, and theres more. According to Sig

Sauer, With the introduction of the P938, Sig

Sauer now offers the ballistic advantage of the

9mm cartridge in a platform similar in size to the

best-selling P238 pistol. A single-action-only

trigger, coupled with full-size Siglite

Night Sights

makes the P938 handle like a much larger pistol,

yet is still easy to carry concealed.

FAMILIAR FEATURES

Fans of the 1911 will find the thumb safety, magazine

release and slide stop lever in familiar places. An

ambidextrous safety makes the P938 easy for left- and

right-handed shooters. An extended seven-round maga-zine is available.

Our evaluations are basically law enforcement oriented

and not military, so we do not bury the guns in sand or

dirt, or soak them in water before firing. Our tests are

designed to prove, to us before you, that a gun is suit-able for law enforcement (or civilian) use. So lets see

how the P938 performed!

SGT. CONNORS REPORT

Inspired by the popularity of the Sig Sauer P238 .380

ACP pistol, the company developed the Sig Sauer P938

Both the P238 and P938 function like a John Browning

designed US 1911 Pistol, single action with an external

safety. The P938 also has Sig Sauer night sights.

My case included one flush-fitting, six-round maga-

zine, two seven-round magazines, and a grip extension

This grip extension feature proved to be a popular onewith medium- to large-handed shooters. My gun also

included a Kydex holster that would clip over a belt,

a trend of several gun manufacturers that I applaud.

Right out of the box, the P938 has the aesthetics tha

one would expect from Sig Sauer. It looked the part for

what it was: a miniature 1911. The rear of the grip and

the trigger itself had texture, which is handy for control-

ling a small, lightweight gun pushing out 9mm defensiv

rounds. The grip itself was longer from front to back,

making it feel more like a full-sized pistol and less like

a compact.

The P938 fed everything I could load into it without

incident. This included Winchester and Federal 115-

grain FMJ, CCI Blazer rounds, and Speer Gold Dot

ammunition. From 20 feet, I could consistently hit a

roofing nail. From 20 yards, the groups stayed within

a 6-inch circle. With the extended seven-round maga-

zines, the weapon felt like a full-sized weapon in myhands, and felt very comfortable.

The holster proved to be good quality, but it was not

a retention-type holster.

Since I own a 1911, when I first heard I would be

shooting this gun, I was excited. However, the balloonburst when I started firing. The trigger on the P938 is

rated between 7.5 pounds and 8 pounds, most likely to


A firm grip should be used when firing such a lightweight pistol. A light

grip can cause pistol malfunction. Sergeant John Connor demonstrates.

According to Sig Sauer: With the introduction of the P938, Sig Sauer now

offers the ballistic advantage of the 9mm cartridge in a platform similar

in size to the best-selling P238 pistol.


24/132

make the weapon safe for con-

cealed carry. My guns trigger felt

very stiff and mechanical, which Im

sure would loosen up after a few

hundred rounds. But the SIG P938

wasnt like shooting a 1911 with its

short, crisp trigger, which is the

biggest selling point to creating a

1911-style weapon in this evalua-

tors opinion.In addition, my duty weapon and

the majority of my personal

weapons are double action only, so

the SIG P938 is not a gun I would

carry. Under stress in a life or death

situation, I dont want to think about

safeties or chambering a round.

But if you are a 1911 fan, and

familiar with the safeties and manual

of arms of 1911s, this would be a

great pocket gun with respectable

firepower. With the exception of the

trigger, this is the high quality com-

pact pistol one would expect from

Sig Sauer.

THE ARMORER...

P. J. Ryan is a retired law enforce-ment officer from the Southeast.

During his career, he was a law

enforcement firearms instructor, a

L.E. Armorer, a member of his

agencys Emergency ResponseTeam, a Certified Edged Weapon

Awareness and Spontaneous Knife

Defense Instructor, and a Certified

Israeli Instinctive Shooting Instructo

He is currently involved in firearms

development, training, and tactics.

...AND HIS REVIEW

The P938 is labeled by Sig Sauer

as having a micro compact frame,

being single action only, and being

a slim and lightweight 9mm pistol.Upon opening the lockable black

plastic pistol case our demo model

had a look and feel that should

appeal to micro compact pistol

lovers who know the workings of a

1911 series pistol. Knowledge of th

workings of a 1911 series pistol,

and completely reading and under-

standing of the P938 owners

manual, is highly recommended.

The assembly and disassembly of

a 1911 and P938 are different; it

is important to follow the owner

manuals instructions.

According to Sig Sauer, our test

P938 Extreme has a Nitron-coated,

stainless slide with front and rear

cocking serrations, eternal extractorand black anodized frame. Hogue

G-10 Piranha grips (aka Extreme

Grips) in black and grey provide a

rough and textured surface area tha

even the smallest hands will appre-ciate. Adding to a good grip, the

same surface is found on the main-

Caution

Over-extension of the ejector duringassembly may cause the ejector tobind, preventing shell casings fromejecting during firing.

We measured the average trigger

pull at 6 pounds 10 ounces.

Evaluation Criteria4 Top Problems ofGun Malfunction

When this writing team evaluatesany firearm, we take into accountthat the four main problems of amalfunctioning gun are, in order:

1 ammunition issues

2 shooter error

3faulty magazine

4faulty gunIf a magazine is at fault, we con-

tact the dealer or manufacturer toaddress that issue. If the problem iswith the gun itself, we do not writethe article, something made clearahead of time to our contact personat the manufacturer or dealer.

There were no malfunctions withthe SIG P938 pistol that our team fieldevaluated. This is the third SIG firearm

that we have put to the test and noneof them had malfunction issues.


Right out of the box, the P938 has the aesthetics

that one would expect from Sig Sauer...


25/132


Our P938 performed flawlessly with defensive (and

practice) loads from Federal, Winchester, and Cor-Bon.

Disassembly was straightforward, and

revealed beautifully simple mechanics.


26/132


spring housing. The front strap of

the handgrip is checkered, whichalso provides additional gripping

surface. That same tactical touch

is found on the trigger in the form

of vertical grooves.

Further up the handgrip is a

small beavertail (minus the grip

safety of the 1911 series) that

a person with larger hands can

appreciate without worrying

about the slide biting any part

of the hand.

Ambidextrous thumb safeties

are located above and to the rear

of both sides of the handgrip. The

thumb safety on a standard 1911

series pistol works in a different

fashion from the P938.

Notably missing is a slide lock

notch as is found on a standard

1911 series pistol. This, whenengaged on a cocked or uncocked

hammer, completely locks any

slide movement. With the hammercocked and the thumb safety

engaged, the P938 still permits

the slide to move rearward forinspection, loading, or unloading

a round in the chamber.

Sig Sauer states the single

action trigger pull is anywhere

between 7.5 and 8.5 pounds.

The well-used demo I evaluated

was tested using a Lyman digital

trigger pull gauge, and ten pulls

averaged at 6 pounds 10 ounces.

Unloaded, the test model

weighed 17.20 ounces with its

standard six-round magazine.

When loaded with Winchester

Ranger SXT 127grain 9mm +P+

ammunition, the Sig P938 with its

standard 6-round magazine (+1

for a total 7 rounds) weighs a

mere 20.25 ounces.

For aiming purposes, the P938

Extreme has full-size Siglite NightSights, which gives the three-inch

barrel a generous four-inch sight

radius.The standard six- round

About John Connor Field Evaluator

Police Sergeant John Connor is atrainer from Emerald Shield TacticalConcepts. The company prepares lawenforcement officers to prevail in any onor off duty encounter through coursesand tactics using non-lethal trainingammunition and live-fire scenarios. Itfocuses its training in high liability

areas, and its instructors are swornFlorida-based LE trainers who are stillcurrent law enforcement officers, andwhose backgrounds include controltactics/martial arts, SWAT, use of force,and firearms certification.

Sergeant Connor is a long-time mem-ber of his police departments SWATteam, and has participated in variouscompetitions, most notably seven timesat SWAT Round-Up International.

www.emeraldshieldconcepts.com

This would be a greatpocket gun withrespectable firepower

The Winchester SX

round in the

installed magazine

is held in perfect

alignment for reli-

able feeding.

The pistols diminutive frame is, not surprisingly,

accessible to those with narrower fingers and

smaller hands, extending its appeal as a pri-

mary carry gun.


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The P938 Extreme hasfull-size Siglite Night Sights,which gives the three-inch

barrel a generous four-inchsight radius

magazine is made of steel, has five

witness holes on each side, and fits

flush inside the magazine well. The

seven-round extended magazine is

also made out of steel, has six witness

holes on each side, and a magazine

bumper/finger rest on the bottom which

accommodates a good grip.If you have use for a daily carry, single

stack, 9mm, 1911 styled micro pistol,

you should give consideration to this

latest gem from Sig Sauer.

Sergeant John Connor draws

the P938 from a concealed

carry holster and is able to bring

it immediately to bear, thanks to

its very short overall length.

CC


28/132


The most compact 9mm in the Sig Sauer product

line, the P938 isor will be soonavailable in

at least these five configurations, with myriad

variations of each. Which one suits you?

P938 EXTREME Following in the footsteps of

other Extreme models, this P938 has a Nitron-coat-

ed stainless slide and black anodized frame. HogueG-10 Piranha grips in black and grey provide maxi-

mum traction and a distinctive look.

P938 ROSEWOOD This configuration features a

Nitron-coated stainless steel slide over a dark hard

anodized alloy frame. Hogue Rosewood Grips round

out this package.

P938 EQUINOX Featured as part of this configu-

ration are a polished Nitron two-tone slide paired with

a black hard coat anodized frame. Tru-Glo front and

Siglite rear sights and Hogue black Diamondwood

grips complete this package.

BLACK RUBBER GRIP This lightweight, all-metal

pistol builds on the trusted P238 platform, delivering

accuracy and reliability with duty caliber performance.

Features include a microcompact frame, slim andlightweight 9mm chambering, and familiar single

action only operation.

NIGHTMARE This SIG P938 configuration fea-

tures a black hard coat anodized frame and Nitroncoated slide, black G-10 grips and nickel accents.

SIG P938 OPERATION HIGHLIGHTS

The basic operation of the P938 should be familiar

to those with experience on the 1911 platformits

just far smaller, and slightly different in minutebut

importantways. Heres how to make the P938

work for you.

LOADING AND FIRINGTo load the pistol, point it in a safe direction, insert

full magazine, and ensure that it is engaged. Pull the

sidle back fully and release, allowing the slide to fly

forward. The thumb safety is on when it is up.

When firing the pistol, aim it at a safe target. Place

the thumb safety off (safety down). Place finger on

trigger and pull back to discharge. Keep the pistol

aimed at the target and continue to fire as required.

A firm grip should be used when firing such a light-

weight pistol. A light grip can cause pistol malfunction

UNLOADING

To unload the pistol, remove the magazine. To com-

pletely unload it means emptying both the magazine

and any chambered cartridge.

When unloading the pistol when the magazine isnt

empty, place the thumb safety on (safety up),

depress the magazine catch, and remove the maga-zine. Then pull the slide back to the rear and lock it

open with the slide stop. Visually and manually check

the chamber to ensure the pistol is completely free of

ammunition.

To unload the pistol when the magazine is empty,retract the slide to the locked-open position (if not

Sig P938BasicsWhat You Need to Know

By Jim Weiss and Mickey DavisP938 Equinox

IMAGESBYSIGSAUER


29/132


CC

With 19+1 in its flush fitting

magazine, the P -09 cant be beat

when it comes to 9mm service pistols.

MAIN FEATURES

CZ P-09

www.cz-usa.com

UNSURPASSED

CAPACITY

there already), depress the maga-

zine catch, remove the magazine,

visually and manually check the

chamber to ensure the pistol is

completely free of ammunition, and

depress the slide stop, causing the

slide to close.

CLEARING JAMS

When clearing a jam caused by

an unfired cartridge or fired car-

tridge case that has become

jammed between the slide and the

barrel, keep the barrel pointed in a

safe direction, remove the maga-

zine, pull back the slide and lock it

to the rear by pushing up the slide

catch lever. The jammed cartridge

or case can now be removed by

shaking or picking it out.

ONLY THE BEST AMMO

Sig Sauer also warns against

and disclaims responsibility for

any damage or injury in connection

with, or as a result of, the use in

any Sig Sauer firearm of faulty,

non-standard, remanufactured, orhand-loaded/reloaded ammunition,

or cartridges other than those for

which the firearm was originallychambered.

P938 BlackRubber Grips

P938 Extreme

The basic operationof the P938 should befamiliar to those withexperience on the

1911 platformitsjust far smaller

P938 Nightmare

P938 Rosewood

P938 BlackWood Grips

A firm grip shouldbe used when firingsuch a lightweightpistol. A lightgrip can cause pistol

malfunction


30/132


POCKETPISTOLS

PHOTOB

YJIMWEISS


31/132


Why You Need OnePocket-sized semis usually fall outside of

the design families (mechanically similar sub-

compact, compact, and full-size models with

interchangeable magazines and parts) from the

major brandswhich is a boon to those who

cant find the right fit among headline-grab-

bing models but still want a trusted name in

defensive firearms. There are some specialty

makers, too, who have just about perfected

pocket guns. They fit in jacket pockets and

often in pants pockets, and quality holster

manufacturers make some clever wallet-

shaped holsters that mount to the guns so that

they print inconspicuouslyand draw, cycle,

and fire, just fine with the holster still attached!

Whats Hot About Pocket

Semi-Automatics? Diminutive firepower Unique designs Streamlined function Low recoil

and Whats ChallengingAbout Them? Limited round count Too Small for some hands

Limited accuracy potential


32/132


POCKET PISTOLS

BerettaMODEL: TOMCAT

WEBSITE: www.berettausa.com

MSRP: $390Action: DA/SA

Caliber: .32 ACP

Capacity: 7+1


Length: 4.9 inches

Width: 1.1 inches

Height: 3.7 inches

Weight: 14.5 ounces

Features: Tip-up barrel, crisp

trigger in single action, surprisingly

manageable recoil

AmericanDerringerMODEL: LM 4 Semmerling


MSRP: $3,800

Action: DAO

Caliber: .45 ACP

Capacity: 4+1


Length: 5.2 inches

Width: 1 inchHeight: 3.7 inches

Weight: 24 ounces

Features: Beautifully engraved

grips, unique manual-repeater

action, unique style, extremely

powerful cartridge in small

package

UNIQUE DESIGN: the

barrel moves forward

manually to eject the

empty cartridge and

rearwards manually to

load a new one, to

keep the design

extremely compact for

a full-power .45 ACP

pocket gun!


33/132


Beretta

MODEL: BU9 NANO


MSRP: $475

Action: STR

Caliber: 9mm

Capacity: 6+1


Length: 5.6 inches

Width: 0.9 inches

Height: 4.2 inches

Weight: 20 ounces

Features: Adjustable sights,

striker-fired, tiny for a 9mm

Cylinder & SlideMODEL: 2008

WEBSITE: www.cylinder-slide.com

MSRP: $ POR

Action: SA

Caliber: .45 ACP

Capacity: 7+1


Length: 6.75 inches

Width: 1 inchWeight: 24 ounces

Features: 1911-style grip safety, rounded

snag-free edges and design, extremely

low profile sights, distinctive hardwood

Cylinder & Slide grips

Kel-TecMODEL: P32

WEBSITE: www.keltecweapons.com

MSRP: $318

Action: DAO

Caliber: .32 ACP

Capacity: 7+1


Length: 5.1 inches

Width: 0.75 inches

Height: 3.5 inches

Weight: 6.6 ouncesFeatures: Locked breech, light

trigger, lightweight

TRUE CUSTOM:

C&S only makes 50

of these a year, and

theyre gone quick-

lybecause theseclassic 1903 Pocket

Model-based guns

perform better than

the originals!


34/132

Kel-Tec

NorthAmerican

Arms

MODEL: GUARDIAN 380 ACP

WEBSITE: www.northamericanarms.com

MSRP: $449

Action: DAO

Caliber: .380 ACP

Capacity: 6+1


Length: 4.8 inches

Width: 0.9 inches

Height: 3.5 inchesWeight: 19 ounces

Features: Stippled grip for control, very short

height, 2.5-inch barrel for improved velocity


POCKET PISTOLS

MODEL: BODYGUARD 380

WEBSITE:

www.smith-wesson.com

MSRP: $419Action: DAO

Caliber: .380 ACP

Capacity: 6+1


Length: 5.25 inches

Weight: 12 ounces

Features: Polymer frame,

stainless steel slide, sights

similar to M&P sights, mold-

ed grip for ergonomic fit

CC

INEXPENSIVE POWER: This Kel-Tec beats just about

everyone for price, andpower (9mm!), anddiminutive size!

MODEL: PF9

WEBSITE:www.keltecweapons.com

MSRP: $333

Action: DAO

Caliber: 9mm

Capacity: 7+1


Length: 5.9 inches

Width: 0.9 inchesHeight: 4.3 inches

Weight: 13 ounces

Features: Accessory rail,

magazine includes finger

rest, extremely light,

various color choices

Smith &

Wesson

Polymer frame double action

only designs in .380 are de rigeur

for modern pocket pistols, and

Smith & Wessons Bodyguard

380 is one of the flagshipsembodiments of the type. With a

barrel length under three inches

and weight at just 12 ounces,

this is an extremely concealable

handgun. The Bodyguard

features an integral laser that

greatly aids in quickly pointing

the pistol effectively at your tar-

geteven when you cant see the

surprisingly useful (for a pocket

pistol) iron sightspropelling ittowards the head of its class.


35/132


36/132


SUBCOMPACT

SEMISAwesome Power forDeep Concealment

Whats Challenging

About Them? Heavy Recoil for Size No Room for Little Finger

Hot TipIf a subcompact you like has a compact or

full-size variant, see if the larger sizes maga-

zines (in the same caliber, of course) will work

in your subcompact. Many will, offering you an

inexpensive and ready supply of full capacity

magazines for your subcompact gun.

What's Hot About SubcompactSemi-automatics? Serious Defensive Calibers Serious Capacity Easily Concealed Intuitive, Useful Sights Includes Smallest Family Members


37/132


Why You Need OneIts easy to find a 9mm subcompact from

many of the top brands in defensive handguns,

and without changing any external dimension,you can usually find the same model in a .40

SW variantthat means this size is the smallest

you can go and reliably find established,

accepted defensive calibers. Youll also find

many models for which there are finger-scoop

baseplates that give your little finger a place

to rest, and high capacity magazines that

extend the grip (and your firepower) should

you need to reload. You can expect these

robust, yet diminutive, guns to stand up to

practice, training, recreational shooting, and

daily carryfor years.


38/132


SUBCOMPACT SEMIS

MODEL: PX4 STORM SUBCOMPACT


MSRP: $575

Action: DA/SA

Caliber: 9mm

Capacity: 13+1


Length: 6.2 inches

Width: 1.4 inches

Height: 4.8 inches

Weight: 26 ouncesFeatures: Accessory rail, ambidextrous

safety/decocker, smallest Storm

MODEL: THUNDER 380 CC

WEBSITE: www.bersa.com

MSRP: $323

Action: DA/SA

Caliber: .380 ACP

Capacity: 7+1


Length: 6 inches

Width: 1 inch

Height: 4.5 inches

Weight: 16.4 ounces

Features: Drift-adjustable rear

sight, sculpted grip, bobbed

low-profile hammer

Bersa

Beretta

Also Check Out: Berettas

complete Px4 storm

linefrom subcompact to

full size and even a carbine!


39/132


Boberg ArmsMODEL: XR9-SWEBSITE: www.bobergarms.com

MSRP: $995

Action: DAO

Caliber: 9mm

Capacity: 7+1


Length: 5.1 inches

Width: 0.96 inches

Height: 4.2 inches

Weight: 17.5 ouncesFeatures: Truly unique operation,

very compact for barrel-length,

rotating locking barrel

Remember Our Review: In the

fall issue we found the XR9-S tobe shockingly accurateand a

lot of fun to shoot!

MODEL: NEW AGENT

WEBSITE: www.coltsmfg.com

MSRP: $885

Action: DAO

Caliber: .45 ACP

Capacity: 7+1


Length: 6.75 inches

Weight: 22.5 ounces

Features: Slim-fit double diamond

grips, trench-style no-snag sight

milled into frame, extremely stream-lined design

Colts New Agent almost belongs

in the 1911 Buyers Guide, but is more

at home here with the plethora of

deep concealment double action only

handguns. It happens, though, to be a

direct descendant of the 1911 design

while also sharing the modern touch-

es and design enhancements that

help it truly excel as a subcompact.

The frame mounted and grip safeties

are gone, as are the sights. When youneed to make the New Agent fire, just

squeeze the double action only

trigger without ever having to worryabout thumbing off a safety or other-

wise rendering it ready to fire from its

carry condition. The lack of sights

takes a bit of getting used to, but for

the ranges at which this pistol is

intended to be usedcontact out to

just a few feetyou likely wont have

either the time or the need for them

anyway. The slide release, magazine

release, and general appearance are

faithful to the 1911but most impor-

tantly, its faithful to its forebearscaliber: .45 ACP!

Colt


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SUBCOMPACT SEMIS

Glock

MODEL: G27

WEBSITE: www.glock.com

MSRP: $599Action: STR

Caliber: .40 SW

Capacity: 9+1


Length: 6.5 inches

Width: 1.2 inches

Height: 4.2 inches

Weight: 20 ounces

Features: White outline rear

sight, polymer frame for light-

weight, combat trigger guard,

double stack magazine

MODEL: G39

WEBSITE: www.glock.com

MSRP: $614

Action: STR

Caliber: .45 GAP

Capacity: 6+1


Length: 6.5 inches

Width: 1.2 inches

Height: 4.2 inches

Weight: 20 ounces

Features: White outline rear

sight, polymer frame for light-

weight, combat trigger guard,double stack magazine

Glock


The G27 accepts other Glock

.40 SW magazinesincluding

those for the extended-slide

Practical/Tactical G35!


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Kahr Arms

MODEL: CM9

WEBSITE: www.kahr.com

MSRP: $517

Action: DAO

Caliber: 9mmCapacity: 6+1


Length: 6.5 inches

Width: 1.2 inches

Height: 4.2 inches

Weight: 19 ounces

Features: Polymer frame for

weight reduction, very narrow,

stippled grips for control

MODEL: P380

WEBSITE: www.kahr.com

MSRP: $649

Action: DAO

Caliber: .380 ACP

Capacity: 6+1


Length: 4.9 inches

Width: 0.75 inches

Height: 3.9 inchesWeight: 11 ounces

Features: Textured polymer grip, very

compact design, optional Crimson

Trace laser, optional night sights

MODEL: SOLO CARRYWEBSITE: www.kimberamerica.com

MSRP: $747

Action: STR

Caliber: 9mm

Capacity: 6+1


Length: 5.5 inches

Width: 1 inch

Weight: 17 ounces

Features: Low profile white dot

sights, 1911-inspired design in

striker-fired configuration, three-dotcombat sights, aluminum frame

Kimber

Kahr

Arms

Check out Zack Carlsons

review of the Solo on page48 on this issue!


44/132


SUBCOMPACT SEMIS

Ruger

MODEL: SR40C

WEBSITE: www.ruger.com

MSRP: $529

Action: STR

Caliber: .40 SW

Capacity: 9+1Barrel Length: 3.5 inches

Length: 6.9 inches

Width: 1.3 inches

Height: 4.6 inches

Weight: 23.4 ounces

Features: Interchangeable

backstrap, polymer frame to

save weight, ambidextrous

mag release, optional 15+1

extended magazine

MODEL: LC9

WEBSITE: www.ruger.com

MSRP: $449

Action: DAO

Caliber: 9mm

Capacity: 7+1


Length: 6.0 inches

Width: 0.9 inches

Height: 4.5 inches

Weight: 17 ouncesFeatures: Snag-free

ergonomic design, low profile

adjustable sights, accessory

rail, smooth trigger pull

Rugers LC9 is tempting to

include with the pocket pis-

tols for its extremely compact

dimensions and single stack

magazine, but we combined it

here to show the small end of

the subcompact spectruma

7+1 round 9mm with a barrel

just over 3 inches long and a

total unloaded weight of only

17 ounces. Modern subcom-

pact semi-autos are designed

for snag-free presentation,

with attention to rounded

edges, straightforward opera-

tion (like striker-fired anddouble action only designs),

and the LC9 fits these

descriptions perfectly. You

can even have yours outfitted

at the factory with Crimson

Trace Lasergrips (as pictured

for your excitement), so that it

arrives ready for action

straight out of the box!

MODEL: P224WEBSITE: www.sigsauer.com

MSRP: $1,125

Action: DA/SA

Caliber: 9mm

Capacity: 11+1


Length: 6.7 inches

Width: 1.3 inches

Height: 4.5 inches

Weight: 25.4 ounces

Features: Palm swell, double stackmagazine, snag-free sights, miniscule

package for a Sig designSig Sauer

Ruger


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Sig SauerMODEL: P238

WEBSITE: www.sigsauer.comMSRP: $693

Action: SA

Caliber: .380 ACP

Capacity: 6+1


Length: 5.5 inches

Width: 1.1 inches

Height: 3.9 inches

Weight: 15 ounces

Features: Cocked-and-locked single

action carry, 1911-style in a subcom-

pact, many finishes/colors available

Check out the full field review of

the P238 in this issue, on page 22!

Hot Lineage: The smallest M&P model, the Shield

weighs only 19 ounces and is just barely over 6

inches long!

Smith & Wessons modern lineup of powerhouse

personal defense arms starts on the tiny end with

their Bodyguard 380, an extremely compact .380

ACP semi-auto with a laser sight. Next up in terms of

size is this M&P Shield, a 9mm that is directly in the

M&P family of firearmsvisually, ergonomically, andconceptually. Youll find the same sights, the same

positions on the magazine release, slide release,

and takedown lever, and the same style of grips as

on the larger M&P modelsjust truncated in length

and height, with the concomitant reduction in

weight that helps make the Shield an ideal deep

concealment or backup gun. Plus, its chambered

in the 9mm, a very common caliber among all sizes

of defensive gunsmeaning that if you standardize

on the 9mm, you can easily bring a Shield intoyour fold.

MODEL: SHIELD

WEBSITE: www.smith-wesson.comMSRP: $449

Action: STR

Caliber: 9mm

Capacity: 7+1


Length: 6.1 inches

Width: 0.95 inches

Height: 4.6 inches

Weight: 19 ounces

Features: Frame-mounted safety, low-profile

combat sights, polymer frame for incredible

lightness, frame-mounted safety

Smith &Wesson



46/132

Springfield

MODEL: XD(M) 3.8 9MM

WEBSITE:

www.springfield-armory.com

MSRP: $697

Action: STRCaliber: 9mm

Capacity: 19+1


Length: 7 inches

Height: 5.6 inches

Weight: 28 ounces

Features: Grip safety, trigger

safety, fiber optic front sight,

outstanding capacity, snag-free

rear combat sight

MODEL: XDS 9

WEBSITE: www.springfield-armory.com

MSRP: $549

Action: STR

Caliber: 9mm

Capacity: 13+1


Length: 6.25 inches

Width: 1.2 inches

Height: 4.75 inches

Weight: 26 ouncesFeatures: 3-Dot drift-adjustable & inter-

changeable rear sight, accepts full-size XD

magazines, compact length

MODEL: XDS 45

WEBSITE: www.springfield-armory.com

MSRP: $599Action: DAO

Caliber: .45 ACP

Capacity: 5+1


Length: 6.3 inches

Weight: 21.5 ounces

Features: 2-dot rear sight, fiber optic front sight, short

reset trigger, available in 9mm (7+1)

Springfields XD line starts at the large end withtheir XD Tactical handguns (in .45 ACP, .40 SW, and

9mm) and includes four sizes as they descend in

dimensions down to the diminutiveand incredibly

popular right nowXDs. The XDs is the smallest XD

model currently in production, and utilizes a single

stack magazine and 3.3-inch barrel (in .45 ACP, or 3-

inch barrel in 9mm) to keep dimensions down to only

6.3 inches long and 21.5 ounces (26 ounces for the

9mm). The ergonomics feel like a scaled-down version

of the full size XD, which makes the gripespecially

when used with extended magazines that feature gripextension sleevesa very appealing size for shooters

with medium to petite hands.

Springfield

SUBCOMPACT SEMIS


Springfield


47/132


Dillon LeatherbyMitch Rosen!Dillon LeatherbyMitch Rosen!

www.dillonprecision.comFREECatalog K01-14690, Call 800-762-3845

5JR-DL $75Afull-length belt slide that offers all-daycomfort and superior concealment for anoutside-the-pants belt holster.

Beretta 92 K01-18817Colt Government Model K01-18810Colt Commander K01-18811Colt Officers K01-18812CZ-75 K01-18823

Glock 17, 22, 31 K01-18813Glock 19, 23, 32 K01-18814Glock 26, 27, 33 K01-18815Glock 20, 21 K01-18816Makarov K01-18819SIG P220, P226 K01-18818SIG P228, P229 K01-18827S&W M&P 9mm/.40 K01-19011S&W M&P .45 ACP K01-19012S&W 2 J-Frame Revolver K01-18820S&W 4 K-Frame Revolver K01-18821S&W 4 Lugged Bbl. L-Fr. Rev. K01-18822S&W 4 Light Bbl. N-Fr. Rev. K01-18824S&W 4 Lugged Bbl. N-Fr. Rev. K01-18826S&W 5 Lugged Bbl. N-Fr. Rev. K01-18894Springfield Armory XD 4 K01-18825Springfield Armory XD 5 K01-18874Ruger 2.25 SP-101 Revolver K01-18828

CC

WaltherMODEL: PPK

WEBSITE: www.waltheramerica.com

MSRP: $626

Action: DA/SA

Caliber: .380 ACP

Capacity: 6+1


Length: 6.1 inchesWidth: 1.0 inches

Height: 3.9 inches

Weight: 22.4 ounces

Features: James Bonds original

defensive pistol, sleek profile,

snag-free design, decocking lever

Cool History: James Bonds original

sidearm was a Beretta .25 ACP, but

in 1958s Dr. No he was issued his

iconic Walther PPKthe iconic

sidearm that would stick with himfor many more adventures!

TaurusMODEL: 709 SLIM

WEBSITE:

www.taurususa.com

MSRP: $349

Action: DA/SA

Caliber: 9mm

Capacity: 7+1


Length: 6 inches

Weight: 19 ounces

Features: Low profile fixed

sights, ergonomic design,

snag-free controls


48/132


REPUTATION

Kimber is known around the world for their quality

1911s, and with their Solo took some of the strengths

of the 1911 and molded them into a 6+1 capacity 9mm

pocket pistol.

I got my hands on a Solo CDP, which is a custom

shop pistol fitted with Crimson Trace Lasergrips. Id

been carrying Kahr 9mm pistols for a long time and

never gave the Kimber much thought until I held the

Solo. I was instantly hooked. I had to delve deeper into

this pocket jewel.

With its extremely smooth, snag-free exterior, the Solo draws from cover without a hiccupso you can focus on more important aspects of your defense.

A low finger resting position (with your trigger finger on the side of thetrigger guard rather than on the slide) leaves the Lasergrips unobstructed

POCKETJEWELKimbers Solo CDP: 6+1Rounds of 9mm in a Tiny

1911 StylePackage

By Zack Carlson


49/132

SLEEK DESIGN

The Solo feels great in the hand.

The 30 lines per inch checkering on

the front and rear of the frame assure

a steady grip. The activation switch

for the Lasergrips is perfectly situated

where your middle finger naturally

rests on the front strap. Gripping the

gun normally will activate the laser. Ifyou prefer not to use the laser, there

is a convenient master switch on the

lower left grip panel. The stainless

steel magazine is extremely smooth

and has easy to read capacity mark-

ings along the left side.

The magazine fits flush to the bot-

tom of the grips. The frame has a

small bevel on the bottom of the front

strap that creates a small lip so you

can extract the magazine with force if

needed. There are no real snagpoints on this pistol. Kimber went to

great lengths to make this gun con-

cealed carry friendly by making all

the corners rounded and smooth.

The 3-dot tritium sights are securely

dovetailed into the stainless steel

slide and are some of the best sights

on a pocket pistol I have seen to

date. They feature a wide enough

rear notch to allow daylight to be

seen on both sides of the front sight

blade, which aids in acquiring a sight picture quickly.

The frame features an ambidextrous snag-free safe-

ty lever, which is easy to operate despite its low pro-

file. The trigger is considered a single action striker

fired mechanism. While it is not a trigger some 1911

users are used to, it is still a very serviceable carry

gun trigger. The curve of the trigger face fits my fingerperfectly, which takes the guesswork out of where

proper finger placement should land. Kimber specs

the trigger out at seven pounds, and my informal test-

ing with a Lyman digital trigger pull gauge gave me a

pull weight of five pounds 13 ounces. The pull issmooth and it breaks clean enough for most users.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

With all the positives I have talked about, you may

think its all sunshine and rainbows, but there are a

few things I would change on the Solo. When the

safety is engaged I prefer the trigger to be firmly held

in place or disengaged where theres hardly anyresistance on the trigger. Engaging the Solos safety

still allows the trigger to move rearward nearly

halfway before stopping. If you forget to disengage

the safety and try to fire there is a delay from when

you decide to fire and when you realize the safety isstill engaged. If the trigger were held more firmly with


The manual frame-mounted safety is 1911-style, though there is no grip safety that 1911

fans may expect.

The Solo is a line of exceedingly compact 9mm 1911-inspired defensive pistols that

includes models from $815 to $1,223, like the authors Solo CDP pictured here.

The 3-dot tritiumsights aresome ofthe best sights on a

pocket pistol I haveseen to date.


50/132


the safety engaged the delay would

be much shorter and give the per-son a more tactile feedback they

did not disengage the safety. In a

high-stress lethal force situation

there is more of a chance to forget

about the safety and the delay

could be perilous.

Then there is the magazine

release. From the time the gun was

new the magazine release has been

stiff to push from either side. As the

gun has been shot it has gotten

easier to release but still too stiff formy taste (though, the fact the

release is ambidextrous is a big

plus). I handed the Solo to my girl-

friend and asked her to release the

magazine. The pressure required

was too much for her to do it with-

out using both thumbs at the same

time. For a gun that a woman could

likely choose as her carry gun, this

is unacceptable.

The magazine release could have

been moved farther back and

enlarged. The grip panels are cham-

fered to blend into the magazine

release, but theres a large gap

between the grip panel and release

button. I would think they could

make the button larger to close thatgap and make releasing the maga-

zine easier.

When the trigger is pulled on the

Solo a spring pulls it back into its

forward state. This movement is incontrast to a Glock-like trigger

where the trigger remains rearward

which gives instant visual feedback

the gun is in an un-fireable condi-tion. The Solo does not provide this

feedback but it is not really a nega

tive, just something to be aware of

if you are used to Glocks.

Oddly enough, the adjustment

Allen screws that allow adjustment

of the laser have a very small head

This size Allen wrench is not includ

ed in the standard tool sets most

people own. It would be nice to

have the screws use the .050-inch

Allen wrench to be a tool thatsincluded in almost all Allen wrench

sets sold, rather than the smaller

size (which comes with the gun).

Lastly an improvement I would

welcome would be forward cocking

serrations. After becoming accus-

tomed to them on some of my othe

pistols, I have come to really appre

ciate the location of cocking serra-

tions not dictating where I can

grasp the slide without slipping.

LIVE FIRE!

Holding the diminutive Solo in

your hand makes you anticipate an

unpleasant shooting experience.

From the first trigger pull you will

realize those fears were unfoundedThe gun shoots great, and the

recoil is very manageable. The

short grip of the Solo will likely

require you to tuck your pinky

finger under the magazine insteadof around the grip. Once you are

accustomed to this style of grip

Contact Kimber

MAIL

Kimber Mfg. Inc.

555 Taxter Road, Suite 235Elmsford, NY 10523

PHONE

(888) 243-4522

WEB

www.kimberamerica.com

The master on/off switch located near the base of the left grip panel

overrides the laser when you dont want to use it (but do need to be able

to squeeze the button on the front of the grip).

A fun range gun, the Solo handles better than you would expect for such

a compact firearm.

Activating the laser

while the gun is stillnear your torso allowsyou to shoot from thehip with accuracy.

Tech Specs

Model: Solo CDPMSRP: $1,223Caliber: 9mmCapacity: 6+1 roundsHeight: 3.9 inchesLength: 5.5 inchesWidth: .995 inches (not including

safety)Weight (w/empty mag): 17 ounces


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2 Holsters in 1

Inside and outside the waistband loops included

2 Week production time guaranteed

SCANANDWE LL DO THEREST

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52/132


it becomes second nature.

The prominent 3-dot sights

provide a very clear sight picture.

My only range time flubs were

due to forgetting to disengage

the safety before firingthe Solo

is the only gun in my stable that

has an actual safety. The manual

of arms of passive safety pistols

has made me forget to think

about a manual safety. This can

be overcome with training for

any shooter.

I set up a tripod to hold my

iPhone 5 and launchedSureFires shot timer app. I

arranged an informal testing of

the Kimber Solo versus my daily

carry gun, which is a Kahr CM9.

Owning the CM9 for a coupleyears I felt it was easily going to

be the winner for this testing.

Well after many drills from

different positions, including

from concealment, low-ready,

and engaging multiple sized stee

targets at different ranges, the

Kimber performed stunningly

well. I was very surprised that

the Kimber, which I had only

fired 100 rounds or so, could

beat my beloved Kahr CM9 in

speed drills. You would think

with it being faster in speed drill

I would be carrying a Kimber

every day instead of my Kahr.Unfortunately speed isnt the

only thing to consider in choos-

ing your carry gun. I still carry

my Kahr every day due to its

slightly lighter weight, muchcheaper cost, and my extensive

A high grip helps control recoil during one handed and

rapid fire practice.

The high-visibility 3-dot sights leave

enough open space on each side of

the front blade to make front sight

acquisition and positioning a breeze.

A Kimber Custom Shop creation, the Solo CDP is full of

fine details like the subtle grip-enhancing checkeringon the slide release.

potential buyers can find a Soloto match their price range.


53/132


collection of holsters for it already

on hand. If money were no object,

or I was buying my first daily carrygun, the Kimber would be on my

belt every day.

FINE TECHNIQUES

During my range and dry fire time,I have learned some things about

this pistol that may be of use to

readers who own similar guns as

well as the outstanding Solo. Whendrawing the gun from concealment,

it is more critical to get a firing grip

first compared to a larger gun

because the room for error is much

slimmer. The short frame requiresyour

Documents

Concealed Carry Handguns - June 2014