Innehållsförteckning för September 2015 från Gun Digest

Gun Digest|September 2015

Guns of our Fathers

When you dig into the history behind many of today’s best semi-automatic handguns, it’s amazing how many are connected in one way or another with famous guns from the past. This becomes particularly clear as you read Brad Fitzpatrick’s article, “The Greatest Semi-Autos of All Time,” (page 50) which details the lineage and impact of guns like the 1911, CZ-75 and Browning Hi-Power. Even the 10mm Auto, which has become a go-to caliber for handgun hunting and is discussed in our review of Glock’s new G40 Gen4 MOS (page 14), harkens back to the genius of Col. Jeff Cooper and his passion for developing the perfect combat handgun. And then there’s Alex Zimmerman’s .50 GI, the idea for which developed over several decades and finds fulfillment in Guncrafter Industries’ latest…

2 min

Gun Digest|September 2015

GUN DIGEST DIGITAL

Gun Digest Guide to Customizing Your AR-15 By Kevin Muramatsu Whether you’re in the brainstorming phase of planning the future of your AR-15 and what it will become, or you’re already applying the finishing touches to your custom AR-15 creation, “Gun Digest Guide to Customizing Your AR-15” by Kevin Muramatsu will help you wade through and understand the wide variety of available options for almost every imaginable variation. Though the array of AR accessories and customization options seems to constantly grow, turn to this book for an examination of the customization landscape and helpful recommendations for which options would work best for the growing population of AR owners. Begin with an exploration of why the AR-15 is so widely customized, as well as a brief history of the firearm and…

1 min

Gun Digest|September 2015

SLINGIN’ BRICKS

GUNCRAFTER INDUSTRIES MODEL 5 CALIBER: .50 GI TYPE: Semi-Auto BARREL: 4.25-in., heavy match grade SLIDE: 4.25-in. FRAME: Officer WEIGHT: 34 oz. (unloaded) TRIGGER: Solid match SIGHTS: GI night sights, Trijicon tritium FINISH: Parkerized MAGAZINE: Two, fully fitted and tuned MSRP: $3,825 MANUFACTURER: Guncrafter Industries, GuncrafterIndustries.com, 479-665-2466 PERFORMANCE 25 yards, from a bench, off sand bags (Trijicon iron sights) While it might sound like a contradiction, Gun-crafter Industries has proven there is such a thing as a .50-caliber handgun that’s shootable and well suited for everyday carry. The company’s new Model 5, which is built around a 1911 officer-size frame and founder Alex Zimmerman’s custom-engineered .50 GI cartridge, defies the common notion that the .50 caliber has no place in the everyday carry world. I’ll get this out of the way…

5 min

Gun Digest|September 2015

Elite in All Things

With proven products like the P220, P226, P516 and others, SIG Sauer is known as a maker of quality firearms that perform at the highest levels. Recently, however, the company has been making a name for itself in an entirely different sector of the industry—ammunition. In the summer of 2014, SIG launched its new Elite Performance ammunition, introducing defensive loads in several popular pistol calibers. Since that time, it has continued to expand the Elite Performance line, adding more calibers and projectile options. Today, SIG offers handgun loads with jacketed hollow point (JHP) projectiles in 12 calibers and with full metal jacket (FMJ) projectiles in nine calibers, as well as two match-grade centerfire rifle loads for the .300 Blackout. Most shooters should be excited, or at least intrigued, by SIG’s…

3 min

Gun Digest|September 2015

Quick Shot: Motorola MHP81 Earmuffs

Hearing protection is a must-have item at the range, but it’s often cumbersome to constantly be taking your earmuffs off or, even more inconvenient, removing plugs every time you want to hear someone else talk. And let’s face it: The range is often a place where we socialize as much as we shoot, so having a conversation—whether that’s to talk through shot placement, mechanics, or to follow along with an instructor—is part of the experience. One great solution is Motorola’s Talkabout MHP81 electronic earmuff, which cancels out harmful sounds like gunshots, protects against harmful compression and amplifies common speech. The MHP81 amplifies low-level sound up to four times the normal level (a 21-dB gain), so you can hear human voices more clearly. Each earpiece has its own volume control and…

1 min

Gun Digest|September 2015

GLOCK-LIKE REFLEXES

GLOCK G40 GEN4 MOS CALIBER: 10mm Auto TYPE: Semi-Auto BARREL: 6.02 in. OVERALL LENGTH: 9.49 in. FRAME: Polymer WEIGHT: 28.15 (unloaded); 40.14 (loaded) TRIGGER: 5.5 pounds SIGHTS: Glock factory MAGAZINE: 2, 15-rds. MSRP: $840 MANUFACTURER: Glock, Us.Glock.com PERFORMANCE Cats typically get all the credit for their quick reflexes, but lately it’s been Glock that’s shown a snappy response to the ever-burgeoning demands of the consumer. The big splash this summer was the release of the long-awaited G43, a single-stack 9mm that’s been flying off gun store shelves. The other main introduction was the Modular Optic System (MOS), which demonstrates how quick and easy it is to get a reflex sight on a handgun. The MOS, which is currently available on the Gen4 versions of the G34, G35, G40 and G41,…

5 min

Gun Digest|September 2015

Hold On!

Nearly as soon as they were introduced in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, military and civilian shooters saw the value in semi-automatic handguns that could fire multiple rounds with reliability and ease. In the years since, firearms designers have continued to advance the semi-auto pistol, increasing the platform’s reliability and performance capabilities and making it more user-friendly. Of course, as the semi-auto handgun has evolved, so too has its essential counterpart: the holster. Today’s holsters, just like today’s pistols, are better than ever. They offer greater comfort and concealment for armed citizens, increased security and retention. They’re also more durable and reliable than ever. Regardless of how you carry your pistol, there’s something on this list that’s sure to meet your needs. ALIEN GEAR CLOAK TUCK 3.0 A…

5 min

Gun Digest|September 2015

.50 GI

Frustrated by laws that banned .50-caliber handguns in his native Denmark, Alex Zimmerman created the proprietary .50 GI cartridge, in 2002, Zimmerman having moved to the United States a decade earlier. First seen publicly at the 2004 SHOT Show, the .50 GI cartridge is not a magnum cartridge. Zimmerman engineered a 1911-style pistol and .50 GI cartridge combination to achieve highly controllable knock-down power for self-defense and IPSC shooting. One .50 GI factory load drives a 300-grain bullet at 700 to 725 fps (translating into a 210 power factor), with felt recoil comparable to a 230-grain .45 ACP hardball round. For serious stopping power, a second factory load drives a 275-grain bullet at 875 fps, with felt recoil similar to a 10mm. With hotter loads, the.50 GI is suitable for…

1 min

Gun Digest|September 2015

12 Sight Enhancements for Defensive Pistols

Having optics on combat rifles was an exception a generation ago. Today they are the norm. Handguns are following the same path. At one time, handgun optics were heavy and added bulk, but with the development of smaller and more compact reflex sights, optics on a handgun is the next step. They offer an illuminated aiming point designed to be used with both eyes open, are fast on target and, unlike traditional iron sights with three sighting planes—rear sight, front sight and target—a reflex sight uses a laser beam to project an aiming point in a sight window. Just place the aiming point on a target and press the trigger. The latest reflex sights are lightweight and compact with a small footprint on the handgun’s slide. Models run on easy-to-find…

5 min

Gun Digest|September 2015

Hot New Semi-Auto Loads

Handgun shooters are a tough bunch. We want affordable ammo for the range, but we insist on reliable, effective and accurate ammo when we put our lives on the line. Thankfully, ammo manufacturers listen to their customers. Not only do we have more high-quality choices today, the bullets themselves keep getting better. Personal defense and hunting ammo alike are built with specially designed bullets that perform under the most demanding situations. They shoot straight, and they stop danger in its tracks. FEDERAL VITAL SHOK TROPHY BONDED 10MM AUTO Capable of stopping big game and big threats alike, Federal’s new 10mm Auto is a full-power load with a bullet based on Federal’s field-tested Trophy Bonded Bear Claw rifle bullet. The heavy copper jacket surrounds a formed lead core that is designed…

5 min

Gun Digest|September 2015

10 Best Semi-Auto Handguns of All Time

Since the turn of the 20th century, there have been hundreds of semi-automatic pistols to hit the market. Many of these designs enjoyed modest success, and many others were total failures that represent little more than a footnote in the annals of handgun history. But a handful of designs achieved worldwide acceptance and commercial success. Some, like the venerable Colt 1911, are still popular decades after release. Others have had a significant impact on the industry—innovative creations that altered the course of pistol design. The firearms business is unique—it’s one of the few marketplaces where century-old designs compete with brand new products on a rather level playing field. It would be unfair to compare the specs of a Model T Ford with the brand’s latest vehicle offerings, but the Colt…

8 min