Robert A. Sadowski - Shooters Bible Guide to Combat Handguns

B ecause there are those who trespass against us, this book is dedicated to the women and men in the military who protect our homeland wherever the fight may take them; to law enforcement personnel who protect our cities, towns, and hamlets; and to those concerned citizens who recognize the responsibility and have made a conscious decision to conceal carry to defend their homes, families, friends, and neighbors. And this is especially for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in our defense. You are all remembered. Copyright 2012 by Robert A. Sadowski All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles.

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The following Gould and Goodrich photos on are courtesy of Paul Riddell of On Duty Gear: 804 Shoulder, 890 Inside Trousers, and 891 Belt Slide. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Sadowski, Robert A. Shooter's bible guide to combat handguns / Robert A. Sadowski. p. cm.

Includes index. ISBN 978-1-61608-415-8 1. Pistol shooting. I. Title. GV1175.S16 2011 799.3'1--dc23 2011037924 Printed in China CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank Slaton White for his recommendation.

To my editor at Skyhorse Publishing, Jay Cassell, who started our first conversation with the words: "I was wondering if" What's that Bogart line? "I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship." This book could not have been written without the support and help of all the handgun, ammo, holster, and accessory brands. Of those, special thanks (in no particular order) to Colt, Gould & Goodrich, Ruger, Remington, Les Baer, Buffalo Bore, DeSantis, Kahr, CZ, Sig Sauer, Federal, Bianchi, Blackhawk, CorBon, Winchester, Glock, Heckler & Koch, Crimson Trace, Springfield Armory, Laser Max, Beretta, Smith & Wesson, LaserLyte, and Gem Tech. I am sure I have forgotten some brands that were extraordinarily helpful. Thanks also to Union Station and the John M. Browning Museum. Mother nature needs to be given her due as the abnormal amount of snow last winter turned what could have been a bout of cabin fever into a white heat of productivity.

Thigh-high snow can do that. To Bella, who kept me company while she lounged on her bed outside the office door, and to Cooper, who poked his nose from under the desk to remind me it was time for a walk or to play ball. And especially to Deborah, whose patience, understanding, and camera skills helped me through the process. I love you and our two GSP kids. INTRODUCTION T he Shooters Bible has been a comprehensive resource for shooting enthusiasts for almost ninety years. Competitive shooters, hunters, weekend plinkers, and those who keep a pistol in their nightstand for protection, to name just a few, all have come to trust the Shooters Bible as a source of valuable information.

This, the first edition of the Shooters Bible Guide to Combat Handguns , contains the most up-to-date information on combat and defensive handguns, training and defensive ammunition, handgun ballistics, tactical and concealment holsters, accessories, and training facilities. Throughout these pages are many well-known products that have been called into harms way and literally battle and field tested. Others products are new and not yet proven, but are fresh takes on designs that employ the use of new materials and leverage technology. The new product section offers the very latest in all categories. To write a book on combat handguns, especially on the 100th year anniversary of Colts Model O, or more commonly referred to as the 1911, is a privilege. The pistol is legendary.

It was adopted in 1911hence the nameand has been in service with our armed forces ever since. Officially the Beretta 92 replaced the 1911 in 1985, but replaced is probably not the correct word. Old ways die hard in the military, especially old ways that work well. Some special forces units still use the 1911, but the 1911 they carry today is by no means your great-grandfathers pistol. Todays 1911 sports lowered and flared eject ports, beavertail-grip safeties, ambidextrous and extend thumb safeties, magazine well funnels, forward slide serrations, big visible sights, polished feed rampsand thats just the short list of features on a modern 1911. You will find in the handgun section not only 1911 manufacturers (and there are a lot of them), but also the usual suspectsGlock, Beretta, CZ, Heckler & Koch, Sig, Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Waltheras well as other lesser known gun makers who offer viable options for defensive handguns.

Some designs hark back to the late 19th century with double barrels and spur triggers, like derringers from Bond and American Derringer, and tiny rimfire revolvers such as those from North American Arms. These designs may be old, but the techniques and materials used in the manufacturing are thoroughly modern. I suspect Wild Bill Hickok or Doc Holliday would take a liking to these 21st-century derringers. Or perhaps theyd take a look at the latest trend in handguns, highly concealable pocket pistols. Not that pocket pistols are newthey have been around since the early 1900s, with Fabrique Nationale creating the Baby Browning back in 1905 and Walthers Model 1 debuting in 1908. Todays manufacturers have redefined semi-automatic pocket pistols.

Relative newcomers to firearm manufacturing, such as Kahr and Kel-Tec, have picked up where FN and Walther left off, and currently build pocket pistols that offer a nice compromise between weight and firepower. SeeCamp, Ruger, Taurus, Rohrbaugh, Masterpiece Arms, and others have picked up on the popularity of these mouse guns and produce their own versions in a variety of calibers. The original Baby Browning manufactured by FN was chambered in .25 ACP, but todays pocket pistol calibers range from .380 to .45 ACP. At the other end of the spectrum are pistols from PTR, Sig, and Bushmaster. These pistols are essentially combat rifles modified to pistol size by removing the stock and shortening the barrel. They are chambered in .308 and 5.56mm/.223 and are not subtle about their ability to bring firepower to a gun fight.

Obviously nostalgia is endemic in firearm manufacturing. Old-timers like the Thompson pistol with 50-round drum magazine would make a G-man like Melvin Purvis grin. A replica of a 1943 Polish-made machine pistol design, PPS-43C, manufactured to comply with current gun laws by I.O. Inc., seems like a relic from the Cold War. The Mac 10 design couples ease of manufacture with firepower, and the compliant models from Masterpiece Arms are civilian versions of this classic weapon. And yes, there are new 1911s that are built the same way as they were in 1911 when they were shipped from the Colt factory.

Some will even eject dented .45 cases just like originals. Para USA, Springfield Armory, and even Colt offer retro styling that your great-grandfather would recognize. Other designs, like the Sig P210, which was the Swiss Armys sidearm from 1949 to 1975, are renowned for their classic lines and exceptional accuracy. Since 1899, Smith & Wesson has produced some six million Military & Police or Model 10 revolvers, a testament to its enduring design. As nostalgic or archaic as the revolver may beSamuel Colt carved the prototype out of wood in 1832 on a sea voyageit is a fighting weapon. At the battle of Bandera Pass in 1841, a few Texas Rangers held off a slew of Comanches with the very first revolver, the Colt Paterson.