Introductions of new revolvers, rifles, shotguns, and pistols continue, even though many of the models wont be available until this month or later in the year. Here are some of the newest products that were looking forward to testing:
Sigarms
The basic P220 platform continues to be expanded. The P220 will now be fitted with the companys DAK trigger system, a double-action only design with a 7.5-pound trigger pull. The P220R DAK comes with a mil-spec M1913 Picatinny rail, measures 7.80 inches in overall length, 5.60 inches in overall height, has a 4.4-inch-long barrel with a 6.3-inch sight radius, and weighs 30.4 ounces. It carries eight rounds in the magazine, and has an MSRP of $840.
The new SIG 556 .223 Rem. autoloading rifle is based on the SG 550 series rifle. The SIG 556 features a two-position adjustable gas-piston operating-rod system with a 16-inch military grade barrel with a twist rate of 1:9. The barrel is locked to the steel receiver through a system that allows the user to change out the barrel. The forearm housing the gas operating system is a vented non-slip polymer featuring the SIG TriRail design with three integrated Picatinny rails for mounting accessories. There is a forward mount for right or left side sling attachment. The flip-up front combat sight is adjustable for windage and elevation. The Picatinny rail-equipped receiver is made of carbon steel with a Nitron X rifle finish. The trigger housing is made from a heat-treated aircraft-grade aluminum alloy with a hard-coat anodized finish. The rifle comes with a two-stage trigger, ambidextrous safety, and it accepts standard AR magazines. A 30-round polymer magazine is supplied. Spare battery compartments are provided in the ergonomically designed pistol grip as well as the rubber padded watertight adjustable butt stock. The butt stock also offers sling attachment points.
The SWAT model will include a flat-top Picatinny railed receiver and a tactical quad rail. The gun will weigh 6.8 pounds and measures 36.5 inches overall. MSRP: $1,300.
Smith & Wesson
Probably the biggest splash S&W will make in 2006 wont be for the new M&P polymer handguns, and perhaps not for any handgun – it will be the new M&P15 rifles. There are three similar models chambered for 5.56mm NATO/.223 Rem., The guns ship with 30-shot steel magazines, and rounds travel down a 16-inch 1:9 twist barrel. The guns weigh 6.74 pounds without a magazine and measure 32-35 inches in overall length, due to the collapsing black synthetic 6-position telescopic buttstock. Sights for the basic rifle are adjustable post front/adjustable dual-aperture rear. Out front, theres a thermo-set M4 handguard, and the barrel bore, gas key, and bolt carrier are chromed. The upper is 7075 T6 aluminum, and the barrel is 4140 steel. Both receive a black-anodized hard coat. Trigger pull is about 7 pounds. The gun prices will start with the M&P15 No. 811000 at $1,200; $1,700 for the M&P15T, which has a free-float modular rail forend; and $1,300 for the M&P15A, which has folding battle rear sight.
On the handgun side, the Model SW1911PD Gunsite Edition .45 ACP comes with a scandium alloy frame, beveled edges, solid match aluminum trigger, oval walnut stocks, a non-reflective black-matte finish, external extractor, brass bead Novak front sight and Novak Lo-Mount Carry machined steel rear sight, and a GI-spec recoil guide. It comes with two 8-round 1911 magazines and has an MSRP of $1,204.
One of the more unusual revolvers weve seen in a while is the Model 460XVR Hunter, $1578, a .460-chambered five-shooter with a 12-inch brushed-polished stainless fluted barrel and frame, a Hogue Dual Density Monogrip, removable Patridge front sight and an adjustable black rear sight. It measures 18 inches in length and weighs 80 ounces empty. It comes with a sling and integral Picatinny base, one of the accessories for which is a bipod.
Another wheelgun with a tactical rail front end is the Model 327 TRR8 .357 Mag./.38+P, an 8-shooter with a 5-inch barrel. The frame is scandium alloy with a stainless cylinder, both covered with a black glassbead finish. The front sight is interchangeable and the rear sight is adjustable. Grips are rubber, and the large-frame gun measures 10.5 inches OAL and weighs 35.3 ounces empty. Its MSRP is $1,260.
Springfield Armory
This companys .45 ACP XD fits 14 rounds of .45s into a polymer frame not much larger than the companys 9mm and .40 S&W XD models. For carriers who want both power and capacity, this will be attractive. The 4-inch Service Model comes in black, OD Green, and Bi-Tone color schemes. All of these guns have 13+1 capacities. Also, they sport dovetailed front and rear steel sights, weigh 30 ounces, measure 7.25 OAL, and purportedly have trigger pulls in the 5.5- to 7.7-pound range. They ship with two stainless steel magazines. The 5-inch Tactical Model comes in black, OD Green, and Bi-Tone finishes. These guns weigh 32 ounces without magazines and measure 8.1 inches in overall length. Both guns have ambidextrous magazine releases, visual/tactile loaded chamber indicators, visual/tactile striker status indicator, and grip safeties. The also come with a belt holster, double-mag pouch, magazine loader, and a cable lock. The black and OD green 4-inch Service guns start at $559. The Bi-Tones are $595. The black and OD green 5-inch Tactical guns start at $595. The Bi-Tones are $626.
On the rifle side, the SOCOM II chambered for 7.62mm NATO has a cluster rail, urban camo stock, a 16.25-inch carbon barrel (1:11 twist right hand, six-groove). It weighs 10.9 pounds (without scope) and measures 37.25 inches in length. The gun has a rotating bolt, gas-operated, air-cooled, action, tritium post front sight, enlarged military aperture rear with MOA click adjustments of both windage and elevation, and a 5- to 6-pound two-stage military trigger. It ships with a 10-round box magazine, and lists for $2,036.
Beretta
The Px4 Storm 9mm and .40 S&W pistols include multiple operating systems and a choice of three backstraps, three magazine release buttons, and two slide catch lever sizes. The back-strap can be individualized to three sizes; the slide stop is available in a standard and low profile configuration; the magazine-release button comes in two additional sizes to accommodate a smaller or larger grip. The trigger mechanism can be customized to: Type F: S/A and D/A de-cocker and manual safety; Type D: DAO with spurless hammer; Type G: S/A and D/A, de-cocker, no manual safety; Type C: constant action, spurless hammer.
The guns measure 7.59 inches in overall length, 5.51 inches in overall height, and both are 1.41 inches wide at the slide and 1.18 wide at the grip. Barrels measure 4 inches in length and provide a 5.75-inch sight radius.
Trigger reach (with small and medium backstrap) runs 2.95 inches, and 2.99 inches with the large backstrap. The 9mm weighs 27.7 ounces empty, and the .40 weighs 28.7 ounces. The 9mm carries 17 rounds in the magazine, and the .40 14 rounds. An extended magazine bottom adds three rounds to both counts.
Multiple-sized, reversible magazine-release buttons allow for customization to the individuals hand size. Small size comes standard on the gun. Medium and large buttons are also available for easy replacement. Each size can be positioned for right-handed or left-handed use.
The gun comes with an integral modified Picatinny MIL-STD-1913 rail, three magazines, a cleaning brush, cable lock, and a plastic carrying case. MSRP: $598.
Four new Sako rifles show promise. The 85 Hunter, $1,595, is a controlled-round feeding bolt gun with an adjustable trigger, high-grade walnut stock, and a straight-comb shadow-line cheekpiece. The barreled action is finished with a nonreflective satin blue, and it is tested to shoot 1-inch groups at 100 yards. The Stainless Synthetic rifle, $1,495, has an all-stainless action, match-grade free-floating hammer-forged barrel, adjustable trigger and detachable magazine. The synthetic stock incorporates warm-feeling, nonslip rubber inserts and a FinSoft recoil-absorption system. Design is by Giugiaro.
The Sako 85 Grey Wolf, $1,495, features the same all-stainless barreled action as the Sako 85 Stainless Synthetic, but its housed in a checkered grey-laminated stock. The Sako Quad Hunter And Combo, $1,075, is one rifle with four barrels chambered for .22 LR, .17 HMR, .22 WMR and .17 Mach2.
