Concealed Carry

The Brady Campaign gave its best score on the group's 2011 State Gun Control Scorecard to California, where the total violent crime, murder, robbery, and aggravated assault rates were higher than national rates in 2010, the most recent full year reported by the FBI.

Gun Tests Contributing Editor Roger Eckstine gets a rundown on new pistol models available from CZ this year.

Gun Tests Contributing Editor Roger Eckstine takes a quick look at Magnum Research’s Micro Desert Eagle.

A poster on the Gun Tests Facebook page asked: 'Does Gun Tests have prior articles regarding holsters for CCW carry of a full size 1911 style pistol? I think a number of your readers are willing to accept the bulk in exchange for the benefits of a carrying a full-size .45 (such as the ability to shoot it more accurately under stress.)' The Gun Tests page architecture doesn't support a forum-like discussion, so we created this open thread for GunReporters to jump in and comment. Carry On!

Gun Tests Magazine has named the Ruger Lightweight Compact Revolver LCR-BGXS as the publication’s “Best in Class Revolver” for 2011. The pistol joins a Kel-Tec PMR-30, an AR-style 300 Whisper from SSK Industries, a 12-gauge autoloading shotgun from Legacy Sports International, and a laser/light combo accessory from Crimson Trace as the magazine’s “Best in Class” 2011 honorees.

At SHOT Show 2012, Gun Tests Contributing Editor Roger Eckstine covers the features of the Massachusetts-legal Kahr PM9 pistol.

Gun Tests’ Contributing Editor Roger Eckstine found Springfield’s brand-new XDS .45 at the Media Range Day at the SHOT Show a couple of weeks ago. The micro-sized XDS was secret, and no one knew that the gun, smaller than a Glock 36, existed until media members showed up and saw the 4-inch-tall .45.

Beretta USA introduced the BU-9 Nano as its entry into the pocket 9mm pistol category last September. Initial shipments of the American-made pistol left the Accokeek, Maryland factory beginning in November 2011, with a suggested retail price of $475. In this video, Gun Tests’ Contributing Editor Roger Eckstine gets a detailed explanation of how easy the Nano is to break down for maintenance. The Nano's modularity provides for simple disassembly and easy cleaning. Safely disassemble the pistol by first engaging the striker deactivator, a patent pending safety mechanism that eliminates the need to pull the trigger prior to disassembly.

Holster manufacturer CrossBreed Holsters, LLC has introduced a new OWB product for 2012, the SuperSlide.

In 2012, Wilson Tactical will offer a limited collection of handmade knives by some of today's premier tactical knife makers without the long wait typically associated with special ordering a custom-edged masterpiece.

The Galco Underwraps BellyBand is an elastic garment that can be worn low, just above the waistband, or high underneath the armpit. It resembles a heavyweight Ace bandage that secures with Velcro.

Recently, the Gun Tests staff received a letter urging them to test more deep-concealment guns, claiming that they are the most popular gun of the day. Checking with one of the larger distributors (www.camfour.com), confirmed that it is the subcompact and micro guns that are currently driving the market. In this test Gun Tests did not evaluate pocket guns, but they did shoot four compact pistols that in are just one step larger than the smallest model available from each manufacturer.One test gun the staff chose was the $646 Glock G19, the smaller brother of the G17, found on the hip of law enforcement worldwide. The Glock 19 gets little press, but remains popular.