Home Defense

Gun Tests Inventory Guns Up for Auction

Three handguns recently tested in Gun Tests magazine are now listed for auction on GunBroker.com by the FFL owner, Winkle’s Great Guns of Houston, Texas.

Springfield Armory Lightweight Champion Operator PX9115LP 45 ACP

We tested two Caracal 9mm handguns (which have since been recalled) against two 45 ACP handguns in a September 2012 showdown of self-defense pistols. The 45s were the Springfield Armory Lightweight Champion Operator PX9115LP 45 ACP, $1076, and the Dan Wesson ECO 01969 45 ACP, $1662. Here's an excerpt of that report.

Gun Tests Value Guide: 380 ACP Articles List

(GunReports.com) — To help a Gun Tests reader find 380 ACP pistols that he might like, the magazine's staff assembled a Value Guide of previously tested 380 ACP pistols and listed them on GunReports.com.

Kahr Delays Two Pistols

Kahr Arms has announced that shipping will be delayed on two pistols. From the company’s website: Due to the unprecedented demand on our entire line of American-made “C”-series products, the highly anticipated launch of the CW3833 and the CM4543 has been delayed until late fall.

Saiga IZ-107 12 Gauge, $640

Gun Tests magazine tested four high-capacity 12-gauge shotguns in the November 2012 issue. Heres an excerpt of that report, used with permission: The test guns were the Akdal Arms MKA 1919 3-inch 12 Gauge, $799; the Kel-Tec KSG 3-inch 12 Gauge, $1075; the Saiga IZ-107 12 Gauge, $640; and a Red Jacket Saiga RTS-SBS-12 Short-Barrel 12 Gauge, $1939.

Servicing The Ruger Mini-14

Ever been asked why the Mini-14 isn't called the Mini-.223 or Mini-anything else? Take a look at one next to an M14. In general appearance, the Mini is a smaller, lighter ringer for the rifle the U.S. Military rediscovered during Desert Storm. It even functions much the same. Due to the factory's penchant for in-house repairs, there are limits to what you can do with the Mini-14.

Springfield Armory Custom Shop Professional .45 ACP

The Professional is a complete rebuild, including the installation of a match-grade barrel and complete refinishing. Other parts listed for installation include match hammer and sear, speed trigger, titanium firing pin with extra heavy firing pin spring, beavertail grip safety, ambidextrous thumb safety, low mount Novak rear sight with matching dovetail front sight, 3-dot tritium inserts, magwell, 20-lpi checkering on the front strap, checkered cocobolo grips, beveling of all external parts, deburr complete pistol internally, apply a "Black T" finish to the complete pistol and ship with six Metalform seven-round magazines tuned to the pistol.

Gun Tests October 2013 Look-Ahead: 12-Gauge Pumpguns from Benelli, Stevens, and CZ USA

At a reader's request, the Gun Tests San Antonio test team obtained several new models of self-defense shotguns that carry low to moderate price tags and compared them in the October 2013 issue to see how they would perform. The 12-gauge pumpguns in the test included the Benelli Super Nova Tactical No. 29155 pump-action 12 Gauge, $559; the recently introduced Stevens Model 320 Home Defense No. 19495, $270; the CZ Model 612 Home Defense No. 06520, $290; and the CZ Model 612 HC-P No. 06510, $349.

Ruger LC9 Model 3200 9mm Para, $443

We tested three small 9mm concealable pistols in the November 2012 issue. Heres an excerpt about Rugers LC9.

Gun Tests October 2013 Look-Ahead: 9mm Pistols from Walther, Kriss Sphinx, and CZ USA

The Gun Tests Houston test team obtained three interesting 9mm polymer-frame handguns — the Walther PPX M1, the Kriss Sphinx SDP Compact, and the CZ USA CZ 75 P-07 Duty — and tested them in the October issue.

Glock 34 9mm

Not much has changed on the Glock 34, and it is still the most popular choice for Practical Shooting competitors, including Dave Sevigny, the most prolific winner in the history of the USPSA Production division.

The G34 featured a 5.3-inch barrel on a full-size frame that housed a 17-round magazine. The G34 has a large cutout in the top of its slide. It might just be the easiest way to produce a slide of the proper weight so that reciprocation remains smooth and reliable.

Smith & Wesson M&P #209001 9mm – Gun Tests Pistol of the Year

Our first impression of the $679 S&W M&P 9mm was that it felt extremely comfortable in the hand. It was well balanced, not too heavy—at least without a magazine full of 17 heavy-bullet loads—and was pleasantly devoid of extraneous controls and levers. We note S&W also sells a version with a thumb safety, along with a host of variants in 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP, and with longer or shorter barrels or grips, and in a variety of colors. One even has a pink grip insert.Our test gun came in a large case with two different grip inserts to make the handle larger or smaller. We liked it as it was, so we left it alone.

Worrisome Questions From SCOTUS

I am uneasy after hearing oral arguments in the Supreme Court case, Garland v. VanDerStok, and reviewing a transcript from the October 8, 2024 session....