Shortshots

Glock has released a new single-stack slimline 9mm pistol, the Glock 43. The frame width of the G43 is just over one inch, and the slide width measures 0.87 inch. The overall length is 6.26 inches. For those who have smaller hands, the trigger span from backstrap to trigger face is 2.6 inches. The single-stack magazine holds six rounds.

"The G43 addresses a variety of issues that many shooters face with pistols in the concealed carry category," said Glock VP Josh Dorsey. "It will be the pistol of choice for law enforcement and civilians. The G43 sets a new standard for concealed carry pistols."

Beretta's APX, a new striker-fired full-size pistol in 9x19mm, 9x21mm IMI and 40 Smith & Wesson cartridges, debuted at the 2015 International Defence Exhibition & Conference IDEX expo in Abu Dhabi Feb. 22.

"IDEX is one of the first venues where defense contractors present their wares to worldwide military customers and Beretta felt this was the ideal environment to present the international offering of its APX pistol," said Carlo Ferlito, general manager of Beretta and Beretta Defense Technologies (BDT) vice president.

Beretta intends to market a variant for the commercial market later this year. The new Beretta APX has an ergonomically-molded reinforced polymer frame fitted with a built-in MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail, interchangable backstraps and grip panels, and a modified Browning locking system. The APX is 7.56 inches long with a 4.25-inch barrel.

The trigger can be considered a light double action, with a 6-pound break, 0.2 inch of travel, and a 0.12-inch reset. The rear portion of the striker slightly protrudes from a round slot on the back of the slide as a loaded-chamber indicator.

The slide is machined from stainless steel and has a nitride coating that reduces glare, scratches, and corrosion. Other features include wide front and rear slide serrations, three-dot sights dovetailed into the slide, and no manual safety save for a Glock-style trigger safety.

Ferlito said, "Beretta waited to enter the striker-fired market until we had a pistol we knew would meet the needs of the operator. The APX has been more than three years in development. We tested it extensively with professional end users and incorporated that feedback at every opportunity. The result is a pistol platform that delivers superior performance in durability, reliability, accuracy and ergonomics."

A slot on the frame allows the use of a tool to decock it before it can be field-stripped by operating a lever found on the left side of the frame.

An optional manual safety system will be available upon request, consisting of a frame-mounted two-position switch. A reversible magazine-release catch and a factory ambidextrous slide stop/hold open release lever help make the pistol suitable for left- or right-handed shooters.

Supplied black double-stack metal magazines have polymer bottom pads and offer 17-round capacities in 9x19mm NATO and 15-round capacities in 9x21mm IMI (9 Italian) and 40 Smith & Wesson.

At the 2015 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Gun Tests staffers ran across tons of new products that we're working to include in future tests. Following are some of the items we saw that intrigued us, for one reason or another. Some of the descriptions below are from SHOT Daily, a trade magazine published at the show for the dealers and distributors who attend.

CMMG
The all-new CMMG MK47 Mutant rifle platform caught our attention. It's chambered for 7.62x39mm, the upper and lower receivers are built from 7075-T6 billet aluminum and feature a uniquely designed upper and lower receiver engineered to manage the dimensions and pressures of the 7.62x39mm cartridge while keeping weight to a minimum.

The rifle, which runs on the proven carbine-length direct-impingement gas system and sports a 16.1-inch free-floated medium-taper barrel with a 1:10 twist rate, utilizes the heavier bolt carrier group derived from the AR10, but shortened. The lower receiver is designed to accept existing AK47 magazines and uses a standard hook-and-latch release system. A full-length Picatinny rail rides atop the receiver. All models ship with one Magpul PMAG 30-round 7.62x39 magazine. The MK47 Mutant T ($1,450) features an A2 muzzle compensator, a CMMG single-stage trigger, an A4 six-position collapsible buttstock, and an A2 pistol grip. The MK47 Mutant AKM ($1,650) features the same trigger, a CMMG SV muzzle brake, a Magpul CTR buttstock, and a MOE Pistol grip. The MK47 Mutant AKM2 ($1,850) comes with a Geissele SSA two-stage trigger, Magpul CTR buttstock, and MOE Pistol Grip.

IWI US, Inc. has introduced a new UZI PRO Pistol to the American consumer market. The UZI PRO SB UPP9SB is notable for its side-folding stabilizing brace.

Two versions of the UZI PRO Pistol will be available in the U.S. The UZI PRO SB UPP9SB has a MSRP of $1,309. It has a side-folding stabilizing brace produced by SB Tactical LLC, designers and manufacturers of the original SB15 and SB47 Pistol Stabilizing Braces. With the side-folding brace, the UZI PRO SB pistol can be fired with or without the stabilizing brace extended.

The basic UZI PRO Pistol UPP9S has an MSRP of $1,109. Based on the UZI submachine gun, the UZI PRO is a 9mm Luger semi-auto with a polymer pistol grip. The cocking handle is located on the receiver side, allowing for a full-length Picatinny rail on the top receiver cover. A short Picatinny rail is also incorporated into the polymer body, mounted below the barrel.

The UZI PRO and UZI PRO SB feature three safety mechanisms; a conventional manual thumb safety, a firing-pin block and a grip safety that must be fully depressed before the gun can be cocked and fired.

Simple maintenance on the UZI PRO requires no special tools for field stripping. Each UZI PRO Pistol comes with one 20-round and one 25-round magazine.

IWI US, Inc. is the USA-based subsidiary of Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) Ltd. of Ramat Hasharon, Israel and a member of the SK Group, companies that operate in the global defense and law enforcement markets. The IWI US line of products includes several configurations of the TAVOR SAR, Jericho 941 pistol, UZI pistol and Galil ACE rifles and pistols.

IWI US, Inc. has introduced a new UZI PRO Pistol to the American consumer market. The UZI PRO SB UPP9SB is notable for its side-folding stabilizing brace.

Two versions of the UZI PRO Pistol will be available in the U.S. The UZI PRO SB UPP9SB has a MSRP of $1,309. It has a side-folding stabilizing brace produced by SB Tactical LLC, designers and manufacturers of the original SB15 and SB47 Pistol Stabilizing Braces. With the side-folding brace, the UZI PRO SB pistol can be fired with or without the stabilizing brace extended.

The basic UZI PRO Pistol UPP9S has an MSRP of $1,109. Based on the UZI submachine gun, the UZI PRO is a 9mm Luger semi-auto with a polymer pistol grip. The cocking handle is located on the receiver side, allowing for a full-length Picatinny rail on the top receiver cover. A short Picatinny rail is also incorporated into the polymer body, mounted below the barrel.

The UZI PRO and UZI PRO SB feature three safety mechanisms; a conventional manual thumb safety, a firing-pin block and a grip safety that must be fully depressed before the gun can be cocked and fired.

Simple maintenance on the UZI PRO requires no special tools for field stripping. Each UZI PRO Pistol comes with one 20-round and one 25-round magazine.

IWI US, Inc. is the USA-based subsidiary of Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) Ltd. of Ramat Hasharon, Israel and a member of the SK Group, companies that operate in the global defense and law enforcement markets. The IWI US line of products includes several configurations of the TAVOR SAR, Jericho 941 pistol, UZI pistol and Galil ACE rifles and pistols.

The new Taurus Curve handgun is a body-contoured .380 ACP that employs a curved grip frame. About the size of todays smart phones, this little USA-manufactured double-action-only semi-auto pistol packs 6+1 rounds in a 5.18-inch-long package. This curved polymer frame has a carbon-steel slide and a stainless-steel barrel.

We challenged our engineers to develop a handgun that was comfortable to wear. We wanted it to be as comfortable as wearing a watch every day, said Sarah Perry, director of marketing for Taurus. We wanted a concealed carry firearm that was designed for wearing against the contours of your body. MSRP is $392.

Other features include a loaded-chamber indicator, a built-in locking system, a trigger protector, a built-in lanyard, and a belt clip for wearing the pistol without a holster.
Also included is an integrated LaserLyte LED light/laser combo system built within the frame and a bore-axis sighting system designed for instinctive point shooting at close distances. This subcompact handgun does not include traditional sights.

Sturm, Ruger & Co. has been busy in the middle of 2014, introducing an inexpensive AR, a new 10-22, a new 9mm LCR, and a Scout Rifle in 5.56 NATO.
The new AR-556 semi-automatic M4-style, direct impingement Modern Sporting Rifle, $749 MSRP, is the companys first model with all major components machined at Rugers Mayodan, NC facility.

Suppressor manufacturer SilencerCo has released what is says is the first commercially-viable shotgun silencer. The new product, named the Salvo 12, is a modular design that allows the shooter to add or remove sections to balance length, weight, and sound-suppression needs. It arrives as a 12-inch suppressor, but can be reduced to 10-, 8-, and 6-inch configurations as needed.

Gunmaker SIG Sauer has agreed to stay its civil suit against the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives while ATF reviews a sample of a muzzle brake that the agency called a silencer. By agreement, approved by the U.S. District Court of New Hampshire, SIG will stay its lawsuit against the ATF until Sept. 17. In the meantime, both sides agree, SIG will send the ATF a sample of its muzzle brake for review and the ATF will issue a third ruling by Aug. 6.

Remington Outdoor Company has announced that several plants are being consolidated into Remingtons new facility in Huntsville, Alabama. Of particular interest is that Remingtons R1 1911 handgun production will be leaving the town of Ilion, New York, along with Bushmaster AR-15 production - both products are effectively banned by New Yorks stringent new gun laws.

Smith & Wesson Corp. has broadened its flagship line of M&P Series products with a new concealed carry pistol as well as new sporting-rifle options for 2014.

Our team of writers canvassed the massive Las Vegas show to find the hottest ideas coming to your local gunshop this year.