Handgun Data Information

Upcoming Articles

2010-04-25T05:24:00.000-07:00

Upcoming write-ups...

New Review on the Kel-Tec PMR-30.
A 22 with a boatload of ammo!

If you have any handguns you would like for me to research, just send me a comment!!

Thanks!!

Glock 22 RTS2 Pistol (Rough Textured Frame version #2)

2009-01-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

The new Rough Textured Frame design has more than 4,000 raised pyramids on the front, rear and sides of the polymer receiver. The raised pyramids are also located on the thumb rests for increased grip traction. In addition, the slide on the G22 RTF2 has a new, modern look with crescent shaped serrations located at the rear of the slide.

According to Glock, several major agencies commit to the G22 RTF2 .40 ACP and have had an outpour of interest from the Commercial and Law Enforcement distributors about ther new product. The texture on the pistol allows for a great shooting grip. The serrations on the slide also allow for easier slide operation because it is more ergonomically correct.

Depending upon feedback, the company may continue the modifications to the popular G17 (9mm), and then to other Glock models. Personally, its a step forward. Glock is a company that firmly believes that if its not broken why fix it. So, the changes they have made in the past, present, and into the future, will always be minor but in the same way, significant. Keep on shootin!

Length: 7.32
Barrel: 4.49
Magazine 15/17
Weight: 22.9 oz.

CZ 75

2008-07-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

The CZ 75 is a semi-automatic pistol made in the Czech Republic and originally introduced in 1975 by Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod (CZUB) in caliber 9 mm . Starting in the late 80s, all CZ 75s are now made with firing pin blocks, designated by the letter B (as in CZ 75B). Unlike most other semi-auto pistols, the slide rides inside the frame rails rather than outside (similar to the SIG P210). This provides a very tight slide-to-frame fit, very good barrel lock-up and contributes to good accuracy. The CZ-75 was also one of the first high capacity 9mm pistols that had a manual safety. This allows the CZ-75 to be carried with the hammer back, ready for use just by switching the safety off, a configuration known as condition one. It is unusual for 9mm pistols to have a manual safety, most of them having safety-decocker combos.

The pistol is considered very reliable, accurate, and affordable. Many people I’ve talked with never heard of the CZ. Considering its been in the market since 1975, is one of the original wonder nines featuring a high-capacity double-column magazine, and a great addition to one’s collection – I’m quite surprised!

The CZ 75 has been copied and improved by other manufacturers. The most popular copies include: IMI (Jericho-941, Israel), Tanfoglio (TZ-75, TZ-90, T-95, Italy), Sarsilmaz (M2000, Turkey), ITM (AT-88, Swiss), Sphinx (mod.2000, Swiss), Norinco (NZ-75, China), Springfield (P9, USA).

There are many varieants of the 75

CZ 75 - the original CZ 75
CZ 75B - second-generation CZ 75 with internal firing pin safety.
CZ 85 - a completely ambidextrous CZ 75 variant.
CZ 85B - second-generation version of the CZ 75B.
CZ 75 Compact
CZ 75 D PČR (Policie České republiky; The Czech state police) Compact - Very compact - similar to the P-01 in size, but lacks an M3 rail frame and features a smaller muzzle point and snag free sights. A popular choice for a carry weapon, known for its inherent accuracy and weight distribution.
CZ 75B SA - a CZ 75 which has a single action trigger mechanism and a drop free magazine.
CZ 75 P-01 - a CZ 75 Compact variant intended for law enforcement use, with an aluminum alloy frame, decocker and under-barrel accessory rail. It is the new weapon of choice for the Czech National Police. It is one of the few (if not only) NATO classified handguns that is available to the public without modifications. It received NATO certification after undergoing extensive testing.
CZ 75 SP-01/SP-01 Tactical - similar to the P-01 with accessory rail, but with all-steel construction and utilizing the full-size frame and slide as well as incorporating extended-capacity 19 round magazines. It is available with an ambidextrous manual safety (SP-01) or with an ambidextrous decocker (SP-01 Tactical
CZ 75 Standard IPSC - A CZ 75 variant designed specifically for IPSC competition with extended grip, single-action trigger, heavy-duty free-falling magazines, and an enlarged magazine well. Now replaced by the CZ 75 Tactical Sport.
CZ 75 Champion - A competition version designed for Open Class IPSC competition, with three port compensator, adjustable trigger, extended magazine release, ambidextrous safeties, fully adjustable sights and two-tone finish, with blued slide and satin nickel frame.
CZ 2075 RAMI - A subcompact version of the CZ 75 intended for concealed carry.
CZ 75BD - A variant of the now-common CZ 75B with a decocker replacing the traditional manual safety. (D stands for Decocker). This variant is quickly becoming the most common of the CZ 75B models, due to the additional safety the Decocker safety provides.
CZ 75 Kadet - A .22 LR calibre version of the CZ 75, available as a complete gun or as a slide/barrel assembly and magazine kit to fit onto a standard CZ 75B frame.
CZ 75 Automatic - A selective-fire variant introduced in 1992 intended for law enforcement and military use. One distinguishing characteristic of earlier models is its longer compensated barrel although later models may have a standard barrel. An extra magazine can be attached to the front to act as a makeshift foregrip.

Links:
http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/review/cz-75b.htm
http://www.geocities.com/mr_motorhead/cz75b.htm
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/CZ75.htm
http://www.gunweek.com/2006/feature0501.html
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/ga_handguns/cz85combat_071207/
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/ga_handguns/czsp01_053007/
http://www.gunblast.com/RKCampbell_CZ75C.htm

FN FNP-45 Autoloading Pistol

2008-05-16T07:41:00.000-07:00

For many there is only one pistol caliber worthy of serious consideration, and that’s the 45 ACP. Over nearly a century this chambering has provided rugged reliability and exceptional accuracy with proven big-bore “stopping power”. The new FN FNP-45 utilizes traditional double-action/single action (DA/SA) operation and offers operators all the features they’ve come to rely on like a high-capacity, ergonomic polymer frame with interchangeable backstrap inserts (flat or arched), accessory rail, ambidextrous frame-mounted decocking levers and magazine release.

The matte black stainless steel slide carries the Melonite® process for added durability, and the FNP-45 is also available in a matte silver stainless slide model. The FNP-45 uses a precision hammer-forged barrel for enhanced accuracy and long service life and offers a loaded chamber indicator on the external extractor. Accuracy results were very good as observed through Guns & Ammo and GunBlast - sub 2" groups at 25 yards.

A variety of fixed standard and night sights are available. All FNP-45s come complete with three 10- or 14-round magazines and a lockable hard case. With the 14 round mags, the FNP 45 is the highest capacity 45 in the market.

The FNP-45 will be available in DA/SA, SAO, DAO, and pre-loaded striker fired like Glocks and M&Ps. For those that don't want a striker fired .45, this is a good option.

According to FNH USA, the FNP line of pistols is the only polymer-framed autoloading pistol on the market (as of its introduction) with fully replaceable frame rails; this allows the pistol to be rebuilt after extensive firing, thereby extending service life.

The FNP-45 is made to withstand the expected standards of the new selection process of the miltary. According to past SOCOM requirements, the service standard was 30,000 rounds of +P .45 ACP. As a result, all likely candidates will be big guns, which means more durable and have softer felt recoil.

The FNP-45 is big and a little boxy so CCW is out of the question. This was made for the military so there is no hiding this piece. The beefy frame and slide give the handgun better control and like I said before less felt recoil.

Main competitors: XD45, Glock 21, S&W M&P, Beretta Storm 45

Barrel length: 4 1/2",

Overall length: 7 7/8"
Weight: 33.2 oz.

External Links:

Hangun Magazine

Gun Blast

Guns & Ammo

Ruger LCP

2008-03-07T12:11:00.000-08:00

Source: GunBlast, Ruger Inc. - Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. has entered a major new market usually dominated by Kel-Tec, Bersa, and NAA. The new LCP (Lightweight Compact Pistol), is a .380 autoloader that is an ultra-light, compact carry pistol. The LCP is the newest addition to the Ruger Hard-R™ line of products, and shows that the company has listened to the customer demand for a reliable, light, concealable defensive weapon.

The Ruger LCP is a .380 Auto pistol incorporates state-of-the-art polymers, aircraft quality aluminum alloys and high-grade precision steel components engineered for strength and maximum weight savings. The frame is made from a high performance glass filled nylon, which probably accounts for is light weight.

The 9.4 ounce LCP pistol has a capacity of 6 + 1 rounds of .380 Auto. With a height of only 3.6 inches and a width of .82 inches. The high-performance, glass-filled nylon frame is topped by a through hardened blued slide. The Ruger LCP features a 2.75 inch barrel and an overall length of 5.16 inches. Trigger pull is between 6 to 8 lbs, which creates a passive safety in stressful situations. You don’t want to have a sensitive trigger and have the gun go off accidentally.

The LCP functions on a locked-breech system instead of the blowback principle, and as a result, the gun is lighter in weight and does not have an excessively heavy recoil spring. The LCP uses a dual-spring system on a steel guide rod.

There has been some negative press regarding the LCP. Most of which state the LCP is a direct copy of the Kel-Tec P-3AT. When comparing the two, the Ruger is more polished, and there are some slight internal differences between the two. They both use a similar tension spring for the lightweight hammer, identical locked breech mechanism, and similar takedown method.. The main differences are the Glock style extractor, recoil spring, and the incorporation of an external slide stop.

Each LCP comes with a soft case, instruction manual, external locking device and one magazine.

So far, the range reports on some gun boards, DownRange TV, and GunBlast have been positive. The pistol shoots well, is very reliable, and accuate for its intended purpose.

S&W M&P 45acp

2008-01-09T07:46:00.000-08:00

Sources: GunBlast, S&W press, Guns and Ammo Magazine

I’m not a big fan of Smith & Wesson, but my feelings for the gun maker are shifting. The M&P pistol line was created by S&W using the latest state of the art technology, user feedback and alot of research. The M&P45 model features a 4.5-inch barrel with an overall length of 8.05 inches. The full size pistols comes with a 10+1 capacity magazine, with an option for 14+1 capacity becoming available sometime in 2008. Featuring one of the smallest grip sizes available on any .45 ACP pistol, the M&P45 benefits from the addition of three interchangeable grips, allowing the user to customize grip size to their preference.

The M&P45 utilizes a steel dovetail mount front sight and a steel Novak® Lo-mount carry rear sight. Tritium sights are also available for low light conditions. A universal Picatinny style equipment rail has been incorporated for tactical lights and lasers. The polymer pistol has an empty weight of 29.6 ounces.The full size pistols feature a Zytel polymer frame reinforced with a ridged stainless steel chassis and a thru-hardened black melonite finished stainless steel barrel and slide for durability; a passive trigger safety to prevent the pistol from firing if dropped; and a sear release lever that eliminates the need to press the trigger in order to disassemble the firearm. A loaded chamber indicator is located on top of the slide. The firearm also features an ambidextrous slide stop and a reversible magazine release, as well as an enlarged trigger guard designed to accommodate gloves. The Smith & Wesson lifetime service policy is standard with each pistol.

The result is a state-of-the-art lightweight, reliable, and affordable auto pistol. They are priced right along with the Glock 21 and the Springfield XD. The Glock and XD have an ammo capacity advantage of three rounds, but the M&P has better ergonomics (vs. Glock) and a shorter pistol grip (vs. XD). The new kids on the block, Beretta Storm PX4 and FNP, have limited user feedback so its had to compare these two presently.

The M&P, like most utilitarian tools, are not things of classic beauty to hang on the wall and admire. They are cold, black, plastic guns, but they exceed in being able to accurately and quickly place a lot of bullets into a target at across-the-room distances. Much like the 1911 .45 auto pistol, the M&P points naturally (17 degrees), allowing the shooter to concentrate on the target, instead of the pistol. It is not a bull’s-eye target gun. It is a fighting pistol, although it does produce excellent results (sub-two-inch group) on a sandbag rest at 25 yards. The M&P .45 is a progression of the fighting pistol to fill the needs of the US Military and police forces.

In August of 2007, the M&P45 pistol was named "Handgun of the Year" from the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence. Also, local and state police agencies have been selecting the M&P45 as their new sidearm of choice. These agencies include but are not limited to...

New Hampshire State Police and Highway Patrol Convert to Smith & Wesson M&P45, 08/20/07
Hartford, Connecticut Police Department replaces primary duty firearm to S&W M&P 45, 08/02/07

Other recent additions include:
· The Iowa State Patrol;
· Harris County Sheriff’s Office in Texas;
· Charles County Police Department in Maryland;
· New Castle Police Department in Delaware;
· Berkeley Police Department in California;
· Kenner Police Department in Louisiana;
· Rocky Mount Police Department in North Carolina;
· Brookline Police Department in Massachusetts;
· Hampden County Sheriff’s Office in Massachusetts; and
· The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in Wisconsin.

Considering it was introduced in January of 2006, that’s a pretty good list.

Articles:
GunBlast
Guns & Ammo
Defense Review

THe Taurus Judge

2007-09-19T12:49:00.001-07:00

Taurus has introduced a handgun that may just be the ideal trail gun/home defense weapon/car gun – its very versatile for short distance targets. This new Taurus is chambered for the .45 colt cartridge and .410 shotgun rounds. It can also fire very flare pistol rounds, in case you prefer to “light up” your target. A number four shot load followed by four hollow points might be just about ideal for social work.

There is a huge market among city dwellers who are not firearms enthusiasts yet want a self-defense handgun for the apartment or to keep in the car. The Judge should fare well in this market as it is reasonably priced, simple and safe to use, and provides the quick option of shot loads or potent projectiles.

The barrel is rifled and lacks of choke, which spreads the shotgun pellets very fast in a very short range. This pistol will blow a hole in a man the size of a bowling ball from across a room. This makes it the perfect anti-personnel weapon for close quarters. It's light (36 ounces), comes in zero maintenance stainless steel and has a soft rubber grip to lessen the shock of such large ammo.

The Judge is not meant to be a paper-punching target revolver, but rather a practical and multipurpose fighting weapon. At seven yards, the five shot cylinder would place the bullets right at point of aim, and grouped tightly together.

The target below illustrates how quickly the .410 loads scatter when fired from the Judge. The load used here is Winchester number 4's and the pattern on the head of the silhouette target was fired at five feet and the pattern to the body was fired at ten feet.

Taurus is not the first gunmaker to create this type of gun. A small-scale manufacturer in Tennessee has been making a similar firearm, the Thunder Five (with a 2" barrel and weighing 48 ounces), for years. Its an all steel design, so the weight does help with the recoil more so than the Judge.

The Judge is a formidable close quarter weapon, one that could cause devastating results just by pointing it in the general direction of your target.

Reviews
GunBlast
Guns and Ammo

Stoeger Cougar 8000

2007-07-20T12:58:00.000-07:00

This double-action pistol is available in either .40 S&W or 9mm. Stoeger’s Cougar is the same design as the aluminum-frame, Italian-made Cougars that Beretta originally introduced in the mid-1990s. Stoeger is actually a wholly owned subsidiary of the Beretta Holdings Group since 2002, and after adding new manufacturing capability to the Stoeger factory in Turkey, Beretta obtained a pistol manufacturing license for Stoeger from the Turkish Ministry of Defense in 2005.

It then shipped all of the machinery for Cougar production from Italy to the new location. So the newly branded Stoeger Cougar line is essentially identical to the original Beretta Cougar line, under the same overall ownership, manufactured with the exact same tooling, with the same Beretta-grade quality. The only real difference is the name stamped on the side of the guns and the very attractive price (around $350).

The original Cougar line was developed to provide a more compact alternative to full-size pistols chambered for the 9mm and .40 S&W. The basic Cougar platform was designed for the .40 S&W with the 9mm chambering added later. The Cougar features a barrel that rotates to lock with the slide, providing greater strength and accuracy. The barrels are cold hammer-forged and the bores are hard chrome lined for exceptional strength and durability.

Other features include rounded edges for snag-free drawing, removable front sight, matte-black finish, ambidextrous safety, and combat-style trigger guard. Incorporating Beretta technology and maintaining proven semi-auto features, the Cougar is a light, compact and reliable pistol. The Cougar comes with two high-capacity magazines—the .40 S&W magazine holds 11 rounds and the 9mm magazine takes 15 rounds.

The ambidextrous safety and decocking lever is easily accessible by the thumb of a right- or left-handed shooter.

Accuracy, reliability and manageable recoil make the Cougar a perfect choice for home defense, or for fun shooting at targets. I like the design, the unique rotatary barrel and the price.

Specifications:

Overall Length: 7.1”
Overall Width: 1.5”
Overall Height: 5.5”
Barrel Length: 3.6”
Sight Radius: 5.2”
Weight Unloaded: 32.6 oz.

Reviews
Guns & Ammo
Handgun Magazine

WALTHER PPS: The “Police Pistol Slim”

2007-07-17T12:23:00.000-07:00

The new Walther PPS, available in 9mm and .40 S&W, features thin dimensions and is well-suited for personal protection and concealed carry. The compact pistol is available with three magazine capacities and two different backstrap sizes, and also incorporates Walther's patented QuickSafe technology. The PPS’s height and length are similar to the Glock 26 and XD Subcompact but the difference is in the width, only 1.04 inches.

Equipped with unique Walther features such as:
Patented QuickSafe®,
Variable magazine capacities – 6, 7 or 8 rounds
Variable backstrap sizes
Accessory rail

Despite its large caliber of 9x19 or .40 S&W, the PPS is a pistol with extremely slim dimensions in the classic Walther design.

A key safety feature of the PPS is the incorporation of Walther’s QuickSafe technology. By simply removing the backstrap from the frame, the striker assembly is de-cocked and the pistol is incapable of firing. Additional standard features on the PPS include a loaded chamber indicator located on top of the slide along with a cocking indicator on the rear of the slide that provides the user with a visual reference that the firing pin is in the cocked position.

The 9mm PPS is standard with a six and seven-round magazine while the .40 S&W PPS features a five and six-round magazine capacity. An optional eight-round magazine for the 9mm and a seven-round magazine for the .40 S&W will also be available.

The PPS actually has more power than a Walther PPK, yet with almost identical dimensions.

Technical Data PPS (inches)
Caliber: 9mm Parabellum, .40 S&W
Length: 6.3
Width: 1.04

Height: 4.4 (w/ 6-rd. magazine)
Weight, Empty: 19.4 oz
Barrel Length: 3.2

Sight Radius: 5.4

Trigger Pull: 6.1 lbs.

Rifling: 6 grooves
Twist: Right hand

9mm Caliber: 6 & 7 Round Magazines Included (8 Rounds Available)

.40 Caliber: 5 & 6 Round Magazines Included (7 Rounds Available)

Reviews

GunBlast

Guns & Ammo

The CZ 75 SP-01

2007-05-18T09:57:00.000-07:00

The CZ 75 SP-01 pistol is a big-size handgun designed for duty in law enforcement or military service, but also for target shooting or self-defense. The handgun has a large capacity double-column magazine holding 18 cartridges of 9mm and featuring classic DA firing mechanism (SA/DA). The pistol design is based on proved CZ 75 platform first introduced in the mid-1970's..

The CZ 75 is a short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. Most models have the capability of being fired single or double action and feature a frame-mounted manual safety. Some recent models have a decocking lever in place of the manual safety. Starting in the late 80s, all CZ 75s are now made with firing pin blocks. There are some features which set it apart from the pack. Unlike most other semi-auto pistols (and similar to its predecessor the SIG P210), the slide rides inside the frame rails rather than outside. This provides a very tight slide-to-frame fit, very good barrel lock-up and consequently, a very accurate pistol out of the box. This was also one of the first hi-cap nines to allow cocked-and-locked (or Condition One) carry, the preferred method of most serious pistoleros. In this department, it is still in a distinct minority. It is extremely rugged and an instinctive "point-shooter".

Colonel Jeff Cooper, long-time advocate of the Colt 1911, hailed it as the best-designed double-action autoloader available. It has become one of the most popular pistols of its class.

Grip panels made of rubber are provided with checkering. Long beavertail located at the upper portion of backstrap protects the shooter's hand against the slide in its rearward movement and enables more deeper and secure grip.

The robust steel frame structural design provides long service life, accuracy and reliability even at demanding conditions and environments, which can be expected at the specialized units tasks fulfillment.

The front portion of the pistol frame features integral light or laser rail (MIL-STD-1913). Sights are open and have squared configuration. Dots fitted into the rear sight and front sight are made of tritium luminescent inserts for aiming at poor visibility conditions.
It has exceptional accuracy and easy target acquisition, even in quick and repeated fire drills. The SP-01's biggest advantage is that the mass softens recoil.

It is available with an ambidextrous manual safety (SP-01) or with an ambidextrous decocker (SP-01 Tactical). The safety of the handgun is provided by an automatic firing pin block and ambidextrous manual safety.

This is one handun that should be in everyone's collection.

Guns and Ammo recently wrote an article reviewing the SP-01, here is the link to the article.

2007-03-06T13:50:00.000-08:00

Glock 21 SF “Short Frame” Information

The Glock 21SF is a modified version of the G21, which is a 13 round 45 ACP handgun. Due to the double stack magazine, the only complaint was the wide grip circumference. Since Glock could not narrow the grips any further, they narrowed the width by 3mm, thereby making it easier to hold. The handgun was modified further to compete in the Military Joint Combat Pistol contract that was cancelled in 2006. Below are the new attributes to the G21 SF…

Shorter Grip Size (back to front)
Ambidextrous Magazine Release
Choice of light rails - Reps from Glock say customers will be able to choose between the standard Glock light rail or a new Piccatiny rail like on the Sigs.

The new grip feels much more like a Glock 17/22 frame than a standard 21 frame. The best way to describe it seems to be “somewhere in between” the two frame sizes.

Glocks feature Browning-type locking system with barrel interlocking with slide via ejection port. All Glocks feature patented "Safe action" striker-fired trigger mechanism. After the each cycle of the slide the striker is set to half-cock position and is safely blocked by internal safety. When shooter pulls the trigger, he disengages the trigger safety first, then cocks the striker to the full-cock and then fires the gun. This results in constant trigger pull (adjustable from 2 to 5.5 kg) and, unlike the traditional DA or DAO pistols, unavailability of the "second strike" option in case of the misfire.

All Glocks feature polymer frame, steel slides made by precision molding process and had Tenifer heat-treatment to increase rust and wear resistance. Modern variants have finger grooves on the front strap of the grip, and ambidextrous thumb rests.

The weapon is considered to be very durable, reliable, accurate, and easy to maintain. The simplicity of the Glock design contributes to this reliability, as it contains a relatively small number of components (nearly half as many as the typical handgun) making field maintenance and repair easier.

The targeted availability will be available sometime in March 2007.

The Beretta Storm PX4

2006-12-11T12:28:00.000-08:00

Beretta's second entry into the Polymer handgun market the PX4 was designed to compete with Glock and H&K for LE/Military contracts. It replaced the 8000 Cougar line in 2005. The pistol includes multiple operating systems and a choice of three back straps, three magazine release buttons, and two slide catch lever sizes. This lightweight technopolymer frame pistol defines Individualized Performance.

The PX4 Storm is a full size pistol built on a polymer frame. Unloaded, the PX4 Storm tips the scales at a trim 27.63 ounces. Total length is 7.55 inches and the barrel measures 4.02 inches. In creating the PX4 Storm, Beretta used a number of technologies pioneered in earlier designs. The PX4 Storm uses an innovative locked breech design similar to that of the M8000 Cougar and uses a super strong rotating barrel to reduce peak recoil, transferring the energy from barrel to frame.

Magazine capacity in the PX4 Storm 9mm is 17 rounds. The .40 S&W copy will hold 14 rounds. Magazine extenders that boost capacity by three rounds will be available for both calibers. The company just released two .45 versions, a standard and SD (Special Duty). The .45 holds 10 in it's mag. Future plans call for models in .357 SIG also.

The Px4 can be adapted to different levels of concealment or to different hand-sizes and shooting styles. The back-strap can be individualized to three sizes; the slide catch (slide stop) is available in a standard and low profile (slim type) configuration; the magazine-release button comes in two additional sizes to accommodate a smaller or larger grip. Thanks to these options, the same powerful and reliable handgun can be adapted to fit diverse needs and uses. 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 for truly snag-free use

Type G: S/A and D/A, de-cocker, no manual safety

Type C: constant action, spurless hammer.

The trigger mechanism of the Px4 Storm pistol has been designed as a unit that may be extracted without the need for special tools. The removal of the trigger group allows an easy access to the firing mechanism for cleaning and special maintenance purposes. Qualified personnel can remove the trigger mechanism when necessary, even in the field.

The Px4 Storm pistol is extremely easy to disassemble and service without tools. Furthermore, its integral modified Picatinny MIL-STD-1913 renders it readily adaptable to a host of accessories. Standard Super-Luminova Sights give high targeting performance in all types of light conditions with minimal exposure to light (or flashlight), This luminous material is "Charged" and visible in low-light.

Safety/decocker lever geometry prevents accidental engagement or disengagement when retracting slide.

***Coming Soon***

The PX4 Compact,Sub-Compact

Other than the PX4-Storm standard version, there will be a shorter barrel PX4 "Compact" (comparable to the G26) and a sub-compact "Micro-PX4" (comparable to the Kahr PM9). Below is a picture of the PX4 Compact. Overall length is 6.2 inches, height of 4.8, with a 3 inch barrel. It can hold thirteen 9mm or ten .40 caliber rounds in it's magazine.

.45 Versions

The new Beretta Px4 Storm .45 Special Duty pistol was designed to meet the rigorous specifications of S.O.C.O.M., the Px4 Storm .45 SD provides maximum firepower in any environmental and special duty situation. The Px4 Storm .45 SD includes the same features as the standard .45 — along with various materials and finishes capable of withstanding the toughest military applications.

Pictured is the Beretta .45 SD.

Just like the SD, the new Px4 Storm .45 pistol is built around Beretta’s Px4 modular technology. Featuring an innovative locked breech rotating barrel system, the Px4 Storm .45 pistols have the strongest action ever developed by Beretta’s engineering dream team.

The New M&P Compact in 9mm

2006-11-21T08:33:00.000-08:00

Source: S&W Press Release, 10/25/06 - Smith & Wesson announced that its M&P Pistol Series has been expanded with the introduction of a 9mm compact model, the M&P9c.

Designed primarily for law enforcement and military personnel as a backup or off-duty sidearm, the compact M&P pistol allows for easy concealment combined with minimal felt recoil. The M&P9c features a 3.5-inch barrel with an overall length of 6.7 inches. The compact model is available with either a 10+1 or 12+1 capacity. The M&P Compact Series utilizes a steel dovetail mount front sight and a steel Novak Lo-mount carry rear sight. Tritium sights are also available for low light conditions. A universal Picatinny style equipment rail has been incorporated for tactical lights and lasers. The polymer pistol has an empty weight of 21.7 ounces.

The compact pistols feature a Zytel polymer frame reinforced with a ridged stainless steel chassis and a thru-hardened black melonite stainless steel barrel and slide for durability; a passive trigger safety to prevent the pistol from firing if dropped; and a sear lever release that eliminates the need to press the trigger in order to disassemble the firearm. A loaded chamber indicator is located on top of the slide, and an internal lock system is optional for military and law enforcement users. The pistol’s ergonomic design is enhanced with three interchangeable grip sizes, allowing the user to customize grips in a matter of seconds. The firearm also features an ambidextrous slide stop and a reversible magazine release, as well as an enlarged trigger guard designed to accommodate gloves. The Smith & Wesson lifetime service policy is standard with each pistol.

From what I’ve read on the numerous gun boards, the feel of the gun is great, its slightly larger then the Glock 26, and the only negative aspect is the gritty trigger. Below is a side-by-side comparison of the Glock 26 vs the M&Pc.

Reviews:
GunBlast

Heckler & Koch P30

2006-10-23T09:18:00.000-07:00

Latest Pistol from HK
Cal. 9mm x 19

(Source: HK Europe PR information)

The data provided below was obtained from H&K European website (hotlink above). The HK P30 (previously known as the P3000) pistol is the most recent creation of the Heckler and Koch. It was announced in 2006; prototypes, initially known as HK P3000, were demonstrated during previous year. The P30 is a further evolution of the HK P2000 pistol; it is positioned by the manufacturer as an ideal police pistol, but it also could make a very good self-defense weapon for civilians.

HK P30 is technically similar to the HK P2000 pistol; the differences are in exterior appearance and ergonomics. P30 is available in several (six) variants, which differ in the type of the trigger.

The HK P30 pistol is short recoil operated, locked breech pistol that uses modified Browning-type locking. Frame of the pistol is made from impact-resistant polymer. Trigger unit is a separate module. The front part of the frame, below the barrel, is shaped to form an integral Picatinny-type accessory rail. Other features of P30 include a double-stack magazine that holds 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition, with ambidextrous magazine release, ambidextrous slide release lever, and modular grip design.

For this purpose, Heckler & Koch developed a system unique on a worldwide basis, allowing the user a maximum of flexibility with respect to individual grip design via interchangeable lateral grip panels and backstrap inserts, each one of a different volume. The new system patented by Heckler & Koch consists of three different lateral grip panels and backstrap inserts, each, capable of being assembled completely at random, also asymmetrically, and thus allowing individual adaptation to any hand size and shape.

Design of the grip geometry itself was conducted in close cooperation with the company Karl Nill, Mössingen/Germany, which has decades of experience in this field and in addition to the grips of many target weapons has also designed the grip of the Heckler & Koch PSG 1 Police Sniper Rifle. In addition to the above, the grip was extended towards the bottom to prevent magazine blockage by the shooting hand during the exchange. This results in a better grip comfort and magazine capacity increased to 15 rounds.

The slide and magazine releases have been lengthened clearly to enable a faster and more convenient magazine change. The slide release is captive which means inseparably connected to the grip during disassembly.

Optionally a loading indicator is available in which indicates the presence of a chambered round by a red “flag” rising above the extractor claw. A loaded chamber is thus indicated and can both be seen and felt considerably more clearly.

The magazine follower is optionally available in a variety of colors in order to enable an empty magazine to be instantly recognized during a safety check. The standard magazine follower is black, the version for the Federal Customs Administration has a white color.

The P30 seem to be a big hit in Europe. The German Federal Customs Administration has decided to procure 13,000 of the P30. Additionally the Norwegian police has decided in favor of the new police pistol with a quantity of ~7,000 weapons. One month after start up of series production of the P30, more than 20,000 weapons have been sold.

Presently, it's still unclear whether the P30 will be imported for American consumption, but when/if it does make that trek across the pond, lets hope HK chambers the gun in a larger caliber. Also, I would assume HK would de-market the P2000.

HK P30 Specifications
Length: 6.99 in.
Height: 5.43 in
Width: 1.37 in.
Barrel Length: 3.86 in.
Sight Radius: 5.85 in.
Weight (empty): 26.1 oz.

The Hand Cannon

2006-10-05T08:56:00.000-07:00

When talking with some friends recently, the subject of the .44 magnum came up for discussion. We all felt it would be a great gun to own, handsdown powerful, fun to shoot, dare I say Dirty Harry! Then I started to think about the next step, I did a Tim Allen, I wanted more power. So my quest began to learn about these large calibers and who is making these hand cannons.

First off, the .44 Magnum is not the most powerful handgun in the world. In today's big bore environment, you have .45 Colt Long, .454 Casull, .460 S&W, Ruger .480, and the .500 S&W calibers to name a few! Once you hit the .500 caliber range, you have basically reached the outer limits of power combined with practicality and portability.

.45 Colt
The .45 Colt, sometimes called the .45 Long Colt to distinguish it from the short .45 cartridge, as well as the .45 ACP, is the oldest service cartridge still in use today. It was introduced in 1873 for the then new Colt Single Action Army (SAA) revolver, the famous Peacemaker. The .45 Colt and the SAA revolver quickly became legends in their own time, and the most popular handgun/cartridge combination on the Western frontier.

The most common factory loads for the .45 Colt give a 225-grain lead HP bullet a muzzle velocity of 960 fps and an energy of 460 ft. lbs. Or a 250-255 grain lead bullet a MV of 860 fps and a ME of 410 ft. lbs. The mid-range trajectory of this load shows a rise of 3.2" over 75 yards.

The .45 Colt is the basis for the more powerful .454 Casull cartridge, with the .454 Casull having a slightly longer and stronger case. A .454 Casull gun will also chamber and fire .45 Colt.

The .45 ACP round produces inferior game killing ability, as it cannot use heavyweight bullets. It uses a much shorter overall cartridge length, with faster burning powders and higher chamber pressures.

.480 Ruger
The Ruger .480 cartridge was developed by Hornady and Ruger came up with a revolver to fire it. The .480 is essentially the short version of the Linebaugh .475. Ruger changed the name from .475 Ruger to .480 Ruger to give the cartridge a unique identity, but the actual bullet diameter is .475 inches, and .480 Ruger cartridges can be chambered and fired in .475 Linebaugh revolvers. It's power lies between the .44 magnum and the .454 Casull so don't let the numbers fool you.

.454 Casull
Developed in 1957, the .454 Casull can deliver a 250 grain (16 g) bullet with a muzzle velocity of over 1900 feet per second (580 m/s), developing more than 2000 ft lbs (2,700 J) of energy, although energy levels from common .454 revolvers with 7-8 inch barrels are typically somewhat lower (1,600-1,700 ft/lb). The round is primarily intended for hunting medium or large game and metallic silhouette shooting.

.460 S&W
Introduced in 2005, the .460 Smith and Wesson cartridge has the same diameter as a .45 Colt or .454 Casull, and therefore revolvers chambered for it will also chamber the .454 Casull and .45 Colt.

(left to right) .45 Colt, .454 Casull, and .460 S&W Magnum ammunition.

The .460 is the highest velocity revolver cartridge in the world, firing bullets at 2330 ft/s (710 m/s) and muzzle energy at ~2400 lbs.. While the .460 is not quite as powerful as its big brother the .500, the .460 is said to be more accurate at long distances due to the bullet's straighter trajectory, thereby making the round more suitable for hunting slightly smaller game at longer ranges.

.475 Linebaugh
John Linebaugh brought forth his big .475 revolver cartridge in 1988. Today, the .475 Linebaugh has been legitimized as a factory load, and Freedom Arms, who chambers their deluxe single action Model 83 5-shot revolver for the cartridge.

The .475 Linebaugh is, for now at least, probably the best chambering available for the most power in such a compact package. It is an excellent compromise between the velocity of the .454 Casull and the bullet weight and diameter of the .500 Linebaugh. The .475 Linebaugh also seems to be an inherently accurate cartridge. Unfortunately, the guns that fire this round are limited to a few makers and the costs to obtain these are very high.

The factory load uses a 400-grain bullet at a MV of 1300 fps and ME of 1501 ft. lbs.

_______________________________________________________________

Now we enter the .50 caliber range. The are quite a few different makes of the .50 such as S&W, Beowulf, Linebaugh, Wyoming Express, and the Action Express. Who knew there were so many choices!

Cartridge comparison (left to right): .44 Magnum, .50 Beowulf, .500 Linebaugh, .500 S&W.

.50 Action Express
Was developed in 1988 by Evan Whilden of Action Arms. Among the few commercial handgun cartridges designed that exceed its ballistic performance are the .454 Casull, 460 XVR and the .500 S&W.

.500 Wyoming Express
Developed in 2005, the cartridge is comparable in size to the .50 Action Express, but has higher powder loads and normally a lower velocity. Though not as powerful as the .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum, the .500 Wyoming Express is one of the most powerful handgun calibers available.

.50 Beowulf
It was originally designed to be used in a modified AR-15 .223 semiautomatic rifle, but is now offered for other guns, including Magnum Research's BFR revolver. The .50 Beowulf is approximately the same size as the .500 Smith and Wesson Magnum, though not as powerful.

.500 Linebaugh
The 500 Linebaugh has proved to be a very successful round pushing 500 grain bullets over 1200 fps. Accuracy is outstanding, but recoil can only be described as severe. This cartridge could prove to be an excellent heavy game handgun cartridge and possibly the revolver cartridge suitable for taking African game. These bullets have been found to be excellent performers both in terms of accuracy and penetration.

Like the .475 Linebaugh, the guns that fire this round are limited to a few makers and the costs to obtain these are very high.

.500 S&W Magnum
Introduced in 2003, currently only a handful of models have been introduced that fire this massive caliber, including the X-Frame Model 500 revolver from Smith & Wesson, researchesearch's "BFR" (Biggest, finest revolver), the Taurus Raging Bull and German Janz JTL-E 500. Each holds only five rounds to allow for thicker cylinder walls to accommodate the pressure generated by such a large and powerful cartridge.

The .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum can develop over 2,600 foot-pounds (3.5 kJ) of muzzle energy, nearly three times as much as the 900 ftÂ·lb (1.2 kJ) generated by the .44 Magnum. This is a difference of over 600 foot-pounds (0.8 kJ) of energy more than the .454 Casull, the previous commercial record holder.

Despite initial concerns about recoil, professionals who have tested the caliber have stated its recoil to be less than the Ruger Redhawk chamber in .454 Casull. This is achieved through design features of the Smith & Wesson Model 500, including a muzzle brake, recoil reducing rubber grips, and considerable weight.

Other pistol rounds include: .50 Remington 12.90 (.508), .50 Alaskan. There are larger modern rounds as well, including .577 Tyrannosaur, .600 Nitro Express, .700 Nitro Express.

Conclusion
Overall, I was a little overwhelmed by the firepower that can be generated from a handgun. When taking all the numbers into account, I would select the S&W .460 magnum for performance and that fact that it can fire .45 Colt or .454 Casull rounds. So far, only S&W makes a handgun that can fire this round, but I would expect others to follow suit.

The S&W 460 comes in nine variations. The one shown the Model 460 XVR Revolver - 8 3/8" .

The Linebaugh cartridges (.475 and the .500), Action Express and Wyoming Express - along with the specialty handguns made for these rounds are excellent choices, if you have a deep pocket. The S&W .500 fills in this gap of big bore firepower, with a good selection of firearms like S&W, Taurus, and Magnum Research.

Below are some hand cannon reviews that I was able to locate on the web, enjoy!

Reviews

S&W XVR 460
Guns & Ammo
GunBlast
Louisianasportsman
American Handgunner

S&W 500
Guns & Ammo
GunBlast
Shooting Times

Taurus Raging Bull (S&W .500)
GunBlast

Freedom Arms Model 83 (.475 Linebaugh)
GunBlast

Custom Ruger Bisley revolver (.500 Linbaugh)
GunBlast

Freedom Arms' Model 83 (.500 Wyoming Express)
GunBlast
GunBlast (second article)

The Best 45 Caliber Handguns (non-1911)

2006-09-15T09:24:00.000-07:00

The US military was in the process of replacing the M9 standard military pistol (92F Beretta 9mm) with a new combat pistol (in .45 caliber) model, but recently halted the program (no reason given). This doesn’t mean that the M9s are safe. Some branches of the military and police force are refreshing their arsenal with .45 ACP handguns. Some braches of the military/police force are going back in time to the tried and battle-tested 1911 model 45 ACPs. I do like these guns, but to be honest, we need to look to the present/future models being researched and developed by gun makers such as HK, Sig Sauer, S&W, and Beretta (to name a few).

The current model M9s (Beretta 92F) were scheduled for replacement under the Future Handgun System, which was merged with USSOCOM's SOF Combat Pistol program to create the Joint Combat Pistol (JCP) program. The JCP winner was specified as having a number of new features; chambered for .45 ACP, an integrated rail, Day/Night sights, and capable of accepting a sound suppressor. In early 2006, the JCP program was renamed Combat Pistol and seemingly split from the Army program.

On March 10, 2006 a modification to the earlier request was made, changing the name from Joint Combat Pistol to Combat Pistol. The number of pistols sought was reduced from 645,000 handguns to 50,000. This basically reverted back to the SOF Combat Pistol program in terms of its scale, as the Army dropped its participation. [1] In Fall of 2006, the Combat Pistol (CP) program was suspended indefinitely.

Many military and law enforcement organizations in the United States continue to use (often modified) M1911A1 pistols because they favor the stopping power of the .45 cartridge and the superior handling of the weapon in close fighting – as tested over the past wars. Marine Force Recon, LA Police SWAT, the FBI Hostage Rescue Team and 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta (Delta Force) are among the units that use a 45 ACP pistol.

The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) issued a requirement for a .45 ACP handgun (the OHWS trials). This resulted in the Heckler & Koch OHWS becoming the MK23 Mod 0 Offensive Handgun Weapon System. On May 1, 1996, the first HK MK 23 pistols were delivered to the US Special Operations Command for operational deployment, making the MK 23 the first .45 ACP pistol to enter American military service since the venerable Government Model 1911A1. This pistol is used by Navy SEALs and the Army Special Forces.

Because of the renewed interest in the 45, I decided to list five top handguns in the market today or soon will be that are non-customized, and are basically off the shelf accessible. I excluded pistols that were high in cost, have a threaded barrel, and are a derivative of the 1911 model.

HK USP (and variants)
This gun is INCREDIBLY accurate out of the box and completely reliable. One of the most important features of the USP is the mechanical recoil reduction system. This system is incorporated into the recoil/buffer spring assembly, located below the barrel. Designed primarily to buffer the slide and barrel and reduce recoil effects on the pistol components, the system also lowers the recoil forces felt by the shooter.

Pros: Incredibly accurate, very well made, very reliable, very comfortable, light and concealable, can handle .45 super, lifetime warranty.

Cons: INCREDIBLY expensive, HK customer dis-service

The NEW HK45

The new HK45 is based on the proven USP45 family, and refinements of the P2000 series as well. The HK45 design was based on the USP45 because of the reilable design which had proven capable of functioning even without lubricant!

Along with the features on the USP45 and P2000, the HK45 features replaceable backstraps to adjust the size and feel to a shooter's comfort, and a ten round magazine. It sports a five inch barrel , and is designed to handle standard pressure and +P .45 ACP ammunition while having a 20,000 round minimum service life.

Production models should be available late this year or early in 2007.

Sig Sauer P220 (and variants)
First introduced in the 1970’s, the SIG P220 is one of the best balanced .45's there is. It is a stagger stack design with an 8 round capacity (a 10 round magazine is available); and it is available in nearly a dozen configurations. There is also a compact version (P245) that is well liked for concealed carry.

The company recently introduced five new variations of the P220 . They include the P220R DAK, P220 Match, P220R Carry Two-Tone SAO, and the P220R Equinox. The newst version is the P220 Combat, available after August 2006. It was designed to meet, and exceed, rigorous military standards. Each pistol features the military’s Flat Dark Earth finish on its alloy frame and SIG’s Nitron over a stainless slide. Internal parts and controls are coated or phosphated for extreme corrosion resistance and reduced friction while the barrel is hard chromed and finished in Nitron which easily passes the military’s accuracy requirements – even after 20,000 rounds. The P220 Combat also passes the military’s 240-hour salt spray corrosion test. Additional features include a true M1913 Picatinny rail, vertical front strap serrations and SIGLITE® night sights.

Pros: Extremely well made, great fit and finish, great balance, very accurate, very reliable.

Cons: Stock magazine only hold 8 rounds.

S&W 990L
Closely related to the Walther P99, the Smith & Wesson SW99 (introduced in 2005) is a joint venture between S&W and Walther, who produces a modified receiver in Germany, and Smith & Wesson, who fabricates the slides and barrels in the USA. (Walther doesn’t offer a P99 in .45 caliber). It’s a flawless performer, accurate, and comfortable to shoot.

When S&W created the new M&P, they took many attributes from the 99 and incorporated them into the M&P. The company invested a lot of R&D into the M&P, and when it is offered in the 45 ACP, it will be considered a top three handgun. Click HERE to view the M&P in action.

Pros: A great combination of American and European gun makers. Well made, great balance, very accurate, very reliable.

Cons: Waiting for the M&P to be 45 ACP.

Glock 21
I’ve included the Glock because you really can’t ignor it. Because of its large frame size, its grip is too large for many people but is well suited for those with larger hands. The GLOCK 21 has undergone 3 major revisions since its introduction and current models are called 3rd generation GLOCK 21s. I personally don’t like the look of it, its too blocky and needs to revised again.

Pros: Well made (though often rough always functional), accurate, EXTREMELY reliable, 10rd capacity.

Cons: Rough finish (but tough), heavy, VERY bulky, and slightly unweildy, trigger, plastic, and ugly.

CZ 97B
Introduced in 1997, this is a big gun, built like a tank with fit and finish like a SIG. Superb accuracy and low recoil (due to its size). Because it was designed around S&B hardballs, there have been some cases of the weapon being ammunition selective, meaning its jams with some hollow point rounds, but once you break it in, this problem should not re-occur.

Pros: Well made, accurate, great fit and finish, price.

Cons: Selective ammunition.

Going Ballistic

2006-09-13T09:09:00.000-07:00

For some, this might be a re-fresher course, for others, an educational experience. We’re talking about ballistics, specifically for the handgun. Below is the conclusion from an article written by the FBI titled “Handgun Wounding and Effectiveness” written in 1989.

Physiologically, no caliber or bullet is certain to incapacitate any individual unless the brain is hit. Psychologically, minor or small caliber wounds can incapacitate some individuals. Those individuals who are stimulated by fear, adrenaline, drugs, alcohol, and/or sheer will and survival determination may not be incapacitated even if mortally wounded.

The will to survive and to fight despite horrific damage to the body is commonplace on the battlefield, and on the street. Barring a hit to the brain, the only way to force incapacitation is to cause sufficient blood loss that the subject can no longer function, and that takes time. Even if the heart is instantly destroyed, there is sufficient oxygen in the brain to support full and complete voluntary action for 10-15 seconds.

Kinetic energy does not wound. Temporary cavity does not wound. The much-discussed "shock" of bullet impact is a fable and "knock down" power is a myth. The critical element is penetration. The bullet must pass through the large, blood bearing organs and be of sufficient diameter to promote rapid bleeding. Penetration less than 12 inches is too little, and, in the words of two of the participants in the 1987 Wound Ballistics Workshop, "too little penetration will get you killed." Given desirable and reliable penetration, the only way to increase bullet effectiveness is to increase the severity of the wound by increasing the size of hole made by the bullet. Any bullet that will not penetrate through vital organs from less than optimal angles is not acceptable. Of those that will penetrate, the edge is always with the bigger bullet.

A very good and blunt statement regarding the effectiveness of a handgun. Some major (and common sense) points from the article …

Bullet placement is critical
Bigger bullets are more effective
The deeper a bullet penetrates, the better.
Never underestimate your opponent(s).

Caliber Selection

The information below was obtained from chuckhawks.com website and discusses types of ammunition and user preference. There are a number of considerations when it comes to caliber choice:

Terminal performance (will it stop an attacker)
Firepower (choice of caliber)
Availability (is the ammo readily available)
Price

Size can deceptive, the 38 Special and 357 magnum rounds look large in comparison to the other handgun rounds. However, the 38 Special delivers about the same Kinetic Energy* (KE) as the .380, and the .357 magnum's performance is matched by the physically smaller .357 SIG. The chunky .45's KE is also less than that delivered by the 357 SIG or 40, and only marginally higher than that of the much smaller 9mm.

No matter what others may say, no caliber is more accurate than the rest. In reality, all are capable of more than adequate accuracy when used in firearms of reasonable quality and user skill - accuracy is more a function of the gun/user than of the caliber.

Like most things in life, caliber selection is a compromise. Would you prefer to have a smaller caliber holding 16 rounds, or a similarly sized handgun with 8 rounds of a larger caliber? For many, the benefits of double firepower far outweigh any terminal ballistic benefit provided by the larger caliber.

Muzzle blast and noise may be an important consideration. The 357 magnum and 357 SIG rounds are especially loud. If you intend to use a small gun, then the more potent calibers may yield too much recoil to be comfortable - recoil forces are proportional to KE produced.

A light bullet will develop more kinetic energy than a heavy one, because the speed of the bullet is greater. Which means you get a flatter trajectory. Also, it'll tend to travel further. However, the heavier bullet will transfer more energy to the target when it hits.

Also, lighter loads have less felt recoil than a heavy load. High velocity low mass bullets do not have the knock down power of a high mass low velocity bullet. It really does depend on your application. What the target is. Do you need the faster bullet to travel further through the target than the heavier load's harder hitting, but not as deeply penetrating shot?

* Kinetic energy is energy that a body possesses as a result of its motion. It is formally defined as the

work needed to accelerate a body from rest to its current velocity.

The Perfect CCW Handgun

2006-08-18T06:58:00.000-07:00

I have a few handguns in my collection but I'm not in the profession where I can holster the weapon in clear view or in a state where handguns are the norm (CT). It needs to be hidden, hence my new quest. I need a handgun that is easy to conceal (even during the summer), 100% reliable, affordable, and have enough stopping power. Also, what type of handgun, pistol or revolver? These were my starting points when looking into my new purchase.

One more thing before I continue. The calibers which I selected include .38 special, 9mm and .357 magnum. Anything less, and you start the debate on firing a cap gun (personally, if you need a gun, then anything is better than nothing). Anything more, then you're dealing with a painful weapon to fire and control issues due to the recoil.

After researching various websites, interviewing gun dealers and law enforcement personnel, asking questions on specific gun owners websites - I've narrowed it down and limited to a few good weapons. They are:
S&W 642 - .38+p snub nose revolver ( fully enclosed hammer )
S&W 640 - .357 mag snub nose revolver ( fully enclosed hammer )
Kahr PM9 - 9mm pistol
Glock 26 - 9mm pistol
Kel-Tec P11 - 9mm pistol

All of the above guns have good points and bad, which I'll point below, but they all answer my questions and requests I have above (concealable, stopping power...)

S&W 642
This little snub nose revolver holds 5 rounds of .38 caliber ammo and can handle +P loads. I haven't heard a negative comment about the weapon. Most police officers have this as their primary backup piece, why? Well its 100% reliable, concealible, and shootable. The gun is easy to shoot due to the limited recoil of the .38 ammo used, which is also cheap to purchase. The only real negative is the limited capacity.
Weight: 15oz.
Length: 6 3/8"
Barrel length: 1 7/8"

S&W 640
A little longer than the 642 and calibrated in .357 magnum. Its also a little heavier at 23 oz. which helps control the recol. You can get a lighter piece but you'll lose recoil control due to the hot loads. I included this piece because of the noted stopping power of the .357 magnum caliber plus you can use .38 ammo at the range if you prefer. The negatives relating to this gun are the high cost of the weapon, ammo and limited capacity.
Length: 6 5/8"
Barrel Length: 2 1/8"

If price is an issue and you like revolvers, check out the Taurus line (which is basically a S&W copy). Specifically models 650 and 850.

Now, if you're not into revolvers I have three other choices...

Kahr PM9
The PM9 is a sweet little piece, and I mean little. When I first saw it, I couldn't believe it was a 9mm. It holds up to 7 rounds of this cheap ammo in its16.7 oz compact frame. Its received a lot good press from some very reputable magazines and testers which you can review on Kahr's website. I have also reviewed some negative comments from users stating jamming, stovepipes... Which makes me a little hesitant about it being a 100% reliable weapon. With all handguns, people will bitch about something so you have to take it with a grain of salt. Kahr states you need to run ~200 rounds through the piece to get the gun working smoothly so if you do purchase it make sure you listen to the recommendations and maintain it to the max. I personally like the piece. The only real downfall is the expensive price, aroung $550.
Length: 5.3"
Height: 4.0"
Width: 0.9"
Barrel Length: 3.0"

Reviews
Guns & Ammo
The Gun Rack
Police Magazine
American Rifleman
ShotGun News
Women & Guns

Kel-Tec P11
Very similar in size to the PF-9 but holds upto 10 rounds of 9mm ammo . Its small, powerful and has high capacity. Kel-Tec offers a complete line of accessories for the P-11 (trigger shoes, belt clip, optional gray composite grip frame, grip extension magazine, a steel recoil spring guide rod and much more). One cool thing about this gun is that you can buy a series 59 Smith & Wesson 15 round magazine to increase you shooting time.
Length: 5.6"
Height: 4.3"
Width: 1.0"
Barrel Length: 3.1"

Reviews
GunWeek
MouseGuns
GoldenLoki

Glock 26
The Glock 26 (chambered in 9mm) has been around since 1995 and is the largest of all the subcompacts listed here. The 26 has similar dimentions (height, width) as the othe semi-autos, but is the longest handgun, mainly due to its 3.46 inch barrel. Often referred to as the "Baby Glock," the 26 has created a true and practical autopistol alternative to the standard five-shot snub-nose revolver. Glock also calibers a varierty of subcompacts with the same dimitions as the 26 but in different calibers. They are...
Glock 27 in .40
Glock 28 in .380 Auto
Glock 33 in .357 Sig

When gripped firmly (to avoid limpwrist), this handgun cycles any type of 9mm made without a jam/stovepipe. Its durable, accurate, and concealable. It holds 10 or 12 rounds (dependant upon magazine) and has molded grips. I highly suggest the finger extention for better handling.

Length: 6.29"
Height: 4.1"
Width: 1.18"
Barrel Length: 3.46"

Reviews
Hipowersandhandguns
Chuckhawks

There are many more guns out in the marketplace but I focused only on conceal carry - A gun you can stuff in your shorts or put in a woman's handbag. I omitted other makers due to their high price (over $600) and lack of credible information. Well, thats all for now. Once I get more data, I'll update the site ASAP.

Enjoy!