Drawings by Polish prisoner in Auschwitz (10 PICS)

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March 5, 2015

Amongst the pain, suffering and anguish at Auschwitz, some 100 drawings were created by a Polish prisoner in spite of the dire consequences lurking if the drawings were discovered.

“The art was forbidden in Auschwitz so creating a drawing like that means risking torture, even death, however the art existed here almost from the beginning,” explained Agnieszka Sieradzka, art historian at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.

Franciszek Jaźwiecki drew the faces of his fellow prisoners, and although they varied in age and nationalities, Sieradzka pointed out a very stark similarity among them all.

“The most interesting in these portraits are eyes — a very strange helplessness,” she said, adding that the portraits were often created out of the individual desire for prisoners to have an image.

Sieradzka said she believes Jaźwiecki created the drawings because he knew the historical significance they would one day hold.

Jaźwiecki’s more than 100 portraits are part of a gallery at the Auschwitz-Birkenau museum which features over 2,ooo pieces of art created in Nazi concentration camps.

[CNN]

Source Article from http://www.guns.com/2015/02/24/drawings-by-polish-prisoner-in-auschwitz-10-pics/

Stance: If it’s not working for you, it’s working against you

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GAT Importer

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March 5, 2015

Correct stance can make a big difference in recoil control and speed. Not to mention, it’s the easiest way to look like you know what you’re doing.

Stance may be the least important fundamental of pistol marksmanship since real life may call for you to shoot from a seated, prone, kneeling, squatting, or….you get the picture. That being said, when firing from that standing, facing the target position you’re probably familiar with, a solid stance can enhance accuracy past the first “bang” in multiple-shot sequences.

The advice in this article applies to “isosceles” stance, in which the shooter stands with hips and shoulders squared to the target. In the” Weaver” position, the “support” (non-shooting hand) side of the body is bladed away from the target — and there are grip differences, but that’s beyond the scope of the matter here.

Most modern law enforcement agencies have, over time, adopted the isosceles stance as it is more naturally acquired and the fastest way to get sights onto the target. At least that’s my opinion after watching numerous students in classes where Weaver is the standard of instruction.

When a speed requirement is added, all but the staunchest Weaver-indoctrinated students consistently, and I believe subconsciously, switch to isosceles. There’s no doubt, THEY BOTH WORK.

However, that gun guru who still walks our earth, Jerry Miculek, has done a relatively scientific experiment that seems to put the debate to rest on which stance is faster to acquire. It’s covered in a video he made on revolver shooting. Keep in mind that Miculek’s first rise to shooting stardom was achieved when practically everyone used Weaver.

Now that I’ve lost the readers who dislike isosceles, let’s get on to what this is really about: recoil control, comfort and greater speed through posture, specifically the vertical axis of your body. Here are some guidelines (exceptions are covered after this review of the basics):

Feet: Your stance should start with feet about hip width apart, and either squared to the target or slightly staggered, with the ball of your non-trigger side foot being no farther back than the arch of your shooting-side foot. Shooting may be the only sport in which the proper weight-bearing surface is on the balls of your feet, not on the heels.
Knees: Keep them unlocked and “soft.” If you feel the need to bend them slightly, do.
Pelvis/Hips: The only place you should hold a feeling of tightness is in the psoas muscle, between your pubic bone and navel. Don’t be so tense that breathing feels unnatural or interrupted. Bend forward from the hips.
Torso/Shoulders: The bend in your hips should place your shoulders closer to the target than your hips.
Arms: Are extended straight, with locked wrist joints. Grip is a discussion for another article, as it is critical to good marksmanship.

Some exceptions to the above may be that, during the path to becoming a better shooter, some may find recoil management more comfortable with the non-shooting side foot slightly forward of the other. Others may have injuries or arthritic joints that simply won’t comply with proper technique. If that applies to you, just make everything else as correct as possible.

Typical errors in stance I see, with most new shooters and for some reason virtually every new female shooter, are:

Leaning back. Often because they fear the noise or recoil that originates at the end of their arms, new shooters usually lean backward, shoulders-behind-hips. This accomplishes two unwanted ends: back strain and insufficient recoil control, as every round ratchets the shooter slightly even more backward.

When the lean is corrected and the shooter regains her orientation of leaning slightly toward the target from the hips, the next predictable error is to have…

Softened elbows. It’s as if the shooter is apologizing for taking a more aggressive stance toward the target, so she softens her elbow joints. The least of the inevitable undesirable result of this is poor recoil control. The worst is that she induces a malfunction by not providing adequate resistance to counter the action of the slide, where semi-automatics are concerned.

If you don’t understand that a semi-automatic is a gas-operated system that needs some tension, think of attempting to play a guitar on which the strings are loosely attached on one end. You might get one note or two, but soon that instrument won’t work. The shooter’s firm grip, locked wrist joints and firm elbows are essential to correct function of a semiauto. There I go, drifting into the topic of grip again, because it’s supported by stance.

Homework

To achieve proper stance in your own practice, imagine you’re trying to press the front sight right through the target, but your feet are anchored to the ground at the balls of your feet. Fire a shot, and then more, maintaining this posture before, during and after each shot.

Self-imposed perceptions of appearing too aggressive when leaning forward and pressing he front sight toward the target have no place in good practice. Dispose of those beliefs now if you have them.

There are always exceptions to rules. Shooters whose body mass is sufficient to absorb the recoil of their chosen handgun can often stand stock-straight and shoot accurately. The advice in this article will work for any shooter who is able to stand and shoot, regardless of body size. Keep in mind that, though you may feel awkward at first shooting in a leaning-forward position, your body is more mobile and able to respond quickly from this slightly forward stance.

A correct stance slightly coils the core of your body, making you more nimble and able to respond in a real criminal attack. Shooters who use stock-straight posture may find that, when picking up a larger caliber or higher-recoil weapon than the one they’re used to, their recoil management and ability to get multiple shots off quickly is diminished by the ratcheting action imposed on their lower back by recoil.

Although often met with feelings of awkwardness or skepticism, the shoulders-forward stance will serve you well regardless of the handgun you’re shooting, whether you’re familiar with the gun or not. It can protect your lower back from injury. And who can argue with the fact that you’ll look and shoot better as you match your mechanical structure to fit the function of your gun?

Source Article from http://www.guns.com/2015/02/24/stance-if-its-not-working-for-you-its-working-against-you/

How to shoot a Revolver with world record shooter, Jerry Miculek! (VIDEO)

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GAT Importer

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March 5, 2015

Jerry Miculek shows us the proper revolver technique. A lot of this knowledge can also apply to semi-automatic pistols and handguns as well. He also shows us the differences between the weaver and isosceles techniques.

[ Miculek.com- The Leaders in Gun Control! ]

Vector SMG made from LEGOs (VIDEO)

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GAT Importer

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March 5, 2015

LEGOs may have a suggested age range of 8 to 12-years-old, but that shouldn’t stop any adult from playing with him, especially if you’re building big boy toys, like a submachine gun.

Brandon Allen has made a variety of both creative and totally cool creations out of the interlocking brick system (Check out his entire gallery here). Allen’s works of art include helicopters, Humvees and, of course, guns!

This Vector SMG made by Allen not only looks awesome, but is fully functioning as well – in this sense that all the parts move as they should. As if that’s not awe-inspiring enough, Allen breaks down the SMG, only to put it back together again.

Source Article from http://www.guns.com/2015/02/23/vector-smg-made-from-legos-video/

Widow shoots, kills intruder a week after getting a gun for self-defense (VIDEO)

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GAT Importer

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March 5, 2015

NBC4i: Columbus, Ohio News, Weather and Sports (WCMH-TV)

One man is dead after he broke into two homes in Columbus, Ohio, early Thursday morning.

Just before 5 a.m., the suspect, who was later identified as 28-year-old Christopher Lee Willis, broke into a home before being chased away by the homeowner. In an effort to escape, Willis broke a second-story window and jumped from the roof.

Willis then ran across the street to the home of Sharon Jessee, where he broke another window and attempted to get inside. Jessee, who was asleep on the couch and was awakened by sound of glass shattering, grabbed a gun and fired several shots, striking Willis.

A call was placed to 911 and the caller reportedly told the dispatcher, “She shot him. She shot him good.”

Willis was transported to the hospital, but died about two hours later.

Buck Jessee said he was concerned about his widowed mother being safe and bought her a gun for protection just last week.

“Just like this situation right here,” Buck told a local NBC affiliate. “That’s why I bought it.”

Jessee’s daughter, Robin Catalfina, said she can’t believe that her mother shot and killed someone, but she feels her mother acted appropriately.

“She’s been through a lot and she’s definitely not going to let someone go into her house and take what she’s got or harm her,” Catalfina said. “She will protect herself and she did.”

The case is still under investigation, but at this point, authorities do not expect any charges to be filed against Jessee, as it appears she acted in self-defense.

Investigators do not yet have a motive for the break-ins, but Sgt. David Sicilian, homicide squad supervisor with the Columbus Police Department, called Willis’ behavior “kind of bizarre.”

None of the residents in the neighborhood were acquainted with Willis.

According to The Columbus Dispatch, this was the second fatal defensive shooting in the city so far this year. In 2014, Columbus saw a total of five homicides which were deemed self-defense.

NBC4: Columbus, Ohio News, Weather, and Sports (WCMH-TV)

Source Article from http://www.guns.com/2015/02/23/widow-shoots-kills-intruder-a-week-after-getting-a-gun-for-self-defense-video/

Lawmaker pushes to make filing false ‘gun violence restraining order’ a felony

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GAT Importer

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February 26, 2015

With California’s unique new law in place that allows for gun confiscations from those thought at risk, a state lawmaker wants to make sure it’s not abused.

The law in question, which passed the state legislature as AB 1014 last year, provides a framework for the temporary seizure of guns from an individual at the request of their family or friends.

It was implemented following an attack in Isla Vista, California, that gun control advocates advised could have been prevented under the new procedure, which allows firearms to be confiscated for up to a year if an order is granted. However, Assemblymember Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, is concerned that it is too easy to abuse.

“Law abiding gun owners should never have to fear their rights can be stripped away because an angry ex or neighbor wants to get even,” noted Melendez on the legislation in a post on social media.

Melendez’s solution is to temper the use of the new law by making it a felony to file false reports seeking gun violence restraining orders. Her bill, AB 225, was introduced Feb. 3. It would make filing a request for an order using knowingly false information felony perjury under state law, which would mandate a punishment of up to four years in prison.

California’s gun violence restraining order law was criticized during its legislative process by groups ranging from the National Rifle Association to the Liberal Gun Owners Association who criticized the low evidentiary standards and potential to dissuade troubled individuals from seeking medical treatment.

“The AB 1014 Gun Violence Restraining Order laws are nothing but a minefield for innocent Californians and actually incentivize abuse by anti-gun radicals,” Brandon Combs, president of the Firearms Policy Coalition told Guns.com via email. The FPC strongly supports AB 225, which they see as a first step to correcting “numerous terminal deficiencies” in the current law.

“Assembly member Melendez deserves credit for introducing language to protect law-abiding gun owners from harassment and the loss of their fundamental Constitutional rights,” Combs said. “We are cautiously optimistic that other members will follow her lead and work to correct AB 1014’s other unconstitutional and dangerous flaws.”

Since its adoption in California last year, similar measures were proposed in Virginia, New York, Washington State and in the U.S. House without gaining traction. However, U.S. Rep. Lois Capps, D-California, has resubmitted a federal bill with the support of Isla Vista victim survivors.

Melendez’s bill is set to be heard in committee March 6.

Source Article from http://www.guns.com/2015/02/09/lawmaker-pushes-to-make-filing-false-gun-violence-restraining-order-a-felony/

Rubber band gun warfare done right (6 pics)

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GAT Importer

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February 26, 2015

Bringing you a tasteful way to shoot a rubber band in a fellow sixth graders eye, Elastic Precision makes realistic wooden replicas of the gun world’s favorites. Depending on the model and finish, guns run from $20 to $80.

[ ElasticPrecision ]

Source Article from http://www.guns.com/2015/02/08/rubber-band-gun-warfare-done-right-6-pics/

Kel-Tec’s new second generation Sub 2000

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GAT Staff

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February 16, 2015

Kel-Tec’s Sub 2000 carbine has a cult-following that rivals the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Everyone who fires one loves it, and for good reason. The ultra-simple folding-design coupled with its ability to use existing, plentiful handgun magazines make it a great companion to a pistol in the same caliber.

Praised everywhere for it’s light-weight construction and unstoppable reliability, the Sub 2000 does have a few drawbacks. The one most owners complained about was the weapon’s lack of railed handguards. After 14 years, Kel-Tec is ready to add them to the Sub 2000 with its generation two model.

The rail isn’t simply a picatinny set up, the sides feature Magpul M-lok slots for attaching whatever device a shooter desires without covering the entire weapon in cumbersome rail segments. The other major addition, is the gator-style grip found on all new Kel-Tec pistols.

Buyers worried that Kel-Tec intends to raise the price can rest easy knowing they intend to keep the original’s MSRP of $409. One benefit to the rail that few have recognized, is how it resembles a shrunken down MG42 ventilated handguard.

Look for the second generation Sub 2000 Summer of 2015.

Source Article from http://www.guns.com/2015/01/28/kel-tecs-new-second-generation-sub-2000/

Review: KKM Precision Glock Match Drop in Barrel

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GAT Staff

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September 5, 2014

By Major Pandemic

There should be no arguments that 3Gun competitions have lit the custom gun market on fire for shotguns, AR-15s, and pistols. Glock has been and will continue to be a perennial favorite handgun to run and customize for competitions. The Glock format has also become a favorite for high-end custom gun shops such as Salient, but the home gunsmith can still do a ton to customize their Glock with just a steel punch. One of the most popular upgrades is to switch barrels to increase accuracy and add the ability to shoot non-jacketed bullets for practice.

There is a huge variety of aftermarket barrels available for the Glocks, but one of the most revered replacement barrels by the 3Gun crowd is KKM Precision.

My new 9mm extended and compensated KKM Match barrel was added to my already absolutely outstanding Salient International tweaked and tuned Glock 17 which now also features a ALG Defense Glock Magazine well, Tier 1 Salient Trigger, and +2 Glock Magazine extensions on all my mags.

Fit, feel, finish, and features

The first thing to get out of the way in this review is that swapping barrels on a Glock is something your average Glock owner could do in a pitch black room. Disassemble the Glock as you would for cleaning by clearing the gun, dry firing, pull down on the slide releases, remove the slide, pull out the spring and the barrel drops out. Drop in the new upgraded KKM barrel and reassemble – Done! My model has a threaded barrel which can be left exposed or tipped with a compensator, as I did.

So what do you get with an upgraded match quality Glock barrel from KKM? There is definitely a huge variety of aftermarket barrel manufacturers out there, however, what sets KKM barrels apart is the high degree of precision and fit. The KKM barrels dimensionally have a tighter fit than the Glock barrels, which delivers a tighter lockup than the stock barrel. The chamber itself is also a little tighter and is button rifled vs Glock’s normal hex rifling. The later two features deliver improved accuracy, but there is a trade off.

From a dependability level, the KKM barrels are still very reliable and function perfectly with in factory spec rounds, but I noted with the 9mm barrel used in this build that the KKM barrel would not feed some of my 9mm “turds” (sloppy reloads) where the stock barrel chews through them just fine.

The button rifling also delivers a trade off. The primary reason Hex rifling was developed was to deliver consistent performance and reliability across a huge variety of ammo, however that all around rifling flexibility does not produce the best accuracy with tight toleranced ammo.

The higher precision button rifling allows shooters to practice with inexpensive bullets, where the stock Hex rifling begins to clog/lead up and is therefore not recommended by Glock. With the KKM barrel and jacketed bullets, the button rifling delivers improved accuracy, but those benefits will only show themselves with high quality premium match jacketed rounds.

Cast and inexpensive low tolerance jacketed bullets actually delivered worse groups for me than the stock barrel, but you can at least practice with them. On the other hand, high quality jacketed bullets, such as those from Hornaday and Sierra delivered the best groups I have ever seen out of any Glock. Think of the KKM barrel as a high end sports car. Sure you can go fast running E85, but the engine is designed for premium fuel and delivers big rewards when fed high test fuel. Feed the KKM barrel with great ammo and you get outstanding groups.

KKM offers a broad variety of barrels for a number of popular competition pistols including Glock. in addition to drop in replacement barrels, they also offer extended, threaded, and compensator equipped models such as the extended Glock 17 model shown. They even have drop in conversion barrels which can convert your Glock 10mm to shoot .40 S&W.

The compensated models, such as the one I reviewed on this Salient Glock, features a compensator which screws on the end of the barrel after installation and gun reassembly. The compensator/brake is then indexed and secured via hex grub screws.

One of my observations was that the hotter the round, the more effect the compensator had on keeping the muzzle down. With lower powered or fast burning powders, there really is not enough gas to make the compensator work properly. As an example, I shot identical rounds side, by side with a stock Glock 17 in one hand and this Salient Glock 17 with KKM Barrel and Compensator in the other. WIth lower powered rounds there was a difference, but it was minimal. Moving to hotter loads or longer burning powders, the compensator had enough gas to work with and kept the Salient G17 almost perfectly flat for some really fast follow shots while the stock G17 was really jumping around.

Coincidentally, this is not a problem at all because most active 3 Gunners are running some pretty hot rounds simply because they want to assure the steel targets they hit go down, especially when shooting a 9mm platform.

The KKM barrels are premium performing barrels which look the part as well. The fit and finish on the all stainless KKM barrels are excellent and on a different finish and quality tier compared to basic replacement barrels like those from Lone Wolf.

For practice, inexpensive reloads such featuring the jacketed Berry’s bullets or even cast lead bullets fed and functioned perfectly as long as they were in spec. Having the ability to shoot cast bullets is a huge benefit to having a cut rifled barrel around for your Glocks. I am not sure your need a high end KKM barrel to do that, however its a great idea to practice with the same barrel you intend on competing with.

Final thoughts

The KKM barrel is designed to offer the shooter running premium ammo or premium reloads, the best accuracy one can hope for in a Glock format. Yes, with the right ammo, your Glock can consistently deliver sub-1″ 25-yard groups off a rest with a KKM barrel. I have done it more than once with Winchester and Hornady rounds.

Would I run a KKM barrel in a defensive pistol? Nope – because I want even the worse beat up ammo to work each and every time in a defensive pistol barrel, and I will trade off the precision for reliability. However, the beauty of the Glock platform is that I can swap back and forth between barrels in under minute from competition to carry and back again. If you want to compete, or think you might, I would suggest sending you Glock 17 to Salient for a workover and new trigger and just drop in a KKM barrel when needed. You will have the best Glock carry package available and when needed the best accuracy money can buy in a Glock when you just swap over to the KKM barrel.

Specs

All KKM barrels are made using certified 416R gun-barrel quality stainless steel bar stock. These barrels are then heat treated and vacuum tempered to 45 RC. All of our barrels are CNC machined to obtain superior dimensional tolerances over stock. Because of our advanced proprietary button rifling process, all KKM barrels offer greater accuracy over stock barrels. Our Glock barrels come with fully supported SAAMI spec. match chambers for shooting factory or reloaded ammunition.

KKM Precision
Glock 9mm Compensator
Part # G17B1C
$285 Including Shipping

SOURCES
KKM – http://www.kkmprecision.com/

Salient Glock 17 – http://www.salientarmsinternational.com/

Via:: Review: KKM Precision Glock Match Drop in Barrel

SIG unveils new 14+1 .45 ACP P227 TACOPS

By

GAT Staff

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September 5, 2014

We here at GAT and 248Shooter are huge fans of the Sig line. We have done reviews on several others such as the P938 and 1911 Tacops versions. We are looking forward to getting our hands on one of these P227 Tacops versions in the near future but enjoy the below review in the meantime.

By Max Slowik

The TACOPS package comes with 14+14+14+14+1 rounds of .45 ACP. (Photo: SIG/Facebook)

SIG Sauer just shared photos of its newest P227, the Tactical Operations or TACOPS. And at long last, SIG is bringing extended 14-round for their double-stack .45 ACP P227s to the market — and the TACOPS will come with four of them.

Announced late 2012, SIG launched the P227 in 2013 with 10-round magazines, maintaining that 14-rounders would be available down the road. That day is finally on the horizon now that the magazines are in production for the TACOPS and other P227s.

The TACOPS is based on the full-size P227 but features a lot of tweaks and changes that are sure to make this .45 very popular.

The biggest change is the grips. Instead of the newer E2-style single-piece grips, the TACOPS uses more traditional-looking “Classic” grips. They are constructed from G10 composite and form an extended magwell for fast reloads. The frame is also built with an extended beavertail for a high grip.

There are a few tweaks to the slide, including short forward slide serrations for press checks and other tactical maneuvers fitting the TACOPS brand. The slide has standard SIGLite night sights at the rear but with a Truglo TFO tritium fiber-optic hybrid front sight.

A quick overview of the TACOPS extras. (Photo: SIG/Facebook)

The TACOPS uses SIG’s enduring double-action, single-action operation with a decocker but instead of the regular trigger the P227 TACOPS is upgraded with a Short Reset trigger as well as a slim Short Trigger to offset the larger frame of the handgun.

While SIG does not have a product page listed for the TACOPS we expect it to have specifications similar to the Nitron model, weighing in at around 32 ounces with its alloy frame. Apart from the forward slide serrations it uses the same slide and same 4.4-inch barrel.

This will be the fourth P227 variant following the P227 Nitron, Carry and SAS models. SIG has hinted at other P227 variants including the Tactical, which will come configured with the slim E2 grips, 14-round magazines and an extended, threaded barrel.

The P227 TACOPS has the same MSRP as the 9mm P226 TACOPS, $1,329. Real-world prices are likely to be in the $1,100 range and possibly even under $1,000 after the initial buzz wears off.

Given all the extras including the four magazines we’re sure that plenty of people will find the P227 TACOPS a compelling package. For fans of SIGs and .45 ACP alike, this is going to be at the top of a lot of lists.

And one lucky winner will get a P227 TACOPS for free. SIG is giving away one TACOPS .45 for September’s monthly giveaway. If you’d like to toss your name into the hat head over to the SIG sweepstakes page. For everything else SIG check out their Facebook page.

The post SIG unveils new 14+1 .45 ACP P227 TACOPS appeared first on Guns.com.

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Kimber’s new baby 1911, The Micro Carry

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GAT Staff

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August 19, 2014

By Chris Rumbold

The Kimber Micro Carry is the perfect bite-sized 1911 (Photo: Chris Rumbold)

First unveiled at SHOT Show 2012, Kimber’s new .380 ACP sub-compact 1911 pocket pistol finally offers shooters an alternative to the Colt Mustang, and comes in four different variations. Kimber has a tremendous following, and fans were clamoring for a release date. While the original release date was a few months back, these baby 1911s are now starting to appear in gun stores across the country. When announced, the Kimber Micro Carry tweaked my attention and I was hoping to get my hands on one ASAP. Unfortunately, due to recent political events, manufacturers are focusing their production attention on their core products during the past two years, making this little baby impossible to find. I can tell you though, it was worth the wait!

I got the chance to run a couple of hundred rounds through the Micro a few months ago at a try-and-buy event. Shooting Kimber’s high end, two-tone Custom Shop CDP model with rosewood Crimson Trace laser grips and tritium night sights, left me seriously impressed with the little gun’s accuracy and pointability. Considering its short two and three-quarter inch barrel and slightly-longer sight radius, this little .380 ACP pistol effortlessly pelted the 12-inch steel plate 18 yards down range. At this distance it almost became boringly easy, allowing me to make fast double tap hits and fast six shot strings; going six for six nearly as fast as I could pull the trigger. A big part of this gun’s accuracy results from its crisp, single action trigger. A feature synonymous with Kimber’s full-sized 1911, but welcome surprise on a ultra-compact carry piece. To attain the type of accuracy expected from a full size handgun in a pocket gun is truly impressive, and speaks to Kimber’s raison d’etre for attention to detail and quality.

Kimber’s Micro Carry hungers for more ammo (Photo: Chris Rumbold)

The Kimber Micro Carry isn’t just accurate, it’s also flawlessly reliable; suffering no failures whatsoever. This is especially impressive when you consider this little piece must have digested at least 800 rounds throughout the day. Reliability is vital with any carry gun, but delivering on accuracy as well demonstrates that Kimber is serious about taking on the pocket gun market in a big way.

After the try-and-buy event, I was hooked! I had to have one, so I ordered a Micro and had the joy of collecting it from my local dealer the following week. I chose their all black base model of the Micro Carry. It ships with a matte-black aluminum frame, topped with an ionbond diamond-like carbon (DLC) coated, steel slide, fitted with a stainless barrel.

As every gunny knows, there’s nothing like the anticipation of going to pick up a new gun and un-boxing it for the first time; the Kimber’s packaging doesn’t disappoint. Boxed in a crisp black cardboard box the pistol comes protected by a durable zippered Denier case with an internal mag pouch that holds one magazine. A user manual and a cable lock are also included. The gun came with one six round magazine, eight-rounders for those who like to have a pinky extension, and want the extra capacity, are also available. Along with the gun I ordered a DeSantis carry holster. Kimber has paired up with this holster maker to offer three different versions for the Micro, which are available through Kimber’s webstore.

Kimber’s Ultra CDP II is very similar to the Micro Carry (Photo: kimber1911pistols.com)

In terms of disassembly, the Micro being a mini 1911 comes apart in the same way, making it a breeze to clean and oil. The only difference is when reassembling, users have to remember to push the ejector on the back of the frame down below the slide in order to align the slide back onto the rails.

A carry gun needs to be reliable, easy to shoot and safe to carry, and the Kimber delivers on all these fronts. In terms of safeties, the gun has a firing pin safety block, which prevents the pin from striking a round’s primer until the trigger is pulled. The Micro Carry also features a traditional 1911 thumb safety that allows the gun to be carried, cocked and locked for those who like to carry in condition one. The only difference between the Micro’s thumb safety and the kind found on conventional 1911 pistols is that it doesn’t lock the slide in place. The advantage of this is that it allows shooters to either clear the gun or chamber a round with the safety on.

Kimber’s Micro Carry was born to ride in an IWB holster (Photo: Chris Rumbold)

I’ve always been a big fan of the .45 ACP, subscribing to the theory, bigger is better. However, with the advent of improved, defensive .380 ACP ammunition, the round is coming of age. Anyone used to the function and controls of a 1911, looking for something light weight (the Micro weighs just 13.4 ounces) and concealable, will be impressed with the Micro, as it makes for an easy and familiar transition.

The Micro is a great, high-quality pocket pistol and as such, isn’t cheap. The base model I bought retails for $651, while their top-shelf Custom Shop version, the CDP (LG) with Crimson Trace laser grips and night sights retails for $1406. The two other models, the all stainless and the non laser gripped CDP version, priced in between. While competing designs like the Colt Mustang and the SIG P238, in my view, Kimber’s Micro Carry is possibly the finest pocket pistol on the market today.

The post Kimber’s new baby 1911, The Micro Carry appeared first on Guns.com.

Via:: Kimber’s new baby 1911, The Micro Carry

H&K Heckler & Koch P30L 9mm Pistol Review

By

GAT Staff

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July 3, 2014

By Major Pandemic

I have always wanted a $1100 H&K pistol about the same way I have always wanted a BMW 7 series. In reality, there are many cars far less expensive which can deliver the utility of the BMW, but with the Beemer, you get a style and exclusivity which many cannot afford. I still do not have the $85K for a low end 7 Series, but I decided to plop down the cash for the H&K P30L after seeing it at SHOT show 2014.

Beyond the exclusivity of the H&K brand and style, one of the main features which grabbed my attention was the simple but effective rear decocker. Other features that sealed the deal include the H&K trigger guard magazine release,which I have become a huge fan of, as well as the outstanding ergonomics. In many ways this H&K P30L delivers a nearly identical ergonomic experience as the Walther PPQ M2 which I am totally enamored with, but it does it with H&K style and features.

About H&K – Heckler & Koch

Obviously, as a German company, Heckler & Koch’s history dates back prior to WWII as a defense manufacturer, but at the end of the war, the company was disbanded. In 1946 the company was reformed as H&K, initially as a bicycle and sewing machine manufacturer, but by the 1950s, the company was back at it developing firearms and weapons. Since that time, H&K has consistently been on the bleeding edge of firearms designs.

Some designs put them on the map as a top tier firearms manufacturer and design house… others not so much. One such idea that never took off was a ceaseless ammunition rifle and ammo. Basically the powder was compressed in a manner which allowed it to durably function as it’s own case. H&K was the first to develop this caseless select fire rifle, which I am still not sure why it was not insanely popular with the military folks. Perhaps it was too cutting edge of an idea, and it begs the question if someone offered a Star Wars Blaster, would the military reject it just because it does not look like an M4. H&K was also the first to develop hexagonal rifling which many companies now use to improve accuracy and reliability across a diverse array of ammo.

Successful cutting edge designs obviously include Heckler & Koch delayed roller sub-machine guns and pistols, but for the general populace they also had some edgy designs which were still very successful. From a pistol perspective, I thought the polymer VP70 Volks introduced in 1970 with a stunning 18-round capacity was one of the most futuristic production pistols I had ever seen, and it still remains futuristic looking today over thirty years later. The pistol was initially hot because of the huge capacity and followed with an amazing 29-year production life.

The collectable HK P7 with its squeeze cocking device is still a gun a lust after even though they are going for more than this new HK P30L. Meanwhile, companies like Colt and Springfield are just recently getting into polymer pistols. So you get the idea that H&K are innovators and this HK P30L is one of H&K’s newest designs.

Fit, finish, and features

The P30 series has been an enormous success for H&K with the military and police as a solid reliable pistol platform which delivers H&K innovative features in a design which is not too unfamiliar/strange when compared to other pistols. Plainly put, the P30 series is not so cutting edge that no one wants to adopt it and features just enough H&K cool stuff to deliver more than the the rest of the polymer pistols on the market.

The fit and finish are excellent as you would expect. The molding is well defined and precise around all areas of the pistol. This pistol is offered in a number of versions and calibers. The P30L is basically a 1/2″ longer barreled version of H&K’s very popular P30 designed with the addition of the “L” on this model. Beyond the barrel length, the P30 and P30L are identical and can share all accessories, holsters and magazines. Essentially, the H&K P30L is the same size as a standard Glock G17 but with a 15-round capacity versus zone G17′s 17-round capacity. The H&K P30L is infinitely more comfortable for me than… well, any other pistol with the exception of the PPX and PPQ Walther pistols.

I know I have bantered on my soapbox that the comfort of a defensive pistol is secondary as long as it not uncomfortable, but this is a different type of purchase. I don’t need leather and hand burnished burl wood in my car either, but you tend to expect certain things in a high end car and a high end pistol.

For a retail price tag about twice that of most other similar full sized 9mm pistols, you expect refinement and that is exactly what the H&K P30L delivers. Unlike my Uber comfy Walther PPQ, the H&K P30L features three sets of Small, Medium, and Large back straps and grips to tune the already incredibly comfortable grip to your perfect wide and backstrap feel. I spent the better part of an hour playing Gun Barbies with the grips and settled on the medium side panel and back straps initially already installed on the H&K from the factory. Mrs. Pandemic found that the large grips for her very long fingers fit her best. From a car perspective, I suppose this would be the equivalent to playing around the seat height, angle, and lumbar support on supple leather seats of a BMW 7-Series… or so I imagine.

The P30L is beefier than the Glock and marginally heavier, with a more substantial breach and thicker bits here and there in key stress areas. The design team added a slip-on buffer to the recoil spring and guide rod which in theory increases service life and shooter enjoyment. The H&K P3-L was the softest shooting between a side-by-side testing of a Glock 19, Walther PPQ, and H&K, but the difference was not significant.

Beyond sheer durability, one notable feature is the H&K paddle magazine release. The rationale for this release is that is greatly reduces a jam/condition 1 loose magazine pistol failure caused by the mag release button being accidentally hit in the holster or during the draw stroke. Another reason is that the paddle mag release provides true ambidextrous magazine release features even if the pistol is transitioned to the weak hand during fire.

In some cases, I could see that this release could actually be faster than a standard release because you trigger finger can drop the magazine without a hand reposition while you reach for the mag, but that would require completely re-training oneself to use this feature efficiently. The reality is that with fifteen rounds on tap, it is statistically unlikely that you will ever need to reload your firearm in a gunfight, and in that situation you would be best served with the pistol magazine fully seated and somewhat protected from accidental release.

The pistol is fully ambidextrous with dual slide releases, magazine release levers, and a serrated decocking button located on the rear of the frame. H&K designed the extractor to also serve as a loaded chamber indicator, providing a reminder of a loaded chamber that can be subtly seen and felt.

My P30L features luminous (non-radioactive) tubes housed within big beefy looking steel front and rear sights which worked just fine during day and night testing. To assure you know what is in front of you making that bumping sound in the night, the pistol provides a pretty long picatinny rail for mounting lasers and tactical flashlights.

All these cool features aside, the biggest feature for me is the double action and single action capabilities of the pistol. Many pistols do this, but most add in some stupid superfluous safety or decock lever which gets in the way and just irritates me as a Glock shooter. That noted, you will at some point need to decock and drop the hammer and the preferable method is a decocking lever to safely drop the hammer. H&K delivers a design which moves this decocking lever from the side of the pistol where it is typically in the way of normal charging and malfunction clearing operations, to the back of the pistol next to the hammer. Once the bad guy is down or your Steel Action Target is all painted silver, you can just reach up with your thumb and touch the button on the back of the slide and the hammer drops safely. I love it.

For a full sized defense pistol, I really do like the idea of a that the first shot has a heavier trigger pull and then transitions to a lighter single action trigger pull for follow up shots, but in most cases you need a hammer fired gun to do this. Obviously, if you have the time to cock the hammer first, you are treated to a lightened single action trigger pull which does increase first shot accuracy.

Many manufacturers such as Sig, Beretta, and others still offer hammer fired pistols, but no one moves the damn decocker out of the way. I cannot count how many time my support thumb has pulled the decocker on Sig or S&W instead of the slide release when attempting a speed reload. I am not such and idiot that it happens every time I shoot these pistols, but it happens more than I feel comfortable with, which is on one reason I prefer Sig’s 226SAS model. The Beretta 92F additionally has the problem that you can actually put the gun in safe during a draw, charge, and fire drill especially if you are used to a striker fired pistol. H&K gets the decocker out of the way to the back of the pistol. A small detail, but another level of refinement you see on the H&K P30L.

This is a defensive pistol so it does have some trigger take up, and the trigger reset also is long compared to some striker fired pistols. Compared to the Walther PPQ or a Glock, the H&K P30L trigger pull is a little longer for both the single and double stage, however that is a feel you get with a double action/single action trigger pull. The trigger pull on the P30L is similar to Sigs, Smiths and other similar double action hammer fired pistols. For me if there was a weak point on the pistol, the trigger would be it. I would really like the pistol to have a bit crisper break, but that might be a odd criticize for a pistol designed to assure that when you pull the trigger you mean it in a defensive situation. For a defensive trigger it works, but I would like it to have been more refined.

Function and accuracy

Just like a Glock, I am confident I could use soft turds and dirt clods as bullets and this P30L would feed perfectly, and it did even with real bullets and my reloads (which in some cases are spec-wise close to turds). Accuracy was excellent — a bit better than any of my factory Glocks, Sigs, and Walthers easily delivering 1″ groups at 25-yards off sand bag rests with most .

Final thoughts

If we look at what defines premium, generally German brands are usually on the top of the list. In cars we have brands like BMW and in guns we have brands like H&K. The fit and finish of this pistol is outstanding as are the features packed into the H&K P30L.

Specs

P30L
Caliber 9 mm x 19
Recoil operated weapon with modified Browning locking system and recoil buffer system
Dimensions v3
Overall length 7.56 in.
Overall height 5.43 in.
Overall width w/lever 1.37 in.
Barrel length 4.44 in.
Sight radius 6.42 in.
Weight With magazine 1.72 lb
Magazine 0.20 lb
Magazine capacity 15 Cartridges
Trigger system SA/DA
Trigger pull (N) * 20 + 4/-2 (SA) 51 +/- 5 (DA)
Trigger travel .25 inch (SA) < .55 inch (DA)
Sights Fixed (Open square notch rear sight with contrast points)
MSRP $1100 – Street $900

Via: All Outdoor

Category: &, (WC1500), 9mm, Heckler, HK, Koch, P30L, Pistol

BUIS Are Very Important

By

GAT Staff

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July 1, 2014

By Nicholas C

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Mark Farage is no novice shooter. Mark checked the screws of his RMR to ensure they were properly torqued before he took a course with Ronin Combat Strategies. But during a 6 shot string drill, the screws flew off and so did his RMR. Without missing a beat, Mark managed to continue the drill with […]

H&K VP9

By

GAT Staff

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June 12, 2014

By Nicholas C

Here is a video by H&K showing off the new H&K VP9. The VP9 will use the same mags as the H&K P30. They claim that the VP9 will have a superior trigger over other strikerfire handguns.

The post H&K VP9 appeared first on The Firearm Blog.

Via: The Firearm Blog

Category: Companies, News, Pistols, H&K, P30, VP9

Do You Practice For Malfunctions?

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GAT Staff

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June 9, 2014

By Nicholas C

Dan Dolbee, over at The Shooter’s Log, wrote an article about Immediate Action Drills. Immediate Action Drills is practicing to clear a malfunction. There are times when the unexpected happens and only a few can rise up from a fall like this woman. However how many runners practice falling, getting back up and winning […]