I’ll be honest, I kind of wish I looked this good when I turned 45. Maybe I should have asked Wilson Combat to give me an overhaul like the one done on the CQB model for the company’s 45^th anniversary. All kidding aside, of course, Wilson Combat knows how to commemorate an anniversary in striking fashion and subtle beauty.

The Wilson Combat 45^th Anniversary Special Edition CQB

A throwback to a retro style that built the foundation of Wilson Combat in the late 70s and early 80s, the 45^th Anniversary CQB 1911 has subtle style. The hand-polished carbon steel frame features blue finish coupled with premium, handcrafted desert ironwood grips. The grips have a smooth finish that highlights its amazing grain. 30 LPI checkered front a rear straps also provide excellent retention while firing.

The right side of the slide features “45^th Anniversary” in a classy script just forward of the ejection port. Similarly, the left side features Wilson Combat markings that harken the company’s earlier models. Additionally, the slide includes a coarsely serrated slide top and slide cocking serrations at the rear.

Wilson Combat reverts back to classic custom touches for this 45^th Anniversary piece. For example, it features a retro Bullet Proof Beavertail grip safety. The Swenson-style ambidextrous thumb safety also adds another level of safe handling. Likewise, a traditional Bo-Mar style adjustable rear sight couples with a staked ramp front sight. The pairing provides a sight radius of 6.6-inches.

Chambered in either .45 ACP or 9mm, a retro Commander style hammer sends rounds downrange from an 8- or 10-round magazine. In addition, a contoured magazine well also helps with fast combat reloads.

Editor’s Note:

$4,000 is a lot of money for most people to fork over for a pistol. I’m right there with you. However, if you can afford that kind of cash for something like this, this is a piece you won’t regret. Wilson Combat really stepped up the cool factor by going retro with this anniversary 1911. But, full disclosure, I am a bit of a history geek, so I love retro things. Especially when they are done with modern engineering. Because I also like longevity and enhanced function.

Availability

The Wilson Combat 45^th Anniversary Special Edition 1911 is available now with an MSRP of $4,000. For more info, please visit WilsonCombat.com.

Wilson Combat 45^th Anniversary Special Edition Specifications

Available Calibers: .45 ACP, 9mm
Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds (.45 ACP), 10 rounds (9mm)
Barrel Length: 5 inches
Overall Length: 8.7 inches
Sight Radius: 6.6 inches
Height: 5.6 inches
Width: 1.3 inches
Weight Empty: 40.5 ounces
Weight Loaded: 47.2 ounces
Accuracy Guarantee: 1-inch at 25 yards
MSRP: $4,000

45^th Anniversary Special Edition Features

• Full-Size Carbon Steel Frame with Polished Sides of Frame and Wilson Combat Deluxe Blue Finish
• 30 LPI Checkered Frontstrap
• Contoured Magazine Well
• Retro Bullet Proof® Beavertail Grip Safety
• Retro Commander Hammer
• Ambidextrous Thumb Safety #192
• 3 ½# – 4 ½# Crisp Trigger Pull with Long Length Pad (Three Hole)
• Bullet Proof® Magazine Release
• Desert Ironwood, Beveled Bottom, Grips
• 5” Carbon Steel Slide with Polished Sides of Slide and Wilson Combat Deluxe Blue Finish
• Bo-Mar Style Rear Sight with Black Serrated Front Sight
• Full-Length Guide Rod
• 5” Stainless Match Grade Barrel and Bushing, Hand Fit
• Rear Forward Angled Cocking Serrations
• Course Slide Top
• MSRP: $4,000

Back in 2004, I purchased a Para-Ordnance P10. The 1911 is my favorite pistol platform, and I naturally gravitate toward those with higher capacities because I want as much firepower as possible. Hell, I’d carry a rifle everywhere if it were practical. I’d started with a larger P14 Limited and was very satisfied with it until I really settled on Commander-sized pistols because of their speed, handling and balance. So, to round out my stable, I also wanted a compact, hence the Para P10.

Out of the box, the P10 delivered good combat accuracy, an acceptable trigger and ran reliably. However, I thought the cycling was a bit choppy with Federal’s 230-grain Hydra-Shok JHPs. I called Para and discussed this with one of the company’s gunsmiths. Then, I ended up sending it in to fix the cycling issues. It came back from the shop running as smoothly as I’d hoped.

In stock form, the P10 is a handy little 1911. It has a stainless-steel slide and frame, making it substantial enough to effectively grip while carrying 10+1 rounds of .45 ACP ammo. Despite that capacity; however, the gun has a relatively small footprint for concealment. All told, the P10 has a 3-inch barrel, an overall length of 6.5 inches, a height of 4.5 inches and an unloaded weight of 31.5 ounces. And if you’re wondering about the handling qualities of such a small, stubby pistol, I shared the same concerns — until I shot an IDPA match with the P10 after having shot the P14 consistently before that. Much to my surprise, I really couldn’t tell the difference in my shooting performance during the match. In my experience, the little P10 handles just fine.

Accurate Upgrades

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One night, while perusing 1911s on an internet forum, I came across Mike Cyrus of Accurate Iron in Jones, Okla. After a bit of good-natured banter, Mike made a suggestion. He said, “You need to get your hands on an Accurate Iron pistol.”

Mike gave me his phone number, and we discussed a custom project. My candidate for customization was the little Para P10. I told him I wanted a checkered frontstrap, an action job and tuning for reliability. I left the rest up to him. So, I sent the gun away and waited a few weeks for it to return.

Upon Return

One thing that became apparent when I got the pistol back is that Mike is a master metal worker. The checkered frontstrap I’d requested was there; he’d cut out a small section and then TIG-welded a 20-lpi replacement into position before blending it flawlessly into the frame. In fact, it looks like a factory job. (Remember, this pistol was made long before Para started offering checkered frontstraps.) The beavertail grip safety was also re-fitted and blended into the frame. Also, grooves were added to the memory bump.

Mike flattened the top of the slide and gave it serrations to help reduce glare. Mike also gave the whole pistol a carry-bevel treatment with French cuts along the slide. The ejection port was also lowered and flared, and the old GI-style extractor was retained but tuned. Finally, Mike replaced the sights with a set of Dawson Precision fiber-optic units. The rear unit has a ledge for one-handed slide racking.

Mike polished the barrel and gave it a deep crown. He also modified the slide stop and installed an Ed Brown thumb safety. Additionally, he beveled the magazine release and re-cut the Smith & Alexander arched mainspring housing I’d added to make it flat. Then Mike tuned the pistol for reliability and installed a Cylinder & Slide Super Match trigger with a crisp break. Due to Para’s proprietary sear spring, the slot for the C&S spring was re-cut in the grip frame.

Mike cleaned up the exterior of the pistol, removing any casting and machining inconsistencies, before giving the entire Para P10 a black nitride finish. When I got the pistol back, I only made one more change: I had my brother, Greg, inlay a set of Para medallions into the grip panels.

Back In Action

When the P10 came back, it had improved aesthetics and the pistol’s feel had changed. This was mainly due to the checkered frontstrap, which provides an outstanding gripping surface. Another feature that became obvious while dry-firing was the vastly improved trigger. With about 0.13 inches of take-up before hitting the “wall,” and barely perceptible creep, the trigger breaks at a crisp 2.75 pounds. There’s also no discernable overtravel.

During my first range session, the pistol cycled smoothly with all of the ammunition I tried. Additionally, the improved grip made a noticeable difference in controlling muzzle flip. Whether firing slowly from a bench or rapidly during drills, I didn’t experience a single hitch in functioning. Firing from a benchrest at 25 yards, the pistol shot to the point of aim or slightly lower. Acquiring the fiber-optic sights in daylight was quick and natural.

Accuracy

Using Champion VisiColor targets to shoot five-shot groups, the top performers of the day were Winchester’s 230-grain Ranger JHPs and Black Hills’ 230-grain FMJs, which created groups measuring 1.38 and 1.75 inches, respectively. These were followed by CorBon’s 185-grain +P DPXs at 2.25 inches, Winchester’s 230-grain FMJs at 2.44 inches and Federal’s 165-grain Guard Dog FMJs at 2.5 inches.

A little work with pepper poppers and cardboard targets revealed that the pistol to deftly put rounds on target quickly and easily. And the Para P10 was a ton of fun to shoot. However, I would almost prefer an extended magazine release because operating the current one is a bit awkward for me due to my large hands and the pistol’s tiny grip area. But, then again, conventional wisdom is that larger magazine releases have drawbacks on defensive handguns. I still lean toward wanting one, perhaps with a very heavy spring to avoid unintentional activations.

It isn’t as easy to reload the P10 quickly thanks to its stubby grip frame, but the stock mag well has a cavernous opening that coupled with the truncated profile of the double-stack mags, facilitates relatively easy loading.

Little Extras

Speaking of unintentional activations (or deactivations, as it where), one of the things I’d requested of Mike is that the thumb safety be very positive in clicking “on” or “off.” Anyone who is a fan of cocked-and-locked carry knows how annoying it can be to find your thumb safety has worked its way to the disengaged position during carry. Thankfully, the new Ed Brown safety is just what I ordered; it locks into each position positively and stays there until deliberately switched.

One lesson learned in this experience is that you must be specific in what you want unless you truly don’t care. In fairness, all I told Mike is that I wanted a checkered frontstrap, an action job and reliability tuning, leaving the rest up to him. I like arched mainspring housings, as flat ones tend to point the pistol low for me. But Mike elected to transform the arched mainspring housing into a flat one. However, I will say this: He did an excellent job with it. It looks like it came from Smith & Alexander that way and was flawlessly blended into the frame.

Parting Shots

The Para P10 is a very practical pistol for concealed carry. Its diminutive dimensions, large bore, 10+1 capacity, good handling characteristics and reliability all contribute to it being one of my favorite carry pieces. With Mike’s expert smithing, its features have been enhanced and refined.

Unfortunately, sometime after I got the P10 back into my hands, Mike shut down his operation. Only time will tell if this talented gunsmith will choose to get back into the game. I sure hope so, because this pistol is just one example of his skills.

Custom Para P10

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• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Barrel: 3 “
• OA Length: 6.5 “
• Weight: 31.5 ozs. (empty)
• Grips:  Polymer
• Sights: Fiber-optic
• Action: SA
• Finish: Black nitride
• Capacity: 10+1
• MSRP: N/A

For more information about the Para P10, please visit para-usa.com.

This article was originally published in Concealed Carry Handguns 2019. To order a copy, please visit outdoorgroupstore.com. Keep Reading

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VIDEO: Off-Duty Baltimore Police Officer Kills Armed Home Intruder

On Nov. 28, 2018, Baltimore police announced on Facebook that they had arrested a suspect in possession of drugs and a loaded handgun. They discovered the 16-year-old suspect in the 3400 block of Edmondson Avenue, located in the Southwest District of the city. Police charged Robert Crawford as an adult. However, at no point did police seem to realize the significance of the pistol they discovered.

Vintage Luger Pistol

Georg Luger designed the Luger pistol as an improvement of the Borchardt Automatic Pistol. It is considered a toggle-locked, recoil-operated semi-automatic pistol. Also known as the Parabellum Automatic Pistol, numerous companies produced various Luger models over the years, starting around 1900. Companies actually produced it in various calibers, but it is best known for being the first pistol to fire the 9mm Luger round.

Germany adopted the pistol early, using it in both World Wars. The United States also considered the Luger at one point, but instead choose the 1911 in .45 ACP. However, American soldiers greatly desired the Luger because of its uniqueness. Lots of soldiers brought them home from the wars.

Today, shooters consider Luger pistols to be collector items, particularly vintage Lugers produced in the early 1900s. These guns are actually quite hard to find. Additionally, Lugers command high prices. Even pistols in poor shape can cost $1,000 or more. Guns containing lower serial numbers can cost more than $10,000.

Now it doesn’t look like the Baltimore PD knows what it has in evidence. Nor, did the young suspect realize that the gun he was carrying was valuable. Even in the poor shape shown in the photo, that handgun could have been sold for a decent amount of money. Also, it is kind of sad that this piece of history will probably be destroyed. Hopefully, police will find the owner, or auction this vintage Luger for collectors. Keep Reading

Sig Sauer has been raising the bar for handguns and airguns for years. Well, just three years for the latter, but the company has come further in those three years than some established airgun manufacturers have come in twice that time.

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Sig has one objective with its CO₂ models: to build training guns that are also suitable for the general consumer market. The company started late in 2015 by introducing an airgun version of the P226 MK25 used by Navy SEALs, then followed up with five more CO₂ pistols between 2016 and 2017. In 2018, Sig unveiled two We The People 1911s — one in .45 ACP and the other a match a matching 4.5mm (.177) CO₂ version.

Breaking Ground

It’s rare to find a company that makes its own centerfire weapons and airguns. Quite a few companies license their names to other manufacturers, but Sig Sauer designs and builds its own CO₂ models. And both of these American-made We The People pistols have custom features and antiqued finishes that help them stand out from their brethren.

The CO₂ model is a breakthrough design that exemplifies forward thinking within the airgun industry. In fact, it’s so close to the centerfire version that, unless you take note of a couple of differences, the two guns are almost indistinguishable from the left side. From the right side, the same is true physically, but aesthetically, the difference is revealed by the air pistol safety warning on the frame. (Even Sig has to play by some established rules.) Regardless, the attention to detail is evident in the CO₂ model’s construction, and the airgun’s only other tell is the absence of an extractor at the back of the slide. Sig could have made this a finely molded-in piece like the authentic-looking external extractor arm, but the slide does have the correct lowered and flared ejection port.

sBeyond that, the Sig We The People airgun is true to the centerfire model in all its operating features, including the ambidextrous thumb safety. The models also have matching front- and backstrap treatments, custom aluminum grip panels with 50 total embossed stars, hammers and competition-style triggers. Both guns share dovetail-mounted white-dot sights (though the .45’s have tritium inserts) and unique distressed finishes.

Distressed finishes are a personal preference. Aged finishes are actually common on reproduction pistols and rifles from the Civil War era as well as the mid to late 20th century, and people pay extra for it. So, Sig has actually picked up on a very popular trend among enthusiasts who want the look of an older gun but none of the mechanical wear. You’ll also find that each gun has “SIG SAUER 1911” and “1776” engraved on the left side of the slide, and “We The People” on the right, with the same depth and detail. On top you’ll see 13 stars set in a circle to represent the 13 colonies. In short, the CO₂ model is as close to the .45 as it can get without firing .45 ACP rounds.

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Training Duo

Training with your concealed-carry handgun can make the difference between being a survivor or a statistic. Of course, no one is going to carry a BB gun for protection (unless you’re up against a gang of ground moles), but proper training can be costly in terms of time and ammo. Sig has always had this in mind. That’s why all of its airguns are based on current-production centerfire weapons. But this drive has never been so well expressed as with this Sig We The People duo.

Training with an accurate understudy for your centerfire handgun is absolutely worth the price of the air pistol. Law enforcement has been embracing this idea for a while, and for those who agree that there is simply no substitute for a .45 ACP, the centerfire Sig We The People 1911 has everything perfected right down to pulling the trigger. Of course, the difference between firing the 4.5mm and .45 ACP Sigs is about the same as jumping off your front porch and parachuting out of an airplane. But, to continue the parallel, everything is the same until you jump. That is what makes the new Sig CO₂ model the best 1911 training gun thus far. And when you pull its trigger, you are spending a fraction of a cent. You can’t say that when you fire a Federal 230-grain Hydra-Shok JHP.

The CO₂ model isn’t a quiet air pistol. It’s probably a little louder than most blowback-action airguns, and the slide delivers a decent kick when it reciprocates. Not as much as a .22, but enough to get a feel for shooting a handgun. And this gun uses John Moses Browning’s design with slight internal modifications to accommodate the CO₂ firing system, which includes an additional lightly wound recoil spring around the barrel.

As part of training, setting and releasing the thumb safety on a 1911 is essential, and the safeties (and slide stops) work identically on both of these guns, with the same feel and resistance. Some 1911 airguns allow the slide to move with the safety set, but not the Sig We The People model.

My test airgun’s trigger pull averaged 5.7 pounds with 0.187 inches of take-up, moderate stacking and a crisp break. The trigger reset at about 0.175 inches — another plus for the CO₂ model. The .45’s trigger pull averaged 6.28 pounds with 0.125 inches of take-up, light stacking and a crisp break. Its reset takes 0.125 inches.

Where the triggers differ is in resistance; manually cocking the hammer on the centerfire model requires more effort than the air pistol, as with racking the slide, but this is to be expected since the airgun’s hammer is lighter than a centerfire pistol’s, as is the recoil spring resistance. Finally, fully loaded, the .45 ACP model is just a bit heavier than the airgun. The former is all steel and the latter haves an aluminum slide and frame, but the difference won’t take anything away from the training experience.

Range Performance

I test-fired the CO₂ and .45 ACP models at 25 and 75 feet, respectively. The former sends its 4.5mm rounds downrange at an average velocity of 329 fps, versus the .45’s 850 fps with Sig 230-grain FMJs, so there isn’t much of a matchup there.

Right away I noticed that the recoil on the .45 ACP model is remarkably manageable due to its size, weight and balance. It is one of the smoothest-handling .45s I have come across in quite some time. At the same time, the CO₂ model is easily one of the smoothest-handling BB-firing 1911s I’ve tested.

As for accuracy, it is hard to compare the two guns for obvious reasons. But the 4.5mm airgun delivered pretty good results. Shooting at a full-sized B-75 cardboard silhouette targets, my best-five shot group off-hand measured 0.51 inches. My entire 10-shot group was only 1.56 inches. At 75 feet, the .45 ACP’s best five-shot group was just 2.75 inches wide. Shooting 10 rounds at 50 and 75 feet produced a group measuring 3.13 inches.

At the end of the shooting tests, I came away with absolute certainty that the CO₂ version is a perfect training pistol for Sig’s .45 ACP We The People 1911, or any full-sized or compact 1911 pistol. And that is as much as anyone can ask from an airgun. Sig Sauer has you covered.

For more information about the Sig We the People guns, visit sigsauer.com.

SIG WE THE PEOPLE

• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Barrel: 5 inches
• OA Length: 8.7 inches
• Width: 1.4”
• Height: 5.5”
• Weight: 41.6 ounces (empty)
• Grips: Aluminum
• Sights: SIGLITE night
• Action: SA
• Finish: Distressed
• Capacity: 7+1
• MSRP: $1,481

SIG WE THE PEOPLE CO₂

• Caliber: 4.5mm
• Barrel: 4.5 inches
• OA Length: 8.5 inches
• Width: 1.4”
• Height: 5.5”
• Weight: 35.2 ounces (empty)
• Grips: Aluminum
• Sights: Three-dot
• Action: Blowback, CO₂
• Finish: Distressed
• Capacity: 17
• MSRP: $120

  Keep Reading

Shooters like the Shield so much that Smith & Wesson has now brought out the Performance Center Ported M&P Shield M2.0 pistol. Coming from the S&W Performance Center this gun contains well-thought out features that make this gun even better. And, its available in all three calibers — 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP — that shooters love for self defense.

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“When we launched the Ported M&P Shield in 2015, it was an instant success,” said Tony Miele, General Manager of the Performance Center. “While the popularity of the M2.0 platform continued to expand, we knew we needed to develop a Performance Center pistol with M2.0 enhancements, and the M&P Shield felt like the natural place to start. This new pistol features a ported barrel and slide direct from the factory, as well as all of the M2.0 enhancements and multiple sight options: a homerun for every day carry.”

To start, the company ported the barrel and slide for reduced muzzle flip. However, it didn’t stop there. The gun also features aggressive grip texture, front slide serrations and a Performance Center-enhanced M2.0 trigger. This trigger ensures a light and crisp trigger pull, every time.

In addition to caliber, shooters can also choose their sights. The new Shield comes with either HI VIZ fiber-optic sights or Tritium Night Sights. Both provide excellent target acquisition in low light conditions, but the Tritium also cost more.

Additionally, the Performance Center Shield M2.0 ships with a Performance Center-branded Tipton Compact Pistol Cleaning kit, which includes bore brushes, a cleaning rod and everyting else needed after a day at the range.

Performance Center Ported M&P Shield M2.0 Pistol

• Action: Striker-fired semi-auto
• Caliber: 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP
• Barrel Length: 3.1″; 3.3″ for .45 ACP
• Overall Length: 6.1″; 6.5″ for .45 ACP
• Frame: Black polymer
• Slide: Stainless steel
• Finish: Armornite
• Sights: Tritium or HI VIZ
• MSRP: $623; $539 with HI VIZ sights

For more information about the Performance Center Ported M&P Shield M2.0, please visit smith-wesson.com. Keep Reading

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Why Federal’s New Hydra-Shok Deep Ammunition Is Optimal for Defense

The company first launched Federal Syntech ammunition as a way to reduce wear caused by metal contact between the bullet and barrel. The polymer-encapsulated prevents metal from touching the barrel. This also eliminates both copper and lead fouling, as neither touches the barrel. Additionally, Federal used specialized, clean-burning powders and an exclusive Catalyst primer. Together, these components keeps guns cleaner, which means more and better shooting. Additionally, not having a copper jacket minimizes splash-back when shooting steel targets. This makes shooting safer, especially in competition environments.

Federal Syntech Ammunition — Defense

Syntech Defense features a hollow-point bullet that separates into three segments and a deep-penetrating core on impact. The core penetrates 12 to 18 inches into ballistics gel and heavy clothing. This, of course, is critical for self defense, especially in winter when heavier clothing is typically worn. Additionally, the three segments each create secondary wound channels, which adds to the terminal effect. The company produces Syntech Defense in 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP.

Federal Syntech Ammunition — PCC

Federal designed the PCC ammunition to run flawlessly in pistol-caliber carbines, particularly in competition carbines. In fact, the company optimized the velocity and accuracy of the loads for carbine-length barrels. These loads also have a bullet profile that provides reliable feeding and accuracy in a variety of platforms. Syntech PPC is available in 9mm 130-grain loads.

Federal Syntech Ammunition — Training Match

Training Match ammo benefits shooters by providing the same velocity, trajectory and point of impact as equivalent Federal Personal Defense HST and Tactical HST duty ammunition. This allows shooters to train with loads that match self-defense loads at a significantly lower price. Training Match is available in two 9mm loads, as well as in .40 S&W and .45 ACP.

For more information about Federal Syntech ammunition, please visit federalpremium.com. Keep Reading

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13 Entry-Level 1911 Pistols Under $800 For Home Defense and Range Training

The Madagascar is basically a 70 series 1911 pistol. As such, it features a 5-inch barrel and 8.87-inch overall length. However, this gun comes with some improvements over the original 70 series guns. This includes an ambidextrous thumb safety, beveled magazine well, extended slide stop and extended beavertail grip safety. It also comes with a lowered and flared ejection port and skeletonized hammer and trigger.

So, this 1911 pistol already comes in one of the most popular series with numerous upgrades that shooters prefer. And it also comes in both the original .45 ACP caliber and the increasing popular self-defense round of 9mm.

However, the most interesting feature of the Madagascar is its gray Cerakote slide. The Cerakote provides a durable finish that will last for years. Additionally, the company laser etched the Cerakote to give it a Damascus steel look. The company also used redwood patterned grips, which contrasts the gray Cerakote.

So, in addition to providing a functional self-defense pistol, Citadel has produced a 1911 that beautiful and different, but at an affordable price.

Citadel Madagascar M-1911

• Caliber: .45 ACP, 9mm
• Action: Series 70 Semi-auto
• Barrel Length: 5″
• Overall Length: 8.87″
• Weight: 36.8 ozs. in .45 ACP; 38.8 in 9mm
• Slide Finish: Cerakote
• Capacity: 8+1 in .45 ACP; 10+1 in 9mm (both come with two magazines)
• MSRP: $959

For more information about the Citadel Madagascar M-1911, please visit legacysports.com. Keep Reading

The 1911 is one of the most popular pistols in the United States, and has been for more than 100 years. John Moses Browning designed this gun specifically for the .45 ACP round, which is very popular for self defense. However, it also makes a great platform for other calibers, including the 10mm. Additionally, this pistol is extremely customizable, with versions and models to suit anyone’s desires, including the brand new Kimber Rapide.

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Kimber claims the Rapide is a new take on 1911. Of course, it has most of the standard features of a full-size 1911, such as a 5-inch barrel and full-length guide rod. It also has a beavertail safety and a thumb safety. Of course, the beavertail is extended and the thumb safety is ambidextrous, making this pistol good for both right- and left-handed shooters. Additionally, the entire gun is made of stainless steel, featuring Kimber’s durable KimPro II finish in black. However, despite these features being important to most shooters, they aren’t what make the Rapide interesting.

For the Rapide, Kimber developed new stepped cocking serrations. As such, the serrations provide an excellent grip for racking the slide, which features lightening cuts to reduce weight. The cuts provide faster lock time, which allows shooters to more quickly fire followup shots. Kimber also included Kimber Stiplex TM stippling on the frontstrap, as well as G10 WavZ TM grips to provide extra grip retention. It also comes with a skeletonized hammer and trigger, and a match-grade barrel featuring a TiN coating. This give the barrel a gold look that realy stands out against the black finish. To finish it off, the company added Tru-Glo TFX Pro Day Night sights so shooters can find targets in any lighting condition.

In any way, you look at it, the Rapide provides an upgraded version of the 1911, and its available in both .45 ACP and 10mm.

Kimber Rapide 1911

• Caliber: .45 ACP, 10mm
• Action: 1911 semi-auto
• Frame: Stainless steel
• Slide: Stainless steel
• Finish: KimPro II black
• Grips: Gray/Black WavZ G10
• Barrel Length: 5″
• Overall Length: 8.7″
• Weight: 38 ozs. (unloaded)
• Capacity: 8
• Sight: Tru-Glo TFX Pro Day Night
• Trigger: V-cut aluminum; 5 lbs.
• MSRP: $1,490; $1,510 for 10mm

For more information about the Kimber Rapide, please visit kimberamerica.com. Keep Reading

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Why Federal’s New Hydra-Shok Deep Ammunition Is Optimal for Defense

These new loads feature a more robust center post and a core design. These features allow the bullet to penetrate deeper after going through common barriers. However, it does with without over penetration. In fact, Federal claims the load penetrates 15 inches in bare ballistics gel and through heavy clothing. This is the optimal depth according to FBI standards.

Federal also used a specially formulated propellant and a reliable Federal primer for consistent ignition, as well as consistent velocity. This provides dependable penetration in all situations to stop attacks, which, of course, is the whole point of self-defense ammunition. People should never shoot to kill or to wound, shoot to stop the attack, and good ammunition helps stop attacks.

New Hydra-Shok Deep Loads

The new loads have folded appearance in the hollow point opening. They also have six deep cuts in the jacket and a broader Hydra-Shok post in the center of the hollow point. However, the lower half of the bullet has two separate cannelures around its circumference that can’t be seen. These cannelures help control expansion and lock the jacket to the core, which allows the the bullet retain weight for consistent penetration.

Consistency, of course, is truly important in self-defense ammunition. A load has to consistently penetrate through clothing to be effective, especially in the winter when people wear heavier coats. In the new loads, Federal used 165-grain bullets in the .40 S&W loads and 210-grain bullets in the .45 ACP loads. Both provide the needed weight to velocity ratio, especially with the new design, to penetrate deep enough to stop attacks.

• 9mm Luger 135-grain Hydra-Shok Deep HP: $27.95
• .40 S&W 165-grain Hydra-Shok Deep HP: $31.95
• .45 Auto 210-grain Hydra-Shok Deep HP: $33.95

For more information about Hydra-Shok Deep loads, please visit federalpremium.com. Keep Reading

We all love power. From pressing the gas pedal on a car for that extra burst of speed to cranking up the watts on a fine stereo, the adrenaline rush is there in an instant. When it comes to shooting, anything larger than .40 caliber will give you a feeling of excitement, whether it’s shot in a semi-automatic pistol or big-bore revolver.

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Why 9mm Handloads Are Valuable and How You Can Start Your Own

Today, with the advent of technology, your preference in weaponry doesn’t seem to matter. For years, many hunters shied away from semi-automatic pistols because they weren’t as accurate and were prone to malfunctions if fed the wrong ammunition. Calibers were a consideration, of course, with most guns chambered for short, smaller cartridges such as the 9mm, .38 Super or .45 ACP.

Today, tolerances have been tightened, and guns like the Desert Eagle, LAR Grizzly and AutoMag V, which go up and into the .50 AE range, get the job done with accuracy and power. But, although the AutoMag was perhaps a great gun when introduced in 1971, it depended readily on .44-caliber handloads crafted from .308 brass, so, unfortunately, it wasn’t accepted by most in the handgunning fraternity.

Revolvers seem to have rallied to the cause for handgun hunting. Looking up from our .40-caliber line in the sand, I’ve hunted with the .41 and .44 Magnums, and although they are a challenge on smaller varmints at longer distances, they can be very effective. They are comfortable to shoot, and you can easily mount scopes on them, too. Although the .41 has taken the backseat to new cartridges, it’s still chambered by Ruger in the Blackhawk series. For most of us, the .44 Magnum is the king of handgun hunting, but with the advent of the .454 Casull, .460 S&W Magnum, .480 Ruger, .475 Linebaugh and .500 S&W Magnum, it seems there’s nothing in the way of big game these big-bore cartridges can’t handle.

Why Use Magnum Handloads?

After choosing your weapon, you must decide whether to use factory rounds or handloads for hunting. If you’re the type of hunter who uses a rifle more than a handgun, factory fodder might be best. Conversely, if you like handgun hunting and spend more time with this challenging sport, handloading is the only way to go. Tailoring your shooting with magnum handloads allows you the freedom, for example, to use .44 Special-type loads for small game and heavier .44 Magnum loads for larger or more dangerous game.

Cost is another factor, especially when shooting rounds like the .500 S&W Magnum, for example. These cases and bullets cost more, but the main ingredient — powder — takes up the lion’s share of the cost. A .44 Magnum round using a 240-grain bullet takes 24.5 grains of Winchester 296 to reach a maximum of 1,400 fps. With the .500 S&W Magnum and a 300-grain bullet, you must double that amount — 49.8 grains of the same powder — to reach this round’s full 2,000-fps potential. That’s a lot of extra propellant to yield a velocity only 43-percent greater than the .44 Magnum’s.

What You’ll Need for Magnum Handloads

Except for size, I’ve had no difficulty handloading the larger automatic or magnum cases for use in the field, and the usual practices apply. Starting with a good press, make sure you buy for quality, not price. Over the years, the press will sustain a lot of stress, especially when doing full-length sizing or heavy-duty crimping on larger cases. The same applies to a die set. A top-quality die set from Lyman, Hornady, RCBS or Redding will last for years. A few of the original die sets I purchased some 50 years ago are still going strong. Finally, because we’re mostly dealing with straight-walled cases, you should get a tungsten insert.

If you’re loading magnum handloads for a new gun, fresh cases are the order of the day. Purchase them in lots of 250 or more. They last a long time during normal loading conditions. Check the end flap of each box or container for the same lot number. I would stay away from bargain, second-hand or used cases, as you’re dealing with high-performance, high-pressure magnum calibers.

Primers are next, and for the most part, you will be dealing with slow-burning powders, so I’d opt for the magnum-type of primer for complete ignition, which then leads to better accuracy. When setting the primer in the case, make sure it’s level with the rim or bottom of the case. Never mix primers, and for safety around the loading bench, keep them in the original packaging for later reference.

Today, handloaders are blessed with a multitude of powders to suit every hunting need. Working with our big bores, both classics and newer products come to mind. For the most in velocity, new powders such as Hodgdon Lil’Gun and Alliant’s Power Pro 300-MP or Power Pistol will do the trick, but Accurate No. 9, Alliant 2400, IMR 4227, Winchester 296 and Hodgdon H110 are all worth trying. For smaller .40-caliber rounds in autopistols, consider Hodgdon’s Longshot, CFE Pistol or HS6; Alliant’s Blue Dot, Bullseye, Power Pistol or Unique; or Accurate No. 5. Just starting out? Grab a pound of Unique, H110 or Alliant 2400 and have at it.

Bullets demand a tome to themselves. Looking through the various loading manuals, there are dozens of designs, all made for a specific job. The best thing is to read various resources and combine their information with the type of game you intend to hunt. Then pick out one and load it to various power levels, checking for the best accuracy at the terminal end.

Reloading Time

With that settled, it’s time to reload. The first task is to run your new cases through the tungsten sizing die to bring them to a unified level for loading and rid them of oblong case mouths, for example. After that, check each for its overall length against the manufacturer’s specifications. Trim if necessary, then chamfer the inside and outside for the next step.

Belling (or expanding) the case mouth adds a bit of a flare so the bullet can enter the case without destroying the top portion. The best way to check this is to insert the bullet, and if it does not sit on the case, move the handle down more to allow the expanding die to enter the case a little. With larger cases, you should only allow a small bit of the bullet base to enter the case, as you don’t want to destroy the friction-fit between the bullet and case as you push them together.

RELATED STORY

Handloading Notebook: 4 Common Issues Facing Handloaders

Priming is next. All you need to do is make sure the primer is fully seated in the primer pocket. For a bit of weatherproofing, a drop of a quality thin, clear lacquer around the periphery of the primer is good insurance on an expensive hunt. Later on, you can do this to the bullet/case juncture after the bullet is seated, again for weatherproofing.

Pick your powder, check the loading manual for the charge weight and check each on the scale. Never — and I mean never — take anything for granted when it comes to charging the case. Fine-grain propellants will let you drop a uniform charge into each case when the weight has been checked. However, it’s my policy to check every 10th charge to make sure nothing has moved. As a reminder, never try to identify any powder by its appearance. Fast-burning powders will, for example, destroy any gun with a double charge; if you’re not sure, get rid of it.

Bullet seating is easy, and I have my way of doing it for foolproof results. After priming and charging, I seat each bullet to the cannelure and place it back into the loading tray. When all is done, I move one cartridge to the press, remove the seating stem and turn the die down until I feel slight resistance. This will indicate the crimping part of the die is meeting the assembled case. Then I continue to turn the die down in very small increments until I’m happy with the crimp. The best way to check this is to hold the finished case up against a light. At this point, you should see a perfect rounded, inward curve where the case meets the cannelure.

Finish by recording the load on or in the cartridge box. Then, if you have a chronograph, take everything out to the range and observe your hard-earned results at various hunting distances. Keep track of the groups, record everything and get ready for your hunt. You can thank me later.

This article is from the September/October 2018 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Keep Reading

RELATED STORY

Federal Syntech Ammunition Line Gets Expanded With Three New Loads

In addition to a polymer coating, this self-defense line features a bullet engineered to break into four sections. As it enters the target, three petals break off to create wound channels to around 6 inches. The penetrating core travels between 12 and 18 inches deep, including through heavy clothing. This is quite different from standard hollowpoints that mushroom, creating a single large wound cavity. And the bullets do this without any metal to metal contact with the barrel.

Like all Syntech loads, an advanced polymer jacket eliminates lead and copper fouling. The jacket also reduces damaging heat and friction in the barrel. Federal even used its exclusive Catalyst primer for hot, reliable ignition without the use of lead. Even better, Federal used a different color polymer on the defensive rounds. While this doesn’t seem like a big deal, it creates a quick reference for telling these rounds apart from the others.

Federal Syntech Ammunition

Now we have not had the opportunity to test these rounds. We have, though, shot the Syntech rounds, including the Syntech Action Pistol loads. Those loads are extremely accurate and reliable. And Federal produces a wide variety of loads for different applications. This includes loads specifically designed for training, carbines and competitions. And now Federal covers self defense.

Available Syntech Defense Loads

• 9mm Luger Syntech Defense, 138 grain, 20-count / $19.95
• .40 S&W Syntech Defense, 175 grain, 20-count / $22.95
• .45 ACP Syntech Defense, 205 grain, 20-count / $24.95

For more information, please visit federalpremium.com. Keep Reading

If you know 1911s, you know Dan Wesson Firearms. Dan Wesson Firearms has a reputation for high-quality, high-performance pistols. And the latest to come from the Dan Wesson factory is the limited-edition heirloom 2022 1911. This is a pistol your children and your children’s children will enjoy for generations.

The Limited-Edition Dan Wesson Heirloom 2022 1911

True to the original John Browning design, the Heirloom 2022 is a full-size American-made 1911 pistol. Correspondingly, it utilizes all-steel components for the frame, slide, and parts. Chambered in .45 ACP, rounds are delivered downrange from the 8-round magazine via a 5-inch barrel and commander-style hammer. True to form, the Heirloom features a beavertail grip safety.

Setting the Heirloom 2022 apart is its incredible, ornate scrollwork adorning the slide and frame. Likewise, a bronze PVD finish adds a shiny luster and protects the metal surfaces for a long-lasting family treasure. The bronze finish is set off by black accents on the small parts and mainspring housing. Black G10 grips finish out the two-tone look and modern accents of the traditional pistol.

Although there isn’t an official number yet, the Heirloom is a limited-edition model. So, you might want to get yours fast because they may sell out fast. When I spoke with a representative at Dan Wesson Firearms, she said that the max number is 4,000. However, it will most likely be less than 4,000.

Availability

The Dan Wesson Heirloom 2022 1911 is available now in a limited quantity, with MSRP of $2,399.00. For more info, please visit DanWessonFirearms.com.

Dan Wesson Limited Edition Heirloom 2022 1911 Specs

Caliber: .45 ACP
Magazine Capacity: 8 Rounds
Frame/Slide: Steel
Finish: Bronze PVD
Front Sight: Brass bead
Rear Sights: U Notch
Grips: G10
Overall Length: 8.65-inches
Barrel: 5-inches
Height: 5.5-inches
Width: 1.32-inches
Weight: 40-ounces
Trigger Mech: Single action
Safety: Manual thumb safety; Grip safety 
MSRP: $2,399.00

Features

• Frame engraved with ‘Heirloom’
• Bronze PVD finish is both rugged and sophisticated 
• Stylish black G10 grips improve hold in all conditions          
• Decorative scrollwork engraving on slide and frame
• Classic 1911 design with large beavertail and commander-style hammer
• Brass front sight and u-notch rear sight provide quick sight alignment
• Steel frame and slide for durability

If I were going to design a 1911 for carry use, I’d have it built on a lightweight frame and use a Commander-length slide and barrel. It would have to have good sights and a clean crisp trigger. I’d also want a beavertail grip safety and extended thumb safety on the gun. Something very much like the Bantam Carry 1911 from Tisas.

The Tisas Bantam Carry 1911

Not too long ago, I wrote an article about rebuilding a Colt Lightweight Commander with all of these features. It has become one of my favorite carry guns. Chances are, if you run across me out in the desert of southeastern Arizona, I’ll be carrying that Colt in a Yaqui slide on my belt.

Recently, while attending an event at Gunsite, I ran across a new 1911 that met all of my requirements without any additional modifications. The gun is called the Bantam Carry, and it is manufactured by the Tisas company in Turkey. SDS Imports has been importing Tisas’ products for a couple of years now, and they have built a solid following with their 1911 pistols.

Packed With Value

Made in Turkey from forgings, the guns represent one of the best values in the crowded 1911 market. I remember the first time I saw the guns. It was at the 2019 SHOT Show, and I remarked to a colleague that if the actual imported guns looked as good as the ones on display, they would take a huge chunk out of the 1911 market.

There was no bait-and-switch here. The imported guns that I received as samples looked every bit as good as the display guns at SHOT!

Last year I did an article on the GI version as well as a more modern style gun, the B45R, featuring a railed dust cover, extended safeties, beavertail, and combat sights. I was amazed at the accuracy they possessed, and both guns were dead nuts reliable. It was their low price that grabbed my attention, but it was the guns’ quality, accuracy, and reliability that held my interest.

Dave Biggers, SDS Imports Sales Manager, is an old friend and has been around the firearms industry for as long as I have. He was attending the same Gunsite event, and we had the chance to sit and chat. He showed me the latest Turkish import—the Bantam Carry.

The gun is built on a lightweight aluminum frame and has a Commander-size slide and 4.25-inch barrel, and features a bobbed mainspring housing.

“We’ve secured a large portion of the economy-priced 1911 market, and we wanted to build something a little more elaborate to display our capabilities. The Bantam Carry is our first attempt to compete at the higher end of the market,” said Biggers.

Dressed Up

The Bantam Carry sports a unique look due to the longitudinal flutes cut into the slide and vertical flutes on the front and back straps. The flutes are deep enough on the frontstrap and mainspring housing for the shooter’s flesh to push into them to provide a secure firing grip. Flutes are also used for fore and aft cocking serrations.

Tisas also give the gun’s slide a tri-top configuration leaving a small, serrated rib between the sights. Overall, the Bantam Carry possesses the stylized good looks of much more expensive guns.

But the pistol also has some serious functionality to its styling. The frame is undercut at the junction of the front strap where it meets the triggerguard, allowing the user to get a higher hold on the gun. Placing the hand closer to the bore’s axis helps attenuate muzzle flip.

Aiding the high hold grip is the high sweep beavertail grip safety. This part also includes a memory bump near its base to ensure it disengages, even if you use a thumb high (on top of the thumb safety), as I do. The Bantam Carry is also outfitted with ambidextrous, extended thumb safeties, which disengage and engage quite crisply.

I suppose I tend to be a traditionalist and did not initially like the looks of the bobbed mainspring housing. But, after handling the gun and shooting it, I kind of warmed up to it.

The rounded grip frame is comparable to a round butt revolver in that it is easier to conceal, and layering clothing is less likely to hang up on it. I think this modification is especially beneficial to 1911s built on alloy frames with barrels less than 5 inches. The balance and point-ability of the Bantam Carry are superb.

Hands-On the Bantam Carry 1911

SDS is importing the Bantam Carry in both 9mm and .45 ACP. Biggers let me use the .45 version while working through draw and fire exercises on the range at Gunsite. I had brought along a Bravo Concealment Kydex holster and magazine carrier.

For ammunition, Biggers had brought along some full-power, 230-grain ball ammo. The gun shot beautifully, and even though it is built on an alloy frame, I did not feel the recoil to be overwhelming.

I was able to produce some very nice, controlled pairs and even hammers placed their shots as closely as I normally do with a full-size steel gun. By the end of my Gunsite trip, I was really starting to enjoy the Bantam Carry and made arrangements to have another test gun shipped to me for a more thorough examination.

When I received my sample Bantam Carry, I was immediately impressed with its fit and finish. The frame-to-slide fit was as nice as any production gun I’ve ever experienced. Thumb safeties snicked on and off crisply, and even the slide stop was fit with precision. By the way, Tisas countersinks the slide stop pinhole on the right side of the receiver. This is something I have only ever seen done on much more expensive custom guns.

After disassembling the Bantam Carry, I was astonished to see there were virtually no machine or tooling marks inside the frame’s dust cover. Even the inside of the slide was devoid of any machine marks. I couldn’t wait to get out and shoot some groups with the new Bantam Carry!

Shots Fired

I got up around 4 a.m. and made the hour-long drive to a piece of BLM land. I set up my paper target at 15 yards and used a Shoot-N-C 2-inch diameter sticker as my aiming point. My single best five-shot group was recorded with Hornady’s Critical Duty 220-grain Flexlock +P rounds, and it measured right at 1.25 inches. That’s tremendous accuracy for a lightweight Commander-size .45!

The +P round also bordered on being uncomfortable to shoot. But it does generate a whopping 400 fpe. The most comfortable load I fired through the Bantam Carry was my handload, using a 200-grain round nose laser-cast projectile and enough Winchester WW231 powder to produce a velocity of 833 fps from the 4.25-inch barrel.

It’s a great practice round that is easy on the shooter as well as the gun and will make USPSA major when fired from a 5-inch barrel. The aggregate group size for the four loads I tried was just 1.40 inches.

While shooting groups, I came to appreciate the sights and trigger. The rear sight is a stout, one-piece affair with a generous “U” notch while the front sight features a green fiber-optic rod that glows brilliantly with just a little ambient light. My test sample’s trigger broke crisply at 4 pounds with very little overtravel with a firm reset. This made the gun easy to shoot quickly.

Fast Follow Up

I set my MGM BC C-Zone steel target out at 12 yards. It approximates a USPSA target with the “D” zone removed. Loading the Bantam Carry with my handloads, I found that I could doubletap the target with a split or time between shots consistently under 20/100th of a second, and this impressed me!

I also liked the Bravo Concealment Kydex holster. It provided a stable platform for me to present the Bantam Carry from. It holds the gun close to the body, and the holster makes a satisfying “pop” when the gun locks into the holster. Like most holsters of this type, it uses friction to lock the gun at the front of the trigger guard. And it is as fast of a rig as any I have ever used.

During my 400-round evaluation, the Bantam Carry never once stuttered. In fact, there were no problems of any kind. Nor did I find anything that I thought needed to be modified to suit my “ideal for carry” criteria. This gun was obviously designed by someone who has intimate knowledge of the 1911 and its carry use.

A Lightweight, Reliable, and Accurate Carry Gun

Tisas’ new Bantam Carry pistol, as imported by SDS Imports, represents a tremendous value to shooters who want the looks and performance of a custom 1911 at a production gun price.

While the suggested retail price is $1,200, it is my guess you’ll find this gun for considerably less at your local gun shop. If you’re a 1911 devotee in search of a lightweight, reliable, and accurate carry gun, the Bantam Carry should be where your search begins!

For more information, please visit SDSImports.com.

Tisas Bantam Carry 1911 Specs

Caliber: .45 ACP
Barrel: 4.25 inches
Overall Length: 7.95 inches
Weight: 39 ounces (empty)
Grips: G10
Sights: One-piece rear, green fiber-optic front
Action: SA
Finish: Black Cerakote
Capacity: 8+1
MSRP: $1,200

This article was originally published in the Combat Handguns September/October 2022 issue. Subscription is available in print and digital editions at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Or call 1-800-284-5668, or email subscriptions@athlonmediagroup.com.

In the year 2022, the 1911 pistol was right at 111 years old. I’ll say that again—111 years old. Yet, despite being a century-plus-old design, it remains one of the most effective fighting pistols ever designed. Likewise, it is still relevant and is still carried by professionals and well-trained enthusiasts to this day. So, it makes sense that Springfield Armory would continue the platform with its Emissary.

The Springfield Armory Emissary

Aside from a form factor that points naturally and balances well, the typical 1911 delivers a man-stopping payload of .45 ACP. Yes, 9mm is all the rage these days since the FBI flipped back to it because of improved bullet technologies and performance.

However, those improvements weren’t limited to just the 9mm cartridge; they were visited upon all calibers. So, no matter how good 9mm gets, .45 ACP is and always will be better. Well…at least that’s my opinion.

That’s why I’ve always liked the 1911 pistol. It’s an efficient delivery system for those all-American bullets that seem like they originated in Texas, where everything’s just bigger.

You would think that with all of the development and customization that has been done to the 1911 during the past century, the story of the 1911 has been completely written and that the book has been closed. However, Springfield Armory might just argue that point with you. Especially where production guns are concerned. And to illustrate its point, the company introduced Exhibit A—the Emissary.

Reimagining A Classic

If you look up the word “emissary,” it’s generally defined as someone who is sent on a special mission. Usually, as a diplomatic representative. That’s almost exactly what Springfield Armory’s 1911 is all about. The Emissary is essentially representing Springfield’s 1911 platform. And its mission is to redefine what can be done at the production level.

Prior 1911s have been reconfigured and customized in almost every way imaginable. However, all of that extra work takes lots and lots of cash. The Springfield Armory Emissary is about bridging the gap between custom and production pistols with various refinements while remaining affordable.

In some ways, the new Emissary is a bit of a contradiction. It offers stark beauty and elegance with its two-tone appearance while serving up workaday features that make it a practical and extremely effective fighting pistol.

The Emissary’s dual-tone visage consists of a stainless steel frame with a carbon steel slide. Both of which are crafted from a forging process. The slide is ornamented with a blued finish that emphasizes the elegance of the overall package.

Also adding to the Emissary’s visual appeal is the “Tri-Top” cut slide that includes what Springfield calls “lightening grooves.” Although they might be used by some as pseudo-cocking serrations.

There is just enough depth to these grooves not only to help reduce weight but to assist a little with manipulating the slide from the front. The finishing touch on top of the slide is a set of 40-lines-per-inch serrations to mitigate glare.

Springfield’s U-Dot Sight

The piece de resistance, with regard to the slide, is the installation of Springfield’s excellent U-Dot sight arrangement. This set-up includes a white “U” outline on the rear sight and a front sight that offers a high-visibility yellow outline with a tritium insert for low-light work.

I ran across this arrangement for the first time with the Springfield Hellcat. These sights are fantastic for quick and precise work. I wish I had this sight package on all of my pistols.

What’s Inside

Turning our focus inward for a moment, we come to the bushingless barrel configuration. It is accompanied by a full-length guide rod assembly. Springfield went with a heavy-profile bull barrel that the company bills as designed for maximum accuracy. Likewise, it offers a bit more weight up front to reduce muzzle flip.

Expanding on the barrel’s efficacy is its fully supported feed ramp that yields more strength and better reliability as well. Other links in the ignition chain include a skeletonized hammer and Springfield’s Gen2 Speed Trigger.

As we move to the bottom, things get a little more utilitarian. Specifically, the frame is essentially the human interface for the Springfield Armory Emissary and offers up features designed to maximize that interaction.

First, the forged steel front strap and backstrap are machined with grenade-pattern texturing to lock in the user’s grip during recoil. The VZ Grips Thin-Line G10 grip panels replicate that same texture pattern. This ensures a sure hold on the grip at every point where it contacts the hand.

Up front, the Emissary sports an oversized and squared-off triggerguard that facilitates the use of a gloved trigger finger. This might seem like a minor point, but it’s a critical feature. Specifically because a single-action trigger within a small guard can be inadvertently engaged by a gloved finger rather easily.

Plus, the square triggerguard is something different that you don’t see on a lot of 1911 pistols. Though you’ll probably need to have a custom holster made to fit this specific 1911. Finally, the frame also sports a Picatinny rail for mounting your favorite accessories.

Carrying the Emissary

As it sits, the Emissary weighs in at 40 ounces, with an overall length of 8.4 inches and a height of 5.25 inches. This is unquestionably a large and hefty pistol that will require a solid rig to carry on a regular basis. But for what it offers, I think it would be worth the extra effort and expense.

Though, many will probably elect to deploy it as a defensive tool for the home or business. The Emissary ships with a nylon pouch/case and two eight-round magazines to get you started. However, you’ll probably want to pick up a few more mags for those trips to the range.

Diplomatic Feedback

Range day is always more fun when you’re among friends. And it’s also better when testing pistols since you can get feedback from multiple shooters. I was lucky enough to have a few friends along during one of my testing sessions with the Emissary. It was an instant hit.

Everyone, to a man, complimented the grenade-pattern texturing that was machined into the frame. While one person said that it might be just a bit too aggressive, everyone agreed that it locked in the hand as tight as a bank vault.

I’m not a fan of a blued finish on working guns. I’d prefer something a bit more robust and corrosion-resistant. But three of the four argued with me and said that it gave the Emissary a classy look. Shows what I know, right? I agree that it looks classy but I still prefer a DLC or nitride finish for a carry pistol. And I would definitely carry the Emissary based on its performance.

As much as people complain about a .45’s recoil, the Emissary’s 40-ounce weight goes a long way in solving that problem. Sure, in a compact pistol, the .45 ACP has a good bit of thump to it. But a full-size 1911 is all about big-bore power.

That’s where a couple of them disagreed with me again. They would like to see the Emissary offered in 9mm as well. Not so much because of recoil but the ability to stack a few more rounds in the magazine.

Speaking of recoil, we had guys of all shapes and sizes there, and everyone easily managed to stay on target for quick, accurate follow-up shots.

Running the Emissary

Part of that accurate shot placement was also due to the excellent U-Dot sight package. Everyone talked about how fast it was to align the sights and how good of a sight picture it painted.

Two guys mentioned how simple and clean the sight picture was. They specifically mentioned the yellow outline as being very quick to pick up in daylight during presentations on the targets.

The other part of the equation was the excellent Gen2 Speed Trigger. My review pistol had just a tad of pre-travel, and then the break was impressively crisp at an average of 3.98 pounds, with no hint of staging or when it would release. It’s not the lightest trigger I’ve tried, but it’s an exceptionally positive break and about perfect for a carry pistol.

As the guys took their turns with the Emissary, we ran hollow points, ball ammo, and some truncated range loads. The Emissary digested every ammo type without the slightest hiccup in reliability.

The controls were positive, including the snappy thumb safety that was a bit oversized for easy engagement. The Mec-Gar magazines ejected cleanly and fed everything without issue. Everything worked as it should while presenting a sleek, refined quality about the pistol.

On Target

The last litmus test was to check the accuracy at 25 yards while shooting from the bench. I’ll just say up front that the Emissary gets an A+ on that front as well. For a production pistol, the Emissary was incredibly accurate with a variety of ammunition.

Average group sizes were well under 2 inches. The single best five-shot group was just 1.38 inches, and the best average group size was 1.57 inches. That was shot with Winchester’s 230-grain Personal Protection load. However, the rounds from Sig Sauer and Speer were close enough on average to make it dealer’s choice.

Of the three loads tested, Winchester’s load offered up a bit more recoil. But that round was traveling a good 50 feet per second (fps) faster than the other two. The Sig and Speer rounds had an average velocity of 849 and 860 fps, respectively. The Winchester load averaged 918 fps.

Of course, I won’t be satisfied with that. I’ll be checking out some +P loads for the Emissary soon. I do like a bit of sizzle with my .45s.

After all the testing was done and everyone had their turn, we talked over a few more points, and I had them guess the Emissary’s price. Estimates ranged from $1,600 to $2,200. When I told them that the MSRP was only $1,279, a few jaws hit the floor.

They all figured, with the machining, angled slide, and the pistol’s accuracy, that some custom work had to be done. In my mind, that tells me Springfield Armory achieved what it set out to do with the Emissary.

All About The Mission

To be honest, Springfield isn’t revolutionizing the 1911 market with the Emissary. There’s nothing new about this pistol, where features are concerned, that we haven’t seen before. What is new, however, is some of these features finally trickling down to a more affordable, production-level gun. This includes the aesthetically pleasing Tri-Top slide, the heavy-profile barrel, or the machining done to the frame.

That’s not to mention the kind of outstanding accuracy that is usually reserved for high-end custom pistols.

What matters most with the Emissary, though, is Springfield’s execution and how everything works together seamlessly for a higher quality experience without requiring the customer to pay an exorbitant price.

With what they’ve done with the features of the Emissary and with the very reasonable asking price, I have no hesitation in saying that I believe their mission was absolutely accomplished.

For more information, please visit Springfield-Armory.com.

Springfield Armory Emissary Specs

Caliber: .45 ACP
Barrel: 5 inches
Overall Length: 8.4 inches
Weight: 40 ounces (empty)
Height: 5.25 inches
Grips: G10 Thin-Line
Sights: U-dot, tritium front
Action: S/A
Finish: Blued
Capacity: 8+1
MSRP: $1,279

This article was originally published in the Combat Handguns January/February 2022 issue. Subscription is available in print and digital editions at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Or call 1-800-284-5668, or email subscriptions@athlonmediagroup.com.

I take home defense very seriously, and I am a strong believer that everyone should as well. Whether you carry a gun daily or not is completely up to you. However, I think everyone should always have one in the house to defend the castle from evil. And the FN America FNX-45 Tactical might make the perfect bedside companion.

The Bedside Companion Big Bore FN FNX-45 Tactical

In the world we live in now, home invasions are a serious threat. In fact, more than 2 million homes will experience a break-in or burglary in the U.S. this year. According to the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice:

• one property crime happens every four seconds
• A burglary occurs every 20 seconds
• One violent crime occurs every 25 seconds
• A robbery happens every 90 seconds
• One rape or attempted rape occurs every five minutes

Even crazier when you look at these statistics is that 38 percent of those violent crimes and 60 percent of those rapes occur in your own home during a home invasion. Therefore, we need to be able to defend ourselves and our homes.

I know if you listen to some of the politicians, a whistle and wetting your pants should work just fine. I will tell you something you probably already know though; a whistle does nothing during an attack, especially in your home.

The best option for me is a gun. I guess I should say multiple guns. I feel you should be prepared for any and all situations at home. So yes, shotguns and ARs are fantastic. But I want to discuss my newest addition to the home defense arsenal, the FNX-45 Tactical.

Gun Details

The FNX-45 Tactical is a full-size handgun. While it is a beast of a handgun, it is very enjoyable to handle for most shooters. Let’s just say it isn’t in the same size category as my Desert Eagle, that’s for sure. You could carry the FNX-45 in a holster if you wanted.

FN developed the pistol with the military in mind right from the beginning. What is good enough for military and police normally is good enough for me as a civilian. The pistol features an aggressive grip, interchangeable backstraps, an RDS-ready slide, suppressor height sights, and a threaded barrel. All this in an impressive FDE package that comes with three magazines that hold 15 rounds of .45 ACP each.

The FNX-45 has a stainless-steel slide assembly measuring 8.6 inches in total length and stands 6.5 inches tall with a width of 1.5 inches. The pistol weighs in at 33 ounces unloaded. It is duty-sized, heavy, and kind of bulky; however, it is an all-around awesome gun.

FN made the pistol 100 percent ambidextrous as well. You don’t have to pull out tools and flip your controls to the other side to accommodate southpaws because the gun has regular-size controls on both sides of the frame.

The trigger is not incredible, but it is very functional. It requires a very deliberate yet smooth pull with a fairly short reset. As I said, it is not great but is good enough to comfortably put rounds down range and on target. I experienced this once I got some range time with it.

After shooting about 50 rounds through it, I immediately decided it was perfect as a bedside home defense pistol.

Range Time

Running the FNX at the range, I put it through a bunch of different defensive shooting drills once I got comfortable with it. It really didn’t take long to figure out the entire system just works perfectly. I was shooting all kinds of different ammo.

With ammo hard to come by, my range bag, like many others nowadays, looks like a Halloween candy bag with random rounds from wherever I can find them. I shot what I could get my hands on, not really worrying about ballistic testing and more functionality of the actual pistol under stressful conditions.

With all the rounds I have put through the gun, I have not had a single malfunction or issue. I was able to easily run the gun both right- and left-handed, one-handed, and point-shooting with ease. I was pleasantly surprised with how smooth and simple this big old .45 was to handle.

All these factors and the performance I experienced helped my decision to start utilizing the FNX-45 Tactical as my home defense bedside pistol. The only thing I could complain about was the thread protector kept coming loose. But I found an easy solution for that, which we will talk about shortly.

Home Defender

If you couldn’t tell by now, I love this damn gun. It shoots like a dream, which is one of the main reasons the thing is perfect for home defense. I know it looks scary and big, but it is one of the softest shooting .45 ACP handguns I’ve ever handled.

In the middle of the night this is especially important to me. If I must pull my pistol at 3 a.m. because someone is standing in my doorway, I do not want to hit myself in the face with the thing when I pull the trigger due to having a looser grip on the gun combined with a high-powered caliber.

I opted for full-size 9mm pistols before the FNX-45 because I want that bedside gun to be as easy to shoot as possible with very little recoil. The pistol boasts an incredibly low bore axis and a very balanced feel. This makes it easier to shoot than most 9mm pistols I own.

The grip angle is perfect and almost forces the tritium sights to fall right back where you just left them when squeezing the trigger. Obviously, in a defensive situation, getting the gun back on target after a shot is extremely important.

Suppressing the FNX-45 Tactical

The threaded barrel protrudes from the end of the slide about an inch making it ready to thread a suppressor on it. So naturally, I did. This was my solution to that thread protector backing off. This made the FNX-45 provided to me with an even better shooting experience. I did not think that was possible, but this beast loves being quiet.

In a home defense situation, a gun that runs well suppressed can be a huge advantage. Obviously, shooting a pistol in your house will be very loud. A can will make it more manageable and save you and your family’s hearing a bit, as well as take that muzzle flash down. I will take any and all advantages I can have when fighting for my life.

The tritium night sights are already suppressor ready, so you don’t have to change anything to run the gun suppressed. I shot the FNX-45 Tactical with a SilencerCo Hybrid 46 and a GSL Python. They both sat well below the iron sight picture and allowed me to comfortably shoot the pistol with a good sight picture.

Optics Ready

If you are a fan of red-dot sights, you will be happy to find the top of the slide is cut for a red-dot plate. FN includes two mounting plates in the package, which allow you to attach anything with a Trijicon RMR footprint or Docter optic footprint.

I personally am a fan of a red dot on my home defense pistol. RDS pistols offer significant increases in speed and accuracy. You can find your target quicker and engage rapidly with both eyes open. They allow the focus to remain on the target, not the sight itself, as well as allow a far better view and awareness of the target.

One of my favorite advantages of red dots on my home defense pistol is how much easier it is to employ that dot over iron sights. So, when you are awakened out of a dead sleep with those little crusty things in the corner of your eyes in the middle of the night, you will have a much easier time finding that dot than a set of iron sights.

If you’re not using an optic, there is a cover plate that maintains the profile and coloring of the slide. As a result, it disappears and blends perfectly into the slide.

The Gentle Giant

The FNX-45 Tactical is a big intimidating pistol that may seem like it is too much for some people to handle. But in reality, it is a gentle giant that just wants to do its job and protect its owner. Trust me, it does just that very well.

The controls are simple to use both right- and left-handed, it’s optics ready, and it comes standard with more features than most pistols on the market. All with an affordable price tag of $1,349. The FN FNX-45 Tactical will be a perfect addition to any home defense plan and a fantastic pistol at the range.

To learn more about the FN FNX-45 Tactical, please visit FNAmerica.com.

FN America FNX-45 Tactical Specs

Caliber: .45 ACP
Barrel: 5.3 inches
Overall Length: 8.6 inches
Weight: 33.3 ounces (empty)
Grips: Polymer
Sights: Raised 3-dot Trijicon green tritium
Action: DA/SA
Finish: FDE
Capacity: 15+1
MSRP: $1,349

This article was originally published in the Personal Defense World February/March 2022 issue. Subscription is available in print and digital editions at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Or call 1-800-284-5668, or email subscriptions@athlonmediagroup.com.