Other Semiauto Handguns

  • Glock Gen 5

    The Glock pistols are reliable and effective guns for self defense. For most of the brand’s life, they have been 3″ guns at 25 yards. Some might be a half inch better and some a half inch worse. They are not as easy to shoot into that group as a gun with a good single…

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  • Which is the Best Choice for Me: Glock 19 or FNX9?

    I am surprised by the huge number of emails I’ve received asking this very question! The honest answer is, “I really don’t know.”  Each of us has uniquely personal “life filters” and experiences influencing what we find important in a given handgun design, either as a “must have” or to avoid at all cost!  Some believe that the…

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  • Are Glock Pistols Unsafe?

    “Perfection” is a term Glock uses with respect to its extensive line of popular “safe action” autoloading handguns, but “unsafe” is a descriptor used by some detractors of the design. Is either correct or are both wrong or might the truth lie somewhere in between? Glock pistols are striker-fired designs in which pressing the trigger fully retracts and…

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  • Which is Best: Glock 17 or 19?

    That Glock 9mm handguns are both popular and used worldwide is not even a question but firearm forums frequently field queries on which is the better choice between the G17 and 19.  Folks faithful to one or the other usually respond by singing the praises of their particular favorite. The G17 is described by the…

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  • What is a “Hungarian Makarov”?

    The answer is, “A misnomer for a pistol that never existed.”  No actual Makarov-pattern pistol was made in Hungary (or Czechoslovakia) though other makes of compact semiautos chambered for the 9x18mm Makarov certainly were.  True Makarov pistols have been made in Russia, China, East Germany, Germany (after being reunited) and Bulgaria. Makarovs are usually seen in 9x18mm though some can be…

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  • What Handguns do you personally Use for Home Defense?

    I am asked this on a fairly regular basis via personal messaging on the forums or by email. Some just assume that I always use a Hi Power and go from there, but the truth is that over the years I’ve used different handgun types, each presenting its own positive…and not-so-positive characteristics.  I am not…

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  • What is meant by Double-Action and Single-Action?

    This question is frequently asked or seen being incorrectly defined.  I thought that it might be of use to some to explain these terms and provide examples. Traditionally, the term “single-action” refers to a specific handgun action in which the trigger performs but a single function; it drops the hammer which fires the gun. Similarly, “double-action” describes…

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