I shot a friend’s Browning Hi Power 9mm and liked it. Would it make a good self-defense gun? I’ve heard that 9mm is too weak for self-protection. I like the gun, but not the caliber. There are factors besides caliber in determining what makes a “good” self-defense handgun. Reliability is the first thing, regardless of caliber,…
Despite having carried a handgun daily for a quarter-century as a peace officer and now via my concealed carry license, a particular pistol’s capabilities as an implement of protection do not always garner top billing with me. At this point in my life, enjoyment takes first place. Make no mistake; I have a selection of dedicated self-defense sidearms with…
The traditional DA/SA autopistol is capable of firing the first shot double-action; i.e., a single press of the trigger both cocks and releases the hammer, or one can manually cock the hammer and then press the trigger to fire in single-action mode. Subsequent shots are fired single-action due to the slide’s rearward movement cocking the…
My newest P220, a conventional DA/SA, .45 ACP pistol came from the factory wearing SIG-SAUER’s “slim” grip panels. A while back, I ordered some of these for another P220 (SAS w/DAK) I owned. It appears that they are now stock on P220 pistols. For folks who might be interested in these relatively inexpensive thin grip…
As this is written, there can be little doubt that handgun manufacturers are burning the proverbial “midnight oil” to produce petite pistols intended for the ever-growing number of licensed carriers across the US. At the same time, handgun designs more suitable for uniform or service use continue being introduced and for good reason: They have been…
In 1975 the 9mm P220 was adopted by the Swiss military, replacing the legendary SIG P210. A year later, it was brought out in .45 ACP, presumably for sales in the western hemisphere where this caliber enjoys continuing long-term popularity, and was imported as the “Browning BDA” early on. Over the years, this single-stack design…
The first handgun I purchased on my own as an adult was a Star Model B in the early 1970’s. It served well but eventually I traded it off in the quest for other handguns, particularly Browning Hi Powers but it I always regretted it. Though I owned other Star handguns in the decades that…