April 26th : Remington 870

Name     :     Remington 870

AKA       :     Old Betsy

Caliber   :     12 Gauge, 16 Gauge, 20 Gauge, 28 Gauge, .410

Capacity :     3 to 8 Rounds

Weight   :     Varies, 8oz or 3.6kg approx standard model

Length    :     Varies, 41in or 1060mm standard model

Action    :     Pump Action, repeater

Origin     :    U.S.A

Introduced in 1950, though stock didn't reach stores till 1951, the Remington 870 would undoubtedly be the biggest selling pump action shotgun in the world, with production exceeding 10 million so far.  The model M870 Mk1 was offically adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps in 1966, it was chosen over and above popular semi automatic shotguns at the time for it's reliability with all types of ammunition.  Semi automatics of the time could not reliably cycle with low powered riot ammunition and other specialty rounds, due to the fact the recoil is fundamental for pushing the weapons bolt to cycle, lower powered rounds like riot ammunition do not have a significant enough recoil factor to allow the action to reliably feed,  whereas a manually operated shotgun on the other hand has only the user to cycle action.  Pump action shotguns of reasonable quality like the 870 were able to be manipulated quickly and are only marginally slower to fire successive shots.  

The 870 is made to a high standard utilizing an orthodox method of operation.  When the pump handle is pushed rearward, two steel action bars push the tilting action block to the rear and a round is stripped from the ammunition tube beneath the barrel and is collected by the bolt face and pushed into the chamber with the return of the pump handle to the forward position.  Modern 870's also have a balanced sear and inertia firing pin to prevent the firearm from discharging until the round is completely in battery.  

The 870 gains a lot of its popularity through customization and varied models to suit all applications.  A wide array of stocks from manufacturers such as magpul are available on the market.  Remington itself produces a folding stock for the shotgun.  Barrel lengths can vary from 14 to 30 inches, not to mention the endless supplies of colors and accessories.  Remington as of 2012 lists 28 variations on its website for almost every need the shooter might have.

Currently 70 to 80% of all U.S. Law Enforcement agencies have the 870 in some form in their arsenals.  17 Nations officially use this popular shotgun, China even produces their own unlicensed copy of the 870, produced by "copy-cat" arms company Norinco.  

INTERESTING FACT : During the Vietnam war experiments were carried out to see if an 870 could be easily converted to accept a 10 or 20 round box magazine.

PRO's   :   Good amount of models, reliable, feeds anything, easy to manipulate

CON's  :   Some early models had a non adjustable choke.

COOL FACTOR : 8/10 

23rd April : Smith and Wesson Model 10

Name :     Smith and Wesson Model 10


AKA   :     Military & Police, M&P, The No Frills Revolver, Victory Model

Caliber     :     .38 Smith and Wesson Special


Capacity   :     6 Rounds


Weight     :     36oz or 1020g (4in Model)


Length     :     8.875in or 225mm

Action      :     Double Action Repeater


Origin       :     U.S.A.


One of Smith and Wesson's best selling revolvers of all time, since 1899 Smith and Wesson have offered the Model 10 'Military and Police' in a wide range of configurations from the snubnose 2 inch barrel round butt model through to the Target 6 inch square butt model.  The appeal of the model 10 stems from its simplicity, quality construction and universal acceptance of the .38 Special cartridge, add to this the variety of configurations, all for a fair price and it is not surprising that more than 6 million have been made.


During the Philippine War of Independence, the U.S. Army had grave concerns about the effectiveness of the .38 Long Colt cartridge of there Model 1889 revolver, relayed field reports back to the United States indicated a change was immediately necessary, the answer in the form of the new cartridge .38 Smith and Wesson Special a heavier bullet in a longer case and the new Model 1899 to fire it. This revolver known as Military and Police would go on to have several changes to eventually become the Model 10 in 1942.


The Model 10's 'K frame' Smith and Wesson's medium frame is very strong, in many ways stronger than it needs to be, this advantage means that the model 10 can consume a steady diet of +P ammunition.  The fixed sights on this revolver are of snag free design and are very unlikely to knocked or bumped out of alignment unlike Smith and Wesson's adjustable sights.  A good double and single action pull that are crisp and break at predictable points making the revolver inherently easy to shoot, especially with the mild recoil of the .38 special cartridge.  


This no-nonsense, reliable arm will never be a match for today's "Polymer Wonder Guns" in the military world, but still serves a purpose for home defense and sports shooting.  For use as a personal protection arm the .38 special is at the lower end of the spectrum as a manstopper but, with regular practice, shooting quality defensive loads you are by no means 'unarmed'. 


INTERESTING FACT : The model 10 was used by over 20 countries world wide as a defensive arm for either military, police or both.


PRO's   :   Reliable, Easy to shoot, quality construction, utilitarian 


CON's   :   Low in the energy range, but still very acceptable. 


COOL FACTOR : 7/10

20th April : Colt Commander

Name     :     Colt Combat Commander


AKA       :     The Lightweight Commander, Combat Commander

Caliber     :   .45 ACP, 9x19mm Para, 7.65x21mm Para, .38 Super


Capacity   :   7 & 8 Rounds (.45 ACP) and 9 rounds (9mm,.38 Super)


Weight     :   32.5 oz or 961g (steel frame) 27oz or 765g (lightweight)


Length     :   7.75in or 197mm (1991A1 Commander)


Action      :   Browning Swing Link Type, Single Action, Semi Automatic


Origin      :   U.S.A.


The story of the M1911 is a long and interesting one spanning more than 100 years, and through its evolution it has borne a mass of variants by almost every major pistol manufacturer in just about as many calibers and as of 2012 it shows NO intention of slowing down even with the popularity of polymer wonderguns, of which through the INFINITY series of pistols it has even become a part of.  Today however is not the day that I spent more than six hours trying to explain just a tiny portion of the 1911's history, no today we look at a great size variant, the wonderful Colt Commander series.


As early as 1949 the U.S. Army was looking to replace the M1911A1, a pistol that had given great service, but concerns were raised about the size and weight of this full sized service pistol, thus a requirement was sent out for a pistol chambered in .45 ACP with a weight of 25 ounces or less, and an overall length of 7 inches. Colt entered this race with the what was then called the Commander made from a lightweight aluminium called ColtAlloy, though it nor any of the other contestants won a contract.  Colt decided to put the Commander in the civilian market in several calibers including the 7.65x21mm para (.30 Luger) for export to countries that forbid civilians to possess pistols in a military caliber.  In 1970 the Commander was re-named to become the lightweight Commander and a new full steel version was released with the name Combat Commander.


The name Commander has now become a size designation, with each certain Colt models coming out in sizes Government (full size 5 inch barrel), Commander (Shorter than Government 4+/- inch barrel) and Officers ACP (Compact with a 3.5 inch barrel).  As of 2012 Colt models 1991A1 and XSE have Commander sized pistols that are very popular as "Carry" pistols and are also seen on the sports shooting scene.


The modern XSE Commander is a well made and accurate firearm with a 4.25 inch barrel, series 80 locking, 3 hole aluminium trigger, Drop safety and weighs about 33.5oz.  The sights are NOVAK Carry Sights, these sights have white dots for easy target acquisition and are well liked for their snag free design.  The pistol is chambered in .45 ACP and has many other desirable features.

COLT XSE Commander in .45ACP

The .45 ACP round is a subsonic round with well documented stopping power, but it is also used as a sporting caliber.  The .45 ACP in traditional form is a 230gr full metal jacket round known as "ball" ammunition, this type of round was the standard U.S. Military pistol caliber for over 70 years.  For personal protection however jacketed hollow point rounds should be used, with great expansion and reasonable penetration the .45 will continue to be on the carry circuit for some time with all the major ammunition manufacturers making a variety of types for all applications.  


INTERESTING FACT : Frank White a Drug Enforcement Agency Officer carried a Colt Combat Commander, Frank was part of the inspiration for T.V. show Miami Vice, he was given a set of Ivory grips by the Vice President for his Colt Combat Commander for his exceptional service.


PRO's   :   Good Size 1911, Top Quality, Very Customisable, .45 ACP


CON's   :   Requires lots of practice to master


COOL FACTOR : 9/10

April 18th : Smith and Wesson Model 469

Name     :     Smith and Wesson Model 469


AKA       :     Chopped 459

Caliber     :   9x19mm Parabellum


Capacity   :   12 Rounds


Weight     :   27oz or 765g


Length     :    6.88in or 175mm


Action      :    Browning Type cam Locking, Semi Automatic, Double Action


Origin       :    U.S.A.


The Smith and Wesson model 469's origins lay in the model 39 created in 1970, this pistol was a key stepping stone for U.S. law enforcement for moving out of the revolver era into the new world of semi automatics.  The model 39 did however have some short comings namely the capacity of eight rounds, Smith and Wesson responded with the 14 round revision known as the model 59 in 1971.  Production of the 39 and 59 was stopped in 1981, and newer revised versions were launched as the 439, 459, 539 and 559, the 4 prefix indicated an alloy frame and the 5 a steel frame.  The other main revisions between the old and new were the a new extractor, addition of an automatic firing pin safety and improved feed ramps.  


The 459 was very popular with the public as well as law enforcement but there was a trend amoungst some to have gunsmiths cut down a full sized 459 into a compact pistol, in 1983 Smith and Wesson joined this trend and bought into the market the model 469 a 12 shot compact 9mm with bobbed hammer, lightweight alloy frame and slimline grips to remove bulk found in grip of the 459.


The 469 was designed for concealment, featuring a bobbed hammer that has no facility to manually retract it as it slips into the slide cut out relatively flush.  The pistol's decocking lever is located on the left side of the slide at the rear, rotating a steel disc in front of firing pin when engaged also lowering the hammer. The trigger system is essentially the same as earlier Smith & Wesson pistols, it would be expected that it would be carried with a round in the chamber with the hammer lowered, and the first shot would be in double action mode and every subsequent shot would be fired in single action.  Due to the size of the grip the standard magazine features a spur to aid the shooters grip, though in reality one should put a flush magazine plate on instead and learn to shoot well without the spur as the spur may lead to snagging at the most inconvenient moment.


The model 469 is a very well made pistol, and many have been tested on bench rests and pistol vices and have proven the great accuracy potential of this little gun.   


In 1988 with the introduction of the third generation of the Smith and Wesson pistol range the 469 was superseded by the model 6904 (pictured below).

Smith and Wesson Model 6904, note the new sights, grips and revised trigger guard.

INTERESTING FACT : The 469 will accept its parent the 459's 14 round magazines.


PRO's   :   Very accurate, quality construction, good capacity


CON's   :   Magazine spur, magazine disconnect safety, 


COOL FACTOR : 6/10

15th April : Sig Sauer P238

Name     :     SIG Sauer P238


AKA       :      SIG's Mini 1911

Caliber   :     .380 ACP (9x18mm Short)


Capacity :     6 Rounds


Weight   :     15.2oz or 430g


Length   :      5.5in or 139.7mm


Action    :      Single Action, Semi Automatic


Locking   :     Browning sliding lock, (not swinging link)


Origin     :     U.S.A. / Switzerland


As concealed carry permits are on the rise in the United States the need for concealable, easy to handle and shoot well pistols has increased.  SIG Sauer who has a considerable marketplace presence has heeded this call with it's new "Mini 1911" called the P238.  With no less than 17 variations SIG is looking to find something for everyone.  As an example you may purchase the P238 with a matt black, bi-tone, rainbow, Equinox, natural stainless, or even red finish.  


Introduced in 2009, this compact .380 has some resemblance to the Colt Mustang, which itself was designed to appear like a mini 1911.  Unlike a standard 1911 however the P238 does not have a swing link below the barrel or a barrel bushing.  Surprisingly for a .380 caliber pistol the P238 has a locked breech which has advantages such as a lighter recoil spring so that anyone can easily manipulate the slide and the barrel can be easily replaced. The only real disadvantage with this system of locking a breech on a caliber that doesn't require it, is that you no longer have a fixed barrel like the Walther PP, which does contribute to accuracy.  After much consideration I feel that for the ranges that this pistol is designed to be used in and seeing some shooting results, this disadvantage would be negligible.  


The safety switch on this pistol is interesting when compared to the 1911.  On inspection of the slide you will see there is no cut out for the safety lever to move up into when the weapon is made safe, thus when it is engaged the slide may still be manipulated.  Sights, much is said about pistols and the visibility of their sights, SIG for as long as I can remember has always put quality sights on their pistols and the P238 is no exception.  SIGLITE Night Sights are fitted as standard, these sights have white circles with tritium inserts which glow during low light conditions.  SIGLITE Night Sights are said to have a 10-15 year life span before they should be replaced.


The trigger on the P238 has received some criticism for it's heavy pull weight of 7.5-8.5 pounds.  For a single action pistol it is a little on the heavy side though it does have a clean break without or little stacking when the trigger is pulled, certainly better than lighter mushy trigger. 


INTERESTING FACT :  In the short period of time this pistol has been out it has had one significant safety recall and is now in its third magazine revision, though people that like it :  "LOVE IT" 


PRO's     :    Easy to maintain and use, Good quality finish, Great brand


CON's     :    Sensitivity to some ammo, heavy trigger, Some bad mags


COOL FACTOR : 5/10

5th of April : Smith and Wesson Model 66 2.5in

Name   :   Smith and Wesson Model 66 2.5in (2.5in barrel specifically) 


AKA     :   Snubbie, Snub 66, Combat Magnum, 

Caliber   :  .357 Magnum (can also use .38 special)

.357 Magnum Defense Ammo

Weight   :  31oz or 880g


Length   :   7.5in or 190mm


Capacity  :  6 Rounds


Action     : Double / Single Action


Origin     :  U.S.A.


The Model 66 first appeared in 1972,
a stainless steel version of the much loved Model 19.  In 1974 the 2.5 inch barrel version arrived on the scene, and that is what we will look at here.  From the time it was introduced to until the time it was discontinued in 2005, the '66' went through a variety of changes that were common to most Smith and Wesson revolvers in these production years, such as the deletion of pinning the barrel and recessed cylinders.


The '66' 2.5in version was intended as a personal defense revolver or as a back-up gun (BUG) for law enforcement, Strangely though the '66' is in fact quite large, for comparison of size it is longer than a Smith and Wesson 639 Semi-Automatic, and heavier than a Beretta Model 84.


Though chambered in .357 magnum, common practice with this pistol is to use .38 Special rounds for the majority of shooting, as the cylinder walls in this revolver as well as frame (S&W designation 'K' frame) are not strong enough to handle the pressure from constant firing of factory .357 magnum rounds. The extractor on this revolver isn't quite long enough to be able to fully extract empty cases but gives the shooter a good start, and with a healthy smack the cases should fall clear.  


Felt recoil in this revolver is higher than its longer barreled counterpart, but is still manageable.  The sights supplied with this revolver are of standard Smith and Wesson fashion.  The rear sight is adjustable for windage and has matt black base rib along the top of the frame to prevent glare, whilst the front sight has a red/orange insert giving the pistol a nice sight picture especially when compared to other snubbies on the market.  This pistol having been made from stainless steel offers great corrosion resistance coupled with Smith and Wesson's world renowned quality, makes this revolver worth consideration for personal or home defense.  Like any snub nosed revolver time must be taken to master the increased muzzle climb and blast during firing.  The '66' is capable of very good accuracy.


INTERESTING FACT :  The heritage and lines of this type of revolver can be traced all the way back to the first S&W Military and Police revolvers of the beginning of the 20th Century


PRO's   :  Stainless Steel, Good Accuracy, Stylish, Great Pachmayr grips were  available  


CON's   :   A little on the large side, A .357 that needs to be fed .38s


COOL FACTOR :  6/10  

2nd of April : Marlin 9mm Camp Carbine

Name     :   Marlin 9mm Camp Carbine


AKA       :   The Camper, Camp 9

Magazine

Caliber    :  9x19mm Parabellum


Capacity  :  12 Rounds 


Weight    :   6.75lbs or 3.1kg


Length    :   35.5in or 90.6cm


Action     :  Blowback


Origin     :   U.S.A.


The Marlin 9mm Camp Carbine was introduced in 1985 for the hunter / outdoors man market.  The carbine had a short production period as it was discontinued in 1999.  Its principal attraction was the fact it fired a standard, economical and widely used cartridge that many people would already be purchasing for their pistols.  A light recoiling round in carbine form, allowing the user to be able to achieve the most that the 9mm round had to offer.  Higher muzzle energies and accuracy were inherent through the carbines long barrel added with the light almost  negligible recoil allowed fast follow up shots, something that the average varmit hunter would appreciate over the .22 long rifle, so often used for disposing of pests.  The carbine it was said generally proffered heavier rounds such as the 124 and 147 grain rounds over the inexpensive 115 grain full metal jacket. 


At the time of development it was decided to introduce the carbine with a magazine in common with a popular 9mm pistol.  The magazine type chosen was from the Smith and Wesson 59 series of pistols, a then market leading pistol. During that time Glock was still trying to gain a foothold in the American shooting market, come hence there was no intent to make the magazine common with the model 17, as so often happens with carbines of this type today.  


The carbines appearance has more than a passing resemblance to the Ruger 10/22 or even the M1 Carbine, something I believe was intentional to appeal to the outdoorsman to whom the 10/22 is something of legend, and continues to be.  Furnished in a smooth maine birch stock with the quality metal workmanship of Marlin firearms, the Camp Carbine is well made.  The top of the receiver is drilled and tapped all ready for scope rings to be attached.  Sling mounts can be found on the bottom rear of the stock and the end of the front forearm.  


Accessories are numerous for this carbine.  Magazines of many sizes are available including drums.  A wide array of aftermarket stocks flooded the market after it's introduction, giving the carbine a tactical look.  As expected many became interested in suppressing the carbine as well, and today there are suppressors for the end of the muzzle as well as full length attaching models as well.


Interesting Fact :  The 9mm version was not alone, they also made a Camp Carbine in .45 ACP that accepted standard 1911 magazines.


PRO's :   Well made, Many aftermarket options, handy size, 


CON's :   Out of production the carbines have become expensive.


COOL FACTOR : 5/10

1st of April : Kel Tec PMR-30

Name     :   Kel Tec PMR-30


AKA       :   The FlameThrower

.22 Magnum Ammunition

Caliber   :   .22 Magnum Rimfire      


Weight   :   13.6lbs or 385.6g


Length    :   7.9in or 200.7mm


Capacity  :  30 Rounds


Locking   :   (Hybrid) Blowback / Locked Breech 


Action     :   Semi-Auto, Single Action


Origin     :   U.S.A.




In 2010 came the Kel Tec PMR-30, overnight public interest was high.  A new and rather space-age looking pistol, firing a cartridge usually found in bolt action varmit rifles.  The pistol's appearance is nothing short of 'out there', futuristic and cool the PMR-30 sports easily visible front and rear fibre optic inserts within the sights.  The front sight post is furnished with green, and the rear with orange helping make a good sight picture.  Along the top rear of the sight are four screws for mounting of a red dot optic.  Forward of the trigger guard is a picatinny rail for flashlights, pointing lasers and other accessories.  The grips of the PMR-30 have that classic Kel Tec large square cut outs, they are of course not replaceable as the are part of the frame.


In what would seem an unusual move Kel Tec's designers have opted to have the magazine release on the heal of the grip, a move that would make reloading a slightly more cumbersome task if one was using this pistol in a self defence situation.  Be that as it may, if the pistols large 30 round double stack magazine wasn't enough, perhaps a 12 gauge would be in order or a good escape plan.  On the left side of the frame towards the back a small rectangle slide lock sits almost flush with the frame, further behind the slide lock is the ambidextrous manual safety which operates in the standard 1911 fashion : Up for safe, Down for fire.  Interestingly the design of the slide is also worth a mention, for the slide operates by sliding on rails within the frame very similar to that of a CZ-75 or Sig P210.


The PMR-30 is constructed with a steel slide and barrel, while the frame is made from Aluminium. Internally the pistol has steel inserts within the frame for all necessary components that are under stress when firing.  The pistols action is something unique and interesting, with high pressure ammunition the case of the round will expand and 'grip' the inner walls of the chamber just long enough for pressure to drop to safe levels and then the rest of the cycle will continue in ordinary fashion.  It's a kind of delayed blowback using the rounds own pressure to lock the action temporarily.


The PMR-30 is a great pistol to shoot as it has light recoil and weight with a good crisp trigger.  Equally impressive is the considerable muzzle flash that this pistol produces, in itself a nifty feature for entertaining any onlookers at the range.  The PMR-30 makes a great addition to the rimfire market, for those interested in target shooting, pest control or just casual plinking the PMR-30 is certainly worth consideration.


INTERESTING FACT : During the production of the PMR-30 a fully automatic version was also developed.


PRO's :   Inexpensive, Magazine Capacity, light weight, fun to shoot,   


CON's :   Sensitivity to some ammo, Magazine catch position.


COOL FACTOR :  7/10                         

28th March : M1 Garand

Name     -   Rifle, Caliber .30, M1 


AKA       -   The Garand, The greatest Battle implement ever devised

Loaded EN Block Clip

Caliber   -   .30-06 or 7.62x63mm


Capacity -   8 rounds via EN Block Clip


Weight   -   9.5lbs or 4.31kg (models did vary)


Length    -  43 inches or 1.1m



Origin     -  U.S.A.




The M1 Garand, a staple of power and innovation at a time when bolt actions ruled the military world. In the Pacific and in Europe the Garand was present, enduring the elements, fighting on to eventually gain a venerable title as the best general issue rifle available in large numbers.  Numbers vary on the total production number but it is generally accepted to be around 6 million, production coming mainly from Springfield Armory who at the time was a state owned arsenal, but also from Harrington and Richardson, international Harvester, Winchester and others.  


The rifle is a semi automatic, firing from a closed bolt, air cooled, and fed from an 8 round EN block clip which was inserted into an internal magazine.  Once inserted the operator would quickly release pressure on the clip and bolt would slam closed loading the first round into the chamber.  If the operator was too slow with removing his thumb, it could become caught between the bolt and breach face causing the infamous garand thumb 'ouch'.  Once loaded the operator was encouraged to expend all 8 rounds before reloading as topping up the weapon was a time consuming process, though many would simply release the partially used clip through a release switch at the base of the rifle and eject the chambered round and insert a new clip.  The barrels on the garand are generally between 22 and 24 inches long.


One of the most recognizable things of the M1 Garand is the sound of the EN block clip ejecting making a loud "PING" after the last round has been fired. This was sometimes seen as a drawback as often enemy combatants would hear that the firers rifle was empty and would then attack.  As always in war there are clever cookies out there that take note of enemy behavior, in particular U.S. marines fighting the japanese would sometimes throw or bang empty clips on the ground to replicate the noise of an empty rifle and wait for the enemy to pop their heads up only to find that 'empty' garand isn't so empty after all.


The rifle was designed by Canadian born gun designer John Garand and served as the standard U.S. Military rifle replacing the Springfield M1903 from 1936 (though they werent in widespread use until 1937/38) until offically 1957. Though use of the rifle continued through various conflicts including Vietnam, and is in use today as a parade rifle by some U.S. units.


Today the Garand enjoys high popularity as target shooting rifle and collectors piece sold to the American public through the Civilian Marksmanship Program as well as through normal surplus channels.  


INTERESTING FACT : 
During WW2 the German Army in times of poor weapon supply would issue captured U.S. M1's as the 7.62mm Selbstladegewehr 251 (a).


PROS : Reliable, Accurate, Semi Automatic firepower, 
CONS : Heavy, Time consuming maintenance, 


COOL FACTOR : 9 / 10