Guns Illustrated 2011. Dan ShidelerЧитать онлайн книгу.
a less-noticeable pistol for discrete carry.
KBI
A noted above, KBI is no longer in business, as of early 2010. (See Charles Daly.)
KEL-TEC
Kel-Tec’s big news is their new PMR-30, a light 30-shot pistol chambered for the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (.22 WMR) cartridge. It is a full-size pistol, measuring almost 6x8 inches, but is light, only 13.6 ounces unloaded (going only to 19.5 ounces fully loaded with 30 rounds). Barrel length is 4.3 inches, and Kel-Tec records a velocity of 1230 fps with a standard 40-grain .22 WMR load.
Kel-Tec harnesses the relatively high-pressure .22 WMR cartridge by what they call a “hybrid blowback/locked breech system.” Apparently, a problem using the .22 Magnum in a blowback system is that the case begins to move out of the chamber while still under substantial pressure. Kel-Tec uses a fluted rearward-moving barrel that stays in contact with the breechblock during the time of highest pressure. This appears to be similar to the system used by the FN Five-seveN pistol, and the origin of the mechanism dates back to the French MAB Model R pistol of the 1950s.
The PMR-30 has slide and barrel made of 4140 steel, and the basic frame is 7075 aluminum. Other parts, including the magazine, are glass-reinforced nylon (Zytel). The magazine has an internal rib that separates the rims of the cartridges, avoiding rim-over-rim problems and aiding smooth feeding. The magazine has view holes, so that the shooter can tell how many rounds are loaded. The pistol has fi ber-optic sights,\ and a surprisingly good trigger. Introduced at the January 2010 SHOT Show, the PMR-30 was expected to be available by mid-2010.
KIMBER
Kimber has built a good part of its reputation on its 1911 pistols, and you can bet that the firm is going to recognize the 100th anniversary of the 1911. The Centennial Edition comes from Kimber’s Custom Shop. In .45 ACP (of course), the Centennial has a special casehardened finish by Turnbull Restoration. Engraved slides, true elephant ivory grips and other features make the Centennial special. Only 250 of the cased guns will be offered.
Also from the Custom Shop, a new line of carry pistols has been introduced. The fi st thing that caught my eye about the Super Carry series was the rounded butt treatment – not really a “bobtail,” but reminiscent of the smooth curve of the old Colt pocket pistols of 1903. The Super Carry Custom is a full-size 5-incher, the Pro has a 4-inch bushing-less barrel, and the Ultra goes down to 3 inches, with a shorter grip frame. With aluminum frames, weights are 31, 28 and 25 ounces, respectively.
Kimber deserves praise for its support of the shooting sports. Setting aside a portion of sales of certain guns, the company has donated to the U.S. Shooting Team, to the time of this writing, a total of $675,000. Thank you, Kimber.
KRISS
Kriss fi rearms are offered by Tranformational Defense Industries (TDI). Introduced here in this publication two years ago, the Kriss semiautomatic .45 ACP 16-inch carbine (an outgrowth of the earlier Kriss .45-caliber submachinegun) was joined last year by a 45-caliber "short-barrel rifl e" and a 40-caliber carbine.
Now, in early 2010, the Kriss semiautomatic pistol has joined the family. The new pistol has a 5.5-inch barrel, and is, in essence, the short-barrel rifl e without any provision for a stock. It is BATF-approved, but cannot be made available in some states or municipalities, perhaps because it has an unusual appearance.
LEGACY
In 2009, Legacy Sports International introduced its Citadel line of 45-caliber 1911 pistols, in full-size 5-inch and Concealed Carry 3.5-inch variants. The line expanded in 2010. The Citadel line now offers both versions with one-piece wraparound Hogue grips of various colors. In addition, finishes may now be matte black, brushed nickel or polished nickel. Brand new is the Citadel .38 Super, a full-size 5-incher. It can be had with black, brushed nickel or polished nickel finishes, all with double-diamond wood grips.
Joining the centerfire 1911 pistols is the new Puma 1911-22. Roughly the same size, and with similar operating characteristics, the Puma 22 Long Rifle pistol has a 5-inch barrel, a 10-round magazine and weighs 32 ounces. Made by Chiappa Firearms, it is mechanically the same pistol as the Chiappa 1911-22 marketed by MKS Supply. (See Chiappa.)
The polymer-frame 9mm BUL pistols introduced last year by Legacy have quietly slipped out of the catalog for 2010.
LES BAER
A .45 autoloader named after a car? Les Baer Custom admits that owner Les Baer is an aficionado of powerful automobiles as well as powerful handguns. The new “Boss 45” introduced this year harks back to the Ford Mustang Boss 429 of yesteryear.
The pistol has a chromed frame and blued slide, with grasping serrations only at the rear. An adjustable rear sight and red fi ber-optic front sight allow accurate sighting. The Boss 45 is guaranteed to shoot 3-inch groups at 50 yards.
MAGNUM RESEARCH
Magnum Research now has a 1911! The Minnesota company will offer a full-size 5-inch and Commander-size 4.3-inch “Desert Eagle” 1911 pistols. A prototype Government-size pistol at the 2010 SHOT Show was marked “Desert Eagle 1911 G. / Magnum Research, Minn, MN.” The Commander-size pistols will carry 1911 C. markings. The pistols will be enhanced models, with beavertail tang, ventilated hammer and trigger, lowered ejection port, and special sights. The new 1911s are reported to be manufactured by BUL in Israel.
The “Baby Desert Eagle” name has been applied to new additions to the Magnum Research line, polymer-frame ”fast action” pistols. The new guns will be offered in 9mm and .40 S&W. Capacity of the 9mm is 15+1, the .40 is 12+1.
The little 380-caliber Micro Desert Eagle, introduced last year, now is offered in three finishes. The 14-ounce pistols will be available as blued, nickel or two-tone blue/nickel.
MASTERPIECE ARMS
Masterpiece Arms, of Braselton, Georgia, makes a line of “MAC-10” pistols and carbines in 9mm and .45 ACP. Both traditional top-cocking, and (new for 2010) side-cocking variants are offered. Pistols may have 3-, 6-, or 10-inch barrels, and the carbines carry 16-inch barrels. In addition to the new side-cocking option, two new calibers have now been introduced, going both lower and higher in power levels.
For those who like low recoil and low cost, the MPA 22T is offered in .22 Long Rifle. The new .22 is built on the 9mm frame and comes with a long 27-round magazine. With its unconventional looks, it may be the dream plinking pistol for some people.
For those who want more power than the .45 ACP offers, MPA now can offer pistols and carbines in .460 Rowland caliber. Both pistols and carbines come with muzzle brakes and have 30-round magazines.
PARA
The Para GI Expert (Product Code GI45) introduced last year as a lower-price “basic” 1911 with some updated features many shooters want, now has two additional variants. The same gun is now offered in a stainless-steel version (GI45S) with the same features. The additional new variant has the same finish as the original GI Expert, but is enhanced with a beavertail tang with a bump on the grip safety portion, an adjustable trigger, and fi ber-optic front sight. This new gun gets the Product Code GI45ESP. Each GI Expert comes with two 8-round magazines.
RUGER
Ruger’s first striker-fired centerfire pistol, the 9mm SR9, now has a compact variant. The new SR9c has shortened the barrel from the SR9’s 4.14 inches to 3.5 inches. The grip frame has been shortened to accommodate a 10-round magazine, instead of the original 17-rounder. The SR9c has pared the weight of the original down from 26.5 ounces to 23.4 ounces.
Although the SR9c has a 10-shot magazine, there are options. The magazine comes with two interchangeable bases: one flush and one with a finger grip extension. Actually, the 17-round magazine can also be used with the compact pistol, and Ruger offers a grip extension adapter to fill in the extra space. The compact pistols ship with one 10-round and one 17-round magazine, the two bases and the extension for the longer magazine.
Many features of the larger SR9, such as three-dot sights and reversible backstrap, are also included with the compact version.
SIG-SAUER