2012 SHOT SHOW -- Media Day...
I arrived in Lost Wages Sunday, late, and had a crackerbox car reserved for this week. Well, guess what? They didn't have any left in the rental car lot when I arrived..............so I'm driving a new Mustang convertible. Sweet!!!
Okay, now back to the regularly scheduled nonsense. The following are some of the things I saw and shot today at "Media" day, which was really a 'Zoo' in disguise. (They used humans instead of animals, but otherwise the description fits.)
So far as much as I can see THIS is going to be the 'Hit' of the show in terms of handguns. It's the new XDS from Springfield Armory. I got to overhear an explanation of this pistol from Rob Leatham and the big point is this gun is REALLY NEW. So New only 3 people knew about it a few weeks ago and one of them was Leatham himself. Essentially, it is a .45 and it as small as they can make it. They would have made it in 9x19mm but it wouldn't have reduced the gun in overall size all that much because of the chamber pressure of the 9x19mm versus the lower pressure .45 requiring a thicker chamber wall and as well as other thicknesses. There is NO parts commonality between this pistol and any other XD pistol. It's totally new. Additionally, Leatham said they no longer use factory sponsored focus groups but instead rely on bloggers and internet commentators to do their 'beta' testing. Essentially, there are NO more prototypes. The first guns are production models!
Yeah, this is kind of a 'yawn', but Colt is making a big deal out of it. So, the New Frontier has returned, in this case with a 7-1/2 inch barrel in .45 Colt. Other calibers include .44 Special. I shot this particular gun and it was okay, but I felt it needed a trigger job. That's me and I'm not all that wild about Single Action Colts, even target models that hail from 1873.
This is the Sig 556 in 7.62x39 caliber. It will use ANY Kalashnikov magazine designed for the AK-47. (Although these were made in Bulgaria.) When the factory rep. was questioned about the gun's potential accuracy? He replied 1.5 to 2.0 minutes of angle......"because of the ammunition". I don't question his logic or experience, but still it set me back. However, I didn't see anything when I fired the gun to indicate he was wrong.
I guess I'm late to the party as I didn't realize the Arabs were making their own polymer framed, striker fired pistol. This is the Caracel that is made in Abu Dubai U.A.E. I never fired it so I can't comment any further.
This is a new one from Kahr. It's the CM-9, but with a FRAME MOUNTED SAFETY!! That means in practical terms they can lighten up the double action trigger pull and remove a whole bunch of 'monkey motion' from the trigger. Which they have! I liked this gun and want to spend more time with a test sample.
(photo courtesy of Jay from MArooned.)
Finally, I've heard about these things for some time and the fact of the matter is I was just plain curious about this "Slide Fire" mechanism that bump fires the trigger on a semi-auto to work like a full-auto. In all modesty I've spent a few hours and days on the square range with full-auto firearms and I wondered how 'accurate' (a relative term I realize for the situation) the weapon was in 'full-auto'?
The truth is I don't believe this system will prepare anyone for work in the special ops tactical field. You have to hold the gun so differently than what you would a regular select-fire gun, there really is NO comparison. Yeah, I was able to keep most of the rounds on the steel humanoid target, but that was AFTER the first few were well off the target. Once the gun got 'running' I was able (because of experience) to bring it back onto the 25 yard steel target.
It's an okay system if you want to own the means to make a lot of empty brass, but I don't think for a second it's going to prepare anyone for a 'Selection' course for any military or L.E. tactical team I can think of.
The drive back from the range was neat though. I will say this about the late model Mustang, the little bitch will corner at 'speed' like no American car I've driven recently.
It makes me wish I was an automotive writer instead of a gun hack...
All The Best,
Frank W. James
Okay, now back to the regularly scheduled nonsense. The following are some of the things I saw and shot today at "Media" day, which was really a 'Zoo' in disguise. (They used humans instead of animals, but otherwise the description fits.)
So far as much as I can see THIS is going to be the 'Hit' of the show in terms of handguns. It's the new XDS from Springfield Armory. I got to overhear an explanation of this pistol from Rob Leatham and the big point is this gun is REALLY NEW. So New only 3 people knew about it a few weeks ago and one of them was Leatham himself. Essentially, it is a .45 and it as small as they can make it. They would have made it in 9x19mm but it wouldn't have reduced the gun in overall size all that much because of the chamber pressure of the 9x19mm versus the lower pressure .45 requiring a thicker chamber wall and as well as other thicknesses. There is NO parts commonality between this pistol and any other XD pistol. It's totally new. Additionally, Leatham said they no longer use factory sponsored focus groups but instead rely on bloggers and internet commentators to do their 'beta' testing. Essentially, there are NO more prototypes. The first guns are production models!
Yeah, this is kind of a 'yawn', but Colt is making a big deal out of it. So, the New Frontier has returned, in this case with a 7-1/2 inch barrel in .45 Colt. Other calibers include .44 Special. I shot this particular gun and it was okay, but I felt it needed a trigger job. That's me and I'm not all that wild about Single Action Colts, even target models that hail from 1873.
This is the Sig 556 in 7.62x39 caliber. It will use ANY Kalashnikov magazine designed for the AK-47. (Although these were made in Bulgaria.) When the factory rep. was questioned about the gun's potential accuracy? He replied 1.5 to 2.0 minutes of angle......"because of the ammunition". I don't question his logic or experience, but still it set me back. However, I didn't see anything when I fired the gun to indicate he was wrong.
I guess I'm late to the party as I didn't realize the Arabs were making their own polymer framed, striker fired pistol. This is the Caracel that is made in Abu Dubai U.A.E. I never fired it so I can't comment any further.
This is a new one from Kahr. It's the CM-9, but with a FRAME MOUNTED SAFETY!! That means in practical terms they can lighten up the double action trigger pull and remove a whole bunch of 'monkey motion' from the trigger. Which they have! I liked this gun and want to spend more time with a test sample.
Finally, I've heard about these things for some time and the fact of the matter is I was just plain curious about this "Slide Fire" mechanism that bump fires the trigger on a semi-auto to work like a full-auto. In all modesty I've spent a few hours and days on the square range with full-auto firearms and I wondered how 'accurate' (a relative term I realize for the situation) the weapon was in 'full-auto'?
The truth is I don't believe this system will prepare anyone for work in the special ops tactical field. You have to hold the gun so differently than what you would a regular select-fire gun, there really is NO comparison. Yeah, I was able to keep most of the rounds on the steel humanoid target, but that was AFTER the first few were well off the target. Once the gun got 'running' I was able (because of experience) to bring it back onto the 25 yard steel target.
It's an okay system if you want to own the means to make a lot of empty brass, but I don't think for a second it's going to prepare anyone for a 'Selection' course for any military or L.E. tactical team I can think of.
The drive back from the range was neat though. I will say this about the late model Mustang, the little bitch will corner at 'speed' like no American car I've driven recently.
It makes me wish I was an automotive writer instead of a gun hack...
All The Best,
Frank W. James
Labels: Gun Writing, Guns, SHOT SHOW REPORT
7 Comments:
I haven't driven a Mustang since about '04. They weren't bad cars then, but the new ones - even the "puny" 300hp V6 - look like pretty decent cars. And a hell of a performance value. A hardtop V6 can be had in the mid-20s.
The XD(s) looks interesting; I see Springfield doesn't have anything on their site yet. Any info on magazine capacity, weight, etc? If they're priced better than the Kahr PM45s and meet our stupid mag laws, I could well see one ending up in the safe...
Thanks for the report!
Handled a Caracel a few years ago in UAE. Design was from the folks who did the Steyr series. It was only a prototype at the time.
Gerry
Nice report, and that little CM-9 IS of interest! Thanks!
Nice report, that CM-9 does sound interesting.
Frank, are you saying you're more impressed with the rental Mustang than you are with the guns at the Media Day? :-)
If it's truly a Colt New Frontier, shouldn't it be in .44-40?
Family had 8 mustangs since '65. Mine were a '66 convertible, a '69 2+2 "GT", and a '90 5.0. Now I'd need help to get in and out, what with my bad back and knees.
And who says you can't run some car reviews? Probably better than some of the "pros"!
oldeforce
Pleasure meeting you, Frank, and happy to oblige as cameraman.
The XDS, to answer ZerCool's question, has a 6 round magazine, so it's got +1 capacity to the Kahr PM45 and the same as the Glock G36, which are about the only competitors I can readily think of as far as polymer-framed, single-stack 45s.
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