Over a century ago, John Browning invented the Model 1911, and its popularity has spawned many similar handguns. New for rimfire enthusiasts is the American Tactical GSG-M1911 in .22 LR. This pistol has a lot of features that shooters of the centerfire handguns demand, such as combat-style sights, a high-rise beavertail grip safety, an extended ambidextrous thumb safety, a skeletonized hammer and classic double-diamond checkered walnut grips. The slide and frame are made of zinc alloy that has been hardcoat anodized black, and it has the look and feel of the full-sized Government Model 1911 pistol. (http://www.americantactical.com; 800-290-0065)
Built around the venerable Model 1911, the XT is a delayed-blowback-action .22 Magnum outfitted in an all-steel configuration. The XT’s modular barrel gives it outstanding accuracy potential, making it an excellent choice for field use. Some of the pistol’s many features include combat-style sights mounted in dovetails, an open-top slide, a skeletonized hammer and trigger, an extended beavertail grip safety and checkered rubber grips, all finished in matte black. (http://us.armscor.com; 775-537-1444)
Beretta’s M9, the 9mm U.S. Service Pistol based on the Model 92 platform, marks 2015 as the 30th anniversary of its adoption by the American military. The newest evolution of this pistol is the M9A3, which offers a number of improvements to the present M9 design. A smaller Vertec-style grip frame with a straight backstrap and thinner grip panels will offer a better fit. For those with larger hands, there’s an optional wrap-around backstrap unit. The dustcover has a three-slot Picatinny rail, and The Flat Dark Earth Cerakote finish provides corrosion and wear resistance. The PVD-coated, sand-resistant magazine now has a 17-round capacity and the tritium-dot front and rear sights are mounted in dovetails. (http://www.berettausa.com; 800-929-2901)
I’ve had a lot of experience over the years with the Argentine-made Bersa pistols, and I can tell you that they are quality products that are both accurate and reliable. For 2015, Bersa is introducing the Thunder 9 Pro XT. Like the other pistols in the Thunder Pro series, the 9mm XT is a traditional double-action/single-action pistol with an exposed hammer and ambidextrous safety, slide and magazine releases. The blue steel slide rides on a satin-finished, high-strength aluminum alloy receiver. Conceived as a sport shooter’s handgun, it has a longer than usual 4.96-inch barrel and a fully adjustable rear sight, along with a fiber-optic front sight. The dust cover of the frame has no accessory rail, but is serrated just above the forward end of the triggerguard to provide a resting place for the trigger finger. The checkered polymer grip and grip frame are ergonomically designed for comfort and to provide control during rapid-fire shooting. (http://www.bersa.com; 732-493-0333)
The new MC27 is a modern, short-recoil, semi-automatic pistol that’s available from Chiappa in both the traditional double-action/single-action (DA/SA) or double-action-only (DAO) configurations. The accuracy potential of this pistol comes from its slide rails, which are enclosed within the frame, along with an optimal grip angle. It has combat sights, attached via dovetail cuts, a manual safety, integral accessory rail in the dust cover and textured plastic grips. Each pistol is finished in matte black and comes with two magazines. (http://www.chiappafirearms.com)
Colt has expanded its Rail Gun series with three new editions, one of which is a full-sized Government Model, the O1880RG, which features a hardcoat anodized aluminum receiver, making it lighter than its steel-receiver predecessors. It also has wide front and rear slide serrations. Features shared with the original Rail Gun models include an upswept beavertail grip safety with a palm swell, Novak sights and Colt’s extended, single-side safety lock. The O1880RG is chambered in .45 ACP and has a 5-inch National Match barrel. (http://www.colt.com; 800-962-2658)
While the Gold Cup 1911 is not new to Colt’s lineup, the older model was based on the Series 80 design, which many thought had an inferior trigger pull due to internal safeties. Now Colt has introduced its Gold Cup pistol in the Series 70 configuration to satisfy demand. It brings not only a better trigger, but an improved Bomar-type fully adjustable rear sight. As with all Gold Cup pistols, it has a National Match barrel, a wide adjustable trigger, a lowered and flared ejection port, and checkered walnut grips with the gold Colt medallion. The round-top slide is matte finished and the sides of the slide and frame are polished blue. (http://www.colt.com; 800-962-2658)
This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the world-renowned CZ 75 pistol. First introduced in 1975 with a revolutionary design that featured the slide rails enclosed within the pistol’s frame for added accuracy, the CZ 75 has spawned many similar designs. In celebration, this polished and blued pistol is hand-engraved in the Czech Republic, and then the controls, trigger, extractor, grips screws and magazine base are rainbow-titanium-nitride-finished for a remarkable contrast. The birds-eye maple grips are dyed to match, and each gun comes in a presentation case. Only 1,000 will be made. (http://www.cz-usa.com; 800-955-4486)
A truly unique 1911 is the European American Armory (EAA) Witness Elite 1911 Polymer model made by Tanfoglio. As the name implies, it has a polymer frame that decreases the weight of this full-sized pistol from 2.38 pounds to an even 2 pounds. Better yet, the lightweight frame has the same dimensions as those found on any other steel- or alloy-framed 1911s. Steel action inserts are imbedded in the frame, and it has polymer grip panels, a flat mainspring housing and an extended beavertail grip safety. Other features include a Commander-style hammer, an ambidextrous thumb safety, an accessory rail, fixed sights and a non-reflective, matte black finish. (http://www.eaacorp.com; 321-639-4842)
More and more compact reflex sights are finding their way onto service handguns, with the advantage being you can look through the reticle and focus on the target. Glock is meeting this challenge by introducing several models in its new MOS (Modular Optic System) configuration. As an example, the newest G35 Gen4 in .40 has the features of the standard G35 plus the optional MOS configuration. This system allows for the mounting of optical sights through the use of a removable plate just forward of the rear sight, and the plates come in four sizes to conform to the most popular optics. The new G40 Gen4 In MOS Configuration packs the power of the 10mm Auto with a 6.02-inch barrel to fully maximize its chambering’s potential. (http://us.glock.com; 770-432-1202)
The Grand Power line of handguns is made in Slovakia and imported by Eagle Imports. An interesting model is the P40, which has a rotating/locking barrel that makes shooting .40-caliber loads feel more like a 9mm. It has a durable polymer frame that includes the ergonomically designed grips, ambidextrous controls and an integral accessory rail on the dustcover. The steel slide is all CNC-machined, the fixed-dot sights are steel and mounted in dovetails while the trigger mechanism is a traditional DA/SA with an exposed hammer spur. The pistol is finished in a non-reflective matte black, and each Grand Power pistol has a lifetime warranty for the original owner. (http://www.eagleimportsinc.com; 732-493-0302)
Re-entering the field of striker-fired pistols this year is the HK VP9 in 9mm. This handgun’s most salient feature is its “light pull” trigger. Heckler & Koch has designed the trigger mechanism to have a short, light take-up with a positive single-action-type break, followed by a short reset. This provides less noticeable trigger creep prior to the break. The polymer frame features interchangeable backstraps and sidepanels to accommodate almost any hand size for optimal shooting. All controls, like the magazine catch and slide release, are ambidextrous and the frame has an integral accessory rail. The slide is serrated front and rear, and the rear area also has HK’s patented charging supports for better gripping leverage. (http://www.hk-usa.com; 706-568-1906)
Returning to the offerings of Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) is the Jericho line of pistols. Based on the inside slide rail design, the Jericho 941 PL has a polymer frame, a steel slide and the standard full-sized barrel length is 4.4 inches. It’s available 9mm and .40 and can be had in single action or in a traditional double-action configuration. All models include an ergonomic finger groove grip, an integral accessory rail, dovetailed combat sights and a loaded-chamber indicator. Standard, short and compact models, plus a steel frame version are also available. Extremely rugged, the Jericho is standard issue of the Israeli police. (http://www.israel-weapon.com)
Kahr Arms is adding to its line of performance pistols with the introduction of the TP9 Gen 2. The most obvious additions on this version include 5- or 6-inch ported barrels, a longer slide with front and rear serrations, several sight options that include tall sights that will co-witness with the optional Leupold DeltaPoint reflex sight, and an enhanced safety trigger system with a pull stroke 30-percent less than a Gen 1 Kahr pistol. Other features include a concentric recoil spring, a reversible magazine catch, an integral accessory rail on the dustcover, a polymer frame with steel inserts molded in and a match-grade polygonal rifled barrel. (http://www.kahr.com; 508-795-3919)
A combat-worthy 1911, the Kimber Desert Warrior (TFS) is based on the pistol currently being supplied to U.S. Marines. As such, the steel slide is Dark Earth finished with a matching KimPro II finish on the frame and tan G10 tactical grip panels. The 5.5-inch match barrel is threaded for suppressor use, and tritium tactical “wedge” sights are standard. A flat mainspring housing complements an extended beavertail grip safety, and the extended manual safety is ambidextrous. Other features include a skeletonized hammer, the Picatinny rail and a match-grade trigger.
Built to deliver the hard-charging .50 Action Express cartridge, the Desert Eagle has become an iconic handgun for those looking for undeniable stopping power. For 2015, Magnum Research has updated its lineup of big-bore handguns by offering a stainless steel version of the Desert Eagle. The new pistol offers a magazine capacity of 7+1 rounds, a 6-inch barrel and two accessory rails—a Picatinny rail below the barrel and a Weaver-style rail on top of the slide. Measuring 10.75 in length, this is a hand-filling gun that also features fixed three-dot sights and a rotating bolt semi-auto action. (http://www.magnumresearch.com; 508-635-4273)
Best described as a premium 1911, the War Hawk Government Model has many customs touches for enhanced performance. The multi-faceted slide has a serrated arrow-style top while the rear of the slide is hand serrated. The match barrel is crowned and beveled flush with the bushing, and the pistol also include’s Nighthawk’s Marvel Everlast Recoil System. A Jardine rear sight is mated with a red fiber-optic front sight; a tritium dot is optional. The aggressively checkered flat mainspring housing and frontstrap are combined with an extended beavertail grip safety and an extended thumb safety. There’s also a match-grade trigger, an extended magazine release, a black nitride finish and 10-8 Performance Hyena Brown grips. (http://www.nighthawkcustom.com; 870-423-4867)
Ruger’s newest 1911-style pistol combines a satin stainless steel slide, a black anodized aluminum alloy frame and a 4.25-inch barrel to create an attractive dual-tone carry pistol in .45 ACP that is 7 ounces lighter than the standard model. A polished titanium feed ramp enhances reliability, a serrated frontstrap and checkered mainspring housing improve controllability and thin hardwood grip panels make it more concealable. Other features include Novak LoMount three-dot combat sights, a skeletonized hammer and trigger, an extended beavertail grip safety, a titanium firing pin, a lowered and flared ejection port and a precision-made barrel and bushing. (http://www.ruger.com)
For 2015, Sig has added a single-stack 10mm to its P220 lineup. By popular demand, the powerful 10mm will address a number of roles for handgun use, including hunting. One version of the P220 10mm is the Elite Nitron. Like all the new 10mm pistols, it has a 5-inch barrel to maximize the performance of the 10mm cartridge. This single-action pistol has the durable Nitron finish and rugged G10 “Piranha” grips. Other features include SIGLITE Night Sights, the Elite Beavertail backstrap and front and rear slide serrations. (http://www.sigsauer.com; 866-345-6744)
A multi-role pistol that could function in many environments, the M&P40 Performance Center Ported is, as the name implies, a ported pistol chambered in .40 S&W. (M&P9 pistols are also available.) The ports help tame recoil and reduce muzzle flip for rapid-fire controllability and quick sight acquisition between shots. The dot-type rear sight and front sight blade both ride high on the slide so that they can co-witness with an optical reflex sight. This pistol is means competition-optics ready and will fit several such sights. Other features include an adjustable trigger stop, three interchangeable enhanced palmswell grip sizes, plus an enhanced trigger with a Performance Center sear. This is a striker-fired pistol with no manual safety, but it does have internal safety systems to prevent an accidental discharge. The stainless steel slide has a durable satin black, corrosion-resistant finish and the frame is polymer. The dust cover features an integral accessory rail. (http://www.smith-wesson.com; 800-331-0852)
The new Loaded Operator 1911 has as standard features many items formally found only on customized pistols. The forged steel slide has front and rear serrations, fixed tritium three-dot sights, a lowered and flared ejection port, and a skeletonized hammer. The forged steel frame has a flat, checkered mainspring housing, an integral accessory rail, an extended beavertail grip safety, a beveled magazine well and an extended ambidextrous thumb safety. The grips are G10, and the pistol has a black Armory Kote finish. (http://www.springfield-armory.com; 800-680-6866)
The effectiveness of a full-sized handgun can be seen whether you’re looking for better self-defense, improved competition on the range or duty-ready stopping power. This collection shows some of the more intriguing offerings for 2015 whether you’re looking for a race-ready revolver or a hard-hitting sidearm. Check out the selections below to see which of these full-size handguns best fits your real-world needs.
