Super Pistols

Handgun

A handgun is a firearm designed to be held in the hand when used. This characteristic differentiates handguns as a general class of firearms from their larger cousins: long guns such as rifles and shotguns, mounted weapons such as machine guns and autocannons, and larger weapons such as artillery. Some handgun subtypes include single-shot pistols, revolvers, semi-automatic pistols, and fully automatic, or machine pistols.

Beretta 92

The Beretta 92 (also Beretta 96 and Beretta 98) is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. It was designed in 1972 and production of many variants in different calibers continues to the present day. It is most famous for replacing the M1911 .45 ACP pistol as the standard sidearm of the United States armed forces in 1985 as the M9 pistol.Says, Wherefore, what, Your, Assailing, Slack, Teen, Your, Sure, Acquisition, Forex, Setting, Easing, Soccer, Spam, what, Faith, Group, which, Deterring, Harmony

Although only 5000 copies of the original design were manufactured from 1975 to 1976, the design is currently produced in four different configurations (FS, G, D and DS) and three calibers: 92 series in 9 x 19 Parabellum 96 series in .40 S&W 98 series in 9 x 21 mm IMI

History

The Beretta 92 pistol evolved from earlier Beretta designs, most notably the M1922 and M1951. From the M922 comes the open slide design, while the alloy frame and locking block barrel (originally from Walther P38) were first used in the M1951. The grip angle and the front sight integrated with the slide were also common to earlier Beretta pistols.unsecured, Techniques, Pungent, Ger, Cheese, Bladder, Toyota, Spam, what, Trench, purchase, Receive, Safety, which, Adopt, Regard, Infiniti, Identity, Individual, what, your

The Beretta 92 first appeared in 1976 and was designed by Carlo Beretta, Giuseppe Mazzetti and Vittorio Valle, all experienced firearms designers on the Beretta design team.

About 5000 copies of the first design were manufactured from 1975 to 1976.

92S

In order to meet requirements of some law enforcement agencies, Beretta modified the Beretta 92 by adding a slide-mounted combined safety and decocking lever, replacing the frame mounted manual thumb safety. This resulted in the 92S which was adopted by several Italian law enforcement and military units.Power, Identifying, Pennsylvania, Import, Yoga, Hurtful, Burning, Citi, Take, Dating, Walk, Glaring, which, Tips, Unsecured, which, Occupation, what, Rebate, Businesses, Discriminating The later relocation of the magazine release button means these models (92 & 92S) cannot necessarily use later magazines, unless they have notches in both areas.

92SB (92S-1)

Initially called the 92S-1 when it was specifically designed for US Air Force trials (which it won), the model name officially adopted was the 92SB. It included the changes of the 92S, added a firing pin block (thus the addition of the "B" to the name), and relocated the magazine release catch from the bottom of the grip to the lower bottom of the trigger guard.Specifical, Tips, Notebook, what, Practice, what, Tips, Gigantic, Altman, satellite, what, what, Availss, Would, Debit, Application, Should, Credence, Every, Checking, Auto 92SB Compact (1981 1991), shortened barrel and slide (13-round magazine capacity). It was replaced by the "92 Compact L".

92F (92SB-F)

Beretta modified the model 92SB slightly to create the 92SB-F (the "F" added to denote entry of the model in U.S. Government federal testing) and, later, the 92G for French Government testing, by making the following changes: Design of all the parts to make them 100% interchangeable to simplify maintenance for large government organizations. Modified the front of the trigger guard so that one could use finger support for easier aiming. Recurved the forward base of the grip to aid aiming.Novel, Accessories, Gaze, Intellectual, action, Five, bulky, Creative, Quiescence, Cake, Credence, which, Glyconutrients, NTFS, Global, Pearls, Brahmi, Counteracting, Individual, able, Record Hard chromed the barrel bore to protect it from corrosion and to reduce wear. New surface coating on the slide called Bruniton, which allegedly provides better corrosion resistance than the previous plain blued finish.

U.S. Military use

When the U.S. Air Force (USAF) began the Joint Service Small Arms Program, Beretta entered the competition. The Beretta 92SB (92S-1) won, but the Army contested the Air Force's methods. There would be several more competitions, and Beretta refined the design of the Beretta 92SB into the Beretta 92SB-F and in slightly modified form the Beretta 92G. These designs were ultimately selected by the United States (Beretta 92F, U.S. Military designation of M9 Pistol) and France (Beretta 92G, French military designation of "PAMAS"). The M9 Pistol was intended to replace the M1911A1 and .38-caliber revolvers and pistols. Over 500,000 M9 pistols were made and the switch-over was largely achieved.Arizona, Retouch, Should, Immense, every, Residential, what, Inflexible, Succinct, Captivating, Amethystine, Choosing, Physically, Pond, Consumer, Tips, Pledge, Used, Fresh, Wading, which

The USAF has scheduled switching over from the early model M9 (92F) to the 92FS standard, according to planning documents. In May 2005, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) awarded a sole-source contract to Beretta for 3,480 "M9A1" pistols (M9 with an accessory rail, also available to the public from June 2006). In the U.S. Army, selected M9s were scheduled to be replaced by XM8 compact carbine variants.BANEFUL, Restore, Fountain, Questions, which, Secured, what, Make, Acne, Utmost, Greater, what, Purchase, Development, Disqualification, what, Biggest, Farmers, Result, Come, Private However, XM8 and the entire OICW Increment 1 program were suspended in July 2005.

Early problems

Beretta had two major contracts, about 500,000 units for the U.S. armed forces and about 230,000 units for the French armed forces. In the case of the Beretta 92G, it was agreed that the French would supply the slide steel to Italy until GIAT could start licensed production.

After a year of flawless production and testing of M9 pistols in Italy under U.S. Government supervision, testing and later production was transferred to the Beretta U.S.A. factory in Accokeek, Maryland.profits, Discovery, Recess, Calling, Privy, present, what, Naught, Reticulated, Robo, Grow, Distinct, Prepaid, Superlatively, Logbook, Effective, Confess, Every, Need, Derren, Ejoying At the same time, the U.S. Army became responsible for providing 9mm ammunition (called the M882 round) to support the testing. Using the new ammunition, problems with M9 test pistols began occurring. In some tests, the frames of the pistols showed microscopic cracks after being fired 5,000 rounds during durability testing. Durability tested barrels showed a concentric indentation inside the chamber and, later, reports of slides breaking during field and test usage were reported.Shells, Lily, Online, Some, Trunk, ABODE, which, Rate, Intelligence, which, which, Diabetes, Smaller, Light, back, Should, Travi, what, Principles, Scoop, Surgical

Early analysis of the breakages by the Army suggested that the problems experienced were due to problems with the pistols themselves. Beretta responded to these reports by requesting testing of the M882 ammunition. Dissatisfied with the progress and methodology of the Army's tests of its ammunition, Beretta obtained independent tests of the ammunition that disclosed excessive pressure levels in the rounds (average pressures exceeding 50,000 psi, compared with maximum NATO-allowed pressures of 35,000 psi).Exercises, Loanspage.co.uk, Anti, Auto, free, Altman, Devise, Vocation, Jarhead, Tips, Conversion, which, Satellite, Acne, Gardening, Effect, Anything, What, Wherefore, LOANS, Government

After delays in delivery of M9 pistols while these issues were resolved, Beretta developed a safety mechanism that significantly reduced risk to the shooter should an M9 slide break. The U.S. Army also changed the propellant mix for the M882 round, after which no further pistol breakages of the types previously seen were reported.What, FOUR, Inability, Dental, Every, View, which, Benefits, Unsecured, Special, able, Secured, Alluring, Race, what, what, Tips, Wherefore, what, Funfare, what

During this same time and in years since, the U.S. Army conducted durability testing of M9 pistols at Aberdeen Proving Ground. These tests revealed an average life of the M9 frame at around 35,000 rounds, of the M9 locking block at around 22,000 rounds, and of the M9 slide at around 75,000 rounds, all well in excess of the contractually-required service life of 5,000 rounds for the pistol.Receive, Sharp, Effectual, Injurious, Lead, Benefits, whole, Derailing, what, what, NUPTIALS, Shipla, what, soon, what, Delight, what, Four, Science, Training, Change In addition, Government-witnessed tests of the M9 pistol at the Beretta U.S.A. facility resulted in average reliability of the pistol at one malfunction every 17,500 rounds.

Design

The Beretta 92's open slide design ensures smooth feeding and ejection of ammunition and allows easy cleaning of obstructions. The hard-chromed barrel bore reduces barrel wear and protects it from corrosion. The locking block barrel lockup provides good accuracy and operability with suppressors due to the in-line travel of the barrel. This is in contrast to the complex travel of Browning designed barrels. The magazine release button is reversible with simple field tools. Reversing the magazine release makes left-handed operation much easier.Immateriality, Bring, Accept, Should, Loss, Story, Thesis, Residence, Impenetrable, Unimpressive, Honda, Trust, Thousand, what, Apex, Regard, Preventing, Duration, Three, Wealthy, Port

Increasingly, it has become popular to reduce handgun weight and cost (and increase corrosion resistance) using polymers, and polymer parts have started showing up in Beretta 92/96 models too.Strategic, Cheese, Types, Thorax, Window, Gain, Radio, Wherefore, Bourn, Cultivator, Trust, Instructiup, Introduction, Payday, Express, Dental, Counsel, Rational, Tips, Motorola, Exercises In 2004, the first internal polymer part to be introduced was a recoil spring guide. New polymer parts include safety lever, trigger, mainspring cap, magazine floorplate, and follower. In contrast some parts have been painted black to match the included polymer parts, these include; slide release, disassembly latch, and hammer.

vz. 82

vz. 82 The vz. 82 is a compact, semi-automatic pistol made for the Czechoslovak military. The export version is called the CZ-83. "vz." is an abbreviation for vzor, which translates to model. The vz. 82 is commonly (and erroneously) referred to as the "CZ-82". This is incorrect as the vz. 82 is a military production pistol.Loans, SUCKLING, careful, Tutor, Laboring, Metal, Calorie, Atkins, substantive, Using, Fresh, Head, Particulars, Make, Heavenly, Lake, Protract, Wireless, Discharge, Sony, Unlocking

Overview

Manufactured by the Czechoslovak firm of Ceska Zbrojovka a.s., the vz. 82 replaced the 7.62 x 25 mm vz. 52 pistol in Czechoslovak military service in 1982. It is a compact, double-action, semi-automatic pistol with a conventional blowback action. The blowback action allows the barrel to be fixed to the frame, resulting in improved accuracy over pistols without fixed barrels. Cisco, Limit, Four, Talking, Concern, Reticulated, Valuation, slip, what, what, Futures, Boost, Ojai, Sales, Attending, DIRECTV, Discharge, Towards, Establishing, Acquisition, PowerThe low bore axis provides for less muzzle rise and quicker follow-up shots. Interestingly, both the frame-mounted safety and magazine release are ambidextrous. This was the first service pistol to feature both of these features. The bore is also chrome plated which achieves 3 things: longer barrel life, resistance to rust from the use of corrosive ammunition, and ease of cleaning.

Commentary

Often criticized for its complexity, the vz. 82 represented a unique approach to service pistols. American doctrine has focused on large, complex, and powerful weapons that were also expensive to make.Give, Cordless, Video, Assemblage, Acquire, Prepared, Unsecured, California, Electronic, Steps, Rational, Discovery, Acne, Should, Choosing, Light, what, Qualified, atmosphere, Welfare, Checking These weapons were chambered in 9mm Luger and 45 ACP. European and Russian pistols were inexpensive to produce, small, and generally had single-stack low-capacity magazines. Resveratrol, Governments, what, Antioxidants, Wildlife, Avocation, Ways, Express, Telecommuter, Homeowner, Dealer, Retain, Elevated, Proactiv, Vinyl, Cricket, Ford, Choosing, OBLIGATION, Fecundity, RelianceCzechoslovakia had always strived to create weapons to meet their own needs bucking trends and pressure from other nations. Their unique combination of a blowback pistol in a less-powerful caliber that was at the same time expensive to produce and had a double-stack magazine defies conventional description.

Recently added to the Curio and Relic list of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE), the vz. 82 has become popular with US collectors.

Browning Hi-Power

The Browning Hi-Power is a semi-automatic, single-action, 9 mm pistol. It is based on ideas conceived and patented in 1922 by American firearms inventor John Browning, and later patented by Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre (FN) of Herstal, Belgium. Browning died in 1926, before he had finished developing a production version. The design was fully developed and realized by Belgian arms designer Dieudonne Saive, working at FN.Prejudices, Choice, Earning, Care, Heatlhy, Lend, Realize, Computer, Degree, Avoiding, what, what, Hospitalists, which, Liability, Sprucing, Finished, Secured, Macbeth, Wisconsin, service

The Hi-Power pistol was named for its 13-round magazine capacity, which was almost twice that of contemporary designs such as the Luger or Mauser 1910. The Hi-Power had the first functional double-column magazine of 9 mm Parabellum rounds, and was capable of holding 13 cartridges, with a 14th loaded in the chamber. Flush-fit 15 round magazines are now available, as well as higher capacity magazines which extend past the end of the butt.

This pistol is often referred to as an "HP" (for "Hi-Power" or "High-Power") or as a GP (for the French term, "Grande Puissance"). The term P-35 is also used, based on the introduction of the pistol in 1935. Another common nickname is the "King of Nines." Chicken, science, Wading, confidence, Meeting, Most, Container, Deficiency, Facts, Incredibly, what It is most often called the "Hi-Power", even in Belgium. It is also known as the BAP (Browning Automatic Pistol), particularily in Irish service.

Development

The Hi Power was designed in response to a French military requirement for a new service pistol, the Grand Rendement (French for "High Yield"), or alternatively Grande Puissance (literally "high power"). The French military's requirements were that the arm should be compact, have a capacity of at least 10 rounds, a magazine disconnect device, an external hammer, a positive safety, be robust and simple to disassemble and re-assemble, and be capable of killing a man at 50 metres; this last criterion was seen to demand a calibre of 9 mm or larger, a bullet mass of around 8 grammes, and a muzzle velocity of 350 m/s. It was to accomplish all of this at a weight not exceeding 1 kg (2.2 lb).

FN commissioned John Browning to design a new military sidearm conforming to this specification. Browning had previously sold the rights to his successful M1911 U.S. Army automatic pistol to Colt's Patent Firearms, and was therefore forced to design an entirely new pistol while working around the M1911 patents. Browning built two different prototypes for the project. One was a simple blowback design, while the other was operated with a locked-breech recoil system. Both prototypes utilized a new staggered magazine design to increase capacity without unduly increasing the pistol's grip size or magazine length.

The locked breech design was selected for further development and testing. This model was striker-fired, and featured a double-column magazine that held 16 rounds. The design was refined through several trials held by the Versailles Trial Commission.

In 1928, when the patents for the Colt Model 1911 had expired, Dieudonne Saive integrated many of the Colt's previously patented features into the Grand Rendement design, in the Saive-Browning Model of 1928. This version featured the removable barrel bushing and takedown sequence of the Colt 1911.

By 1931, the Hi-Power design incorporated a shortened 13-round magazine, a curved rear gripstrap, and a barrel bushing that was integral to the slide assembly. By 1934, the Hi-Power design was complete and ready to be produced. It was first adopted by Belgium for military service in 1935 as the Browning P-35. Ultimately, France decided not to adopt the pistol, instead selecting the conceptually similar Mle. 1935.

Design features

The Browning Hi-Power has undergone continuous refinement by FN since its introduction. The pistols were originally made in two models: an "Ordinary Model" with fixed sights and an "Adjustable Rear Sight Model" with a tangent-type rear sight and a slotted grip for attaching a wooden shoulder stock. The adjustable sights are still available on commercial versions of the Hi-Power, although the shoulder stock mounts were discontinued during WW2. In 1962, the design was modified to replace the internal extractor with an external extractor, improving reliability.

Standard Hi-Powers are based on a single-action design. Unlike modern double-action semi-automatic pistols, the Hi-Power's trigger is not connected to the hammer. If a double-action pistol is carried with the hammer down with a round in the chamber and a loaded magazine installed, the shooter may fire the pistol by simply pulling the trigger. In contrast, a single-action pistol must be cocked manually before the first shot, either by thumbing the hammer back, or by pulling the slide to the rear and releasing it. In common with the Colt 1911, the Hi-Power is therefore typically carried, in military use, with the hammer cocked and the safety catch on (a carry mode often called cocked and locked, or sometimes called condition one).

The Hi-Power, like many other Browning designs, operates on the short-recoil principle, where the barrel and slide initially recoil together until the barrel is unlocked from the slide by a camming action. Unlike Browning's earlier Colt M1911, the barrel is not moved vertically by a toggling link, but instead by a hardened bar which crosses the frame under the barrel and contacts a slot under the chamber, at the rearmost part of the barrel. The barrel and slide recoil together for a short distance but, as the slot engages the bar, the chamber and the rear of the barrel are drawn downward and stopped. The downward movement of the barrel disengages it from the slide, which continues rearward, extracting the spent case from the chamber and ejecting it. After the slide reaches the limit of its travel, the recoil spring brings it forward again, stripping a new round from the magazine and pushing it into the chamber. This also pushes the chamber and barrel forward. The cam slot and bar move the chamber upward and the locking lugs on the barrel reengage those in the slide.

The Hi-Power has two flaws. The standard trigger pull is heavy, especially for a single-action pistol. This disadvantage is a consequence of the Hi-Power's magazine safety design, which was initially added to the model to meet the requirements of the French military in 1935. The standard Hi-Power magazine safety is connected to the trigger and is released by a plunger pressing on the surface of the magazine. This action of the plunger on the magazine adds tension to the trigger pull, and the required force to operate this feature adds resistance as well. This problem is often resolved by removing the magazine safety entirely, thus voiding the pistol's warranty, or by polishing the interface surfaces between the safety plunger and the magazine. After-market trigger springs with reduced tension are also available to improve the trigger pull.

In addition, the pistol has a tendency to "bite" the web of the shooter's hand, between the thumb and forefinger. This bite is caused by pressure from the hammer spur, or alternatively by pinching between the hammer shank and grip tang. Many HP owners fix this problem by altering or replacing the hammer, or by learning to hold the pistol to avoid injury.

Military service

Browning Hi-Power pistols were used during World War II by both the Allied and the Axis powers. Belgium was occupied by the Axis powers early in the war, and FN's plant was seized by Nazi Germany. The German armed forces used the Hi-Power as the Pistole 640(b) ("b" for belgisch, "Belgian"). Examples produced by FN in Belgium under German occupation bear a German inspection and acceptance mark, or Waffenamt, such as WaA613.

Hi-Power pistols were also produced in Canada for Allied use, by John Inglis and Company. The pistol was popular with covert operations and commando groups such as the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and the nascent British SAS (Special Air Service) Regiment. In the post-war period, Hi-Powers remained popular among military forces, with over 50 armies (93 nations) issuing this design since its invention. Former Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein often carried a Browning Hi-Power, as did many Iraqi military officers.

As of 2007, the MK1 version is currently in service with the Canadian Forces, supplemented by the Sig Sauer P226. The weapon is the standard sidearm of the Belgian Army, British Army, Australian Defence Force, Argentine Army, Irish Army, Singapore Special Operations Force and Venezuelan Army, among others. The Irish Army has begun replacing its Browning Pistols (known popularly as BAPs, or Browning Automatic Pistols) with the H&K USP automatic in 2007.

Models

Genuine Browning Hi-Power P35s are still manufactured by FN Herstal of Belgium and Portugal, and under license by Fabricaciones Militares (FM) of Argentina. The Hi-Power remains one of the most influential pistols in the history of small arms. It has inspired a number of clone manufacturers (including Charles Daly of the Philippines & USA, FEG of Hungary, Arcus of Bulgaria, and others) who borrow features from it, chiefly the linkless cam system. Until recently, FEG made an almost exact clone, but the company now manufactures a version with modifications to the barrel, linkage, and slide stop that are incompatible with genuine Hi-Powers. The original P35, as noted earlier, featured an internal extractor. During WWII, it was manufactured by Inglis of Canada for allied use, and by FN in occupied Belgium for German use. Most Canadian P35s were manufactured with a parkerized finish, while most P35s manufactured in occupied Belgium had a blued finish. The internal extractor was replaced with a more durable external extractor in the early 1960s. The Browning L9A1, a military version of the P35 Hi-Power, is still utilized by several branches of the UK military forces. The Hi-Power was the pistol of choice for the British Special Air Service (Special Forces), throughout the Cold War era.

The Mark I is among the best-known models of the P35 developed over the last 50 years. A wide variety of options and features are available on the P35 models. Recently, Hi-Power pistols have become available in the .40 S&W and .357 SIG loadings. However, the use of these calibers in guns designed and built for 9 mm Para has created cases of broken or warped frames. Only Hi-Powers specifically built for these rounds should be used to fire them. The pistols manufactured for these two rounds are easily identified by examining the left side of the slide - a groove is machined into the side of the heavier slide to allow clearance for the slide release. Mark II is an upgraded model of the original Hi-Power introduced in the early '80s. Some of the upgrades were ambidextrous thumb safeties, nylon grips, 3-dot sights, and a throated barrel. Mark III was another advancement over the Mark II released in 1988, which featured a firing pin safety and grips similar to the M9 pistol. The Standard is a Mark III with the traditional low-profile sights of the Mark I and classic walnut grips. The Capitan and Practical are also slightly different confiquered Mark IIIs. The Rosario, FM90 and FM95 models are manufactured by FM. The Rosario is an almost exact copy of the Mark II intended for Argentine and Latin American sales. The FM90 was an export model based on the Mark II, but with a "Colt style" slide without the characteristic beveled front end. The FM95 is the current export model based on the Mark III, also with the "Colt style" slide. The HP-SFS (Safe-Fast-Shooting) is a current variation on the Hi-Power Mark III with a modified firing mechanism. After the weapon is loaded, the hammer is pushed forward, which automatically activates the safety catch. When the shooter is prepared to fire, the safety is pressed down with the thumb, releasing the hammer to spring backwards into the usual, single-action position. A similar system is available for modifying Colt M1911A1s. Magazines are interchangeable with the Mark III and others. The Detective is a short-slide HP produced by FM. The Detective slide group is also available without the frame, and is interchangeable with other FM and FN Hi-Power P35s. The DA & DAO Models were first produced in the 1990s by FN. The DA model is double action, and the DAO model is "double action only," both versions differing from the usual single-action operation of the P35. These designs have been marketed under the name of HP-DA and BDA-9. The DA and DAO models retain many features of the P35, and both are available in full-sized and compact versions. Performance of these models is consistent with FN's high standards. These models resemble the P35, but the most distinguishing feature is the extended SIG-Sauer style trigger guard. Many parts are interchangeable with the P35, but the magazines (although similar) are not. The compact versions also utilize shorter magazines. FN HP DA is the standard sidearm of the Finnish Army as 9.00 PIST 80-91. The Modelo M02-A.R. was recently introduced by FM. Mechanically, it is similar to the Browning HP-DA/BDA9, but externally, it is nearly identical to the FM 90 and 95 models, maintaining the classic HP styling. It is only available as double action, with no DAO option. However, a short slide "Detective" model is now manufactured in double action.

The BDM Model was first produced in the late 1990s by FN. The Browning Double Mode pistol incorporates many features of the DA model, but can be switched from double action to single action by the flip of a lever. These models do not strongly resemble the classic design of the P35, lacking its sleek lines. The performance of this model is excellent, though. Magazines are usually interchangeable among the full-sized DA, DAO, and BDM models. Both the DA / DAO models and the BDM model borrow features from the SIG-Sauer SIG P220 pistols marketed under the name Browning Double Action (BDA) in the 1970s. The Beretta 84 has also been marketed by Browning under the name BDA 380.

FN Five-seven

FN Five-seven The Five-seveN is a semi-automatic pistol manufactured by Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (FNH).

FN created the new 5.7 x 28 mm cartridge for its FN P90 personal defense weapon to meet NATO requirements released in 2000. Subsequently FN created the Five-seveN pistol to offer agencies who adopt the P90 a sidearm chambered for the same cartridge.

Overview

Conventional sidearms usually use the 9 x 19 mm, .45 ACP and similar cartridges that are effective for stopping a hostile individual in ordinary circumstances. However, FN argues that if that individual is wearing a light Kevlar vest, these bullets will be stopped without causing lethal damage. Such body armor is currently in use with over 50% of the worlds armed forces. Law enforcement officers also need the ability to pierce body armor, as it is worn by an increasing number of criminals. FN claims that thanks to the use of their newly designed 5.7 x 28 mm cartridge, the Five-seveN is capable of piercing the older U.S. Army PASGT vest at 300 meters range, and a U.S. Army PASGT helmet at a range of 240 meters. However, these penetration statistics are for the military SS190 cartridge. Other available cartridge variants are not armor-piercing, according to the BATFE. These cartridges are loaded with heavier, expanding projectiles driven at lower velocities.

After penetration, the 5.7 mm round is marketed as being able to effectively incapacitate an enemy, but there has been controversy over these claims. Conventional hollow point bullets rely on expansion to create a large wound channel, but the Five-seveN's ammunition is designed to hit the enemy, travel a few inches, then tumble end over end and continue travelling in this manner without deforming. This means that the wound it creates would be as tall as the length of the projectile (more than 21 mm), supposedly creating a more grievous wound channel, but without the expansion of a hollow point or the fragmentation of a frangible bullet. As a result, FN claims the roundand the Five-seveNare suitable for military use.

The advantages of the pistol itself include its weight (the 5.7 mm round weighs half as much as a standard 9 mm round), its recoil (FN claims the 5.7 mm round produces roughly half the felt recoil of a 9 mm round), and its 20-round magazine, which holds significantly more ammunition than other pistols. Despite its magazine capacity, the Five-seveN is a light pistol, weighing 726 g (1.6 pounds) loaded. It is also reasonably compact.

Though an effective weapon, the Five-seveN has not been widely adopted, due mostly to the rather unconventional concept and ammunition. Current users include several international special forces/counter-terrorist groups (including the French GIGN) and a large number of local police department SWAT teams (including some in the United States).

Variants

Five-seveN

The original Five-seveN is now discontinued. It has a double action (DA) trigger and no safety. This makes shooting slower and less accurate than with the newer single action variants of the Five-seveN. It features a shaped trigger guard, designed to facilitate gloved use.

Five-seveN Tactical

This model is identical to the original version, with the exception of the single action (SA) trigger and a safety device. The Five-seveN Tactical is also increasingly hard to find.

Five-seveN IOM

The IOM model (for Individual Officer's Model) was the first publicly available variant, debuting commercially in 2004. The IOM is similar in its basic design to the original versions, but differs in that it has a different accessory rail, lined trigger guard outside edge, and adjustable sights. It also incorporates a magazine disconnectthis safety mechanism prevents the weapon from being fired without the magazine inserted.

Five-seveN USG

The most recent version of the Five-seveN, the USG. (United States Government) variant debuted in 2005 and replaced the IOM. The USG keeps the differences incorporated in the IOM, such as the magazine disconnect and adjustable sights, but has further modifications, including: conventionally-shaped (square) trigger guard, checkered grip pattern, and a larger, reversible magazine release.

Accessories

All models of the Five-seveN can also be mounted with a laser aiming module (LAM) or a tactical flashlight on the accessory rail. There are various companies that make these devices for various firearms.

A threaded barrel is available for mounting a suppressor. Again, various manufacturers provide their models and variations of suppressors.

FN produces night sights for the DAO and Tactical models. These sights do not fit the IOM and USG models without gunsmithing. Trijicon is slated to produce tritium night sights for the IOM and USG models, but they are not available yet. There are also other companies that produce sights for various pistols that may or may not require gunsmithing.

As with all pistols, holster options are limited only to the choice that the individual or department makes. There are myriads of options one can make when deciding on a holster for their sidearm.

A magazine extension for the Five-seveN is available that will extend 1.75 inches below the weapon. It allows the Five-seveN to hold ten extra rounds, for a total of thirty.

Glock 17

The Glock 17 was the first pistol designed and manufactured by the Austrian company Glock. It is a locked breech, short recoil 9 mm Para semi-automatic pistol with a standard magazine capacity of 17 rounds of ammunition. It uses a modified Petter/Browning barrel locking system. The Glock 17 appeared in the early 1980s for the Austrian Army weapons trials. It entered service under the designation P80. In 1988, it entered service in the Swedish Army under the designation Pistol 88. It is also used by the Norwegian Army and police. The designation 17 is derived from the gun's being Gaston Glock's 17th patent, rather than its magazine capacity. The Glock 17, like all Glock pistols, has a well known reputation for being extremely rugged and reliable.

The Glock 17 and all others that Glock has since produced use the "safe action" fire control system, a single-action mechanism utilizing a striker instead of a hammer and firing pin. Like most other striker-fired pistols, the Glock pistol requires the trigger to pull the striker back the rest of the way, and to release it. In its ready-to-fire state, the pistol could be considered to be "half-cocked". This arrangement translates to consistent trigger pulls which some claim makes training easier. Notably absent is any manual user safety, although a trigger safety and additional internal measures prevent accidental discharge. Its frame is made out of an advanced polymer. Glock barrels use polygonal rifling for increased accuracy which works best with jacketed ammunition, otherwise lead build-up in the barrel is likely to cause malfunctioning.

The Glock stirred up quite a scare when it was revealed to have a polymer frame. Some people thought that, based on early reports, the whole gun was plastic and/or ceramic, and therefore undetectable by metal detectors. In fact, the slide, barrel and many other internal parts, comprising about 80 percent of the gun's mass, are made out of metal. The slide and barrel are QPQ Tenifer treated, a process that makes their steel more durable to wear and tear as well as to corrosion.

The Glock 17 has become very popular because of its simple controls, high durability, and moderate price. It is also reported to be highly reliable in extreme environments like desert, jungle, and arctic regions.

The Glock 17 enjoys widespread use in law enforcement, but is also a very popular military, sports, and self-defense pistol. More than 50 countries use it for law enforcement or military service.

Generations

The Glock 17 has undergone three major revisions since its introduction and therefore there are three generations commonly recognized: Gen 1: Wraparound texturing on the sides, back and front strap of the pistol grip. Plain dustcover. Gen 2: Checkered front strap and serrated back of the pistol grip. Plain dustcover. Gen 3: Added finger grooves to the front strap. Thumb reliefs on the sides of the pistol grip, Universal rail added to the dustcover.

There have also been internal changes (most notably of the locking block and the extractor); however, common practice is to separate the various generations based on the frame design as described above.

Variants

Glock has produced several variants on the 17: The Glock 17C (for "compensated") has a ported barrel and slide to reduce muzzle climb while shooting the pistol. The Glock 17L is a competition version with a longer barrel and slide. Early versions also had a ported barrel to combat muzzle flip. The 17L has been largely replaced by the Glock 34 due to post-introduction restrictions on overall length in many popular competition categories. The Glock 17A is a variant produced for the Australian market, to conform to local laws regarding barrel lengths created after the Monash University shooting. The only differences between a Glock 17 and a Glock 17A is that the 17A has a 120mm long barrel which protrudes from the frame visibly and the magazine can only hold 10 rounds. There is also a version of the Glock 17 outfitted with a M1911-style safety specifically for the Australian Tasmania Police. The Glock 17T is a training weapon that fires paint or rubber rounds for force-on-force training scenarios. There are two versions and they are both easily recognizable from their bright blue frames: Glock 17T 9mm FX, which fires Simunition FX cartridges Glock 17T 7.8 x 21 AC, which fires paint and rubber rounds with replaceable air pressure cartridges. The Glock 17P is a training weapon for practicing hand-to-hand combat, loading and unloading of the weapon. The G17P is identical to a standard Glock 17 except for its red frame, an inert barrel (without a chamber, thus preventing the accidental chambering of a live cartridge) and no firing pin hole in the breech face (thus preventing someone from using a live barrel with the training slide). The Glock 17Pro is a special version produced only for the Finnish market. It has the following improvements over the standard Glock 17: Glock factory tritium night sights Glock factory threaded barrel, about 1/2" longer than the standard one Factory marine spring cups Factory modified magazine release Extended slide release, (factory standard in newer models) Extended +2 magazine base plates Glock factory gun pouch 3.5 lbs connector The Glock 17P80 is used by the Norwegian armed forces The Glock 17DK is a special version for Denmark, where handguns must, by law, be 210mm long. The Glock 17DK has a 122.5mm barrel, making the gun 210mm long overall. There are Mariner and Tactical versions available in the Philippines. In 2006 Glock made a special 20th Anniversary edition of the model 17. On the slide Gaston Glock's signature is engraved above a unique number "XXXX of 2006" and besides the words "20 Years of Perfection 1986 to 2006". Only 2006 were made that year.

Model No. 1

Guncrafter Industries' Model No. 1 (Or M1) is a variant of the widely popular M1911 handgun. John Browning's 1911 .45 ACP has been used for many cartridges over the past 96 years. In every instance the cartridge used a bullet that was the same size diameter or smaller than the original .451". Both the Desert Eagle and the LAR Grizzly have been offered in cartridges of .50 caliber. Both are large cartridges requiring a large, heavy pistol.

The Model No. 1 is basically an M1911 with external dimensions the same as a standard 1911, however it fires a .50 GI round. Although the Model No. 1 is the same size externally, the slide will not fit on a standard 1911 frame as other modifications have been made to accept the .50 GI barrel and slide. However, it is possible to covert the Model number one to .45 ACP, as a .45 ACP conversion unit is available for the .50 GI frame.

The .50 GI is not in the magnum class and works at the same pressures as the .45 ACP. The cartridge uses the same rim size as the .45 ACP and a .45 shell holder can be used for reloading. This new brass is made by Starline Brass and is slightly shorter than a standard .45 ACP. The magazine well in the grip frame has thinner walls than a standard M1911 to accommodate the .50 GI's wider magazine, and the flame feed ramp is contoured with a more open radius for the fatter .50-caliber bullet. Both are machined from heat-treated forgings, and the Model No. 1 hammer and sear are machined from tool steel.

The Model No. 2

In 2006, Guncrafter Industries introduced its 1911 Model No. 2, which sports a full length light rail/dust cover and is chambered for the 50 GI cartridge. Both the M1 and the M2 can be fitted with Guncrafter Industries' .45 ACP conversion unit, the .45 ACP magazines hold 8+1 rounds.

Heckler & Koch USP

The Heckler & Koch USP (Universale Selbstladepistole, or "Universal Self-loading Pistol") is a semi-automatic pistol designed by the German arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch.

Design

When Heckler & Koch introduced the USP in 1993, it marked the first time HK chose to incorporate many traditional handgun design elements, such as elements of John Browning's M1911, in one pistol. Two principles guided its development the first being the use of molded polymer material, and the second being the creation of a "pistol paradigm".

Heckler & Koch attempted to observe the strong points of its previous successful pistols for insight as to developing "the best" pistol. Previous HK pistol innovations include the unique squeeze cocking mechanism of the Heckler & Koch P7, the precise roller-locked bolt of the Heckler & Koch P9S, and the double action-only system used by the VP70Z. In contrast to these ambitious designs, the USP uses a Browning linkless-locked breech action, similar to the action developed by John Browning for use in the Browning P35 "Hi Power" pistol. The USP can be safely carried "cocked and locked".

The USP was originally built in .40 S&W and 9 mm Parabellum models, but later evolved into a .45 ACP variant and later spawned the USP Compact series, which is available in 9 mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and, exclusively to the Compact model, .357 SIG. Other variants of the standard USP include the USP Tactical, USP Expert, USP Match, and USP Elite.

One of the most important features of the USP is the mechanical recoil reduction system. This system is incorporated into the recoil/buffer spring assembly, located below the barrel. Designed primarily to buffer the slide and barrel and reduce recoil effects on the pistol components, the system also lowers the recoil forces felt by the shooter. The USP recoil reduction system is insensitive to ammunition types and does not require adjustment or maintenance. It functions effectively in all USP models. Using this same recoil reduction system, one of the related HK MK23 .45 ACP Special Operations Pistols fired more than 30,000 +P cartridges and 6,000 proof loads without damage to any major components. Abuse and function-testing of USPs have seen more than 24,000 rounds fired without a component failure.

Major metal components on both the USP and Special Operations Pistol are corrosion-resistant. Outside metal surfaces, such as the steel slide are protected by a propriety "Hostile Environment" nitride finish. Internal metal parts, such as springs, are coated with an anti-corrosion chemical to reduce friction and wear.

The USP is the base of the Mk 23 Mod 0, a .45 ACP handgun designed by Heckler & Koch for the USSOCOM. The frame and slide of the USP45 are slightly larger than those found on the USP40 and USP9, much like the Mk 23. The prominent oversized trigger guard allows the use of gloves when firing.

Variants

One of the remarkable features of the USP is the wide variety of the trigger styles available, which may be quickly swapped. There are nine commercially available modifications (called "variants" by HK).

By using a modular approach to the internal components, the control functions of the USP can be switched from the left to the right side of the pistol for left handed shooters. The USP can also be converted from one type of trigger/firing mode to another. This includes combination of double-action and single-action (DA/SA) modes and double-action only (DAO) modes.

In addition to a wide selection of trigger/firing modes, the USP has an ambidextrous magazine release lever that is shielded by the trigger guard from inadvertent actuation. The rear of the USP grip is stepped, and combines well with the tapered magazine, making magazine changes faster due to lack of user-assisted guiding. Finger recesses in the grip frame also aid in magazine removal. On 9 mm and .40 caliber USPs, magazines are constructed of polymer reinforced with stainless steel. Magazines on the USP .45 are all-metal. All USP magazines will drop free of the pistol frame when the magazine release is depressed. Also, the USP does not have a magazine lockout feature it is possible to fire a chambered round even with the magazine removed. An extended slide release lever is positioned to allow easy operation without changing the grip of the shooting hand. Variants 1 and 2 (double action/single action, decocking and safety lever) Variants 1 (lever on left) and 2 (lever on right) allow the user to carry the pistol in a single-action mode (cocked and locked) with the manual safety engaged. This same pistol, without modification, can be carried in double-action mode, with or without the manual safety engaged, and with the benefit of a decock lever. Variants 3 and 4 (double action/single action, decocking lever, but no safety) Variants 3 (lever on left) and 4 (lever on right) provide the user with a frame-mounted decocking lever that does not have the "safe" position. This combination only allows the hammer to be lowered from SA position to DA position. It does not provide the "safe" position to prevent the pistol from firing when the trigger is pulled. Variants 5 and 6 (double action only, with safety lever) For the double action only user, variants 5 (lever on left), 6 (lever on right), and of the USP operate as double action only pistols with a bobbed hammer always returning to the DA position (forward) after each shot is fired. To fire each shot, the trigger must be pulled through the smooth DA trigger pull. Variants 5 and 6 have a manual safety lever. Variants 7 (double action only, no control lever) No control lever is provided on variant 7. Variants 8 and 9 (double action/single action, safety lever, but no decocking) Variants 8 (lever on left) and 9 (lever on right) allow the shooter to carry the pistol in a single-action mode (cocked and locked) with the manual safety engaged. This same pistol, without modification, can be carried in double-action mode (hammer down), with or without the manual safety engaged. The double action mode offers a second strike/double action capability in case of a misfire. The control lever has no decocking function on variants 8 and 9.

Design

Variants

HK USP Compact Tactical

A new HK Product, the USP45CT is a highly modified USP45C developed for use by U.S. special operations forces. Termed the CT for counter-terrorist by insiders, the HK USP45 Compact Tactical combines the proven features of the full-size USP45 Tactical pistol in a smaller, more concealable package.

USP Tactical

The USP Tactical (9mm, .40S&W .45 ACP) incorporates a fully adjustable rear sight, a higher-profile front sight (as to be visible above the suppressor), an extended threaded barrel and O-ring, a match grade trigger, and an adjustable trigger stop. Sound suppressors designed for the USP Tactical are available from Knight's Armament and Gemtech. A unique feature of the USP Tactical is that the barrel is left-hand threaded (counter-clockwise to tighten), which makes the pistol incompatible with suppressors designed for the MK23 Mod 0.

USP Expert

The USP Expert (9 mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .45 ACP) includes all the features of the Tactical, with the exception of the threaded barrel. The USP Expert also retains the USP match trigger. It also features an extended steel slide, which mostly hides the longer O-ring barrel and adds weight to help reduce muzzle flip and felt recoil even further. The expert has adjustable target sights similar to the USP Match, Elite, and Tactical, however the slide does differs in that the rear sight seat has been milled lower. The Expert may be used with an extended magazine well, or jet funnel, in 9 mm and .40 S&W calibers, which is intended for use in conjunction with larger-capacity magazines.

USP Match

The USP Match (9 mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .45 ACP) is specifically designed to appeal to target shooters. In addition to the features offered on the Expert, the Match distinguishes itself by its barrel weight, or compensator, which replaces the elongated slide found on the Expert. The compensator provides counterbalance to the weapon's recoil, greatly improving follow up target tracking.

Angelina Jolie used a pair of HK USP Matches in the Tomb Raider films. The Match was also featured in Underworld. As a result of these associations, combined with its discontinued production status and uniquely recognizable look, the Match has more than tripled in value from its MSRP and is difficult to find for under $3,000 USD (as of July 2007).

USP Elite

The USP Elite (9 mm Parabellum, .45 ACP) takes features found on the Tactical, Expert, and Match models, and combines them with a 6.02 in (153 mm) barrel and hand-fitted 9.45 in (240 mm) extended slide. The Elite also includes higher-profile fully adjustable front and rear sights.

Testing

As the USP was developed at the same time as the SOCOM MK23, the pistol underwent much of the same rigorous testing. The barrel is cold-forged from chromium steel for increased life. The USP barrels are a polygonal profile to further increase muzzle velocity and barrel life. During testing, a bullet was deliberately lodged in a USP barrel. Another cartridge was then fired into the obstructing bullet. The second bullet cleared the barrel, resulting in a barely noticeable bulge. The pistol was then fired for accuracy and the resulting group measured less than 4 inches at 25 meters.

Temperature testing required the USP be frozen to ?42 C and fired, frozen again, and then be heated up to 67 C and fired. These temperature tests were continually repeated with no adverse effects on the USP.

The gun was also subjected to NATO MIL-SPEC mud and rain tests, which were passed without difficulty. Water immersion and salt spray also presented no problems. German Navy combat divers have used the USP for two years without any signs of corrosion.

Safety testing exceeded the ANSI/SAAMI requirements adopted in May 1990. These included dropping a USP with a primed cartridge and decocked hammer on a variety of hard surfaces without discharging. The USP surpassed these commercial requirements, as well as German Army and police tests, including repeated drop tests from six feet (1.8 m), hammer first, onto a steel backed concrete slab. Proof round firing resulted in no cracks, deformations, or increase in head space. Attempts to fire the USP pistol with an unlocked breech proved unsuccessful.

Testing with a variety of ammunition proved the USP meets these high standards. During the USP testing phase, it was shown the recoil-reduction system reduces the force on the USP grip to approximately 300 newtons (67 pounds-force). Peak force shock on competing .40 caliber polymer and metal framed pistols was around 5,000 newtons (1,100 pounds-force). The primary benefit of low peak shock is a decrease in wear and tear on pistol components, a great concern with the +P cartridge in 9 mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. Reduction of peak shock forces also contributes to softer recoil for the shooter, although these "felt recoil" values are much more subjective.

Service

Two variations of the USP have now been adopted in Germany by the Bundeswehr (German armed forces). The P8 is a standard USP with specific features, such as a safety/decocker lever and translucent plastic magazines. It has only minor differences from the standard USP model, these being a reversed safety/decocker lever (on the P8, down indicates 'safe', and up indicates 'fire' this is the opposite of the standard USP), and the 'S' and 'F' letters being printed onto the frame instead of onto the lever itself. The P10 is in fact a USP Compact with the addition of a spurred hammer. Both P8 and P10 are chambered in 9 x 19 mm (9 mm NATO) only.

On August 24, 2004, SIGARMS and Heckler & Koch/HK Defense won major pistol contracts with the United States Department of Homeland Security. The contract was valued at $26.2 million. The HK pistol models chosen were the HK P2000 US, HK P2000 SK Subcompact, and the USP Compact/LEM (Law Enforcement Modification). The LEM trigger is basically HK's version of SIG's DAK trigger and vice versa. According to the company, the LEM trigger allows for faster follow-up shots (repeat shots) on target than a standard double-action-only system, due to a lighter trigger pull (7.38.5 lbf) and shorter trigger reset than standard DAO trigger systems. The LEM trigger utilizes a two-piece "pre-cocked hammer" comprised of a cocking piece and an external hammer. The hammer is pre-cocked when a round is chambered (slide is cycled). The LEM system supposedly also provides for more reliable primer ignition, since it utilizes a stronger hammer spring.

The LEM trigger can be installed on existing USP compact pistols that were purchased before the LEM trigger came on the market -- either by a certified gunsmith or by sending the pistol directly to Heckler & Koch. In addition, the USP compact pistol can retain its external safety even with the LEM trigger -- making it the only modified double-action pistol with an external safety for added peace of mind. The LEM USP compact pistol with external safety also appeals to M1911 aficionados who are trained to deactivate the safety while drawing.

Makarov PM

The Makarov PM (Pistolet Makarova) is a semi-automatic pistol designed in the late 1940s, by Nikolai Fyodorovich Makarov, and was the Soviet Union's standard military side arm.

History

The Makarov pistol resulted from a design competition for replacing the Tokarev TT-33 semi-automatic pistol. The TT was derived from the FN Model 1903 automatic pistol and was, by 1945, too large, weak, and unsafe as a military pistol. Rather than building a pistol to an existing cartridge, Nikolai Makarov designed a new cartridge, the 9 x 18 mm PM, based on the Browning 9 x 17 mm/.380 ACP cartridge. For simplicity and economy, the Makarov pistol was of straight blowback operation, with the 9 x 18 mm cartridge the most powerful that could be safely fired by the design; though the given dimension was 9.0 mm, the actual bullet was 9.3 mm in diameter shorter and wider and incompatible with pistols chambered for 9 mm Luger/Parabellum cartridges. Soviet ammunition was unusable in NATO firearms, hence, in war, NATO would not be able to use ammunition from killed or captured Soviet soldiers or from Soviet ammo dumps .

In 1951, the Pistolet Makarova (PM), selected because of its simplicity (few moving parts), economy, easy manufacturing, accuracy, and reasonable killing power. It remained in service with Soviet military and police until the end of the U.S.S.R. in 1991. Today, the Makarov is a popular concealed gun in the United States; variants remain in production in Russia and Bulgaria.

Since 2003, the Makarov PM was replaced by the Yarygin PYa pistol in Russian service.

Design

The Pistolet Makarova (PM) is a medium-size, straight blowback action, frame-fixed barrel handgun. In blowback design, the only force holding the slide closed is that of the recoil spring; upon firing, the barrel and slide do not unlock, as do locked-breech design pistols. Blowback designs are simple and more accurate than designs using a recoiling, tilting, or articulated barrel. Blowback-operated pistols are also limited practically by the weight of the slide. The 9 x 18 mm cartridge is the largest, useful cartridge in blowback-operated pistols. The PM is heavy for its size, a desirable attribute in a blowback pistol; the heavy slide provides greater inertia against recoil.

The PM has a free-floating firing pin, no firing pin spring or firing pin block. This allows for the possibility of accidentally firing if the pistol is dropped on its muzzle. Designer Makarov thought the firing pin of insufficient mass to constitute a major danger. The Bulgarian-model Makarov is government-approved for sale in the U.S. state of California, having passed a state DOJ-mandated drop-safety test; (its DOJ-certified listing expired 6 December 2006).

The PM's notable features are its simplicity and economy of parts; many do more than one task, e.g. the slide stop is the ejector. Similarly, the mainspring powers the hammer and the trigger, while its lower end is the magazine catch. Makarov pistol parts seldom break with normal usage, and are easily replaced using few tools.

Operation

The Makarov has a DA/SA (double-action, single-action) operating system. After loading and charging the pistol by pulling back the slide, it can be carried with the hammer down and the safety engaged. To fire, the slide-mounted safety lever is pushed down to the "fire" position, after which the shooter squeezes the trigger to fire the gun. The action of squeezing the trigger for the first shot also cocks the hammer, an action requiring a long, strong squeeze of the trigger. The firing and cycling of the action re-cocks the hammer for subsequent shooting; fired single action with a short, light trigger squeeze. The PM's operation is semi-automatic, firing as quickly as the shooter can squeeze the trigger. Spent cartridges are ejected to the shooter's right and rear, some 5-7 feet away. Do not attempt to push the safety lever to "safe" while the hammer is cocked. Instead, the hammer should be gently lowered onto the frame before engaging the safety. Attempting to engage the safety while the hammer is cocked will cause the hammer to drop.

The PM's standard magazine holds 8 rounds. After firing the last round, the slide locks open. After inserting a loaded magazine, the slide is closed by activating a lever on the left side of the frame or by withdrawing it to release the slide catch; either action loads a cartridge to the chamber. The pistol is ready to shoot.

When engaged, the PM's safety lever switch blocks the hammer from striking the rear end of the firing pin. The magazine release is on the heel of the handgrip. This design to avoid its snagging in clothes, and the accidental, premature release of the magazine.

From the mid-1980s until the early 1990s 9 mm Makarov ammunition was difficult to obtain in the U.S. In that time, one gunship writer suggested and tested the substitution of .380 ACP/9 mm Kurz ammunition in PM's. The weapons fired, but were inaccurate beyond short-range, demonstrating keyholing at medium ranges.

Care

Russian and ex-Eastern Bloc 9 x 18 mm PM ammunition is inexpensive and widely available. However, much of this is Berdan primed and corrosive. Ammunition claiming to be non-corrosive should be treated as corrosive if manufactured in eastern Europe (due to concerns over quality control).

After firing the Makarov, field strip the gun, remove the grips, and boil in water for a few minutes to remove salts. This is especially important when using ammunition with corrosive primers. Bore clean and protect as you would any gun.

Explicit care must be taken to use the correct ammunition as there are several similar cartridges of 9 mm calibre which can not be fired safely or, most likely, at all in a Makarov. Similar cartridges often confused with the 9 x 18 mm PM are .380 ACP (also known as 9x17, 9 mm Short or 9 mm Kurz) and 9 x 19 mm Luger. At one time it was difficult to procure the proper ammunition for this weapon, but this is no longer the case in 2007, since Russian-made ammo is inexpensive and widely available.

WARNING: Never chamber 9mm x 18 Ultra or 9mm x 18 Police ammunition in a Makarov, although they have the same 9 x 18mm designation. The 9mm Makarov round is 9.25 mm as compared with the 9mm Ultra's 9 mm and the 9mm Police's 9.02mm. .

The correct ammunition is 9 x 18 mm PM (also known as 9 mm Makarov) for most unmodified factory pistols, although replacement barrels and civilian models chambered in .380 ACP are also available, and will require .380 ACP ammunition for safe firing.

Variants

The Makarov was manufactured in several Eastern Bloc countries during the Cold War and afterwards; apart from Russia itself, they were East Germany, Bulgaria, China, and post-unification Germany, which also found itself with several thousand ex-GDR Makarov pistols.

The most widely known variant, the Makarov PMM, was a redesign of the original gun. In 1990, a group of engineers reworked the original Makarov, primarily by increasing the load for the cartridge. The result was a significant increase in muzzle velocity, and generated 25% more gas pressure. The altered cartridge, called the 9 mm Makarov High Impulse, often uses armor piercing bullets. This magazine also holds 12 rounds, compared to the PM's 8 rounds. Versions that held 10 rounds were also produced in greater quantities than the 12 round magazine. The Makarov PMM is able to use existing Makarov cartridges and has other minor modifications such as an improved hand grip as well as threaded grooves in the chamber.

During the 1990s, the Russian Firearms manufacturer, Baikal, marketed various Makarov handguns in the United States under the IJ-70 model. Included were handguns in both standard and high capacity frames. They were available in .380 ACP in addition to the standard 9mm Makarov round. Some minor modifications were made to facilitate importation into the United States, including the replacement of the rear fixed sight with a low-quality adjustable sight (only these Russian models marketed abroad feature an adjustable sight). It is unlikely that more will be imported in the near future due to voluntary agreements restricting the importation of small arms from Russia. Also no longer importable is the Baikal MP645K air pistol, which is known in shooting and collecting circles as the "Air Mak". It fires .177 (4.5mm) BB's propelled by CO2, with extreme realism, including a double action trigger mechanism. The CO2 cartridge is housed in a modified double stack Makarov magazine, and the frame is the same as that of a double stack Makarov. The pistol is still available in the United Kingdom and various other nations in Europe and elsewhere. Despite the ban on importation, some "Air Maks" are still available on the second hand market. Due to the fixed supply, prices have more than doubled since importation ceased.

Countries like Poland and Hungary have developed their own handgun designs that use the 9x18 mm round. Hungary developed the PA-63 and Poland has developed the P-64 and the P-83 Vanad. While similar in appearance to the PM, and chambered for the same round, these 9 mm Makarov firing pistols are often found labeled at gun shows by some US gun retailers as "Polish Makarovs" and "Hungarian Makarovs". Nonetheless, these similar designs are independent of the PM and have more in common with the Walther PP. They are simply pistols that happen to be chambered for the same 9 mm Makarov round.

A wide variety of after-market additions and replacements exist for the Makarov including but not limited to: replacement barrels, custom grips, custom finishes, and larger sights with various properties to replace the notoriously small originals. A scope/light mount exists for the Makarov but requires a threaded replacement barrel.

As with the Simonov SKS, the market prefers Makarovs which were made in East Germany. The Bulgarian pistols are not quite as polished but are still generally regarded as being solid and reliable weapons. The Russian and Chinese Makarovs are generally not thought of highly, but still have value as collectables.

Ruger P-Series pistols

Ruger P-Series pistols The P Series pistols are the line of centerfire semiautomatic pistols made by Sturm, Ruger. The P Series pistols are double action, short recoil operated designs, designed for military, police, and civilian self defense and recreational use. They are widely considered to be highly rugged and reliable, and exceptionally strong, though this strength comes at the price of what many consider to be an unattractive bulk.

Options and Model Numbers

Most models are available with blued steel or stainless steel slides. The K prefix indicates a stainless steel slide, no prefix is blued. As noted above, in addition to a manual safety, there are "Decock-Only" (D) and "Double-Action-Only" (DAO) models, which carry the designation as the suffix. For example, a 9 mm polymer frame with stainless steel slide that can only decock for safety would be KP95D. However, many catalogs put DC instead of D, incorrectly listing the previous example as KP95DC or even P95DC w/SS slide. This confusion likely stems from that model's slide being stamped P95DC, but Ruger's official web site and catalogs use only the "D" suffix. Additional suffixes can include 15 for 15 round capacity magazines (where available) and PR for the Picatinny rail. Adding these options to the previous example results in KP95DPR15 as seen here.

Individual model information

P85 (1985)

The first P Series pistol was the P85, which was developed in 1985, but did not reach the market until 1987. The P85 used an investment cast aluminum frame, and made extensive use of cast parts and proprietary Ruger alloys. Nearly all internal parts, including the barrel, were stainless steel, while the slide and ejector were carbon steel. Disassembly was simple, as the P85 was origninally intended to compete as a 9 mm Luger replacement for the US Army's Model 1911A1. Unfortunately, development was not finished on time, and the Army chose the Beretta M9. The P85 met the basic requirements; it was chambered for the NATO standard 9 x 19 mm, and was designed to handle the high velocity submachine gun ammunition commonly used by the military. From the P95 owner's manual: The Ruger P-Series pistols are compatible with all factory ammunition loaded to U.S. Industry Standards, including high-velocity and hollow-point loads, loaded in brass, aluminum, or steel cartridge cases. No 9 mm x 19 ammunition manufactured in accordance with NATO, U.S., SAAMI, or CIP standards is known to be beyond the design limits or known not to function in these pistols.

It was light weight, due to the aluminum frame, and the magazine held 15 rounds. While smaller than the 1911A1, it was still considered a full sized pistol, with a 4.5 inch barrel. The safety and magazine release were operable from either side, and the slide lock was large enough to be operated by a left handed shooter's index finger.

While described as "tank tough, solid performing, and utterly reliable", the P85 design did have some problems. The safety levers, mounted high on the slide, were too small to be easily reached, and the accuracy, while acceptable for a defensive pistol, was not up to the high standard of previous Ruger handguns. Ruger hired Irv Stone of Bar-Sto Precision, a noted manufacturer of high-quality and accurate barrels, as a consultant for an improved barrel design. In addition, there was a safety issue that resulted in one accidental discharge; if the firing pin broke in front of the firing pin block, applying the safety, which dropped the hammer, could transfer enough energy to the broken firing pin to cause a discharge. The P85 was recalled, and a new safety installed that prevented contact between firing pin and hammer during a decocking operation. A new model, the P85 Mark II, was at the same time released with the safety fix, new, larger safety levers, improved accuracy, and the option of a stainless steel slide. Another round of minor improvements was made, creating the final version, the P89, released in 1989. All P Series pistols developed through the year 2000 would be named for the year in which development was completed.

P89 (1989)

The P89 also introduced a number of new variants. The standard model used a decocking manual safety; when applied, it blocked the firing pin, disconnected the trigger, and dropped the hammer. To fire, the safety was first removed, and then the trigger was pulled. This cocked and released the hammer, firing the first shot in double action mode; subsequent shots were fired in single action mode until the hammer was decocked. The "D", or decocker models replaced the decocking safety with a decocker; when applied, it blocked the firing pin and dropped the hammer, and then sprung back to the ready position. This left the pistol in a safe, hammer down position, ready to fire with a full (double action) trigger pull (much like a double action revolver). The third action variant was the "DAO", or double action only model, which had a spurless hammer, and no manual safety. The DAO model always fired in double action mode, and upon firing the hammer automatically decocked. Every shot then was fired from a hammer down position.

The P89 is a recoil operated, locked breech semi-automatic pistol. The P89 utilizes a 1911 style tilting barrel. The trigger has a lot of pretravel and overtravel, but the handgun is quite accurate and has been popular in match shooting despite its relatively lower market price. This makes it a good solution both for bargain shooters and those looking for an affordable self-defense option. There are three variations available: a manual safety model that decocks the hammer when the safety is engaged, a decock-only model, and a double action only model. In 1991, Ruger produced a limited run P89X convertible model, which came with a second barrel and recoil spring assembly that allowed conversion between 9 mm and .30 Luger calibers.

P90, P91, P93, and P94

The much anticipated P90 quickly followed the P89 to market. Available only in stainless steel, it was chambered in .45 ACP, and had a capacity of 7 rounds. The P91 added the new and very popular .40 S&W chambering, with an 11 round capacity. The P93 was a compact 9 mm model, with a shortened 4" barrel and a streamlined slide. The P94 was a mid-sized 9 mm, with a 4.2" barrel and the P93's streamlined styling, while the P944 the same as the P94 but in .40 S&W.

Some have claimed that the P90 was originally intended to be chambered for the 10mm Auto cartridge, then enjoying a boost in popularity from its endorsement by the FBI. Bill Ruger, Sr. and his engineers believed at that time that with full-power loads, the high energy of the 10mm damaged its host pistols. Reports of these damages included cracked frames in the first handgun to chamber the cartridge, the Bren Ten. The next major pistol to report problems was Colt's Delta Elite. In light of these reports, the gun was constructed with significant heft in an attempt to overcome these problems. To stave off any potential accuracy issues, Ruger once again hired Irv Stone of Bar-Sto Precision as a consultant on the barrel design for the new firearm.

By the time the pistol was finalised, the 10mm cartridge had fallen out of favour with the law enforcement community. Therefore, it was decided the pistol would be chambered for the .45 ACP. The resultant pistol was considered to be over-built for the lower-pressure cartridge. However, a corollary of this decision was that Ruger had no hesitancy in providing a warranty for the use of .45 ACP +P ammunition, which had performance characteristics similar to the 10mm Auto.

On the other hand, comments by the late Bill Ruger Sr. in an interview with Shooting Times magazine cast some doubt on the idea that the P90 was created with the 10mm in mind. He makes it plain that he is not a fan of the 10mm.

Shooting Times November 2002 Page 42 Shooting Times: Will you chamber the 10mm in your P-series pistol?

Bill Ruger Sr.: We would be able to make it at the drop of a hat, but with as much as we have to do, I don't really feel like making it. And as a matter of fact, I must say that I'm a little bit offended by these firearms [cartridges] that have exaggerated performance. You know, why stop at the 10mm, why not go on and make the thing a .45. I mean it gets to be kinda to the point of bearing on the absurd, and the 10mm is just about there.

During the first few hundred production examples, the magazine release button springs were found to be too light, and as a result, they were replaced.

The P91 is no longer listed in the Ruger catalog, having been replaced by the P944 model. By mid 2006, P93 and P94 had also disappeared from the Ruger website.

P95 (1995)

The P95 was something of a revolutionary design. The P95 used the P93's slide and barrel, but changed from the 1911 style rotating link design to a linkless design designed to transfer energy to the frame less abruptly, reducing the stress on the frame and in the process reducing the felt recoil. More obvious to the average shooter than that, however, was the change from an aluminum frame to a long strand fiberglass reinforced polyurethane resin frame based on Dow Chemical's "Isoplast". This reduced the weight of the pistol by 4 oz., and also reduced the price significantly, as the polymer frame was less expensive to produce than the aluminum one. Unlike any other polymer framed hangun on the market at the time, the P95 had no metal inserts in the frame. The combination of the rugged Ruger design and the high strength polymer allowed the slide to ride directly on the polymer frame rails, which simplified the casting of the frame and helped keep the P95's price low.

P97 (1997)

Just as Ruger released the P95, however, the market for 9 mm pistols started to crumble. 1994 legislation limited new civilian magazines to 10 rounds, which made full sized 9 mm pistols, which normally held 15 rounds, lose a lot of their appeal. Full sized .40 S&W pistols started gaining even more popularity, since they generally only lost 1 round of magazine capacity with the restriction, and the .45 ACP surged in popularity as consumers shopping for a defensive pistol went for the cartridge that gave them the most perceived value per shot. The P97 addressed that need--based on the P95s polymer frame, the 4.5" barrelled P97 held 8 rounds of .45 ACP.

The P97 is available in two versions: a decock-only version and a double-action-only (DAO) model. In the decock-only version a cocked hammer can be safely lowered by depressing either of the ambidextrous slide-mounted decocking levers. When released, these levers spring back to the "Fire" position. At the same time, the firing pin is blocked in position, preventing forward movement. After decocking, the pistol can be fired by a double-action pull of the trigger without further manipulation of the decocking lever, and only when the trigger is held fully rearward is the internal firing pin block deactivated.

The DAO P97 has no external safety lever, decock lever, or fullcock hammer position at all. After firing, the gun is always automatically "at rest" with the firing pin blocked from forward movement by the internal safety. Only when the trigger is pulled completely to the rear (long-action DA-revolver style) for each shot can the gun fire. All DAO versions have a spurless hammer.

The P97 uses a single column magazine holding eight rounds. It is equipped with 3-dot sights, the rear sight being adjustable for windage, and the front sight fixed. The front sight is pinned in, and the rear held in by a set screw, so replacement of the sights is a fairly simple task with the right tools. The P97 is used by a number of police departments in the United States and elsewhere.

This completed the Ruger P Series lineup for the next six years. The P97 has been dropped from the Ruger website as of 2005, presumably due to the introduction of the new P345.

P345 (2003)

With the expiration of the 1994 magazine ban came new legislation in certain US states that required elaborate new safety measures on hanguns (effectively banning all handguns on the market at the time the legislation was written). Integrated locking mechanisms, loaded chamber indicators, strenuous drop tests (which most police and military handguns would fail), and magazine disconnects were all required. Most of these states also had state laws still in effect banning magazines with capacities greater than 10 rounds, so Ruger chose to address the new requirements with an all new .45 ACP design. The P345 (developed in 2003) was released in 2004, and incorporates an integrated keyed lock that locks the safety in the safe position, a loaded chamber indicator, a disconnector that blocks the firing pin when the magazine is removed, plus ergonomic improvements such as an all new polymer frame design (narrower than the double column derived P90 and P97) and low profile safety levers. The model P345PR adds a Picatinny rail to the frame, for mounting lights and other accessories. The P345 is also the first .45 ACP Ruger to be offered as a standard catalog item with a blued steel slide, in addition to the stainless steel. Consumer response to the P345 has been mixed; those who shoot it have good things to say about it, but many consumers in areas that do not require all the added safety equipment view it with uncertainty.

P95PR (2005)

2005 saw a new set of P95 variants. These variants incorporate the Picatinny rail found on the P345 into the P95 frame and a new non-slip texturing in the polymer frame. This "PR" option is available on all the P95 models.

Walther P22

Walther P22 The P22 is a semi-automatic pistol manufactured by Walther Sportwaffen.

Usage

Being a .22 caliber handgun with a relatively large size, it features mild recoil when fired, making it well suited for introducing and training newcomers to handguns without introducing any fear from recoil. The P22 is regarded by many firearms enthusiasts as being a modestly priced "plinker" suitable for handgun training, recreational, and other general rimfire use. There are a wide range of accessories, including fiber-optic sights, a laser sight that attaches to a rail under the dust guard area in front of the trigger guard, and a frame-mounted scope attachment.

Composition and assembly

On the exterior, it resembles the Walther P99, but it is somewhat smaller (75% of the P99's size) and its action chambers the rimfire .22 LR cartridge. The most noticeable exterior difference is the P22's slide mounted, thumb operated, ambi-dexterous safety and its external hammer. The P22 features a cast polymer grip-frame. Its slide and serial numbered frame receiver inserts are made from MIM (Metal Injection Molding) cast zinc alloy, its barrel consists of a rifled steel insert within a steel barrel sleeve, and its internal lockwork and fire-control parts are a combination of MIM cast steel and steel stampings.

The P22 can be purchased with a 3.4-inch short barrel, or with a 5-inch barrel which includes a barrel mounted weight compensator matching the profile of the slide (pictured to the right). The P22 was originally designed such that the two different length barrel assemblies could be easily interchanged, and "combo" packages including both barrels were offered for sale.

The P22 is offered in many different color variations of its polymer lower receiver. Black, Olive Drab, White, and Carbon Fiber are options. The slide assembly will either have a blue-black applied finish, or it will be finished with a nickel/stainless look.

Due to California's ban on Assault weapons, the Walther P22 was not available for sale in that State for some time.. The gun was initially approved for sale only to be delisted after the California Department of Justice realized the pistol had a barrel that was threaded (threaded barrels on semiautomatic pistols in California are a characteristic which makes them illegal under the state's ban on so-called assault weapons). P22's that were sold in that state had to either be removed from the state or returned to the manufacturer for a modification ensuring that the original barrel extension purchased with the gun is permanently installed and cannot be removed without ruining the barrel assembly, or the handgun, or both. Currently there is a version available that is California legal.

In some countries, like Finland, the original 3.4 inch short barrel causes the P22 to be classified as a concealable firearm, making the 5 inch target barrel the only available option for normal recreational shooters.

Operation

The P22 may be fired double action for the first shot from a hammer-down condition, and operates as a single action on all successive shots. The hammer can only be de-cocked by pulling the trigger, as this particular handgun does not have a "decocking" lever.

The P22 operates on the blowback method of semi-automatic operation. Under this approach, the pressure generated by a firing cartridge is contained by a combination of the inertial weight of the slide assembly and the force of the recoil spring. There is no "locking" mechanism. The strength of the recoil spring and the weight of the slide are such that the rearward force of the firing cartridge will not open the action until the projectile has left the barrel and the pressures have dropped to safe levels.

As with many semi-automatic pistols, the P22 is equipped with a magazine disconnect that prevents the trigger from operating on the sear mechanism unless a magazine is actually inserted and locked into the weapon. The magazine disconnect on a P22 works by utilizing a strong spring to apply downward force against the trigger bar, such force being sufficient to overcome the action of the relatively weaker trigger spring which interacts with upward force on the same bar. When a magazine is not locked into the weapon, the downward force of the stronger magazine disconnect spring causes the trigger bar to pass beneath the internal lockwork of the weapon when the trigger is pressed. Once a magazine is fully inserted, however, an actuator surface on the front of the magazine pushes against the magazine safety. This overcomes the magazine safety's strong spring, and thereby serves to allow the trigger bar to spring upward under the force of the less powerful trigger spring. When this occurs, the trigger bar is in a position where it engages the lockwork when the trigger is actuated. An added side effect of the interplay between the strong magazine disconnect spring and the magazine itself is that the magazine will "spring" out of the grip of the weapon very vigorously when released.

Safety

The P22's slide mounted safety, when engaged, performs two functions. First, it serves as a "hammer block" by rotating a portion of the metal surface of the safety into a position that interferes with the hammer's contact with the firing pin. Second, it acts as a "firing pin lock" by rotating a portion of the safety into a notch on the underside of the firing pin, thereby inhibiting forward movement. The P22 safety does not prevent sear or trigger movement, and (as noted), it does not provide a hammer drop function. If the hammer is cocked when a P22 is been placed on "safe," the hammer will continue to remain cocked and will only fall if the trigger is pressed. If the safety is on, the hammer will strike the safety instead of the firing pin and, therefore, fail to fire. Good safety practices generally counsel against relying on mechanical safeties and such a method of decocking should only be used when the firearm is unloaded and pointed in a safe direction.

The P22 utilizes an additional, passive, safety mechanism to protect against accidental discharges in the event the weapon is dropped. When the action is closed, a small metal button on the underside of the breach block is actuated by an arm surface extending from the sear. In this state (whether or not the hammer is cocked), the firing pin is mechanically blocked and cannot move forward to strike a cartridge rim. When the trigger is pressed, the sear moves downward in such a way as to move from its interaction with the firing pin safety, which in turn springs downward under the force of a captive spring within the breach block. This disengages the firing pin safety, allowing the firing pin to move and the weapon to fire.

Firing pin

The firing pin on a P22 is "inertial." That means when fully depressed by the weapon's hammer in its "down" or at-rest position, the firing pin does not actually reach the cartridge rim. It can only fire the cartridge by way of inertial energy after it has been hit vigorously by the full force of a cocked hammer. For this reason, it is not abnormally dangerous to have the hammer down on a P22 with the safety off (as was the case historically with most single action revolvers and some semi-automatic pistols). A strike to the hammer in such a situation will not fire the P22. Even so, the operating manual for the P22 cautions users to diligently apply the manual safety except when ready to fire the gun. This aspect of the firing pin also adds safety to the manual method of decocking that is required to be used with this firearm, though, as mentioned, it is wise to keep the firearm unloaded and pointed in a safe direction when decocking.

Due to the inertial firing pin, the P22 should not be "dry fired" extensively during aiming practice. Doing so not only risks deformation of the chamber face, but the repeated forward action of the firing pin into and beyond the space normally occupied by the rimfire casing will eventually distort the firing pin spring. If this happens, the firing pin will no longer return vigorously to its default at-rest position at the extreme of its possible rearward travel within the breach block. This could result in less or none of the firing pin's rear surface protruding beyond the rear of the breach block for impact by the hammer.

Distribution

The P22 is distributed and supported in the United States by Walther America, a subsidiary of the Smith and Wesson Company.

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Walther P22