KelTec Discontinues Production of P11
Subcompact 9mm handguns are all the rage with many CCW-ers. The Sig P365, Springfield Hellcat, and Glock 43 are hot sellers thanks to their fairly high round count relative to their fits-in-a-pocket size real-ammo chambering. Back in the olden days, however, there weren’t as many options. Sure, circa mid-90s Glock introduced the chunky chopped-down Baby Glock G26 that could pack 11 rounds of 9×19 NATO, but that same year, KelTec introduced their P11 – a DAO 10+1 9mm that could fit in a pocket or disappear in a waistband.
Sure, the OEM trigger was (and continued to be) terrible. Sure, it wasn’t a piece of art. Sure, the sights were crude. But I carried one for several years, either as a primary CCW or a backup piece, and we had a lot of fun improving ours.
But, alas, those days have come to an end with KelTec announcing the discontinuation of the P11 model. Quite likely due to the newcomers on the market who scratch the itch for this category with a far better executed pistol for a hundred or two bucks more or the SCCY CPX1/2 clones for roughly the same price.
Although the pistols will no longer continue to be made, KelTec says that they will continue to honor the warranty and provide service as long as replacement parts are available.
RIP, KelTec P11. The company even laid the venerable pocket pistol to rest with a… Viking funeral?
Mossberg Announces 590 Pump-Action Shotgun Line Additions
O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc., a leading American firearms manufacturer, is announcing additions to its 590 Pump-Action product line. Additions include expanded capacities (6, 7 and 9-shot); flexibility of stock and pistol grip interchangeability; and the addition of 20 gauge and 410 bore chamberings in the 590 line-up, joining the venerable 12 gauge.
590 Tactical shotguns are based upon Mossberg’s proven 500 pump-action platform and include non-binding twin action bars; positive steel-to-steel lock-up and anti-jam elevator; dual extractors; drilled and tapped receivers; cylinder bores; and universally-recognized, ambidextrous top-mounted safety. Enhancing the decades-proven 500 platform is a convenient clean-out magazine tube with cap for ease of maintenance on all 590 shotguns.
Available models in the 590 Series include the 590 Persuader (full-length stock); 590 Cruiser (pistol-grip stock); 590 Persuader/Cruiser Kits; 590 Chainsaw with tri-rail forend; and 590 FLEX/Cruiser Kits. Select models are available in 20 gauge, 410 bore and with Compact stocks (shorter length-of-pull). Optional sight systems include white dot, Ghost Ring, bead; and rail-mounted Ghost Ring rear sight combined with a fiber optic front sight. Barrel lengths include standard 18.5-inch and 20-inch; 18.5-inch standoff barrels; and 20-inch barrels with optional heat shields. In total, ten new upgraded or converted 590 pump-actions. Capacities vary, based on the individual model, but include 6-shot, 7-shot and 9-shot versions.
Versatility is at the heart of the 590 platform and the models featuring Mossberg’s patented FLEX System Stock redefine the ability to custom fit or adapt your shotgun. With its system of quick-change connectors and ease of no tools required, you change out your stock components. Your 590 can convert from a close-quarters, pistol grip platform to a versatile 6-position adjustable stocked-gun in seconds. Additional customization to the lengthof-pull can be facilitated by interchangeable, accessory recoil pads; available in a variety of thicknesses (recoil pads sold separately).
With years of military service and law enforcement duty, there is no surprise that the 590 pump-action shotgun is the ideal choice for your home and personal defense needs. For a complete list of available 590 shotguns, please visit www.mossberg.com.
SHOT Show 2020 Range Day Highlights
Each year before industry insiders flock to the halls of the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show – better known as SHOT Show – a contingent of firearm folks head out into the desert of southwest Nevada for a pre-show lineup of exhibitors. Live ammunition is forbidden on the SHOT Show floor and any firearms in the exhibit hall must be disabled and are inspected to ensure that they are non-functional.
This policy, however, is not in effect at the annual SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range in Boulder City. Not by a long shot.
At this pre-show demo day, invited members of the media and buyers have the opportunity to meet with manufacturers and vendors among smaller crowds than those at SHOT Show proper. Attendees also have the opportunity to get hands-on live fire trigger time with the latest guns and gear to hit the market and many that are yet to be released. The GunLink team has again been invited to this event and did just that.
We got to see some pretty great firearms and gear at Range Day that seem to indicate that the industry has actually been listening to consumers and developing some new products that fit their needs. And the show has not even begun yet! If this demo day is an indication of what else we will be seeing at SHOT Show 2020, we think this will be a great year for a firearms industry that has shown some signs of slowing down somewhat in the past couple of years.
Read on to see our Range Day highlights and be sure to watch the GunLink Blog and GunLink Forums for more. Continue reading
Project ChildSafe Announces New Donation Page Ahead of Giving Tuesday
With Giving Tuesday fast approaching on December 3, the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s firearms safety program, Project ChildSafe, is making supporters aware of its new donation interface, which now welcomes one of the most popular forms of giving — recurring donations. Think: set it and forget it!
This year marks the 20th year for the Project ChildSafe program, the leading voice in genuine gun safety education. To recognize this milestone, Project ChildSafe is asking supporters to consider monthly giving to help achieve the collective goal of reducing firearms accidents and misuse.
Project ChildSafe helps create a culture of firearms safety for everyone, gun owners and non-gun owners alike, because safety is everyone’s responsibility. Securely storing firearms when not in use is the number one way to help prevent accidents, theft and misuse, including suicide. Safe storage works: Fatal firearms accidents have declined by 50 percent in the last 20 years and represent less than 1 percent of fatal accidents from all causes.
“Over the past two decades, the notable impact of Project ChildSafe helping to save lives was made possible through the generous support from many in the firearms community – from individuals to organizations – and we are pleased to be able to provide a new way for partners to continue to give,” said NSSF President Joe Bartozzi.
Supporters who commit to giving $20 per month (in recognition of Project ChildSafe’s 20-year anniversary) will join the Partners in Safety Club. Your support is needed to help Project ChildSafe reach its goal of 2,020 new Partners in Safety. Join “the club” today to ensure an ongoing culture of safety.
Singular and monthly donations are made to the Project ChildSafe Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity that helps support the NSSF Project ChildSafe program. Donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.
More information about Project ChildSafe can be found at projectchildsafe.org.
Taurus Rebate Programs Continue with New TH9, TH40, and G2C Rebates
Although the Taurus 856 revolver rebates are drawing to a close at the end of this month, other rebate programs from the company continue through the end of the year, providing plenty of opportunity for consumers to put a new firearm under the Christmas tree while putting a little extra cash back in their pocket.
Ending on November 30, the Sizzling Summer Rebate (which has already been extended a couple of times), offers up to $30 back by mail on their 856 line of 6-shot revolvers that replaced the 5-shot Model 85 line of J-frame revolvers.
The Hammer The Harvest rebate program, which began in October, gets buyers $25 back by mail on their recent hammer-fired SA/DA line of TH pistols chambered in 9mm and .40 S&W. This program is slated to end on December 31st and rebate requests must be submitted by mid-January.
The latest program, just in time for Black Friday deals and stocking stuffing, the Season of Savings rebate gets consumers $25 back on their most popular compact concealed carry pistol, the G2C, which is essentially a renamed PT-111.
Know of other great gun deals and rebates? Be sure to share them on the GunLink Forums.
Sig Sauer Delivers Milestone 100,000th M17 / M18 Handgun to U.S. Military
Sig Sauer has announced the delivery of the 100,000th M17 and M18 for the Modular Handgun System program to the U.S. Military, ahead of schedule, and surpassing the performance standards and requirements since the official contract award in January 2017.
“In the month of October SIG SAUER exceeded our manufacturing requirements by thirty percent and delivered a record-setting 12,100 handguns to the U.S. Military to achieve this historic milestone for SIG SAUER and the MHS program,” began Ron Cohen, President & CEO, SIG SAUER, Inc. “With the strict accuracy and acceptance specifications that the M17 and M18 are continuously exceeding, it’s clear that the success of this program can be directly attributed to the reliability, durability, and accuracy of the handgun, which has resulted in the high demand for both the M17 and M18 from every branch of the U.S. Military.”
The M17 and M18 handguns are a 9mm, striker-fired, P320-based handgun platform, featuring coyote-tan PVD coated stainless steel slides with black controls and utilize both 17-round and 21-round magazines. The handguns are equipped with SIGLITE front night sights, removable night sight rear plates, and manual safeties. To date SIG SAUER has delivered M17 and M18 handguns to all branches of the U.S. Military and the U.S. Coast Guard.
“From the very beginning the MHS program has been a true partnership between SIG SAUER and the U.S. Army which has resulted in the overwhelming success of the program, and ensuring that the M17 and M18 handguns are entering service, and in the field with our military,” concluded Cohen.
