Remington’s New R51 and John Pedersen’s Legacy
It would be tough to find someone who doesn’t know, if not own, John Moses Browning’s seminal pistol, the M1911. Not surprising, given that nearly 3 million have been procured for military service in the US alone, dozens of other countries use them for military service and untold numbers of the prolific pistols and its derivatives are in the civilian market. Less well known is the Remington Model 51 designed by his contemporary, John Pedersen, who Browning described to US Chief of Ordnance Field Service Julian Hatcher as “the greatest gun designer in the world.” Also not surprising, since only 65,000 were produced and only through the late 1920s.
The original Model 51, marketed as a pocket pistol and available in .380 and .32 ACP, never enjoyed widespread commercial success despite many considering the locking mechanism to be superior to Browning’s design and describing it as ahead of its time. Pedersen’s legacy, and that of the Model 51, lives on with Remington’s introduction of the R51 pistol at SHOT Show 2014. Continue reading
Sticky Holsters for IWB-Tuck Get a Welcome Update
Following last year’s SHOT Show we did a review of Sticky Holsters, a relatively new holster that offers a big improvement over standard no-holster IWB or pocket carry. It was tough to find fault with the well-performing affordable holster. It does exactly what it says it will do: place your pistol into the Sticky Holster, tuck the whole contraption into your waistband in your favorite position and at your favorite angle and it stays put and stays comfortable. It does SOB, AIWB or just about anything else you ask of it.
Despite it’s nearly flawless operation, we did have a couple of small gripes with certain pistols. Given the relatively generic nature of the holsters (17 models that fit almost all pistols), the fact that they hiccup on some models isn’t the end of the world. The latest update to Sticky Holsters should alleviate the issues we noted in the standard version. Continue reading
Meet the New Glock Pistols
At SHOT Show 2014 Glock showcased two new pistols, their smallest model made to date alongside one of the largest: the G42 .380 and the G41 Gen 4 .45ACP. We got to handle and shoot both new buzzworthy pistols at Media Day at the Range in nearby Boulder City the day before the official show opening.
The G41, which Glock is touting as “practical/tactical,” is essentially a G21 but, instead of a 4.6″ barrel and 6.77″ sight radius, it gets stretched out with a 5.31″ barrel and 7.56″ sight radius while still managing to shave off 2.3oz. While certainly not helping improve concealability, the longer sight radius should help improve accuracy – a welcome trait whether your life is on the line or you’re just trying to win a match. The extra barrel and slide length make the G41 feel more balanced than a G21 and also improve the already more-than-managable felt recoil and muzzle rise from the hefty .45, making it easier to get back on target for follow-on shots. Continue reading
(Almost) Zero Bulk Concealed Carry
Tucking your CCW pistol into your waistband is a fast, easy way to conceal your firearm without adding the bulk (or expense) of a holster. However, this style of so-called “Mexican carry” is not without its issues.
The first concern is safety, as it generally leaves the trigger exposed and could spell trouble if your finger or some other object inadvertently gets inside of the trigger guard and onto the bang switch. If you choose to tuck your pistol into your belt, to pocket carry or to use some other method that does not shield the trigger, be aware of this and exercise appropriate caution to prevent a dangerous situation.
The next issue with having a gun just stuffed into the waist of your pants is that it relies on the pressure between your belt or pants and your body to hold the pistol in place. This is all well and good if you’re not being particularly active, but throw some motion into the mix and your carry piece could shift around into an awkward position or even slip down your pant leg (Plaxico Burress, anyone?).
For some time KelTec owners have enjoyed a beautifully simple improvement over simply cramming a loaded firearm into their pants: a small clip that mounts to the frame of the gun to hold it in place. Unfortunately this hasn’t been an option for owners of many other firearms. Until recently. Continue reading
SHOT Show 2014 Day at the Range Recap
Another year’s SHOT Show range day at nearby Boulder City is in the can and it was as exciting as ever. We got to see, handle and shoot a number of great new weapons. The exhibitors had plenty to tell us, the range was well kept and, thanks to the RSOs (and everyone’s cooperation), safe. As an added bonus, it wasn’t freezing cold and windy this year. Winning!
Long Distance Plan
One of the most exciting things we got to see at range day was a couple siblings from the smart optics family: the Tracking Point system and the Remington model 700 with the Tracking Point’s little brother, the 20/20. I had a chance to try Continue reading
Welcome to Fabulous SHOT Show – Las Vegas, NV
This week marks the 36th annual SHOT Show. With attendees numbering over 60,000 in recent years and nearly 2,000 exhibitors, the industry trade show has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1979 St. Louis.
The Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trades – SHOT – Show exhibits the latest and greatest products and information for a wide variety attendees. From the latest hunting and camping gear to law enforcement equipment and techniques to the most up-to-date marketing and compliance information for firearms dealers. And, of course, guns. Lots and lots of wonderful new firearms of interest to the general shooting public.
As we have for the last several years, GunLink will have staff at the show to compile all of the photos, videos and articles you need to plan out how you’re going to blow all your money this year. New GLOCK and Remington pistols? The latest in long range shooting? AR parts and accessories? Night vision? You got it. Keep your eyes right here on the GunLink blog and on the SHOT Show discussion board on the GunLink forums to keep up with SHOT Show coverage from GunLink as well as our friends and partners.
