Heizer’s DoubleTap Pint Sized Pistol Packs a Punch
I first became intrigued with the Heizer Defense Double Tap when I saw an ad for it in the NRA’s American Rifleman magazine. For some reason, there is something I just can’t resist about this type of pint sized pistol.
The DoubleTap, available in both 9mm and .45ACP versions, comes in a package significantly smaller than other firearms in the same class. In fact, Heizer bills the DoubleTap as “the world’s smallest and lightest .45 ACP concealed carry pistol on the market today.” At just 5.5 inches long, 3.9 inches tall and less than 0.7 inches wide, the DoubleTap can easily disappear into a pocket or purse and be at the ready should you need it. With both aluminum and titanium models available (weighing in at 12 and 14 ounces, respectively), the pistol won’t weigh you down either.
With only two rounds chambered and another two stowed on a speed strip inside the grip, some people might feel a little under-gunned with that low of a round count. The DoubleTap might not be the right choice for someone who wants to be ready to take on a small army but it definitely looks like it would serve its intended purpose of offering .45ACP stopping power in an ultra-concealable package. This makes the DoubleTap perfect for a last-ditch backup gun or an EDC concealed carry piece for someone who wants to keep size and weight at a minimum.
Operating the DoubleTap is a breeze. The ten pound double action trigger pull is butter-smooth thanks to precision ball bearings and then breaks crisply. Each successive pull of the trigger drops the snag-free internal hammer on each Continue reading
Springfield Armory Introduces New Compact XD-S .45ACP Pistol
GunLink had a chance to stop by the Springfield Armory spot on the shooting line at the 2012 NSSF SHOT show Media Day at the Range and shoot their latest offering. The XD-s is so new, in fact, that this range time is the first time it’s been in the hands of people who didn’t make it.
The XD-s, the newest addition to Springfield Armory’s line of XD pistols, is a slimmer, lighter pistol that still packs the punch of a .45 ACP round. With an overall length of just over six inches and a height of four inches, the XD-s weighs in at only 29 ounces. The single stack 5+1 magazine capacity also allows it to be easily concealable with its width of just one inch (0.9” along the slide).
With a weight of just 29 ounces and a 3.3 inch barrel, one might think that recoil would be an issue with a .45 ACP caliber weapon, but that’s not the case. During our test fire, the recoil didn’t seem to be much, if any, worse than other polymer framed pistols of the same caliber, even full sized models. The manageable recoil, along with the low profile snag-free fiber optic front and steel dovetail rear sights came together to ensure that each shot fired was put on target with a satisfying “ding” following each smooth pull of the trigger.
The XD-s, which disassembles the same way as other XD models (with very minor differences regarding magazine insertion/removal when the disassembly lever is being manipulated), also shares other features with its XD brethren. The XD-s also has the Ultra Safety Assurance trigger system, grip safety, loaded chamber indicator, textured grip, Melonite finish and under-barrel, single-position Picatinny rail. Given the small stature of the XD-s, it felt a little small in my relatively large hands although, thankfully, the interchangeable backstraps and well positioned magazine release from the XD-M made it into the design along with its short trigger reset.
If you want to add an XD-s to your collection, however, you will have to wait. This slim striker-fired pistol won’t be hitting shelves until at least March of 2012 and Springfield Armory has not yet announced the price.
Parabellum Armament Shows Off AK Add-ons at SHOT
Parabellum Armament demonstrated several innovative products for the AK-47 platform at the Boulder City Pistol & Rifle Range the day before the 2012 NSSF SHOT Show officially opened and GunLink had an opportunity to try them out.
Both of the AK add-ons were on the same rifle, also equipped with an under-folder stock. The first aftermarket gadget was Parabellum’s AK rail system. We’ve seen rail systems for the AK platform in the fast and they often fall short of the needs of the serious shooter for various reasons. Some rail systems attach via pricey and awkward mounts on the side of the receiver and might even require permanent modification of the firearm. Other rail systems are often either attached by the rear leaf sight mount or the top dust cover, neither of which necessarily results in a rail that stays put. That might be acceptable for mounting flashlights or if you aren’t interested in your optics staying zeroed.
The rail system from Parabellum Armament mounts to Continue reading
Slide Fire Solutions Kicks Bump Firing Up A Notch
GunLink had a chance to stop by the Slide Fire Solutions demonstration booth and check out some of their offerings during the SHOT Show Media Day at the Range, including the original OGR and the updated models of stocks for AR-15 rifles as well as the new SSAK-47 XRS stocks for AK-47 rifles. Slide Fire Solutions declares that they are not the first company to engineer bump fire technology, but they found a way to take it to the next level.
If you have never heard of the technique of “bump firing” a rifle, the basic idea is to allow a semi-automatic firearm to fire multiple shots in rapid succession, often with rates of fire approaching those of automatic rifles. This is achieved when the shooter holds their trigger finger in a stationary position (often by hooking it into their belt loop) and uses their support hand to apply constant forward pressure by pulling the rifle forend away from them. This motion causes the trigger to press forward into the shooter’s stationary trigger finger, thus firing the rifle. After firing, recoil causes the rifle to move rearward before the constant forward pressure brings the trigger back into contact with the trigger finger and starts the process over. Although this procedure allows for fast rates of fire, it does not convert the firearm to automatic operation because each shot is caused by a single trigger pull. Each Slide Fire accessory kit even includes a copy of the BATFE letter certifying that it is not a machine gun.
As they say, Slide Fire Solutions takes this concept to the next level by making the bump firing process much safer and easier and with increased controllability. They achieve this with their Continue reading
Federal Court OKs Border State Gun Sale Reporting Requirement
A federal district court in Washington, DC recently upheld a BATFE firearms sale reporting policy. This policy, via ATF Demand Letter 3, will require all of the nearly 9,000 firearms dealers in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas to report sales of two or more semi-automatic rifles by the same buyer within five consecutive days. The plaintiffs, who plan to appeal immediately, noted that this number of dealers is around 20 times the number subject to similar previous demand letters.
A recent NRA-ILA article was published on the court ruling, in which they continue to make their argument that the Fast And Furious operation was used as justification for this new Demand Letter.
NRA’s “Big Wins” for Gun Owners Might Not Be So Big
Unclear reporting muddies the water on shotgun import bans and “sporting purpose”
An article recently released by the NRA-ILA entitled “Rumor Alert: Appropriations Bill Blocks New Shotgun Ban—Does Not Repeal ‘Sporting Purposes’ Test” doesn’t go far toward clearing up “inaccurate reporting”. The earlier article, Twelve Big Wins for Gun Owners, Nov 18, 2011, described “big wins” for gun rights provided by the conference report on the combined Fiscal Year 2012 Agriculture, Commerce/Justice/Science and Transportation/Housing/Urban Development Appropriations bills (also known as the “mini-bus”).
The article states that the conference report added two new provisions that bolster gun rights and protect the Second Amendment. One such provision touted by the article was listed under the heading of “Shotgun Importation Protections”, where the NRA states that the report “Prohibits the Department of Justice from requiring imported shotguns to meet a ‘sporting purposes’ test that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) has used to prohibit the importation of shotguns.” Continue reading
