Springfield Arms XD Sub-Compact 40 S&W.

I have been asked my many students and friends over the years what guns I recommend, and that starts the questions. What are you going to defend? Where are you going to carry? How much have you shot in your life? Are you able to pull the trigger and take a life in order to defend your family?

Gun selection is very personal, and I recommend that you take the time and pay for an instructor to take you to the range to try out different types of guns before you buy one. Then get to the range with the instructor to practice. Just taking the CCW class does not mean that you are able to defend your family.

Many of my recommendations have been for the Springfield Arms XD family of pistols. I do not personally carry them, but I do carry the Springfield Arms 1911 family of handguns.  Those that have purchased the XD family have all been pleased, including my dentist. When you pull the trigger it goes boom, and it is easy to aim.

We went to the range to test the Springfield and work with a CCW student. Jeff has delayed buying a pistol for years, but joined the current rush considering the political climate. He took the course and filled out the paper work the day after the class. While this is not normal, it shows you that he was serious about getting his permit. He also was wondering how to carry a pistol on his Harley. This brings up other questions of what type of holster and where you are going to carry your CCW. Jeff’s wife and other students also liked shooting the pistol and it was not too tough for the women to pull the action back to load a round. Jeff is pictured on the left working with his wife.

I enjoyed shooting the XD 40 S&W, and found that the sights were very easy to quickly acquire and the ability to shoot tight groups was very easy. The trigger pull at 6.1 lbs was smooth each and every time. The “Square” feel to the pistol feels like a Glock, but has additional safety features that the Glock does not have. Do not get me wrong, Glocks’ are great firearms, but I also judge equipment by the company that manufactures the equipment. Springfield Arms has been good to work with over the years, but sometimes you cannot even get a return phone call from Glock. Pictured on the left is Jeff and Mike, another student, in a "Shoot Off" between the Kimber Ultra Carry and the Springfield XD. They were both able to shoot tight groups, and we had to declare it a tie between the two pistols.

Stats shot at the range:

Caliber 40S&W

Magazines: 1-9 Round Compact and 1-12 with the grip extension

Sights: Dovetail front and rear steel.

Trigger Pull: 6.1 lbs.

Total Length: 6.25 inches

California legal model is: XD9822SP06.

Do not rule out the XD in the 9mm rounds. The stats are almost the same except the caliber and the amount of rounds. The compact is 1 -10 and the magazine with the extension is 1 -16. If you cannot get out of trouble in 16 or 17 shots, you are in some deep doo doo.  The California legal model is: XD9821SP06.

The Carryconcealed.net team gives the Springfield Arms XD 40S&W a 5 out of 5 for a concealed carry weapon. It was easy for new shooters, and experienced shooters admired the workmanship.

Happy Trails and Keep the Lead Down Range – Clark

Kimber Ultra Carry

Carryconcealed.net headed to the range to try out the Kimber Ultra Carry .45 ACP. It is a compact 1911 with a 3 inch barrel and 7 +1 carry capacity.  One of our CCW class students had just purchased it as his primary carry pistol. Mike owns a restaurant and has been concerned about safety and security at home and at the restaurant.  We invited his wife and other CCW students to come out and have a practice session at the range while testing the Ultra Carry.  Mike lives a city that is ranked 2^nd in the United States for restaurant robberies and he does not want to become a statistic.

While Mike has shot guns all of his life, he has not shot in many years and needed the practice. I was pleasantly surprised how well he was able to place close groups at 7, 10 and 15 yards. We also worked with his wife to help get her used to the pistol even though she did not go through the CCW class. It is recommended that everyone in the house practice with the firearms and understand gun safety.  She was able to shoot the pistol, but she wants to look for a smaller caliber and possibly a revolver.

Mike picked the Kimber because of the Kimber brand name and the fact that he wanted a larger caliber defense pistol.  The duties of a restaurant owner required that the handgun be easily concealed as not to upset patrons, and let the bad guys know that he was able to defend himself.

Pictured on the left is a close up of the target that MIke was shooting. Notice the nice grouping and the head shots done in rapid fire drill. I enjoyed shooting the Kimber and found that it was almost identical to my Springfield Arms Micro Compact. We compared sizes and styles to find that there were very few differences. The Springfield Arms Micro Compact has a larger beaver tail, and mine has night sights. My Micro Compact is 6 +1 and I have to be careful not to mix the shorter magazine in with my full sized 1911 magazines as they will NOT work in the full size 1911 handgun. One advantage to using a Micro .45 as a primary side arm is that you can leave full sized magazines in your truck or in strategic parts of your home or place of business.

Shooting a Micro .45 does give a little more recoil, and is tougher to get tight groups at a longer distance. The advantage is that it is easier to conceal, and felt easier to bring on target in close quarter drills than a full sized 1911. The Carryconcealed.net team gives the Kimber Ultra Carry a 5 out of 5 stars as a concealed handgun. It would make an excellent primary as well as a backup sidearm should you require one. Especially if you are already carrying a full sized 1911.

Stats:

Total length: 6.8 Inches

Stainless Steel Slide

3 inch barrel

Low profile sights

Trigger pull (as tested) 5.1 lbs.

Anyone looking to defend themselves, should take a serious look at the Kimber family of products. If you are looking to conceal a larger caliber handgun, the Kimber Ultra Carry is an outstanding value. MIke is pictured on the left with his wife. She did not have any problem with the kick, but she said that she would like to shop for a lower caliber handgun. We worked with her shooting other pistols to help see what kind she liked.

Happy Trails and Keep the Lead Down Range – Clark

Several months ago we posted the article on the Bond Arms “Texas Defender”. We got a call from Gordon Bond of Bond Arms several weeks ago. He was very pleased with the reference business that he had gotten from Carryconcealed.net. Gordon then asked us to test out the new Snake Slayer and let him know what we thought. Not only did he send one in, he had Carryconcealed.net engraved in the barrel. I will have to tell you that that was one of the coolest gestures anyone has ever done for me. Having my company name engraved on the barrel was a very classy gesture from a great company. Let me tell you that when working with gun manufactures, the attitude of the company starts at the top. We have been very privileged to work with the Bond Arms company and all of their employees reflect the positive attitude of the Bonds. Knowing that your life is on the line, and that the CCW gun you pick is backed by people who care plays a large part of my decison to carry a particular brand of handgun.

When I was picking up the Snakeslayer at the local FFL, the owner had indicated that they had been selling a ton of them to outdoors men. One even picked one up for a backup side arm while fishing in bear country shortly before I picked mine up. The flexibility of the Snakeslayer being able to shoot .45 Long Colt,.410 Shotshells or slugs is very important when considering this well made derringer for a backup or a companion in the back woods.

Bond Arms as a company has taken the derringer to a new level by adding the accessories that add to the flexibility of the handgun and bring the Snakeslayer from the backwoods to the serious concealed carry individuals. The driving holster has a Velcro flap that folds through the belt and back over the holster for a secure fit on the hip. The position is great for drivers and the holster held on the left side or cross draw is great for the driver, as the seat belt does not interfere with the draw.  While going through the tests and wearing the Snakeslayer I used the shoulder rig, driving rig and strong side holster. We also used a leg holster that was designed for a small revolver and worked great. We are getting the specification to Gordon to help with some of the future accessories offered by Bond Arms.

As a long time 1911 carrier in a shoulder rig, and strong side holster, the lighter weight of the Snakeslayer was a nice change, while still carrying a handgun with enough stopping power.

Snakeslayer Specifications as tested

Barrel:	3 1/2 "
Weight:	22 oz.
Length:	5 1/2 "
Stocks:	Extended Custom Rosewood
Sights:	Bladefront and Fixed Rear
Features:	• 3 1/2" barrel • Interchangeable Barrels • Automatic Extractor ••••(EXCEPT FOR 9mm,40S&W,10mm and .45 ACP) • Rebounding Hammer • Retracting Firing Pins • Crossbolt Safety • Spring-Loaded Cammed Locking Lever ••••(for a tighter barrel/frame fit and Rapid loading and unloading) • Trigger guard • Stainless Steel with Satin Polish Finish
Calibers:	.410/45LC with 3" chambers

Shooting Tips for the Bond Arms Derringer

While going through the testing, and talking with Gordon Bond, we found several tips that will help shorten your learning curve with the Bond Arms Derringers. The trigger actually pulls back and down. If the trigger is pulled straight back, the trigger pull is about 11 to 12 pounds. If the shooters pulls down and back in the same motion the trigger pull drops to 3.5 to 4 pounds. This is significant with the short barrel of the Snakeslayer. That helps keep the barrel from being pulled down and lowering the shot.

The second major trick is to cycle the Derringer to ensure that the bottom barrel fires first. The lower barrel has the recoil that fires directly back into the shooters palm. You can tell which barrel the Derringer is going to fire by looking at the hammer and the moving portion of the hammer. In your right hand make sure the Derringer is unloaded and pull the hammer back. The moving hammer selector will be above the rounded portion of the back of the heel if the upper barrel will shoot first. If it is shooting the lower barrel first it will be below the curve. Because the Derringer is a solid handgun the recoil is lessened. When shooting the second or top barrel, place the Wing or Blade about the distance between your knuckles and your elbow lower than your target. This is because the top barrel has a little difference in how the kick handles. Using this technique we were able to get consistent groups using .410 slugs as well as .45 Long Colt hollow points. When using 3 inch .410 shot shells it does not matter as anything in front of your target zone is hit.

 We had fun testing the Snakeslayer at the United States Shooting Academy. Bret Kennedy, Director of Marketing, came over to see how our testing was going. We took the opportunity to put Bret right on the line and see what he thought about the Bond Arms Derringer. His first comment was “Wow”. Bret’s second comment was this was an outstanding backup handgun. He would know about guns being the Marketing Director for a 7 million dollar shooting facility. Kyle, one of our Active Duty Marine Testers was also on hand and was shocked to see that there was not one square inch that was not hit when the B27 target was shot from 15 feet. Pictured on the left you can see the holes in the B27 target. Kyle noted that because the Bond Arms Derringer was so well made and solid that the recoil was not noticed, and using the shot shells made hitting the target “Fisher Price Easy”.

 The workmanship of the Snakeslayer is typical of the Bond Arms derringers. It is by far the best derringer on the market today. It is easy to use and has such great engineering that the gun will last several lifetimes. This is the one gun that every outdoorsman with a CCW permit should own. It is flexible enough that every serious CCW permit holder should have as a back up or as a primary handgun when discretion with power is required.

Bond Arms Newest Member To The Family Bond Arms is not stopping with the Snakeslayer. They have just announced the Ranger. The Ranger is a must own, way cool, package that includes the Ranger with the star handles and a “Driving” holster. This has to be one of the best anti-car jacking defense guns manufactured. It would compare with the Taurus Judge. The main difference would be the size. The judge is a great “anti-car jacking” gun, but it is significantly larger. We have found that there is a correlation between the size of the gun and whether or not it is carried. A large cool gun that is too big to carry does not do any good when it is left at home.

The Bottom Line

Bond Arms has taken the Derringer to the next level. It really is “Anytime Anywhere” as a solid back up CCW handgun, or a discrete handgun with attitude. When you order a Bond Arms Derringer, do not forget the holsters. The holsters are quality and complete the total CCW package for those with legal CCW Permits.

Happy Trails and Keep the Lead Down Range. Clark - Carryconcealed.net

About Bond Arms

BOND ARMS, INC. is located in Granbury, Texas and manufactures the award-winning Bond Arms derringer –The company tag line is "the finest in double barrel protection."

We have stated many times that it is best to carry the largest caliber handgun that you can safely control.  This still holds true, however we have been getting questions from lots of women and folks with arthritis that would like to have a semi-automatic pistol for home defense or as a CCW handgun.

We ran across the Walther P22 and asked one of our Vet contributors to test this handgun out. We were warned by the store owner that CCI Velocity .22LR rounds should be used during the break in period. We have heard of this with other .22LR handguns and did not doubt the dealer.  The retail price is $330.00 but we found it for $260.00 as tested.

The P22 tested had the following specifications.

• Interchangeable frame back straps create an ideal fit to the shooter's hand
• Compact design and light-weight are achieved by a modern polymer frame (just 480 grams, including the magazine)
• Traditional double-action operation
• Ambidextrous controls for both left and right hand shooters
• Integrated trigger lock, loaded chamber indicator
• Magazine disconnect, hammer safety and firing pin safety for safe and reliable operation. (We found this feature a good safety feature as the handgun will not fire when the magazine is removed.)
• Fixed barrel for incredible accuracy
• Windage adjustable rear sight and elevation adjustment with interchangeable front sights for variations in shooter operation
• Interchangeable barrel (sold separately) can convert the P22 from the standard configuration to the target version in minutes
• Military OD Green
• (Side Note - We have tested the P22 with our 1911 holsters and it fits several very nicely. This will help folks that have a few extra holsters around and want to use a older holster rather than buy a new one.)

One of the most important parts of our test was to see how this handgun fit in several different hand sizes and if different people could pull the slide or “action” back to load a round into the chamber. We found that the Walther P22 was one of the few handguns that small hands as well as large hands could feel comfortable using this handgun. We even had several women test the handgun for comfort and if they could work all of the features on the P22. Their reaction was very positive. Some of the testers have not been able to use any other semi-automatic. This was the first semi-automatic that they were able to use and feel comfortable.

While this is a .22LR pistol and we do not normally recommend the .22LR as a defense round, it is better to have well placed shots from a .22LR than not having anything at all. The P22 is one of the most accurate .22LR handguns that we have tested as a team. We were able to place tight groups at 25 feet with several testers. The team also practiced quick draw and fast target acquisition. All of the testers agreed that this was one of the most accurate .22LR handguns that could be used for CCW. Pictured on the right shows the tight groups with two magazines from 25 feet.

For manufacturing and design on the gun all of the testers gave the Walther P22 5 out of 5 stars. For an accurate and well featured gun it also received 5 out of 5 stars. Because it is a .22LR handgun we could only give this a 3out of 5 stars. The total score for this would be 4.3 out of 5 stars. This is a very high score for a CCW handgun and anyone that has a hard time working the “action” on other semi-automatics should consider this offering from Walther.  We also recommend using the more expensive .22LR CCI rounds as they are more dependable. When your life is on the line, it is not worth saving a few pennies.  

Happy trails and keep the lead down range. Clark - Carryconcealed.net

For more information on Walther click on the link.

* Editors note: We have tested the optional laser and found that it is worth the $90 bucks and really is a good investment. While I do not believe that you should rely on lasers they can be a big help in a pinch if you practice with them. Check out the information in the CCW section of the Articles.

The North American Arms (NAA)folks have on the web site the name "Pug" being derived from the Latin word Pugnus, meaning Fist. The "Pug" at first glance is well named. It is "Squat" as compared to other NAA firearms.

There is a significant size difference between the .22 LR and the .22 Magnum. The Pug looks like the design was substantial in order to take the more powerful Magnum round. The large rubber grip helps get a better grip on the small gun. We shot at 5 and 7 yards. The team was able to get center mass shot at both markings. Getting very accurate was difficult at 7 yards. Pictured is the first group of CCI Maxi-MAG HP+V shots, and the CCI 22 #12 Shot Shell. This would be very effective on snakes at close quarters.

To load and unload the entire cylinder must be taken out of the handgun. This is very easy to do, but would be almost impossible during a violent confrontation. This handgun should be considered a one time last ditch protection. A person would need to remove from the violence to a protected area to reload. There would be no way to speed load this handgun.

First keep the handgun pointed in a safe direction and then pull the hammer back to ½ cock. The second step is to pull the cylinder pin down and twist to allow the pin to be pulled and the cylinder removed for loading and unloading. The cylinder pin is also used to push shells that may be stuck.

This a single action handgun. This means that the hammer must be pulled back every time before a shot can be fired. Normally this is not a problem, but you must practice this as novice users think they can pull the trigger and have the handgun go boom.

The light weight will ensure that it is easy to carry and would be ideal as a back up gun, or for ladies that are afraid of recoil. This gun is not designed for any kind of distance. This should only be used in defensive positions under 10 feet. The .22 Magnum round is very deadly and can go through the primary target, so care needs to be taken to ensure that the defensive shooter knows what is behind the attacker and beyond.

For carry-ability the team rated this at 3 out of 5 stars. This is due to the hammer and the rubber handle. The rubber handle got stuck in the pants pockets making it difficult to pull out. Recommendations were to pay the additional money for holsters designed for the Pug making it quick to draw. If carried in the holsters the "Pug" would be a quicker draw. As this is a close quarter handgun, it needs to be carried in a way that it can be pulled out for use quickly.

For lightweight and availability with a proper holster it is rated at 5 out of 5 stars. It is better to have something than have no gun at all.

For defense round it is rated at a 3 out of 5 stars for the .22 Magnum.

For your primary CCW handgun the "Pug" only received an over all score 3.67. While the "Pug" is well made the team decided to give this a 5 out of 5 stars if it were used as a dedicated backup handgun. The folks at North American Arms have been very helpful and you should consider buying a "Pug" if you are looking for a good backup.

Happy trails and keep the lead down range. Clark – Carryconcealed.net.

Holster from Cheaperthandirt.com

Our Carryconcealed.net reviewers are constantly “Discussing” whether a Glock or 1911 is a better carry gun. Personally I have preferred 1911 style pistols, .357 revolvers and .45 Long Colt Derringers.  Our Law Enforcement Officers are very vocal about their Glocks’.  Glock as a corporation has the tag line of “Safe Action Pistols”.  There are several reasons that Glock has made this as their company tag line.

First is the trigger system. The first time you shoot a Glock, the trigger feels weird compared to a 1911. Once you get used to the safety on the trigger it actually was an asset in shooting tight groups.  The trigger system has three safety features that are automatically disengaged when the trigger is pulled back, and when the trigger is released they automatically re-engage.

Second is the firing pin safety. The firing pin is blocked from firing in the secured state. This helps against accidental discharges and helps with overall safety. This tight design will also help with accidental discharge when the firearm is dropped. The firing pin safety is only pushed forward when the trigger is pulled and when the trigger is released it also automatically re-engages the firing pin safety.

Third is the loaded chamber indicator. This is a cool feature, but it will only help with safety if the gun owners and shooters actually look at it prior to handling.

The shape of the Glock is what some people call a “Block”. While I thought the same thing, my opinion has changed after having the opportunity to shoot several models. The shape of the action actually was helpful in getting a clear sight picture on the target. I was able to have several groups that the shots were touching each other and in the fast shooting drills placing shots in the center mass was surprisingly easy. Notice in the picture that there are two main groups with most of the shots touching.

After spending time on the range and having tighter groups than I normally have, I found out that the Glock 23 that we had been testing had not been cleaned in over a year and had hundreds of rounds run through. This is a significant difference to my 1911 style handguns. I have several that have had thousands of rounds through them, and need to be cleaned or they will not eject correctly.

The bottom line: We would have to give the Glock 23 5 out of 5 stars for a CCW handgun. The polymers help keep the overall weight down, while having the stopping power of a .40 Caliber. While this was a real joy to shoot, I am not willing to give up my 1911’s yet. This would be an excellent choice for people that want dependability in a defense handgun. I will be buying one for use with IDPA matches so that we can test both the 1911 and Glock in match contests.

Happy trails and keep the lead down range – Clark –Carryconcealed.net

Caliber .40

Action:                                                 Safe Action System

Length (slide)                                       6.85 in.            174 mm

Height 2)                                               5.00 in.            127 mm

Width                                                    1.18 in.              30 mm

Barrel length                                         4.02 in.            102 mm

Barrel rifling right, hexagonal

Length of twist                                      9.84 in.            250 mm

Magazine capacity                                10 / 13 / 15

Mass (weight)Empty without magazine 21.16 oz.          600 g

Empty magazine                                 2.46 oz.             70 g

The Carryconcealed.net team took a look at this question. The Ruger 22 Mark III Bull Barrel is only one in the line of Mark III pistols from Ruger. Let me be the first to say that these are some of the finest handguns out on the market. The Mark III is designed to "feel" like a 1911 .45. The grip and weight are a close feel to my personal favorite Springfield Arms 1911. This allows shooters to practice the basics like breath control, and sight alignment on .22 ammunition rather than the more costly .45 caliber shells. This comes in a 4 ½ and a 5 ½ barrel and we tested the 5 ½ model. Pictured on the right is some of our students. Notice the first student on the left. She is using the Ruger and is not having any problems producing tight groups durring her CCW class.

The sights are adjustable and have been designed for a quick and accurate target acquisition. The design also includes the cylindrical bolt construction for permanent alignment giving the shooter a higher degree of accuracy. Ruger also included a magazine disconnect which prevents accidental firing when the magazine is removed. Another neat feature is the chamber-loaded indicator. When people use semi-automatics and get careless because they forget that just because the magazine is out does not mean that it is unloaded. This model also comes standard with holes drilled and tapped for Weaver-Type scope base adapter. We did not test it with the scope and was pleased with the accuracy just using the open adjustable sights.

In our CCW classes we use this for students that do not have a semi-auto and need to borrow one for the class. As it is a .22LR there is no kick and it functions flawlessly. We have talked to other CCW trainers and they also use Ruger Mark III pistols in their classes when students need to borrow one for their classes. We tested the pistol at an indoor range and at 25 and 50-yard outdoor ranges. It is simply amazing how accurate the pistol shoots. We were able to hit all 10 ring shots at the indoor range and at the 25-yard outdoor range. At the 50-yard we were able to hit center mass shots but could not get consistent groups. Pictured is Scott, one of Carryconcealed.net’s law enforcement contributors. The target shows that at 25 feet in an indoor range center mass and head shots are very easy to achieve. Our students that have used the pistol in classes and other tests on the out door range verify this.

This brings up the question that we have been asked. Is the Mark III a good CCW pistol? Because it is a .22LR pistol it does not have a very good rating for "Stopping Power". The accuracy of the pistol is unbelievable and when used for defense multiple shots to the center mass would be possible. This could be a problem as you may have to answer to a over zealous district attorney why so many rounds were used in self-defense. The 4 1/2and 5 1/2-inch barrels and the shape of the handgun are like trying to hide a full sized 1911 .45.

For a CCW gun the Mark III would only get a score of 2 Stars.

For a target or training tool the Mark III gets a 5 out of 5 Stars.

The bottom line: We recommend this gun for anyone that teaches CCW Classes or any body that wants one of the finest "plinking" and training handguns on the market. This would also be an excellent handgun to throw into a survival bag. We have used the term "BOB" or "Break Out Bag". If you need to leave your home due to a natural disaster, this would be a good one to bring as you can carry more .22 ammunition and the pistol would be able to bring down small game to help feed your family in an emergency. If you are a CCW permit holder you could keep it in a car while traveling or camping for same reason. We all have seen people get stuck in the wilderness and lost loved ones. The Mark III might be the difference you need to stay alive.

Specifications of model tested.

Caliber: .22 LR

Capacity: 10 Rounds

Finish: Blued

Grip: Black Synthetic

Barrel Length: 5 1/2" Groove: 6 Twist: 1:16"

RH Overall Length: 9 1/2"

Weight: 35 oz

California Approved: Yes

Massachusetts Approved: Yes

Sights: Adjustable

Loaded chamber indicator, magazine disconnect, and internal lock.

Suggested Retail Price: $ 307.00

Drilled and tapped for Weaver-style scope adapter (included).

Check out all of the other Mark III models. http://www.ruger-firearms.com/

Happy Trails and Keep the Lead Down Range - Clark

Carryconcealed.net team tests the Colt Government Delta Elite 10mm and one tester liked the additional sopping power especially considering "opium enriched terrorists".

We headed off to the range to test the Colt Delta Elite 10mm and compare it to other handguns. In our testing we used CCI Blazer 200 grain 10mm TMJ (Total Metal Jacket) and the Winchester 10mm Super X 175-Grain Hollow Point. The Winchester 10mm defense round is about .75 cents per round and the CCI Blazer 200 grain is around .35 cents in lots of 1000. This compares to a .45 defense round Carbon 185 Grain +p at $1.02 per round and .34 cents for the CCI Blazer 230 grain FMJ. We were surprised to find the ammunition right in line with the .45 caliber ammunition as we had heard that it was much more expensive.

One our Carryconcealed.net testers did not have any problems with the additional kick that the 10mm round produces. Kyle, a USMC Marine loved the performance and was able to produce tight groups at ranges of 5, 10 and 25 yards. None of the testers felt that the additional kick the 10mm provided was unmanageable or would stop us from carrying the Delta. In fact our Marine tester said that he would rather have the additional stopping power to help put down opium enriched terrorist. The Delta Elite Government model tested with fixed sights, 5.03 inch barrel length and a weight of 2.44 lbs. with magazine and no bullets. Average muzzle velocity is for the 10mm round is recorded at 1329 ft/s

There are several urban legends that are out there regarding the 10mm round and the problems with the Colt 10mm offerings. The word on the street is that the rounds are expensive, the frames on the Delta can crack and the springs need to be checked under constant wear and tear. The frame cracking and spring wear is due to the additional power of the 10mm on the redesigned 1911 frame. As we were shopping for ammunition we found that the rounds were not as bad as the legends led us to believe, but this does not take into consideration the great deals that you can get on .45 ACP every once and a while. These deals are usually in a divorce sale. We found several good forums that had discussions regarding both. One forum on Nodakoutdoors.com posts that the 10mm can drop a grizzly and has another link to a 10mm site claiming to have shot a black bear in self-defense. The bear was dropped with two rounds to the head. While the bear was only 6 foot and 5 or 6 hundred pounds, it is still a bear. The form also has postings of Alaskan Guides carrying the Glock 20, which is chambered for the 10mm.

The Delta Elite is a 1911 frame and fit into every one of our holsters. As a CCW gun this is one that would be difficult to hide (as is most large frame 1911) but you would be glad to have it in a situation with a wild animal or as our Marine tester stated the "opium enriched terrorist". With all of the gang violence and tough guys out there that are willing to rob, rape or steal things from good people, this may be one of the best home defense guns we have tested. Our Carryconcealed.net team gives this a 5 out of 5 for a home defense tool and 4 out of 5 for an all around CCW gun. The 4 stars is only due to the difficulty in hiding a full sized 1911. Anyone that practices with .45 ACP regularly should be able to use the Colt Delta Elite Government 10mm handgun with confidence. If the .45 is too much for you to handle, it would be better to have well placed shots from a .38.

The bottom line: While Colt does not manufacture the Delta any more, if you can buy one at a reasonable price it would be worth the money. You may want to stock up on 10 mm ammunition, as it may not be readily available in the future. Clark –Carryconcealed.net

The Carryconcealed.net team went to the range to test out the Taurus 605B2. This is a medium frame 357 with a 2 inch barrel. Even with its small size it packs a powerful punch. We were testing it on the range and we had people stop shooting to see what kind of "Cannon" we were shooting. Because the barrel is so short the gunpowder does not have enough time to burn and you get a great "Flame Thrower" effect. Accompanying the "Flame Thrower" is the concussion. Part of the shooting range would fall down every time we shot the more powerful rounds. Because this is a 357 you can shoot lighter 38 loads if you do not need the power provided by the 357 loads. If you miss the bad guy with the bullet the flames will singe them into honesty. Blake is one of our Concealedcarry.net testers and he liked the performance of the 605 and was able to place tight groups at the 15 and 20-yard marks.

The model we tested had the hammer. There are advantages to having the concealed hammer and there also advantages to the model with the hammer.

The Concealed Hammer: This will not get caught on clothes when pulling for defense. The trigger pull will be constant every time so that when in an emergency the gun will perform the same every time.

The Exposed Hammer: This has the opportunity to get hung on clothes, but has some advantages. One advantage is the ability to pull the hammer back for a lighter trigger pull. We were able to get tighter groups when using the hammer back and could hit targets further out.

The product comes in Stainless or Blue Steel and the product is built to the Taurus Zero Tolerance standards. They have built this as if their lives depended on the handgun. It is also available with a concealed hammer and comes with the Unlimited Lifetime Repair Policy. The 605 also comes with the TSS or Taurus Security System. The key allows the owner to lock the gun and help maintain control of who can shoot the gun. At Carryconcealed.net we try to encourage the CCW community to be responsible and lock the guns when not being carried for protection. The Key for the gun is different enough that it would be easy to find on a key ring, but it then means that you can not leave the keys and the gun around. One solution is to use a combination trigger lock and use the TSS system when you can not afford the additional room that the combination trigger lock takes up.

One great safety feature of the 605 is the Transfer Bar. This is a blocking device that stops the hammer from striking the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled all the way to the back. One of Concealedcarry.net’s testers stated that he would feel safe carrying this handgun with all of the 5 rounds in the cylinder. There is the normal feeling to not put a round under the firing pin just incase it was dropped. We will leave that decision up to you and we will also see about getting a response from Taurus on this question. After they respond, we will update the article.

Rounds Tested:

We tested several different rounds to include the 357 Premium Handgun Cartridges, 180 Grain, Cast Lead Flat Point; and 357 Magnum Gold Dot Centerfire 125-Grain Hollow Point. We also ran some 38 rounds through the 605. We found that the pistol handled anything we could throw at it. We are also going to use the .38 and 357 in tests in ExtreemeShock ammunition later this month. We are seeing information that would support that there are rounds available that do not have the large amounts of gunpowder, but yet have significant stopping power. The ExtreemShock rounds we will be testing would be 124 and even 85 grain. In the shot on the right you can see the additional gun powder burning giving the "Flame Thrower" effect.

Model Tested: 605B2

Caliber: 357

5 Round

Barrel length 2 Inch

Double Action or Single Action with pulling the hammer back.

Rubber Grips

Blue

24 oz

Small Frame

Fixed Rear sight.

Full hammer pull           - 9 lbs

Cocked hammer pull    -  3 lbs

MSRP $391 – These are available and we have seen them for even as low as $263. However they are a bargain at $391.

The bottom line – Our testers gave it a 5 out of 5 for performance in a 357 magnum and 4 out of 5 for a CCW pistol. This is due to the external hammer and the possibility of getting it stuck on clothes. I was out voted on this point, as I actually prefer the hammer. Clark –Carryconcealed.net