Smith & Wesson sent me a sample of its SW1911 E Series pistol. Constructed chiefly of stainless steel, the E Series gun possesses a high degree of fit and finish as well the reliability and accuracy we’ve become accustomed to with Smith & Wesson products.
It’s a handsome pistol, sporting...
Ruger’s Custom Shop provided us with a beautiful two-tone Officer’s Style SR1911. The gun has a stainless steel slide and frame coated with black nitride. The slide’s flats are then polished for a pleasing two-tone finish. The Custom Shop flat tops the slide and serrates it. The low-profile rear...
Wilson Combat added to its EDC line this year with the X9S Subcompact pistol. Designed for deep cover and concealed carry, the alloy-framed gun is based on the 1911 pistol with some of Bill Wilson’s own refinements.
Chambered in 9mm, the EDC X9S has a capacity of 10+1 and weighs...
Springfield Armory sent me a sample of its relatively new 1911 Vickers Tactical Master Class pistol. In a collaboration with retired U.S. Army 1st SFOD-Delta operator and combat veteran Larry Vickers, the gun combines Springfield Armory’s extensive 1911 manufacturing experience with his knowledge of features that a fighting handgun...
Nighthawk Custom sent me a sample of its brand new TRS Comp gun for this Ballistic’s Best evaluation. The gun possesses standard 1911 dimensions yet has a 17+1 capacity. Nighthawk machines the grip frame from 7075 alloy, anodizes it and then Cerakotes it to perfectly match the black Nitrided...
Made in Brazil, the Taurus 1911 Commander in .45 ACP features a number of interesting upgrades we don’t normally see on an economy gun, such as real Novak sights, a checkered frontstrap and extended thumb and beavertail safeties. Though the fit and finish of the gun won’t measure up...
Boasting a forged—not cast—slide and frame, the .45 ACP Defenders Series Mil-Spec from Springfield Armory features an exemplary slide-to-frame fit. It also possesses a stainless steel barrel and bushing. The gun is a reasonable facsimile of the U.S. military’s 1911, with some upgrades, including higher-profile sights and honest-to-God wooden...
There’s been big trend lately to chamber full-sized, steel-framed 1911s in 9mm. This makes the big gun a pussycat to shoot, with light recoil and tremendous accuracy. Remington decided to chamber the 1911 R1 Enhanced in 9mm this year, and the resulting gun impressed me with its handling characteristics...
The Dan Wesson Enhanced Commander Pistol (ECP) in .45 ACP is probably very close to what I would design as my ultimate carry 1911. It’s built on an aluminum frame, so its unloaded weight is just 29 ounces. It feels good in the hand and carries like a dream....
Using input from special forces personnel, Colt developed the Colt Combat Unit (CCU) pistol that it introduced earlier this year. This Government-sized .45 ACP is chock full of useful features that make it ideal for law enforcement and military use. The CCU features a stainless steel frame that has...
