Читать книгу Guns Illustrated 2011 - Dan Shideler - Страница 15

GUNS AND GEAR FOR WOMEN BY GILA HAYES

Jennie Van Tuyl’s short, light DPMS Panther Arms AR15 is outfitted with an LE Entry Tactical Stock from Brownell’s.

When savvy shooting women shop for guns and gear, they ask two simple questions:

1. Does it work?

2. Does it fit?

Feminized packaging may add eye appeal as illustrated by colored pistol frames, pink or pearl grips, color-laminated long-gun stocks, pink-o-fl age clothing, brightly colored hearing protection and safety glasses and more. While female-oriented marketing campaigns may catch women’s attention initially, ultimately how well guns and shooting equipment fit and function is the determining factor in a woman’s long and successful experience with the gear.

Stag Arms left-handed AR puts the controls under the lefty’s thumb where they belong.

How well are gun and shooting gear manufacturers meeting the less glamorous requirement of reliability and functionality? Products displayed at the 2010 SHOT Show, the industry’s premier convention where manufacturers show their wares to media and retailers, reveal a continued availability of woman-friendly designs, ranging from hunting and tactical clothing for ladies, to shotguns and rifles that fit smaller shooters, pistols that fit small hands and accommodate women’s more challenging concealment needs as well as a few holsters, and a lot of holster handbags.

Gone, we fervently hope, are the days when the woman braving the local gun shop was automatically pointed toward the fake pearl-gripped .25 caliber semiauto or, if its operation seemed too daunting, a double action revolver! Still, beginners of either gender are well served by a quality .22LR handgun or rifle, simply because it provides lots of trigger time with little recoil and does so with minimal expense. For years, Ruger’s Mark II pistols ruled the market in .22 semiautos, while a great variety of kit guns from Smith & Wesson, Taurus and other revolver manufacturers, some of whom have come and gone and come back again, made choosing a beginner’s revolver not an issue of availability, but one of deciding between all the options! HKS even makes speed loaders for .22s, making an introduction to speed loading drills possible!

Not all women are fond of the stiff, long trigger pull characteristic of the double action revolver, however. For these beginners, the plethora of .22LR caliber semiautomatic pistols provides the ability to practice all the steps to operate a full-sized self-defense pistol, again with the lighter recoil and cheaper ammunition. Options include traditional favorites like the Ruger Mark II, Browning Buck Mark, Smith & Wesson’s .22 pistols, Beretta’s pocket models as well as their Neos plus a variety of high-end competition pistols. With operations closer to those of full-sized handguns, Sig Sauer’s Mosquito, full-sized CZs and EAAs in .22, Walther’s P22 and conversion kits for 1911s and Glocks are also good choices for beginners for whom shooting skills will eventually address self-defense concerns.

While beginning shooters of either gender may prefer to start with a small caliber gun and its easy operating characteristics, with good training, both men and women graduate quickly to guns in reasonable defense calibers, if that is their reason for taking up shooting. These advancing shooters may still cherish their .22LR Rifles and handguns for plinking, practicing, and pleasure, but with a bit of diligence, the pursuit of highly suitable revolvers, pistols, rifles and shotguns in more effective calibers yields a variety of choices.

HANDGUNS “FIT” FOR A QUEEN

Walther’s pistol options include the .22LR P22, the .380 PK380, and for concealed carry the very minimalist PPS in 9mm.

The trend toward adjustable backstrap inserts makes fitting a pistol to small-handed shooters far easier than it was even five years ago, though sometimes the backstrap inserts seem merely a way to increase a medium-sized grip to sizes large and extra large! The latest and possibly most celebrated manufacturer to offer the adjustable grip option is Glock. In the smallest variation, Glock’s fourth generation pistol’s grip is about 1/8 inch smaller in circumference. It is currently available in Models 17 and 22, and Glock insiders predict the 4th Generation Model 19s and 23s should be out around May of 2010.

The large-gripped polymer-framed Glock has long been the subject of destructive grip recon-touring and refinishing as shooters have struggled to slim down that ubiquitous handgun to improve trigger reach. For those for whom this size reduction makes a sufficient difference, the fourth generation of Glocks eliminates that after-market expense.

Author admits to a yearning to own a SIG P238 with the Titanium rainbow-colored slide.

STI’s Elektra model is a carry-sized 9mm with pink grips indicating their marketing plan for sales to women. It also comes in black.

Carol Rutherford of Woolstenhulme Designer Bags shows a nicely accessorized blue gun purse.

SIG-Sauer took a different route when they tackled the need for a more individualized pistol fit. Their Model 250 is extremely modular, allowing choices in caliber, frame size, barrel length and more. A one-piece polymer grip is available in compact and full size. For some, the backstrap to trigger reach will still be too long, and SIG’s short trigger offers help.

Other models of handguns are perennial favorites with women, because from the very beginning, their grips were small enough for a good fit. Kahr Arms’ many models in 9mm Parabellum, .40 and even .45 come immediately to mind in this class, as does Walther’s model PPS, and more historically, the single column 1911 design in its many variations and calibers.

Of the latter, the popularity of models chambered in alternatives to the traditional .45 ACP cartridge continues to increase. In addition to expanding ammunition options for the small-hand-friendly 1911, this classic handgun type is served by a tremendous variety of after market options and accessories, including thin grip panels to further reduce bulk, night sights, high visibility sights, laser sights, triggers of varying lengths, grip safeties of varying geometry, extended, bobbed, minimalist and ambidextrous thumb safeties, modifi ed magazine releases and more!

9mms and .40 S&W caliber 1911s are no longer rare, whether emblazoned with the logos of Kimber, Para Ordnance, STI, Springfield Armory, Taurus and even Colt’s Manufacturing! Colt’s, of course, marketed a 9mm Parabellum Commander now and again in the years after WWII, though in recent decades, they’ve become somewhat rare. Thus, at the 2010 SHOT Show, I was delighted to see a 9mm Colt Defender on display. The new Defender is a lightweight subcompact with an alloy frame, a 3-inch barrel, and the traditional single action semiautomatic manual of arms. In my opinion, the pistol just cried out for a pair of slim grip panels and a short trigger. Still, I predict it will prove a solid foundation for many a customized women’s self defense pistol and I was glad to see it.

As we strive to customize and modify a handgun to fulfill individual needs and desires, we often begin to impinge on reliability. Unfortunately, the 1911 has long been subject to excessive gunsmithing, often to the detriment of its dependability. In addition, a common rule of thumb to bear in mind: the short-barreled concealment pistols are frequently fi nickier about ammunition, the strength of the shooter’s grip during the firing cycle and other variations that interrupt the relationship and interaction between the recoil spring, the weight of the slide, and the pressure of the cartridge. A sometimes delicate balance is required to shuck out the empty case and feed in a fresh one. Sometimes the snubbiest semiautos use very stiff recoil springs, and while vital to reliability, this feature may make it challenging for some female shooters to manually cycle the action.

ITSY, BITSY, TEENY WEENY…UM, HANDGUN

Overall gun size is always a challenge when women gear up for self defense. Gun weight has been reduced – in my opinion, to unrealistic extremes – in the alloy framed revolvers. That’s right, I’m no fan of the super light, 11- and 12-oz. snubbies, because with high-performance defense ammunition, they are simply beastly to shoot. A pistol’s overall dimensions, however, contribute or detract considerably from whether or not women will find it a realistic choice for daily carry for self defense.

Pistols like the Defender, Springfi eld EMP, Glock 26 and 27, Springfield XD subcompact, Ruger’s new subcompact SR9, and many others of similar size are the preferred choices because they are just large enough to afford a good shooting grip, moderate recoil control, and a reasonable sight radius. But what to carry during hot summer days, at dress-up affairs, and under other circumstances when even those chopped-down variations are too big to conceal? In times like these, a .380 that men consider a backup, deep-concealment hideout or a pocket pistol is likely to become the primary defense gun for many a lady.

Smith & Wesson’s tiny .380 Bodyguard semiautomatic.

Short stocks make these small-statured shotgunners smile! On the left, women’s gun columnist Diane Walls holds her Remington 11-87 fit with custom-made Choate stock, while Rivendell Consulting owner Jennie Van Tuyl’s Remington 1100 has a traditional wooden stock that is cut down considerably.

While these are the guns to which many default in challenging concealment conditions, they are poorly suited to the beginner who is learning the lessons of sight alignment, trigger control and gun manipulation like loading and malfunction clearing. Not only does the pistol’s small, light size amplify even the .380 ACP’s recoil, the miniaturized frame often compromises a strong grip somewhat, and the miniaturized controls and levers – when they are even present – can be slow and fumble-prone. Still, the genre continues to be among the most popular pistols a gun shop can stock.

It is ironic that concurrent with the worst .380 ACP ammo shortage in my memory, gun manufacturers have introduced more miniaturized .380 pistols than ever before. No longer does shooting a .380 mean lugging around a Beretta Cougar or Bersa Thunder, guns nearly as large as a 9mm Glock 26/27 and much bigger than a Kahr Arms PM9! Nowadays, the deep concealment .380s are half that size, with measurements of slightly more than 3-1/2 inches by 5 inches for the Ruger LCP and its ilk.

In 2001, North American Arms debuted their .380 Guardian, a slightly larger echo of their earlier .32 ACP all-steel micro pistol based on the venerable Seecamp design. Its continuing popularity gives shooters who worry about polymer’s durability a valued option. Not long thereafter, Kel-Tec beefed up their madly popular polymer-framed .32 ACP semiauto to chamber .380 ACP ammo and the result was the P3AT. The eight ounce .380 has proven amazingly durable, though the sights are rudimentary. Both alternatives were the mainstays of the pocket pistol crowd until two years ago when Ruger reworked the Kel Tec design into their polymer-framed LCP.

That same year Kahr Arms introduced their P380, which just continues to become more and more popular. The simple, DAO mini is less than 5 inches long, and, at just under 4 inches, is a bit longer through the grip. Unlike most other pocket pistols, the Kahr P380 comes from the factory equipped with the manufacturer’s conventional drift-adjustable bar-dot combat sights. Many years ago, the folks at NAA put a set of Novak pistol sights on my Guardian 380, achieving the same effect. Now Kahr Arms does it from the start.

This year, Smith & Wesson joined the pocket semiautomatic market in a big way with their Bodyguard line. A partially polymer revolver of J-frame size and a .380 mini semiauto were on display at the 2010 SHOT Show, attracting a lot of attention. Both are manufactured with integral lasers from Insight Technology.

The S&W Bodyguard 380 takes the double action semiauto pocket gun concept to a new level. While the forerunners – Seecamps, Guardians and Kel Tecs – cut back on bulk by eliminating operating levers like slide stops and thumb safeties, the Bodyguard 380 has a full complement of controls – a thumb safety, a slide lock, and a take down lever, all tucked in flush to frame. While unobtrusive, these controls make gun operation far more user-friendly. The .380 Bodyguard is just over 4 inches high, 5-1/4 inches long, and weighs just less than 12 ounces unloaded. It holds six cartridges, plus one in the chamber.

Outdoor gear like this camoufl age by Foxy Huntress gives ladies a choice in hunting clothing.

SIG-Sauer’s P238, a redux of the old single action semiauto Colt .380s, caught my eye at SHOT Show last year, so in 2010 it was a delight to see several new variations, including one breath-takingly beautiful option with a rainbow Titanium finished slide equipped with SIGLITE® night sights atop a matte black frame and wearing pretty rosewood grips. The P238s weigh 15 ounces, and are just under 4 inches tall and 5-1/2 inches long, with a 2.7-inch barrel. Other finish options included a two-tone scheme, as well as an all matte black option. Interestingly enough, the single action trigger weight is set between 7-1/2 to 8-1/2 lbs., considerably heavier than the double action only LCR, Kel Tec or Bodyguard.

SO MANY PISTOLS, SO LITTLE TIME

Handgun selection, while vastly assisted by the plethora of models and variations marketed, can also become a confusing and potentially expensive adventure. Two questions – highlighted at this article’s beginning – must guide handgun selection. First, is the handgun reliable? If unable to shoot and test reliability yourself, you will be dependent on anecdotal reports, though in the age of the Internet, such accounts probably outnumber the stars in the firmament. Certain handgun brands, however, like Glock pistols for example, are designed for reliability before any other consideration. The second question, of course, concerns fit. If you find a reliable gun that fits properly, search no further!

Before leaving the subject of handgun fit and function, I’d like to add that several decades ago, semiauto pistol reliability was suspect, patchy and unpredictable. The pistols were often ammunition-sensitive, and at worst, it was expected that a gunsmith’s services were required to guarantee a reliable semiauto. If you wanted a totally reliable handgun, you simply bought a revolver! While we still occasionally run into pistols that won’t function reliably, that hassle is far less prevalent nowadays.

At the same time, revolvers are a fi ne handgun choice for shooters of either gender, though ladies rankle at the suggestion that women find them more suitable owing to their simple operation! Really, skillful handgun operation results from full familiarity and training with the gun, regardless of its design. Still, the choice between revolver and semiautomatic asks how much strength is required to manually cycle a semiauto’s slide versus the stiffness of the revolver’s trigger pull. Both can be impediments to skill with a handgun, so we welcome the lighter springs of many 9mm handguns compared to the stiffer spring often required to keep a heavy-caliber pistol running, especially in the short-barreled concealment configurations. New approaches to revolver design have changed trigger geometry, but too often these innovations show up in the super lightweight polymer and alloy revolvers that are too light for much recoil absorption, so the recoil batters the shooter with each discharge, and practice is painful.

THE HOLSTER HASSLE

Gun fit issues pale in comparison to the thorny issue of holsters for women. Gun purses are available in profusion, however, and some of them show considerable thought and ingenuity, with more and more designed by women who habitually carry guns for self defense. Galco has long been the leader, and Lisa Des Camps deserves a nod of appreciation for her guiding hand in developing a line of stylish and functional gun purses. The other big player in fashionable gun purses is Coronado.

Sig Sauer’s P238 now comes in several options, including one with a Titanium rainbow colored slide.

Colt’s 9mm Defender New Agent.

Sig Sauer .22 LR Mosquito in a bold black and shocking pink design