Made in Slovenia, the Arex Rex Zero 1 Standard (1S) pistol will make its American debut at the 2016 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. The new pistol is the first of three different sizes and four different calibers the company is making that may make their way to these shores.
The Rex Zero 1 Standard is a duty sized pistol with a 4.25″ barrel that is hammer fired. Chambered in 9mm, the gun uses a 17 round magazine. Unloaded, it weighs about 28 ounces.
Eagle Imports will begin the importation of the Grand Power CP380 in 2016. The guns are new to the United States market and expand the Grand Power footprint in this country.
Ed note: Eagle Imports appears to have gone out of business. These pistols appear to now be imported into the USA by Global Ordnance, aka Grand Power USA, in Sarasota, FL.
The guns are a double-action/single-action hammer-fired design with a steel frame and polymer grip. According to a Grand Power representative, the mainspring is in the hammer group, which is part of the steel frame sub-assembly. The below photo shows the frame.
The gun uses a straight blowback design. (Ed. note: I originally reported that this gun used a rotary barrel action. This was incorrect. See the update below.)
After several years of only 9mm and .45 ACP, Springfield Armory finally introduced .40 S&W to the XD-S line of pistols. The new gun comes in the 3.3″ version, though I would expect a 4.0″ version to also be introduced later.
Like the original models, the new XD-S is a single stack pistol designed to be a good balance between concealability and shootability. The gun is small enough to carry on an ankle, yet is not abusing to shoot.
These guns are thin: 0.9″ to be exact. This is the same size as the original .45 ACP and 9mm guns.
Springfield Armory includes a normal sized fiber optic front sight on the gun. That is a lot better than some of the subcompact pistols hitting the market, and it helps you get on target fast.
The pistols have a grip safety, but do not have a thumb safety. In my prior experiences with the XD and XD-S lines, I have never encountered any problems with the grip safety.
Springfield Armory ships the guns with a flush fitting 6-round magazine and an extended 7-round magazine. According to the company, 8-round magazines will also be available.
The external dimensions are the same and the original calibers: 4.4″ tall, 0.9″ wide and 6.3″ long. Since both the .45 and 9mm fit the same holsters, I expect the new .40 to be able to fit all of the existing carry rigs as well.
Springfield Armory advised the guns should be available by mid-February 2016.
.40 S&W XD-S Specifications
Caliber
.40 S&W
Capacity
6+1, 7+1 with extended magazine
Weight
22 oz
Barrel Length
3.3″
Overall Length
6.3″
Grip Width
0.9″
Trigger Pull Weight
5.5-7.7 lbs
Sights
fiber optic front, two white dots rear
Finish
black or stainless slide, black polymer frame
MSRP
not given, ~$599 black and ~$669 two-tone
I’ve had the chance to shoot all of the XD-S variants thus far, and I have been impressed by them. I think they make an excellent CCW and backup gun depending on your needs. The 4.0 version (reviewed here) is particularly good for inside-the-waistband concealed carry as the handle is chopped for less obvious printing while still retaining the longer sight radius and increased velocity that a 4″ barrel provides.
The XD-S series pistols go head-to-head with guns like the Smith & Wesson Shield, Walther PPS and Glock 43. While I like the XD-S quite a bit, of the thin, subcompact pistols, I settled on the G43 for my own needs. My wife chose the Shield. Frankly, I think any of the four are amazing weapons and would serve you well.
So, what do you think? Has the lack of .40 kept you from buying an XD-S? Or, is this really not of any interest to you at all? Sound off in the comments below.
Days ahead of the 2016 SHOT Show, Smith & Wesson announced the return of an affordably-priced, dedicated .22 LR handgun to its line-up: the SW22 Victory. The new gun represents the first sub-$1k .22 LR platform pistol from the company since the Model 22A was discontinued.
As regular shooters will note, Smith & Wesson does make other .22 LR pistols and rifles. With the exception of the Model 41, these guns are essentially centerfire designs that have been reworked for the rimfire cartridge. The new SW22 Victory is truly a dedicated platform.
As rumored, Ruger announced its new line of handguns called the American Pistol. The new handguns are an impressive addition to the Ruger catalog, and I expect the guns will be extremely hot sellers. I also expect the guns will be a contender for the upcoming US military trials.
In general terms, the American Pistol is a line of duty-sized handguns that use a polymer frame and striker system. Initially, the guns will be available in both 9mm and .45 ACP, though the company hinted that these pistols are just the start of a vast line.
