Recently, I received a new product for review. Called the Gripwell, the polymer shell assembles to form a dedicated holding location on the magazine well of the AR-15 rifle. It also incorporates a mag funnel to help speed reloads.
So, how did it work? Was it easy to install? Let’s take a look.
Father’s Day is June 20, 2010. Looking for a gift idea for your gun-enthusiast father? Here are a few ideas…
Para-Cord Survival Bracelet – The survival bracelets enable you to carry several feet of Para-Cord that can be used in an emergency for countless survival applications. Basically, every inch of your wrist diameter equals approximately one foot of Para-Cord. The bracelets use 5/8″ curved side release buckles for maximum comfort, convenience and strength. With over 40 different Para-Cord colors and over 1,500 possible color combinations, you are sure to find a color combination to suit your liking. Price? Only $14.95.
The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery by Massad Ayoob -Â This book is loaded with essential information to help you survive a violent encounter with a hardened criminal. Ayoob is the foremost legal expert on the use of arms for self defense in the US. This book is a great read, and a must have by anyone who carries a gun for protection. This book is $16.49 through Amazon.
The new Taurus M380 is a 380 revolver. Yes, that’s right a wheel gun chambered for the rimless .380 ACP cartridge.
IÂ love the panache of Taurus. They aren’t afraid to try new things, and they can often start a little stir in the industry. Who would have thought the original Judge would sell well, much less spawn specialty ammo and a whole series of revolvers based on the idea.
“It’s the neatest little gun you’ve seen in a long time,” said Bob Morrison of Taurus USA. Morrison appeared on the May 30, 2010 broadcast of Tom Gresham’s GunTalk radio program.
Since then, the revolver has been released and we have all of the specifications on the new handgun.
The Taurus 380 revolver is in the company’s Ultra-Lite line of handguns, and it comes in two finishes: stainless steel and black. Otherwise, the two guns appear to be identical.
The Smith and Wesson Bodyguard 38 is a new “hammerless” revolver like those found in the Centennial line. Unlike those guns, the new Bodyguard 38 has a polymer frame and integral laser. It is one of two new compact handguns called Bodyguard introduced by S&W at the 2010 SHOT Show.
First, the basics, it is a five-shot, 38 Special revolver that is rated for +P ammunition. The hammer is fully concealed, and the gun is double action only. The gun is black with a grip. At first glance, it looks a lot like a model 442. But, this revolver is actually very different.
The Bodyguard 38 is a polymer-framed revolver, the first-ever by Smith & Wesson. This means that Smith had to go back to the drawing board to design this firearm. The lower frame (roughly from the rear of the cylinder back), is polymer, while the upper frame (surrounding the cylinder and housing the barrel) is aluminum. As you might expect, the revolver is very light, weighing only 14.3 ounces.
A significant change on the Bodyguard 38 is the relocation of the cylinder release. Instead of being mounted on the side of the frame, the release has been moved to the top of the frame, where an exposed hammer would normally be. Since the cylinder release is along the midline of the revolver, it is now ambidextrous.
Speaking of the cylinder, one of the problems sometimes cited by owners of Smith & Wesson J-frames is the extractor rod is too short to reliably eject fired brass. This is an annoyance at the range, but a possible deadly problem in a self-defense shooting. While not full length, the rod on the Bodyguard 38 is noticeably longer to provide a more sure ejection of spent cartridges.
Smith and Wesson lists the barrel length as 1.9″. Traditionally, S&W has listed the barrel length of their “snubbies” at either 1 7/8″ (1.875″) or 2″. I assumed that Smith was rounding up the 1.875″, but the company rep insisted the barrel length was exactly 1.9″.
Sights are fixed and black. The rear notch seems wider than the notch on the 442/642, but that is my impression only. I didn’t measure them, and the Smith rep was not sure.
Significantly, the Smith and Wesson Bodyguard 38 ships with an integrated laser from Insight Technology. The red laser mounts high and back on the right side of the frame. The laser is adjustable for drift and elevation. Two laser modes are offered: steady and pulse. To activate the laser, the shooter may turn the unit on by pressing a button on the unit.
In another evolution of the Judge line, Taurus introduced the Raging Judge Ultra-Lite revolver at the 2010 SHOT Show. The Raging Judge Ultra-Lite is a seven-shot revolver that can shoot 2.5″ and 3″ .410 shotshell in addition to .45 Colt.
The sights are fixed, with a fiber optic front and notch rear. The barrel is three inches, with the gun’s weight just a touch more than 41 ounces. Though it was not shown on the show floor, the Taurus catalog also lists a six inch barrel, which weighs a little over 47 ounces.