Smith and Wesson has brought a new subcompact 1911 in .45 ACP to the market in their SW1911 line. The SW1911 Sub Compact Pro Series is a tiny 1911 with an obvious eye on the concealed carry market.
The SW1911 features a Scandium frame, carbon steel slide, and stainless steel barrel, which all weighs in at only 24 ounces unloaded. The gun is offered in matte black.
The Smith & Wesson Model 57 Classic is a modern version of the original 57 that was introduced in 1964. The Classic Model 57 was introduced by S&W at the 2009 SHOT Show.
Crimson Trace manufactures high-quality red laser aiming devices for a wide range of self-defense pistols and revolvers. The Crimson Trace LG-401 is the lasergrip aiming device for the Government and Commander sized 1911 pistols.
The LG-401 replaces the grip panels with the Crimson Trace lasergrips. The red laser emitting diode, sits above the right grip panel and is activated by a switch that wraps around the front of the magazine well. When you obtain a shooting grip, you naturally activate the laser when you are ready to fire.
The laser is easily adjustable by the user; it does not need to be installed by a professional gunsmith. Trust me – if I can do this (and I can,) anyone can.
Crimson Trace lasergrips are used by a wide variety of law enforcement and military organizations and are generally considered to be very rugged. The LG-401 is no different, offering the same reliability found in all of the Crimson Trace products. This can be carried on duty by law enforcement officers and military servicemen.
I have shot a number of pistols and revolvers wearing the Crimson Trace lasergrips. They fit my hand well and the laser actuation is easy and natural. No switches to fumble with.
The only issue I have with Crimson Trace laser is the use of red lasers. In low light conditions, they work great. Unfortunately, in bright conditions you are not likely to ever see the red aiming spot. For example, if you are outdoors on a sunny day, you will not be able to use the CT lasergrips to aim. While you can still use the gun’s standard sights, if you have extensively trained with the laser, but no the irons, you may not revert to the proper sighting technique when the pressure is on.
This Crimson Trace Lasergrips product is a great addition to anyone’s 1911 if they are needing a laser aiming device. These have gotten very positive reviews in recent years. Until they start making green lasers, this is one of the top-quality choices available for shooters today.
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In recent years, Sturm, Ruger & Co. have deviated from the larger, bulkier pistols they were known for and have been producing slimmer and smaller pistols such as the SR-9 and the LCP. The SR-9 has achieved moderate success, while the Ruger LCP has been an undeniable sensation.
The question is: What will Ruger introduce at the SHOT Show?
Michael Bane has made several comments about some new firearms he has seen that will be announced at SHOT. Bane even went so far as to refer to Ruger in his Christmas Eve podcast as the “Makers of the product that is going to absolutely, stone-cold, rock the 2009 SHOT Show in Orlando.” That is a pretty strong statement.
Back in November, Massad Ayoob suggested that Ruger may be introducing an SP101 revolver with an alloy frame chambered in .38 Special. While I think this would be a profitable gun for Ruger to bring to market, would it be the gun that “rocks” the SHOT Show. I don’t think so. After all, several other manufacturers already make lightweight .38 revolvers.
What would excite the public? How about a 9mm LCP. There are a lot of people that really like the LCP, but dislike the .380 ACP cartridge. In my opinion, a LCP chambered for the 9×19 cartridge would be a big hit. Enough to “rock” the SHOT Show? Maybe.
How about a completely new Mini-14? Something along the lines of a Kel-Tec SU-16, maybe. Think of a Mini-14 that would be completely synthetic and stainless, that folds up nicely into a compact size, that can be marketed as a survival tool. The SU-16’s are popular, but imagine the same gun with the Ruger name and Mini-14 heritage attached to it. It might be a winning product. And lets face it…anything .223 is selling right now.
I do not believe that Ruger will be announcing a new full-sized pistol that would cut into the SR9 market. I also can’t see a new 10-22 being terribly revolutionary. I expect that the “show-stopper” Bane has predicted is coming from the concealed carry market or the black rifle market.
Regardless, stay tuned. I will bring you all of the new product announcements from the SHOT show.
Update: The gun was the Ruger LCR. I don’t know if it was quite the show stopper that Bane claimed, but it certainly was popular.
Smith and Wesson is now producing all of the M&P pistols with optional thumb safety.
The ambidextrous manual safety is now available on the full-sized and compact 9mm, .40 S&W, and .357 Sig. The manual safety was originally developed by S&W for the M&P 45, which was developed for the U.S. armed forces trials that never happened. Now the safety has been carried over to the rest of the M&P line as an option.
All specs on the M&P pistols with the thumb safety remain the same as the pistols without the manual safety. The thumb safeties are large and easy to manipulate. They are designed to mimic the 1911-style safeties but are easier to operate.
While the 1911 was an amazing military gun for its time, if the military is serious about upgrading sidearms, they need to abandon the 1911 concept and go after what works. Frankly, the most reliable handguns on the market today are the polymer-framed, striker-fired handguns that do not have a bunch of switches, safeties and doo-dads. The Glock line of handguns and the M&P (sans safety) help prove that point.
I’m not suggesting the 1911 is not a fine firearm because it is. I’ve got a Colt 1911A1 in my safe right now. But it is in my safe. The gun on my hip right now is a Glock 19. Why? Because the G19 is just more reliable. And in a violent encounter, I’m not looking for style points, I want a pistol that will reliably put holes in the target and stop the threat.
MSRP runs $719 for the full-sized and compact pistols, with the exception of the .357 Sig models, which list at $727.
At the SHOT Show, I got to see the new guns. I worked with several different M&P pistols and found the safeties worked very well. I wasn’t sure I would like them, but they were easy to manipulate, clicked smartly into place, and did not interfere with my grip. I don’t know that I would order an M&P with a thumb safety, but I certainly would consider it.