Combat Handguns May/June 2019

A few years ago at an IDPA match, the chief range officer read off the scenario description of one stage for our shooting squad: “You’re at your grill in your backyard barbecuing when a group of home invaders attacks.” One member of our squad scoffed and said, “Who the hell would have a gun on them at their own backyard barbecue?” I was there with my significant other and a couple we regularly shot with. The four of us looked at each other and smiled because we all would have given the same answer: “Every damn one of us.” This topic often comes up in gun forums online. When it does, those who carry guns at home are invariably castigated with statements like, “I don’t live someplace where I need…

Born with a gun in his hand, Daniel Horner has been winning shooting competitions since infancy. OK, that may be a slight exaggeration, but only slightly. Daniel actually began shooting at the range with his father when he was 6 years old. At the age of 12, he began competing in IDPA matches, and he won his first title when he was 16. For comparison, when I was 16, all I was up to was driving by myself and finally going on dates with boys. At 18, Daniel was recruited by the Army, specifically for the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU). He became one of the most decorated shooters in team history and was selected twice as the Military Marksmanship Association’s Soldier of the Year. Daniel is now a world…

PACHMAYR GUARDIANGRIP While it was originally designed for S&W J-Frames, Pachmayr is now offering GuardianGrips for Taurus Model 85 and 856 revolvers as well as Ruger LCRs. What makes the GuardianGrip so unique is its patented finger extension. With the press of a button, the spring-loaded finger extension drops down out of the grip so you can get three fingers on it. Contoured for use with speedloaders, the GuardianGrip is also impervious to water, weather and chemicals. (lymanproducts.com) KIMBER EVO SP Kimber designed its new EVO SP (Striker Pistol) series specifically for concealed carry. Four models are currently available, but they all feature striker indicators, ledged night sights, reversible magazine releases and triggers weighing 6 to 7 pounds. The Custom Shop model (shown) has lightening cuts and Stiplex-inspired serrations on…

When it comes to teaching pistol fundamentals, too many are too eager to say too much. The message becomes a bunch of watered-down, esoteric minutiae that is no longer palatable to the intended recipient. I believe that when you’re teaching, it’s important to say the right thing to the right person at the right time. And it is just as equally important to know what not to say. The clarity by which something is defined determines the effectiveness of its application. There are many brain-default mechanisms that we can rely on when it comes to pistol training and application of the fundamentals. Either we rely on the brain’s default mechanisms or we go against it. One of the things I repeat during my courses is that we sometimes have to…

Once again, we’re giving our readers the opportunity to win big. This time it’s all about Sig Sauer, who has come through in a big way to give you everything you need. Between the stylish P320 X-Carry, the acclaimed ROMEO1 reflex sight, the BlackPoint Tactical holster and even 100 rounds of Elite Performance ammo up for grabs, you’ll have everything you need to go from practicing on the range to carrying confidently. So without further ado, let’s take a look at the goods. SIG SAUER P320 X-CARRY The P320 X-Carry brings the maximized shooting experience of its big brother, the X-Five, but in a carry-ready size. The extended, high-cut beavertail and undercut trigger-guard allow you to get a high grip for more control and less felt recoil. The flat X-Series…

As a handgunner, I’ve been shooting the .38 Super since I purchased a Colt 1911 chambered for it in April of 1981. As a handloader, I started customizing loads for the gun only four months later in August of the same year. Since that time, the .38 Super has always been a favorite of mine, both in the field and on the range. Today, the .38 Super has a strong following in guns from a wide range of premium manufacturers, and the cartridge itself has quite an interesting history that can be traced back to 1900, when John Moses Browning designed the first .38 ACP cartridge for early Colt pistols. Launching a 130-grain bullet at a then-unheard of 1,040 fps, some of the major players at the time, such as…