Combat Handguns January/February 2021

The world is watching as civil disturbance roils American streets with large-scale protests that often turn into looting and arson. People flash back to the indelible image of what we’ll call Case One, the savage beating of Reginald Denny. Solely because he was white, he was dragged from his truck by four raging black men in Los Angeles during the “Rodney King Riot” in 1992. His skull crushed by a cinder block, he was horribly and permanently injured, his attackers serving four years or less after their conviction. Would he have been justified in running over those men with his truck (or shooting them, had he been armed)? The law says, generally, yes…but the situation is more complicated than it looks, and we’ll come back to that shortly. Can deadly…

N8 TACTICAL COMBAT CUT HOLSTERS N8 Tactical’s new OT2 Combat Cut Holster for mid- to full-size pistols is a very comfortable IWB holster that merges the company’s Original Holster and Tuckable Holster into an all new platform. Clothing compatible for all-day wear, the design allows for a full grasp on the pistol’s grip while drawing. Built on a durable leather form, the OT2 Combat Cut Holster comes with a soft suede backing and a moisture-proof neoprene core situated between the two. (n8tactical.com) S&W OPTICS-READY M&P9 2.0 COMPACT The new Optics-Ready M&P9 M2.0 Compact pistol from Smith & Wesson is a 4-inch-barreled model that is an extension of the M&P line. Building on the award-winning M&P9 M2.0 Compact pistol series, the new models are chambered in 9mm and feature a slide…

Combat Handguns understands that our community consists of a wide variety of shooters. The spectrum ranges from professional self-defense trainers to well-known competitive shooters. Going even further, we cannot forget the “everyday shooters” who educate and train themselves with knowledge for self- and home-defense. No matter what category you identify with, one thing we all have in common is the fact that we are all continually learning: There is no such thing as “having arrived” to an all-knowing level of firearm knowledge. That is what this column is all about. In each issue, “Ask the Pros” highlights professionals from every facet of the industry, giving you a firsthand look at their personal choices of firearms and gear. These highlights give all of us an opportunity to gain knowledge and ideas…

The story of P80, or Pistole 80, started in the not-to-distance past, around 1980. The Austrian Armed Forces were in dire need of a new sidearm. They were still using the Walther P-38, a pistol design that dated back to World War II. By 1982, some obscure plastic manufacturer in Austria was awarded a contract for 25,000 Glock 17 pistols, which the Austrian military dubbed the Pistole 80, or better known as the P80. All the storied European firearms manufacturers like H&K, FN, Sig and others were left collectively scratching their heads and asking themselves: “What just happened?” The Glock 17 is what just happened, and it totally rewrote the playbook on handgun design and manufacturing. It also made military forces, law enforcement agencies and concealed carry practitioners around the…

The journey from the original G17 in the early 1980s to the current models evolved over five generations. The impact of Glock pistols did not impact only law enforcement agencies and military organizations around the world, but everyday culture. The Book of Glock debuted as an Amazon #1 new release for a good reason. It includes never before heard backstories on the development of Glock pistols, images of Glock prototypes, and information on first run serial numbers and prefixes. Go to glockcollectors-association.org to get an autographed copy.…

IT’S A GUN SO ICONIC that it served both the Axis and Allies during WWII and at one time was used by over 50 different militaries. Elite military groups like the British Special Air Services (SAS) and premier law enforcement teams like our own FBI Hostage Rescue Team used the gun because of its large capacity and reputation for reliability. Both licensed and unlicensed copies of the popular gun have been produced in Belgium, Portugal, Israel, China, Argentina, Hungary, India, Nigeria, Indonesia, Bulgaria and now Turkey. This list is not all inclusive, but gives you an idea of just how popular the Browning Hi-Power pistol was. Also known as the Grand Puissance or P-35, the gun’s development started with a solicitation by the French military for a new sidearm. Fabrique…