Combat Handguns March/April 2023

Welcome to the March/April issue of Combat Handguns, where every other month (and daily at personaldefenseworld.com) we strive to bring you the best coverage of the latest and greatest pistols and revolvers suitable for armed self-defense. Speaking of which, anyone shopping for a new everyday carry gun need look no further than our two cover guns for this issue—the Sig Sauer P365-XMacro and Smith & Wesson’s brand new Equalizer. The P365-XMacro is Sig’s new extension to their super-popular 365 lineup offering a new grip with replaceable back straps for a great fit, along with additional ammo capacity that will delight most shooters. Author Sean Utley put the 9mm through its paces and explains why he quickly made it his daily carry gun. As for the Equalizer, S&W added this new…

In its sixth year of bringing together the Athlon Outdoors editorial team and content creators with some of the best manufacturers in the shooting industry, the latest Rendezvous once again took to the harvested potato fields in the rolling hills of eastern Idaho. With the Grand Tetons on the horizon, the AO team of editors and content creators once again got a look at some of the latest gear to hit the market or, if lucky enough, a sneak peek of yet-to-be-announced firearms and accessories from more than 30 top-tier manufacturers. Mum’s the word on that gear for now, but we will be bringing those future products to the pages of various Athlon Outdoors print magazines and websites soon. But this amazing event wouldn’t have been possible without several key…

The self-defense shooting is over. You have survived physically unscathed. One of your armed attackers is down and motionless in a pool of blood, never to awaken, and the other has fled the scene. You have, of course, called 911 explaining that there has been a shooting and both police and emergency medical services are needed at this scene. You have holstered your gun and kept your empty hands visible when police arrived. And those police are now asking you questions. What is your response? This has become one of the most controversial debates in the world of armed self-defense. Too many advisors will tell you, “Say nothing except ‘I want a lawyer!’” A few will advise, “Answer every question; you’re the innocent party and have nothing to hide.” The…

“As a warrior, I believe that it’s through our struggles that we find our true self. To develop the ability to do the things we don’t feel like doing in order to become the person we wish to be.”—Tu Lam We live in an era where anyone can be anything they desire, whether they’ve worked for it or not. Times have shifted from subscribing to the mentality that a person can be anything they want to be if they work hard enough to just claiming any desired status with no work at all. Entitlement has replaced effort just as perception has replaced reality, sometimes making it difficult to recognize what is legitimate and genuine. One such example, especially in the firearms industry, is the term “warrior.” Many claim the warrior…

Modern-day firearm owners have become very savvy about changing parts and making modifications to their guns. Gone are the days of a shop light and a Dremel with little more than a general idea of what they were going to do. Much of this advancement in firearms civilization is due to the growing presence of serious gun-working tools. Leading that evolution is an innovative company based in Minnesota. While the term innovative is undeservedly tossed around in our industry, Real Avid is absolutely worthy of the title. They have been developing game-changing tools and gear since 2008. From self-contained bore snakes to complete AR-15 assembly kits, they make something for every platform. It is because of this reputation that I did a double take when word came down that a…

There is a war waging on the streets—one where the stakes are high and likely higher than they’ve been before. Forces are fighting for dominance, and we gun enthusiasts are square in the middle of it. This battle is for the right to be declared the king of the carry pistol. And Sig has just dealt another devastating blow to its opponents. Ok, that’s a little dramatic, but there’s a lot of truth to it. You know it just as well as I do. Seems like the past five years have been a show of one-upmanship by manufacturers throwing up their version(s) of a compact or micro-compact pistol that will be the end game for carry. Sig Sauer lit things up with the P365 some four years ago. This pistol…