The Winchester Super X3 Shotgun
Winchester’s soft-shootin’ hard-hittin’ SX3 Composite shotgun delivers
The Winchester SX3 is a fast-handling shotgun, capable of firing the heaviest loads at the longest ranges for large game.
Story and Photos by Jerry Catania
Who says the sequel is never better than the original?
I first came across the Winchester Super X1 shotgun at one of the Steel Challenge matches in Piru, CA, in the 1980s. Someone—I forget who—won the overall title with that gun. Produced from 1974 to 1981, the Super X1 was all steel and expensive, which probably explains why it was discontinued.
Winchester introduced the SX2 shotgun in 1999. Although it had the same general name and look as its predecessor, it was quite different, utilizing a different gas mechanist and an alloy receiver to save weight. Available in 12 gauge with a 3.5-inch chamber, the SX2 was capable of handling all types of 12-gauge shells. Read more…
Steyr’s SSG-08 .338 LM Sniping Rifle
Steyr’s SSG-08 .338 LM Sniping Rifle is the tool of choice for counterterror and other special ops units
This right-side view of the SSG-08 offers a good look at the heavy-duty bipod. The quick-detach lever allows the bipod to be removed for ease of handling.
Story and Photos by Leroy Thompson
A few years ago, I was hired to work on a documentary about the Munich Olympic hostage incident. My job was to look at the incident, walk the ground involved and offer opinions on alternate tactics to rescue the hostages. One thing I discovered was that there had been Steyr SSG69 rifles available to the Bavarian State Police at the time of the hostage incident, so I set up a scenario with the film crew to show how accurately the SSG69 could be used at 100 meters, the longest shot Munich Police had to take during the incident.
And accurate it is indeed. Read more…
Springfield’s XD(M) 3.8 Compact .40
Springfield’s XD(M) 3.8 Compact .40 offers outstanding performance at a reasonable price
With the full length magazine and X-Tension boot, the 3.8 .40 would be an exceptional police service pistol.
Story and Photos by Dave Spaulding
As with people, good genes typically make for good guns. I’ll explain.
The first XD pistol I handled was called the HS2000, and it was manufactured in Croatia by HS Produkt. Its design can be traced back to a service pistol known as the PHP, which was first produced by an industrial parts firm named I. M. Metal in 1991. The PHP was well thought of as a solid design, but early versions were plagued by quality-control issues, due mostly to the difficulties of manufacturing during the Croatian Civil War. Work continued on the pistol design over the next decade, leading to the release of the HS95 in 1995 and the HS2000 in 1999. The HS2000 was eventually adopted by the Croatian military and law enforcement as its standard issue sidearm and continues to fill that role to this day. Read more…
Charter Arms’ new Pit Bull
Chambered in .40 S&W, Charter Arms’ new Pit Bull is a stainless five-shot powerhouse
The Pit Bull’s cylinder holds five rounds, but by the time they’re gone, you’ve definitely got someone’s attention!
Story and Photos by Dave Workman
Chambering revolvers for semi-auto cartridges is hardly a new idea. Does anybody remember the Model 1917 revolvers that handled .45 ACP cartridges in full- or half-moon clips? Yet, the new wheelgun from Charter Arms features a unique design improvement that makes this stainless five-shooter a winner right out of the gate.
Not only does the new Pit Bull have a bite for personal protection applications, it is just the right size for packing on the trail. Carried in a handsome high-ride pancake-style holster from Gene DeSantis, it is the kind of serious revolver one could carry as a primary defensive sidearm. Tucked in an ankle rig or upside down shoulder holster, it could also be an effective backup gun. Read more…
Make Way For The Boss!
Our test of the new Boss .45 reveals why it’s the pistol Les Baer uses for his own personal protection
A chromed frame, polished blue slide and dark wood grips give Les Baer’s Boss a very attractive appearance. This custom-made .45 is a fitting tribute to the 100-year heritage of the M1911.
Story and Photos by Dr. Martin D. Topper
Ever wonder what kind of gun a custom gunmaker like Les Baer would build for himself? Now you can own one.
Baer put all the features he prefers into one pistol and named it “The Boss” after his favorite high-performance car, the extremely rare 429 Mustang. Like Ford’s ultimate muscle car, Les Baer’s new Boss .45 is designed for people who want the most from their equipment.
It takes Baer’s master pistolsmiths about 40 hours to build a Boss, and like all precision instruments, its price reflects the amount of highly-skilled labor that goes into its construction. But when you consider what you get for the money, this pistol is a very good value. Read more…
Kahr’s Lightweight P40
Full-size performance in a compact package
Story and Photos by Dr. Martin D. Topper
A few months ago, I saw a compact P40 in S&W caliber in the display case at the Florida Gun Exchange. The clean lines, contrasting stainless steel slide and black polymer frame of this Kahr Arms semi-auto just seemed to say, “Pick me up!”
The sales associate handed me the pistol, and I was immediately impressed by its light weight, the comfort of its grip and its lack of sharp edges. Clearly, this was a compact full-power .40-caliber handgun that would be easy to conceal and carry.
My only question about this pistol concerned how well it would handle the recoil of full-power .40-caliber loads. I’d met Kahr’s director of sales and marketing, Frank Harris, at the SHOT Show some time ago, so I called him and asked if he’d send me a P40 with a stainless steel slide and night sights for evaluation.
The Unique, User-Friendly P40
The P40 is basically an enhanced version of Kahr’s CW40. The main differences between the two guns are that the P40 has a match-grade barrel and a slide with dovetails that fit aftermarket sights. The P40 is also shipped with two factory magazines instead of one.
The P40 I received is the KP4043N version, which has a 3.6-inch barrel and a grip that fully encloses a six-shot magazine. The pistol will also accept an extended seven-shot magazine. With a seven-shot magazine in place, the pistol has a maximum capacity of eight shots, including one round in the chamber.
To read this article in its entirety, pick up a copy of Gun World’s December issue, available on newsstands now.
Last Line Of Defense
Kel-Tec’s new KSG 12-gauge shotgun will stop any threat in its tracks
The upper and lower Picatinny rails on the KSG allow for myriad combinations of user-selectable sights, optics, lights, lasers and vertical foregrips. This shot shows a 1x24mm Trijicon RX-06 reflex sight combined with a CAA short vertical foregrip.
Story and Photos by John N. Raguso
What’s 26.1 inches long, weighs 6.9 pounds unloaded, offers a 14+1 onboard magazine capacity, is shorter than your typical pistol grip 12 gauge and offers a full 18.5-inch barrel with a standard 13-inch length of pull stock?
And the answer? Why, it’s Kel-Tec’s newest innovation: the KSG bullpup shotgun, of course.
It’s been a long time since I was tasked to test out a weapon that was this unique and singular an experience, and it was really worth the wait. This new weapon from Kel-Tec is truly a one-of-a-kind 12 gauge that will be perfectly cast as the weapon of choice in a future Alien, Predator or Zombie movie and will further ingratiate this innovative Florida-based manufacturer both with its loyal cult followers and newbies alike. Read more…
FN’S NEW SCAR-17S:
The author shoots the SCAR-17S at close range using the DeltaPoint on the HAMR; note that the cheek piece is raised to allow better cheek weld with the DeltaPoint.
Story and Photos by Leroy Thompson
A few years ago, when the Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR) was undergoing military trails, I had the opportunity to shoot the versions that were under military consideration. These included three versions of the 5.56x45mm SCAR-L (MK16 Mod 0; “L” meaning “light”) along with three versions of the 7.62x51mm NATO SCAR-H (MK 17 Mod 0; the “H” for “heavy”). Read more…
Point of Aim
By Steve Quinlan
Let’s Get Tactical
With the new year just around the corner and the latest gun models nearing their debut at the 2012 SHOT Show, the editors of Gun World have been putting in some serious overtime to bring readers the very latest in handguns as well as tactical weapons—even before the 2012 models become available.
Our annual Handgun Buyer’s Guide features more than 250 guns and covers everything from micro compacts to extra-large-frame revolvers and includes images, specs, outstanding features and pricing. It’s back by popular demand and will be available on newsstands November 22. Read more…
Cooper Firearms Enters the World of Magnums
Story and Photos by Thomas C. Tabor
The Cooper Model 56 test rifle came with the Cooper signature matte-finished stainless steel barrel and matte-blued action. The Jackson Game-style stock was cut from a piece of AA+ select grade Carlo walnut.
Nothing solidifies a legacy better than focusing in certain areas for close to 20 years.
When asked what they think of the Cooper Firearms of Montana, shooters naturally associate the name with rifles chambered for rimfire and the smaller varieties of centerfire cartridges. And rightfully so. For the vast majority of the company’s two decades of production, that has essentially been the mainstay of Cooper’s well-earned legacy. Historically, that has included standardized cartridges, both new and old, and also a vast array of impressive performing wildcats. Read more…
