The curious case of the gun that wouldn’t bark.

by | Aug 8, 2018 | 9mm, 9mm Luger, 9mm Luger (9x19), ammo, ammunition, Anecdotes, ballistics, BBTI, Buffalo Bore, Discussion., firearms, guns, jim downey, reviews, Springfield EMP, Underwood

Popped out to the range for a brief bit of testing this morning. And found something interesting. Last time I was out, I ran into a problem with my Springfield EMP4 (9mm, 1911 platform), which I got earlier this year. After a couple of rounds of good Self Defense...

Handgun caliber and lethality.

by | Jul 29, 2018 | .22, .22 lr, .25 ACP, .357 Magnum, .357 SIG, .357Magnum, .38 Special, .380 ACP, .40 S&W, .44, .44 Magnum, .45 ACP, .45 Super, 10mm, 9mm, 9mm Luger, 9mm Luger (9x19), ammo, ammunition, Anthony A. Braga, ballistics, BBTI, cartridges, Data, Discussion., firearms, guns, JAMA Network, jim downey, lethality, muzzle energy, Philip J. Cook

This post is NOT about gun control, even though the article which it references specifically is. I don’t want to get into that discussion here, and will delete any comments which attempt to discuss it. Rather, I want to look at the article in order to better...

Review: Springfield 1911 EMP® 4” Concealed Carry Contour Model

by | Apr 6, 2018 | 9mm, 9mm Luger, 9mm Luger (9x19), ammo, ammunition, ballistics, BBTI, Discussion., Ed Brown Kobra Carry, firearms, guns, Guns.com, jim downey, Members, reviews, Springfield EMP

Earlier this year I added this note to my reprise review of the Springfield EMP: One thing additional to note: recently Springfield came out with a slightly different version of the gun called the “EMP® 4” Lightweight Champion with Concealed Carry Contour“.  Here it...

Review: Browning 1911-380

by | Apr 4, 2018 | .22, .22 lr, .380 ACP, 1911, 1911-22, 1911-380, American Rifleman, ammo, ammunition, ballistics, BBTI, Browning, cartridges, Data, Discussion., firearms, guns, Guns.com, jim downey, Members, reviews

Over the weekend I had a chance to try one of the relatively new Browning 1911-380 models.  It was one of the basic models, with a 4.25″ barrel: I like a nice 1911, and have owned several over the years. I even like a ‘reduced’ 1911, such as the Springfield EMP (a gun...

Review: Sterling PPL .380 ACP

by | Apr 2, 2018 | .380 ACP, 9mm, 9mm Luger, 9mm Luger (9x19), AI4FR, ammo, ammunition, ballistics, BBTI, Boberg Arms, Boberg XR9, Bond Arms, cartridges, Data, Discussion., firearms, guns, jim downey, Members, reviews, Sterling PPL, technology, Wikipedia

Sometimes it’s a good thing to look back at failed experiments, to better understand how we got to where we are today. It can be instructive, as well as cautionary — what we think of as innovative and brilliant now might well look a hell of a lot different in 30 or 40...