World of Guns - Hand Guns

Starting from today this site is going to do a serial on guns and the history of guns.Connoisseurs can research to their hearts fill.

What is the modern handgun? Why is this piece of crafted metal and (recently) hard plastics still in great demand not only in military forces and police departments ALL around the world? The answers are: They are small, lightweight (well, most of them :-) and provide good firepower; suitable, not only for defensive situations, but for offensive ones, and even for medium game hunting. Of course, for each situation, careful choice of the proper handgun and ammunition must be made. Handguns are divided into a few classes: semi-autos (or pistols), revolvers, and non-autos (single or multibarreled, single-shot or magazine fed)

Semi-Autos use part of the energy produced by burning cartridge powder to remove the used cartridge from the chamber, cock the hammer (or striker) and load a new cartridge in the chamber, so the pistol will be ready for the next shot. Cartridges are usually fed from a box magazine, located in the pistol's handle. Box magazines may contain up to 15 cartridges (or more) in single or double columns, depending on the pistol model, and are easy (and very quick) to reload

Revolvers got their name from the rotating (or Revolving) cylinder, which contains cartridges. Usually the cylinder holds from 5 to 7 loads, although some .22 caliber revolvers may contain up to 8-10 cartridges. Loads in the cylinder may be reloaded in 2 ways (depending on revolver design) - one by one, as, for example, the Colt PeaceKeeper does (and almost all old-timers), or all simulateounosly - when the cylinder is switched to the side or when the is frame "broke open." Both revolvers and semi-autos have two main "action styles": Single action and Double action.

Single Action means, that the Revolver must be manually cocked (and, thus, the cylinder is rotated to the next cartridge) for each shot. This mode was the only one available in all old-time revolvers (such as the Peacekeeper), and is still available in most double-action revolvers. This mode improves accuracy but slows the fire rate. For Semi-autos, Single Action means that the pistol must be manually cocked for the first shot (usually, this is done by pulling the slide - this action cocks the hammer and feeds a cartridge into the chamber). For the second, and all consecutive shots, cocking is done automatically, when recoil force pulls back the slide.

Double Action for the Revolver means that the hammer for each (including the f irst) shot is cocked by trigger pull (this action also rotates the cylinder to the next position). This mode speeds up the firing rate and simplifies shooting actions, but greatly increases trigger pull (from 2.2-4.4 lbs usually found in single-actions, to 8.8-12.2 lbs in double-actions). For the Semi-autos, the hammer is usually cocked by trigger pull for the first shot only; the second and the rest are done in single-action mode. However, first load must be fed in the chamber by the slide pull. Some (most of them - compact) semi-autos and revolvers employ Double-action-only mode, which cocks the trigger for each shot, thus excluding single-action.

One of the biggest questions about handguns is: Why the Six-guns (a slang TERM for Revolvers) are stil alive when there's a big lot of the very reliable and larger capacity semi-auto handguns? The oldest answer is - reliability. Usually, given the same price (in low- or mid-range of prices), the revolvers were more reliable, primarily, because of the simplicity of the design. Today there's a lot of inexpensive semi-autos, that can hold twice or even triple as much loads ready to fire, than the common sixguns. But revolvers still alive. One of the main reasons to keep the revolver is that they're almost insencetive to ammunition. If your cartridge is capable of pushing a bullet thru the barrel of the sixgun - you got the working gun. No jams, no stoppages. Even in the case of the misfire you just got to pull the trigger again - and next round will go. In semi-auto, you need sufficient power to cycle the slide, thus rendering underpowered loads almost inoperable in semi-autos. Also, in case of the misfire, or jam, you should manually cycle the slide to fire the next round. In defensive scenario, this may cos you another second, and may be - your life. So, in general, sixguns are far less sensetive to ammo quality, and, due to simplicity and inherent design features, could withstand far more abuse. Also, when you go to the other, high-end of the loads (speaking in the terms of power), no semi-autos could withstand the power of loads such as .454casull or .475Linebaugh. Sixguns could.

Main drawbacks of the sixguns are small ammo capacity, slower reloading and bulkier size. While 6 rounds may be sufficient for self-defence scenarios, it may be really insufficient for the police or SpecOps actions. Also, replacing the magazine in semi-auto ususlly is much faster process than reloading a revolvers' drum. And, due to significant cylinder diameter, even the 5-shot revolvers are harder to carry concealed, than the modern compact handguns, while the latter could hold tvice as much cartridges.

Final selection of the guns is, undoubtfully, the owners' responcebility, but, in my opinion, revolvers are more suitable for civilians' self-defence and for hunting, while semi-autos are better combat and police guns.

We are going to categorize the hand guns by country and deal with the most world famous for there are 65 thousand different types of hand guns.

Glock pistols (Austria)

In 1980, the Austrian army announced trials with the intention of obtaining a new military handgun, to replace the obsolescent Walther P38 pistols.

Participants in the trials included such designs as the Steyr GB, Heckler & Koch P7M13, SIG-Sauer P220 and P225, Beretta 92S, and the previously unheard of Glock model 17. In 1982 the Austrian army officially adopted the brand new Glock 17 as the Pistole 80 (Р80), and starting from 1986 Glock pistols gradually replaced the older P38 in military service. And in the following years, thanks to unorthodox design and aggressive marketing, Glock pistols became one of the most popular combat handguns, being adopted by numerous military and law enforcement forces worldwide.

The creation of the Glock 17 pistol is a very interesting and successful attempt to develop a firearm using the “clean sheet” concept. Instead of adopting an existing design to meet the requirements, Gaston Glock, owner of a relatively small company Glock GmbH, called for the best designers and experts and asked them to create an ideal pistol. It was clear that the Austrian Army wanted a defensive pistol – simple, reliable, lightweight and inexpensive. The Glock team accordingly created what would be called the most utilitarian pistol of recent decades. The low weight was achieved by using a polymer frame – a solution probably borrowed from the Austrian Stg.77 (Steyr AUG) assault rifle, adopted in 1978. Simplicity of operation combined with a minimum number of parts were achieved by using patented “safe action” trigger system, which has no manual safeties.

After initial success with the basic Glock 17 pistol and its smaller counterpart, the Glock 19 (which appeared in 1988), Glock company developed and brought to market a large number of models, based on the same basic design and available in every major caliber from 9x17 Browning up to 10mm Auto and .45ACP and in a variety of configurations, from subcompact concealed carry models to full-size service models and long-slide sport pistols.

There are four generations of production Glock pistols.

First generation lasted between 1986 and 1990, and included only the Glock 17 and 19 pistols.

Second generation pistols, which also included pistols chambered for .357SIG, .40 S&W, 10mm Auto and .45 ACP, had slightly different frames with textured grips.

Third generation entered production in 1998, when pistols received integral accessory rails below the barrel, finger-grooved grips and improved extractors which also serve as a loaded chamber indicators.

Fourth generation, introduced in 2010, offered grips with replacement backstraps, enlarged magazine release buttons which can be installed on either side of the gun, and some minor internal improvements.

It must be noted that while many experts describe Glock pistols as having a “revolutionary design”, in fact it was the result of carefully considered evolution, incorporating previously-known solutions into one extremely practical, rugged package. For example, polymer pistol frames had been known for ten years before the introduction of the Glock 17

Glock 17 pistol, 1st generation

Glock 17 pistol, 4th generation















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Glock 18 pistol (select-fire)

Steyr M and M-1A pistol (Austria)

Characteristics

Type: Double Action (Reset Action System)

Chamber: .40 S&W, 9x19mm Para, .357 SIG

Weight unloaded: 780g

Length: 180 mm

Barrel Length: 101 mm

Capacity: 12 (.40 & .357) or 15 (9mm) rounds

The Steyr M series pistols were first announced in 1999. Steyr M pistols, along with compact version, Steyr S, which were made in Austria by the Steyr-Mannlicher GmbH & Co, are not made any more. Since the January 1st, 2004, the Steyr M and Steyr S pistols have been replaced in production by the slightly redesigned Steyr M-1A pistols. Steyr M1-A pistols feature redesigned grip and frame shape, and Picatinny rail (instead of the proprietary rail) under the barrel. Another change from original M series pistols is that M-1A pistols are now available in two variants, with or without manual safety. There are probably some more minor differences.

The Steyr M and M-1A pistols have probably the most ergonomic grip since the Luger's "Parabellum" pistol. The ideal 111 degrees grip angle, combined with low barrel axis, results in minimum muzzle jump and felt recoil, as well as in good "pointability". The unusual "trapezoid" sights, while uncommon in shape, provide good accuracy and acquisition speed, once shooter gets used to it. Reliability is also very good.

The Steyr M-1A pistols are short recoil operated, locked breech firearms. The barrel is operated by Browning cam system. Barrel locks into slide via large ejection window. The frame is made from high impact-resistant polymer, with integral Picatinny rail under the barrel. The slide stop lever and magazine release button are located on the left side of the frame. The Double Action trigger controls the internal striker. The unusual safety system consists of several separate safeties, including the automatic trigger and firing pin safeties, as well as unusual manual safety and internal lock. When the lock is engaged, it completely blocks the operation of pistol. The safety is controlled with dual buttons, which are located just above the trigger guard on both sides of the frame. When buttons are depressed simultaneously, the safety button springs down from the frame, and the trigger is blocked. To turn the safety off for fire, a shooter must push the safety button up with its index finger. There also is a version of the M-1A pistol which doesn't have a manual safety. The standard sights feature a trapezoid rear sight and a triangle front. Both sights are dovetailed into the slide and can be replaced with variety of the factory or aftermarket sights in various configurations.

Steyr M, the original version, which is no longer in production.

Steyr M-1A in 9mm caliber, version with manual safety. Safety is in "OFF" position (ready to fire; push-button is depressed up and into the frame). The pistol is also fitted with laser pointer.

TO BE CONTINUED..........