New American Truth

I’ve enjoyed listening to some truly great minds in the firearms field debate the pros and cons of the .45ACP versus the 9mm. In the past few years the debate has grown to include the .40S&W, the .357Sig and now the .45GAP.

This review was originally published in January 2009. Since then, this handgun has had over 2,500 rounds put through it. There has been no measurable loss of accuracy nor any noticeable change in the finish. We repost this review as the weapon continues to perform as expected.

I hadn’t previously ever heard of Del-Ton Inc. or the rifles they manufacture. Within a couple weeks I had a test rifle and here I am several weeks later reporting on how a rifle I’d never heard of performed. I wasn’t disappointed with the new name.

Sometimes it takes a company a few years to evolve a new design. Beretta’s M9 / 92F 9mm handgun – and the subsequent .40S&W caliber versions – was, and still is, an excellent design. That said, is there always room for improvement? Yes. Otherwise the firearms industry would be stuck with flintlock rifles and handguns. There are several notable design evolutions incorporated in the Beretta PX4 pistols.

Across the span of the past century, give or take a couple of years, the Colt Government Model 1911 .45ACP pistol may well be the most copied pistol design to date. At present you can get some version of the legendary pistol from Colt, Smith & Wesson, SigArms, Springfield Armory, Auto Ordnance, and more.

I am not suggesting that handguns are the end all be all for carrying a gun for protection when in the wilderness. I happen to like my long guns too (and we’ll discuss a few of those as appropriate below), but for hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, etc. it’s often good to have a “companion” along that is more comfortable to carry, less obtrusive, and better than trying to spit on that unfriendly critter or potential food source.

In January of 1950 Remington introduced the Model 870 “Wingmaster” shotgun. Remington’s historical information claims that the Remington 870 shotgun is the largest selling pump action shotgun in the world. sixty-two years later it would not surprise me. I’ve had mine (on and off – but I’ll explain that later) since 1988.

While I was at the range with this 2nd gen gun I had a couple of other shooters there who had 3rd gen guns. When they asked which generation of Glock I prefered I had to tell them that I really do like the 2nd gen better.

Throughout most of my childhood I pictured myself on horseback, single-handedly slinging the rifle down and back up by the lever to feed in the next cartridge – because I had to hold the horse’s reins with the other. As I got older reality set in, but my fascination with the lever-action didn’t dwindle.