Heckler & Koch introduced its HK45 Tactical pistol. Photo: Mark W. Clark
The firearms manufacturers have brought a grab bag of .45 ACP pistols to the 2013 Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show aimed, at least in part, at officers working tactical and plainclothes assignments.
The new .45 ACP pistols from Glock, SIG Sauer, FNH USA, Heckler & Koch, and Smith & Wesson made their appearance at Media Day at the Range on Monday.
Temperatures dipped into the 20s and a stiff 10- to 15-mph wind blew across the range in Boulder City, Nev., for the unofficial start of SHOT. Despite the chill, dozens of writers from law enforcement, firearms, and outdoor media seized upon the opportunity to shoot the latest firearms and operate the latest accessories. On scene was the staff of POLICE Magazine/PoliceMag.com.
Glock showed its new concealed carry compact pistol. The G30S is a slimmed down version of the G30. The Austrian gun maker says the G30S was designed to complement the company's G21 and G36 models and was created by matching a G36 slide with a G30SF frame. The double-stack .45 ACP holds 10 rounds.
Barrel length is just under four inches, empty weight is a bit more than 20 ounces, and a grip extender makes the new pistol comfortable in almost any hand. The G30S fits many G19 holsters.
In the SIG booth, writers could shoot the new P227, a double-stack .45 ACP that holds 10 plus 1 rounds in its standard magazine and 14 plus 1 in an extended magazine. Built to match the dimensions of the P226, the P227 is a big-bore fighting pistol with easy-to-handle grip dimensions.
The new pistol also fits the same holsters as the P220 and P226. Features include a stainless steel slide machined from barstock and coated with a wear-resistant Nitron finish, lightweight alloy frame, and SIG Sauer four-point safety system.
Glock introduced its G30S compact .45 ACP pistol. Photo: Mark W. Clark
FNH USA brought two full-size .45 ACP pistols—the FNX-45 and FNX-45 Tactical. The FNX line has replaced the now-discontinued FNP line, company reps told POLICE Magazine. Both pistols were introduced in December and are available now.
The FNX-45 and FNX-45 Tactical feature ambidextrous controls (manual safety, slide stop, and magazine release). A manual safety and de-cocking lever allow users to load or unload the pistol while on safe. The FNX Tactical offers additional capacity with three 15-round magazines, while the FNX-45 offers three 14-round magazines. The FNX Tactical includes a Trijicon night sight.
The new HK45 Tactical, which was developed for the U.S. military's next-gen handgun competition, offers a variant on the existing HK45. The HK45T, as it will be known, adds an extended threaded barrel for suppressors and high-profile, three-dot tritium night sights.
The full-size HK45T will be offered in black, tan, or green with changeable backstraps and molded finger grooves. The HK45T can be converted to nine different trigger firing modes including an enhanced double-action-only "LEM" (Law Enforcement Modification) mode.
We'll have a lot more coverage for you in the coming days, so keep checking back with PoliceMag.com. Also, if you're here in Las Vegas, please drop by our booth (#11979) at the Sands Expo & Convention Center.
Related:
SIG To Introduce P227 In .45 ACP
FNH USA Ships .45-Caliber FNX-45
SHOT Show 2012: Media Day
