If you follow the wires – and you certainly should, if you want to keep up with industry news and information – you know we were off-duty for maintenance and reflection for the last two weeks of 2023. Some manufacturers dropped new product announcements over that time.
Burris image.
Reported in our news Thursday, Burris Optics has moved into the compact pistol-mounted optics market with the FastFire C. Made to fit “… today’s deep concealment, micro-compact defensive pistols …,” the new sight uses the RMSc mounting format. It’s a low-profile sight, allowing co-witness with most standard height factory sights. The new optic includes a rear sight.
It runs on a CR2032 battery which is fitted underneath the optic. It’s “always on,” boasting a 25,000 run time. The company notes that the optic is powered by the “Burris Intelligent Auto-Bright system – it adjusts brightness for the best visibility in varying light conditions.
The lens is glass and the optic housing has serrations on the lens hood for use of the optic as a charging handle.
The new S&W SD9 2.0, Smith & Wesson image shown above, is said to be an improved version of the SD9 (below) and SD9VE. The original gun I shot before modification on the FBI bullseye course with Winchester 147gr Silvertip HP ammo, 295/300. It’s what I came to expect from these value-priced pistols
Reported the week we closed shop is the latest iteration of the low-cost compact service handgun by S&W. Originally released in 2010 as the SD9, it was packed with features that were soon deleted in the successor SD9VE. A sixteen-shot 9mm with stainless slide and barrel over a nicely ergonomic polymer frame, it’s a vast improvement over the SW9 series. I found the original SD9/SD9VE guns to be quite accurate once you figured out the trigger and I found them to be quite reliable.
Now we have the SD9 2.0. Preeminent in the press release is an “enhanced Self Defense Trigger,” with a flat-faced shoe and a bladed drop safety. The originals had curved and hinged triggers to accomplish the ‘trigger bounce prevention’ function. An interesting change is seen by looking at the top of the gun. The top of the slide is nicely serrated. In the old days, we’d say that it “prevents glare.” Being 21st Century types now, we just know it looks good. The front and rear cocking serrations are also “aggressive” on the new gun.
Like previous iterations, it’s a ca. 23-ounce 9mm striker-fired auto with stainless steel 4-inch barrel and slide, with three-dot sights. The MSRP is $349.00
Taurus photo.
Taurus now makes a 10mm semiauto pistol, the Taurus TH10. A traditional double-action/single action pistol, it features a combination safety/decocking lever configured to allow hammer-down carry or cocked-and-locked, at the user’s discretion.
The fifteen round pistol has a stainless-steel barrel and “industry-standard” sight dovetails, allowing the user to configure the preferred sighting arrangement without problems.
Ruger photo.
Ruger, in recognition of the 60th Anniversary of the 10/22 rimfire carbine, adds a version of the gun to the Ruger Collector’s Series. Accompanied by memorabilia – a Collector’s Series box, a “Sixth Edition Ruger Collector’s Series metal street sign and a pin” – the gun is an interesting variant of the fine standard 22 auto carbine.
The stainless-steel barrel is fitted to a silver-finished receiver and placed into a Gray Magpul Hunter X-22 stock. The bolt, black finished, is laser engraved with the 60th Anniversary marking. A red bolt handle and trigger goes with the ghost ring aperture rear sight, extended magazine release and a top-mounted pic rail for optics mounting.
Having shot Ruger’s “Vote 2020” 10/22 Collector’s Rifle in 2020, I can attest they do the Collector’s Series guns up right.
And this just scratches the surface, as we close in on trade show season. Stay tuned.
— Rich Grassi
