These are guns that, for one reason or another - or in some cases a whole bunch of reasons - are no longer in my collection.
This was my first handgun, which I bought it at a gun show in June '96. I found the P-95 to be typical Ruger - rock solid, reliable, and a great value for the money. Though billed as a "compact," it was actually rather cumbersome for extended or discreet concealed carry. It did, however, make a fine nightstand/car gun and was loads of fun at the range.
For those on limited budgets looking for a DA auto for vehicle or home defense, the Ruger is a viable contender.
ASTRA A-75
Caliber - .45ACP
Capacity - 7+1
Action - DA/SA with decocker
Barrel - 3.5 inches
Weight - ~28 oz. with empty magazine
I purchased this gun in the fall of 1996. I really wanted to like it - it had attractive lines, a decent trigger, manageable size and weight... unfortunately, it wasn't accurate or reliable enough to trust with my life, which is the mission I bought it for. When the rear sight comes off the slide and the gun won't reliably feed hardball, it's time to send it back to the factory. EAA's customer service was a joke! After being gone two weeks, the gun was returned with a new barrel, which didn't fix anything. I sold it to help finance my Glock 26, and never looked back.
You can likely find A-75s at bargain-basement prices these days, and with good reason - Astra has gone bankrupt and EAA no longer imports the line. Thus, finding parts and support is next to impossible (and if my A-75 was any indication, you'll need both)! Given that there are other, higher-quality pistols in the same price range that are still in production, even the lowest price isn't enough to justify buying one of these Spanish DA's.
Kel-Tec P11/P40
Caliber - 9x19mm / .40S&W
Capacity - 10+1, can accept some high-cap S&W magazines
Action - DAO
Barrel - 3.0 inches
Weight - ~14 oz. unloaded
I bought my P11 from a local dealer in March of 1997, and ordered the .40S&W conversion kit later. Eventually I purchased a second P11 (used) to serve as the .40's permanent home. My experience indicates that the Kel-Tecs are a good idea, somewhat poorly executed. The guns are small and light enough to carry like a dream, have well-conceived accessories (belt clip, trigger shoe, etc) and stellar customer service from Kel-Tec CNC. On the flip side, accuracy in either caliber is borderline (even at closer ranges), the quality control seems to be somewhat hit-or-miss, and most .40S&W ammo is way too hot to be comfortable in a 14oz gun!
Admittedly, both my guns were fairly early samples, and I most of the QC and reliability issues seem to have been worked out by now. I once considered revisiting the P11, but now that I've got my MK9, I really don't see the need. If you're on a tight budget and can live with a long, heavy DAO trigger, you might want to consider the P11. I'd still pass on the P40, though (and evidently I'm not alone in that opinion; Kel-Tec discontinued that model a couple years ago).
Caliber - .45ACP
Capacity - 10+1
Action - Glock's proprietary "Safe Action" system
Barrel - 3.78 inches
Weight - 26.5 oz. with empty magazine
With my adoption of the single-stack P9 as my primary carry gun, the G30 really started to look... fat. To be honest, I never did carry it that much; my preference for IWB holsters and the G30's substantial girth did not make a very good combination. As a shooter, it was the most manageable .45ACP I've ever had the pleasure of working with, and was hella accurate, to boot. But it just wasn't getting shot much, as I tend to practice most with what I carry. Thus the G23, G26 and Kahrs were seeing most of the action. So I traded the G30 in on the single-stack G36, which had recently become available in my area. Reduced slide and grip width makes the 36 much more carry-friendly to those of us who favor IWB rigs; it packs almost as effortlessly as my 9mm P9, but carries only one less round of a much more potent caliber.
Many of my friends have elected to stick with the G30, preferring its extra capacity over the G36's slimmer profile and lighter weight. I certainly don't blame them for their choice,
but they're built to carry a larger gun. If you're looking for an accurate, reliable, easy-recoiling .45ACP and don't mind the thickness, the G30 is tough to beat.
Mossberg 500
"The Persuader"
Caliber - 12-gauge
Capacity - 5+1
Action - Manual (Pump Action)
Barrel - 18.5 inches
Weight - ~6.75 lbs.
The last word in home-defense artillery, the 12-gauge shotgun forms the defensive triad with the rifle and pistol. The Mossberg 500 is reliable, lightweight and accurate, and its ambidextrous safety makes it a natural for right- or left-handed operation. It is a viable choice for the budget-minded, but is surpassed by the Remington 870 in durability, ease of breakdown and availability of upgrades and accessories.
Caliber - 7.62x39
Capacity - 10, 20 & 30rd mags, 75rd drum
Action - Gas-operated semi-automatic
Barrel - 16 inches
Weight - ~7 lbs.
Capsule Review:
The Romanian SAR-1 is the one of many civilianized variants of the Kalashnikov AK-47. Long the standard infantry rifle of Eastern-bloc countries, the AK is renowned for its simplicity and reliability. Today such features also endear this Cold Warrior to many an American shooter as well. My SAR-1 gave good service once the type's inherent bugs were sorted out. That said, it just wasn't an exceptional performer... its recoil, substandard ergonomics and lack of accuracy were all the more evident when shot alongside my AR's. It was supplanted in my collection by the SAR-2 in 5.45x39.
Caliber - 12 Gauge
Capacity - 6+1
Action - Manual (Pump Action)
Barrel - 20 inches
Weight - ~7 lbs.
The last word in home-defense artillery, the 12-gauge shotgun forms the defensive triad with the rifle and pistol. Rugged, reliable and cost-efficient, the Remington 870 is the standard by which all other pump shotguns are judged. With the addition of a few carefully selected accessories, it is transformed into a first-rate defensive weapon. However, I wanted to switch to a semi-automatic shotgun to maintain consistency of function with my other defensive weapons. I sold my personal 870 to help finance the 11-87P, but highly recommend the model to those looking for a pump shotgun.
Caliber - .40S&W
Capacity - 6+1
Action - Striker-Fired Double-Action Only (DAO)
Barrel - 3.5 inches
Weight - ~28oz w/ empty magazine
I liked the K40 very much; it offered a lot of power in a small package, and was made even better with the addition of night sights and the outstanding Elite 98 trigger upgrade. But as I continued to streamline and maximize the efficiency of my pistol battery, some of its shortcomings became clear. The K40 lacked the precision and low recoil of the K9, the light weight of the P9, and the capacity and controllability of the G23. Being somewhat a "jack of all trades but master of none," the K40 often got passed over for carry duty in favor of other weapons. Eventually, I arrived at the conclusion that I'd rather shoot .40S&W out of a larger gun than a smaller one, and if I needed a really concealable piece, I'd step down to a 9mm. Thus, I sold the K40 to help finance the Glock 35.
Caliber - 5.45x39
Capacity - 30rd bakelite or polymer magazines
Action - Gas-operated semi-automatic
Barrel - 16 inches
Weight - ~7 lbs.
The 5.45x39 round is accurate, light-kicking and wickedly effective; on par with the American 5.56. The AK-74 is a natural evolution of the Kalashnikov design, and maintains the ruggedness and reliability for which the family is known. The Romanian SAR-2 is an affordable AK-74 clone that is decent out of the box, but with a little extra work can become something much better.
The SAR-2 was slightly inferior in finish and accuracy to my earlier Intrac MkII. Not really needing two AK-74s (they are "fun guns" to me, rather than serious defensive tools), I sold the SAR-2 to make some room in the safe and help fund my Title II purchases.
Glock 36
Caliber - 12-gauge
Capacity - 6+1
Action - Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic
Barrel - 18.5 inches
Weight - ~9 lbs.
The SLR-106F combines the simplicity, ruggedness and reliability of the AK platform with the accuracy, effectiveness, low recoil and wide availability of the 5.56 (.223 Rem) cartridge. Arsenal's AKs are some of the best
on the market, and with the addition of some practical enhancements, the SLR-106F becomes a viable alternative to the AR/M4 series as a compact, fast-handling and reasonably accurate defensive or
tactical rifle. While I liked the SLR-106F very much, it didn't handle quite as well or shoot quite as accurately as my AK-101 Saiga conversion. I sold it to an acquaintance of mine in March 2008 in order to help fund my anticipated
Bushmaster ACR purchase (which was then delayed indefinitely. D'oh!).
Caliber - 5.45x39
Capacity - 30 rounds (standard; can accept magazines from 5 to 45 rounds)
Action - Gas-operated semi-automatic
Barrel - 16 inches
Weight - ~7 lbs.
The MkII was probably the highest-quality Romanian AK variant ever to be imported. Converting it from its 1994 Assault Weapon Ban era
configuration to a clone of the current Romanian service rifle was a fun project that yielded a fun, accurate and aesthetically pleasing
carbine. But as my focus shifted from the collectible to the more practical, the MkII began to see less and less range time. Already having two other
5.45x39 AKs that I enjoyed more and shot better, I sold the MkII to a fellow INGO member in the spring of 2009.
