Glock family of handguns (Austria)

Glock 17 - basic model (9mm); Modern version with finger grooves on the grip and

underbarrel acessory rail.

Glock 18 - select-fire model (9mm). Early version with extended barrel and integral

compensator.

Note fire mode selector switch on the slide

Glock 19 - semi-compact model (9mm)

Glock 26 - compact model (9mm)

Click here to see Glock parts diagram (.GIF, 25Kb)

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The Glock family of pistols, once started by famous Glock 17 pistol, was developed by Austrian company Glock Gmbh., previously known for quality knives and entrenching tools. The Glock 17 pistol first appeared at the Austrian Army trials, won it and was adopted by Austrian Army and Police in the early 1980s under the designation of P-80. Since then, the Glock 17 and its descentants become very popular military and law enforcement firearms, being exported in more than 50 countries. Currently, Glocks are chambered in all major pistol calibers, namely 9x17mm Short (.380ACP), 9x19mm Luger, .357SIG, .40SW, 10mm auto and .45ACP. Also, Glocks available in full-size service models, semi-compact models, compact models for concealed/backup carry, and in long slide competition models. Training versions, firing non-lethal practice

ammo, also available. Training versions are distinguished from "live" ones by frame colour - blue frame for guns that fire non-lethal ammunition and red frame - for non-

firing guns.

All Glocks (except for ones chambered in 9x17 - .380ACP) are recoil operated, locked breech pistols. Glocks feature Browning-type linkless locking system with barrel interlocking with slide via ejection port. All Glocks feature patented "Safe action" striker-fired trigger mechanism. After the each cycle of the slide the striker is set to half-cock position and is safely blocked by internal safety. When shooter pulls the trigger, he disengades the trigger safety first, then cocks the striker to the full-cock and then fires the gun. This results in constant trigger pull (ajustable from 2 to 5.5 kg) and, unlike the traditional DA or DAO pistols, unavailability of the "second strike" option in case of the misfire. All Glocks has no external controls except the trigger and the slide stop (the

only different is Glock 18, which has slide mounted fire mode selector).

The .380ACP / 9x17mm Short chambered Glocks (models 25 and 28) differs from the rest of the Glock family by operating by simple blowback principle. These pistols targeted for civilian markets where ownership of the firearms chambered in "military" calibers is prohibited, or for those shooters who can't withstand more severe recoil of

the "bigger" calibers.

All Glocks feature polymer frame, steel slides made by precision moulding process and had Tenifer heat-threatment to increase rust and wear resistance. early Glocks had plain grips with slight serrations. Modern variants has finger grooves on the front strap of the grip, and ambidextrous thumb rests. Also, modern versions featured underbarrel acessory rails. Barrels has hexagonal rifling in all calibers. Both front and rear sights are dovetailed and usually had white or luminous inserts. Ajustable sights are available

for competition models.

Almost all models had modifications with factory-ported barrels. These models are

marked with suffix "C" after the model number, i.e. Glock 17C.

The Glock 17 (and only model 17) could be modified with "amphibious kit" that allows underwater firing (in very shallow depths, thought). Basically, the underwater shooting itself has very little effect in real combat, since the effective range is extremely short. The real purpose of that feature is to show the strenght of the gun and to allow safe shooting in severe weather conditions, with possible water in the barrel (in many guns this may result in blown barrel).

The select-fire version of the Glock, called Glock 18, available only in 9mm Luger and only for Military / Law enforcement sales. Glock 18 could fire single shots or three-shot bursts. Glock 18 may be equipped with 31-rounds extended magazines and after-market folding stocks. For security reasons, some parts of the Glock 18 ARE NOT interchangeable with Glock 17/19 pistols. The theoretical rate of fire in full-auto mode is

1200 rounds per minute.

9x19mm Glock family basic data (.40SW and .357SIG models has the same

dimensions, but weight slightly more)

GLOCK 17 GLOCK 18

(select-fire)

GLOCK 19 GLOCK 26

Lenght, mm 186 186 174 160

Barrel lenght, mm 114 114 102 88

Weight empty, g 625 625 595 560

Capacity, rds 10, 17, 19, 31 10, 17, 19, 31 10, 15, 17 10, 12

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Taurus 24/7 pistols (Brazil)

Taurus 24/7 pistol, left side.

Same Taurus 24/7 pistol, right side.

Characteristics

Type Double Action or Double Action Only

semiautomatic

Caliber(s) 9x19 Luger / Parabellum, .40 S&W and .45

ACP

Weight unloaded 788 g

Length 181 mm

Barrel length 102 mm

Magazine capacity 17 (9mm), 15 (.40) or 12 (.45) rounds

First Taurus 24/7 pistols were presented in 2004, in attempt to offer a new, lightweight

and potent pistol for police, security and civilian users. These pistols were available in a

variety of "major" calibers, and in a number of finish options. early pistols were Double

Action Only but recently Taurus also introduced a conventional Double / Single action

24/7 pistols.

Taurus 24/7 pistols are short recoil operated, locked breech pistols that use modified

Browning-type locking, with single lug on the barrel engaging the ejection port in the

slide. Frames of Taurus 24/7 pistols are made from impact-resistant polymer; slides

can be made from carbon or stainless steel. Trigger is either double / single action

or double action only, striker-fired, with internal firing pin block safety and manual

safety, located on the left side of the frame. Magazines are double stack. Sights are

fixed. front part of the frame, below the barrel, is shaped to form an integral Picatinny-

type accessory rail.

How to disassemble (field strip) Taurus 24/7 pistols: 1) remove the magazine by

pressing the magazine release button; 2) check that the chamber is empty; 3) pull the

slide all the way back and lock it open with the slide lock / release lever; 4) rotate the

takedown lever (located at the left side of the frame) clockwise until it stops ; 5)

carefully pull the take-down lever with its pin out of the frame 6) carefully release the

slide stop lever, then push the slide all the way forward and out of the frame; 7) remove

the return spring by pushing its head slightly forward and then pulling it out carefully of

the detent in the barrel; 7) lift up the barrel from the slide.

Reassemble in reverse order.

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Colt Government / M1911 and clones (USA)

U.S. Pistol M1911 made by Colt

U.S. Pistol M1911A1 made by Colt

differences between M1911 and M1911A1 (see text below)

1. Wider front sight 2. Longer hammer spur 3. Shorter trigger 4. Curved spring housing

5. Simplified grip panels checkering 6. Index finger reliefs behind the trigger 7. Longer grip-safety spur

Colt Government model Series 80 .45ACP

Colt Combat Commander .45ACP

Colt Officers' model .45ACP

Customized Colt Government model Series 80 .45ACP

Custom M1911 clone, made on STI frame and Colt slide .45ACP

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Data: M1911A1 Action: Single Caliber: .45 ACP Capacity: 7 Rounds Barrel Length: 125 mm Weight: 1080 g Overall Length: 216 mm

The history of the Colt Gov't / M1911 Pistol began in early 1900s, when famous designer John M. Browning began to develop semi-automatic pistols for Colt company. In the 1906-1907 U.S. Army announced trials to replace its service revolvers with new, semi-automatic pistol. Army required the new pistol to have the caliber of .45 inch, so Browning designed its own cartridge that fired 230 grains (15.64 gramms) bullet, and then, designed a new pistol. In 1911, after extensive testings, the new pistol and its cartridge, designed by Browning and manufactured by Colt, were adopted for U.S. military service as M1911. Prior to and during World War One, more than one million of these guns were manufactured, mostly by Colt and Springfield Armoury, as well as by Remington-UMC, Burroughs, Savage and some other companies. The rights to manufacture Colt/Browning design were also sold to some foreign countries, such as

Norway or Argentine.

In 1926, original design was improved, following the recommendations of the US Army Ordnance Dept. These changes incorporate the following items (see picture above): 1. Wider front sight 2. Longer hammer spur 3. Shorter trigger 4. Curved spring housing 5. Simplified grip panels checkering 6. Index finger reliefs behind the trigger

7. Longer grip-safety spur

The improved design was adopted by US Military as M1911A1 pistol, and served with distinction until the mid-1980s, when it was officially replaced in service with M9 pistol

(US-made Beretta 92FS).

The commercial Colts of this design are known as Government models. In 1929, Colt introduced the Government pistol in its new chambering, the .38 Super Automatic, a hotter version of the earlier .38 Automatic cartridge. New pistol had bigger magazine capacity (9 rounds) and sold well on the police market. The .38 Super versions are still manufactured and used mostly as competition guns due to extreme accuracy.

During the 1970 - 1983, Colt manufactured Mk.IV series 70 Government model pistols, which closely resembled original M1911A1s, but with accurized barrel bushings. Since 1983, Colt manufactured Mk.IV Series 80 Government model pistols, that featured added firing pin safety. Latest Colt product, M1991A1, also featured Series 80 slide with firing pin safety.

Colt also developed some more compact versions of its full-size commercial guns. So called "Commander" versions (available as Combat Commanders, Lightweight Commanders with alloy frames etc) have shortened barrels and slides (barrel lenght 108 mm, or 4.25 inch), with the standart size frame and grip, and standart magazine capacity of 7 rounds in .45ACP. These guns were also available in .38 Super and 9mm Luger chamberings. In the year 1972, US Army adopted the M15 General Officers Model Pistol, developed by Rock Island Arsenal, very similar to Combat Commander, as a self defense weapon for high level army officers. These guns had a brass plate

insert in the left grip panel, where tha name of the owner should be engraved.

Even more compact version, the Colt Defender, had also the shorter grip that limits magazine capacity to 6 rounds of .45ACP. The barrel of Defender is of 76 mm lenght (3 inch). Commercial Colt Officers' pistols were also very similar to Defenders.

Along with Colt, countless numbers of companies in the USA and other countries manufactured more or less exact copies of the M1911. Some millions of guns were manufactured in the USA during the WW2 by numerous companies under US Government contracts, and probably even more were manufactured for commercial sales. Most common M1911 clones are manufactured by: Springfield armoury, Les Baer, Kimber, Wilson, STI, Para Ordnance and many, many others. Also, many M1911-partterned pistols are still custom built for service duty, sport shooting and self defense.

Technically, the M1911 is a recoil operated, locked breech semi-auto pistol. It has single action trigger with frame mounted safety that locks the hammer and the slide. Hammer could be locked either in cocked or in lowered position, allowing the gun to be carried in "cocked and locked" state, with safety on, hammer cocked and round chambered. Additional automated safety incorporated into rear of the grip and locks the action when gun not held in the hand properly. Barrel and slide are interlocked via massive lugs onthe upper part of the barrel, just ahead of the chamber. After the shot is fired, the barrel and the slide go back for the short distance, then rear part of the barrel is lovered by tilting link, and barrel unlocks the slide. The slide goes all the way back, extracting and ejecting spent case and chambering the new round on the way back. When magazine is empty, the magazine follower activates slide stop that locks the slide in the open (rear) position. The gun is fed from the single stack, seven round magazine. The magazine release button is located on the left side of the frame, just behind the trigger guard. The scheme of the M1911A1 is available here (78Kb JPEG image)

Modern Gov't/1911 clones may differ, more or less, from this description: i.e, those guns may have widebody frames that can accept dual stack, high capacity magazines; frames could be made from steel, alluminum alloys or polymer; some could have Double Action or even Double Action Only triggers, ambidextrous safety switches and

slide stops etc.

In the end, i must say that this article is very incomplete, since the Colt Gov't / M1911 is probably the most popular pistol in the world. It is known for its reliability, serviceability, simplicity. Custom made M1911s capable of outstanding accuracy, and many of M1911-patterned guns are still in service with different military and law enforcement

agencies in the USA.

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Heckler-Koch P9S pistol (Germany)

HK P9S pistol. Note the heel magazine release and a cocking/decoking lever behind

the triggerguard.

HK P9S Sport, with adjustable sights and reshaped trigger guard.

HK P9S partially disassembled. clearly seen are the barrel with its extension and cuts

for rollers; and a separate two-part breechblock, inserted into the thin-walled slide.

Characteristics

Type: Double Action (P9S); Single action (P9)

Chamber: 9x19mm Luger/Para, .45ACP

Weight: 880 g empty

Length: 192 mm

Barrel length: 102 mm

Capacity: 9 (9mm) or 7 (.45) rounds

The P9 pistol was designed by the famous Heckler-Koch company during the first half

of the 1960s. After much testing and prototyping, which even included a selective-fire

pistol with detachable shoulder-stock, the mass production of semi-automatic P9 began

in 1969. Not many of single action P9 pistols were produced, and during the early

1970s the P9 gave its way to the double-action P9S, which remained in production until

1978. The licensed version of P9S is still manufactured in Greece as EP9S (9mm

only). The P9 was and probably still used by various police forces in Germany, as well

as in several other countries. The .45 caliber version of P9S, fitted with longer barrel

which accepted the detachable silencer, was used in limited numbers by US Navy

SEALs.

The P9S is an interesting design, which is based on H-K experience, gained with

production of famous G3 rifle. First, the P9 and P9S use the stamped steel frames and

slides, with machined steel inserts and polymer triggerguard and front part of the grip,

as well as polymer grip panels. This accounted for fast and inexpensive production.

Second, the P9 and P9S featured a roller retarded (delayed) blowback action, also

derived from G3 rifle. This action required a two-part breech block, machined from

steel, which was inserted into stamped slide, and a machined barrel extension, with

roller grooves. The stationary barrel accounted for consistent accuracy, and allowed for

easy and reliable silencing of the pistol. Another interesting feature of P9 pistols was

the internal (concealed) hammer, which operated in single action mode in P9 and in

double action mode in P9S. The special lever, located at the left side of the grip frame,

just behind the triggerguard, was used to manually cock and decock the hammer. The

manual safety was located at the left side of the slide.

P9S pistols were fitted either with fixed or adjustable sights (P9S Sport model). The

later also could be had with longer barrel and special target grips.

Single stack magazine of P9S held 9 9mm or 7 .45 caliber rounds, magazine release

was located at the heel of the grip. Slide stop lever was located above the cock/decock

lever.

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Heckler & Koch USP pistols (Germany)

HK USP in .40SW - basic version

HK USP in .45ACP

HK USP .45 Tactical with extended barrel, threaded for sound suppressor (threads are

covered by protector)

HK USP Compact .45ACP

USP - cutaway

the family of the USP handguns

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Type: Double Action or Double Action Only Calibers: 9x19mm Luger, .40 S&W, .45 Auto, .357SIG (USP Compact only) Dimensions (9 x 19 version) Length: 194 mm

Height: 136 mm Width: 32 mm Weight: 720 g Capacity: USP, USP Match - 15 rds (9mm), 13 rds (.40), 12 rds (.45); USP Compact -

13 rds (9mm), 12 rds (.357 and .40), 8 rds (.45)

Heckler & Koch started the development of a new Universal Selbstlade Pistole

(Universal Self-loading Pistol, or USP in short), in mid-1989. The concept of the new design was to provide a universal weapon for police and military forces, available in a variety of versions and sizes. The target market for this new weapon was apparently the USA, as the first version of the pistol, which appeared in 1993, was chambered for a new American cartridge, the .40 S&W. A 9mm version appeared a little later, and in 1995 the slightly modified 9mm USP pistol was adopted by the Bundeswehr (German

army) as its new service pistol, under the designation P8. The same year the company also brought out another “America-special” version of the USP, this time in.45 ACP caliber. In 1996 the first of the Compact series of USP pistols entered production, and next year it was officially approved for German police use as the 9mm P10. Several versions of the USP were also made specifically for civilian markets, such as the USP Expert, USP Elite and USP Match. There are also several special-purpose versions of the USP. These include two original variations fitted with extended threaded barrels to be used with silencers, the .45 caliber USP Tactical and 9mm USP 9 SD, recently joined by the .45 caliber USP 45 Compact Tactical, sometimes preferred by the US Military users over the much bulkier and heavier Mark 23 Model 0 pistol of the same

caliber.

USP pistols are short-recoil operated, locked-breech pistols with a polymer frame. The barrel is locked to the slide by a single lug, which engages the ejection port. Unlocking is controlled by a cam-shaped extension below the chamber, which interacts with a steel insert set into the frame. Barrels on all USP pistols have polygonal rifling, except the earliest production pistols made in 1993, and all German army P8’s. The captive recoil spring assembly includes an additional recoil spring buffer on full-size pistols and a polymer buffer on Compact pistols. The trigger is double-action, with an external hammer, an automatic firing pin safety and a frame-mounted lever, which may operate differently in different versions of the pistols, as described below. Each pistol can be easily adjusted by a gunsmith to any of the trigger mode configurations, with the replacement of a few parts that include a cam plate and a safety lever. The sights are dovetailed to the slide. Magazines on most USP pistols are of steel construction, but Bundeswehr-owned P8 pistols have semi-translucent polymer magazines. Magazine release levers are ambidextrous and located at the base of the trigger-guard. There are nine basic variations of the USP trigger/safety arrangements, plus one

specific to P8 pistols, as follows:

1. Double action trigger with manual safety on the left side. If lever is pressed below the “fire” position, it acts as a decocker, bringing the hammer down and then returning to the fire position 2. Same as No.1, but the safety lever on the right side 3. Double action trigger with decock-only lever on the left side 4. Same as No.3 but the lever on the right side 5. Double-action-only trigger with manual safety lever on the left side. 6. Same as No.5 but the lever on the right side 7. DAO trigger without any manual safety 8. P8 pistol, with “inverted” safety lever, that is, upper position of the lever is for fire and lower for safe. When the safety is applied, the hammer is decocked automatically 9. Double action trigger with manual safety on the left side. No safe decocking

functionality is provided 10. Same as No.9 but the lever on the right side

How to field-strip (disassemble) HK USP pistol: 1) remove the magazine by pressing the magazine release button; 2) check that the chamber is empty; 3) retract the slide partially, so the slide release lever axle is aligned with the disassembly notch on the slide; 4) press on the slide release axis pin from the right side of the frame, then pull the slide release lever completely from the left side; 5) carefully ease the slide forward, then pull it toward the front out of the frame; 6) remove the return spring assembly from below the barrel; 7) pull the barrel out of the slide. Reassemble in reverse order.

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Heckler & Koch Mk.23 mod.0 US SOCOM pistol (Germany/USA)

Mk.23 mod.0 pistol, left side. Above the grip are clearly seen are separate safety (rear) and decocker (middle) levers, as well as slide stop lever (forward).

Mk.23 mod.0 pistol, right side. Note the extended barrel with screw-on thread protector

on the muzzle.

Mk.23 with silencer and laser aiming device

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Caliber: .45 ACP Action: Double Action Length: 245 mm Height: 150 mm Width: 38,8 mm Weight: 1100 g

Magazine capacity: 12 rounds

This handgun was developed under request from US SOCOM (Special Operations Command) and entered the competition with Colt for OHWS - Offensive Handgun Weapon System - first offensive handgun for US Military since the adoption of the Colt M1911 Govt. The request was issued in mid-1991, and the only other major competitor to H&K was the Colt company with its SOCOM pistol. By the 1993 H&K delivered first prototypes of its contestant, and eventually HK SOCOM pistol became the Mk.23 model 0 pistol, issued by US Special Operations command to its operators. The Mk.23 mod.0 is chambered for venerable .45ACP cartridge, which provides greater stopping power than a NATO-standard 9mm Luger cartridges. Mk.23 mod.0 is designed to safely and reliable fire most powerful .45ACP +P ammunition, either with ball (FMJ) or expansive (JHP) bullets. Mk.23 mod.0 is usually issued with quick-detachable silencers, made in USA by Knight's Armaments Co, and with laser pointing module,

which installs on the underbarrel rails. First production Mk.23 model 0 pistols were

delivered to users in 1996.

In general, the Mk.23 mod.0 is an extremely reliable and quite powerful combat pistol, the only drawback being a somewhat excessive size and weight, so, in some cases, operators prefer to carry smaller and lighter HK USP Tactical pistols, which share most

features of Mk.23 mod.0.

Heckler-Koch also produced a civilian version of the Mk.23 mod.0 pistol, designated as

Mark 23, which is sold with 10-rounds magazines, to comply with US laws.

The Mk.23 mod.0 is a short recoil operated, locked breech semiautomatic pistol. The barrel locks to the slide using one single lug, which fits to the ejection port in the slide. The patented dual recoil springs arrangement allows for decreased felt recoil and increased service life of pistol. Frame of the gun is made from high-strength polymer. The double action trigger system features a separate decocker lever, an ambidextrous safety, which allows for "cocked and locked" carry, and a slide stop. Enlarged triggerguard allows for comfortable shooting when wearing gloves. Ambidextrous magazine release lever is located in the base of the triggerguard, and should be depressed down to release magazine. Both front and rear sights are equipped with

luminous dots, and mounted in dovetail grooves.

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Heckler & Koch HK P30 pistol (Germany)

HK P3000 prototype pistol, which evolved into P30.

HK P30 pistol.

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Type Double Action semiautomatic

Caliber(s) 9x19 mm Luger / Parabellum

Weight unloaded 740 g

Length 177 mm

Barrel length 98 mm

Magazine capacity 15 rounds

The HK P30 pistol is the most recent creation of the famous German company Heckler

und Koch Gmbh. It was announced in 2006; prototypes, initially known as HK P3000,

were demonstrated during previous year. The P30 is a further evolution of the highly

successful HK P2000 pistol; it is positioned by manufacturer as an ideal police pistol,

but it also could make a very good self-defense weapon for civilians.

HK P30 is technically similar to the HK P2000 pistol; the differences are in exterior

appearance and ergonomics. P30 is available in several variants, which differ in the

type of the trigger.

The HK P30 pistol is short recoil operated, locked breech pistol that uses modified

Browning-type locking. Frame of the pistol is made from impact-resistant polymer.

Trigger unit is a separate module; several versions of the trigger unit are available, as

described below. Other features of P30 include a double-stack magazine that holds 15

rounds of 9mm ammunition, with ambidextrous magazine release, ambidextrous slide

release lever, and modular grip design. The grip shape can be tailored to the particular

requirements of each shooter by replacement of the removable backstraps and side

grip panels (three sizes of either part are available, designates as S, M and L). Front

part of the frame, below the barrel, is shaped to form an integral Picatinny-type

accessory rail.

Variations of the HK P30 trigger units:

HK P30 (basic version): exposed two-part hammer with spur. Hammer actually

consists of an internal cocking piece which is connected to the main spring, and the

hammer itself. After each shot, cocking piece stays cocked, and hammer remains

lowered, providing maximum safety and low DA-type trigger pull; cocking piece can be

decocked by pressing of the decocker button, located at the rear of the slide, next to

the hammer. Trigger pull is 20N (2 kg / 4,5 lbs) in DA mode (cocking piece stays

cocked after previous shot) or 51N ( 5,2 kg / 11,4 lbs) if internal cocking piece was

lowered using decocker button .

HK P30 V1: same as P30, but hammer has no spur, and there is no decocker button;

therefore, the only way to release the cocked mainspring is to pull the trigger over the

empty chamber

HK P30 V2: same as V1 but trigger pull is increased to 32,5N ( 3,3 kg / 7,3 lbs)

HK P30 V3: conventional DA / SA unit with single-piece hammer and decocker button

at the rear of the slide, next to the hammer. Trigger pull forces same as for basic P30

variant.

HK P30 V4: same as V1 but trigger pull is increased to 27,5N ( 2,8 kg / 6,1 lbs)

HK P30 V5: conventional DAO trigger with spurless single-piece hammer and no

decocker. Trigger pull is 36N ( 3,7 kg / 8,1 lbs)

HK P30 V6: same as V5 but trigger pull is increased to 39N ( 4kg / 8,8 lbs)

How to field- strip (disassemble) HK P30 pistol: 1) remove the magazine by

pressing the magazine release button; 2) check that the chamber is empty; 3) partially

retract the slide, so the slide release lever axle is aligned with the disassembly notch

on the slide; 4) press on the slide release axis pin from the right side of the frame, then

pull the left slide release lever completely from the left side; note that the right slide

release lever will stay in place; 5) carefully ease the slide forward, then pull it toward

the front out of the frame; 6) remove the return spring assembly from below the barrel;

7) pull the barrel out of the slide; 8) to remove the right side slide release lever, rotate it

upward for about 45 degrees, then pull out of the frame.

Reassemble in reverse order.

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