by Joseph Tartaro | Executive Editor
Just days before the 2016 edition of the annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show opened, Sturm, Ruger announced the introduction of a new platform for revolutionary duty pistols, the Ruger American™. Almost simultaneously, Colt announced three new products: the Colt Competition Pistol™, the Colt Expanse™ M4 Carbine, and the Colt Lightweight Commander®.
Novak® Law Mount 3-dot sights are clearly visible in this view of the new Ruger American™.
The Sturm, Ruger announcement said the Ruger American was designed with the latest US Military standards in mind and built to perform in the harshest conditions.
In its press release, Ruger said it has polled law enforcement and military trainers throughout the country to determine the form, function and features of the Ruger American, resulting in a firearm that combines a recoil-reducing barrel cam (which better spreads recoil over time) with a low mass slide, low center of gravity and a low bore axis to provide better balance, less felt recoil and less muzzle flip than comparable pistols.
The Ruger American pistol also features a pre-tensioned striker system, which allows for a short take-up trigger with positive reset, and a modular wrap-around grip system that adjusts palm swell and trigger reach to fit a wide range of hand sizes.
“The Ruger American Pistol is the most advanced semi-auto pistol we have ever produced,” noted Ruger CEO Mike Fifer. “Rugged, reliable, and a great value in the finest Ruger tradition, the Ruger American Pistol is ready for duty anywhere in the world. Our customers deserve the opportunity to ensure their security with such a well-engineered pistol from an American company they can trust—Ruger,” he concluded.
Every Ruger American Pistol is built on a rigid, one-piece, precision-machined, black nitrided, stainless steel chassis with integral frame rails and fire control housing. Additional features include genuine Novak® LoMount Carry three-dot sights, a stainless steel slide with non-reflective, black nitride finish, a one-piece, high-performance, glass-filled nylon grip frame and a mil-standard 1913 accessory rail.
Available in 9mm Luger and . 45 Auto, the 9mm weighs in at 30 ounces with a 4. 20” barrel and the . 45 weighs in at 31. 5 ounces with a 4. 50” barrel. Both ship in a hard case with replaceable grip modules and two, nickel-Teflon® plated steel magazines (17-round for 9mm and 10-round for . 45 Auto; 10-round magazines are also available for the 9mm where required). MSRP for each of the Ruger American models is $579.
New Colt AR offering is the Expanse™ M4 carbine.
The new Colt pistols reach for different market segments.
The Colt Competition Pistol™, which is available in . 45 ACP or 9mm, offers several features that competitive shooters will appreciate, including Colt’s innovative Dual Spring Recoil System™ developed for the M45A1 in order to reduce recoil and help keep shots on target at critical moments. Said Mark Redl, Team Colt sponsored shooter and Product Manager for Colt: “We designed a pistol that you can buy on the way to a match. ” Other features include Novak’s new adjustable rear sight and fiber optic front sight, competition ergonomics, including an undercut trigger guard and upswept beavertail safety, and a National Match® barrel. MSRP for the Colt Competition Pistol™ is $899.
The Expanse™ M4 puts a Colt quality AR-15 within easy reach of the modern sportsman looking to enhance his or her collection, or the first-time buyer looking for a starting point on which to build their dream modern sporting rifle. Either way, the Expanse™ M4 in 5. 56 x 45 NATO (. 223 Rem. ) has an MSRP of $699.
New Colt Competition™ Pistol is available chambered for 9mm or .45 ACP.
The Lightweight Commander®, in a choice of . 45 ACP or 9mm, affords enthusiasts the ability to carry concealed a real 1911-platform pistol comfortably. With a shorter profile and lower weight than a traditional full size Government Model®, the Lightweight Commander® offers the Dual Spring Recoil System™ and custom Colt G10 grips, among other enhancements. MSRP of the Lightweight Commander is $949.
