For the last several years, we have been inundated with a plethora of new firearms and firearms accessories. Here are a few that I found interesting. I have not had the opportunity to try them, but hopefully that chance will be forthcoming.

First, one of the most interesting and innovative handgun designs I’ve seen in years, the Palm Pistol® manufactured by Constitution Arms™. As you can see in the photos, this gun in no way resembles a conventional pistol. It is a .38 Special single shot that looks somewhat like a ball with a barrel sticking out of it. It does have ATF certification as a “standard pistol” and is exempt from the Undetectable Firearms Act, therefore it can be marketed as a pistol. It is made in the USA. The targeted audience for this little gun are people with grip weakness, or other disabilities that make using a conventional handgun difficult or impossible. The gun is normally fired with the thumb and includes a loaded-chamber indicator, a grip-assist ramp and dual, and independently operable grip safeties. The company also has a .22 model in the development stage. In a lethal force, violent confrontation, this little gun is better than no gun, but with MSRP of $ 1350.00, I believe I would find a more conventional alternative. More information on the Palm Pistol® can be found at www.palmpistol.com.

Another new pistol due to be marketed in September 2016 is the Heizer Defense PKO45. This is a little semi-auto chambered in the venerable .45 ACP. The gun comes with five and seven round magazines, has a stainless steel barrel and frame, and weighs about 28 ounces. It has a 2.75 inch barrel and is about 5 inches long. It is the slimmest .45 ACP on the market being only .8 inch wide. MSRP is $ 899.00. This gun is very concealable and packs a powerful, proven self-defense cartridge. A bit more expensive than other 45s on the market, it is another option for those who want to protect themselves.

Heizer is an American company that makes another interesting pistol, the PAK1. This is a single shot gun chambered in 7.62×39, quite a powerful load for a handgun. The gun is sold with a ported barrel, is .7 inches wide, 3 7/8 inches high, and 6 3/8 inches long. The gun weighs 23 ounces; MSRP is $ 449.00. I’d place this gun in the same category as the Palm Pistol®, better than nothing. For more information on either of the Heizer guns, try www.heizerdefense.com.

On another matter, we at the Broadwater Rod & Gun Club have expanded our firearms training curriculum and are offering several NRA approved courses in the upcoming months. For more information about these opportunities, just go to www.guncoach.net. You will find information and links to the offerings including the new NRA Defensive Pistol course.

Be safe and good shooting.

Colonel Smoothbore