Editors’ Picks 2018: Heizer PKO 45 Pistol

by
posted on April 30, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
newgun13.jpg

Heizer’s PKO 45 is a compact, all-metal, internal-hammer-fired, semi-automatic .45 ACP pistol that measures only eight-tenths of an inch wide. Manufactured by aerospace fabricator Heizer Defense, makers of the similarly slim PAK1, PAR1 and PS1 single-shots, the PKO 45 is unconventional, with a fixed, ported, 2.75" barrel whose axis lies below that of the guide rod assembly and below much of the slide’s mass to enhance accuracy and reduce muzzle flip, respectively. Magazine capacity is five rounds in the flush-fit style or seven for the extended style. The PKO 45 features a manual, bilateral, frame-mounted safety and frontstrap-mounted grip safety along with slide-stop and magazine buttons. Both front and rear sights are dovetailed to the slide. The aluminum-frame PKO 45 weighs approximately 25 ozs. and is available in Ghost Grey, Copperhead and Tactical Black. A titanium-frame variant is in the works. heizerdefense.com

Latest

1889 Belgian Mauser Ihtog 4
1889 Belgian Mauser Ihtog 4

I Have This Old Gun: Model 1889 Belgian Mauser

In the 1880s, Mauser was not the legendary name in firearm making that it is today, but one of the company's first leaps into cutting-edge rifle design came with the Model 1889 Belgian Mauser.

New For 2025: Hi-Point Firearms HP-15 Rifles & Pistols

Hi-Point Firearms, known for its budget-friendly handguns and pistol-caliber carbines, took a step in a new direction in 2025 with the introduction of its HP-15 rifles and pistols.

Review: DNT ThermNight TNC225R

One of the most common campfire debates regarding low-light hunting is whether digital night vision (DNV) is still king or if it’s been dethroned by modern thermal-imaging technology. Products like the DNT ThermNight TNC225R have become popular, as they pack both technologies into one compact unit.

NRA Now Accepting Applications For Public Range Grants

The NRA has reopened its Public Range Fund, which was first established in 2009 to encourage city and county governments to build and improve public ranges across the United States.

Rifleman Q&A: Candelas Or Lumens?

When it comes to lights, I’ve seen a lot more mention of “candelas” being made recently than I have in the past. What is a candela, how does it differ from a lumen and what’s the practical difference between the two from a defensive perspective?

I Have This Old Gun: 1854 Lorenz

The Austrian Model 1854 Lorenz rifle musket, designed by Lt. Joseph Lorenz around 1852, saw use in numerous European conflicts and was the third most common longarm seen in the American Civil War—its popularity being right behind that of the U.S. Model 1861 Springfield rifle musket and British Pattern 1853 Enfield.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.