Still prepared to not be impressed, off to the range we went. We set up the first 18 inch thick target, I loaded up a 9mm, and then the sky cracked open. Ladies and gentlemen, I have never seen anything like the G9 performance out of a handgun. If you watch the film, you will see me at a rare loss for words. The terminal ballistics can only be described as devastating.

I have finally gotten my hands on the last of my top 5 from SHOT Show 2018. And in a year of Pistol Caliber Carbines, the one I was most looking forward to. I am talking about the new Ruger PCC, of course, a gun that is all but guaranteed to punch way above its weight.

StingerWorx aimed for hunters with its new suppressor. Lightweight and modular—its likely to help hunters in places where suppressor hunting is legal.

WIth reasonable prices and good results, these are hard to beat. Buy both and a case of ammo, and you’ll likely have gas money for the range left over.

All that put together gives the knife a vibe. Like it talks to you when you hold it, which is a rarity among weapons. The feel from this one is all primitive.

Emerson is a knife company founded on a reputation for hard use blades. They expect you to beat and batter them, which is largely why they don’t come cheap.

As a defensive tool, the size plays a factor. While I don’t think this is for everyone, it would be the weapon of choice if you had to use a folder in a life or death situation. It has a size and a reach that is well outside anything else in its class.

Bushnell has been at the forefront of rifle scopes for many years now, largely after a successful move into the tactical market. Considering the name Bushnell had a decade in the past, that was no small feat. I laughed the first time it was suggested that my Counter Terrorism force try the then-new HDMR. But I wasn’t laughing at the end of the training day. Bushnell did the impossible, they transitioned from a cheap hunting scope to a world-class sniper option.

But an excessive amount of steel isn’t exactly fun to carry and is often frowned upon by polite society. Much like guns, for discreet carry purposes, smaller is better.