Even adults have Christmas wish lists. Mine contains some of the guns I’ve most coveted and self-defense equipment that’s helped me over the years. Here’s the rundown.
Gun Reviews
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Steyr L9-A1 Pistol – Full Review
Published: November 17, 2018 { 4 comments }I liked the Steyr L9-A1 better than I thought I would. It felt good in the hand and once I got accustomed to the grip angle it was easy to shoot.
Heroes Hidden in Plain Sight: The Browning Automatic Rifle
Published: November 17, 2018 { 46 comments }It turned out that Mr. Roberson was my neighbor down the road, and he ultimately shared a lot of stories. A literal lifetime before this unassuming Mississippi farmer carried a Browning Automatic Rifle as a member of the 5th Ranger Battalion in World War 2. On June 6th, 1944, he landed in the first wave on Omaha Beach fighting alongside the 116th Infantry Regiment.
M&P 45 2.0 – Reviewed
Published: November 10, 2018 { 21 comments }The M&P 45 2.0 might not have been a sales dynamo, but to discerning clients, it made waves. As far as ergonomics go, Smith & Wesson did an excellent job.
The New Big Boy on the Block: Ruger AR-556 MPR in 450 Bushmaster
Published: November 10, 2018 { 19 comments }A must have for any gun collector or enthusiast, the new Ruger AR-556 MPR in 450 Bushmaster is a pleasure to shoot as well as look at.
The Browning Hi Power: The Superlative WWII Combat Handgun That Played Both Sides
Published: November 9, 2018 { 32 comments }The Hi Power has the dubious distinction of being the only production firearm to see general issue among both Allied and Axis forces during World War II. It’s still in service throughout the world today.
Still Champion: The New Glock 19 Gen5 MOS
Published: November 3, 2018 { 35 comments }Glock has course-corrected with the new Glock 19 Gen5 MOS FS, answering customer complaints with improvements and making what may be the best Glock ever.
Review: The Rock River Arms Polymer-Framed 1911
Published: October 28, 2018 { 20 comments }No one knows what John Browning would’ve thought of a polymer 1911, but it is possible to judge how it performs. And we did just that.
Big Horn Armory AR500: 3,700 ft-lbs of Big Bore Record-Breaking Awesomeness (Full Review)
Published: October 27, 2018 { 24 comments }The AR500 is, according to the company’s claims and my own research, the most powerful short-range semi-auto rifle in the world. Chambered in the .50-caliber 500 Auto Max cartridge, the AR500 packs a wallop in a modified AR-10 platform. Combined with Buffalo Bore’s 350, 400, and 440 grain loads, the AR500 is ready to bring down, quite literally, any kind of critter you’re hoping to hunt.
The Webley Revolver: The Seminal British Combat Wheelgun
Published: October 26, 2018 { 10 comments }Lieutenant Blowers carried nothing more than his six-shot Webley revolver as a personal defense weapon. Crawling through fetid German trenches stacked deep with corpses both fresh and otherwise, Blowers and his crew picked their way across the most dangerous terrain on earth.
Review: The M48 Nosler Custom Handgun. Steady As She Goes!
Published: October 19, 2018 { 18 comments }The M48 Nosler Custom Handgun as a hunting handgun which challenges the hunter. It’s also a lot of fun to shoot, once you get used to it.
Walther’s New PPQ Subcompact Raises the Bar in the Concealed Carry Market (Full Review)
Published: October 18, 2018 { 24 comments }The explosion of the concealed carry market has meant nothing but good news for gun nuts. Gun manufacturers have been more than happy to oblige, though some have been quicker than others. Walther is among the last of the major handgun companies to offer a subcompact semi-auto, but, as the old saying goes, good things come to those who wait.
The Story Behind the SA XDM 10mm, 10,000 Round Test
Published: October 10, 2018 { 28 comments }When the new XDM came up, I asked Springfield Armory if they were ready to dance. Not only did they say yes, but they knew a good ammo guy. My proposal was 10,000 rounds, every round shot on camera. That is a huge risk for a new gun, and I had no way of knowing if it would survive.
Heizer Defense PKO – 45 Defines Big Bore Slim
Published: October 6, 2018 { 20 comments }Heizer Defense, the creators of the Pocket Shotgun, Pocket AR, and Pocket AK single-shot pistols, recently added a 45 Auto semi-auto pistol to their product line. With some innovative engineering, and liberal use of the unexpected, the PKO-45 is an amazingly thin single-stack 45 semi-auto that may be the ideal IWB concealed carry pistol for those looking for large caliber in a slim package.
Beretta APX Centurion and Compact
Published: October 6, 2018 { 0 comments }Earlier this year, Beretta announced additions to the APX family: The Centurion and the Compact. Both are built for the worst-case scenario.
Upgrading the Mossberg Patriot Predator with a Boyds Pro Varmint Stock
Published: October 6, 2018 { 10 comments }Consider a Boyds Pro Varmint as a replacement for the Mossberg Patriot Predator Stock as a modular solution for shooting from a prone position.
SW1911 Pro Series 3” 9mm: Full Review
Published: September 30, 2018 { 15 comments }Somehow, the folks at Smith’s Performance Center have made the 1911 mini-me in 9mm with all the bells and whistles that runs like a full-grown model.
Leupold’s Combat Competition Hunter Reticle: Multi-Purpose Perfection?
Published: September 29, 2018 { 4 comments }This reticle was created for combat, competition, and hunting scenarios. It’s clearly made for fast, accurate holds.
Springfield OSP 2: The Operative Special
Published: September 29, 2018 { 13 comments }For a complete tactical solution, the XD(M) has some shortcomings. Springfield Armory heard that concern and and did something: They fixed them.
224 Valkyrie 16 and 18 inch Barrels Chronographed
Published: September 23, 2018 { 27 comments }Ever since we learned about the new 224 Valkyrie round from Federal and its alleged performance, the questions have been fast and furious. But how does this perform out of a 16 or 18-inch barrel?
Best Value Commander Size 1911 – New Taurus Handgun Packs Features at a Low Price
Published: September 21, 2018 { 32 comments }Taurus USA has been manufacturing 1911’s since 2005, and this year they released two new models based on Colt’s legendary designs. The Officer and Commander are both chambered in 45ACP and offer consumers all the features of a modern 1911 without the modern price tag.
Browning’s M1911 and the Tale of a U.S. Combat Engineer in Italy
Published: September 21, 2018 { 34 comments }The 1911 pistol is as much a part of the fabric of America as is baseball, fast cars, and pretty girls. Literally, countless young men headed off into harm’s way with one of Mr. Browning’s hand cannons tucked into their belts.
Magpul Showcases New Fall 2018 Apparel Catalog With Slick Video
Published: September 17, 2018 { 5 comments }Designed and focused around the shooting lifestyle, we’ve created seven unique apparel items that support the carriage, movement, and comfort you need.
Big Horn Armory Model 89: A John Wayne Gun for the Modern Gunslinger In 500 S&W
Published: September 14, 2018 { 43 comments }The rifles by Big Horn are beautiful. But the owner of Big Horn said, “We don’t build safe queens, son. We build guns to be used.” That is my kind of party.
Wilson Combat Custom Glock 43
Published: September 14, 2018 { 10 comments }Wilson recently expanded their Glock customizations. I happened to have a Glock 43 in the safe so I was all in. But I still couldn’t believe the final product.
The M1 Carbine and The Story of War Hero Jack Lucas
Published: September 14, 2018 { 25 comments }The M1 carbine was designed as a Personal Defense Weapon of sorts. It combined the portability of a handgun with the magazine capacity of an autoloading rifle.
The Chosen One: The Army’s M-17 Pistol Review
Published: September 8, 2018 { 66 comments }The service handguns chosen by the Army have always become essential weapons; the Remington New Army, the Colt Single Action Army, Browning’s M-1911 and the M-9 Beretta are all classics. Now you can get the latest chapter in this historic line, the SIG M17.
Marlin Model 70PSS “Papoose”: Small Package, Big Fun, Survival Ready
Published: September 8, 2018 { 14 comments }The word “papoose” comes from the Algonquian word “papoos” and means “child.” Marlin’s diminutive semi-auto rifle has undergone a variety of iterations over the last thirty-odd years, but the original concept behind the famous nickname has remained the same. Today’s Model 70PSS is designed to fit anywhere, be shot by anyone, and tag along on whatever adventure comes next.
The Smith and Wesson M1917 .45ACP: A Big-Bore World War Wheelgun (#3 – Allied Small Arms WWII)
Published: September 8, 2018 { 19 comments }The M1911 was the finest combat handgun at the time of the World Wars. For close range firepower and reliability, nothing beat the M1917 revolver.
The 6.5-300 Weatherby – Lightning in a Bottle
Published: September 3, 2018 { 2 comments }In 1945, Roy Weatherby introduced three cartridges that became synonymous with speed. That has always been Weatherby’s calling card: high velocity equals flat trajectory, and they’ve stuck with that concept.























