Gun Reviews

So why would we or you want to do something like this? Well, contrary to what a lot of people think stainless does not mean rustless. Stainless steel will, can, and does rust. Now it is not as prone to corrosion as regular steel, but it will happen. Coating a stainless gun might be the equivalent of putting on two condoms, but sometimes its better to be have a little extra protection. See what WMD can do.

Black Aces Tactical’s take on the pump scattergun is pushing the limits. The DT has an 8.5″ barrel, and a folding stock. There are very few functional guns in this class that are more ergonomic and effective. Yet this 12 gauge beast is not a shotgun, and it is not an AOW, and it is not a short barreled shotgun. It is a firearm, and perfectly legal–and functionally perfect. Read our review.

So what do you get out of a mid priced 1911 that you don’t from a budget pistol? Mostly fit and finish. I also expect some upgraded features, like checkering on the mainspring housing, nice grips and good sights. That is what this Dan Wesson Heritage delivers. And it looks good, too. Read our review

Let’s assume you have some rimfire rounds on hand–and I know some of you do–what should you do with them? For those of you with an M9, I’d suggest this conversion kit. If you have the ammo, it makes training with the Beretta practical and economical.

Since the centennial of the 1911, the market has been flooded with new twists on the classic Browning design. But not all 1911s are created equal. But there are some that depart from the old traditions and still manage to feel completely purposeful in their design. The Springfield Armory TRP is one of those guns, and it can hold its own against a lot of custom single actions. Looking for a 1911 to carry everyday? Here it is.

Some 9mm ARs feel a bit half baked, like the gun can’t decide if it wants to be a carbine or an AR pistol. Others cobble together parts to make the mags fit. Not this one. Stag’s new 9T is a full on rifle. There’s nothing about this gun that’s a compromise, and it may change the way you think about the pistol caliber concept.

Shhh! At the request of Springfield Armory, we’re going to keep quiet for a little while. I picked up a package yesterday from the folks in Geneseo, and in the box were too shiny new pistols. I mean really new, like not even on the shelves yet. And they’ve made some really big changes.

Those discerning single action aficionados amongst us already know the Nighthawk name. Their 1911s aren’t dressed up in elaborate finishes. They don’t have exotic grips. These are hard working guns meant to be carried, and shot. I recently had the chance to put the 9mm T4 through its paces, and the compact carry gun has changed the way I think about single actions. I’m a skeptic, but I’d carry this gun–no question about it.

We’ve covered do-it-yourself lowers, but are here today with a new installment. This 80% lower is cut from an aluminum billet. And you can finish it off with a few simple tools. No milling machine needed. The jigs and instructions from 80% Arms make finishing their lower surprisingly easy. Check out or review of the process.

I grew up with the MAC 10, but the gun was rarely portrayed in a favorable light. It was the emblem of the war-on-drugs. Now, though, the old open bolt automatic seems like an antique. Or it did until Masterpiece Arms updated their defender line. This take on the old classic is completely updated, and my new favorite large-framed 9mm.

The recent dominance of the bullpup shotgun has made the pistol grip scatter-gun seem old fashioned. But there’s still a place for the reliability of a pump shotgun. But operating a shotgun without a stock is a challange. So how practical are these cinematic beasts?

Dan Wesson double action revolvers are back. It has been about 10 years since there have been new production DW revolvers on the market. CZ USA, which bought the Dan Wesson company in 2005, have made pistols under the name but until late last year a very limited number of revolvers. And not just any revolver, the awesome Dan Wesson model 715 is back and it looks like it is here to stay.

How do you control the myriad of factors that influence long range accuracy? You need decent math skills. You should choose your ammunition carefully. But you really need to start with the gun itself. Many long range shooters depend on a chassis for their rifle that can fit their needs precisely. Are they worth the extra effort and expense? We’ll answer this with the help of Accuracy International’s new AX AICS.

Smaller isn’t always better. You wouldn’t know it from the emphasis on single-stack pistols that is dominating the news lately. But what do you sacrifice? What if I were to tell you that you could have the capacity of a double-stack magazine and it would only be .25″ wider than your single stack? The XD Mod 2 .45 ACP, the latest concealed carry gun from Springfield-Armory, offers just that.

Are you a revolver fan, or a do you pack a pistol? Even if the answer to that question is easy, it may not be as simple to pick a winner in this head-to-head. The Colt Python vs. The Coonan Compact. Which one is a better delivery platform for the hard hitting .357 Magnum?

In the realm of budget 1911s the American Classic stands out for the “extras” they come with. I am not talking about the other stuff in the box, I mean the stuff on the pistol its self. This is a solid commander sized 1911. Metro Arms offers a lot of bang for your buck on this pistol. There are a few fit and finish issues and the mold lines left on some parts does bother me some. But that is being a bit nit-picky. The American Classic Commander works and shoots like a champ, and that is what really matters, right?

The Savage M-11 Trophy Hunter XP is a ready-to-go hunting solution that helps simplify the learning curve. It comes preconfigured with a bore-sighted Nikon 3-9x optic with a ballistic drop compensation reticle. Take it out of the box, add ammo, and shoot. It couldn’t be easier.

I sometimes have a hard time finding meaningful differences between black rifles. This isn’t one of them. The LWRC Tricon MK6 is very different. Designed in coordination with former SEAL and renowned trainer Jeff Gonzales, the rifle is built for service. And right now,if you buy an LWRC, they’ll throw in an Aimpoint T1. This is a great deal.

Yep, Winchester made a 1911. But it is not the 1911 you are looking for. This is the 1911 SL. The SL stands for self loading. This 1911 is a shotgun. Unlike the other 1911, this one was not designed by John Browning but he influenced the design in an interesting way.

Although the Steyr AUG’s design is over 40 years old, its innovative design and futuristic looks are almost timeless and would not look too out of place in the hands of a sci-fi star trooper. Looks aside, the AUG continues to define the bullpup rifle.

Here’s the big dilemma: thousands GLOCK fans bought the GLOCK 42 because they couldn’t buy a 43. Thousands of others bought single stack 9mms from Kel-Tec, Skky, Ruger, Smith, Beretta, Bersa, Taurus, Springfield…. Some even ponied up for some ill-fated Remingtons. And now we all have to decide. Do you stick with what you have? Do you swap your old-standby for a 43?

The 1911 is now 104 years old. Some of you will say that it is not relevant and is, at best, an historic relic that deserves some respect. I am not of that camp. I carry a 1911 as an EDC. But I don’t carry one that looks like it came off of John Mosses’ work bench. Over those 104 years there have been some great and simple modifications to the original design that makes for a better EDC.

So this gun is not exactly old. But Ruger stopped making them in 1973 and they have become more and more collectable and valuable. The name 3 Screw is in reference to the 3 Screws on the side of the frame. The new models have 2 pins. If you are fan of the single action revolver and have never shot one of these you owe it to yourself to do so. In my opinion, they are just about the best production single action revolvers ever made. Bear with me while I attempt to back that statement up!

I have had the TNW ARS in for a couple of months during this review process. I carried it in a backpack in my Jeep as a survival rifle. Thankfully I never needed it to be that but I am confident it would have filled the roll nicely. I live in a big town, but travel into rural areas a couple of times a week. A breakdown type carbine is a great choice for my situation. Pack a bag with the Areo, 4-5 loaded magazine, 2 boxes of ammo, a first aid kit, water and a bit of food and I have a great little survival kit.

People get really emotional about Hi-Point guns. You could say that folks “either love them or hate them,” but I think there is a better explanation than that. Quality control and customer service are always an issue with small and fast growing companies. Hi-Point has had its ups and downs, so some people got good guns, and some people got very bad guns. Everyone I know who has purchased a Hi-Point in the last few years has been delighted with it, and my local gun dealer said that he sells a ton of them and none of them ever come back as having problems. To me that says that the word on the street is that Hi-Point guns are now generally reliable, and they have always been very inexpensive for what you get…when it works.

1873 was a big year in the firearms world. Colt’s new single action was adopted by the Army and Winchester came out with their best lever action to date. Originally chambered in .44 W.C.F., aka 44-40, the 1873 Winchester was the most powerful of the lever guns when it was introduced. This was a huge step forward from the rimfire .44 caliber used in the Henry and earlier Winchester rifles.

Have you ever wanted a close quarters battle rifle that could could easily be concealed in a small case? One that assembles in seconds? The DRD Tactical M762 is a hard hitting rifle with a hard hitting price tag–but what you get for the money make just make this perfect concealable rifle.

The GLOCK 43 is a reality. A single stack 9mm that proves the rumors to be true. And GunsAmerica has an inside look at the gun. So how does it stack up to the other GLOCKs? Read on to find out more.

The MVP Patrol is a 7 ½ pound rifle. As the name implies, it is short, light and handy enough to tote around in a car or pack. The 16 ¼ inch barrel is capped by a standard birdcage flash hider, which means that threading for suppressor attachment is already there. The composite stock is thick and sturdy. The Patrol in .308 is a hard use rifle, not a svelte and trim hunting gun, although there’s no reason it wouldn’t serve as a great field rifle. Read our review….