Gun Reviews

If you’re looking for a value-priced AR-15, Stag Arms is a must see. The company’s been building US-made ARs for the last decade. And when I say US-made, I don’t mean US assembled. Stag Arms makes every part, except for the plastic parts and a few springs, right here in the US of A. The plastic parts and springs are made here too, just not at the Stag plant. Stag, known for building left handed ARs for all us lefties, just announced two new left-handed guns. So wipe that smug smile off your face, righties. We got one too. The new rifles are the left-handed versions of the Model 3T and 3T-M Series. These ARs are chambered for 5.56, meaning they can shoot both 5.56 and .223. Guns chambered for .223 can’t fire 5.56. But you already knew that. The difference between the two series is in how the guns are outfitted. The 3T has polymer DiamondHead front and rear sights, the 3T-M has aluminum DiamondHead sights. The 3T wears a mil-spec collapsible stock, the 3T-M, a Magpul ACS, and so forth. Check it out in the video. It’s much better to see it with your own eyes. Plus Julie’s a lot easier on the peepers than my blather.

Glock is rocking the show with two new pistols. The first is their all-new G42. This is a sub-compact .380 auto – slim, compact, and super concealable. In fact, it’s the smallest Glock ever introduced. They’ve combined the small size of the .380 auto platform with Glock dependability to give you a gun you can count on when the chips are down. You can see the new G42 here. The other new Glock is their G41 Gen 4 — what they call their “practical/tactical.” This is in essence G21 internals and dimensions with a G41 slide. The longer barrel and slide help reduce muzzle flip while providing a longer sight radius for more accurate shot placement. The combination delivers an improvement in weight distribution, resulting in a well-balanced .45 ACP pistol for competition, self defense or duty carry. With a 13-round magazine, you can be sure of bringing plenty of fire power with you. Weight is a respectable 27 ounces empty. The trigger weight is a typical Glock trigger weight of 5.5 pounds. In all it is a very nice configuration for a lighter, better balanced, full size .45.

Unless you’re living in a dumpster, you’re probably aware of the TV program Duck Dynasty. It’s about the Robertsons, the first family of duck hunting, who have endorsed the new Mossberg Duck Commander series of shotguns. So whether or not you agree that Phil’s right to free speech was violated when he was kicked off the program, you know they at least have good taste in shotguns. Like so much of their gear (and clothing), the Duck Commander series comes in Real Tree cammo. Not only are they great 12 or 20 gauge autoloaders, every gun also comes with one of Willie’s red, white and blue bandanas. Then there’s the MVP patrol Rifle series. I can’t tell you if they endorsed the bolt action MVP Patrol Rifle, but I would be surprised if they didn’t have a few around the house. The MVP comes in .308 Winchester and, get this, accepts either M1A or AR style mags! How cool is that. Finally, we had to check out the new Mossberg Center Mass Laser. This laser mounts to the side of your shotgun and projects a circle of laser dots with one dot in the center. The farther away the target is, the more it opens up, just like an actual shot pattern. What a great accessory for your home defense gun. Bet Silas has one of those on the gun under his bed.

Taurus has their new concealed carry revolver here at SHOT show, and it is turning heads. This new little pistol is called The View and it’s easy to see why. A substantial section of the gun’s frame is made of clear Lexan. The rest of the frame is aluminum alloy. But don’t worry about the strength of frame. The titanium cylinder and stainless steel lined titanium barrel are going to take most of the punishment.

Sig Sauer, long known for its innovative firearms designs, is moving into an entirely new arena and doing it in a big way. The Sig P320 is striker-fired pistol. That alone would be news enough for a company that has a dedicated following of shooters who like exposed hammers. But no. Sig is upping the ante. The Sig P320 is modular. One gun can be changed up to various frame sizes, or slide lengths, or calibers.

Smith & Wesson is still the undisputed reigning revolver champ. Its standard production revolvers are better than most of the competition’s tricked out top end guns. Its Performance Center guns are even better, and much more expensive. The company just introduced a new 9mm revolver in their Pro Series line that is meant to offer more custom features at more manageable prices.

While Colt is well known for their early revolvers, Government Model 1911, and various ARs, the company also happens to build very high quality bolt action rifles with the hunter and competitor in mind. These are the kind of guns you use when you want to reach out and touch something, whether a game animal in the wide open spaces or a target on the 1,000 meter range. The new rifles Colt brought to SHOT Show are an expansion of their popular M2012 series. As in the earlier versions, the new guns come with matc- grade fluted barrels and Timney single-stage adjustable triggers. The new model designations are M2012MT308T and M2012LT308G/M2012LT260G. It’s not really as complicated a naming scheme as it appears. The model is M2012, the 308 and 260 refer to the calibers, the MT and LT indicate how the gun is configured, and the T and G designate…OK it is as complicated as it seems. But that doesn’t detract from the exceptional quality they bring to the game.

When we stopped at the Benelli SHOT Show booth, three guns caught our eye – the Benelli ETHOS shotgun, the Franchi 3 1/2” Intensity shotgun and the Uberti 1873 Lever-Action Competition rifle, a trio of exceptional guns from the Benelli family of companies.The heart of the ETHOS shotgun is Benelli’s Inertia Driven System. Proven in nearly half a century of use in the most demanding competition and field applications, this simple but extremely effective system provides the operator with a number of benefits. There are only three primary parts – the bolt body, inertia spring, and rotating bolt head. Simplicity translates to reliability. It never needs adjusting and can handle a variety of loads from 3 ½” magnums to light field loads. The low mass of the moving parts makes for a fast cycle time, giving you quicker follow-up shots. And the locked bolt keeps powder residue in the barrel for a cleaner action. The AA-Grade walnut stock was not only gorgeous, it also housed a recoil reduction system. The ETHOS wore a light weight carbon fiber vent rib incorporating an interchangeable front sight so you can use the best color for the day’s hunt. Red, green and yellow fiber-optics are included. Take a look at this fast-loading, fast-shooting and beautiful-to-behold example of the gun maker’s art.

The Pro-Custom 18.9 isn’t your typical 1911. It might look like its ancestors, but it has a distinct difference. The double-stack magazine holds 18 rounds of 9mm. While I’m hesitant to call that an advantage, it does have its benefits. If you’re looking for a fast race gun, you won’t have nearly as many reloads with the 18.9 as you would with a .45 ACP 1911 (even one that’s a double-stack). And because it is a 9mm, you can still get a decent grip on the gun.

Noreen Firearms has a new AR patterned rifle. A new AR. Right. We’ve heard that a lot at SHOT show. You don’t even have to be here in Vegas to hear someone yammering on about a new AR. But Noreen’s guns are a little bit different. It’s an AR all right, but not a 15 or a 10. An AR 10 isn’t a big enough platform for this big boy. We are talking a true long-action AR. One big enough for 30-06.

Perazzi knows how to make a hell of a good shotgun and brought a plethora of them to SHOT show this year. The most exciting one for most of us is the new MXS series of scatterguns. These are Perazzi’s new, more “affordable” line of sporting shotguns. Affordable is subjective. In order to keep the costs down, Perazzi isn’t using the fanciest wood or including the beautiful engraving we usually expect from a Perazzi. That’s not to say that the wood or the finish is lacking. The MXS is most certainly nicer than you would find on your standard run-of-the-mill shotgun (if you don’t mind the large “MXS” carved on the side of the receiver).

If the popularity of the 101-year-old Browning-designed Model 1911 pistol tells us anything, it’s that great guns get even better through the application of modern technology. Remington took a page out of that playbook in the design of its newest pistol, the 9mm R51. What today is a beautiful sub-compact concealed carry gun started in 1917 as the Remington Model 51, designed by John Pederson. Pederson was a contemporary of John Browning, who called him “the greatest gun designer in the world.” Remington based its new gun on the Pederson design, resulting in a pistol with a crisp trigger, reliable action and a low bore to reduce felt recoil.

Daniel Defense makes guns that are well known for their great shooting barrels. The new V9 series of M4 rifles in 5.56 feature three barrel profiles, allowing buyers to select the barrel that best meets their needs. There are a number of features which make the Daniel Defense barrels so good. The first is that they’re cold hammer forged. This process hydraulically hammers the barrel blanks around a mandrel that forms the chamber, lands and grooves. The forging process relieves the strain normally found in a barrel blank while delivering exceptional consistency in chamber size. Both contribute to improved accuracy. The barrels are then externally treated using a Melonite treatment, named for the Melonite salt used. This Nitrocarburizing process results in a smooth, slick surface that improves the surface hardness of the barrel while increasing resistance to corrosion and carbon adhesion. The three barrel profiles available in the V9 series include the16” government profile barrel, 16” lightweight profile and the 18” strength-to-weight (S2W) barrel.

The popular IWI US Tavor SAR won this year’s NRA Golden Bullseye Award presented for the best products in the shooting sports. IWI is building on that popularity and customer demand by introducing a complete kit to convert your Tavor from 5.56 to 9mm. If you’ve ever fired a 5.56 gun indoors without ear protection, such as in a home defense situation, you can appreciate just how loud it is. The same platform in 9mm would produce a lower level of sound with the added benefit of less recoil. The 9mm is also easier to quiet with a sound suppressor and less expensive for training. The kit comes complete with a 17” cold hammer-forged barrel, complete blowback recoil assembly including the bolt and carrier, 9 mm magazine magwell adapter, 9mm deflector, 32-round steel magazine and a barrel removal wrench. All you have to add is the ammo.

CZ-USA’s Western Series 550 Sonoran bolt action rifle is highly accurate and extremely tough. These aren’t run-of-the mill production guns. CZ-USA takes Czech actions and custom builds the rifles to give you a rifle you can depend on when the chips are down. Each and every rifle is ferritic nitrocarbonized inside and out. That brings the surface hardness up to Rockwell 72, making the gun nearly impervious to wear and corrosion. It also improves lubricity, meaning you can use less lubricant for a cleaner-running action. As an added bonus, it doubles barrel life. The Sonorran wears the industry’s first all carbon fiber stock and sports such features as a fluted barrel, adjustable trigger and guaranteed accuracy of 1 minute of angle or better. It’s available in four models: .270 and 30-06 with a 24” barrel and .300 Win. Mag and 7mm Mag with a 26” barrel. MSRP is $3199.

Traditions is well known in the black powder community as a manufacturer of superior firearms. The company produces old-fashioned-style flintlocks, but it also makes some of the most advanced black powder muzzle loaders available. The Strikefire rifles use a primer to ignite the main charge. The primers are ignited by an internal hammer. A simple slide of the lock button is all that’s needed to cock the hammer. Should you wish to de-cock it without firing, simply move the same lock switch to the rear, or break the action. You can see it more clearly in the video. A two-stage competition-style trigger with a break force of two pounds means that when you’re on target, you won’t upset your sight picture by firing the gun. The Strikefire system also improves lock time further improving accuracy. Safety wasn’t an afterthought, either. The Vortex Strikefire rifles incorporate not only a trigger block safety but are also equipped with an internal striker block safety. An alloy frame reduces weight, and a Ceracoat finish ensures corrosion resistance. The Ceracoat also makes cleaning a lot easier. To facilitate cleaning the barrel, simply remove the screw-in breech plug, giving you unobstructed access. The end result of the application of modern technology is a fast-loading, consistent-firing and accurate shooting rifle. With an MSRP in the mid $500s, it won’t break the bank either.

Ed Brown Products started life as a machine shop producing parts to consistently close tolerances. This experience greatly influenced the company’s manufacturing as it evolved into a custom 1911 manufacturer. Ed Brown Products is here at Shot Show 2014 showcasing a collection of beautiful guns. If you’re looking for a special 1911, you have to check out the unique pieces coming out of this shop. Because every part of the 1911s is produced in-house, you have a wide selection of components, finishes, and engraving from which to choose. There are four series of guns– the Classic series, Executive, Kobra, and Special Forces. Each has its own unique features and checkering patterns. There is also an in-house master engraver to provide whatever look you desire. Whether you’re looking for a full-size 1911 Commander in stainless steel with black Generation III coating or a Special Forces gun, Ed Brown can help you make it uniquely your own.

Connecticut Shotgun is here at SHOT Show this year with a nice selection of even nicer shotguns. As the name of the company implies, these shotguns are made in New Britain, Connecticut—right here in the good old USA. Just about every gun maker in the country used to make a side-by-side shotgun, but that era is long gone. Connecticut claims to be the only American shotgun company making side-by-sides here now, and I can’t prove them wrong. Will the company be able to hold its own with the foreign competition that dominates the high-end market?

Crye Precision, a company known for tactical gear popular with law enforcement and active duty military personnel, has made a gun unlike anything we have seen at the SHOT Show this year. Actually, it’s not like anything we’ve ever seen before. The Six12 is a bullpup revolving shotgun. The gun holds six rounds of 12 gauge (get it) in a revolving cylinder. The Six12s are designed to mount to AR platform rails, and make an AR look even much more aggressive. And it looks like it is going to be popular. We had to fight through an excited crowd to get you these pictures.

Navy Arms https://www.navyarms.com/ Navy Arms is back, although it didn’t really go away; it has just been a long time since it has sold firearms. The company has entered into collaboration with Winchester and Turnbull to create a remarkably well-built and beautiful 1873 Winchester lever action. The guns are manufactured in Japan by Winchester and [...]

We’re fans of a good pistol caliber carbine. Every year we see more options for those who want a gun that offers increased accuracy and better ergonomics. Yet it is hard to beat some of the old-fashioned workhorses of the past. The M1 Carbine, with its rich pugilistic lineage, can be a serious tool for home protection, and a fun gun too. But .30 carbine isn’t easy to find these days, and it isn’t as cheap as it should be, either. 9mm, on the other hand, is back on the shelves just about everywhere. Why not chamber an M1 in 9mm? Citadel has done just that.

Cabot Guns Cabot Guns makes 1911s with aerospace precision.  Their pistols are tighter than tight. They guarantee that the slide to frame fit is 0.001 of an inch or less.  Cabot has made what is a one-of-a-kind Damascus 1911.  President and CEO Robert Bianchin said it might be the toughest task they have taken on to [...]

Kel-Tec introduced not one, but two new bullpup rifles—the RDB outfitted in tactical attire and the M43 with beautiful wood furniture for you traditionalists. Both guns are in 5.56, feature an adjustable gas piston operating system and are ambidextrous. One of the problems with trying to build an ambidextrous bullpup, of course, is that side-ejecting spent casings come out in your ear if you’re firing left-handed, and front-ejecting guns are complex. Kel-Tec solves this problem with an ingeniously simple downward ejection behind the mag well. The RDB sports a tactical picatinny rail and polymer stock, and it comes suppressor-ready. The M43 features folding iron sights and a wood handguard, pistol grip and stock embellishment. These are both accurate, soft-firing guns for close quarters or long-distance work. You get a full 17.4” barrel in a compact package with an overall length of just over 26”. Production guns are expected to hit the dealer pipeline sometime in the fourth quarter of this year. MSRP will be in the $1,900 – 2,000 range. Watch the video for a first look at these two innovative rifles.

Whether you are looking for modern polymer frame pistols or the enduring Model 1911, Kahr has you covered. When it comes to a self-defense carry gun, you have to find a balance between concealability and function. Kahr has done a remarkable job with their slim, lightweight CT45 and CT40. These two guns achieve excellent concealability through the use of a single stack magazine, narrow frame and clean, snag-free design. However, Kahr didn’t do it at the expense of shootability. Both guns feature 4” barrels, and a full length grip holding seven rounds of either .40 S&W or .45 acp. With the stopping power of these two calibers and the accuracy of a 4” barrel, eight rounds should be enough to win the fight. A polymer frame, stainless steel barrel & slide assembly and an MSRP of $449 makes for a winning combination.

There’s a time and a place for small guns. The Beretta Pico is the latest in a long of defensive handguns from the venerable firearms family. The Pico’s lines are reminiscent of the Nano, only the Pico is small enough to drop in your pocket. And Beretta’s putting a fashionable twist on the diminutive .380: it will be available in a traditional two-tone or with a variety of colorful frames.

Sometimes we know what we’re going to see at the SHOT Show. But there are always surprises. One of the best surprises at the range today was the Escort Gladius 20 Gauge Home Defense Shotgun. Escort Shotguns, a division of Legacy Sports International, does not have the following enjoyed by its domestic competition, but if the Gladius is any indication, these shotguns will be winning people over.

Springfield Armory is announcing a new variant of the XD-S for 2014. It is the logical next step in the evolution of the sensationally popular XD-S sub-compact format. No, it’s not a new caliber offering – it is a new barrel length! Springfield has stretched the 3.3” barrel just ever so much to an even 4 inches. Why is this significant? For starters – recoil. I obtained my copy of the XD-S in 2012 in the initial offering of .45 ACP. If you have ever fired that gun, you know that it has some “personality” to it. Simple physics I’m afraid. Less size and weight of the handgun means more felt recoil for the shooter. The 2013 introduction of the 9mm version was welcomed by many because of the reduced pressures of that round, but it still has some snap. A 4” offering of this same gun adds weight where it is needed most – out at the muzzle. This helps reduce felt recoil. The XDS-9 4.0 also has a longer sight radius; adding ¾” to the length of the slide allows Springfield to push the front sight further forward by that same distance. This translates to a more accurate sight picture and better shots. Small errors in aiming are more noticeable, and therefore easier to correct with a longer sight radius.

One of the biggest stories at SHOT Show for 2014 is a new single-stack .380ACP 6+1 from Glock called the Model 42. We were able to get a first look at the gun, and it is a lot of gun in a very small package. Most important, it is a Glock, and that carries a lot of weight with gun buyers in the market. Known for their ubiquitous “safe action” pistols, Glock is perhaps the biggest name in pistols in the gun world. The G42, at 13.6 ounces, 6 inches long tip to tail, 4 inches high from the top of the sight to the bottom of the magazine, and 13/16ths of an inch thick, is slightly bigger and heavier than the other micro .380s in the market, but small enough to be pocketed comfortably. The barrel is about 3 3/16ths or 3.2 inches long. The G42 handles much better than the tiniest of the pocket .380s, and we were able to shoot it into less than one-inch groups at 10 yards with Winchester range ammo. The only hiccup was that the G42 didn’t like Hornady Critical Defense, but that could be just because this is an early writer sample, and it is a brand new gun of course. The best carry gun is always going to be the gun you will actually carry and that you shoot well. A nice light, small and easy-shooting Glock .380 has been long awaited. We don’t have a projected MSRP for it yet, but as an everyday concealed-carry gun, this new Glock 42 should do very well.

The widely acclaimed Ruger LCR (Lightweight Compact Revolver) just got even better. As you know, the LCR is one of Ruger’s best-selling guns. They hit a home run when they introduced the first polymer revolver in January of 2009, and since then they’ve added several new versions to broaden the market for this revolutionary snub nose. The latest is the .38 spcl./.38spcl+P version with an external hammer—the LCRx. Don’t worry, the addition of the hammer hasn’t changed any of the great handling and shooting qualities of the double-action-only (DAO) LCR. It still has the same polymer lower housing that holds the fire control components, the same aluminum alloy upper and the same stainless steel barrel liner and cylinder. However, with this model you have the option of pulling the hammer back and firing in single-action (SA) mode.