Gun Reviews

Taylors had their new Alaskan Takedown at the range for SHOT Show, and we put it through its paces. Taylors is well known in the cowboy action shooting and historical circles. The Alaskan Takedown is a departure for Taylors, and a step into the modern era by a company that primarily deals with historical interpretations of firearms from the 19th Century. And we’re smitten. The more utilitarian chamberings and compact design make the Alaskan Takedown the perfect pack gun.

The Browning Automatic Rifle is a beast of a gun. I’m not talking about the svelte modern hunting rifle; I’m talking about the chunky BAR the US Marines lugged across the scraggly patchwork islands in the Pacific. That big son-of-a-bitch the Japanese hated. I don’t blame them. I sure wouldn’t want to face a Leatherneck with a shoulder fired full auto rifle throwing .30-06. The BAR, which was designed way back in 1917, was already dated in the 1940s, as heavy rifles were slowly replaced by lighter and lighter squad automatic rifles. Yet there’s still a mystique to the old gun. Ohio Ordinance has been making semi-automatic BARs for years, but they’re making news with an “updated” version that they showed off at the SHOT Show this year.

American Tactical Imports (ATI) is a worldwide importer of firearms, ammunition and tactical gear. We stopped at ATI’s SHOT Show booth looking for the newest product to show you. They were most excited about the new hybrid AR lower, so we checked it out. It’s a good-looking piece that combines polymer with molded-in steel inserts at critical points like the buffer tube takedown and the trigger group mounting screws. It’s lightweight and comes either as a stripped lower, so you can add your own parts, or as a complete lower with a retractable rear stock. MSRP is $50 for the stripped version and $170 for the complete lower.

American Rifle Company has been building and selling some great scope mounts, but the intent has always been to build guns. The company was at SHOT Show with the prototypes for these guns, most notably the M2 precision rifle. This is a multi-caliber platform that will handle everything from .308 Winchester to .338 Lapua Magnum. While their other rifle, the M5 Mausenfield, was built on a Remington 700 footprint, the M2 has a custom footprint. American Rifle paired this custom footprint with a Springfield ejector and a Mauser type extractor. It basically cherry picked the best features of the guns out there and then invented what the designers couldn’t find, like the toroidal bolt head. The bolt head has semi circular bolt lugs. The bearing surface of the lugs engages a spherical bearing surface in the receiver, creating very strong lock up, which means that the bolt is insensitive to its alignment in the receiver. This is just one feature that contributes to the gun’s overall accuracy.

Organized in 1894 in Utica, NY, Savage Arms is one of our favorite gun makers. Not only does it make great guns, but the company sells them at excellent prices, ensuring that you’re getting real value. In keeping with its philosophy of delivering value, Savage introduced a new version of its popular Axis rifle this year. As you may know, the Axis is America’s best-selling bolt action rifle. In a gun test we did last year with a number of bolt action rifles, we were able to get one minute of angle accuracy with it. That’s all rounds into one inch at 100 yards. The new gun, dubbed the Axis II Xp, is an upgraded version of the original Axis. For an extra $89 you get the famous AccuTrigger that’s not available on the original Axis, plus an upgraded scope. The new scope is a Weaver Kaspa 3-9×40, professionally mounted and bore sighted. The scope alone is valued at $100 more than the scope on the original Axis. Add in the AccuTrigger, and you can see what I mean about Savage delivering value. The Axis II also comes in a youth model, and, for the ladies, is available in the Muddy Girl camo pattern that we’ve been seeing all over the show.

Thanks to the Army’s Individual Carbine Program, LWRC International has developed updated versions of its legacy rifles. The new IC PSD replaces the A2 PSD, and the IC A2 replaces the M6 A2. Both iterations are fully ambidextrous and incorporate a number of engineering changes to make the guns more durable and more reliable. The sexiest member of the series is the ICPDW with a 7 3/4” barrel chambered for 5.56. The big changes to this model are the retractable stock and new buffer system, which make for a more compact package—perfect for carrying under your trench coat for those low-profile, highly classified missions. LWRC International ARs are equipped with hammer forged barrels, and nickel alloy coatings on the bolt carrier, hammers and triggers for hard, greaseless, permanently lubricious surfaces.

Generally speaking, a company introducing a new 1911 wouldn’t make much of a stir. That’s not the case with the EAA 1911. This is the first polymer frame 1911 made by any company, and that’s got a lot of people talking. If you’re thinking, Whoa! Wait a minute. A plastic 1911? Isn’t that an oxymoron? From what we saw, no. Polymer actually works quite well with this platform. First of all, only the frame is polymer. The slide rides on a pair of steel rail systems. Second, all the accessories for the 1911 fit this gun as well. So you can use your favorite grip panels, laser grips, sights, and so forth.

The trans Atlantic relationship between US gun manufacturers and the Belgian company FNH began in 1897. John M. Browning took a number of his designs to FNH, where they were put into production. Today, you’ll find an FNH plant in Columbia, SC, where many of the company’s guns are manufactured. FNH introduced two new guns at this year’s SHOT Show – the FN 15 Rifle and the FN 15 Carbine. Although the company built these guns for law enforcement and the military for many years, these are their first semi automatic variants of the M16 and M4 that FNH has built for the commercial market. The guns both have hard anodized aluminum alloy lowers with carbon steel, chrome lined barrels.

Turnbull Manufacturing Turnbull Manufacturing, located in the bucolic community of Bloomfield, NY, in the Finger Lakes region, is known far and wide for their exquisite restorations. The company does museum restorations as well as jobs for individuals who had a favorite gun damaged in a fire or bought a rare find suffering from the effects [...]

Looking for a new carry piece? Wait until you see the Bondhus CL380. This collapsible pocket rocket is about the size of a credit card and as thick as a cellphone in a case. The clockwork-like action looks more complex than it actually is. Simply fold open the wings, rock up the trigger mechanism, secure the whole contraption between your fingers, and you’ll have two barrels of .380 ACP and a laser ready to roll.

Ruger stopped making the venerable Red Label over-and-under (OU) shotgun two years ago. It has seemed like a long time to all the Red Label fans out there. This gun is beloved by birders and clays competitors alike, known for its ruggedness, quick handling and accurate shooting — the quintessential American OU. Rejoice my friends; the Red Label is back! So what took so long? What took so long was a complete re-engineering of the gun to make the best use of new materials and modern manufacturing methods. I’m here to tell you that it was well worth the wait. Pick one up and you’ll know instantly how true that is. The New Red Label has been re-balanced, making it livelier in the hand. The inner workings are improved and the recoil reduced. This is all around a new and improved Red Label. But I’m saving the best part for last – by using modern manufacturing methods, they’ve not only made it a more refined shotgun, they’ve also reduced the price. MSRP of the new Ruger Red Label is $1,395. Take a look for yourself in the attached video.

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?