Tom McHale

As we continue our series on how to build an AR-15, we ask a complex qeustion. Direct impingement or piston operation. Should the gun stick to the time-tested formula for basic gas operation, or do you want a cleaner running machine? We’re looking at the differences in this week’s installment.

Looking to build an AR-15? What caliber will you choose? .223 is just the start. Before you get into the build, you need to know exactly what you want your rifle to do. You can always stick with the traditional 5.56, but is that the right choice? Here’s a list of the most popular calibers and what they deliver.

Why does .40 get such a bad rap? Is it because of its association with the government? Is it nothing but a dumbed down 10mm? Barnes has some .40 S&W that just might make you change your mind.

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.

Can You Shoot 1,000 Yards with a .308 AR-15 style rifle? Well, can you? Conventional wisdom says no. After all, AR’s are semi-automatic designs, with hot burning gas of doom smothering all the important parts like gravy over Cracker Barrel’s Chicken Fried Chicken. Heck, the upper and lower receivers are stuck together with simple push pins. AR-type rifles can’t be all that accurate, can they?

As the 9mm guns get smaller, fewer people are carrying their old .380s. But the .380 can be a deadly gun if it is running the right ammo. Today we’re testing out Sig’s new hollow-point .380s. How well do these little rounds run? Read the review…

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.

Winchester’s Train and Defend line is a concept long overdue. Use range ammo to train, but carry the good stuff. And both are the same grain weight. The idea is that you save money, but the ammo performs exactly the same. How well does it work?