Gun Review

Of all the fighting shotguns out there, the Mossberg 590A1 has always been one of my favorites. I was issued one in my days as a Marine for a short period, and since then, I’ve been a fan. The 590A1 would form the basis of the fighting shotgun for the United States military. One of the latest models blends all the military’s requirements with a dose of old-school cool to form the Mossberg 590A1 Retrograde.

Heritage Manufacturing proves that if you do one thing well enough, you can make a fortune doing it. Heritage makes the Rough Rider Revolver and has for decades. They’ve taken that same gun and spun it into a wide variety of models and platforms with numerous barrel lengths. On the long side, we have the Heritage Manufacturing Ranch Rifle, and on the short side, we have the Barkeep. With its teeny tiny 2-inch barrel.

I have enjoyed a great relationship with Springfield Armory for over 25 years. Over that time, I have watched them introduce many new products, improve quality, take some pretty substantial risks, and grow as a company. It is safe to say that they produce some of the best production 1911 pistols on the market. The Ronin EMP is only the latest in that line.

In my opinion, perhaps the hottest new gun of 2021 is a rimfire. Introduced last month, the new FNH 502 has proven to be everything we needed for this day and age. Why am I, usually the tactical nerd for GunsAmerica Digest, so hot and bothered for a pistol that shoots 22 LR? Well mostly because I have purchased ammunition in the last two years. And even before that, I was very intrigued by the idea of a training pistol in a cheaper caliber. The FNH delivers in a way no one else has to date.

For many readers, a stock Glock 19, with good sights, meets their needs. I have several stock Glocks that I shoot well. However, one only has to look at the number of shops, that offer modification, to realize that custom Glocks are popular and meet the wants and needs of the shooter. The price of Wilson’s work, and their turnaround time, is very reasonable. Whether you want a full custom Glock, or simply some slide serrations and a trigger, Wilson can accommodate your requests. I’ve carried my Wilson Combat G-19, daily, for over five years and have been very pleased.

Trends come and go in the gun industry, and one currently ‘in’ is the subgun. Well, one of the newest subguns is the Ruger PC Charger. It’s the subgun derivative of the newly famous Ruger PC Carbine. The Ruger PC Charger keeps all of the best parts of the PC Carbine, but it just shrinks it a bit.

The first time I viewed a photo of the new Buck Mark Plus Vision UFX .22 caliber rimfire, from Browning North America, saw the red and black color pattern, the side cuts on the barrel sleeve and the long muzzle break, all I could think of was Star Wars–and I immediately loved the pistol! Then I received a Plus Vision UFX to review and loved it all over again. It was extremely accurate, comfortable in hand, and just so damned much fun to shoot, and all of this wrapped up in the coolest looking pistol I’ve seen in forever. 

The Ruger LCR 9mm gives those who desire a revolver a modern option for the ole snub nose. It’s lightweight, has a great trigger, and provides you with a modern load of 9mm greatness. 9mm rounds offer a more potent round than the 38 Special and are much softer on the hand than 357 Magnum loads.

As so often happens when stalking pronghorn antelope, failure comes before success. I was hunting on the vast Crow Reservation in southeast Montana – an area that defines big, open country with little stalking cover – and had already blown one attempt when a previously unseen band of pronghorn materialized and spooked the herd I was stalking.