Gun Review

I peered through my Leupold scope at the buck, his black nose gleaming in the evening light. He faced me, antlers a bit wider than his ears, tines tall and curving. My crosshairs twitched rhythmically over my heartbeat, finally steadying on that black shiny nose. I squeezed. “Hohh! Hey look at that, check it out [...]

Among the most popular trends in the shooting sports world today is that of long-range shooting. There’s also a ton of crossover between different genres of riflemen, as hunters look to extend their own maximum effective range on game by competing in PRS events, or simply to hone their marksmanship skills at extreme distance while enjoying a bit of friendly competition. For those who haven’t given it a try, long-range shooting is both an art and science that’s incredibly addicting. Whether it’s ranging targets, reading wind, calculating elevation adjustments, or working up proper leads for moving targets, it’s far more than employing the WAG (wild ass guess) method of shooting. 

New for 2018, Walther dropped the PPQ subcompact at SHOT Show. Following countless consumer requests, the famous PPQ has now been shrunk to subcompact size. The sub takes the same famous Walther trigger and mates it with a 3.25-inch barrel. It ships with two magazines are in the box, one a flush fit 10, the other a 15-round extended magazine. The 15 round includes a grip extender, and when inserted, gives the subcompact a full-size grip.

The wares at our local gun emporia are beginning to look a bit repetitive, my friends. There are AR15 variants for every taste, proclivity, and budget. The counters are awash to their gunwales in plastic pistols. There’s the obligatory smattering of scatterguns, precision rifles, and wheelguns, but that really is about it.

At this time of year, many of us are taking to the field for hunting. Unfortunately, hungry predators are also gearing up for winter, which always leads us to a discussion of bear and mountain lion guns. Archery hunting is fun and all, but a bow is not what anyone wants to be holding when we find ourselves between a momma and cubs. The problem with most guns of caliber big enough to stop a bear is that they are heavy and unwieldy.  Smith and Wesson, always innovating in revolver design, has stepped in to fix that with the Combat Magnum Model 69.

We hunters, especially those of you – who like me – enjoy carrying a bolt-action rifle for big game, owe a helluva lot to a German gentleman named Mauser. Peter Paul von Mauser, to be specific. A brilliant designer, Herr Mauser gave us not only the 7×57 and 8×57 cartridges, but the Gewehr 98 rifle, which would set the standard for bolt-action rifle reliability that stands to this day. The Mauser name – synonymous in the firearms world with the reputation that German engineering has secured – is one that hunters have come to rely on for a century and a quarter.

Several weeks ago I was walking around my favorite gun store, BMC Tactical in Albuquerque, New Mexico, when I saw a fancy looking Glock lower frame sitting in a plastic jig. “What is that?” I inquired. [one_half] [/one_half][one_half_last] [/one_half_last] The clerk working the gun counter pulled the assembly out of the case and explained that [...]

Feeding from 5-, 10-, 15- or even 20-round magazines, this shotgun offers drum mag volumes of ammo in a tidy, compact package.

Hunting styles vary greatly across our country, with spot-and-stalk in the west, sitting on stands in the east, corn feeders in the south and even deer run with dogs in certain states. Travel outside of our borders, and you can find an even wider variety of methods, not to mention specific customs, traditions, and expectations. What may seem natural to you or I can seem completely against the grain in a foreign land.