Guns

The word shotgun covers a lot of ground. You can pay six-figures for an engraved Italian masterpiece, or you can buy an old single shot break-action in decent working order for less than the cost of a date night (with dinner and a movie). We’ll be looking at the most practical and reliable shotguns–and there are unlimited options under the $300 mark.

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.

Some 9mm ARs feel a bit half baked, like the gun can’t decide if it wants to be a carbine or an AR pistol. Others cobble together parts to make the mags fit. Not this one. Stag’s new 9T is a full on rifle. There’s nothing about this gun that’s a compromise, and it may change the way you think about the pistol caliber concept.

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.

Those discerning single action aficionados amongst us already know the Nighthawk name. Their 1911s aren’t dressed up in elaborate finishes. They don’t have exotic grips. These are hard working guns meant to be carried, and shot. I recently had the chance to put the 9mm T4 through its paces, and the compact carry gun has changed the way I think about single actions. I’m a skeptic, but I’d carry this gun–no question about it.

I grew up with the MAC 10, but the gun was rarely portrayed in a favorable light. It was the emblem of the war-on-drugs. Now, though, the old open bolt automatic seems like an antique. Or it did until Masterpiece Arms updated their defender line. This take on the old classic is completely updated, and my new favorite large-framed 9mm.

The recent dominance of the bullpup shotgun has made the pistol grip scatter-gun seem old fashioned. But there’s still a place for the reliability of a pump shotgun. But operating a shotgun without a stock is a challange. So how practical are these cinematic beasts?

Dan Wesson double action revolvers are back. It has been about 10 years since there have been new production DW revolvers on the market. CZ USA, which bought the Dan Wesson company in 2005, have made pistols under the name but until late last year a very limited number of revolvers. And not just any revolver, the awesome Dan Wesson model 715 is back and it looks like it is here to stay.