Guns

“Hey folks! Step right on up and see if you are up to the challenge. Hit the targets and win a prize! Everyone is a winner except the losers!” I wish there were still real shooting galleries at state fairs and carnivals. With a little work and this Henry Pump Action .22, you can make your own shooting gallery and let the fun begin.

The Coonan 1911 .357 Magnum Auto raised the standards for 1911’s. The new.45 ACP Pistol raises the standards again by applying all of the “Coonan Difference” proven technologies from their 1911 .357 Magnum Auto to their new .45 ACP.

There’s nothing wrong with a good AK-47. But rifle design has continued to evolve. So what would a truly modern AK look like? I’m not talking about an AK with some plastic quad rails–I’m talking about the Galil Ace. Well, the wait is over. They’re finally state-side. And they kick ass.

I’m on the hunt for a hard-hitting rifle capable of delivering excellent terminal ballistics at extended range. But it also has to be fast and versatile for close quarters work. Is there a gun out there that can do both? We’ve put the FN SCAR 17 to the test and are here with the results.

We recently took a trip to the Big Easy for the NASGW expo–and we got a sneak peak at some of what’s going to be announced at SHOT. Here are some of the ones we can talk about now.

I have always been a fan of the .44 Magnum, not because it is the biggest boy on the block (it’s not), but because you can always get ammo for it, and it’s easy and cheap to reload. But probably the biggest strength of the .44 Mag is that you can get ammo at most any gun shop, and even at Walmarts that still carry ammo. To me that outweighs the little bit of extra power you can get with guns that are more powerful, and that have much more expensive and rare ammo. I think every gun accumulation should have a .44 Mag in it. And if you can afford one of the top name (and price) brands, you should consider them. But if you’re on a budget, I have found that this new generation of Taurus products are extremely high quality. The Model 444 Raging Bull 44 Mag .has been around for a generation at this point, and at a street price of under $700, I thought it was worth a new look and a range test. After a couple hundred rounds downrange, the gun did not disappoint. The Raging Bull is a handful, to hold and to shoot, but if you are in the market for a .44 Mag, I think you’d be surprised by this big Taurus stainless steel revolver.

Tired of anorexic plastic pistols? IWI (who makes the Tavor) is making a serious 9mm. This robust double-stack is built like a 1950s super model. How does the substantial 9mm perform on the range and what’s the appeal of an overbuilt pistol? Read our review.

I’ve been asking this for a long time. I haven’t drunk the proverbial 870 Kool-Aid. But I’m coming to this review with a completely open mind. I’m determined to figure out why the 870 is, after 65 years, still America’s pump shotgun. And after seeing the 870 Police Magnum, I’m starting to get it.

Looking for AK reliability and performance in something that isn’t an AK? Check out the PTR 32P, an H&K clone with serious potential. This over-sized pistol comes to life with the addition of an arm brace. The PTR 32P would make an ideal truck gun.