Guns

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.

The biggest news in single-stack 9mms for 2015 has been the GLOCK 43. But the year’s not over yet. The crowded field of concealed carry 9s just got a bit more crowded, and the Honor Guard is, by far, the most single-stack for the money. This brand new gun from a brand new brand is offering options that some wait months for from custom shops.

Looking for a way to take that boring old black rifle and bring it back to life? Bump Fire! Full auto fast from a $99 add-on, and no messy NFA paperwork or tax stamps–what’s not to love? This is one of the easiest to use systems I’ve used. Go ahead–set the gun on fire.

Bob Marvel builds exceptional custom 1911’s. For decades he has built pistols for world champion competitors. His guns are accurate and they don’t malfunction. And now you can learn from the master. I recently had the opportunity to build a 1911 from scratch, with the help of Bob Marvel, and here’s the result–step-by-step.

Some pistols seem to simply exist. They’re fun on the range, but they lack defining purpose. And then there’s the Dan Wesson ECO. This is a compact single action that has every feature you could want on a single action meant for concealed carry. Check out our review.