Gun Reviews - My Gun Culture

A Look at Ruger’s New RXM Pistol

By Tom McHale|2025-01-31T16:50:16-05:00January 31st, 2025|

Recently I got my hands on the new Ruger RXM Pistol. A collaborative effort with the team at Magpul, the RXM uses a swappable Magpul frame, Glock-compatible magazines and maintains compatibility throughout with the Glock Gen 3 platform. That means you can choose from the vast array of aftermarket sights, stops, barrels, slides, and more.

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A More Affordable Carry 1911: Springfield Armory RONIN EMP

By Tom McHale|2024-12-30T16:52:40-05:00December 30th, 2024|

She stole it, and I can’t even press charges, in part because she’s my wife, and in part, because I had it coming. The year was 2012. I was doing a story on the Springfield Armory EMP (Enhanced Micro Pistol) and its lineage to the 1911 TRP model. I had a loaner pistol sent my way — the original 3″-barrel 9mm model.

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Staccato CS Compact 2011 Pistol Review

By Tom McHale|2024-12-13T12:50:53-05:00December 13th, 2024|

I’ve been shooting a flock of Staccato 2011 pistols side-by-side and regardless of size, they all shoot exceptionally well. Off a bench rest at 25 yards, this little pistol still prints just over one-inch five shot groups. Don’t let the small size fool you; the compact CS model’s double-stack design still packs 15+1 capacity.

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A Modern Take on the Classic Hi-Power: Girsan MCP35 LW OPS

By Tom McHale|2023-10-03T09:28:56-04:00October 3rd, 2023|

It’s really nice to see the famous Hi-Power design coming back. Arguably, depending on where you are in the world, it never really went away, but we haven’t seen much mainstream production and innovation until the last couple of years. A great design is a timeless design, and I, for one, welcome the tweaks and changes we’re seeing with modern versions. Who can argue with the many improvements made to the 1911 platform over the years?

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The Art of Reviewing a Semi-Auto Pistol – American Handgunner

By Tom McHale|2023-08-25T10:03:11-04:00June 7th, 2023|

Reviewing guns is 38% objective, 54% subjective, and 93% opinion. Those of you who aced Trigonometry might have figured out we blew right past the 100% limit, but that just goes to show that evaluating a gun isn’t an entirely quantifiable exercise. Now that I think about it, there is a word for a perfectly objective gun review. Specifications.

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Gun Review: Walther PDP 9mm Full Size and Compact Pistols: Accurate? You Bet!

By Tom McHale|2023-02-02T12:16:57-05:00February 2nd, 2023|

We check out the Walther PDP. A fine handgun — you might be shocked at its accuracy from the bench...

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Nighthawk Thunder Ranch Combat Special: Classy and Dangerous

By Tom McHale|2023-02-02T10:24:35-05:00February 2nd, 2023|

The whole point of mass production is to make something “good enough” for an affordable price. If you want a pistol that ranks among the very best, you’ll look for a gun built more like a Chiron.The folks at Nighthawk Custom coined the phrase, “One gun, one gunsmith” to capture their manufacturing philosophy. It means what it says.Nighthawk starts each 1911 pistol with 46 parts, machined from bar stock billet. They’re intentionally oversized to allow the gunsmith to hand-fit every one to each specific pistol. No parts bins here.

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A Holster Full of Boom: Springfield Armory XD-M 10mm

By Tom McHale|2022-11-13T15:16:54-05:00November 13th, 2022|

Reports of the demise of the 10mm cartridge have been greatly exaggerated. If new gun launches are any indicator of consumer demand (they are), then the 10mm is alive and kicking; thank you very much.Anyway, the 10mm has been coming on strong this past year. Considered mortally wounded after law enforcement everywhere moved to the .40 S&W and assumed to be dead and recycled into Shake Weights when law enforcement everywhere moved to the 9mm, it seems to be still kicking. Apparently, it’s the Michael Myers of calibers.

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New! Springfield Armory .45 ACP Garrison 1911 Pistol Review

By Tom McHale|2021-11-15T09:02:10-05:00November 15th, 2021|

Over the past year or so, Springfield Armory has taken the concepts of economies of scale to new heights. Pistols in the Ronin family and the new SA-35 Hi-Power have proven to the market you can make a rock-solid pistol at a price friendly to most everyone. The latest entry in this race to provide top-notch firearms at affordable price points is the anchor of a new family of 1911 pistols — the Garrison. It’s a basic 1911 design with modern refinements to make it reliable with defensive ammo, accurate and comfortable to carry and shoot.

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Gun Review: Springfield Armory Ronin 1911 10mm [VIDEO]

By Tom McHale|2021-10-08T17:56:42-04:00October 8th, 2021|

10mm is in. You can't argue with the power downrange and when packaged in a classic 1911 pistol platform, the 10mm is surprisingly easy to control. Recoil is a bit more than a .45 ACP in a similar handgun, but not bad. American Handgunner magazine editor Tom McHale checks out the Springfield Armory 1911 Ronin 10mm with a range report.

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