There’s a lot more to testing a pistol than taking a few shots and deeming it “accurate.” Here’s how to really test one out at the range… In our previous article, How to Evaluate a Pistol, Part 1: In the Store, we talked about a checklist to get a feel for not only the quality of a pistol, […]
Springfield Armory 1911 Range Officer Elite Operator 10mm
If you ever find yourself competing in a brass flinging contest, we’ve found the perfect gun for you. The new Springfield Armory Range Officer Elite 10mm tosses brass as good as any Olympic Hammer Throw contestant. OK, so maybe aeronautical brass engineering isn’t the most useful criteria for selecting a handgun, but it did add some entertainment to our testing sessions. […]
Smith & Wesson’s New M&P 45 2.0 – Big Bore Carry
This article originally appeared at Ammoland. However, in these days of angry mobs and random terrorist attacks, the standard capacity of a .45 doesn’t make me feel so warm and fuzzy. With a “normal” capacity of 7+1, it carries half as many rounds as a double-stack 9mm. It’s easy to find a wonder nine that […]
Smith & Wesson’s Model 629 Deluxe .44 Magnum
This article originally appeared at OutdoorHub. Let’s address the magnum in the room first. It’s always important to get misconceptions out of the way, right? The Smith & Wesson Model 629 Deluxe .44 Magnum is not (exactly) the famous Dirty Harry .44 Magnum Revolver, although it is close. As a Model 629, it’s a stainless […]
Gun Review: Beretta PX4 Storm
By necessity, most gun reviews offer a quick look at features and cursory reports on a couple of hundred rounds of shooting over one or two range trips. That’s the nature of the beast when a gun is new on the market, and people want to know about it – quickly. While it’s a necessary […]
FN Five-SeveN Pistol: Gun Review
“It’s not the size mate, it’s how you use it.”— Nigel Powers, Goldmember, 2002 In a nutshell, the FN Five-SeveN is a big little handgun with a whole lot of attitude. Why? Mainly because of the unique 5.7x28mm cartridge that it’s designed to fire. While the FN Five-SeveN is not a small gun, the 5.7×28 […]
Review: Springfield Armory XD-S with Crimson Trace Laserguard
Having had plenty of opportunities to shoot in dark conditions, I’ve become a big, big proponent of equipping carry guns with lasers and ideally lights. Why? Simply put, when you consider the “process” of finding a target in the dark, getting a sight picture, and making a fast hit, there is nothing faster than using […]
Review: Smith & Wesson Victory .22 LR Pistol
This article originally appeared at GunsAmerica. Sometimes good things take time. Sometimes it’s a lot of time, but that’s OK if the end result is worth it. I had the good fortune to visit the Smith & Wesson factory way back in November of 2014 to see a top secret new product. On a cold […]
Handgun Review: Smith & Wesson Model 66 Combat Magnum Revolver
It’s funny how things have a way of coming back into vogue with the passage of time. While I hope never to see the return of those hip-hugger, bell-bottom jeans and zip-up Naugahyde boots from the 70s, I am thrilled to see the return of a venerable and street-proven revolver, the Smith & Wesson Model […]
Gun Review: FNS 9 Compact
New this year from FN America, formerly FNH USA, are compact models of their FNS series guns. Available in both 9mm and .40 S&W, the Compact models share the same basic design features as their bigger siblings but are sized for carry. I recently received an FNS 9 Compact model to run through the wringer. […]