Firearm Reviews
Snub-Nose Revolvers: Which is Right for You?
The small-frame “snub-nose,” known colloquially as a “snubby,” remains the last and strongest bastion of the revolver in the defensive handgun world. The reasons for the snubby's popularity are its concealability, reliability, and simplicity of operation, not to mention the fact that it won’t go out of battery and fail to fire when you need it. We’re talking about a small-frame revolver with a plus/minus two-inch barrel that can fit into a pocket. There are four formats from which you can choose.
I think a lot of concealed carry enthusiasts have experience with the famed Bersa brand of pistols. I know my first real concealed carry gun was a classic Bersa .380. The Bersa .380 ACP handguns provided affordable, robust, easy-to-use, and easy-to-conceal pistols. I liked my little Bersa, but 9mm eventually captured me, and I somewhat forgot about the classic Bersa design. It wasn’t until I stumbled across the Bersa TPR380 that I remembered this classic carry gun.
The M1 Carbine: Is It Still Viable?
Over six million M1 Carbines were produced during World War II. It was originally designed to serve as a light, shoulder-fired weapon that was more than the 1911 pistol, but lighter than the M1 Garand. Today it would be referred to as a PDW (Personal Defensive Weapon). It was issued to drivers, clerks, cooks, mortar and artillery men, and paratroopers. Any troops who needed a light, shoulder-fired weapon. To that end, it succeeded perfectly. But it begs the question: Is the M1 Carbine still a viable defensive weapon in our current times? Join us as we take a look to see if this old design is still relevant in 2024.
The Case for the Glock 26 Pistol
The Baby Glocks, across the board, are amazingly accurate. My first G26 averaged 2.5” groups at 25 yards, better than my first full-size G17. (My first G27 was way more accurate than my full-size G22; the little .40 once gave me five shots in 1.5” with 155 grain Winchester Silvertip .40 from an impromptu bench rest at 25 yards. Only with the Black Hills 165 grain JHP .40 could my G22 compete with that.)
The TEC-47: The AK/AR Mixed Drink
The TEC-47 series proved to be a fun rifle if you're a 7.62x39 fan and an AK owner. It gives you the modularity of the AR platform with the ammo and magazines you already have. It's a big rifle that's fairly heavy. However, it's modern, modular, very reliable, and easy to shoot. Plus, the accuracy is impressive with even the cheapest ammo.
A Year With The Wilson Combat SFT9
I’ve found the Wilson Combat SFT9 to be an increasingly frequent personal companion. We’ve grown to shoot well together. In reviewing for this article, I can’t help but notice that on the 300 out of 300 point IPSC target I shot on a comprehensive qualification in November of 2022, the whole 60-shot group measured about 5.5”.
CZ P10 M vs Taurus GX4 Pistols: A Comparison Review
Two of the pistols that are often overlooked because of their low price point are the Taurus GX4 and CZ P10 M handguns. Both guns retail in the $300 range, both are 9mm and both are compact light-weight guns. Not everyone can spend a lot of money on a handgun, and as we all know, […]
Ruger Max-9 and Viridian RFX11: Best CCW Combo For the Price?
The Ruger Max-9 and Viridian RFX II green dot may be one of the most reliable, budget-friendly combinations out there. I feel like the Max-9 got overlooked a little because of the success of the LCP and LCP Max pistols. Making a larger-framed gun in 9mm was a smart move, but it didn’t take off like the LCP Max did. This surprised me because I’ve been nothing but impressed with the Ruger Max 9 since day one.
Which Glock Model Is Best for CCW?
Glock has a seemingly endless offering of pistol models out now, so which one is best for carrying concealed? For the sake of time, I’m going to assume you have already decided on Glock as the brand of pistol you want to purchase. There are a ton of manufacturers out there that make great products and Glock is one of them. So, I won’t waste any time debating brand, but we will talk about a few CCW-specific Glock models: the Glock 19, 48, 43, and 43X.
The Springfield Echelon: Tactical To the Max
The Echelon performed admirably on the range. It kicked brass all day and delivered more than adequate performance. It's not a custom race gun, but it seems like it's very well thought out. They accomplished a gun that's brilliant in the basics of firearm design. The Echelon delivers excellent accuracy, great ergonomics, and a smooth recoil experience.