3-D Printing Guns and Their Problems
Every generation looks back and marvels at how things changed over time.
Advancements in technology, regardless of discipline or subculture, transform our world. Within the past decade, the 3-D printer is one such mechanism that is changing the way humans live. [Read more…] about 3-D Printing Guns and Their Problems
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Get Triggered! FIME Enhanced Fire Control Group
Many factors contribute to the accuracy of a rifle, be it major components with a tangible impact, such as the barrel itself and the ammunition we feed it, or more subtle nuances that effect harmonics. No matter the element, having confidence when it comes to shot placement is paramount to any shooter. Today I want to talk about a piece of the puzzle that is crucial not only to the accuracy of your rifle, but to every aspect of the direct shooter interface, the trigger. [Read more…] about Get Triggered! FIME Enhanced Fire Control Group
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Time Is Not On Your Side
When it comes to the time it takes to effectively react to real life personal defense situations, the odds can be stacked against you. When every second counts, you’ll want to be prepared and ready to safely engage. [Read more…] about Time Is Not On Your Side
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No ‘A’ For Effort
Being a responsible gun owner can go beyond safe storage and use. How you maintain your firearms and your overall familiarity with them are also big parts of the equation. [Read more…] about No ‘A’ For Effort
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Heavyweight Bullet Choices for Personal Defense
There is only one reason to fire at another human being. That is to stop a threat. The threat must be so great that the only means of stopping violent action is to fire. It must not matter morally or legally if the individual dies as a result of being shot. This is serious business that demands care when choosing the handgun and its ammunition for personal defense. [Read more…] about Heavyweight Bullet Choices for Personal Defense
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Gun Test: Browning Hi Power
Some makers sing the words, but they don’t know the music. A maker that got the steel somatic right is Fabrique Nationale. The Browning Hi Power is a unique design, held in awe by serious handgunners. The Hi Power comes from an era when blue steel and walnut were the norm, and plastic was material for cheap pistol grips. The story of the Hi Power Hi Power has been told many times. However, as a classic, it is always worth one more look. [Read more…] about Gun Test: Browning Hi Power
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My Favorite .45 ACP Big Bore Revolver
The focus of this report is more the cartridge than the handgun, but the revolvers that chamber the cartridge are linked to the .45 ACP’s popularity. The Smith and Wesson 1917 .45 ACP revolver was a legendary handgun to a young man reading everything he could about handguns, but an ordinary handgun in the shops during the 1970s. The 1917 isn’t rare today, but it is no longer as cheap as it once was either. My first .45 ACP revolver was purchased for less than $100. [Read more…] about My Favorite .45 ACP Big Bore Revolver
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Review: Charles Daly Honcho Shotgun
The American-designed, pump-action shotgun is the most recommended home defense shotgun. It isn’t always made in America, but it defends the turf well. Recently, a new type of shotgun has been offered for home defense. While the Charles Daly Honcho is a different bird and requires attention to detail, the 14-inch barrel pump-action shotgun just may be a viable home defense shotgun for some and the ideal piece for a few. [Read more…] about Review: Charles Daly Honcho Shotgun
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Ruger SR-762: Ruger’s Badass 7.62×51 .308 Win.
A few years ago, Sturm, Ruger & Company leaped into the crowded AR15 rifle market with a piston driven AR15 variant. The SR-556 isn’t inexpensive. However, as a result, it is a very good rifle. Later, Ruger offered what I regarded as a sensational rifle, the SR-762, a 7.62×51 NATO variant. I suppose this might qualify as an AR10, but in most ways, it is a modern design. This isn’t a gas-impingement operation but rather a piston-operated rifle with a four-position gas valve or regulator. [Read more…] about Ruger SR-762: Ruger’s Badass 7.62×51 .308 Win.
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Glock 44: Glock Imperfection in a Rimfire?
The Glock 44 rimfire was met with some derision by those wishing to own a single-column magazine 10mm or perhaps the long-awaited Glock carbine. I don’t know if Glock is seriously considering these firearms, but it listens. [Read more…] about Glock 44: Glock Imperfection in a Rimfire?
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Colt Python: Reintroduced, but Is It Worthy of the Name?
There has been considerable interest in the new Colt Python 2020. Likewise, there have been quite a few comments coming from those who have not handled the Python— the new or old version. It just would not do for Colt to deliver a cheapened version, and the new pistol has no such allusion. As a Colt fan, I will say the Colt Python 2020 is a better piece than the original. [Read more…] about Colt Python: Reintroduced, but Is It Worthy of the Name?
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Gun Test: Springfield XD-S 4.0
The Springfield XD-S 4.0 is a variation on the Springfield XD—a popular and proven firearm. The XD-S is a good concealed carry handgun with the same action and features as the popular XD but enough differences to give the XD-S a distinctive character. The grip treatment is much different and offers plenty of abrasion. The XD-S .45 ACP version may sting the hand a bit, but it offers real power in a compact package. The XD-S 9mm version is more controllable and offers more rounds in the same compact package. [Read more…] about Gun Test: Springfield XD-S 4.0
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Review: Taurus G3 9mm Pistol
The majority of new introductions in the handgun world—and on the shelf in gun shops—are polymer frame 9mms. When it comes to service and personal defense, the polymer frame is by far the most popular. All are not inexpensive, but most are affordable. The polymer frame is not only inexpensive to manufacture the material is tough, long lasting, and easy to shape into a useable firearm. Among the newest introductions that has enthusiasts’ attention is the Taurus G3. [Read more…] about Review: Taurus G3 9mm Pistol
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The 10mm — When It’s Time to Go to Plan B
I have long been a fan of large calibers. This is based on my research and personal experience. Depending on the need, I favor the 1911 in .45 ACP or 10mm, or magnum caliber revolvers. I have been concerned with animal defense for years. Among the many things I wish I had not seen was a photo that my Sgt., later Chief, showed me of a pretty youngster (perhaps four) with most of her scalp and face gone above the nose. She had been killed by a large dog. [Read more…] about The 10mm — When It’s Time to Go to Plan B
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Review: Beretta APX Carry 9mm
Today’s market may be crowded, but an advantage to the consumer is a wide choice of arms from prominent makers. The Beretta APX Carry is Beretta’s offering in the lucrative single-column magazine, 9mm compact market. Pistols like the Glock 43 and Smith and Wesson Shield are the most popular concealed carry choices. They offer a good balance of power and weight and are controllable and accurate enough to give the concealed carry handgun user real confidence. [Read more…] about Review: Beretta APX Carry 9mm
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A Look at an Old Bullseye Gun
When we reflect, ruminates, reminisce, and muse on the past, we generally use images from the past in our thoughts. Few of us think completely in the abstract. When I think of my younger years and getting into shooting, I recall my fascination for the 1911 .45 at an early age. That was a long 50 years ago, and my interest has never waned.
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Gun Test: Dan Wesson Guardian 1911 Commander
For some time, I have regarded the Commander-size 1911 handgun as the perfect carry gun for my needs. A Commander is simply a Government Model 1911 with a slide that is ¾-inch shorter and an aluminum frame in place of the larger handguns steel frame. This makes for a packable handgun with plenty of power. Among the handguns leading this category is the Dan Wesson Guardian. [Read more…] about Gun Test: Dan Wesson Guardian 1911 Commander
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A Case for the AK47 Rifle
When we read about certain firearms, particularly in the biased media or even in the popular gun press, we read terms such as ‘deadly’ efficiency. As a professional, I know that any projectile or firearm, beginning with a .177 Pellet at 450 fps, have killed human beings. It is the operator that is the real weapon. Just the same there are some firearms that have earned a well-deserved reputation for reliability and effect. Enter the AK47. [Read more…] about A Case for the AK47 Rifle
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Handguns and CCW: Training and Re-Training
There is a lot of discussion concerning training. A lot of it revolves around choosing a trainer. There is much truth in this, as the trainer gets you started on the road to proficiency, but it is all your own responsibility in the end. You have graduated from the public school system—good or bad—and you can read, so you survived and perhaps have learned a great deal on your own. We all remember fantastic teachers who inspired us, and then there were the inept—so it is with firearms trainers. [Read more…] about Handguns and CCW: Training and Re-Training
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Gun Test: North American Arms Pug
I do not wish to damn this little gun with faint praise. The North American Arms Pug is a tiny revolver that is well made of good material and reliable. I have never seen anyone have trouble with the revolver as regards reliability, and it has been in service for decades. The problem is the same as its appeal—its size. [Read more…] about Gun Test: North American Arms Pug
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