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Ride the Federal 224 Valkyrie!

The Federal 224 Valkyrie! Traditionalists will howl: “Another unnecessary creation! It doesn’t do anything a half-dozen rifle cartridges don’t already do.” They are wrong! What the Valkyrie does is keep a .224 bullet stabilized and supersonic to 1,000 yards or slightly beyond. If I’m not mistaken, no other commercially loaded .224 centerfire currently does that. This makes the 224 Valkyrie a potential, long-range, Precision Rifle Series round that promises better than average barrel life and virtually no recoil compared to the 6.5 Creedmoor. Handload it and the small powder capacity of the Valkyrie case (roughly 24 grains of powder) combined with smaller bullets should keep costs down, too. [Read more…] about Ride the Federal 224 Valkyrie!

Thermal: A Sixth Sense for Home Defense

It’s your worst nightmare. Something went Crash! in the living room You’re lying in bed, shocked awake and quietly trying to hold your breath while straining for tendrils of sound. The sole focus of your existence at this moment is trying to classify the problem as routine or something far worse. Fortunately, if you are among the growing group of truly prepared Americans, you have an extraordinary advantage that gives you the figurative high ground against any threat: thermal imaging and night vision devices (NVD). [Read more…] about Thermal: A Sixth Sense for Home Defense

Innovation Reaches the Charging Handle: Meet the HABU

AR charging handles are pretty mundane. Standard, left-handed, or ambi if you want to really put on the ritz. That was true until the 2017 launch of the HABU charging handle, a completely redesigned piece of hardware. Falcon 37, maker of the HABU, sent the Mod 1 model for testing. Here’s what happened. [Read more…] about Innovation Reaches the Charging Handle: Meet the HABU

The Safest Place to Store What I Found at SHOT Show

It’s the last day of SHOT Show and after walking the event for the last few days and identifying the new things I may need to add to my collection (you know things like the FN 15 pistol chambered in 300BLK, Franklin Armory Militia Praefector, Arex Alpha pistol, CZ Scorpion Carbine Extended Handguard, and IWI Tavor T12 Shotgun just to name a few), I realized I was going to need a new safe. [Read more…] about The Safest Place to Store What I Found at SHOT Show

New Handguns for 2018

In an age when everything plastic rules, a handgun made of steel with a design more than 100 years old still drives the market. We are talking, of course, of the fabled 1911, and a third of the new guns that follow are based on this legendary platform. That’s not to say that there is no interest in itty-bitty pocket pistols, and it’s clear the revolver is not the antiquated firearm many assume. In fact, when it comes to new handguns for 2018, there is a good mix of old, new, plastic, and steel, with a wheelgun or two thrown in for good measure.
[Read more…] about New Handguns for 2018

A Closer Look At The Molot Sanctions

While walking around SHOT Show this year, I couldn’t help but see the ads running for the Last of Molot and directing me to Booth 11217. With the prospect of the promise of free patch and a chance to check out the last of the VEPR’s, I couldn’t resist. As many of you know, this year the federal government put the final nail in the coffin for anyone wanted access to quality Russian firearms. The question is, “Why and how did we get here?” [Read more…] about A Closer Look At The Molot Sanctions

New Rifles for 2018

January 23, 2018, signaled the beginning of the largest gun show in the world—the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show. Unfortunately, admission requires a Federal Firearms License (FFL), media, manufacturer status or something similar, so it is not open to the general public. Fortunately, we have a front row ticket to deliver the hottest new rifles for 2018! [Read more…] about New Rifles for 2018

Springfield Lovers Rejoice: XD-S Mod.2 in .45 ACP

Springfield Armory’s most popular pistol is better than ever as Springfield releases the XD-S Mod.2! The next evolution of the acclaimed XD-S pistol is here. The latest edition of Springfield’s most popular pistol is engineered in a slim, single-stack frame, holding 6 rounds of .45 ACP in a premiere concealed-carry firearm. [Read more…] about Springfield Lovers Rejoice: XD-S Mod.2 in .45 ACP

The .45 Colt — From Cowboy to Action to Self-Defense

There are convincing advocates of individual handgun cartridges. Legendary writers such as Skeeter Skelton and Bill Jordan carried the .357 Magnum professionally and felt it was the ideal outdoors and personal defense cartridge. Elmer Keith favored the .44 Special, but then, when he got the .44 Magnum, he was vocal in praises of this cartridge too. There are individuals who use a variety of calibers for certain chores, and then there are those that choose a handgun caliber early on and use it for a lifetime, but who is championing the .45 Colt? [Read more…] about The .45 Colt — From Cowboy to Action to Self-Defense

Gun Test: Ruger’s New GP100 7-Shot .357 Mag. Revolver

The buying public is voting for revolvers and buying them in great numbers. Fueling the new trend, Ruger introduced a seven-shot version of its popular GP100. While there has been a previous seven shooter in .327 Magnum, the new Ruger GP100 fires the .357 Magnum cartridge. [Read more…] about Gun Test: Ruger’s New GP100 7-Shot .357 Mag. Revolver

The SAM7SFK SBR — European Quality for the American Market

Arsenal Inc. is proud to add a new configuration to its successful line of Bulgarian-made SAM7SF Rifles, the SAM7SFK 7.62×39 caliber SBR. The SAM7SFK-72 7.62x39mm caliber SBR combines authentic, high-quality features rarely seen in the American market. Every component is engineered to provide decades of dependable service. The SAM7SFK-72 SBR is ideal for sport shooting, self-defense, and home defense. [Read more…] about The SAM7SFK SBR — European Quality for the American Market

Sneak Peek: New Firearms for 2018

The past two years have have yielded little in the way of innovation. Of course there were exceptions that caught shooters’ eyes and found a well deserved spot as home defenders or the top shelf of the safe. The Arex Rex Zero One and Walther Creed immediately come to mind. However, that is the past and we are concerned with 2018, so here are a few models worthy of a closer look. [Read more…] about Sneak Peek: New Firearms for 2018

Glock Grows Gen5 Family With Two New Additions!

Few handguns have changed the market like Glock—and not been the brainchild John Moses Browning. That alone is an accomplishment, but how do you improve on perfection? Glock believes it is with the Gen5 and two new additions, the Glock 26 and the Glock 34 Modular Optic System (MOS) for 2018. [Read more…] about Glock Grows Gen5 Family With Two New Additions!

Springfield Goes Small With a New 1911

The 1911 is a proven platform and top performer in any caliber or size. Springfield’s 911 pistol would make a great carry gun, and excels as back-up gun (BUG). The 911 has all the features and familiarity of the 1911 with a few upgrades and a smaller size.

It’s like Springfield states in its introduction, “When the police are minutes away, but the threat is only seconds out.. 9-1-1. When you have to be your own first responder.”

[Read more…] about Springfield Goes Small With a New 1911

Managing the Double-Action First-Shot Pistol

My experience with double-action first-shot, self-loading pistols dates back to the 1970s. I began my police duties carrying a Colt Commander .45 but moving to a larger agency, I carried a Smith and Wesson Combat Magnum revolver. Each had much merit with either offering good hit probability. The .45 offered better control while the wound ballistics of the Federal 125-grain .357 Magnum was excellent. [Read more…] about Managing the Double-Action First-Shot Pistol

Anti-Gun Giffords Group Sues Trump Administration

Gabrielle Giffords’ anti-gun group is suing the Trump administration for failing to turn over documents it says would show the extent of the administration’s coordination with the National Rifle Association in President Trump’s picking federal judge appointees according to the Washington Examiner. [Read more…] about Anti-Gun Giffords Group Sues Trump Administration