The first handgun I ever shot was a small, blued-steel, six-shot .22 Smith & Wesson revolver with a 4-inch barrel. Though it seemed much larger to me when my dad first let my brother and me handle it…

Springfield Armory offers service-grade handguns with good performance, and the Operator has long held a useful place in the company’s 1911 lineup. With its forged steel slide and frame and quality…

When you hear someone say a company “isn’t what it used to be,” that’s usually not a compliment. It can mean the company’s products have declined in quality, become overpriced or simply fallen behind…

An AR-15 tends to be the go-to choice for many gun owners when it comes to home defense. It also sees use as a truck gun, and don’t even get me started on how many people use an AR-15 for hunting.…

I’ve reviewed a good number of Colt’s revolvers and semi-automatic pistols over the past few years, and every one has impressed me. Even a good friend who collects classic Colts could not find fault…

One of the most intriguing things about being a gun writer, especially one who has been writing for a long time now, is observing the various trends in the ever-changing world of firearms. Sometimes…

I have enjoyed good results with Rost Martin pistols. The RM1C has proven reliable, and the ported RM1S is an especially good shooter. The newest Rost Martin, the RM1F, is a departure from those…

The new Taurus RPC is getting quite a bit of attention. The pistol has been sold out at many outlets but was becoming more available as of July 2026. As with many new designs that use a proprietary…

Some time back, I had the chance to shoot my friend Bret’s Staccato C2 2011 9mm Combat Pistol. Bret was the first one I knew to own one. I came away with a great deal of respect for the pistol. It…

Carry optics, also known as pistol-mounted optics or red-dot sights, are becoming increasingly popular because they make accurate shooting easier. However, moving from iron sights to a carry optic…

The old adage of “buy once, cry once” is everywhere in gun media. The idea is simple: You pour every penny into a gun one time, then you’re set for life. Conversely, if you go cheap, you’re clearly…

Just because you live an active lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to forgo bringing along your carry gun. While the holster option you typically rely on daily may not be suitable for the activity you…