The Winchester Model 94 in .30-30 – an American Icon
This is the rifle I’ve always wanted to write about. It’s the first centerfire rifle I ever shot, and from the first trip of the trigger I have had a strong emotional connection to the Winchester Model 94. For me to write about the 94, I’m treading on hallowed ground; not only is it my first “love” in the world of guns, but chances are it’s a beloved rifle to riflemen all over America, since it is the most significant sporting...
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Marlin’s Magnificent Model 39
It is without a doubt the coolest rimfire rifle in the world that no one is talking about. Marlin says “It has been in continuous production longer than any other rifle in America”. In an age where everyone is talking about the latest heavy barreled version of the Ruger 10/22, there remains a silent knowing minority of serious rimfire shooters who hold to their unaltered, out-of-the-box Marlin 39, knowing it’s the “best” rimfire...
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CZ-75: Military Sidearm Extraordinaire
The 1980s saw the birth of the “Wondernines” – typically defined as a high capacity 9mm full-sized pistol, usually with a double action first shot. The guns that would become iconic for the term were created at least a decade – or in some cases several decades – before the ’80s, but it was the ’80s when the concept really caught on. This was probably helped greatly by the US adopting the Beretta 92 as our new standard...
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The Astra A-70: Quite Possibly the Best Defense Pistol for a Woman
As a gun scribe, I get asked some pretty standard questions quite often, and one of them is: “What’s the “best” pistol for my wife/girlfriend/daughter?” I first point out that “best” is a very subjective term, and go on to explain the wide variation that exists within the word “best” – but often I come back to a pistol that few know even exists – and of those who are moderately aware of it, rarely does...
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M9 Review: 25 Years with the Beretta 92
When adopted, the new Beretta 92SB-F (M9) created quite the stir. After all, look at what it followed – the M1911A1 wasn’t just popular, it was beloved and perhaps the most proven combat handgun since the invention of the handgun. The only handgun with a service record that could possibly rival that of the M1911A1 was another Browning design, the Browning P-35 Hi Power. In the opinion of this writer, the Army made the right decision. Out of the traditional...
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The Traditional German Rifle – A Mountain Rifle Ahead of Its Time
“I can't believe I walked away from that rifle”, I muttered as I hung my head in shame. “What was I thinking?” My dad's only response was a long drawn out, “yup...it was sure nice”, as he pilfered around in the gun vault, his back to mine. This meeting of the minds was our...
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Dropping Big Coin on a K-22 Revolver
Lots of people shy away from the K-22 because of the price, usually saying it’s just "too much for a .22". From my point of view, if you're going to dump money on a gun, it ought to be a .22, because you know you’re gonna shoot a .22.
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Snub Nose Roundup: A Look at Today’s Small Frame Snub Nosed Revolvers.
Doing a true roundup of small frame revolvers could easily become a 5 year project since when you add them all up, between Smith & Wesson, Ruger and Taurus , the different models would number well into the hundreds. So instead, I decided to grab up a sampling of some...
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Most Recent Articles
Kevin’s Concealed Carry Mantra: Holster Guns, Pocket Guns… and Nothing in Between
Compact autos? No thanks. So here’s the line of thinking, and I know this to be fact, because I’ve talked myself into it more times than I care to ever admit. “I won’t carry a full sized auto...
Read MoreIs That Really a Bear Between My Legs?…
This is a story that clearly demonstrates God’s patience and grace toward spirited dogs and foolish teenagers. Back when we could use dogs, I had one that was – shall I say – a bit spirited. He had no...
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The Versatile .44 Magnum: For Hunting, Target Shooting, and Defense
Now this is a loaded (no pun intended) question, but it's typical of the kinds of questions I field on a regular basis. I could have taken the cranky, exasperated curmudgeon route by firing back something with something like: "For what?", but I really dislike when so called "experts" do that. Often, the person asking the question doesn't totally know what they really want, otherwise they would have asked a more focused question.
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SKS Review: the Yugo 59/66A1
Since its introduction to American shooters in the early ’80s, the SKS...
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Putting the M1 Carbine in the Right Context
In the years since WWII there are few military rifles that have drawn more bad press and controversy than the M1 Carbine. Touted as inaccurate, underpowered and generally useless, I really can’t remember the last time I read a real positive article about the little carbine. Well I’m going to cut coarsely across the grain and say that, when paired with the right ammo, the M1 Carbine is one of the finest...
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The “Truth” About the Glock
Depending on who you listen to, the Glock is either the greatest pistol ever devised, or a hand grenade with an unpredictable fuse. Well, like most things, the truth can be found somewhere in the middle.
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AK Review: Arsenal’s SGL-20 AK in 7.62×39
It’s no secret I’m an AK fan. Back in the ‘80’s I had one of the...
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