Article first appeared at Shooting Illustrated. Modern semi-automatic handguns are remarkably reliable tools. Still, they’re mechanical devices made by man and can suffer breakage that renders them totally inoperable. Or, more commonly, they can suffer a temporary stoppage rendering the gun inoperable for that often crucial moment. Most shooters have …

Article first appeared at Shooting Illustrated. Firearms have been a part of American pop culture ever since Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill’s traveling roadshows. From the early days of the western dime-store novel to the earliest silent movies and on through the tough-guy detective stories and the action-adventure movie, guns …

Article first appeared at Ammo Land. When it comes to defending yourself and others, there are few better firearm choices than a good shotgun. Defensive shotguns, whether for use in the home, on the road or for law enforcement use, are some of the most versatile guns ever developed. My …

Article first appeared at Ammo Land. While at the range the other day I had a pistol malfunction that would have become a disaster had it not been for an attentive range officer behind me screaming repeatedly for me to cease fire. Needless to say, I was somewhat unnerved, as …

Article first appeared at Ammo Land. I was brought up quail hunting, where I was taught to never aim a shotgun. As it turns out, there are plenty of times when a shotgun should be aimed—one of them is in the home, where ranges are measured in feet and patterns …

Article first appeared at American Rifleman. As staff members of NRA’s original “Official Journal,” now celebrating 131 years of publication, we take seriously the editorial responsibility to annually identify a handful of companies and an individual that together have had a significant impact on the firearm industry during the past …

Article first appeared at American Rifleman. This member of the U.S. Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam is carrying a World War II-vintage Stevens Model 520-30 “trench gun.” Many “recycled” World War II shotguns saw use in Vietnam. This article was first published in American Rifleman, March 2002 Buy All-American! …

Article first appeared at American Rifleman. Gas-operated shotguns certainly are not new, though designs have changed since Mr. Browning’s famed Auto 5. Six years ago Remington released its newest version of the gas-operated, semi-automatic shotgun, the Versa Max. Utilizing a rotary bolt with two locking-lugs, two short-stroke gas pistons and …

Article first appeared at American Rifleman. Next time someone tells you how “great” the gun control laws are in the United Kingdom and that “we should look at them,” you might want to bring up Albert Patterson. Albert Patterson spent 22 years wearing the uniform of a British soldier. This …

Article first appeared at American Rifleman. This week, American Rifleman‘s Joe Kurtenbach takes a look at three extended-capacity magazines for AR-15-style rifles. Common to all ARs is the ubiquitous, standard-capacity 30-round box magazine, often made of aluminum or molded polymer—rugged, reliable and, at the end of the day, replaceable. But …