9mm Compact Pistol Roundup

In the realm of concealed carry and personal defense, 9mm compact semi-automatic pistols have gained immense popularity for their size, reliability and sometimes (but not always) larger capacity than in years past. Plus, they are often very budget friendly. The market for smaller 9mm semi-automatic pistols is immense, with most firearm manufacturers offering something in their lineup. We're taking a look at a few more popular models and what they bring to the proverbial table. Read More

The Rise and Fall and Rise of the Metal Framed, Double Stack 9mm Pistol

One trend I spotted at the 2023 SHOT Show was the increasing popularity of single-action, metal-framed 9mm pistols with double stack magazines. Staccato has built their reputation on that sort of pistol, Beretta rolled out a single action version of the iconic Model 92 pistol, Dan Wesson rolled out the DWX (for real), and Springfield Armory was showing off the new DS Prodigy. Polymer-framed, striker-fired pistols used to rule the concealed carry market, but lately, it seems all the cool kids are moving towards metal frames and manual safeties. Read More

Review: Colt Anaconda 4-inch Revolver

Back in the day, I recall some chatter about issuing short-barreled .44 Mag. revolvers to police officers. This was prior to the massive acceptance of 9 mm ammunition as the dominant defensive-handgun round worldwide. I personally know one rural cop who actually carried a .44 Mag. on duty, but I'm unaware of any department that officially adopted the big magnum cartridge. Read More

MSR Enhancements

Get more out of your modern sporting rifle. Read More

The Forgotten Factor

The tactical aspects of long-range shooting are often lost in the online noise that drives the trigger-pulling world these days. For the vast number of long-range shooters, the goal is simply to hit the target. To that end, and just as they have in almost all other aspects of shooting, the new generation of long-range shooters have drifted to smaller cartridges. Read More

A Lasting Gift

At a certain point in life, most people give at least a passing thought to the mark(s) they will leave on the world. While having one's name attached to a place or institution may seem like a nice honor, the legacies we leave our families, friends and others whose lives we touch are the foci of most normal people. Read More

A Skills Test for Beginners

For me, "Drill Practice" is isolating an individual part of a skill and focusing intently on improving or mastering it. The goal with good drill practice is to maximize overall improvement while minimizing overall effort. Success equals consistency over time. Read More

FBI Selects Aimpoint Duty RDS and CompM4s

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has selected Aimpoint Duty RDS and Aimpoint CompM4s optics for its Red Dot Sights and Mounts Program. The company made the announcement last week, shortly after learning the FBI deemed the units the best choice when compared to the performance of other optics submitted for consideration. Read More

Take a Breath

You took an intermediate-level, skill-development class to improve your proficiency with the handguns you use for personal defense, local competitive events and recreational shooting. The instructor emphasized the fundamentals repeatedly throughout the two-day course, especially breathing. Read More

A Home Invasion That Failed

Here is a story that was recently shared with me. Dave and Susie (not their real names) were watching television in a room just off the main hallway near their front door. Suddenly, they heard a noise as if someone was trying to kick in their heavy wood front door accompanied with the shouts of "Police Officers...Open Up!" Read More

Top Five 'I Carry' Videos of 2023

The I Carry video series gives you an opportunity to see what's out there in the world of concealable defensive pistols. I Carry isn't just about guns, however, as there's more to the concealed-carry lifestyle than just a pistol. You need some way to have your sidearm near you when you need it, which is why we also highlight holsters that are well-suited to carrying your firearm of choice, as well has other useful gear like red-dot optics, knives, hand-held lights and other gear. Read More

First Look: Kel-Tec SUB2000 Gen3

The Kel-Tec SUB2000 has set the standard for easy to carry, easy to shoot 9mm carbines. With t's unique capabilities to fold in half and use industry standard magazines, the SUB20000 is ideal for use when your defensive pistol needs a helping hand. Now, Kel-Tec is coming out with a new model of this popular carbine, the 9mm SUB2000 Gen3. Read More

First Look: Beretta 92XI Squalo Pistol

Following the release of the single-action-only 92XI pistol earlier in 2023, Beretta has unveiled another 9mm pistol based on the 92XI, the Beretta 92XI Squalo. The new Squalo, which means "shark" in Italian, is a performance-oriented model that is optics ready and includes a Toni Systems magazine well. Read More