Sam Trisler

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The New Mossberg Duck Commander Line: Duck Guns Worthy of Duck Dynasty

The New Mossberg Duck Commander Line: Duck Guns Worthy of Duck Dynasty

The popularity of the A&E reality show Duck Dynasty has done wonders to increase the public’s awareness of duck hunting. Mossberg, making the most of this opportunity, announced this past summer that it had teamed up with the Duck Commander guys to create a new line of products. These interpretations of venerable Mossberg guns are starting to trickle out of the factory. We talked to Mossberg reps at SHOT Show this year and they agreed to send us a Duck Commander 930, which we had in the field before the end of duck season (just a week later). What better way to check out a gun that is designed to knock waterfowl out of the sky than to take it to the blind?

Mossberg Duck Commander 930—New Gun Review

Mossberg Duck Commander 930—New Gun Review

When I hear someone talking about a Mossberg, I think of dependable shotguns that get the job done. They might not have all of the bells and whistles of their more expensive competition, but they work. Work is the key word here. Mossberg is a workingman’s gun. Mossberg has been making the 930 auto-loading shotgun since 2005. It has proven itself as a versatile scattergun for hunting and reliable tool for defense. It also doesn’t break the bank. Though the latest 930 is dressed up in Duck Commander haute couture, this scattergun is first and foremost a Mossberg and could make a good all-around gun for turkey, ducks, or upland birds.

John Moses Browning’s Old School Humpback Auto 5s

John Moses Browning’s Old School Humpback Auto 5s

By Sam Trisler https://www.browning.com/customerservice/ownersmanuals/index.asp History There are a couple of good stories about John Moses Browning and the work it took for him to get the Auto 5 made. As with most of his long-gun designs of that era, Browning first took it to Winchester. They had a long working relationship at the time, one [...]

DIY Shooting Bench for Under $100

DIY Shooting Bench for Under $100

I am not a bench rest shooter. I don’t have the patience for that aspect of shooting sports. But I need a shooting bench from time to time, especially when reviewing guns and getting rifles ready for hunting season. Long story short, I needed a small portable bench, and I didn’t want to spend more [...]

The Ruger Mini Thirty, an Alternative to the AK

The Ruger Mini Thirty, an Alternative to the AK

The Mini series rifles from Ruger are nothing new. They have been in production in various forms since 1973, and the action borrows from one that dates from the 1930s. They have shown up in Hollywood too: the original A Team used them. Still, they are a bit of a curiosity. After running this Mini Thirty through its paces, my opinion on them has risen: this is a very capable rifle with a couple of quirks.

DIY: Slick Up a Ruger Single Action

DIY: Slick Up a Ruger Single Action

Ruger makes great revolvers. There single actions are affordable, durable, and accurate. Yet even a good revolver may need a bit of a nudge to make it great. So take it apart and slick it up. Take out the creep. Lighten the pull. It isn’t all that complicated.

Nothing Traditional about Traditions' Vortek .50

Nothing Traditional about Traditions’ Vortek .50

The Traditions Vortek striker- fired in-line muzzleloader shoots more like a GLOCK than it does your average flintlock, yet the high-tech rifle can still be used during those extra days of hunting season when the center-fire rifles and shotguns are forbidden. But once you have the gun loaded and ready, you may not be able to tell the difference.

Kimber Micro CDP--More than a Backup Gun

Kimber Micro CDP–More than a Backup Gun

Pocket pistols are not much fun to shoot. Even in .380, they are jumpy and prone to stinging your hand when fired. It’s hard to improve shooting techniques with these little guns. And most are not known for their accuracy. Yet the Kimber Micro CDP defies all of these preconceptions. It is comfortable to shoot, and the accuracy is exceptional for its diminutive size.

Leathercreek Holsters--Handcrafted Old-School Gun Rigs

Leathercreek Holsters–Handcrafted Old-School Gun Rigs

Big companies that make thousands of holsters can afford perfect stamps that crank out flawless basket-weave. The hand stamp process is much more cumbersome and requires a maker to stamp each individual section of the weave. I’ve yet to see a flawless piece of hand-stamped leather, and these human touches are often the sign that it isn’t mass produced. This week we’re looking at the craftsmanship of Leather Creek Holsters, and we like their personal touch.

Bearcat

The Ruger New Bearcat–More than a Novelty

It seems like we are rushed more and more, all the time in our “fast food” culture. That even applies to range time, sadly. It is a lot of fun to rapid fire a polymer pistol and rip through a 30 round mag on an AR. But sometimes you just need to take your time and enjoy some slow-motion at the range. The Ruger Bearcat makes you slow down. This scaled-down single-action rimfire is great for practicing the basics and poking holes in tin cans, but it is more than a novelty.