Gun Reviews

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Echelon muzzle

Springfield Echelon 4.0C: Trail Tested, Street Ready

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I carried the Echelon 4.0C for a year through desert dust, frozen peaks, and long range days. It stayed reliable, carried comfortably, and earned a real spot in my rotation.

Browning X-Bolt 2 Maple Prints Sub MOA

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AAAA maple glam with real teeth. In 6.5 Creedmoor, the X-Bolt 2 Medallion Maple stacked tight groups, ran smooth, and looked like a custom without the custom bill.

Close up view of the receiver and magazine

Adler AD500 .308: Budget Semi-Auto — SHOT Show 2026

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The Adler AD500 is a no-nonsense semi auto .308 built to stack fast follow up shots without premium sticker shock. Six builds, hunt ready, and priced for real buyers.

Whole gun sitting upright on a table facing right.

Black Rain’s Freedom Fighter AK Goes Full Modern — SHOT Show 2026

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Black Rain’s Freedom Fighter AK keeps the soul of the platform and bolts on the upgrades shooters actually want, from a milled receiver to a folding stock that still runs, plus factory suppressor readiness.

Close up view of the receiver including the trigger.

S&W Ultimate Carry J-Frame: Four Models, One Mission — SHOT Show 2026

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Smith & Wesson trims the fat and tunes what matters. Better sights, a cleaner trigger, and the same pocketable J-frame footprint make this a smart carry refresh.

Seekins SIC: SF-Bred Modular Precision Rifle

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Born from a special operations requirement, the Seekins Precision SIC is a true interchangeable caliber rifle that stays sub-MOA, shrugs off heat, and drives recoil straight back so you can spot your own hits.

During an FN event, I was able to shoot the SCAR 20S out to 1385 yards

New FN SCAR Lineup Crushes Recoil and Loves Suppressors — SHOT Show 2026

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FN rebooted the SCAR 16S 17S 20S for 2026 with a hydraulic buffer, extended receiver, and true suppressor focus. We shot them side by side and the improvement is instant.

Vortex AMG 1-10x24 Launch Overview

Vortex AMG 1-10×24 LPVO Goes Full Send — SHOT Show 2026

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The AMG 1-10×24 is Vortex’s compact fistfight of an LPVO that gives you rail space back, adds dual-zero turrets, and runs fast without bloating your carbine.

Taurus TX9 Full Size Review: The Duty Pistol Nobody Saw Coming

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I took the full size Taurus TX9 and ran it dry for just over 1,000 rounds to see if this optics ready duty 9mm is hype or actually built to work. It did the job, and then some.

M1 Garand Bucket List: Shoot The Legend 

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We walk the M1 Garand from history to the firing line, breaking down features, ammo picks, accuracy, and the unmistakable ping that made this WWII icon a must shoot.

savage handgun

Used Gun Gold: What To Check Before You Pay

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Want the deal without the dud? Use this simple checklist to inspect used guns, keep it legal, and skip the lemons while you save real money.

SAR9 SOCOM Review: A Suppressor-Ready Workhorse With Smart Factory Upgrades

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Threaded, tritium, optic-ready, and built to work. We shot the SAR9 SOCOM suppressed and unsuppressed to find out if this duty-sized 9mm really punches above its price.

BoreBuddy Apogee Match AR22 Review

This AR22 Rimfire Upper Shoots Like a Laser: BoreBuddy Apogee Review

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The BoreBuddy Apogee Match Gen 2 AR22 is a dedicated .22LR AR upper built from the ground up for accuracy and reliability

handgun in holster

Guns 101: A Gun Guide for Beginners

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Brand new to firearms? This quick-start guide cuts through the noise and provides you with the must-know terms, smart store strategies, safety rules, and a lifesaving medical tip.

Zero dollar NFA transfers are coming, are SBRs a good idea?

Free SBRs Are Coming! A Horrible Idea

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Zero-dollar NFA transfers sound amazing until you hit the real costs. Before you turn that brace AR into an SBR, read the travel rules, trust traps, penalties, and long-term risks that most shooters ignore.

Blaser R8 Ultimate Review: Fast, Classy, Deadly

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A premium straight-pull that cycles like lightning and prints sub-MOA with multiple loads. If you want one rifle to do it all, the R8 Ultimate makes a strong case.

Banish 12 On A Browning A5 Changed My Hunt

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We ran the Silencer Central Banish 12 on a Browning A5 during a Texas dove hunt, and it flipped the script on noise, recoil, and follow-ups. Once you try it, it is hard to go back.

9 Hunting Rifles That Own Christmas 2025

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From featherweight mountain rigs to suppressor-ready workhorses, these 15 rifles deliver real-world accuracy, smart features, and gift-list heat for 2025.

Glock Gen 6 First Look: Evolution, Not Revolution

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First shots on the new Gen 6 G17, G19, and G45 show real gains in grip, optics mounting, and controls without changing the Glock DNA. It feels updated yet instantly familiar.

Holiday Gun Gear 2025: 5 Picks That Deliver

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We pulled this list from gear we actually ran in the field and on the clock. If you want gifts that shoot straight and last, start here.

Top Gun Gifts 2025, Picks That Slap

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From micro-PDWs to thermal-fusion dots and fast-access safes, these are the 2025 picks we’d unwrap first, shoot hard, and brag about later.

CZ 600+ Alpha Review: Field-Ready and MOA Honest

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CZ’s 600+ Alpha in .243 Win blends a crisp 1.4 lb single-stage trigger, controlled-feed reliability, and a quick-change barrel system. We shot groups, ran offhand drills, and pushed real hunting loads to see what this rifle actually does on target.

20x and two 21As

Beretta 20X vs 21A Bobcat: The Tip Up Showdown

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Beretta finally gives the Bobcat a real modernization with the 20X, and it shows. We shot both side by side to see if the new gun truly fixes the 21A’s quirks or just dresses them up.

Benelli M4 EXT Review: Capacity Unleashed

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Estimated reading time: 7 minutes Benelli M4 EXT in H2O. 18.5 inch barrel, interchangeable chokes, factory 7+1 tube. Same proven M4 heart with more of what matters: a factory 7+1 tube, a 5-position collapsible stock, and a bigger bolt release. We ran it hard, ghost loaded it to nine, and logged what broke in, what [...]

Weatherby 307 XP Range 7 PRC

Weatherby 307 Range XP: 7 PRC Hunts Hard

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Weatherby’s 307 Range XP in 7 PRC blends a familiar 700-style action, a crisp TriggerTech, and a huntable mag sporter barrel. We shot groups, ran chrono data, and lived with the quirks to see if it truly earns a place in the truck.

loops on lever-action rifles

Lever Actions Still Rule Deer Season

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Two centuries in and the lever-action still drops deer, runs fast, and keeps the fun meter pegged. From 45-70 Government to 357 Magnum, here’s why a lever belongs in your safe and in your truck.

The author, using a dead juniper tree to support his flintlock rifle.

TAKE THE SHOT: This .54 Flintlock Dropped a Desert Buck Fast

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A handmade .54 flintlock, a high-desert mule deer, and a 57-yard window that closed fast. I chose sparks, smoke, and skill over easy.

Old School Cool: Part 4 – Marlin 336 Field Test: 30-30, 35 Rem, 50 Alaskan

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Three classic Marlin 336 builds put meat on the ground and smiles on faces. From a rescued 30-30 to a do-everything 35 Rem and a thumper 50 Alaskan, here is how old school still wins.

Mossberg 990 Aftershock: Tiny, Savage, Semi Auto

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Mossberg finally drops a semi auto Shockwave style thumper, and the 990 Aftershock brings real gas gun control to a compact 12 gauge that hits hard up close.

smith & wesson 940 revolver with holster and moon clip

S&W 940 Review: 9mm J Frame That Runs Hard

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Smith & Wesson brought the 940 back and gave it real sights and real grips. We shot it across loads and distances to see if this 9mm snub can outpace your pocket semi.