Smith & Wesson’s 2012 arrival to the micro-sized 9 mm-pistol market was fashionably late, about a year after just about every pistol company in the gun industry put out a pocketable 9mm. But while most of the competitors pared down their 9mm pocket gun, Smith & Wesson managed to keep most of the features of the full sized M&P, and this proved to be an instant hit with the army of M&P enthusiasts out there. It made perfect sense to retain as much of the M&P design as a micro-sized pistol would permit, but that took more time, and it was a tough judgement call for Smith & Wesson to debut the Shield at SHOT Show 2012 instead of 2011 when so many pocket 9mm pistols were released. A year later, just coming out of SHOT Show 2013, it seems to have paid off for Smith & Wesson. The Shield has been for the most part sold out since its introduction a year ago, and now with some serious range time on the guns, the Shield has shown to be very accurate and reliable. It is one of the few striker pistols on the market with a manual thumb safety, which almost puts the gun in a category by itself.
February 2013
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The Lasers Edge – Free Crimson Trace DVD
If you think the only advantages to a gun-mounted laser aiming system are the confidence it inspires and intimidation factor when you paint the perp, then you’re sorely in need of a free copy of Crimson Trace’s “The Laser’s Edge” DVD. Sit down for 40 minutes and you’ll see how any laser’s instant feedback can be used to improve trigger control, maximize your safety if detaining a criminal until authorities arrive, and much more.
Yes, the company’s products are showcased, and you’ll also receive a Crimson Trace catalog with the DVD, but this is anything but pure marketing hype. A panel of six of the nation’s foremost firearms experts was assembled to discuss and, better yet, show viewers exactly how to use handgun-mounted laser systems to improve their self-defense skills.
Biden Says Go Buy a Shotgun Mommy – You Can’t Aim an AR-15!
The word on the street lately is, “don’t worry they won’t be able to pass anything.” But yet, if you watch this video of VP Joe Biden, which is dated February 19th, only a couple days ago, he is still out there hard charging against AR-15s. This time he is giving us all advice for home defense, that we should arm our wives with a double barrel 12 gauge shotgun, “in case there is a problem,” and that said wife should shoot both barrels out the back door as a precautionary warning measure, just in case. It is a good thing his wife has never been stalked by someone sitting in his back yard with an AR-15, because after she disarmed herself and endangered her neighbors by foolishly taking Joe’s advice, she would have been a sitting duck. What a nut job this guy is, but he is clearly trying to pander to the “mommy” voting, which since the Sandy Hook crisis began have for the most part being walking in lock step behind the anti-gunners. .
Now, I’m quite sure that Joe had a private security detail even before the taxpayer funded Secret Service protection he now bilks us for, so the story is most likely a complete fabrication. The argument over shotgun vs. AR-15 is semantics, but it does show that the anti-gunners are going to attack this issue from every angle that they can, even trying to convince a Prozac infused America that they are in fact on the side of the people, with proper instructions as to how to protect your home. Here on GunsAmerica we are preaching to the choir, including a lot of you mommys out there who are proud American 2nd Amendment defenders, but every single one of you has a misguided friend that you could talk to, and now is the time to talk to them.
Sisk Tactical Adaptive Rifle Auction to Benefit HAVA
Here is your chance to own one of the most accurate rifles on the planet while supporting the men and women who have gone in harm’s way to protect your freedom.
Redfield Revolution 2-7×33 mm – Gear Test
It wasn’t long ago that Vegas would have given you better chances of capturing Yeti and domesticating him into a beer-fetching manservant than finding a decent American-made riflescope for around $200. The Redfield Revolution 2-7×33 mm beats the odds, but its performance proved far from flawless after finding the scope’s mechanical zero proved an elusive, time-draining challenge during testing.
Hoppe’s No. 9 Synthetic Blend — Gear Test
If you’re a gun enthusiast, odds are good you’ve either used or are using Hoppe’s No. 9 Solvent, but did you know it’s considered a “hazmat” material? You can’t send it airmail, probably one of the reasons Hoppe’s No. 9 Synthetic Blend was introduced in January, billed by the company as a non-flammable, polymer-friendly and biodegradable version.
Blackhawk Xiphos NT Night-Ops – Gear Test
The tactical flashlight market is fiercely competitive, and although I haven’t inquired as to why the Xiphos NT Night-Ops is no longer listed on its website, I do know Blackhawk has a policy of producing the very best, or the SKU goes away. I surmise with the huge number of companies now offering chip-driven tactical flashlights, this may have been a strategic withdrawal.
Secrets to Operating a Successful Gunsmithing Business
Gunsmithing can be a wonderful hobby, but it can also become very profitable if you keep in mind a few of the secrets to successfully operating it as a business. Here are a few of the secrets of prosperous gunsmiths.
The key to success in any business venture is knowing exactly what you want to get out of it. While that sounds really simple, it isn’t. Most people have only a vague idea of what they want to accomplish when they start on their own, and gunsmiths are no different. They know they want to be their own boss, they want to have the fun and thrill of fixing firearms and they want to make money. But, beyond that, they probably haven’t written down actual goals, like the amount of money they want to generate by the business, both gross and net, much less converting that to the number of sales, repairs, services, etc. they need to do each month to cover the expenses and put a nice profit in their pocket.
Wilson Combat CQB Elite—New Gun Test
I’ve been carrying the Wilson Combat CQB Elite for more than three years and its only hiccup came a few weeks ago, oddly in the hands of my eldest grandson about to deploy. For some rarely used self-defense handguns that would be a serious indictment, but this 1911 has sent thousands of rounds downrange, it’s been carried nearly every day and I’m not known for being particularly “gentle” to anything I own. Add the fact that field stripping and cleaning duties have been surrendered to my teen grandsons—eager for takedown practice, but not always thorough in cleaning and proper lubrication—and this handgun is lifesaving reliable.
Then there’s its eagerness to digest anything and everything I feed it. I think I’ve loaded and tested this gun with nearly every modern .45 ACP load on the planet. If I wipe it down after a full day of carry I feel guilty because I have too much time on my hands, and despite the bangs and bumps of a one-hour commute to work, each way, it still commands reverence at the range. It is, after all, a Wilson.
Mossberg Silver Reserve II Over/Under Shotgun—New Gun Review
Mossberg’s Silver Reserve is a line of entry-level, break-open shotguns that cover an array of sporting shotgun activities. Models include basic field over-unders for hunting, sporting guns with competition-specific features for competitive shooting, and nostalgic side-by-sides for those who pine for simpler times.
The newest generation of Silver Reserve shotguns—the Silver Reserve II—is still modestly priced, but also has some of the special touches hunters and shooters expect on higher-quality double guns. Those features include black walnut stocks with fine-line checkering and blued barrels complemented by silver-finished receivers sporting wraparound classic scroll engraving. Functionally, the Silver Reserve II line offers chrome-plated chambers and bores, dual-locking lugs and tang-mounted safety/barrel selectors as standard features. A variety of barrel lengths and stock options are also available.