feature article

I have always thought of the bluing process as a kind of dark art. Some of the finishes look like they could only be achieved by a mad scientist and his minions mixing chemicals in a secret lab complete with a Jacobs Ladder and some bubbling flasks. The truth is not too far off. But you don’t need a minion to do this, just a 650 degree pot of salt. Niter bluing is one of the simplest of the bluing processes and it gives some of the most vibrant colors.

If you are a serious shooter, a good spotting scope is a must. I see people shooting long range all the time, then trying to check their shots through a rifle scope. But if I were to make a list of gear I have to have to do my reviews efficiently, this would be in the top five, right up there with my ear protection, my bench rest, and my box of screwdrivers. Lately, it has been the Meopta MeoPro 80 HD.

If you are serious about training, you will eventually stop punching paper and seek out moving targets. Umarex has been making huge strides with realistic versions of popular guns, and now you can train force-on-force, without the consequences of actually getting shot. But I’m here to tell you that you don’t want to get hit. It hurts much worse than I’d imagined.

When Beretta launched the ARX100, we put up a spontaneous review. We had only had the gun for a few hours before press time. So we’re going back and taking another look at the rifle. This time Tom McHale has had more time to really push the gun. How well does Beretta’s new rifle stand up to close scrutiny? Read on…

Looking for a way to get one more round into your GLOCK 42? The capacity of the compact .380 has been an issue since its inception. 6+1 seemed to be the only complaint people have about the 42. Here’s a solution. A simple modification will get you an extra round without sacrificing reliability.

If you move the grip on a pistol closer to the muzzle, you can more easily control muzzle flip. But how do you get the rounds in through the grip, and into the barrel? Boberg has invented a reverse-feed system that does just that. The result is the XR9-S, is like a bullpup pistol. It is blindingly fast and accurate, but the design presents some serious reliability issues. Read on for more.

Shotguns have been a favorite choice for many years when it comes to personal protection as they provides firepower and versatility with options to fit any budget. There are a lot of myths about what makes a good shotgun for home defense. The basics are easy–it should be a 12 gauge, possess a sturdy and reliable action, have an 18-20 inch barrel, and an easy to see sighting system. Here are five scatter guns that would make excellent choices for defensive shotguns when things go bump in the night.

Some see the M1 Carbine as a antique, a collectable that’s nostalgic at best. They’ve never seen Fulton Armory’s carbines. The Fulton M3 Scout Carbine builds on the M1’s classic design. But don’t mistake this for some historic homage, or a safe queen–Fulton’s M3 is an ideal choice for home defense. And it shoots one clean r.

GunsAmerica presents a guest post–two teachable moments from one concealed carry certification class. What do you do when a student washes his gun in the sink of the restaurant where you’re holding the class? And what do you when the gun goes off accidentally and it is you, the instructor, who is holding the gun?