The subject of whether to use a pistol is not the focus of this article; let us assume we have decided to start with the handgun instead of a shotgun or rifle for the sake of debate. The best approach is to establish some basic standards for the modern pistol as a defensive weapon. The first ques...
Taurus brought three distinct products to SHOT Show 2026. The TX9 modular 9mm pistol marks their first purpose-built duty platform in centerfire. The Judge 20th Anniversary celebrates two decades since a viral watermelon video made the Judge a household name. And the Judge Home Defender &nb...
Today’s Photo of the Day features the KMR W-02 Spectra S OR. TFB hasn’t written tons about KMR; in fact, this might be our first-ever article. KMR Arms is a Czech firearms manufacturer known for precision-focused competition pistols, particularly within IPSC and action shooting.
I’ve been a fan of Griffin Armament for a while, having used their M2 iron sights for years, enjoying the quality of their silencers, and, more recently, appreciating significant value in their optics line after reviewing the 1-10x Mil-R SFP LPVO. Perhaps I’ve been working backwards, but it m...
DPP, RMSc, RMR, ACRO, and Doctor Optics: all similar but different red dot footprints. Are you confused yet? The world of optics footprints is messy and confusing. The naming conventions sometimes overlap, also adding to the quagmire. In this article, we’ll sort through it all to provide a clea...
At SHOT SHOW, South Carolina’s biggest MP5 fans, PTR, were showing off their latest addition to their roller-delayed blowback PCC line up, two new integrally suppressed SD models. Available in two versions, the 9SDM-A and 9SDM-B they are based on PTR’s 9CT. Intriguingly, both of the 9...
Another SHOT Show is officially in the rear-view mirror, and, as is my custom every year in this series, today we’re going to go over some of the more interesting or intriguing rimfire releases from SHOT Show 2026. While covering rimfire topics specifically is a significant chunk of what I ...
To readers of The Armory Life and many 1911 afficionados, Hilton Yam is going to be a familiar name. In the company of the many great gunsmiths and competitors who have built their professions around the construction or use of 1911 pistols, Yam offers a very unique perspective...