Even positive changes can be hard to accept. Long before the M1 Garand rifle was in widespread service in the US military, it had its share of detractors. A number of these objectors simply disagreed with the Army’s decision to adopt a semi-automatic rifle at all. They argued that the...
Canik displayed ten new optics at SHOT Show 2026, expanding from pistol red dots into rifle scopes and rifle-mounted optics. The lineup includes low-power variables, a 4-40x precision scope called the KNIGHT, and enclosed-emitter rifle red dots including the Obsidian LITE.
RCBS brought their revitalized Weaver brand to SHOT Show 2026 with a line of Precision and Precision Tactical rings that mark a significant departure from what Weaver used to be. After securing the Weaver license from Revelyst in late 2024, RCBS is taking the 90-year-old brand upmarket with rings...
The truck gun can be virtually any firearm, but to truly assess the multitude of modern applicable firearms as an effective defensive platform, a required evaluation necessitates the most offensive, the AK. The AK has earned two reputations in the 21st Century; the first is a reputation for simpl...
I’ve spent the last couple of months toying around with Smith & Wesson's odd little folding 22 caliber carbine - the FPC 22. While I’m still a die-hard 10/22 fan, and my 11/22 Takedown is still probably my favorite 22LR plinker, the FPC 22 has started to grow on me over the t...
Despite some major wins by the 2A crowd in the past few years (including constitutional carry across a broadening swath of the U.S.A.), anti-firearm activists are not giving up easily. The new battleground appears to be the state of New Mexico, where lawmakers are considering a wide range of fire...
Does the sweet spot between compact speed and full-size confidence actually exist? Pro shooter Julie Golob puts the Springfield Armory 4.0FC pistol through its paces to see how this hybrid Echelon rethinks balance, recoil and real-world performance. Springfield provided the loaner handg...
Staying warm in cold temperatures isn’t always as easy as you think. Most people know that layering is the best option, but there’s more to it than just looking like Ralphie’s little brother in the classic movie A Christmas Story. It’s not enough to just pile layer after layer; to be eff...
During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union raced to develop weapons that could tip the balance of power. Among the most audacious creations of this era was the M65 Atomic Cannon, an enormous artillery piece capable of firing a nuclear shell. Nicknamed “Atomic Annie,” this wea...
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...