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Hand’s On Reviews
106 posts
Ruger Precision Rifle 22LR [hands on review]
The Ruger Precision Rifle (RPR) is something of a phenomenon! In the world of precision rifles, Ruger has a respectable presence. But usually, they are associated with calibers such as .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor. We don’t typically put “.22 LR” and “precision rifle” in the same sentence. But, as Bob Hope said, I gotta tell ... Read more
Ruger GP100 Revolver – expert hands on review [2021]
Ruger and the revolver First, before we get to the Ruger GP100, let’s take a quick look at history. Ruger has had a long relationship with revolvers. Although the company was founded to produce a semi-automatic .22 pistol, Ruger’s second product was actually a single action revolver in .357 Magnum. This was to capitalize on ... Read more
PSA AR10 Review – Steak Features for Hamburger Prices
Summary Palmetto State Armory’s Gen3 PA10 platform (PSA AR10) is a solid and well-made performer in the AR-10 space, and at its price point (MSRP of $1349, but it can sometimes be found for $1179) it is tough to beat. PSA’s superb reputation for after-service support shouldn’t be necessary, but it’s comforting to know that ... Read more
Ruger Charger review (9mm)
First off, let me say that I really enjoyed the Ruger Charger. It was fun to shoot and easy to carry around, since there was no buttstock to get in the way. (Having said that, you could attach a brace – the mount is there). With dual-magazine capability (Ruger and Glock), you could have a ... Read more
Mossberg 464 SPX review – traditional meets tactical [2021]
It was with great interest that I opened the long box from Mossberg. I know, many of you have opened similar boxes from that company and have been pleased at the shotgun contained therein. But – I wasn’t opening the box to retrieve a shotgun. Mossberg doesn’t make just shotguns. They make rifles (here, too) ... Read more
Ruger Wrangler review – an affordable .22LR
Wrangler: a person in charge of horses or other livestock on a ranch. This is the definition of the term according to the Oxford Dictionary. Bear in mind that a wrangler is different than a cowboy…the cowboy works with cattle, while the wrangler works with horses or other livestock. What does this have to do ... Read more
New Ruger Max-9 pistol for Concealed Carry MSRP $499 [Hands on review]
It’s always interesting to watch new guns or similar products come out. As a reviewer and purveyor of firearms-related industry news, I am still amazed at times when I read of or am told about a new gun being launched. I have been in on my share of NDAs – non-disclosure agreements – from manufacturers ... Read more
Smith and Wesson Bodyguard 380 Review [2021]
Small, pocketable pistols are all the rage right now. (Come to think of it, they’ve been popular ever since they were made small enough to fit in a pocket). At any rate, many manufacturers are building tiny guns that pack a punch, which can be pretty powerful behind the muzzle as well as in front ... Read more
Sig Sauer P220 .45 ACP review [2021]
The SIG Sauer P220 is one heck of a gun. Police agencies across the U.S. and around the world have used, and still use, Sig pistols extensively. Matter of fact, one very close-to-me state issues the 220 to its state troopers and also issues the P365 as a backup gun. I’ll get more into this ... Read more
Rossi R92 .357 magnum lever action rifle – hands on review
Look at this gun. What a thing of beauty, eh? How could you drag this thing through briars and brambles on your way to your deer stand? Polished stainless steel, close-grained hardwood stock… this rifle is built to not only harvest deer (or whatever you use it for) – it’s meant to look good while ... Read more
Glock 44: The Austrian Rimfire review
Summary The Glock 44 is a superb entry into the already busy market of rimfire handguns. Built in the silhouette of Glock’s enormously popular 19, the 44 is the perfect training companion for those that use a Glock for duty carry, competitive shooting, or personal defense. The Glock 44 is also a great choice for ... Read more
The judge takes the stand – a hands-on review of the bestselling Taurus Judge .410
Let’s just get this out of the way, right up at the top. The last sales stats I saw for Taurus had the Judge being its bestselling gun, bar none. That says a lot, for sure. Whether you’re a Judge fan or not, it accounts for a whole lot of gun sales. Why call it ... Read more
USCCA membership: Training You Cannot Afford Not To Have [Reviewed by a firearms instructor]
Introduction Here are two scenarios. One will probably feel familiar to you. In the first scenario: you recently became a first-time gun buyer along with five million other Americans over the last year. Maybe you had been thinking about purchasing a firearm for some time, or it may have been a spontaneous decision. In either ... Read more
Ruger’s Mini-14 .223 Rifle [Review]
Are you looking for a .223/5.56mm rifle? Not a fan of the AR-style platform? One more question, ever shoot an M14? If the answer to these questions is “yes”, then read on. (Or, if any of the answers are “no”, read on as well!). The non-AR aspect is obvious, from the photos but what about ... Read more
[Review] Taurus G3: Great 9mm For $250? [Updated With New Optic-Ready Version!]
Now even better… check out the awesome optics-ready version below in the Sights section! It all started with the PT111 Millenium Pro. That was the small double-stack Taurus pistol that held 12+1 and included two magazines. Features included double strike capability, adjustable rear sight and some good ergonomics. It was a competitor in the small, ... Read more
[Review 2021] Ruger LCP .380 With Viridian Laser
Want one of the smallest, pocket-dwelling .380s on the market? Want it to be reliable? How about a laser sight so you don’t have to look through the tiny built-in sights? Want it to be built like a Ruger? Well, here you go… the best of all those worlds, the Ruger LCP. The .380 has ... Read more
S&W M&P 9mm Subcompact [2021 Review]
The M&P line of handguns and rifles is a big seller for Smith and Wesson. In case you’ve been living in a cave for the past decade or two, M&P stands for Military and Police and is one of Smith and Wesson’s several lines of pistols and rifles. Where did that name come from? Well, ... Read more
[Review] Ruger American Pistol – One Nice .45
The .45 ACP has probably had at least as many guns chambered for it than any other caliber. Solidifying its position on the American semi-auto cartridge scene as it did in 1911, the old warhorse seems to be gaining in popularity as the years go by. For certain, the pistol that was designed to shoot ... Read more
[Review] Smith & Wesson M&P Shield M2.0
I owned a Shield once in 9mm. Matter of fact, I even reviewed an older (1.0) 9mm Shield. So, why another Shield review? Well, this one is a 2.0 and is in my favorite caliber, .45 ACP. That makes it worth the effort, in my opinion – they are in essence different guns. Hopefully, you ... Read more
[Review] Ruger SR1911 Commander
Ruger is the largest manufacturer of firearms in the United States. I say that, in case you were wondering. The company wears that crown that was a long time coming, since 1949, to be precise. That’s when the company was founded by Bill Ruger and Alexander Sturm. The company was top seller in handguns from ... Read more
[Review] Ruger SP101: One Fun Handful Of A .357
A two-and-a-half-inch barrel on a .357 Magnum revolver. Huh? Well, if you have read many of my small-revolver reviews, you will notice that I have reviewed more than a few small revolvers that were in .357 Magnum. I like those abbreviated big boomers…they work. Here are a few of them for you to peruse when ... Read more
[Review] Caldwell Shooting Supplies
Caldwell Shooting Supplies is a name known to many shooters. They are known for, among other things, their excellent shooting rests and their chronographs. I have owned one or two Caldwell chronographs for years and have found them to be accurate and easy to use. Their Lead Sled is one of the most popular rifle ... Read more
[Review] Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite
A small, light .22 pistol can be a thing of joy. We don’t necessarily need a big, honkin’ gun on our hip all the time. There are times when we want to travel light and don’t want two-plus pounds of pistol weighing us down. There is room for a twenty-ounce or so in our gun ... Read more
[Review] Crimson Trace Rail Master Universal Laser Sight
I am not a great pistol shot. Sure, I’ve killed deer, past 100 yards even, with an open-sighted .44 Magnum revolver but for most intents and purposes, I’m not great. I am getting old, or so my body tells me and with that revelation comes the need for progressive trifocal glasses. I have worn them ... Read more
[Exclusive Review] Heritage Barkeep .22 Revolver
Heritage Manufacturing is known primarily for one thing – inexpensive, single action .22 revolvers. Although they do sell some very nice Uberti-built centerfire guns, they are mostly known for their .22 LR and Magnum revolvers. I have reviewed some of their guns (read it here) and have owned a couple of them. The guns are ... Read more
[Review] Ruger SR22: Most versatile .22?
Ruger has long been a name to be reckoned with in terms of American gun production. Since 1949, this company has introduced model after model of innovative, well-built and popular firearms. Another plus is that Ruger guns are usually affordable – you can’t discount that, to be sure. I have been a long-time owner of ... Read more
[Review] Smith & Wesson SD9VE
OK. I hear you, even before we start – what the heck does “SD9VE” stand for? Allow me to explain: SD: Self-Defense 9: 9mm VE: Value-Enhanced Oh, OK. How in the world did S&W come up with that mouthful-of-a-moniker? I believe they were just trying to differentiate it from its not-so-well-received predecessor, the Sigma. That ... Read more
[Review] Ruger 22 Charger: More Handy Than A 10/22?
For those of you out there who own a Ruger 10/22 rifle – all six million of you – Ruger has something relatively new for you. It’s called the Charger. And, if you’re not one of those owners, the Charger is for you, too. I’m sure a lot of you already know about this little ... Read more
[Review] Tipton & Real Avid Gun Cleaning Supplies
I do a whole lot of gun reviews. I am regularly sent test & evaluation guns from Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Taurus and others. I like my job! I get to shoot, regularly, at home in my back yard range. I am always sighting something in, checking accuracy, testing different loads. Did I mention I ... Read more
[Review] Taurus 692: One Versatile Revolver
Did you ever wish you had one gun that shot ammo in three different calibers? Imagine carrying just one gun to the range but with three different types of ammo. Those of you who own a .357 or .44 Magnum revolver know what I mean, at least as far as the .38/.357 and .44 Spl./Magnum ... Read more