There are many things I never thought I’d see in the firearms world, a bullpup AR15, an 8×57 M1 Garand, and a suppressed shotgun are a few that come to mind. But a red dot mounted on a small frame revolver is a bit more believable, and today we are looking at the first example;… Continue reading Taurus 856 TORO Review: An Honest Look at the First Optic-Ready Carry Revolver
Category: Hands-On Product Reviews
Our hands-on reviews ensure the products we recommend in our Best Of lists are indeed the best of the best. We put products from every category to the test.
Ruger Wrangler Review: Is This $180 .22 Revolver Worth It in 2026?
The Ruger Wrangler has quickly become one of Ruger’s most popular offerings and is a fan favorite among rimfire shooters on a budget. These kinds of inexpensive plinkers are fun to shoot, but with many brands that focus on fun can mean sub-standard quality and, uh, generous tolerances. That said, Ruger has a reputation for… Continue reading Ruger Wrangler Review: Is This $180 .22 Revolver Worth It in 2026?
TASER Pulse 2 Review: Watt’s Up Doc
The evolution from primitive weapons to modern self-defense tools has been nothing short of remarkable. Long gone are the days of relying on stones or pointy sticks — since the invention of firearms, humans have always sought better and more effective ways to protect themselves. Enter the TASER Pulse 2, a less-than-lethal tool that promises… Continue reading TASER Pulse 2 Review: Watt’s Up Doc
CZ Shadow 2 Carry Review: Competition Genetics Meet EDC Performance
The CZ Shadow 2 has dominated competition shooting since 2016, racking up national championships and filling holsters at USPSA matches across the world. But at 46.5 ounces with a manual safety and no firing pin block, the full-size Shadow 2 was always a competition gun first—everyday carry capability was theoretical at best. That changes with… Continue reading CZ Shadow 2 Carry Review: Competition Genetics Meet EDC Performance
Springfield Armory Kuna Review: Roller-Delayed Pew Without the Premium Price
The Springfield Armory Kuna delivers authentic roller-delayed blowback operation at a price that disrupts the premium pistol caliber carbine market. While enthusiasts have long coveted the smooth-shooting characteristics of HK’s legendary MP5, its $3,000+ price tag kept that dream out of reach for most shooters. The recently introduced Kuna changes that equation entirely. Manufactured by… Continue reading Springfield Armory Kuna Review: Roller-Delayed Pew Without the Premium Price
CZ Scorpion Reviewed: Feel The Sting
PCCs and subguns have exploded in recent years. PCCs being a pistol caliber carbine and subguns large format pistols with an SMG-like appearance, both styles offering short barreled rifle mobility but in the easy-to-control (and wallet-friendly) 9mm caliber. One of the guns that spearheaded this explosion of popularity is the CZ Scorpion. Scorpion pistols have… Continue reading CZ Scorpion Reviewed: Feel The Sting
Magpul Stock Differences: MOE, STR, CTR, & SL Compared
Of all the aftermarket stocks available for purchase, Magpul is one of the most popular manufacturers. They also have a decidedly wide selection of firearm accessories, including magazines, grips, sights, and adjustable or fixed stocks for various guns. They are known for making some of the best AR-15 stocks anywhere, each with its own unique… Continue reading Magpul Stock Differences: MOE, STR, CTR, & SL Compared
Kimber 2K11 Review: The Double-Stack 1911 That (Almost) Changes Everything
Can a traditional 1911 manufacturer compete in the modern 2011 arena? We fired 847 rounds through Kimber’s 2K11 answer to find out. For thirty years, Kimber built beautiful single-stack 1911s that purists loved and competitors ignored. But with Staccato dominating the high-capacity 1911 market and polymer pistols eating everyone else’s lunch, even the most traditional… Continue reading Kimber 2K11 Review: The Double-Stack 1911 That (Almost) Changes Everything
Ruger RXM Review: 1,500+ Rounds With the Magpul-Designed Glock Alternative
The polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol market has been dominated by one name for over four decades: Glock. While the Austrian “plastic-fantastic” maker’s reliability and simplicity earned well-deserved respect, their reluctance to make serious innovations beyond incremental updates issued as “generations” has left the door wide open for American manufacturers to step up with something better. Enter… Continue reading Ruger RXM Review: 1,500+ Rounds With the Magpul-Designed Glock Alternative
Taurus GX4 Review: Complete Analysis After 2,500+ Rounds
Taurus and I have, well, let’s call it history. For years, the Brazilian gunmaker occupied a niche in my gun safe—affordable alternatives that worked but never felt finished. I say this because the triggers were mushy, the finishes wore quickly, and quality control sometimes felt more like quality suggestions. So, when the Taurus GX4 showed… Continue reading Taurus GX4 Review: Complete Analysis After 2,500+ Rounds