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: My 3-Month, 2,500-Round Test
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.
Springfield Armory Kuna Review: Tested With 1,000+ Rounds of Roller-Delayed Fun (I Never Cleaned It)
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: Tested With 1,000+ Rounds of Roller-Delayed Fun (I Never Cleaned It)
CZ Scorpion Reviewed: My Take vs. the SIG MPX and Kuna
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: My Take vs. the SIG MPX and Kuna
Magpul Stock Guide: My Pick Among MOE, STR, CTR & SL
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 Guide: My Pick Among MOE, STR, CTR & SL
Kimber 2K11 Review: I Fired 800+ Rounds Through The Double-Stack 1911 Over 6 Months
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: I Fired 800+ Rounds Through The Double-Stack 1911 Over 6 Months
Ruger RXM Review: 1,500+ Rounds & 3 Months of Daily Carry 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 & 3 Months of Daily Carry With The Magpul-Designed Glock Alternative
Taurus GX4 Review: My 2,500-Round Verdict After 18 Months
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: My 2,500-Round Verdict After 18 Months
Ruger Precision Rifle Review: My Take After 400+ Rounds
The Ruger Precision Rifle kicked off a huge demand for production-level chassis rifles for long-range shooting. These days, just about every bolt-action manufacturer has a chassis-style rifle designed for long-range shooting and events for PRS, at a reasonable price point that is approachable for those new to the sport. Of course, that was almost a… Continue reading Ruger Precision Rifle Review: My Take After 400+ Rounds
Glock 19 Review: I’ve Fired 4,000+ Rounds. My Honest Take
The Glock 19 is the most popular carry handgun in America, but is it really all that it’s cracked up to be, or has it just become the “default” choice? The vanilla ice cream of the handgun world? Well, I’ve owned and carried the G19 for years, and honestly, I’m not sure. I’m a fan,… Continue reading Glock 19 Review: I’ve Fired 4,000+ Rounds. My Honest Take
Walther PDP Review: My Long-Term Verdict
Despite their pedigree and depth of experience, Walther Arms seems to be the true underdog of the firearms manufacturing industry, never reaching the ubiquity and prominence of the Glocks and S&Ws of the world. While everyone else was chasing the micro-compact carry gun trend, Walther zigged when the industry zagged, creating what might just be… Continue reading Walther PDP Review: My Long-Term Verdict