Custom & Engraved Guns With The ACGG

February 26, 2026

The American Custom Gunmakers Guild dives into what it takes to make gorgeous custom and engraved guns.

American firearms have woven themselves into the national tapestry since European settlers found their way to the East Coast of America hundreds of years ago. Many setting foot on new soil brought their trade knowledge with them: furniture makers, metal and woodworkers, all eager to begin carving out a life in their new country. While some immigrants hung out their shingle as a continuation of their livelihoods in Europe, many found work in the fledgling American firearms industry, bringing generational skills and knowledge to the embryonic trade. Furniture makers became stockbuilders, machinists barrelmakers, even farm equipment manufacturers set their sights on fulfilling their new country’s burgeoning need for firearms.

gun digest 2026 — This article is an excerpt of Gun Digest 2025, 80th edition.

And America’s gun trade hasn’t looked back since, building on and improving traditional methods to become a bastion of firearm manufacturing efficiency. While the benefits of mass-producing guns can’t be argued with, there is a select group of artisans who still prefer to build firearms one at a time. They can be found not on a stool in an assembly line or a lengthy corporate roster, but laboring over a multitude of their own machines and tooling, creating all or part of a custom gun for a discriminating client. A custom or bespoke gun is handmade to the customer’s specifications and highlights numerous talents of the builder or builders and incorporates several trade disciplines, including custom stock or grips, barrel, metalwork and engraving to name a few. When done by a skilled hand, the firearm will exceed expectations and not feel like adding another piece of steel to the gun safe but more like welcoming a new member of the family.

The ACGG Is Born

In the interest of expanding and passing on the custom gun trade in the U.S., the American Custom Gunmakers Guild (ACGG) was founded. Several people from the industry began sharing booth space at an NRA show in the early 1980s, hosting gunmakers to meet with prospective clients and others interested in the trade. In 1983, recognizing the benefits of banding together, a small group of forward-thinking individuals each pitched in $100 and formed the first iteration of the Guild as a corporation in Texas; the inaugural show was held shortly thereafter.

The ACGG quickly found its footing and has continued to expand over the years, becoming the preeminent organization for American custom gunmakers. The members help and learn from each other while becoming masters of the craft, driving up the bar for custom gun work across the nation. The Guild website reads:

The mission of the ACGG is manifold. As an entity, the ACGG will strive to function as a venue for the exchange of ideas concerning the craft and promote public awareness of custom gunmakers and their craft. While promoting the betterment of custom gunmaking, we еstablish standards of excellence within the field of custom gunmaking and ethical guidelines to benefit those who create and use custom guns. ACGG nurtures and develops the next generation of custom gunmakers. ACGG follows through on its pledge by working with gunsmithing schools across the country, having professional members give guest lectures and presentations throughout the year to students new to the trade.

The vision of the ACGG is to be the preeminent entity in the United States for custom sporting firearms knowledge, skill, craftsmanship and artisanship. The ACGG aims to be the go-to organization for those seeking knowledge of custom sporting firearms or wishing to have a custom sporting firearm crafted.

With this in mind, the Guild created an ethics board that ensures a potential client’s investment will be protected by holding member’s work to the standard its become known for; if there’s ever a concern, a buyer can contact the board for remediation.

remington rolling block — Remington rolling block chambered in 40-65, octagon bridge, custom sporting triggerguard and MVA mid-range sight. Barrel polished and profiled with Rigby flats by Morris Melani of Alaska Arms, LLC, a Guild professional member. Photo: Matthew Horninger at Black Diamond Gunworks.

The Guild has two categories of membership: Associate and Professional.According to the Guild: Accomplished gunmakers are few and far between. But you’ll find most of them are members of ACGG. And they’re all ready to pass on the craft and keep this fine art alive. You are invited to join as an associate and enjoy the fellowship of others who appreciate firearms crafted by hand from exquisite wood and fine metal with intricate design and attention to every detail. As an associate member, you will be part of a unique association that helps ensure that the art of combining wood and metal into collectible and usable firearms continues. We invite anyone who appreciates this work to join as an associate. Associate members can join online at ACGG.org for a modest yearly fee.

Professional members must be an associate for a minimum of one year and submit samples of their work to be voted on by other professional members at one of the shows attended by a quorum of members. Professional members are craftspersons who actively work in the custom gunmaking trade and are willing to pass on their knowledge and experience to associate members eager to learn this unique craft. Both memberships receive access to the quarterly publication of the Guild, Gunmaker. Edited by Dave Norin, a Guild professional member, it’s brimming with how-to articles, current and past projects of members, and other useful information for those interested in the custom gun trade.

Recognizing that custom gunbuilding doesn’t neatly fall under one umbrella, the Guild has a variety of categories for members to join in. Trades represented and able to test for professional membership are: stockmaker, barrelmaker, pistolsmith, metalsmith, metal finisher, engraver, checkering specialist, toolmaker and casemaker. All of the requirements for work to be tested can be found on the ACGG site. Once accepted at the professional level, the member will enjoy the benefits of having their work featured on Guild social media if desired, access to Guild forums, as well as discounts at certain industry sites and businesses. For those who have questions about the membership process, the ACGG has several points of contact to help facilitate, all found on the website.

custom yost 1911 — Colt 1911 chambered in 38 Super and nitre-blued by Ted Yost, engraved and French grayed by Melissa McMinn, charcoal blued by Doug Turnbull; all ACGG professional members. Photo: Matthew Horninger at Black Diamond Gunworks.

As a new addition to the Gun Digest, this series will focus on a different ACGG category each year, giving an introductory look into what it takes to master the art of custom gunmaking. This year’s focus is stockmaking; let’s pull back the curtain on this Old World craft and dive in.

Stockmaking

Inherent in the process of stocking a custom firearm is a tremendous amount of artistic freedom. From wood selection to laying out stock lines and choosing a checkering pattern and finish, the stock is the equivalent of a race car chassis, steering wheel, and accelerator. One must only sit behind the wheel to get a sense of the balance and artistry of a top-tier performance machine.

Dennis Earl Smith, aka “The Stock Doctor,” and arguably one of this country’s most talented gunmakers, put it succinctly, “You build the gun to the shooter.” Length of pull, pitch, cast and toe measurements are planned for, documented and laid out well before any chips are made. The result born, after weeks or months of labor and numerous steps documented below, is a firearm that points instinctively like an extension of the body and can raise goosebumps with its accoutrements.

springfield 1903 — A Springfield 1903 G&H Classic Sporter chambered in 30-’06, stock and metalwork by Tyrell Christensen, engraving by Chris Rossiter, both Guild professional members.

A complete, finished project can be nothing short of awe-inspiring, but what goes into the creation of such snappy, well-appointed firearms? The first step in crafting a one-of-a-kind gun begins when a job is commissioned and wood is chosen for the upcoming project.

Wood Selection

While there may seem to be innumerable options when one starts looking for a stock blank for a project, most custom firearms are stocked in some type of walnut. Sharon Dressel of Yakima, Washington—a Guild professional member and purveyor of gunstock blanks—was kind enough to tour the author through her inventory and point out different characteristics of the wood gunmakers look for and why. Perusing row upon row of blanks, Dressel would occasionally pull a piece out and, with a practiced eye, point out characteristics she’d been describing like the sought-after fiddleback, crotch feather and marble cake pieces, referring to different grain structure in the wood.

According to Dressel, a specific stock blank is chosen for various reasons. These can include: type of wood (there is a plethora of walnut types, each with their own characteristics, with four varieties: California English, Turkish Circassian, Bastogne, and Black being widely used for stockmaking), uniformity of grain structure (for even workability throughout the inletting and shaping process), whether the blank is slab, quarter, or rift sawn (referring to how the grain is presented in the blank), as well as any “figure,” meaning visually obvious wood characteristics that add to the wood’s appeal. Moisture content and how the blank was dried and aged also play a role as improperly dried wood has ruined more than one stock job. With an appropriate blank chosen for the project, it’s time to move on to the layout.

Stock Layout

Layout refers to taking an individual shooter’s measurements and transferring that information into stock dimensions complementing the shooter’s form, style and body type. When fitted correctly, a custom gun won’t feel forced when mounted, it will feel like it’s going home, and the difference in performance and handling can be quite astounding.

layout stock shaping — Layout is of utmost importance from beginning to end to hold lines and measurements as the stock is shaped. Photo: Jeff Tapp.

Numerous books have been written on gun measurements, as well as the “how” and “why” for arriving at said measurements for a project. Michael Yardley’s Gunfitting is an excellent resource and starting point to help understand the intricacies that go into measuring a stock for a specific shooter. When practical, stockmakers start with a pattern stock first, observing the client’s shooting style, and make fine adjustments before beginning the build on a fine piece of wood.

Once the rough measurements are taken, it’s time to build a roadmap of sorts to avoid project creep. The stockmaker will trace the top metal onto a piece of graph or butcher paper, then begin to draw the stock profile onto the corresponding metal tracing. Once roughed in, they’ll ensure all the dimensions are correct for the length of pull, cast, toe, pitch, etc. Now, with a life-size drawing, they design and sketch the stock details, paying attention to how the metal and wood lines correspond with each other. Drawing complete, the tracing is cut out and transferred to the stock blank with a pencil, making sure the figure and grain flow in the blank corresponds to the location of the tracing. With the wood marked, a saw is used to cut around the border leaving the material slightly proud of the lines.

Inletting

Now that the extra material is removed, the centerline of the bore measurement and the trigger location are marked, to be used to verify dimensions recorded on the tracing. With the initial measurements done, the buttplate is laid out and marked with the corresponding pitch, cast and toe measurements. The grip and forend cap locations will be located and marked as well if the project requires it. Next, the top and bottom metal can be set by carefully using scrapers, chisels, gouges and other handtools to bring them into the wood. Inletting black [ink] is brushed on the metal surface that contacts the wood to be removed, a black transfer on the wood indicates a high spot to be brought down. Although a painstaking and tedious process, the receiver and barrel should seat with nominal, uniform tolerances—measured in thousandths of an inch—throughout when finished.

Shaping

The metal is set in the stock and all measurements are verified. Now it’s time to start bringing the comb, forend and wrist lines that were sketched on the tracing into the stock and merging them into one piece of art. Flow lines drawn in grease pencil help to keep uniformity and prevent too much material from being removed as areas are blended together by chisel and plane.

Sanding

Rough sanding incorporates rougher grit sandpaper (150-280) and must be done carefully to not roll or dull edges that were cut in the shaping process. With care, this step will remove the final, thick layer of wood needing to be sanded, with each finer grit removing the previous round’s deepest mark. Whiskering between sanding takes place until the maker is satisfied with the result.

Whiskering is accomplished when warm water is rubbed onto a stock by rag or hand, then allowed to dry, raising the worked, broken wood fibers to be sanded off; it can take numerous times between sandings before all of the damaged grain is raised and sanded smooth to the touch.

Finish sanding is next. Progressively finer sandpaper (320-2000) allows the sander to finish prep their work for sealing and finishing while removing very little material from the stock.

sanding stock — Sanding and finishing is the final step before checkering. Photo: Jeff Tapp.

Finishing

While wood can be cut and transformed into beautiful, purposeful material for stockmakers, it doesn’t lose its proclivity for gaining and losing moisture throughout its life cycle from tree to blank to stock, thus, it requires a suitable finish for the environments it will be exposed to.

Personal preference dictates a choice between an “in the wood” or “on the wood” finish, although hand-rubbed oil-urethane finishes rule the day when it comes to the custom gun world. An “in the wood” finish is applied over many days and many coats, allowing time for the finish to soak into the wood fibers before another coat is applied. These are generally considered complete after the stock absorbs less than a drop or two per coat when rubbed into the wood, indicating the pores are full of oil. A coat of wax can be applied at this point to add an additional layer of protection. An “on the wood” finish is as the name suggests, layered on the exterior of the stock with minimal absorption yet generally faster drying times and higher luster. All finishes, like automotive paint, will need to be touched up and taken care of occasionally to get the long-lasting protection desired for a custom gun.

Checkering

Checkering, at its most rudimentary, is a tactile way to better grip a firearm; at its finest, it’s exquisite art mixed with functional beauty. It’s also the last step in the custom stock but it can ruin it just as surely as the first. Given that, many custom gunmakers prefer to send their work to checkering specialists who can adorn the newly crafted stock appropriately. Those who do their own choose from two options: hand or power checkering. The hand checkering method uses a series of tools to lay out lines per inch (lpi) and diamond ratio of the checkering; when satisfied, the artisan traces a pattern onto the stock before cutting several “master lines” to help guide the layout. Power checkering is laid out the same way but instead of scratching in lines one or two at a time by hand, checkerers hold a tool reminiscent of a dentist’s drill, with a choice of different power options and a small wheel that cuts the lines as it rides over the workpiece. Custom checkering jobs, depending on their incorporated features, can take tens of hours to complete correctly and, conversely, are ruined in one careless slip of a tool.

After passing through the stockmaker’s hands, a custom gun is well on its way with a major component complete. Before the project is done, it will pass across more artisans’ benches: a barrelmaker will carefully turn a piece of metal stock into a one-of-a-kind tube, a metalsmith will use contours and lines to seamlessly join barrel and receiver together, adding custom touches to triggers, scope rings and more. The metal must then be finished, with a variety of choices and processes, the builder is only hindered by their imagination. While some gunmakers prefer to keep most or all of the building process in-house, the American Custom Gunmakers Guild has categories for vetted, professional members that are experts in their chosen fields and often collaborate on projects together.

Conclusion

A custom gun, whether it be a shotgun, pistol or rifle, hearkens back to early America and the craftspeople who had a hand in helping a young country find her feet. The many disciplines it takes to craft a firearm are being honed, nurtured and passed on in a host of shops across America as gunmakers live out the ACGG words: Accomplished gunmakers are few and far between. But you’ll find most of them are members of ACGG. And they’re all ready to pass on the craft and keep this fine art alive.

If you’re interested in learning more about the custom gun world or in joining the American Custom Gunmakers Guild, check out ACGG.org for more information.

While recognizing there are many ways to skin the proverbial cat, this article strives to highlight general workflow ideas provided by Guild members and the author’s research. It features “building from the blank” and not semi-inletted or duplicated stocks, although the process is similar.

Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt of Gun Digest 2025, 80th edition.

ZeroTech Thrive HD 1-4 Prism Review: Shot Glass

Iain Harrison

February 25, 2026

ZeroTech’s compact Thrive HD 1-4 Prism might just be the best bargain of the year for an everyday carbine optic.

Think of it as a variable-power ACOG. Taking up about as much space as a TA31, ZeroTech’s newest model gives users a true 1x bottom end, with just enough magnification to consistently hit torso-sized targets out to 600 yards in field conditions. Best of all, it does it at a very affordable price.

ZeroTech Thrive HD 1-4 Prism Review — Sitting atop this well-used AR, the Thrive HD 1-4 seems right at home as a jack-of-all-trades optic.

Optics are one of the few areas of the gun space where we’ve seen steady, consistent improvements in the past couple of decades, to the point where if you showed someone from the mid aughties what they could have for their (Biden-flation adjusted) money, they’d shake their head in disbelief. LPVOs are prevalent on general-purpose carbines, and for lots of good reasons—there’s a model for every budget, and with 10x magnification now available on Chinese-made scopes for less than a grand, you’d be entirely justified by asking why make the seemingly retrograde step of choosing a 1-4 instead.

ZeroTech Thrive HD 1-4×24 Prism Specs

Length: 6 inches
Weight: 19 ounces
Click Value: 0.5 MOA
Field of View: 131 / 31 feet at 100 yards
MSRP: $600
URL: zerotechoptics.com

If you’ve ever tried to use a cheap 1-10 at low light and in a less-than-perfect setup, you’re probably a couple of sentences ahead right now. Although glass quality and lens coatings have come a long way, there’s still a significant performance gap between those used in high-dollar rigs, and those in bargain-priced optics. It’s like expecting AMG performance from a Kia—yes, both will get you around town, but there’s a reason one costs more than the other for four wheels and a couple of seats.

Thrive HD 1-4 Prism — Unlike most LPVOs, this one has the zoom ring at the front of the optic.

At 10x, the eyebox becomes so tight that unless you’re bang-on in terms of cheek weld and head alignment, it’s much more time-consuming to line up, especially compared to a medium-powered optic at the same magnification. It’s less noticeable at lower magnifications due to the larger exit pupil, but it’s our contention that most folks use the throw lever on an LPVO as a switch—it’s either at 1x, or they turn it all the way up. If, like Nigel Tufnel’s amp, it went to 11, that would be peachy, too.

We’ve come to appreciate the Thrive HD 1-4 in the weeks we’ve played with it. Glass quality is very good, delivering crisp, edge-to-edge images across the magnification range. The unfortunately named RAP-R reticle offers enough information to make fast hits close in at 1x. Dialing up the magnification, it was relatively simple to connect at distance in breezy conditions, and once you figure out your holds, it can be used out to the effective range of 5.56. We found that with a 50-yard zero, the lowest stadia line corresponds to POA/POI at 500 yards, sending M193 from a 16-inch barrel.

We’re kinda glad that the manufacturer didn’t endow this optic with a BDC reticle, as they’re usually calibrated for one specific ammo and barrel length—most commonly M855 analogues paired with a 16-inch tube. When you get to shooting 77-grain OTMs from a 12.5, then things don’t line up too well. But by using a ballistic app to choose an appropriate zero distance, you can align the hashmarks with known distances and then verify in the field.

Where this scope really shines is on short, barreled carbines, with limited rail space. Most times, with an LPVO and rail-mounted laser, there’s no room to add a clip-on thermal or I2 device, so if you want to make best use of your setup at night, other compromises must be made. Speaking of compromises, the scope could use a little more eye relief. We had to set up in the rearmost slot on our 1919 rail, which means there’s no room for a set of backup iron sights. You could solve this problem with an offset red dot, but if you’d prefer the low-tech solution for a secondary aiming system, you’re SOL.

ZeroTech Thrive HD 1-4 Prism vs acog — Overall footprint is very ACOG-ish, and weight is about the same.

Our Thrive HD was packed very neatly in its padded shipping box and arrived with two different clamps for its integral mount. At first, we just slapped it on an AR and headed to the range, where we quickly became frustrated due to the locking lever partially blocking access to the carbine’s charging handle. About to write the optic off due to its incompatibility with America’s favorite rifle, we noticed a second clamp lurking in a corner, which reversed the locking lever and cured the problem. Eureka!

At 19 ounces, the scope’s weight is in line with LPVOs, and you won’t have to source a set of rings or cantilever mount, as scope body and mounting system are integral, machined from a single forging. There are pluses and minuses for everything of course, and while this increases rigidity and reduces failure points, it also limits adaptability—if you want an extra-tall mount for use with NVGs, then this probably isn’t going to be your first choice.

ZeroTech Thrive HD 1-4 Prism — Buttons on left side adjust reticle illumination and allow for toggling between red and green.

If you have vision problems such as astigmatism, red dots are usually a no-go. With its crisp, etched reticle, ZeroTech’s baby can be used by everyone, and when your battery eventually fails, the black reticle’s still there. So long as you have power, you can choose between red and green illumination, but be warned, despite this being a second focal plane scope, it’s not daylight bright. At 1x, its field of view is enormous and outclasses most other LPVOs, even our beloved Kahles and Zeiss 1-6 models.

We’re pretty impressed with the feature set ZeroTech have managed to cram into the Thrive HD 1-4 Prism. The more we use it, the more it grows on us, and the combination of image quality, seemingly bombproof construction and small footprint is very appealing, particularly on our 12.5-inch barreled work guns, which seem to get used for just about everything these days. If you’re in the market for a versatile carbine optic, we believe it’s worthy of a look.

Zerotech Prism Thrive HD Red Dot 1-4x MOA

$449.00

Natchez Shooting & Outdoors $449.00

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

MDT Send It Gen2: Keeping Your World On The Level

Nate Gerhart

February 24, 2026

MDT’s Send It Gen2 electronic level is here to help you eliminate cant and ensure first-round hits.

As the trend of demand for higher precision and accuracy continues across firearm types, rifles have become the centerpiece for maximizing that capability. From mile rifles to recce builds, the desire to have consistent first-round impacts continues.

A growing sector of this pursuit of precision is methods to keep a rifle level. But why is holding a rifle in the proper position related to the Earth during the shot process important, you might ask? Here are the answers, and one of the best tools to keep it on the level.

On The Level

One of the most significant challenges in LRP, or long-range precision, or ELR, extreme long-range shooting, is gravity. This constant factor is both friend and foe, exerting its influence on everything we do, including bullets. As is now a well-known fact, bullets don’t travel in a straight line. Instead, they travel in a relatively predictable arc.

Combine this with what’s known as Ballistic Coefficient or BC, which is the effect air has as drag slowing a bullet’s velocity. Add in muzzle velocity and bullet spin rate, also known as twist rate, and you can now start to build a consistent mathematical solution to predict the flight path. There’s one more wrinkle in this endeavor: environmental conditions.

So now you have the solution to nail a first-round impact, but that’s on paper. Once you find yourself in your shooting position, it’s time to take into account new problems to be solved, such as firing angle, temperature, air density and wind.

These environmental factors can take years to master, especially wind. There are tools such as a Kestrel to help you mitigate the influence of those factors, but as you’re in the process of breaking your shot, there’s one factor that we’ve known about for years; you can now, thanks to technological breakthroughs, see better than ever.

Bubble levels, also known as spirit levels, have been a helpful tool for years. You can purchase them for a few dollars at a local hardware store, and they’ve stood the test of time. Based on the principle that a bubble suspended in a consistent liquid will always seek the highest point, most bubble levels utilize ethanol both for its low viscosity and resistance to temperature swings.

Where this all comes into play for shooting is that 2 to 3 degrees of cant can produce inches or even feet of left and right dispersion, depending on the distance to your target. Bubble levels have been a valuable tool on rifles for years and remain so to this day. Still, trends in other industries, such as construction and woodworking, have created digital levels to provide further precision even beyond the classic bubble level.

There’s A Better Way

MDT saw an opportunity to capitalize on this technology and has created the leading option in digital levels for rifles with the MDT Send It Gen2. With a 16-year pedigree of providing some of the best and most innovative shooting accessories focused on the sweet science of long-range marksmanship, MDT is uniquely poised to push the envelope when it comes to the ability to achieve first-round impacts at remarkable distances.

The Send It Gen2 pushes that envelop with four different mounting options to ensure that you’ll be able to set up your rifle in the way that suits your needs and be able to see the three lights indicating your cant position easily. Sporting the ability to change sensitivity settings quickly, it also gives the level of feedback you want without overcomplicating the process.

The Send It Gen2 uses a CR2032 battery, which has become ubiquitous across the optics space, and has an auto-shutoff feature after 10 minutes of inactivity. It will restart when moved and can be turned off manually as well to conserve battery life further.

In practice, Send It Gen2 is remarkably durable, representing itself well in proofing stages for an upcoming sniper competition at the BRVO Tactical Sierra 1 site in Heber, Arizona. Over hundreds of rounds in 90-degree-plus Fahrenheit temperatures, with winds gusting from 5 to 30 miles per hour, and field shooting positions such as tree branches, rocks and prone off a bipod in moon dust, the three lights were there whenever needed.

A couple of notes for users that can make your life easier. First, the sun in Arizona is brutally bright. The Send It Gen2 instructions are clear and should be read thoroughly. One point they make is that there are rigid light pipes that can be installed to make the red, green and blue indicators more visible.

It’s highly recommended you install them unless you’re anticipating having to work in a low-light environment. If you would like to remove them in the future, it requires simple disassembly of the unit as if you were going to change the battery, and pushing them out with something like a ballpoint pen. Next, if you choose to use the included fiber-optic line, ensure the lines are securely placed in the Send It Gen2, and use the included shrink wrap to prevent snag hazards on the lines.

By its nature, fiber-optic lines are fragile, so be careful to set them up in the safest manner possible. From experience, I recommend the direct center Picatinny mount setup if you’re planning on using these fiber optic lines.

The performance of the MDT Send It Gen2 sets it apart from the rest, but the mounting options put it over the top. It’s durable, reliable, compact, versatile and when set up correctly, an ideal solution to your shooting needs. A tool like this isn’t for every rifle or shooter, but if you’re someone who wants the best chance of a first round and subsequent impacts on target, stepping up your game with the Send It Gen2 will help with that process.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the April 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

A Yost Hi-Power In .40 S&W: Custom Coolness

Patrick Sweeney

February 23, 2026

We take a closer look at a very cool Yost Custom Browning Hi-Power SRT model in .40 S&W.

I’ve had a nodding acquaintance with Ted Yost for a bunch of years now. I first met him when I attended one of the Gunsite Alumni Shoots, known in the fraternity as GAS. While there, I took advantage and took photos of Ted and his operation, since he was at that time the resident gunsmith at Gunsite. I also happened to win a GSP as the prize for winning the shoot-off, which GSP Ted had built. (Ted, it has since been modified and isn’t like you built it. Sorry about that.)

That article gave me entrée to editors and led directly to my starting with Gun Digest books. Thanks, Ted.

A few years back, one of the other Gunsite alumni had a firearm in excess of his needs. It was a Browning Hi-Power, in .40S&W, one that Ted had customized. I was deep into a Hi-Power period then—and I had to have it—and the offer was for a very fair (perhaps even bargain) price.

So, I bought it.

yost fn hi power box — The Yost BHP, in its FN case from the factory, with all the extras.

The Favored Forty

When the .40 S&W hit the market in 1990, it was an immediate hit. Everyone who built a self-loading pistol had to have something in the lineup in .40 caliber … or risk being left behind. The first iterations of .40-caliber pistols were simply 9mms with a different breechface, barrel chamber and bore, and magazine.

And they were not entirely satisfactory. Well, the 1911-based ones were, but those who favored the 1911 stuck with a .45-caliber, except for the competition shooters, who would sell their souls for one more round in a magazine.

The “9 converted to a 40” models were quickly changed, and changed again and again, until they became properly-built-for-.40 pistols—except for Glock, where Gaston had the good luck to have built a pistol portly enough that changing it to .40 from 9mm wasn’t a big deal.

FN—thorough engineering prowess has always been their strength—did not have the same model evolution. They did that in the workshops and test ranges. What they found was horrifying. OK, the classic BHP, or Hi-Power, is a steel frame where more than 80 percent of the steel is machined away from the forging.

Another gun writer described it once as being made from the “best grade of Velveeta-class steel,” and he wasn’t far off. It didn’t need exotic alloys or high-strength steels; it worked and worked for a lifetime in 9mm.

But chambered in .40, the test guns died a quick and ugly death. Barrels, slides and frames all expired in different ways and at different round-count intervals, but they all died. So, the engineers rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

The .40 BHP differs from the 9mm in three major ways, besides the breechface and bore. First, the .40-caliber barrel has three locking lugs instead of two. This spreads out the case-thrust load over 50 percent more steel. The slide is heavier, even though it’s the same length as the 9mm. This, combined with a heavier recoil spring, reduced slide velocity, which was just killing slides and frames. And, lastly, the frames were made of steel castings.

How does this help? Simple: The raw casting can be just a few thousandths oversized in the areas that need precision fitting. With the machining greatly reduced, FN could cast the 40 frames out of a much stronger alloy—an alloy that didn’t even need heat-treatment to make it strong.

One thing they did was keep the magazine dimensions, so they could use the same un-killable frames in 9mm. This had the unfortunate consequence of reducing the 40 BHP magazine capacity to 10 rounds. What made it not such a big deal was that, at that time, there was a new law—the Assault Weapon Ban of 1994—which prohibited manufacture of new magazines greater than 10 rounds. So, if you liked the Hi-Power but were stuck with only 10 rounds, you’d likely opt for a 40 rather than a 9.

Yost Custom Hi-Power 40 sw magazine — The 40 BHP mags only hold 10 rounds, and there’s a spring to make ejection brisker.

Yost-ing the Hi-Power

So, this particular 40 made by FN in 1993 (an early 40 then) and imported to the United States, Ted built as an SRT model, and it’s so marked on the slide, and the frame has Yost Custom on the dust cover.

The slide has a Novak-dovetail rear sight, but with the front face of the rear sight cut bluff, so you could use it as a cocking surface if you needed to do one-handed manipulations.

Yost Custom Hi-Power novak — The rear sight, with the front face contoured to make it possible for one-hand slide manipulation, if the occasion warrants it.

The front blade has, as is Ted’s custom, a gold line up the middle, with the blade and the gold serrated.

Yost Custom Hi-Power 40 front sight — The top of the slide is serrated from the rear sight to the front. And the front blade has a gold insert.

On the length in-between the sights, Ted serrated the slide. Right-hand side of the 40 slides don’t give you a clue as to the added steel, but the left side does. FN kept the slide-stop lever dimensions, and this meant they had to machine a slight recess on the left side for clearance of the slide-stop lever boss. The 40 slide has the same external extractor that FN switched all BHP production to around 1962.

FN hi power — The thicker slide of the 40 had to be machined with a slight step to clear the standard slide stop lever boss.

On the frame, Ted went and stippled the frontstrap all the way up to the high-cut trigger guard. On the backstrap, he stippled it slightly lower than that, but plenty high enough to give you a good grip. This he calls his Sharkskin stippling, and it’s an apt description. The grips appear to be Spegels, with the sexy contours and hand-filling checkering that anyone who has ever picked up a properly stocked Hi-Power falls in love with.

Yost Custom Hi-Power grip stippling 2 — The Sharkskin stippling Yost applies to the front and backstraps.

The bottom of the frame gives the origin away. The cast frames have the bottom of the frame, at the back of the magazine well, serrated in the direction of the bore axis. Apparently, there were still very few 40s built on forged frames, but only a few. The magwell opening has a small but definite bevel cut by Ted—it aids fast reloads.

Yost Custom Hi-Power grip stippling — The backstrap gets the Sharkskin treatment, and it makes hanging on to the brisk 40 a lot easier.

The magazines for the 40s, while the same dimensions as the 9s, only held 10 rounds. So, the 40s gained the addition of a spring-lever to assist magazine ejection when you want the empty gone. This tends to rub the cast-frame serrations, but that’s life.

The BHP is notorious for biting the hand who shoots it. My first experience with a BHP was that of blood freely running down my hand from where the hammer had bit me. Ted sculpted the hammer so it can’t reach your hand, even if the web of your hand rides up over the tang … as mine does. A small thing, but it matters to some of us.

hi power hammer bite — The BHP benefits from a de-horning, but the hammer needs more to keep it from biting the hand that feeds it.

Another thing he did was to upgrade the safety. The original thumb safety was designed at a time when it was common to carry a pistol with the hammer down on an empty chamber. So, the thumb safety was an accessory not a vital implement. Frankly, the originals were and are miserable to try to use in Condition One.

Many have tried to improve the safety, and some came close. Ted is one of the few who made it something you could actually use. If you’re familiar with the 1911, then the Yost BHP safety is a known quantity. And if your only experience with Hi-Powers is the old safety, you will be amazed.

And, lastly, Ted worked on the trigger. The original magazine disconnector? Gone. The new firing pin safety, there since the MKIII, is still there, but you won’t notice it. The trigger is not competition light, and I suspect that the more-violent cycling of the BHP is part of that. But it is clean and crisp, even if it is 4.25 pounds.

You’ll also likely notice that the recoil spring is much stouter than it is on a 9mm. It has to be, as the 40 is stronger, even if it isn’t a .45.

One thing Ted didn’t change is the barrel. It’s the factory original, with the serial number matching the frame, and I suspect that it wasn’t accidental. FN makes good barrels, and this one is no exception.

When I first acquired it, I had this notion of scoring a 9mm conversion barrel from Bar-Sto (yes, they make such a thing, and it works just fine) and swapping the Yost 40 to 9mm. But it was just too good-looking to put buckets of 9mm ammo through it, and besides, I had a box-stock 40 that I could do the same thing to if I ever wanted to. (Which I eventually did, and that is another BHP story.)

And She Shoots!

I did test-fire it and found it to be superbly accurate. And that leads me to the accuracy testing I did in the oddest way.

I was, at the time, regularly assisting teaching LE Patrol Rifle classes. The three-day classes had the last day at a National Guard base, and the five-day armorer’s class spent the last two days of each class at the NG base. Once the students had passed the qual course, we split them up into groups, and they all had a chance to get runs in on the Army computer course, with knock-down targets out to 300 meters.

The head instructor, who had written the course syllabus, made it mandatory for all instructors to shoot the qualifying course for score, on the record, in each class. It didn’t take long before we were all posting perfect scores. Then, we used whatever rifle we thought was interesting to try. AK? Sure. M1A? You bet. FAL? Of course. All passing.

Then, we started shooting the rifle qual course with handguns. That took a while, but we managed to pass.

Someone had the idea of trying them on the 300-meter course. That one is 20 targets rising up to be hit and fall down, from 50 to 300 meters. A passing score in the Army is 12 out of 20. One day, word came back that the lead instructor just shot a passing score. Oh, and did I mention this was not shooting from the foxhole? This was done standing.

Well, I had to give it a try. As it happened, the only suitable pistol I had along that day was the Ted Yost BHP in 40. (Yes, I had shot a passing score on the qual course with it an hour earlier.) So, I stood there and proceeded to shoot a 14. When the lead instructor heard that, he had to stay up until he shot a 15. (Yes, we are a competitive group.)

So, there it is: a Ted Yost custom 40 BHP that practically fell into my lap from a fellow Gunsite grad and with which I have shot a passing score on the Army rifle qualification course. Standing. The late Walter Brennan had a role in a TV show called The Guns of Will Sonnet. One line that his character used more than once was: “It’s not bragging if you can do it.”

I’m not bragging … much.

Ammo Notes: .40 S&W

The 40 was going to be the one ring to rule them all, even if it wasn’t going to bring them all in the darkness and bind them. It would be nearly a .45, with nearly the magazine capacity of the 9mm, and it would do your taxes, slice your bread and wash your car.

Well, not all that, but it was going to be epic.

And then reality set in.

First, the 40 was hard on the first pistols made for it. And then, once the pistols were beefed up, we found that it was hard on a lot of shooters. The standard load, a 180-grainer at 950 fps, wasn’t too bad. But in the interests of getting even closer to the .45 in performance, we started seeing 165-grain bullets at almost 1,100 fps.

And the 180-grain bullet moving at 950 fps wasn’t kidding around, either. It turned out that the less-dedicated, the smaller-handed shooters—the people who didn’t really want to be shooting guns anyway—found it really tough to shoot. For police departments, that meant more time and ammo to get them “qualified.”

Basically, the 40 over-promised and under-delivered.

But competition shooters loved it anyway. They could shoot Major and use a magazine that held more rounds than anything in .45 could.

The real-world results were muddy at best. While the math and the physics tell us that the 40 was better than the 9mm, not all users agreed.

The reign of the 40 lasted not quite 35 years. Once word got out that the FBI was going back to the 9mm, departments across the country followed suit. Now, you are hard-pressed to find a new 40 being made, and used ones languish in gun shop display cases, if they make it there at all.

Millions were made, and they will last, and your grandkids will still see .40 ammo in gun shops (assuming there are gun shops then), but it’s being replaced by the 9mm.

And, yes, you can convert your BHP in 40 to 9mm. Just ring up Bar-Sto barrels and they can set you up. Oh, and buy 9mm magazines, too.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Hardware Talk: Aero PRO Ambi Safety

Patrick Sweeney

February 20, 2026

An ambi safety can add a lot of functionality to your AR-15. Here we take a look at Aero Precision’s PRO model.

The problem with most AR-15 ambidextrous safeties is the tiny little screws holding them together. The even tinier Allen wrenches meant to tighten them are one moment’s oversight from bending to uselessness.

On a personal note, the wings of ambi safeties tend to be too big for me, and the offside one interferes with my trigger finger. But that’s my problem. Yours, and ours, is assemblage. Well, Aero has solved the problem.

The M4E1 Pro ambi safety selector kit comes with the center shaft, which is cut to work as a safety, two wings, and the spring and plunger to work them.

Now, if your rifle already has a safety on it, the spring and plunger are both superfluous. But they’ll be handy as spares.

The neat trick to the Aero approach is that the wings are both separate parts from the shaft. The center shaft is cut for clearance and to block the trigger when on “safe,” so you’ll have to pay attention when you install it. However, the shaft also has square bosses on the ends. These fit into the recesses in the wings.

Aero PRO Ambi Safety — The wings have clearance holes on the front so you can disassemble the Aero Pro ambi safety if you need or want to.

And the real trick? There are captured, spring-loaded plungers in the shaft on the ends in those bosses. So, once you have figured out which side is up, press one wing over the boss, use a small-tipped tool to depress the plunger and snap the wing onto the shaft.

Yes, it’s that easy. Press the assemblage into the receiver (with the correct parts assemblage of trigger, disconnector and hammer already there) and press the existing frame-installed plunger down for clearance. (If you’re building from parts, the frame spring and plunger go in just before the pistol grip goes on.)

Once the one-wing-and-shaft assemblage is in place, press the other wing over the boss and use your sharp-pointed tool to depress the plunger. Once it snaps in place … well, you’re done.

No more fiddly little Allen-socket screws of minuscule thread size to fuss over. If you ever want to disassemble it, use a small press pin to depress the plunger. Yes, Aero thought of that and the hole for the plunger goes through the wing, so you have access.

Aero PRO ambidextrous Safety — The Aero Precision ambi selector is easy to install and clever as all get-out.

You have your choice of black, OD Green, or Kodiak brown so you can mix or match your new ambi safety to your AR-15 lower or next build project.

Now, some might object that $65 is a bit much for a safety selector, and if you don’t need an ambi, that’s probably correct. After all, you can buy a plain-Jane GI one for, what, $8 plus shipping?

But if you need an ambi, or you feel the need for an ambi, you might as well make life (installation life that is) easier.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More AR Upgrades

Top AR-15 Accessories And Upgrades
Four Quick And Dirty AR Upgrades
Choosing The Best AR Accessories
Prioritizing Spending On Your AR-15 Build

Wraith Metalworks Presents CANCON East 2026

Gun Digest Editors

February 20, 2026

A Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned small business, Wraith Metalworks was founded in 2020 first as a self-made think tank for tackling suppressor-related innovation. In early 2025, after years of multi-faceted problem solving, they entered full-scale R&D. By August of 2025, Wraith suppressors placed 1st, 2nd, and 5th at TBAC Suppressor Summit in the “ML” (Muzzle Left) category, out of 141 different 5.56 suppressors tested. Their focus on dynamic problem solving and rapid iteration—built around additive manufacturing—allows the Wraith team to re-optimize designs or solve end-user-specific suppression problems with functional testing in a matter of days, instead of months or years.

Their system-forward approach has created an entirely new methodology to suppressor construction that offers unprecedented flexibility for consumers. The Wraith Modular Suppression System^TM offers several distinct advantages over legacy suppressor lines:

Multiple formats – Different diameters and lengths so you can optimize for specific missions and hosts instead of settling for “one size fits most.”
Multiple baffle designs – A large library of interchangeable baffles, each tuned for specific outcomes (sound, back‑pressure, flash, recoil, etc.), and cross‑compatible across our models.
True user‑serviceability – The ability to re‑configure, maintain, and upgrade at the component level rather than throwing away or sidelining entire suppressors.

Wraith currently offers three core suppressor sizes: the Sentinel at 1.88″, the Ambush at 1.575″, and the Raider at 1.45″. The Sentinel and Ambush feature annular flow channels along the outside of the can body, which significantly improve airflow control and exit hygiene, reducing turbulence and helping manage gas where it matters most.

Says Bill Abrams, Chief Executive Officer: “For us at Wraith Metalworks, CANCON is more than an event—it’s the center of gravity for the suppressor community. It brings together serious shooters, top manufacturers, and a culture that actually values performance over hype. There’s no better place for us to stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the best in the industry and meet the shooters we build for. We’re excited to be part of that energy, to spend time talking shop on the line, and to let people experience the Sentinel system in a place that’s all about suppressed shooting.”

For more information about tickets for CANCON 2026, Presented by Wraith Metalworks, check our website at CANCONevent.com.

First Look: Vortex Triumph HD 10×28 & 12×50 Binos

Adam Borisenko

February 19, 2026

Vortex has just added 10×28 and 12×50 models to its popular Triumph HD binocular line.

Vortex is known for its great-value glass, like its Triumph HD binoculars, and now the company is adding two more options to the line. The original Triumph HD binoculars were 10×42, but for those who needed something a bit smaller or with a little more magnification, they’re now available in 10×28 and 12×50 configurations as well.

Vortex said this about the new Triumph HD models:

The Triumph® HD 10×28 is smaller and lightweight without giving up resolution. The Triumph® HD 12×50 adds reach, detail, and brightness for more open-country glassing and scouting where a tripod can make all the difference.

Details about the new binos are what you’d expect from the Triumph HD line, namely, compatibility with tripods, excellent HD glass with fully multi-coated lenses and a tough rubber exterior and nitrogen gas purged interior for resistance to shock, fog and water. Of course, if you manage to bust them, they’re covered by Vortex’s unconditional VIP Warranty as well.

The Triumph HD 10×28 model has an MSRP of $130 and comes with a carrying case, a neck strap, a lens cloth, tethered objective lens covers and eyepiece covers. The Triumph HD 12×50 has an MSRP of $180 and comes with a Glasspak binocular harness, a neck strap, a lens cloth, snap-fit objective lens covers and eyepiece covers.

For more information, visit vortexoptics.com.

M14: Past, Present & Future

Josh Wayner

February 18, 2026

We take a look back at the life and times of the iconic M14, as well as where it stands today.

Retro has been all the rage in recent years, and the interest level in guns from the Cold War era has skyrocketed. Ignoring the nuclear reality of the geopolitical situation during the time period, the guns in question have become something of a cozy nostalgic experience against the constant barrage of bad international news and rampant domestic consumerism in the industry today.

Simpler times, if you will.

The past few years have seen a growing appreciation for the early War on Terror era and its various attempts to adapt Cold War systems to the needs of the time, among them the venerable M14. We look at the state of the rifle today and what might be to come for the legendary rifle.

The Best Rifle for a War Already Fought

There are certainly quite a few opinions surrounding the M14 and its merits. It has been accused of being too large, too powerful, not powerful enough, both very accurate and not able to hit the broad side of a barn, the shortest-lived service rifle and yet the one that kept coming back when the going got rough.

It seems like everyone has an opinion of this rifle, but the only true tragedy is that the gun didn’t come sooner. We could have had a rifle very similar to the M14 as early as the 1920s, but the government was hilariously concerned about soldiers losing magazines and wasting ammo, a thing that went so far as to be mockingly chalked up to as British custom (the SMLE had detachable magazines and a 10-round capacity).

For no reason that made sense, the U.S. government was deeply concerned with this and had been for decades, going so far as to put magazine cutoffs on the 1903 Springfield and doubting the need for stripper clip-fed bolt guns with the choice of the Krag rifle in the 1890s.

m14 receiver — The M14 was designed to be able to use stripper clips to load a magazine, just like a Mauser.

The experiences gained in World War II and Korea birthed the M14, and I stand by the fact that it would have been a great rifle for those conflicts … had it existed. For the naysayers, note that the Germans and Russians already had various attempts at detachable-magazine, full-power semi-auto or select-fire rifles that were developed actively in the war. The issues they encountered with the G43 and SVT40 (updated SVT 38) made them generally subpar, especially to the American M1 Garand.

Not only could they simply not make enough of these rifles; the ones that were produced were often of poor quality and the reception, especially of the later war G43s and the SVT series in general, for both accuracy and durability. The concept was solid, the execution not so much.

The desire to have this type of rifle was present in the American mind but unrealized in practice, and thankfully the M1 Garand was proven to be superior to Axis rifles in all ways except the issue of a detachable magazine. It should be noted that the Axis powers and Russia tried to mass-issue autoloading rifles, but they failed due to wartime stress. There were, of course, attempts to remedy this issue with the M1, but the war ended before any serious progress had been made. The M1’s lack of detachable magazine was notable, and it was, to many firearms experts, already obsolete during its production run.

The (Unwitting) Rifle of the Future

The American side of things had been slowly working on a general program for rifle improvement for some time, but there was a good deal of bureaucratic uncertainty involved and many competing ideas leading to a foot-dragging between various factions and their ideas of what was needed in service rifles.

After WWI, experiences gained led to a search for a self-loading rifle. This led to famous designs like the Pedersen rifle and the Garand, and it included a heavy debate on the merits of “small bore” rifles, namely chambered for .276 Pedersen. Of note is that most other world powers were capable of delivering on a detachable magazine semiautomatic rifle, while America wasted time much in the same way that they resisted bolt actions and stripper clip-fed rifles in the pre-WWI era.

m14 m16 m1 garand — These are all commercial rifles, but their namesakes all served together in various conflicts through the ’60s and ’70s. Top down: Brownells M16A1, James River M14 and brand-new CMP M1 rifle. These three represent a progression of small arms ideology.

This amorphous program was referred to as the U.S. Light Rifle Program and led to many, many designs, both failed and successful. The general goal of the post-WWII program was to find a successor to the M1 Garand, and that is exactly what happened, just not in the most direct way. The program was lengthy, and there were many facets covered in both rifle and cartridge design.

The M14 came to us as the result of this program; however, the rifle did attempt to do a lot. In utilizing a compacted Garand-style action combined with a cartridge that was for all purposes very close in ballistic performance to .30-06 in the M1, the M14 was a guaranteed performer in terms of power. Making it select-fire and including magazines with capacity equal to the BAR (Browning automatic rifle) checked those boxes, making it able to provide squad support. Its overall size and weight made it easy to carry and point. On paper it was a great rifle, and in practice it was, too—but not in every role the military needed it for.

Like many jack-of-all-trade concepts, it was a compromise on several points, namely its powerful 7.62 NATO chambering and difficult handling in full-auto. World militaries at this time had only tinkered with what we call intermediate calibers, and the Western powers didn’t understand them well, comparing them to sub-machine guns in most period literature. A big culprit was the German StG44, what would be known as the granddaddy of assault rifles, of course chambered in the 8mm Kurz, an intermediate rifle round. The rifle was also referred to as the MP44, as in machine pistol.

What should be understood about the M14 and 7.62 NATO was that it was considered “normal” for the time, and the intermediate calibers like the USSR’s 7.62x39mm were effectively laughed at; the American mind was fixed on traditional rifles and long ranges. Intermediate cartridges were not taken seriously until they were encountered head-on.

m14 stripped — The M14 and M1, field-stripped. The two rifles disassemble the same to this point, but afterward special tools are required.

The idea that American and NATO forces had for their 7.62x51mm rifles was solid, but ultimately it would result in a back-and-forth with Eastern Bloc powers, resulting in the small-bore race in the 1960s. The 5.56 NATO eventually inspired the USSR to start looking for smaller and lighter options, and here we are today.

But, for the M14, going small had its hidden advantages. As wars changed and the demands of battle proved too much on the 5.56 NATO, the M14 was called back into service time and again. Sure enough, the War on Terror saw a complete resurgence and change of reputation for the M14, and it went from something of a pariah to a saving grace. Today, it’s held in high esteem thanks to its evolution into the storied EBR, and it’s now enjoying a resurgence in media and video games, with just a touch of nostalgia.

The M14 Today

So, there has to be a point made here that the civilian M14 and military M14 are not exactly the same rifle, despite accepting most of the same accessories. You can think of it the same way as any semi-auto “version” of a full-auto capable military weapon.

The simple reason this happens is because there is a wide commercial demand for these types of guns out of a simple desire for identical cosmetics. People love them, and they are fun. While nobody is going to say that a BAR or Tommy gun is going to be a great modern option, they will always turn more heads at the range than another AR. And, even at that, the retro AR options are always a bit more fun if you ask me.

The civilian M14 doesn’t have a specific designation, and the M1A moniker belongs only to Springfield Armory. Calling a civilian semi-auto M14 an M1A is wrong unless it was specifically made by Springfield, the company that is responsible for bringing the original rifle to market in the 1970s after the government restricted the sale of converted military receivers to the public. Unfortunately for enthusiasts, the original receivers are machine guns and far harder to get, especially for people wanting to shoot at the time. That said, if you are into it, transferable select-fire originals are still around and don’t command outrageous prices compared to many legal machine guns.

The internals of the military M14 are different from the commercial guns, but the actual differences are not all that cosmetically significant. More people have seen and handled the commercial rifles at this point so the selector switch cutout isn’t a missed detail. Hardcore military clone builders can get their hands on a dummy switch and a corresponding stock pretty easily. The M14 today is somewhat unsupported by the aftermarket, and this has left a large gap after years of popularity decline.

Where Did the M14 Market Go?

So what happened to the M14 after all these years, and what is the deal with the surge in interest for it? The direct answer is that it simply lost relevance, as modern, AR-based designs filled in military roles and the stopgap measures eventually stopped appearing in the media. The M110 family started replacing the M14 EBR variants fairly early on, despite the incredible popularity of the latter in War on Terror media.

The classic 2000s-era guns we know and love were, for the most part, short-lived. The M4, M16A2 and A4 rifles that featured heavily were phased out for a variety of newer variants that were more easily able to accept the ever-changing accessories being used. Rail systems became popular, as did lights and lasers. The demands placed on rifles like the M14 proved too high for the old warhorses, and, despite being praised as reliable and universally loved for their aesthetic quality, they couldn’t keep up.

The civilian side of things saw the market dry up considerably, as military demand dwindled. And, having lived through it, the M14 peaked commercially around 2010, where it then sharply dropped off. Political trends in the country were gravitating toward support of the AR-15, which was the target of the Obama administration, but by his re-election in 2012, the entire 2A community was firmly behind preventing limits on the AR, the zombie thing was trending (just a reminder we did do this), and the M14 simply dropped off in popularity. The AR was truly the new big deal, and that trend has lasted to the point that the M14 market virtually went extinct.

This isn’t to say the M14 ceased to exist. The rifle remained popular in match shooting and some long-range events until it was also pushed out by the growing popularity of sports like PRS. It simply couldn’t adapt to the demands of changing rules, gear and advanced cartridges. However, these days the mood has changed, and the M14 is again being looked at, as things grow uncertain in the world and consumers burn out on modern guns. The retro wave has lasted far longer than anyone could have guessed.

The State of the M14

Today, companies are still making parts and accessories for the M14, but they are decidedly few in number. The main companies making this type of rifle are Springfield Armory, Fulton Armory, Bula Defense and LRB. There used to be quite a few more, including Chinese Norinco versions, but they have not been available in some time. Of note is that there are more companies making the M14; the James River rifle featured here has a Bula manufactured receiver.

m14 receiver 2 — The James River receiver reveals that the rifle is made of almost entirely Bula Defense parts. The M14 market is small these days, and it’s not unusual to find mixed parts or alternate stamps.

Stocks are available, but, again, few in quantity, as production never really ramped up after the drop off. Wood stocks can be had fairly easily as well as synthetic. Companies like Boyds make them, but you’ll need to be familiar with a bit of hand-fitting in some cases. Surplus stocks and a variety of fiberglass versions can be found on the surplus market as well. Forums and gun shows are a good way to source truly retro parts if you’re going for a certain look.

US Tactical Supply is currently releasing new production versions of the classic EBR chassis, but again, these are not exactly drop-in. You’ll need to be familiar with working on the M14’s barrel and gas system or get it sent off to be professionally installed. As with many of these older guns, they were not designed with modularity or easy servicing in mind. If you want it done right, you might not be able to do it yourself.

Barrels and small parts are a mixed bag. There’s still a good amount of like-new surplus floating around in terms of period-correct parts. Companies like Criterion make a number of barrels appropriate for the M14, but installation is a more professional endeavor. Headspacing is best left to a custom shop, as it’s a complicated procedure unlike the easy install on AR rifles or modern pre-fit bolt guns. Many of the quality barrels are chrome lined, and companies like Fulton Armory are experts at their installation, for which you can’t use a chamber reamer. The barrels must be intricately timed and headspaced to the receiver and the bolt. Suffice to say, it needs to be done right.

m14 optics rail — If you want a good look at the M14 accessory market today, well, this is most of it. There has been a decline in accessories for years now, but you can still readily find scope mounts, scout mounts and specialty parts like Fulton Armory adjustable gas blocks and suppressor mounts.

Optical mounts and the like are still widely available, and you can have your choice of receiver-mounted versions or scout style, like those from Ulitmak. I have had success with both of these, but again it should be noted that these are truly not the same as installation of parts on an AR. Installing an M14 receiver optic mount is a bit of a pain and, while not exactly 10/10 difficult, it does require know-how.

You might be sensing a trend here that these rifles aren’t exactly easy to work on.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More Classic Military Rifles

The Karabiner 98k: The Best Combat Bolt-Action Rifle Ever Made
SKS: Collecting & Identifying The Simonov
All About The Mosin Nagant
The Gewehr 43: The Road To Germany’s Garand
Fusil Automatique Leger: Everything You Want To Know About The FN FAL
Lee Enfield: The Right Arm Of The Empire
The Rise And Fall Of The AR-10
The M1 Garand: America’s Original Battle Rifle

First Look: Magpul Sub-Compact Grip For Ruger RXM

Adam Borisenko

February 17, 2026

Magpul’s Sub-Compact Enhanced Handgun Grip is now available for the Ruger RXM.

The Ruger RXM was one of the most successful new handguns to come out last year, and recent grip releases from Magpul have only given more reasons to own the modular pistol. Because the RXM’s serialized component is its removable Fire Control Insert (FCI), it can be freely swapped between different grips along with the pistol’s upper, allowing for more freedom to modify the grip size compared to traditional pistols with serialized frames.

Featuring a Glock 19-size upper, the RXM also comes standard with a G19-sized Magpul Enhanced Handgun Grip (EHG). Magpul recently launched the G17-sized Full-Size EHG, however, and now the company has released the G26-sized Sub-Compact EHG as well. This means you can have all the benefits of a concealable grip paired with the advantages of a longer sight radius and more barrel length. That’s a pretty nifty combination, and as far as I’m aware, the only way to achieve that with a genuine Glock is to permanently cut down the frame of a G19.

Besides the shorter grip size, the Sub-Compact EHG has the same features as the other Magpul EHGs. Namely, it sports texturing on its front and back straps, side panels and forward index pads. It also has an undercut trigger guard, a flared magwell, a mag release scallop and an accessory rail.

The Magpul Sub-Compact EHG is available in black, FDE, OD green and Stealth Gray and has an MSRP of $40.

For more information, visit magpul.com.

More CCW Pistols

The Best Micro 9mm Pistols For Everyday Carry
SIG P365 Review: Small Package, Big Performance
Springfield Hellcat: The Big And Small Of The Micro-Compact
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M&P Shield Plus Micro Compact With Enhanced Capacity

Best Bullpup Shotgun Options For Compact Defense [Tested]

Elwood Shelton

February 14, 2026

There’s no need to go full-sized in a defensive smoothbore with bullpup shotguns around. We give you the best to guard hearth and home.

Gun design is fairly rote. By that I mean, there is an accepted configuration to a particular style of firearm, which is generally adhered to. Sure, there are tweaks here and there—different grip rake or fore-end—but overall anomalies aren’t tolerated. Unless you’re talking about the bullpup, which here, we are. In particular, bullpup shotguns.

In 1901, Thorneycroft Carbine turned gun design on its ear reconfiguring the standard rifle design in a bid to shorten the overall length of British military rifles. It certainly did the job, but proved unwieldy in almost every other respect. Given this, the bullpup design should have been just another footnote. Except as materials and mechanical design advanced, so did the feasibility of the shortened system. Now today we have quite a few choices when it comes to these odd-ducks, particularly bullpup shotguns.

If you’re unfamiliar with what’s available in this unique gun niche, we’ve gathered a few of the best bullpup shotgun options available today. But before we touch upon them, perhaps we should go over some bullpup basics.

What Is A Bullpup And Why Would I Want One?

Essentially, the bullpup—be it bullpup shotgun or bullpup rifle—is simply a design that moves the action from above the trigger to behind it. It’s as uncomplicated as that and has a profound effect on performance. At the same time, it shortens the overall length of the firearm, while maintaining its ballistic potential. It’s quite a feat when you consider it.

The easiest way to shorten the length of a firearm is to trim down the barrel. Just like that, the gun is shorter. But you potentially pay a price in ballistic performance given most cartridges (or shotgun shells) produce more velocity through a longer bore. Conversely, the bullpup ignores barrel length and shortens the system by kicking everything back a few inches.

There are pros and cons to this approach, which we go in-depth on in our piece about bullpup rifles. But in thumbnail the ups and downs of the design are these:

Pros

Compact size helps it excel in close-quarters
Support hand closer to the muzzle makes it more controllable and nimble
Mass closer to the body makes it easier to manage for longer periods of time
Longer barrel improves ballistic performance

Cons

Triggers tend to be poor and squishy
Many are not friendly to lefties, ejecting spent rounds into the face
Some designs, particularly ones with box magazines can be difficult to reload quickly
Design is inherently tail heavy

Like any firearm design, the bullpup shotgun has its good and bad points. Some shooters might find it the perfect tool for their particular application. Others might chalk it up as just another useless twist to proven designs. If you don’t know where you fall but are interested in a bullpup shotgun or rifle, it’s worth doing your homework.

More than reading an article, try to find a gun range or dealer that has specimens you can test fire. Only after you’re behind the business end of a bullpup will you truly know if it’s the loyal companion you’ve been searching after.

Get More Bullpup Info:

Nimble Advantage: Best Bullpup Rifle Options
So, You’re In The Market For An SKS Bullpup…
Oddities: The AK Bullpup?
Gun Review: The IWI Tavor SAR Bullpup
Escort BTS Bullpup Shotgun

Are Bullpups Any Good?

For the most part, when manufactured by a reputable company, bullpup shotguns are a solid and fun addition to an arsenal. There’s a rub to this: there aren’t many reputable companies making this class of gun. It’s mind boggling how many bullpups there actually are on the market, many of which are a step above fly-by-night importers with dubious QC. While there are fine guns made in Turkey, buyers do have to beware because there are more factories turning out dumpster fires than quality guns in that region. The question you might ask yourself before rushing off to buy that $200 bullpup is: Is this deal too good to be true? The answer to this is typically yes.

How We Selected The Best Bullpup Shotguns

The shotgun is as common as bluegrass in the suburbs and is a class of firearm we Gun Digest editors have spent a lot of time behind the trigger. These include seasoned hunters, sporting clays competitors and in tactical games–such as 3-Gun. Our experience runs from gun enthusiast to veteran military and law enforcement, which gives us a pretty good cross-section of potential users. Based on our combined and hands-on experience with bullpup shotguns we chose the best off a number of criteria, the chief of these being:

Reliability–does the gun actually run, because there are a lot of trash bullpups that do not.
Ergonomics–Does the gun have an intuitive and familiar Manual Of Arms–was the gun comfortable and were the controls laid out in a logical fashion?
Accessory Compatibility–Given many bullpups are import trash, built and sold quickly, many components–such as rails–are not in spec. We want our guns in spec.

Weighing these criteria and many others, we agreed these were the best bullpups from our standpoint. Now, onto the good stuff.

Best Bullpup Shotgun Comparison

Make/Model	Available Gauges	Overall Length (inches)	Barrel Length (inches)	Weight (pounds)	Action	Capacity	Frame	Sights	Choke	MSRP
S&W M&P 12	12	27.8	19	8.3	Pump-Action	12+1 3″ shells, 14+1 2 3/4″ shells	Polymer	Optics Rail	Rem Choke	$1,239
IWI Tavor TS12	12	28.34	18.5	9	Gas-Operated Semi-Auto	8+1 3″ shells, 10+1 2 3/4″ shells	Polymer	Optics Rail	Beretta, Benelli	$1,399
Rock Island Armory VRBP-100	12	32	20	7.94	Gas-Operated Semi-Auto	5+1	Polymer	Flip Up, Optics Rail	Beretta, Benelli	$599
Kel-Tec KSG	12, .410	26.1	18.5	6.9	Pump-Action	12+1 3″ shells, 14+1 2 3/4″ shells	Polymer	Optics Rail	Choke Tube Adaptor Sold Seperately (compatible with WinChoke)	$845
TriStar Compact Tactical	12	30	18.5	8.6	Gas-Operated Semi-Auto	10+1	Polymer	Flip Up, Optics Rail	Beretta, Benelli	$749
Escort Bultac SA	12, 20, .410	27.75	18	7	Gas-Operated Semi-Auto	5+1	Polymer	Detachable carry handle w/ fiber optic front ; Optics Rail	Fixed Cylinder	$350

Best Bullpup Shotguns

Best Overall Bullpup Shotgun: S&W M&P 12
Best Semi-Auto Bullpup Shotgun: Rock Island Armory VRBP-100
Best Looking Bullpup Shotgun: IWI Tavor TS12
Best Pump-Action Bullpup Shotgun: Kel-Tec KSG
Best AK Bullpup Shotgun: TriStar Compact Tactical
Best Newcomer Bullpup Shotgun: Escort BullTac SA

Best Overall Bullpup Shotgun: S&W M&P 12

The S&W M&P 12 bullpup shotgun on a white background.

M&P 12 Specs
Gauges Available: 12 (tested)
Overall Length: 27.8″
Barrel Length: 19″
Weight (Unloaded): 8.3 lbs.
Action: Pump-Action
Capacity: 12+1 3″ shells, 14+1 2 3/4″ shells
Frame: Polymer
Sights: Optics Rail
Choke: Rem Choke
MSRP: $1,239

Pros

Excellent Capacity
Top-Notch Ergonomics
Reliable

Cons

Expensive

What we like about Smith & Wesson is the pump-action 12-gauge boasts dual magazine tubes, providing a total capacity of 14+1 when loaded with 2 3/4-inch shells. The M&P 12 does feature a 3-inch chamber, however, so it can also be loaded with 12+1 3-inch shells–defensively, we’d go for the capacity over power. That’s us.

The M&P 12 also sports two pistol grips for better control, one rear and one forward on the pump, and both are modeled after the M&P pistol series which includes the ability to swap backstraps according to user preference. The total package is 27.8 inches long and weighs just over eight pounds unloaded, making its heft comparable to many of the other bullpup shotguns on this list. Unlike some of the other listed models, however, the M&P 12 sports fully ambidextrous, AR-15-style controls and its muzzle is compatible with Rem Chokes.

Other features on the M&P 12 include a loaded chamber indicator, Picatinny rail for optics, M-LOK for mounting accessories and a push-button assisted loading/unloading system. That being said, the complex loading process means that you will never want to top off in the middle of a defensive scenario, so hopefully the shotgun’s generous 15-round potential capacity proves large enough to get you through the fight.

In testing the M&P 12, we found the bullpup among one of the most reliable on the list with zero malfunctions in our time with it. This shouldn’t prove much of a surprise, given it is a pump-action. However, dual-tube ‘pups have been known to act wacky, particularly when jumping between the magazines. This certainly didn’t happen to us.

The gun felt good at the shoulder, though bucky on the trigger pull. We also appreciated the ambidextrous controls, as they not only made the gun lefty-friendly but truly tactical as well given how it facilitates easy operatation with either hand.

Overall, the gun ticks all the boxes to make it the overall best bullpup shotgun at present, except for price. Like all guns in this class, it’s plasticky, so the above $1,000 price tag feels steep.

Smith & Wesson M&P 12 M&P 12 19''''

$1,079.99

Brownells.com $1,079.99

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Best Semi-Auto Bullpup Shotgun: Rock Island Armory VRBP-100

The Rock Island Armory VRBP-100 bullpup shotgun on a white background.

VRBP-100 Specs
Gauges Available: 12 (tested)
Overall Length: 32″
Barrel Length: 20″
Weight (Unloaded): 7.94 lbs.
Action: Gas-Operated Semi-Auto
Capacity: 5+1
Frame: Polymer
Sights: Flip Up, Optics Rail
Choke: Beretta, Benelli
MSRP: $599

Pros

Affordable
Very Ergonomic
Accurate

Cons

Lengthy Break-In period

Known for its economical 1911 pistols, Rock Island Armory has made a lot of noise lately on the shotgun front. While much of this has been accomplished in the AR-style shotgun realm, the gunmaker has expanded into bullpups with the VRBP-100. Shooters are lucky they have. The 12-gauge is a stout shooter, but inexpensive and effective.

The main draw of this bullpup shotgun is that it’s a gas-operated semi-automatic, quick shot-to-shot, and highly reliable. With time, when it comes to the gun’s reliability. RIA specifies a 500-round break-in period for its semi-automatics. While the gun wasn’t overly finicky in kicking shells early on, the further we pushed it the better it performed.

The VRBP-100 isn’t as tame as many semi-autos, we consider it a downright thumper, truth be told. Still, even with a kick, it remains a very nimble option and accurate at shotgun ranges.

If you’re a righty, the ergonomics are excellent. For a gun that falls in the budget category, we were surprised with how well RIA laid out the VRBP-100. The controls are right in reach and once you are familiar with the layout the gun is quick to manipulate. The only ping we give it here is the charging handle is not reversible, something lefties might not care for. And it left us scratching our collective heads because the gun boasts an ambidextrous safety and mag release.

The gun feeds off 5-, 9- and 19-round detachable box magazines, which gives it fairly ample firepower. However—as is the case with most bullpups—the mag well residing in the stock slowed down our reloads. If you’re dedicated to the system and work on it, I’m sure you’ll swap mags much faster than we did.

Finally, you can’t beat RIA’s price on this semi-auto bullpup. Sub-$600, the gun makes it well worth enduring its break-in period and we find it an overall potent choice in bullpup shotguns.

Rock Island Armory VRBP-100

$399.99

Guns.com $399.99 The Real Grit $492.95

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Best Looking Bullpup Shotgun: IWI Tavor TS12

The IWI Tavor TS12 bullpup shotgun on a white background.

TS12 Specs
Gauges Available: 12 (tested)
Overall Length: 28.34″
Barrel Length: 18.5″
Weight (Unloaded): 9 lbs.
Action: Gas-Operated Semi-Auto
Capacity: 8+1 3″ shells, 10+1 2 3/4″ shells
Frame: Polymer
Sights: Optics Rail
Choke: Beretta, Benelli
MSRP: $1,399

Pros

Excellent Firepower
Surprisingly Lightweight
Good Accessories Support

Cons

Malfunctions
Manual Rotation Of Tube Magazines

The elephant in the room is this is a mammoth bullpup shotgun. Not in length—it measures 28 inches (for reference, that’s 2 inches longer than a Mossberg Shockwave). But in bulk. Despite this, we found the TS12 surprisingly easy to manage, and paid us back for adapting to its size.

Much of the bullpup’s mild manners are thanks to the TS12’s gas-operated semi-automatic nature, and the 12-gauge does not want in firepower either. How about 15+1 shells on tap in a three-tube rotating magazine—a design point we like because it adds to the gun’s sci-fi good looks. Unfortunately, tube rotation is manual, but we found the procedure can be mastered through familiarity with the firearm. The only way IWI could onboard more ammo would be to go drum magazine, which by all accounts is as impractical as it is heavy.

We’d love to say IWI’s design makes for a true fighting shotgun—easy to maneuver and relatively comfortable to operate. Particularly obliging is a reversible charging handle that’s accessible and modifiable to the dominant hand or shooting style. Except, we did find the bullpup tended to malfunction.

In particular, failure to eject. Specifically, this occurred with lighter low-brass loads as it fared well with buckshot. Early on, we didn’t find setting the gas system to “L” (Light) did anything to alleviate the issues with bird shot. However, shooting the gun more did. We cleaned and lubed the gun, ran heavier loads, and then went back to birdshot. This reduced the failures to eject considerably. We believe the gun requires a break-in period before it hits its stride and—like many gas-operated shotguns–diligent cleaning and lubrication.

That out of the way, what we love about this gun is the TS12 is astonishingly light for its size, a scant 8 pounds and with an 18.5-inch barrel the bullpup is relatively nimble. The gun’s 3-inch chamber, M-Lok compatible rails, compatibility with Benelli/Beretta chokes and cross-bolt safety are also appreciated.

We wish we could suggest this gun as a defensive option but are tentative given the malfunctions. Still, we believe in a less serious role, the TS12 is out of sight and has the potential to become the most interesting gun in your safe.

Iwi Tavor TS12 Automatic

$1,288.99

The Real Grit $1,288.99 Brownells.com $1,399.99

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Best Pump-Action Bullpup Shotgun: Kel-Tec KSG

The Kel-Tec KSG bullpup shotgun on a white background.

KSG Specs
Gauges Available: .410, 12 (tested)
Overall Length: 26.1″
Barrel Length: 18.5″
Weight (Unloaded): 6.9 lbs.
Action: Pump-Action
Capacity: 12+1 3″ shells, 14+1 2 3/4″ shells
Frame: Polymer
Sights: Optics Rail
Choke: Choke Tube Adaptor Sold Seperately (compatible with WinChoke)
MSRP: $845

Pros

Compact
Great Capacity
Ambidextrous

Cons

Malfunctions can be hard to clear

The KSG, in some respects, is the granddaddy of the bullpup shotgun renaissance. I suppose that’s thanks to John Wick. Still, the Kel-Tec being long in the tooth doesn’t mean the gun is out to pasture. It’s certainly one we found cut muster in our testing and is still holding its own in this class of firearms.

Where we get excited about this gun is its compactness. At 26 inches, we flew through target transitions and found it easy to manipulate around cover. Plus, we can’t complain about the gun’s firepower. Twin-tube magazines give the shotgun impressive firepower, 15+1 2 ¾-inch shells and 12+1 3-inch shells. More than enough ammo on tap to get most jobs done.

Furthermore, the controls of the gun are comfortable and well laid out. Kel-Tec makes it easy to jump from one magazine to another via a selector switch behind the grip. The one addition we suggest is adding a hand stop to the slide—you’ll thank us later.

Convenient, the KSG loads very similarly to a traditional pump-action, through a bottom port. Conceivably, this should make it simpler to load on the fly–but trust us, it’s still a slog given it takes a lot to juice this gun. However, it makes it lefty-friendly, given that spent shells eject out of the same port downwards.

To the bad, the all-things-in-one-port design makes clearing malfunctions lengthy. We had to invert the gun in most cases to clear failures to eject—not optimal. Then there’s the factor of malfunctions in general.

This has always been the knock against the KSG and mainly had to do with feed issues early in its life. Much of this has been ironed out by Kel-Tec redesigning the troublesome parts. Now if it occurs, it’s generally an operator error. In our case, the failures all occurred when short-stoking the slide.

One last point, the gun is a kicker and not exactly something you want to take out for a couple rounds of skeet. Then again, the gun wasn’t designed for clay. It’s a fighter and if run properly fills that role.

Kel-Tec KSG 12 Gauge

$574.99

GritrSports $574.99 Palmetto State Armory $769.99

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Best AK Bullpup Shotgun: TriStar Compact Tactical

The TriStar Compact Tactical bullpup shotgun on a white background.

Compact Tactical Specs
Gauges Available: 12 (tested)
Overall Length: 30″
Barrel Length: 18.5″
Weight (Unloaded): 8.6 lbs.
Action: Gas-Operated Semi-Auto
Capacity: 10+1
Frame: Polymer
Sights: Flip Up, Optics Rail
Choke: Beretta, Benelli
MSRP: $749

Pros

AK-Style Controls
Decent Trigger
Affordable For A Semi-Auto

Cons

Gas Adjustment Is Tedious

Better known for its classy and economical field and range shotguns, TriStar has also tried its hand in the tactical end of the market. The Compact Tactical is the result and offers shooters a fairly tidy package with one of the most affordable price tags on the market.

As things go, we like the Compact Tactical given it’s essentially an AK shotgun, though looks nothing like one at first blush. But from it’s lever safety, paddle release, side charging, and rock-and-lock mags—it’s all there. For our editors who live and breathe Russian guns, running this was like slipping into an old pair of shoes.

The other surprising point, the trigger is not a hot mess—as is the case with many bullpups. The break is very acceptable, though the reset is a little craggy. And the gun’s recoil is very acceptable, even boarding on superb.

A few of the down points, the gun has an adjustable gas block so it can run a load of different shells. However, we found when set for heavier loads, it most certainly wouldn’t kick birdshot. Then there’s the issue of adjusting the gas block, which we despised, given you’ve got to take the Compact Tactical upper body off, which involves screws. Eesh.

Then there’s the elephant in the room—the bullpup’s looks. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, particularly with bullpups. But for many on the Gun Digest editorial team, Tri-Star’s offering pushes the limit on acceptable aesthetics. Finally, it’s the least compact offering of our choices—a full 30 inches long. At this point, it is almost a deal breaker, given the whole appeal of bullpups is their compact size.

All that said, we can’t help but like the Compact Tactical. It runs well and offers you Saiga familiarity. There is a lot to appreciate in that.

Tristar TRISTAR Compact Tactical 12Ga 20in 5rd Semi-Automatic Shotgun (25122)

$677.99

GritrSports $677.99

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Best Newcomer Bullpup Shotgun: Escort BullTac SA

The Escort BullTac SA bullpup shotgun on a white background.

Escort BullTac SA Specs
Gauges Available: .410, 20, 12 (tested)
Overall Length: 27.75″
Barrel Length: 18″
Weight (Unloaded): 7 lbs.
Action: Gas-Operated Semi-Auto
Capacity: 5+1
Frame: Polymer
Sights: Detachable carry handle w/ fiber optic front , optics rail
Choke: Fixed cylinder
MSRP: $350

Pros

Entry-Level Pricing
Reliable
Available In Multiple Gauges

Cons

Low Capacity

Save Smith & Wesson jumping into the bullpup game there have been few new entries of note lately in this class of gun. The BullTac SA is the exception.

Manufactured by Hatsan (yes, of airgun fame), the gun is not a bad option for those who want to add a bullpup to their collection but not break the bank doing so. In short, it’s a fun gun that could push into the defensive realm and is worth its sub-$400 price tag.

The gun to us is straightforward, simply a single-tube pump-action. While the capacity game has driven bullpups in recent years, there is something to be said about sticking to the tried and true. And in the case of the BullTac, this equates to a highly reliable shotgun. We tested the 12-gauge version and didn’t come up with a single malfunction, aided by a very workable slide.

The gun is comfortable too. The editors found the gun fit at the shoulder and the controls were intuitive and in reach, with a shotgun mainstay cross-bolt safety and a loading port typical to most pumps—though further back. Also, we like the side ejection port, which should cut down on clearing malfunctions—we can’t say, we didn’t have one.

To the pros, we also liked the carrying handle with the pic rail, which gives the gun a unique look and the stop at the end of the pump, which improved cycling the gun. Finally—though we only tested the 12—we love Escort/Hatsan offers this gun in multiple gauges and we’d love to give the 20 a day in court.

On to the bad. It’s a 5+1 capacity shotgun, given it’s imported from Turkey. Honestly, this is a minor ding, given that 6 rounds are ample for a lot of situations, plus the BullTac loads quickly. But we agree that it might not suit some folks’ needs.

All that said, we like this gun and think it’s a worthy addition to our list. Given its price, the BullTac punches above its weight.

Escort Bulltac SA

$321.15

BattleHawk Armory $321.15 Palmetto State Armory $347.99 DEGuns $378.99

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Bullpup Shotgun FAQ

Are Bullpup Shotguns Legal in All States?

For the most part yes. There are no state laws banning bullpup shotguns, however, a certain model may run afoul of certain state laws. This is especially true concerning magazine capacity. Always check your local laws to ensure gun you’re thinking of purchasing is legal.

Are Bullpup Shotguns good for home defense?

Yes, bullpups can be good for home defense if they are reliable. The guns are compact, thus excel in close-quarters combat. Like all shotguns, they have a devesting payload. And many bullpups have excellent capacity. However, if they have a tendancy to malfuntionu002du002dwhich many dou002du002dall of those assets don’t amount to much.

Do Bullpup Shotguns have better recoil management?

A bullpup’s recoil depends on a number of factors; its action, weight and type of load are among the most important. For the most part, a heavy gas-operated bullpup should have fairly tame recoil, while a light pump-action will prove stouter. Overall, bullpups do not inherently have more or less recoil than a traditional shotgun and are very similar in managment.

How do Bullpup Shotguns compare to traditional shotguns?

The bullpups main difference compared to a traditional shotgun is its compact size. Arguably, traditional shotguns are more versitile and have a better track record for running smoothly.

Updates: February 2025: Removed UTAS UTS-15, added Escort Bultac SA.

Explore the World of Shotguns: Tips and Insights

Best AR-12 – Top Picks for Tactical Shotguns
410 Shotgun Buyers Guide – Everything You Need to Know
Best Over/Under Shotguns – Affordable Doubles
Best Semi Auto Shotguns – Scatterguns For The Field And Defense
Buyer’s Guide: Best Budget Double Barrel Shotguns
8 Gauge Shotgun – A Closer Look at This Forgotten Classic
Tactical Shotgun Buyers Guide – Everything You Need to Know
Lever Action Shotguns – Past, Present And Future
Best Pump Action Shotguns – A Buyer’s Guide
How To Improve Tactical Shotgun Skills

Adam Borisenko contributed to this article.

First Look: Charter Arms Boomer Revolver Series

Adam Borisenko

February 13, 2026

Charter Arms has just launched the Boomer series, snub-nosed revolvers that feature ported barrels.

Ported barrels are a very hot trend for carry pistols at the moment, and Charter Arms figured, why not give the same treatment to their revolvers? The result is the new Boomer series.

Based on Charter Arms’ Bulldog line, the Boomer revolvers feature 2-inch extruded 416 stainless steel barrels with twin vertical ports for reduced muzzle flip, trenched rear sighting systems and concealed hammers. The lack of a traditional front sight or hammer should really help facilitate a snag-free draw, but you’re probably not going to win any bullseye matches with it. Let’s be real though, this is a belly gun. The Boomer revolvers are being offered in 9mm, .38 Special, .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum, and each of those are available with either a stainless steel or black passivate finish. All versions ship with a black rubber grip.

Nick Ecker, Owner, President and CEO of Charter Arms, said this about the new series:

We couldn’t be happier to offer this updated version of our hugely successful Boomer Revolver … Customers have praised its concealability, accuracy, and design. This new series offers the ultimate in defensive revolvers.

Charter Arms’ new Boomer revolvers have MSRPs that range between $451 and $545 depending on the model.

For more information, visit charterarmsmanufacturing.com.

More Defensive Revolvers

.357 Magnum Revolver: Controllable Concealed Carry Options
Best Concealed Carry Revolvers For Personal Defense
Fighting Revolver Project: Smith & Wesson Model 586
Rolling With A .45 ACP Revolver

The Dangers Of Bullet Setback

Richard A. Mann

February 13, 2026

Bullet setback is more common than you think, and it’s dangerous. Here discuss how to deal with it and why you should carry an EDC knife.

When it comes to everyday carry, most of the discussion swirls around guns, holsters, ammunition and training. Sometimes we get so caught up with these topics that we overlook the little things, and as it has often been said, the devil is in the details.

Here are some EDC considerations concerning ammunition, along with an introduction to a knife that’s just too good not to mention.

Carry Ammo Replacement

Police departments usually mandate the replacement of carry/duty ammo at least once per year. Some do it twice a year, each time they qualify. This is a great time to replace carry/duty ammo because it can shoot during qualification, providing another opportunity to verify the reliability of that ammo with duty handguns.

You should be doing something similar.

bullet setback 1 — Don’t overlook the importance of an EDC knife and the routine replacement of your carry ammo.

Ammunition is very resilient and can last for decades if stored and cared for properly. When I was working the street, an elderly lady gave me a 1911 magazine loaded with .45 Auto ammo she’d found in a dresser drawer. She said her deceased husband had brought it back from World War II. I took it to the range and shot it, and it worked just fine, so why all the fuss about replacing carry ammo?

Over time, especially with exposure to wide temperature swings, gun lubrication and even perspiration, brass cartridge cases can corrode and that corrosion can impact reliability. (This is one reason most carry loads utilize nickel-plated cases.) Also, moisture and sweat could possibly cause primer and powder degradation.

For less than $100, you can replace all your carry ammo at least once each year and find a little peace of mind. However, you might need to replace your carry ammo more frequently if you unload your defensive pistol often.

Bullet Setback

When a cartridge is chambered in a pistol, the force of the bullet impacting the feed ramp can sometimes push the bullet deeper into the case. This is called bullet setback, and it can be dangerous.

In the mid-1990s, when the .40 S&W was becoming the law enforcement cartridge of choice, there were a rash of incidents where Glock pistols went kablooey during firearms qualification. It was discovered that those officers had been unloading their pistols at the end of each shift and then rechambering the same cartridge before the next shift. This created bullet setback, which substantially raised pressure. It’s estimated that 0.10 inch of bullet setback in the .40 Smith & Wesson can cause pressures to double.

To avoid this, some shooters will move the round they take out of the chamber to the bottom of the magazine. It’s rare that a single chambering can cause bullet setback with high-quality ammo, but for those unloading and reloading all the time, that round at the bottom of the magazine will eventually make it to the top and be rechambered again.

You could mark each unchambered cartridge with a permanent marker so you’ll know when it resurfaces, or you could just toss it and replace it with a new one. (My carry guns remain loaded all the time, and in the event I do need to unload, I mark the cartridge and move it to the bottom of the magazine.)

If you throw away cartridges you’ve unchambered, you are essentially replacing your ammo—one round at a time, so annual or semi-annual ammo replacement is not necessary. The downside is that you do not get to shoot that ammo. If you mark each round when you unchamber it, eventually you’ll have marked all the ammo in your gun and extra magazines. Then, you can shoot it up—checking for reliability—and replace it. Most modern ammo is resilient enough to be chambered in a pistol twice without experiencing bullet setback.

Giant Mouse ACE Elmer

No, this column is not about knives; it’s about defensive handguns. But a knife should be a part of your everyday carry just as much as a handgun, because you could end up in a hand-to-hand self-defense situation where you’ve lost your gun or your gun doesn’t work. (Maybe it stopped working because of corroded ammo or bullet setback.)

bullet setback 3 — The Giant Mouse ACE Elmer is a great self-defense knife for everyday carry.

There are several considerations for an EDC knife. It should be atom-splitting sharp, light, compact and unobtrusive to carry, and it should either be a fixed blade or a folder that you can open to a lock with one hand.

I rely on other Giant Mouse blades for hunting, general-purpose cutting and survival/bushcraft-type chores, so I was excited to see their newest EDC knife. It’s built for Giant Mouse by ProTech, and like all the Giant Mouse ACE series knives, it’s made with premium materials. It’s called the “Elmer,” and while this might seem like an odd name for a knife, it won’t be after you hear the story.

The genesis of this knife is a man named Elmer. Elmer served in the 36th Texas Infantry Division during WWII. He survived five major invasions, beginning in the desert chasing Rommel and ending up in Berlin rubble. He returned home and carried on, the way so many like him did. This knife is cool and confident, and more deliberate than decorative, and it honors a great American.

The Elmer is an automatic knife with a single push button for opening and unlocking. It has a CPM MagnaCut stonewashed and slightly upswept 3.2-inch blade that’s 0.107-inch thick and has a Rockwell hardness of 62. The handles are either blue or black aluminum with a milled titanium pocket clip for right side, tip-up carry, and it weighs 3.2 ounces. The action is fast, the lockup is positive, and out of the box you can shave with it.

But this blade is better suited to tendon cutting or bicep-splitting action, and in a pinch, it’ll peel an apple or pick a splinter, too. It rides comfortably in your pocket and is lightning fast to deploy. If you want one, you best make your move now: The Giant Mouse ACE Elmer is a limited edition and retails for $365.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

2026 BLADE Show Texas: Get Lone Star Sharp

Gun Digest Editors

February 12, 2026

BLADE Show Texas will kick off the ’26 show slate in style.

Knives and knifemakers planetwide and most everything else keen, utilitarian and covetable will inundate the 5th Annual BLADE Show Texas March 20-21 in the Fort Worth Convention Center.

The show will host over 400 exhibitors and thousands of knives from such countries as Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and elsewhere, not to mention top American custom knifemakers, ABS master and journeyman smiths and knifemaking members of the Knifemakers’ Guild; the lion’s share of members of the South Texas Slipjoint Cartel; the BLADE Show Texas custom and factory knife judging awards; and some of the world’s leading factory knife companies, including current and past winners of BLADE Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards.

Get ready for some Texas steel set on sizzle.

The Fort Worth Convention Center will be crawling with cutters, with gobs of custom and factory knives—from low end to high end, stock removal to forged, fixed blade to folder—tomahawks, swords, sharpeners and more. And if the exhibiting makers don’t have what you want, the exhibiting custom knife purveyors and factory retailers probably will—and if they don’t, they can put you in touch with who does.

Get Your BLADE Show Texas Tickets Now!

For knife hobbyists and novice and veteran makers alike, the show’s comprehensive selection of knifemaking supplies and suppliers will have the materials, tools and equipment to make the knife of your dreams. From the latest steels, handle materials, hardware and sheath materials to most every knife part extant, the show’s suppliers should have it.

Knife Awards

Zero Tolerance will be among the top factory exhibitors featuring the sleekest folders and fixed blades. ZT’s ultra-lightweight (1.9 ounce) 0117 Duralock folder in CPM MagnaCut stainless
steel and carbon fiber will be among them.
Country of origin: USA. MSRP: $300. — Zero Tolerance will be among the top factory exhibitors featuring the sleekest folders and fixed blades. ZT’s ultra-lightweight (1.9 ounce) 0117 Duralock folder in CPM MagnaCut stainless steel and carbon fiber will be among them. Country of origin: USA. MSRP: $300.

The knife judging competitions will recognize the best of the show’s custom and factory knives that are entered. The custom award categories, with last year’s winners in parentheses: Best in Show (Dionatam Franco); Best Bowie (David Lisch); Best Fighter (Dionatam Franco); Best Damascus (Pedro Fornari); Best Hunting Knife (Josh Fisher); Best Folding Knife (Tom Overeynder); Best Kitchen Knife (a Luke Dellmyer/Richard Patterson collaboration); Best M.A.C.K. (Jared Oeser); Best EDC (Evan Nicolaides); Best Art Knife (Paul DiStefano); Best of the Rest (Josh Taylor); and Best Slipjoint (Evan Nicolaides).

The factory award categories, with last year’s winners in parentheses: Best in Show (Poikiloblade); Best EDC (Dauntless Manufacturing); Best American Made (Dauntless Manufacturing); Best Imported (Poikiloblade); Best Fixed Blade (QSP); Best Folder (a Pro-Tech/Vero Engineering collaboration); and Best of the Rest (Vero Engineering).
The custom and factory knife judging is reserved exclusively for show exhibitors, all of whom received packets with complete details on category descriptions, judging rules and more prior to checking into the show.

What’s Next

World-class South African knifemaker Bertie Rietveld (left) returns to help headline the international contingent of knifemakers.

BLADE Show Texas will be the first of three BLADE-Show-sponsored events for 2026, the other two being the grandaddy of them all, the 45th Annual BLADE Show June 5-7 at the newly named Cobb Convention Centre-Atlanta (formerly the Cobb Galleria Centre), and BLADE Show West 2026 at the Salt Palace Convention Center Oct. 9-10 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

First Look: The Next-Generation Savage Model 110

Adam Borisenko

February 10, 2026

Savage has just announced the next generation of the venerable Model 110 with 15 new models to choose from.

The Savage Model 110 has been around since 1958, and while the line has been well-loved in the meantime, Savage just decided to give it a facelift. Initially featuring 15 new purpose-built models available in a wide range of chambering options, the next-generation Savage Model 110 boasts a slew of excellent upgrades throughout.

new savage model 110 core hunter pro — 110 Core Hunter Pro.

One of the most significant upgrades is the new AccuFit V2 system integrated into the stock. Using Savage’s Quick Set Dial (QSD) system, the length of pull and the comb height can both be finely adjusted on the fly without any tools. Some models that feature a pistol grip will allow for changing the grip size with different modules as well. The stocks’ ergonomics have also been generally improved. Other upgrades to the new Model 110 rifles include smoother bolt travel, an improved extractor claw and a dual ejector system. Savage says the AccuTrigger system has been improved as well, and the rifles will now ship with reliable-feeding synthetic magazines that are backwards-compatible with legacy 110 models.

new savage model 110 trail blazer — 110 Trail Blazer.

Beth Shimanski, Vice President of Marketing at Savage Arms, said this about the new line:

The 110 is our longest standing rifle, and for good reason … This model has helped make Savage Arms what it is today, and it will be a part of the future of Savage for a very long time. Building on the next evolution of AXIS that was launched in 2024, the new era of the 110 exemplifies Savage’s ability to maintain our standing as heritage brand while staying at the forefront of innovation.

MSRP for the next generation Model 110 starts at $720 for the Trail Blazer model and goes all the way up to $3,640 for the Ultralite Elite V2.

new savage model 110 ultralight predator — 110 Ultralite Predator.

For more information, visit savagearms.com.

More Bolt-Action Rifles

Franchi Momentum Review: Hands-On With The All-Terrain Elite
Wilson Combat NULA Review: Continuing A Legacy
Hunting For The Next Level: Stag Pursuit Bolt-Action Review
On The Range With The Aero Precision Solus

The Origins Of American Gun Culture

Alex Ooley

February 9, 2026

**We discuss some highlights from Clayton Cramer’s Lock, Stock and Barrel to learn more about the origins of American gun culture.**

American gun culture is often portrayed as a modern invention, an outgrowth of industrial manufacturing, clever marketing or frontier mythology. According to this view, firearms were rare in early America, ownership was limited, and widespread civilian gun use emerged only after the Civil War.

That story is neat. It is also wrong.

The historical record tells a far different story, one in which firearms were not merely common, but expected; not reluctantly tolerated but legally required. In early America, gun ownership was not a lifestyle choice or political statement. It was a civic duty.

Few works document this reality more thoroughly than Lock, Stock, and Barrel: The Origins of American Gun Culture by Clayton Cramer, which draws directly from colonial statutes, travel accounts and original source material. The picture that emerges is unmistakable: American gun culture did not have to be invented. It arose naturally from the conditions of colonial life.

The Myth of Rare Guns

The idea that early Americans lived largely unarmed gained traction in the late 20th century through revisionist scholarship that claimed firearms were scarce and tightly regulated. Those claims did not survive scrutiny. Key works were exposed as deeply flawed and sometimes fraudulent. Yet, the narrative persisted in more subtle forms.

The appeal of that narrative is understandable. If guns were rare and socially disfavored in early America, modern gun control appears less like innovation and more like restoration. But history does not cooperate.

When Gun Ownership Was Mandatory

Colonial lawmakers did not fear an armed population. They feared an unarmed one.

In 1619, Virginia enacted one of its earliest statutes requiring men “fitting to bear arms” to bring firearms, swords and ammunition to church. Worship was not exempt from danger, and preparedness was considered essential, even in the pews.

South Carolina and Georgia followed similar paths. By the mid-18th century, South Carolina required every white male to attend church armed, with churchwardens tasked with inspecting weapons and ammunition. These laws were enforced, not symbolic.

Maryland went further. In 1641, settlers seeking title to land were required to possess a “serviceable fixed gun,” along with powder and lead. Firearms were not just tools of defense; they were prerequisites for full participation in colonial society.

These statutes reflect a worldview fundamentally different from our own. Arms were not viewed as threats to public safety. They were seen as safeguards of it.

Guns Beyond the Militia

Modern discussions often attempt to confine early firearm ownership to militia service, suggesting that guns were collective instruments rather than personal tools. But militia laws assumed private ownership. Individuals were expected to supply their own arms, maintain them and keep them ready.

Firearms lived in homes, traveled on roads, guarded farms and protected families. The same musket that might be inspected at muster was used to hunt, defend property and respond to emergencies. There was no sharp divide between “military” and “civilian” arms.

Even age restrictions cut the opposite way of modern law. Teenagers, often as young as 15, were legally required to possess arms for militia duty. There were no colonial prohibitions on youth ownership. Responsibility, not restriction, was the governing principle.

Guns, Travel and Everyday Life

Firearms were not confined to moments of crisis or formal militia service. They were integrated into the routines of everyday life. Colonial laws frequently required travelers to be armed, recognizing that roads were dangerous and law enforcement sparse or nonexistent. In some colonies, individuals traveling alone were prohibited from doing so unless armed, while groups were expected to ensure that all members carried weapons sufficient for collective defense.

Hunting further reinforced firearm ownership and proficiency. Game was abundant, markets were limited, and refrigeration nonexistent. A firearm was often the difference between sustenance and hunger. Accounts from travelers and settlers routinely describe the ease with which food could be obtained through hunting, precisely because firearms were so widely owned and competently used.

Even indentured servitude did not break this expectation. In several colonies, masters were legally required to provide firearms to servants upon completion of their term, ensuring they could fulfill militia obligations and provide for themselves as free men. The right—and responsibility—to be armed was not reserved for an elite class. It was part of becoming a full participant in civic life.

These practices underscore a critical point often missed in modern debates: Firearms were not exceptional objects requiring justification. They were assumed necessities, woven into the fabric of work, travel, worship and community defense.

Pistols, Repeaters and Reality

Another common myth holds that early Americans owned only long-guns and had little interest in pistols until manufacturers like Colt created demand through advertising. The record again says otherwise.

Newspaper advertisements for pistols appeared in American cities as early as the 1720s. Gunsmiths routinely made and sold handguns throughout the colonies. Repeating firearms (pepperboxes and other multi-shot designs) existed well before the 19th century.

Samuel Colt did not invent America’s interest in handguns. He met a market that already existed.

Culture by Necessity

Gun culture in America was not born in boardrooms or advertising campaigns. It emerged from necessity. Colonial life was dangerous, unpredictable and decentralized. Survival required competence, preparedness and self-reliance.

Firearms were part of that equation, not as talismans, but as tools. The law reflected that reality, reinforcing ownership rather than restricting it.

Understanding this history does not require romanticizing the past. It requires honesty about it.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the March 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Best 9mm Pistols For Defense, Competition And Beyond

Adam Borisenko

February 7, 2026

Whether you need a handgun for the nightstand, competition or just plinking, here are our picks for the best 9mm pistols.

Our 9mm Pistol Picks:

Best Full-Size Defensive 9mm Pistol: Glock 17
Best Compact Defensive 9mm Pistol: Sig Sauer P365XL
Best Budget 9mm Pistol For Competition: Canik SFx Rival
Best High-End 9mm Pistol For Competition: CZ Shadow 2 OR
Best 9mm Pistol For Range Fun: Tisas 1911 Tank Commander

While the best handgun caliber is still an often-debated question, it’s far less heated than it used to be. Fans of .45 ACP, 10mm Auto and 5.7x28mm all have their arguments, but even their most dedicated users will usually begrudgingly admit that 9x19mm Parabellum is the most sensible cartridge choice for most shooters these days. Whether you want it for self-defense, participating in shooting sports or just having fun at the range, we thought we’d share our thoughts on what the best 9mm pistol options are in today’s market.

Why A 9mm Pistol?

There are a lot of reasons. First is ubiquity. The handgun world has standardized so widely on 9mm that those who shoot it are spoiled for choice across the board. Ammo availability, ammo variety, handgun options, holsters and aftermarket accessories, the list goes on. Whatever your handgun needs are (outside of rimfires), you’ll have the most options, the highest availability and the best ammo prices with a 9mm pistol.

Of course, 9mm wouldn’t have reached this dominant position in the marketplace if it didn’t shoot and perform well, too. While it may not be “the best” at a singular task like some other handgun cartridges, 9mm shines as a Goldilocks, do-it-all cartridge.

It’s small enough to allow for relatively large magazine capacities while still being powerful enough (with the right ammo) to effectively stop human attackers, and it does all this without having too much kick. With the right gun, 9mm can actually be incredibly soft shooting, and this makes it a popular choice for competition as well. With the exception of individuals with hand strength issues or other handicaps, just about everyone can handle a 9mm pistol.

A Glock 17 with its slide locked back resting on a box of 9mm ammo.

How We Chose The Best 9mm Pistols

Due to just how common 9mm pistols are, it’s certainly the handgun cartridge that we Gun Digest editors have collectively spent the most time shooting. We have wheelgun aficionados and .45 freaks among our ranks as well, but given that they review new guns too, we have all spent a lot of time behind many different nines.

Based on our combined experience shooting these 9mm pistols as well as each of their general reputations, we weighed the most popular models against each other using factors like reliability, shootability, ergonomics, features, accessory support and price. In the end, these are what we agreed were the best 9mm pistols for each respective category.

The Best 9mm Pistols

Specs Comparison Of The Best 9mm Pistols

Model	Action	Capacity	Bbl Length (in.)	Overall Length (in.)	Width (in.)	Height (in.)	Weight (oz.)	Safety	Optics-Ready?	MSRP
Glock 17	Striker-fired	17+1	4.49	7.95	1.34	5.47	24.97	Glock Safe Action Trigger	No	$600
Sig P365XL	Striker-fired	12+1	3.7	6.6	1.1	4.8	20.7	w/ or w/o manual thumb safety	Yes	$685
Canik SFx Rival	Striker-fired	18+1	5	8.1	1.41	5.7	29.5	Trigger safety	Yes	$680
CZ Shadow 2 OR	DA/SA	19+1	4.89	8.53	1.4	5.75	46.5	Ambi thumb safety	Yes	$1,479
Tisas 1911 Tank Commander	SAO	9+1	4.25	7.75	1.3	5.4	34	Thumb safety	No	$490

Best Full-Size Defensive 9mm Pistol: Glock 17

A Glock 17 with its slide locked back next to an empty magazine and replacement backstraps.

Pros

Incredibly reliable and rugged
Great customization potential
Wide accessory availability
Good capacity

Cons

Doesn’t come optics-ready
Factory trigger is just OK

Glock 17 Gen5 Specs:
Action: Striker-fired
Capacity: 17+1
Barrel Length: 4.49 Inches
Overall Length: 7.95 Inches
Width: 1.34 Inches
Height: 5.47 Inches
Weight: 24.97 Ounces
Safety: Glock Safe Action trigger
Optics-Ready?: No
MSRP: $600

This pick is probably a bit predictable, but that’s a good thing. The Glock 17 has become practically as ubiquitous of a handgun as the 9mm cartridge itself, and it needs no introduction let alone an essay espousing its virtues, so we’ll keep things short.

Used and loved by police forces, militaries and regular Joes since its introduction in 1982, the Glock 17 is essentially the gold standard for full-size self-defense 9mm pistols. You simply can’t go wrong with one. We love the current newest model is the Gen5 that features some nice improvements, especially the customizable backstrap system to custom if it to your hand. But we find older and/or used model will serve you just fine. Check out LEO trade-ins to find some great deals.

The gun is boringly reliable, shoots great and boasts the widest aftermarket support for any handgun model out there. One of the thing we love most about the G17 is finding the right holster, spare parts, extra mags and accessories isn’t a problem at all.

Perhaps the only downside to the Glock 17 we found is that new-production Gen5 MOS (optics-ready) models are presently only available to law enforcement, but that’s easily solved by getting a G47 MOS instead if you want to mount a red dot. The G47 is basically a G17 with a shorter dust cover. It could also be easily remedied by getting an aftermarket slide. Another point worth mentioning is that the Glock 17’s qualities are true of basically every other Glock model, so don’t read this as solely an endorsement of the 17. The Austrian company offers both larger and smaller 9mm pistols that are equally excellent.

Glock 17 Review

Glock

Glock 17 Gen5 9mm

$539.00

Sportsman's Guide $539.00

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Best Compact Defensive 9mm Pistol: Sig Sauer P365XL

A Sig Sauer P365XL with a red dot sig propped up on an empty magazine on a table. Next to it are tow more magazines, a spent cartridge case and a box of 9mm ammo.

Pros

Very comfy to carry concealed
Optics-ready
Great shooter for its small size
Plenty of holster/accessory options

Cons

Not great for huge hands
12-round mags will leave some wanting

Sig P365XL Specs:
Action: Striker-fired
Capacity: 12+1
Barrel Length: 3.7 Inches
Overall Length: 6.6 Inches
Width: 1.1 Inches
Height: 4.8 Inches
Weight: 20.7 Ounces
Safety: With or without manual thumb safety
Optics-Ready?: Yes
MSRP: $685

The Sig P365 is probably the most popular concealed carry gun currently on the market, and it’s easy for us to see why to see why. Its small, slim profile combined with its relatively high capacity made it an instant sweetheart amongst concealed carriers. Our editor’s have carried the pistol extensively and overall find it among the most concealable and comfortable 9mm to have on person. We also found it the pistol as easy to shoot as it is to carry comfortably carry. Impressive, because that’s a hard balance to strike.

Sig offers a few different model variants, but our pick for the best is the P365XL as we believe it strikes the best balance between concealability, shootability and capacity, but the standard model is great too if you want something a bit smaller. Holster and accessory support is nearly as good for the P365 as it is for Glocks at this point, and all versions come optics-ready out of the box as well.

Our only real complaint is both minor and understandable, and that’s the P365XL’s capacity of 12 rounds with flush-fit mags (two included). That’s not bad, and a necessary concession for the gun’s small size, but some people like having a few more rounds on tap. Those individuals will simply need to settle for a larger compact 9mm pistol like the Glock 19.

Sig P365 Review

Sig Sauer

Sig Sauer P365 XL 9mm

$659.99

Guns.com $659.99

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Best Budget 9mm Pistol For Competition: Canik SFx Rival

A Canik SFx Rival competition pistol with a red dot sight.

Pros

Accurate
Great trigger
Very modular/customizable
Optics-ready
Comes with a ton of extras for the price

Cons

Polymer-frame version is a bit too light
No spare part support from Canik

Canik SFx Rival Specs:
Action: Striker-fired
Capacity: 18+1
Barrel Length: 5 Inches
Overall Length: 8.1 Inches
Width: 1.41 Inches
Height: 5.7 Inches
Weight: 29.5 Ounces
Safety: Trigger safety
Optics-Ready?: Yes
MSRP: $680

There are plenty of good competition 9mm pistols available these days, and many of those are affordably priced as well, but none offer the same great value as the Canik SFx Rival. We believe this is an excellent first competition handgun for those looking for as little setup or fuss as possible. In this niche, we think the Rival is without rival.

Out of the box, besides the pistol, you get two 18-round mags, a holster, a few optic plates, three backstraps, three magazine release extensions and plenty of other goodies, and it all comes in a plastic hard case. Of course, none of that matters unless the gun is good. And it is.

We love the feel of Rival SFx especially flat-face trigger, which does it’s part in making the break feel lighter than what it is and facilitating good finger placement quickly. Additionally, it feels good in the hand thanks to its double undercut trigger guard, interchangeable backstraps and aggressive texturing, and the external magwell makes speed reloads a breeze. The slide is optics-ready too, of course, and its dimensions allow it to compete in IDPA, IPSC, and USPSA without restrictions. Plus the pistol is lights-out accurate, extremely feature-rich and modular.

Of course, what we like best about this Canik is you get all of these assets for less than $700. Impressive.

To us, the biggest downside of the SFx Rival is its relatively lightweight polymer frame. It’s not a snappy shooter by any means, but some extra weight to absorb recoil would definitely be appreciated for a competition gun. A lot of people agree, which is why Canik also makes the all-steel SFx Rival-S. Frankly, if you can swing the extra $200 or so bucks, we suggest the steel version. But for those on a budget, the polymer model is still a great value budget competition gun.

Though we didn’t run into any trouble with our SFx, we have seen a small number of owners report having issues that had to be sent in to be fixed. Frankly, this is a budget gun at the end of the day, so less-than-perfect QC is to be expected. As long as you’re the original purchaser Canik’s warranty should have you covered.

It’s available in either gray with gold accents or in solid black.

Canik SFx Rival Rival

$629.99

GritrSports $629.99

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Best High-End 9mm Pistol For Competition: CZ Shadow 2 OR

Two CZ Shadow 2 OR pistols laying on a white cardboard target. One has a red dot sight and white grips and the other has iron sights and blue grips.

Pros

Big, heavy and easy to shoot
Low bore-axis
Great single-action trigger
Optics-ready

Cons

Expensive
DA/SA not for everyone

CZ Shadow 2 OR Specs:
Action: DA/SA
Capacity: 19+1
Barrel Length: 4.89 Inches
Overall Length: 8.53 Inches
Width: 1.4 Inches
Height: 5.75 Inches
Weight: 46.5 Ounces
Safety: Ambidextrous thumb safety
Optics-Ready?: Yes
MSRP: $1,479

Many people consider the CZ Shadow 2 to be the gold standard of modern competition pistols. In the days of yesteryear, it was tricked-out 1911s, but today if you go to any shooting match involving handguns you’re bound to see a lot of CZ Shadows 2s sitting in holsters. And that’s for good reason, this gun is great at its job.

An evolution of the classic Cold War military sidearm, the CZ-75, the Shadow 2 is simply the bigger, more athletic younger brother of the Czech Wonder Nine. The 75 was already known for its exceptionally low bore-axis, but it’s even lower on the Shadow 2 thanks to the addition of an undercut trigger guard and a redesigned beavertail. We found these features makes the pistol incredibly easy to shoot quickly and accurately. The hefty steel frame helps with that too given its ability to eat up recoil and ask for seconds. This entry specifically outlines the optics-ready model because we like red dots, but if you’re dedicated to irons, you could save a few bucks by getting the standard model instead.

The trigger is awesome, but it’s also this gun’s one potential downside. That’s because like the CZ-75 the Shadow 2 is a double-action/single-action pistol. Some shooters love DA/SA, and when you feel the crisp single-action pull of a Shadow 2 you’ll understand why. But there are also a lot of shooters today who grew up on striker-fired pistols and get thrown off by DA/SA guns’ two distinct trigger weights. If you hate DA/SA, there are some very nice striker-fired competition pistols to consider instead, but we think that the Shadow 2 is one of the best-shooting out-of-the-box competition pistols you can buy.

CZ Shadow 2 Blue 9mm

$1,197.99

MidwayUSA $1,197.99 Palmetto State Armory $1,310.99 Sportsman's Guide $1,353.99

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Best 9mm Pistol For Range Fun: Tisas 1911 Tank Commander

Pros

Sold, reliable 1911 for the price
Classic, handsome aesthetics
Fun to shoot

Cons

Small black iron sights

Tisas 1911 Tank Commander Specs:
Action: SAO
Capacity: 9+1
Barrel Length: 4.25 Inches
Overall Length: 7.75 Inches
Width: 1.3 Inches
Height: 5.4 Inches
Weight: 34 Ounces
Safety: Thumb safety
Optics-Ready?: No
MSRP: $490

Some say that a 1911 chambered in anything besides .45 ACP is heresy, but we love shooting 1911s so much that we even like them in 9mm. In fact, it’s not historically inaccurate either, as the Colt Commander was originally offered in 9mm and this Tisas is commander-sized as well.

With self-defense and competition covered by the other entries, we wanted this slot to go to a gun that’s fun to shoot, affordable and something that would add a bit of wood, history and class to a list otherwise dominated by modern designs and plastic fantastics.

We estimate that of the many new shooters who have standardized on 9mm as their handgun cartridge, most of them don’t own a 1911, and it’s probably because they don’t want to stock up on .45 ACP too. The obvious remedy to that is to simply get a 1911 in 9mm, and we think the Tisas 1911 Tank Commander is the best option for the price.

It’s a no-frills, commander-length 1911 chambered for 9mm with a ring hammer and Colt Series 70-pattern internals, and each pistol ships with two 9-round magazines, a hard case and a cleaning kit. It shoots as you’d expect of a 9mm 1911—nice—but there’s nothing special about the Tisas that will blow your socks off. However, in our experience, these have very good reliability and are well built for their price. The sights are slightly larger than original GI-pattern irons, an improvement, but they’re still black and pretty small.

If you’re dedicated to 9mm but don’t have any classic or classy handguns in your safe, we think this Tisas would make for a very fine addition.

Tisas 1911 A1 TANK COMMANDER

$513.99 $429.99

Palmetto State Armory $429.99 Guns.com $500.99

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

9mm Pistol FAQs

Is a 9mm Good For Self-Defense?

Yes, and many experts would even argue that a 9mm pistol is the best choice for self-defense. It may not be as powerful as 10mm Auto or .357 Magnum, but cartridges that big are difficult to shoot quickly and accurately as well. For most people, their ability to make good hits with a 9mm will be more effective at stopping a threat than having a bigger bullet. Further, defensive projectile technology has progressed leaps and bounds, so modern 9mm self-defense ammo provides excellent, reliable expansion and penetration.

Are 9mm Pistols Good For Beginners?

Yes, for the most part. Sometimes it’s best to start a first-time shooter with a .22 LR, but unless they’re small children, they should quickly be able to graduate to and handle a 9mm pistol. For able-bodied adults looking to get a pistol for defense, sport shooting or plinking, 9mm is the best choice.

Does 9mm Kick Hard?

Not particularly, but it depends. Somewhat simplifying things, a handgun’s recoil is mainly a factor of the pistol’s weight and the power of the cartridge in question. A very small, light 9mm pistol loaded with a powerful +P will definitely kick hard, but a full-size steel gun loaded with range ammo will not. Generally speaking, 9mm is not considered to be a hard-kicking round.

Load Up on More 9mm Knowledge:

Exploring Classic 9mm Handguns – The Icons of the Past
9mm Carbine – Affordable PCCs
Everything You Need to Know About Single Stack 9mm
Double Stack Compact 9mm for Concealed Carry
Best Micro Compact 9mm Pistols for Everyday Carry

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GUN DIGESTWE KNOW GUNS SO YOU KNOW GUNS

The American Custom Gunmakers Guild dives into what it takes to make gorgeous custom and engraved guns.

The ACGG Is Born

Stockmaking

Wood Selection

Stock Layout

Inletting

Shaping

Sanding

Finishing

Checkering

Conclusion

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Zerotech Prism Thrive HD Red Dot 1-4x MOA

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MDT’s Send It Gen2 electronic level is here to help you eliminate cant and ensure first-round hits.

On The Level

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We take a closer look at a very cool Yost Custom Browning Hi-Power SRT model in .40 S&W.

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Ammo Notes: .40 S&W

More On The Hi-Power

An ambi safety can add a lot of functionality to your AR-15. Here we take a look at Aero Precision’s PRO model.

More AR Upgrades

CLINTON, SC – Wraith Metalworks is proud to announce their place as Presenting Sponsor of CANCON 2026, at the Clinton House in Clinton, SC on May 6th through 8th.

Vortex has just added 10×28 and 12×50 models to its popular Triumph HD binocular line.

More On Binoculars

We take a look back at the life and times of the iconic M14, as well as where it stands today.

The Best Rifle for a War Already Fought

The (Unwitting) Rifle of the Future

The M14 Today

Where Did the M14 Market Go?

The State of the M14

More Classic Military Rifles

Magpul’s Sub-Compact Enhanced Handgun Grip is now available for the Ruger RXM.

More CCW Pistols

There’s no need to go full-sized in a defensive smoothbore with bullpup shotguns around. We give you the best to guard hearth and home.

What Is A Bullpup And Why Would I Want One?

Get More Bullpup Info:

Are Bullpups Any Good?

How We Selected The Best Bullpup Shotguns

Best Bullpup Shotgun Comparison

Best Bullpup Shotguns

Best Overall Bullpup Shotgun: S&W M&P 12

Pros

Cons

Smith & Wesson M&P 12 M&P 12 19''''

Best Semi-Auto Bullpup Shotgun: Rock Island Armory VRBP-100

Pros

Cons

Rock Island Armory VRBP-100

Best Looking Bullpup Shotgun: IWI Tavor TS12

Pros

Cons

Iwi Tavor TS12 Automatic

Best Pump-Action Bullpup Shotgun: Kel-Tec KSG

Pros

Cons

Kel-Tec KSG 12 Gauge

Best AK Bullpup Shotgun: TriStar Compact Tactical

Pros

Cons

Tristar TRISTAR Compact Tactical 12Ga 20in 5rd Semi-Automatic Shotgun (25122)

Best Newcomer Bullpup Shotgun: Escort BullTac SA

Pros

Cons

Escort Bulltac SA

Bullpup Shotgun FAQ

Explore the World of Shotguns: Tips and Insights

Charter Arms has just launched the Boomer series, snub-nosed revolvers that feature ported barrels.

More Defensive Revolvers

Bullet setback is more common than you think, and it’s dangerous. Here discuss how to deal with it and why you should carry an EDC knife.

Carry Ammo Replacement

Bullet Setback

Giant Mouse ACE Elmer

CLINTON, SC – Wraith Metalworks is proud to announce their place as Presenting Sponsor of CANCON 2026, at the Clinton House in Clinton, SC on May 6^th through 8^th.

**We discuss some highlights from Clayton Cramer’s Lock, Stock and Barrel to learn more about the origins of American gun culture.**