From all across the web, we’ve searched high and low for some of the best deals we can find! From tactical gear to firearms, from ammo to footwear, we’ve dug down deep to deliver some delicious discounts!
Take a scroll and see the best Black Friday & Cyber Monday Gun Deals!
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Welcome to CANCON A Fully Suppressed RECOIL Range Day!
Save the date and make your plans to come down on Veterans Day weekend, Nov. 11-13 to the 17 South Rod and Gun Club in Savannah, Georgia.
Hundreds of the newest and best suppressors, firearms, and optics will be on the firing line for you to get hands-on trigger time.
All ammo will be provided, just bring your trigger finger!
Veterans get in FREE Friday, so come spend your Veterans Day weekend with us at CANCON!
SATURDAY NIGHT VIPs will have the opportunity to shoot suppressed with night vision goggles, clip-on night vision optics, IR lasers, tracers, and more.
CANCON will even have activities for kids, making this a completely family-friendly event.
Expect to see hundreds of firearms and suppressors, every one of them available to shoot. Don’t forget your eyes and ears for safety!
Not every day you get to shoot cool stuff like this!
Great food will be available on-site for when you need to recharge between shooting bays.
More information and ticket pre-sales coming soon!
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Designed Machined and assembled in Leupold Optic’s Oregon factory, the Mark 5HD scope keeps the company roots firmly planted in its home.
Crafted to redefine accuracy, precision, and optical performance for long-range shooters, Leupold’s award-winning Mark 5HD is a testament to domestic manufacturing. It’s proudly designed, machined, and assembled in the company’s Beaverton, Oregon factory, where Leupold employs over 650 hardworking Americans.
In designing the Mark 5HD line, Leupold’s product specialists asked elite shooters what they needed to put accurate fire downrange faster, and used that input to design a riflescope that provides all the tools necessary — in both quality and features — without the unnecessary extras that add weight and cost for consumers. Combining relentless optical performance, rugged reliability, and user-friendly features in a package that could only be produced by leveraging the 70-plus years of optics manufacturing Leupold possesses, the Mark 5HD has wowed end-users throughout the industry.
Be sure to enter our American Made giveaway, with great gear from great American companies. Click the tab at the bottom right of page to enter.
Pick up a Mark 5HD and you’ll feel the difference; it’s up to 20 ounces lighter than other scopes in its class. Get behind one and you’ll see the difference, from its superior edge-to-edge clarity to its extreme low-light performance. With three revolutions of elevation adjustment, the Mark 5HD was built to max out the performance of the latest long-range rifles and ammo.
The heart of the Mark 5HD is in its ZeroLock adjustments, which provide precise, repeatable tracking with a dead-on return to zero. The M5C3 elevation dial delivers over 30-mils of adjustment in three turns. Visual and tactile revolution indicators are in place to ensure you don’t get lost in the travel, and the auto-lock at zero eliminates the risk of accidentally moving the dial. The windage adjustment is capped and the zero indicator mark has been relocated on the riflescope’s main tube so you can see it without moving your head off the stock of the rifle.
In short, it’s the most dominant long-range, precision riflescope on the market. Best yet, it’s backed by Leupold’s legendary lifetime guarantee, which guarantees performance where other companies warranty failure.
For more information on Leupold Optics, please visit leupold.com.
Top-tier, battle-proven products, Radian Weapons turns out rifles and accessories in which you can trust your life.
At Radian Weapons, we think American gun companies should make or source their parts from right here in the USA. That’s why 100-percent of the firearms products we sell are manufactured in America, by Americans.
We machine the majority of our rifle and accessory components in Redmond, Oregon, using state of the art CNC equipment. At Radian, we’ve prioritized vertical integration of our manufacturing processes over product development to ensure that whenever we deliver goods to the consumer, it’s of the highest quality and reliability standards.
Be sure to enter our American Made giveaway, with great gear from great American companies. Click the tab at the bottom right of page to enter.
The temptation in most industries is to rush new products to market. At Radian, we actively choose not to release “me too” products or rely on sourcing major components for new products from third party vendors. This helps protect our brand integrity, and hopefully gives consumers peace of mind when they purchase Radian products.
Our flagship products are the Model 1 rifle and related receiver sets, Talon ambidextrous safeties, and Raptor charging handles. Featured here:
MODEL 1 – 17.5-INCH 223 WYLDE
Clandestine Desert™ Cerakote Finish (Cerakoted by our finishing business, High Desert Coatings—www.highdesertcoatings.com)
RAPTOR CHARGING HANDLE FOR A15/M4
The original all-billet design with Cerakoted FDE handles.
TALON 45/90 AMBIDEXTROUS SAFETY
The screwless safety design ensures your levers won’t come loose and gives you two throw degree options to choose from. Finished with FDE Cerakote.
Buy with confidence, as all Radian products are backed with a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects.
For more information on Radian Weapons, please visit radianweapons.com.
Best known for body armor, Blue Force Gear also offers the everyday carry essential Micro Trauma Kit.
The Micro Trauma Kit NOW!, or Micro TKN, is our smallest version of the Trauma Kit NOW! yet. It was designed to hold essential lifesaving gear with minimal size in mind. The Micro TKNTM is designed to be worn horizontally with minimal bulk—perfect for everyday carry, for law enforcement professionals, prepared citizens, or in low-profile mission sets. The inner carrier can be deployed with one hand or one finger from either the left or right side by pulling the BLIP featured pull tabs. The Micro TKN consists of two main components – the outer MOLLE or Belt mounted pouch utilizing the Ten-Speed® technology, and a removable insert that keeps medical supplies organized.
Be sure to enter our American Made giveaway, with great gear from great American companies. Click the tab at the bottom right of page to enter.
Supplies
Hemostatic dressing for wound packing/clotting (1 included)
4” Emergency Trauma Dressing (1 included)
9” Medical Grade Easy Tape (6 included)
Tourni-Kwik Compression Tourniquet (1 included)
Heavy Duty Medical Gloves (1 pair of Large sized gloves)
For more information on Blue Force Gear, please visit blueforcegear.com.
Unrelenting in design and execution, the new Berger Bullets Long Range Hybrid Target bullets are engineered for hair-splitting accuracy.
Berger’s new Long Range Hybrid Target bullets™ (LRHT) are 100% Made in the USA and feature a high Ballistic Coefficient (BC), jump-tolerant ogive profile that is Doppler verified with less than 1-percent BC variation.
Long-range target shooters and extreme accuracy enthusiasts endlessly seek a competitive advantage, using sophisticated ballistic solvers, custom drag models, complex optics, and twist-rate calculators, among others. All of these tools are rendered meaningless if the projectile exiting their favorite target, hunting, or Mil/LE tactical rifle is inconsistent and unpredictable. Using advanced proprietary manufacturing processes, Berger’s innovative Meplat Reduction Technology™ (MRT) applies controlled pressure along the nose of each LRHT bullet, producing a homogeneous and repeatable profile for the industry’s most consistent BCs. While a high BC is desirable, shot-to-shot BC consistency is most critical when engaging targets at 1,000 yards and beyond. When you absolutely need to maximize hit probability, never settle for a bullet other than Berger.
Be sure to enter our American Made giveaway, with great gear from great American companies. Click the tab at the bottom right of page to enter.
The story behind the construction of Berger Bullets is simple. We start with virgin copper and lead wire products with the tightest specifications. Then, we manufacture our own signature J4 Berger bullet jackets to unmatched tolerances of less than 0.0003 inches of total indicated runout. What does this mean? A better bullet begins with a concentric jacket! Lastly, we merge the materials into finished projectiles — all within the confines of our Mesa, Arizona manufacturing facility.
Berger Bullets are highly sought after by the leading shooters in the world’s most demanding competitive shooting disciplines, such as PRS, F-Class, Fullbore, long range, and ELR to name a few. New Long Range Hybrid Target bullets are available in .22 caliber, 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, and .30 caliber offerings.
New for NRA Show is our line of LRHT Ammunition offerings in 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 300 Norma Magnum.
For more information on Berger Bullets, please visit bergerbullets.com.
Improving the safety, performance and comfort of soldiers and safety professionals, Oakley Standard Issue has become a trusted first line of defense.
For over 20 years, Oakley Standard Issue has manufactured all ballistic products at their factory in Foothill Ranch, California. Products are designed, materials are sourced, and products are tested right here in America.
The Oakley SI Ballistic M Frame Alpha is our latest flagship product. Alpha is an eco-system; the product contains a frame, goggle, and helo-gasket with a lens interchangeable between all three. No matter the mission, the user can configure the product to his or her needs. Range work, close quarters battle, mobility, and even freefall are many of the environments applicable. Oakley Prizm Technology within the lens brings high contrast and definition. Specifically, Prizm Shooting was developed with the Army Marksmanship Unit and gives greater clarity to targets in different light conditions.
Designed with extensive input from our military and first responder community, Alpha is now authorized for wear on the Special Operations Eyewear Program (SOEP). SOEP, regarded as the highest standard for protective eyewear, certifies that all components are made in the USA and offer the highest level of protection. Available in multiple lens and frame color configurations.
Oakley Standard Issue was formally established in 2000. Committed to serving our military and first responders, Oakley SI offers exclusive pricing for products for active-duty military, government, first responders, and veterans.
A passionate gun parts and accessories company, Overwatch Precision has the kit to make you pistol run like a top.
The OP TAC Trigger System is a patent-pending seven-piece upgrade for your Smith & Wesson MP 2.0 that reduces total travel and pre-travel by 50 percent. Engineered by us from the ground up, this kit provides the unmatched performance you have come to expect from all OP products.
Through state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques, our trigger bar is held to industry-leading tolerances using a progressive die manufacturing process, a metal forming technique used in aerospace manufacturing that guarantees the most consistent performance and highest quality parts. This process, coupled with a space-age NP3 coating, provides the end user with the highest quality trigger bar ever offered.
TAC Trigger
Our proven TAC trigger is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, with features immediately identifiable as Overwatch Precision’s intellectual property. The overall design has been the go-to for Glock pistols since we released it in 2016, and its overall shape and function have been refined to excel in this new platform. With pre-travel reduction and a flat face, this self-correcting contact point aids in a linear rearward pull and increases accuracy. The indexing lip helps the shooter consistently place their finger on the trigger in the exact same spot every time, helping muscle memory and overall consistency.
The Sear
At the heart of this system is our NP3 coated sear. With a proprietary sear angle and large radius, this sear allows for a light and consistent break that can be tuned to the shooter’s preference with the two trigger return springs provided.
The Plunger
This product has a proprietary radius that replaces the OEM chamfer and creates a measurable “hump” in the trigger pull. This Swiss CNC’d part, coupled with NP3, creates a smooth pull to the wall. The plunger spring provides constancy and safe operation of this part, as intended by S&W.
The Trigger Springs
We offer two different trigger return springs with this kit. Standing by our ethos of serious-use defensive weapon components, we include a 4.5-pound return spring for duty or carry use for a dependable, predictable break. With the growth of USPSA popularity and participation in and amongst firearm enthusiasts, we also offer a 3.2-pound spring. Please note, this spring is not suitable for carry.
North Carolina based G-Code produces solutions for ever gun and tactical carry situation under the sun.
At G-Code, we don’t have a flagship product; what we have is a flagship philosophy and an unyielding commitment to excellence in everything we do. We don’t see ourselves as a company of products — we’re far more than that. G-Code is a solutions company.
Our purpose has always been to solve problems for our customers. We do this with design and innovation, and although our efforts manifest in products, we never sit back and feel like “we have arrived.”
Be sure to enter our American Made giveaway, with great gear from great American companies. Click the tab at the bottom right of page to enter.
Likewise, execution in our workmanship is paramount in its importance to us and to our customers. Our fit, finish, and function must always be unquestionably second to none.
To this end, G-Code products have always been, and will always be, 100-percent American made using only U.S.-sourced raw materials and components. At G-Code, we count it our privilege to provide tactical carry solutions to the men and women who serve in our military, law enforcement, and the civilian concealed carry communities.
This is why when you buy G-Code, you buy American, you buy quality … because we simply will not sell anything else!
The bipod has long been a tool used by shooters to obtain a more steady firing position in the field or on the range. However, in its many years of use, the fundamental design and function of a lot of traditional “stiff” bipods have not changed all that much.
Swagger Bipods, a Nebraska-based manufacturer, has developed a couple of bipods that offer the shooter a ton of flexibility and functionality, all while remaining incredibly lightweight. Using what the company calls Crazy Legs Technology, these bipods afford the shooter a wide array of shooting positions. The flexible, hyper-extending Crazy Legs are shock-corded and are easily adjustable with a simple twist motion.
Gun Digest Editor in Chief Eric Conn had the opportunity to experiment with a Swagger bipod this winter while sighting in for an upcoming predator hunt and came away very impressed with the bipod’s flexibility and ease of use.
For more information on these great shooting aids, check out the video above, or visit the Swagger Bipods website.
How does Springfield’s SA-35 4-inch stack up as a daily carry gun?
The very first pistol I ever bought was a Hi-Power clone, and to this day, it remains my favorite handgun. Besides the platform’s cool history and gorgeous looks, it fits my hand better than any other design, and the grip angle makes it a natural pointer for me as well. Of course, I’ve always wanted to carry it, but it’s just too big for me to comfortably do so. That’s why my ears perked up when Springfield Armory announced the SA-35 4-inch.
Standard Hi-Powers have a barrel length of 4.7 inches, so the .7-inch reduction on Springfield’s new compact model doesn’t sound like much, but it is. For average-sized guys like me, that slightly abbreviated barrel is the difference between getting jammed in the junk when carrying inside-the-waistband. For outside-the-waistband, it hides better under a cover garment, and in either case it makes it a bit faster out of the holster, too.
The Springfield SA-35 4-inch next to a full-size Hungarian FEG Hi-Power clone.
As far as its other dimensions go, the Hi-Power was already very well suited for concealed carry. It’s very slim, like a 1911, and the grip is relatively short despite its capacity of 15+1 rounds with modern magazines. The original barrel length was basically the only limiting factor when it came to shoving it in your pants. Springfield’s SA-35 4-inch addresses that, but how does it actually fare for daily carry?
The SA-35 4-inch lying on top of a (scale BB gun) Glock 19 shows just how similar they are in overall length and height.
SA-35 4-Inch Specs
Caliber: 9mm Action: Hammer-fired, Single Action Only Capacity: 15+1 Barrel: 4 inches, Cold Hammer Forged, 1:10 Overall Length: 7.1 inches Height: 4.8 inches Weight: 29.8 ounces Finish: Matte blued Grip: Checkered walnut Sights: White Dot Front, Serrated Tactical Rack Rear Safety: Manual thumb, left side only MSRP: $799
Pros:
Very nice shooter
Reliable
Same size as a Glock 19
Classic good looks
Cons:
Safety is left side only
Steel frame and SAO trigger, won’t be everyone’s cup of tea in modern era
Springfield’s Compact Hi-Power
Regardless of how well a gun carries, it’s a moot point unless it’s reliable and shoots well too. Thankfully, the SA-35 4-inch checks both boxes.
In about 500 rounds, I only experienced a single malfunction, a failure to feed. It happened very early in the testing, so I’ll chalk that up to break-in. Besides that, it had no trouble eating the 124gr Federal American Eagle FMJ and 124gr Federal Punch JHP that I fed it. As far as mags go, the SA-35 comes with one 15-rounder. It’s emblazoned with Springfield’s logo, but I’m almost certain it’s a rebranded MecGar. Interestingly though, the Springfield-marked mag consistently rattled when only 14 rounds were loaded, while my MecGar-branded mags didn’t do this. That’s mildly annoying, but not an actual problem.
The only other minor issue I encountered was that the grip panels started to come loose after a few hundred rounds. If you buy an SA-35, I’d preemptively apply some threadlocker to the grip screws before they have the chance to work loose.
As far as shootability goes, the compact SA-35 left me very impressed. Considering how much I love shooting my full-size Hi-Power, that’s not too surprising.
What is surprising is that I expected to still prefer shooting my full-size at the end of the day, but that’s not the case. While the recoil was a bit snappier for the 4-inch, the muzzle seemed to settle back on target faster as well. Overall, I found the difference between shooting them to be pretty marginal, but I felt a bit faster and more capable with Springfield’s 4-inch.
Something else that likely aided with that was the SA-35’s sights. There are a lot of Hi-Power variants out there with a slew of different types of irons, but my full-size Hungarian FEG clone features small 3-dot military-style sights. While serviceable, they’re definitely not as good as the SA-35’s. Springfield’s Hi-Power clones come sporting a white-dot front sight and a serrated black Tactical Rack rear sight. They’re taller than the sights on my FEG, and the U-notch on the rear is much larger and more forgiving as well. They’re not ideal for bullseye shooting, but this isn’t a bullseye pistol; it’s a defensive piece and the quick-acquisition combat sights suit it very well.
I mostly tested the SA-35 4-inch on steel, including a plate rack, a Texas star, and a hostage head-shot target. Given my prior experience shooting Hi-Powers, I picked up shooting the Springfield very quickly once I got used to the different sights. When shooting 6-inch plates at closer ranges, I found I had to aim on the higher side to make solid center hits, but after accounting for that, it was fast and easy to clear the rack and the star.
The single-action trigger felt excellent as well. Hi-Powers aren’t known for having great triggers, but that’s largely due to the magazine disconnect safety found on original models. I had to manually remove this from my FEG to improve its trigger, but thankfully, Springfield just omits it entirely from the factory. While the SA-35 trigger isn’t as nice as a fancy 1911’s, it’s certainly better than those of most striker-fired pistols. The take-up is short and the break is crisp. The biggest downside to the SA-35’s trigger is endemic to all Hi-Powers, and that’s its long reset. If you’re accustomed to more modern triggers with shorter resets, it will take some getting used to.
As a single-action-only pistol, the SA-35’s safety is another important consideration for anyone interested in carrying one. Thankfully, Springfield nailed that too. It very positively snaps into both positions, and its profile has been changed from the original Hi-Power design to make it easier to operate with your thumb. The safety solidly locks into each position, so I never worried about it accidentally disengaging while carrying it cocked and locked. The only potential downside is that it’s not ambidextrous, but that’s something for the wrong-handed to worry about.
Another small change Springfield made to the original Hi-Power design was the addition of a slightly beveled magwell. It makes inserting magazines somewhat easier than with an original BHP, but it’s not a huge difference. It’s still a very tight magwell that takes a bit of practice to reload quickly. That said, I’m not overly concerned with the ability to speed-reload defensive handguns. With 15+1 rounds on board, I rarely carried a spare mag for the SA-35 anyway.
Carrying The SA-35 4-Inch
Since getting the SA-35 4-inch in April, I’ve been carrying it whenever I leave my house to try out some different holsters and carry methods. For a new and somewhat niche pistol, the holster selection for this model is actually pretty decent. Galco, DeSantis, BlackPoint Tactical, and Mitch Rosen all have options available.
I carried it using a DeSantis Slim-Tuk IWB, a BlackPoint Tactical Mini Wing IWB, and a DeSantis Mini Scabbard OWB.
DeSantis Slim-Tuk IWB
This was my least favorite holster of the bunch. It certainly works, but I found it to be uncomfortable. I think the design would work much better for something like a Glock that doesn’t have a manual safety. The biggest issue with it for carrying the SA-35 is that it doesn’t have a sweat guard between the gun and your body, so the safety can dig into your belly.
On the plus side, it has very positive retention and is the most affordable option I could find for the 4-inch SA-35.
BlackPoint Tactical Mini Wing IWB
For IWB carry, I enjoyed BlackPoint Tactical’s Mini Wing much more than the DeSantis, but with some caveats. I typically carry appendix, and the BlackPoint’s biggest advantage here is that it has a generous sweat guard that fully covers the safety. That makes it more comfortable as far as its feel against the body goes. However, the positioning of the clips meant that I couldn’t carry it at 1 o’clock with my normal belt. That’s because the left clip wants to sit right where the buckle is. If you want to carry appendix with this holster, you’ll probably need to use a more tactical-style belt that doesn’t have a big, traditional buckle.
This forced me to carry the BlackPoint strongside at more of a 2 o’clock position. It works great in that placement, but it’s not my preference, mostly because I find it harder to build a good grip from the draw.
DeSantis Mini Scabbard OWB
It shouldn’t be a surprise that the OWB holster was the most comfortable to wear of the bunch, and it quickly became my favorite. Even though it’s leather instead of Kydex, it secured the SA-35 perfectly. I was wearing this one while helping a buddy move, and the pistol never felt at risk of popping out even while jumping in and out of truck beds. Despite that, the draw was smooth and easy. Something about a leather holster just feels more appropriate for a Hi-Power, too.
Carry Considerations For The SA-35 4-Inch
Normally, I’m a simple T-shirt kind of guy, and my past carry guns have reflected that. I’ve typically preferred smaller pistols that I could conceal with just a T-shirt while carrying appendix in the warmer months. Lately, I’ve been wanting something a bit bigger and more shootable, but the reality is that desire just isn’t compatible with what T-shirt levels of concealment can provide with my body type. I found that to be the case with the SA-35 4-inch as well.
Both IWB holster options printed very obviously for me, even with baggier T-shirts, which forced me to wear a Hawaiian shirt as a cover garment to properly conceal the SA-35. That led me to the obvious conclusion: why bother with IWB holsters if I have to wear a cover garment anyway? The more comfortable OWB option just made more sense for my circumstances. I guess I’ll just have to be a Hawaiian shirt guy now.
Who’s This For?
The SA-35 4-inch is clearly not for everyone, and frankly, it wouldn’t be one I’d mention if someone asked me for a carry pistol recommendation. Does that mean it’s bad? Far from it. I really like this pistol. I like it enough that I ended up buying it from Springfield instead of sending it back after the review period. More than that, it’s going to be my new daily carry piece.
We’re spoiled for choice today as far as excellent concealed carry pistols go. And for most people looking to protect themselves, some polymer-framed striker-fired 9mm will almost always be the best option.
But I love Hi-Powers. I shoot the SA-35 better than I shoot the Glock 26 I was carrying previously, and there’s not a huge difference for me when it comes to concealing them. The SA-35 is reliable, has a good capacity, and it has soul. I respect those who view firearms as mere tools, but I wouldn’t have ended up in this industry if I felt the same. I like guns with good looks, interesting histories, and a bit of character. As long as they’re also effective, that’s the type of pistol I prefer to carry, and the SA-35 4-inch covers all those bases.
If you’re enough of a Hi-Power fan that you’d like to carry one, Springfield’s compact clone is well worth considering.
9mm Pistol FAQ
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.
The trick to shooting handguns at long distance is an augmented sight picture.
The infatuation of shooting at long range seems to have infected everyone. It can be great fun to hit targets at extreme distances, and if you’re trying to do it with a rifle, there’s a whole world of guns and gear out there that you can buy to make it easier.
But what about long-range shooting with handguns?
I’m not talking about bolt-action pistols or other specialty handguns; I’m talking about everyday-carry-type handguns. Other than for fun, the practical reasons to shoot at long range with a carry gun are limited, and don’t expect to find accessories to help make it easier. If you’re going to hit at distance with a pistol, you gotta be able to shoot.
The key to distance shooting with open sights on a carry gun is to still aim with the front sight but hold the top of the front sight a predetermined distance above the top of the rear sight.
Before we get into some tips that can help you hit at distance with a carry gun and impress your friends while on the range, I have a story. I was doing some rifling training with Cody Carroll, who is a veteran with a resume that would make Captain America jealous. He was telling me about learning to shoot his Glock 19 out to 600 yards while preparing to conduct some training for a government agency down along a rough section of the Southern border. (The specifics of his contract would not allow him to carry a rifle.) I thought he was full of sheep dip until he explained how he was doing it. Carroll had a technique. I tried it, it worked, and I’ll explain it shortly.
‘Long’ Distance & Handguns
The first thing we need to do is define what long range really is. With rifles, I classify long range as anything beyond the distance the bullet can travel in one-third of a second. Why? Because no matter the rifle, within that distance you can zero your rifle so you can hold dead on a 6-inch target and—theoretically—get a hit.
It’s almost the same with pistols because gravity works the same on all bullets, but it’s different with pistols because the sight height on pistols is about an inch lower. Also, at least with carry guns, most will be zeroed at somewhere between 10 and 25 yards. This puts “long range” somewhere around and beyond about 75 yards.
You also need to know the trajectory of the load you’re shooting. As an example, let’s use a common load, like Nosler’s 115-grain ASP JHP with a ballistic coefficient of 0.109 from a Browning Hi-Power. Out of my Hi-Power, it has an average muzzle velocity of 1,133 fps, and zeroed at 10 yards, it will drop about an inch at 50 yards, about 4.5 inches at 75 yards and about 10 inches at 100 yards. If you’re shooting at a torso-sized target, you should be able to hold center and hit near the bottom of the target at 100 yards. Out to about 130 yards, a hold on the head of the torso should allow a hit near the bottom of the target, but beyond that you’ll need to hold on air instead of hair—over the head of the target—to get a hit.
Dot sights make shooting at extended range with a carry gun much easier, but you must still know how high to hold.
When it comes to long-range shooting, it’s all mostly a math problem; you’ll need to know how high to hold to get your hit. The problem with pistol sights is that, once you start holding over the target, you cannot see how far over the target you’re holding, because the sights are blocking the thing you’re trying to aim at.
This is where Carroll’s lesson comes into play. Instead of holding a traditional sight picture above the target, you hold a coarser sight picture … or more bead on the target. This allows you to use the front sight for elevation correction/trajectory compensation. (See diagrams 1 and 2.)
Diagram 1: This is a traditional sight picture with a hold at the top of a torso target. As you can see, the front sight covers your aiming point.
Notice how in Diagram 1, if you hold a common sight picture at the top of the target, your front sight covers the target. You cannot really tell if you’re at the top or how high you might be holding. In Diagram 2, you hold the top of the front sight at your desired point of impact, but you hold the front sight higher than the rear sight. This allows you to still use the rear sight’s relationship to the front sight for windage, while also using the front sight for elevation.
Diagram 2: Here you aim with the front sight as normal, but you raise it above the rear sight a predetermined amount to compensate for trajectory at the distance you are shooting.
The trick is to know how much front sight to hold above the top of the rear sight. Once you determine that amount by math—or with practice—you can mark the front sight with a line to use as a reference for a certain distance.
When I was shooting bullseye/PPC competition with a 1911, I had my front sight marked for holdover at 50 yards. This is the same approach Carroll used at extreme range. The difference was that when he ran out of front sight at extreme range, he marked his slide and used those marks as a reference for the top of the rear sight to correct for elevation. (See Diagram 3.) He could still use the relationship between the front and rear sight for windage, but essentially, the pistol’s slide became an extension of the front sight.
Diagram 3: For shooting at extreme distances with a carry gun, you can mark your slide for hold over reference points. You use the front sight just like you would at 10 yards but hold it above the rear sight.
Carroll could not hit a silhouette target every time at 600 yards with his Glock 19, but you damned sure would not let him shoot at you or your best suit hanging on a rack at that distance.
The problem with many carry guns is that, instead of square post front sights, they now have fiber optic or more rounded front sights. They also can have Tritium inserts that can make this technique less effective, especially much past 150 or 200 yards. Still, by doing a bit of shooting and practicing a lot, you should be able to hit a torso-sized target out to around 200 yards and a little beyond, at least 25 percent of the time.
In the real world, there’s not much application for this unless you’re in the wide open and in a gunfight and don’t have a rifle. Or, unless you’re at the range trying to win $50 off your buddy.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Whether you need cleaning supplies or a rifle rest, the Real Avid Bore-Max Master Cleaning Kit workstation has everything you need for the range.
In the warm weather months, I haul myself and a pile of gear to the range once or twice a week. In the winter, I go once a week unless there’s a snowstorm. I’m not looking for sympathy, or bragging: I’m just explaining my workday.
And as part of the cargo load on each trip, I have to take gun cleaning stuff … well, because. Hauling a rifle cradle along is a hassle. If I don’t, the old clubhouse at my gun club is either a 100-yard hike or a 60-foot set of stairs to use the workbench there, depending on which range I’m on. Another hassle.
So, the Real Avid Bore-Max workstation is brilliant.
The Bore-Max Master Cleaning Kit and workstation is an all-in-one toolkit for your range trip. It has everything but your lunch.
It’s a single case that contains all the gear needed to clean normal and common rifle, handgun and shotgun sizes. That alone would be good. But the Bore-Max, when you take it apart, also has a built-in base and rest to hold a rifle or shotgun.
Oh geez, I’m in love.
Finally, there’s the Real Avid flexible light (called the Smart-Assist), so you can get light just where you need it. On my rifle range, the covered line and its shade is great to beat the heat. But it makes seeing fine details a real chore. And on the handgun range, there’s no shade, so direct sunlight makes some small parts not visible when they are hidden from the sun … you know, underneath the receiver or shaded by your own body as you strain to reach and work.
You can mount the Smart-Assist in one of the multiple locations the base of the Bore-max provides, and it is a flexible stalk, so you just bend it around until it is directed right where you want it to be.
The included rod and bore guide means you aren’t compromising on bore service life, and the brushes, swabs and scrapers mean you can get the sludge and grime gone.
You’re thinking, “You’re at the range, how much do you need?” Well, on a recent trip I was swapping the piston on my FN SLP in 12-gauge to see if it cycled with a different load, and the piston tipped over, rolled off the bench and dropped onto the sandy range floor. Once I was done cursing and had knocked and blown as much of the sand out as I could, the scrapers in the Bore-Max made it easy to get the last of the sand out of the various nooks and crannies.
The Bore-Max has everything but your lunch, and the solvents and lubes you’ll need. But we all already have boxes and bins of those, right?
Now, good stuff does not come cheap. I’ll admit that spending a tad over two Benjamins for a cleaning kit might seem like a bit much.
But try and piece it out separately. Go ahead. See what a complete cleaning kit costs. Then, add a rifle cradle. And finally, track down a light with a flexible stand. All that gear will not only cost you more than the price of the Bore-Max but will take up a lot more space in the trunk of your car, or the bed of your pickup.
Nope, good stuff isn’t expensive, it’s a bargain.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Colt Optics has just announced a new pistol red dot, a full-size red dot and a magnifier.
Colt Optics has officially entered the red dot game with its recent announcement of the MRS-1 enclosed-emitter pistol red dot, the CSQ-1 rifle red dot and the C3X-1 3x magnifier. All three were designed, engineered and assembled in Michigan and feature large viewing windows for faster target acquisition and better situational awareness while behind the sight.
The MRS-1 is an enclosed-emitter pistol red dot that features a rugged 7075-T6 aluminum housing, a 3-MOA dot, an ACRO mounting footprint, motion-activated illumination and co-witnessing with many standard-height iron sights thanks to its low-profile design. Despite its large viewing window, the MRS-1 maintains a compact footprint of just 1.85 inches and a weight of 2 ounces. Powered by a CR2032 battery, the Colt pistol red dot has 12 brightness settings (8 for daylight, 4 for night vision) and an advertised battery life of 75,000 hours on the middle setting. MSRP is $428.
The CSQ-1 is a full-size square red dot designed with rifles in mind. Like the MRS-1, it also features a 7075-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum fully enclosed housing, a large viewing window and shake-awake technology. It’s also powered by a CR2032 battery, but it has an advertised battery life of 50,000 hours. It features a multi-role reticle that can be switched between MRAD ranging with BDC holds and a simple red dot. Reticle brightness is controlled by a large top-mounted button, and a dedicated night vision button allows you to quickly swap between daylight and NV modes as well. MSRP is $824.
The C3X-1 is a 3x magnifier designed to be paired with the CSQ-1. With a length of just 2.72 inches, it’s one of the most compact 3x magnifiers available, making it a great new option for anyone looking to build a setup with limited rail space. It ships with a flip-to-side mount that can be configured for left or right deployment. MSRP is $604.
Jon Meyer, Vice President of Product Development for Colt Optics, said this about the new family:
Throughout development, we focused on how these products would actually be used in the real world … Every feature had to earn its place. Whether it improved speed, awareness, durability, or ease of use, the goal was to create optics that help shooters perform better under real-world conditions.
Leupold and Hornady just brought some writers out to Nebraska to train carbine skills, play with some new toys and see how world-class ammo gets made.
Every serious shooter owes it to themselves to attend a proper training class. In a short amount of time, a good instructor can massively improve your skills and send you home with the tools you need to continue refining them. Thanks to Leupold and Hornady, a few other gun writers and I were lucky enough to receive exactly that this past June.
The companies invited a handful of us out to Hornady’s headquarters in Grand Island, NE. We not only got to tour Hornady’s factory to see what goes into producing some of the world’s best ammunition, but we also got to spend a few days at their awesome range receiving top-notch carbine training while testing out Leupold’s newest optic. I can’t go into the details of the new product just yet, but rest assured, it’s worth being excited for. Keep an eye out for my full review in the near future.
What I can discuss is the excellent event that Leupold and Hornady hosted and the importance of good training.
Golden Ticket To Hornady HQ
While walking the sprawling factory floor of Hornady’s ammunition plant, it was hard not to feel a bit like Charlie Bucket. But instead of drooling over chocolate rivers, I was ogling the sight of glittering new brass, spiraling spools of hot lead and fresh, shiny bullets dropping out of machines like little gumballs of death. The office was lined floor to ceiling with decades’ worth of exotic taxidermy rather than candy wallpaper, and the whole place was abuzz with the energy of people who love their jobs far more than those little singing orange guys ever could.
OK, enough with the references. The fact of the matter is that Hornady’s operation is seriously impressive. I can’t show you too many details of exactly how they make their ammo, but I will go over some highlights.
Firstly, the Hornady plant has expanded massively since the company’s founding in 1949. Even with such an increase in floor space, our tour guides emphasized their focus on efficiently using it, including the modernization and reconfiguration of legacy machines to utilize every square foot possible. That’s the only way the company can keep up with the massive global demand for its ammunition.
I was also incredibly impressed with Hornady’s commitment to quality control, a process that includes both cutting-edge technology and good, old-fashioned human scrutiny. Between advanced computers analyzing components and eagle-eyed employees checking each cartridge for blemishes, Hornady puts a lot of effort into ensuring that the only ammo that gets boxed up and shipped out is up to snuff.
A Hornady employee manually inspecting individual cartridges before boxing them up.
The accuracy and reliability of each lot are also confirmed at the factory’s test ranges, as well as things like expansion consistency through various media for their defensive lines.
The results of expansion testing defensive ammo through different kinds of barriers.
I trusted Hornady ammo plenty before the tour, but I trust it even more now.
As a gun nerd, I also had a great time poring through Hornady’s huge reference collection. That includes both their gun vault, which was filled to the brim with very cool historical pieces, and their ammo archives packed with vintage boxes that haven’t seen the sun in decades.
Just a small taste of Hornady’s gun vault.
The wonderful day of exploring Hornady’s facilities was capped off by a relaxing evening at Jason Hornady’s house for dinner and drinks. The festivities were cut a bit short, unfortunately, as a tornado was threatening to roll in, but this is Nebraska after all.
They don’t make ammo packaging like they used to.
Carbine Training With Top-Tier Teachers
After seeing where the bullets we’d be shooting were made, we headed out to Hornady’s Heartland Public Shooting Park to zero rifles, familiarize ourselves with the new product and go over some basics.
The next morning, we were met at the range by Kyle Lamb and Doug Koenig. These two men need no introduction, but I’ll give a brief overview anyway.
Sergeant Major Kyle Lamb spent many years in Delta Force, which included seeing action in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. After getting out of the armed forces, he founded Viking Tactics, his training and gear company, and continued to dedicate himself to learning and improving his shooting skills to the highest possible level.
Sergeant Major Kyle Lamb.
Doug Koenig is a name that should be familiar to anyone with even a toe in the competitive shooting world. He’s an 18-time Bianchi Cup champion and has won more medals across various shooting disciplines than can be listed here. If all his accolades were to be pinned to his chest, it would make a North Korean general blush, especially considering that Koenig actually earned his.
Doug Koenig.
To receive carbine training from these two was nothing short of an honor.
Shooting Fast And Accurate
If I had to boil down the theme of what we learned at this carbine training event, it’s that you can still make good hits when shooting fast, even while on the move. Of course, that takes a mastery of the fundamentals and a lot of practice at increasingly faster speeds before you can shoot like Lamb or Koenig. That said, in the short time I had under their tutelage, I already saw a big improvement in my own abilities.
Something Lamb talked about was that when it comes to training soldiers, his goal is to raise their abilities so much higher than the enemy’s that even when going at only 80 percent of their max speed, they’re still handily outshooting their opponents. That should be your goal, too. With enough practice, your speed and accuracy can simultaneously outclass those of your threat. The two skills aren’t mutually exclusive.
We started our day together running pretty basic drills using single targets, and by the end, we were shooting on the move and engaging multiple targets at different ranges.
As for the carbines we were using, they were graciously provided by BCM and outfitted with BANISH 556 suppressors and Leupold’s new optic. Everything worked like a dream, including the Hornady ammo we were running.
The single-target drills we started with were designed to teach us the importance of understanding your setup’s mechanical offset. At very close ranges, it can make a huge difference. We were instructed to do things like put 3 shots into the torso’s A-Box, 1 shot into the head and then a shot into the pelvis. At 5 or 7 yards, that sounds simple enough, but if you don’t compensate for your offset, you’ll be dropping hits low every time.
This type of training is also a good reminder of the advantages of paper targets. We all love the sound of ringing steel, but making a general hit on a silhouette is not the same as seeing exactly where you’re hitting. Aim small, miss small, and gunning for the A-Box will make you a much better shooter than merely being satisfied with a hit anywhere on target.
Another skill we worked on was one that I, and most shooters, seriously neglect: support-hand shooting. Unless forced to, very few of us take the time at the range to practice shooting from our non-dominant side. If ever in a gunfight, whether you need to take advantage of cover or get injured, it’s crucial that you know you can still make good hits with your second favorite hand. While surely difficult, our instructors taught us that it’s also entirely possible; you just need to get your body used to the mirrored position.
To help with that, we ran drills that had us firing at a target from our dominant shoulder, swapping sides, firing at the target again and repeating the cycle for several strings as we advanced down the line.
Some other drills we ran focused on quickly driving the rifle to engage multiple targets and shooting on the move.
By the end of the day, I think all of us felt that our skills had been sharpened. The only thing left was to put them to the test.
Trial By Fire
The best way to evaluate your shooting abilities is on the clock with your hits being tallied, so that’s exactly what we did on the final day of the Leupold/Hornady Carbine Shoot Event. We each grabbed our ARs and convened at the other end of Hornady’s Heartland Public Shooting Park to find four bays that had been set up as competitive shooting courses.
Each one was differently designed to test the various skills we’d spent the previous day practicing. Some targets were far, some were very close. Some were best engaged while moving, and others required standing still to make a well-placed shot. Above all, they forced you to use your brain, and that’s easier said than done once you hear the shot timer go beep.
One of the Hornady employees joked that they call the shot timer the nueralyzer, the mind-wiping gadget from Men in Black, because once it goes off, your head tends to go empty. The pressure of competition is what really reveals how much of your skill has been committed to subconscious muscle memory and how much of it is reliant on conscious effort.
Even the best shooters at the event felt the pressure go up when the clock started, but it quickly became apparent which of us had done this before. Ray Helms of X-RING, for example, has been a competitive shooter for over 35 years. When his timer went off, he went through each course smoothly with the speed and precision that only repetition-induced muscle memory can provide. He clearly wasn’t only relying on what Lamb and Koenig had taught us the day before. Naturally, when the scores had been tallied, he came out on top of our competition.
I, on the other hand, have only dabbled in competitive shooting, and the sound of a shot timer still makes my blood run cold. That said, I still felt pretty good about my overall performance, and I’m certain I did much better than I would have without the great training I had just received. But, running the courses also showed me that a day spent doing drills is not enough time to commit skills to your subconscious. That takes a lot more training, training I intend to do with newfound vigor once back home. It would be a tragedy to let what I learned from Koenig and Lamb slip away.
All this to say, if you want to be a proficient shooter, it takes more than casually dinging steel at the range now and then. It’s time to dust off your shot timer, go buy some targets and pasties, and get to work.
Optimized for professional use, the Staccato HD P4X pistol features a steel frame, full-size grip, and compensated barrel for enhanced control and shootability.
Gun Digest readers are no strangers to the Staccato brand, and now a new model from the Texas maker could leave them with whiplash as they do a double-take on a handgun that promises to raise the bar on an already high-end pistol. Could Staccato’s introduction of the Staccato HD P4X be the brand’s most advanced mission-ready pistol?
Built on the same 4-inch compensated platform as the widely popular Staccato HD C4X, which is optimized for concealed carry with a compact aluminum frame, the HD P4X features a precision-machined steel frame and full-size grip, making it ideal for professional deployment, duty belts, and overt carry.
Key features of the Staccato HD P4X include a 4-inch DLC flush-fit compensated barrel that Staccato says reduces muzzle rise and improves shootability, plus a 4140 DLC steel frame that absorbs recoil and improves shot-to-shot consistency; it also sports a full-size Staccato HD grip that enhances stability and capacity with 18-round magazines. The result is a duty-ready pistol built for control and hard use, delivering the performance and confidence the Staccato HD line is known for.
“Every Staccato product is built to elevate human performance, and the HD P4X is the clearest expression of that yet,” said Paul Smith, Senior Vice President of Product at Staccato. “We engineered a hybrid full-size grip, 4-inch compensated pistol that delivers more control, more rounds, and the kind of shootability the world’s most elite professionals demand. This configuration was one of our most requested, and the result is the most shootable, reliable, mission-ready handgun we’ve ever built.”
The Staccato HD P4X promises to be the most advanced evolution of the 2011 pistol platform. And when you’re building pistols at the level of Staccato, that’s not easy to achieve.
Other features include ambidextrous controls with a dual-sided safety and slide stop, a reversible magazine catch, Glock-pattern magazine compatibility, an active firing pin block, and Staccato’s HD HOST optic-mounting system.
Additionally, every Staccato HD pistol must pass the federal Ballistic Research Facility standards, a rigorous set of protocols developed to simulate real-world defensive encounters that are the benchmark for evaluating handgun ballistic performance.
“Everything we make is aimed at elevating the standard,” Smith added. “From the materials and technology to our development and testing teams, every piece works to give Staccato customers the reliability and shootability they count on.”
The Staccato HD P4X is chambered in 9x19mm and will be available in three configurations, with a starting MSRP of $3,599. It will be offered through Staccato authorized dealers beginning July 13, 2026.
To learn more about the Staccato HD P4X or to locate an authorized Staccato dealer, visit staccato2011.com or follow @staccato2011 on social media.
A fast and smooth revolver reload isn’t easy to perform, but with enough practice and the right gear, you can keep your wheelgun fed.
Revolvers are routinely overlooked as defensive handguns. This is somewhat understandable, because pistols are easier to shoot than double-action revolvers, mostly because of their triggers, and they also come with higher capacity. But the revolvers today are not the same as back before the auto-pistol became the dominant defensive gun.
The New Model 386 Night Guard revolver from Lipsey’s is a seven-shot, weighing only 24 ounces, and it can handle .357 Magnum ammo, which is a more powerful cartridge than any pistol of the same weight can handle.
The New seven-shot Model 386 Night Guard revolver from Lipsey’s shown with a speed loader (left) and speed strip (right).
When I became a cop in 1992, I was issued a S&W Model 686 .357 Magnum. It held six rounds and weighed about twice as much as a Glock, which was the dominant service pistol of the time that also held more than twice as much ammo as the Model 686. When I went to the police academy, I was the only cadet armed with a revolver and still earned the top gun award.
The revolver might be an old design, but it can still effectively serve as a self-defense sidearm.
With practice, you can master its long, double-action trigger—but there is nothing you can do about the capacity other than learn how to efficiently reload a revolver. And even when you get good at reloading a revolver, you’ll still not be able to reload one as fast as you can reload a pistol.
As a military or law enforcement duty gun, the modern pistol is superior. However, for the civilian who needs a reliable carry gun, the revolver can still be a practical option, mostly because most civilian self-defense shootings rarely need the high capacity pistols offer—especially if you can shoot.
Reloading a revolver is different and much more complex, and because it’s not as intuitive as the reload of a pistol, it requires more practice.
Here’s a guide to the basics of revolver reloading with speed.
The two most common reloading tools for a revolver are the Galco speed strip (left) and the speed loader (right).
First Things First
To reload a revolver, you must first open the cylinder and position the revolver for the reload, and there are two schools of thought on how to best do this.
As you are ejecting the empty cases from the cylinder, grab your speed loader with your other hand. With the traditional method, you’ll want your speed loader pouches on your right side.
The traditional method is to press the cylinder release with the thumb of your shooting—right—hand and then slip the two middle fingers of your left hand through the cylinder opening, grasping the cylinder between those fingers and the thumb of your left hand. The downside to this technique is that you remove the revolver from your shooting hand. The upside is that it frees your shooting hand—your dominant hand that you generally have better dexterity with—for reloading.
When loading a revolver with the traditional method, you can use the thumb of your left hand to press the ejector rod to eject the empty cases.
I call the other method the “retention” method because the revolver never leaves your shooting hand. You open the cylinder the same way, but you then stick your trigger finger through the cylinder opening and press it against the cylinder. Then, you move the thumb of your shooting hand from the left side of the revolver to the hammer. This clears the path for empty cases to be ejected and for live rounds to be inserted into the cylinder.
If you’re reloading using the retention method, you’ll need to actuate the ejector rod with your left hand, keeping the muzzle skyward during the process.
The downside to this technique is that you will have to conduct the reload with your often less agile left hand. But, on the plus side, you keep the revolver in the hand you shoot with.
You can argue the pros and cons of each technique, but the important thing is to find the one that works best for you. And if you’re a left-hand shooter, you still must use one of these techniques. Given the configuration of a revolver with the cylinder that swings out to the left, you cannot simply reverse the process.
Your speed loader or speed strip pouches should be worn on the same side as the hand you will use to reload with. These Galco pouches are set up for a right hand/traditional reload.
Types of Reloads
There are three types of situational reloads with a revolver. They include the administrative reload, the tactical reload and the speed reload. The reload you use is determined by the situation you’re in.
If you’re in a competition or a gun fight and have expended all your ammunition, you’ll need to conduct a speed reload with the goal of getting back in the fight or match as fast as possible. A tactical reload is a fighting reload where your goal is to get a fully loaded gun, but to also retain the unfired rounds that are in the cylinder because you might need them later. And finally, an administrative reload is just a range reload conducted at leisure.
Here’s where it gets a bit confusing. The retention method is a great way to conduct a speed reload, but it is not ideal for a tactical reload or for a partial administrative reload. In those instances, you’ll need to hold the revolver in one hand while simultaneously using the thumb of that hand to precisely operate the ejection rod. In the spirit of keeping things simple, this is a good argument for just using the traditional method all the time.
This little rectangular pouch holds a fully loaded speed strip for easy access. Some will just carry the loaded speed strip in their pocket.
The Speed Load
To conduct a speed load, you will need a speed loader, which is a small device that holds ammunition in a configuration matching the charge holes in a revolver’s cylinder. If you’re using the traditional method, once the cylinder is open, point the muzzle skyward to use gravity to your advantage and slap the ejector rod with your shooting hand, or press it with the thumb of your left hand, to empty the cylinder. The slap method is preferred because fired cases can sometimes be stubborn. If you’re using the retention method, slap the ejector rod with your left hand.
You can slap the ejector rod with your right hand to unload the empty cases when using the traditional reloading method. Note the muzzle is skyward to allow gravity to help the empty cases fall free.
Next, rotate the revolver so the muzzle is pointed toward the ground, again using gravity to your advantage and—with your left or right hand, depending on the technique you are using—retrieve the speed loader, line it up with the cylinder, and twist it or press the release button. Then, drop the speed loader to the ground, close the cylinder and re-establish a two-hand shooting grip.
If you’re reloading with your left hand, you’ll need to hold the cylinder in place with your trigger finger and move the thumb of your right hand on to the hammer out of the way.
The Tactical Reload
Let’s say you’ve fired three of the six rounds in your cylinder, have secured cover and have some time. It would be a good idea to have your revolver fully loaded if the fight continues, so the concept of the tactical reload is to open the cylinder, remove the fired cases and replace them with live ammunition. You’ll also need access to individual rounds to replace the fired rounds.
Historically speed strips—rubber strips that hold cartridges in a line—are often used for this. One key to performing this type reload is to keep the revolver nearly level during the process. This keeps live rounds from accidentally falling from the cylinder.
Galco offers six-shot rubber speed strips. They are called E-Z Loader Cartridge Strips and come two in a pack for $14.
The problem with this approach is that it’s a very tedious exercise that also requires continued visual attention, and you must have enough light to see the indented primers of the fired cases, so you know which cases to remove. It’s also a very time-consuming process to just save a couple live rounds.
A more tactically sound approach is to just conduct a speed reload. However, instead of slapping the ejector rod and dumping the contents of the cylinder on the ground, press the ejector rod with your thumb, popping out the fired and unfired cartridges into your hand, and then dump them all into your pocket. If you empty all your speed loaders and still need more ammo, you can single-load from your pocket, discarding empties as you go.
The Administrative Reload
Essentially, the administrative reload is just a tactical reload conducted at leisure when you are on the range practicing or shooting recreationally. You can retain fired cases and unfired ammunition in your hand and use a speed loader to reload, or you can only remove the fired cartridges and replace them with live rounds, individually or from a speed strip. There are no tactical considerations here; you just want to get your revolver fully loaded safely.
Rehearsal and Repetition
The key to learning how to load a revolver, and to getting good at loading a revolver, is the same as with any other physical activity: It’s practice—routinely and correctly rehearsing and repeating the process.
The great thing about learning to reload a revolver is that you can practice with dummy rounds. This rehearsal is also where you will develop your own little tweaks to the process that help you better interface with your revolver. You’ll never get as fast at reloading a revolver as you can with a pistol, but you might be surprised at how fast you can be.
Gear Notes: Moon Clips
A Ruger SP 101 in 9mm Luger. It comes with several five-shot full moon clips.
An alternative to speed loaders is moon clips. Moon clips are thin metal clips that slip over the rim of a cartridge case. Fully loaded, a moon clip holds a full cylinder load in the proper configuration to fall right into the cylinder with a little help from gravity. And, when you slap the ejector rod, the full moon clip with empty cases of loaded cartridges pops out.
Some revolvers—especially 9mm Luger revolvers—come with moon clips; however, you can have a talented gunsmith convert most revolvers to work with them.
This 9mm Luger SP 101 comes with moon clips to match the cylinder, making loading and unloading much faster.
TK Customs is a great source for moon clips and moon clip conversions. They have done some excellent work for me in the past.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
General admission tickets are available now, and VIP tickets go on sale JULY 4th!
Not only are there two complete days of fully-suppressed shooting (plus a third early access day exclusively for VIP ticket holders), but we’ve added events and opportunities within the larger CANCON weekend for attendees and sponsors alike!
UNLIMITED ACCESS
HUNDREDS of suppressors from dozens of manufacturers for you to shoot ALL DAY! From Hollywood quiet .22 LR guns to big .30 Cals, we’ll have it all. From revolvers to a mini-gun, you can expect to see and shoot some wild stuff!
VIP TICKETS FOR THE ULTIMATE CANCON EXPERIENCE
The CANCON VIP ticket is your ultimate pass to CANCON! Not only do you get a special VIP-only day on Thursday, October 22nd, with almost no wait lines, first dibs on CANCON vendor SWAG, and first access to the CANCON merch store, but you get the highly coveted CANCON VIP Bag filled with awesome goodies!
VIP swag from CANCON South Carolina 2026.
We can’t tell you what is in the 2026 Las Vegas CANCON VIP bag yet, or we’ll ruin the surprise, but we can tell you that the CANCON South Carolina VIP Bag included a suppressor from IWI, an AK rifle from Century Arms, a Rarebreed Forced-Reset AR trigger, a Mantis training pistol, and much, much more!
OFFGRID BASECAMP returns! Take a step back from the firing line and learn from the pros in quick, practical lessons, getting hands-on training from seasoned survival and adventure experts with the latest outdoor and survival gear.
Basecamp provides a place where shooters can sharpen their shooting and survival skills.
Check out the best in EDC essentials and mission-ready survival gear. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a hardcore survivalist, this is your chance to gain the knowledge and tools to thrive in any environment.
PROS Vs. JOES
The Pros vs Joes competition series pits randomly selected members of the crowd against industry professionals, including competitive shooters, brand representatives, and RECOIL’s own editorial staff. The challenges are blind—you won’t know the rules, stages, or guns until you step up to the line—and participants are chosen from the crowd at the time of the competition. (No sign-ups available!)
The rules are simple: if you beat our pro at the assigned challenge, you win a prize. If you lose to our pro, you will go up against a fellow volunteer from the crowd in a winner-takes-all redemption round. Either way, one lucky attendee is going home with some free gear.
To top it all off, our professional video production team will film the entire match, and post it on RECOILtv and YouTube after the event for the world to see!
Subscribe to the CANCON Event Newsletter
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Looking for a new iron or piece of kit to enhance the one you already own? Check out these 7 new bits of guns and gear to grow your firearms wish list.
One of the most iconic configurations of the MP5 is that of the SureFire flashlight foregrip, but old-school models are hard to find and very pricy, and SureFire’s contemporary version is expensive too and doesn’t quite look like the original. Solution? Military Armament Corporation’s new Light Mounted Foregrip (LMF). It’s compatible with the MAC 5, POF MP5, MKE AP5, Zenith ZF-5 and original HK models. It features an LED flashlight that can put out 700 lumens and 9,000 candela for five hours, powered by two CR123A batteries. The pressure pad integrated into the right side of the grip allows for momentary and constant-on activation, and the bezel features standard scout light threading if you’d like to replace it. MAC even improved upon the original design by moving the light a bit lower from the muzzle to allow for better suppressor compatibility. Better yet, it’s far more affordable than SureFire’s version. MSRP: $200
PTR The Jack SBS FS
There’s never been a better time to buy NFA items with the new $0 transfer tax, and many manufacturers have expanded their catalogs appropriately. Case in point: PTR’s The Jack SBS FS. This short-barrel pump-action shotgun transfers on a Form 4, just like a suppressor, and it’s basically the epitome of compact firepower. Featuring a 7.25-inch barrel and a 2+1 capacity of 12-gauge, The Jack comes wearing Hogue OverMolded Rubber Tamer furniture to help reduce recoil. It has an AR-style forward pistol grip for a pump, and it ships with both a full buttstock and a rear pistol grip. It comes with a removable six-round side saddle as well. Sights? Where we’re going, we don’t need sights. MSRP: $1,100
Lever-action rifles are extremely handy, and they’ve gotten even more practical in recent years as companies have released models and accessories to modernize their features. In some ways, that’s great, but along the way, many of these guns lost their classic charm. The new Chiappa 92 Core manages to find the perfect middle ground. Chambered for .44 Magnum, the 92 Core has a 16.5-inch barrel and a capacity of 8+1. It features a black finish and hand-oiled walnut furniture, so it still looks like a lever gun should. Yet, it sports an angle eject action so you can mount an optic via an optional Picatinny rail, integrated M-Lok slots in the forend for accessories and a 5/8×24 threaded muzzle for attaching a suppressor or brake. Traditional looks and modern features—what more could you want? MSRP: $1,100
Banish has just released two new stainless-steel suppressor models with the goal of offering more affordable options to shooters while still delivering great sound and recoil reduction. The VRMT 223 SS is designed to handle centerfire cartridges .224 and smaller, has an advertised decibel reduction of 25dB and is optimized for bolt-action rifles (although it will work on semi-autos as well). The HNT 30 SS is a .30-caliber suppressor that can handle up to .300 RUM, has an advertised decibel reduction of 30dB and is also optimized for bolt actions. Both models feature an all-welded stainless-steel construction, are HUB compatible and available with either a black or FDE Cerakote finish. MSRP: $580
Banish Suppressors Banish VRMT 223 SS 1/2×28 DTM .223cal Suppressor
Galco has just expanded its Auto Pistol Outdoorsman (APO) belt holster line to accommodate 4.25-inch 1911s, including models wearing a red-dot sight. Made of premium steerhide leather and available in black or tan, the OWB holster features a low-ride position for increased comfort and to help it stay clear of your gear or pack. A traditional retention strap with a polymer tab also ensures that your pistol stays secure, whether you’re hiking through the bush or riding a horse up a mountain trail. The APO holster can fit belts up to 1.75 inches, and it can be worn either strong-side or cross-draw style. MSRP: $200
Davidson’s Exclusive Colt Roundbutt Revolvers
If you like snub-nosed snake guns, these two new Davidson’s Exclusive Colt models should have you excited. Featuring 2.5-inch barrels, semi-bright stainless-steel finishes, and walnut, finger-grooved, round-butt grips with gold Colt medallions, the new models are available in either .357 Magnum as the Python or in .44 Magnum as the Anaconda. The Python model comes wearing an adjustable square notch rear sight and a red ramp front sight, while the Anaconda instead has a HiViz tritium front sight with an orange outline. MSRP: $1,700
Federal X Henry Birthday Boy Collector’s Edition Ammunition
Our nation turns 250 years old this July, and that calls for celebration. Federal and Henry have teamed up to do just that with this commemorative Birthday Boy collector’s box of ammunition. This 300-grain JHP load of .45-70 Gov’t was developed specifically for Henry’s commemorative .45-70 Government Golden Boy lever-action rifle. With an advertised muzzle velocity of 1,850 fps, the ammo definitely packs a hefty punch, and the box will make a nice decoration on your shelf after you’ve shot through it all. MSRP: $75, per 20-round box
Federal Henry Birthday Boy Edition .45-70gov't 300gr JHP Box
We take a look at the truly unique 7.62 Nagant Russian revolver cartridge, also known as 7.62x38mmR.
This military revolver cartridge was adopted by Russia in 1895 and used in the Nagant and Pieper revolvers, which were both seven-shot designs, as opposed to the usual six. The Nagant design is unique in that when the hammer is cocked, the cylinder moves forward over the barrel shank to form a gas seal. The velocity gain from this arrangement is significant. No other revolver has ever used this ingenious, though complicated, system.
Russian Nagant revolvers have been sold in moderate quantities in the United States but are more of a collector’s item than a practical gun. Ammunition in shooting quantities is difficult to find, but it can be made from .32-20 Winchester cases, which are very similar.
Power and effectiveness are about the same as the .32 S&W Long. Most versions of the cartridge have the bullet seated completely inside the case. Velocity of the 108-grain FMJ flat-nose bullet in the Nagant revolver is about 1,100 fps, but the conventional Pieper revolver delivers only 725 fps. Bullet diameter is .295-inch. Ammunition was recently in production in Russia. Fiocchi manufactured this cartridge quite recently.
7.62 Nagant Revolver Loading Data and Factory Ballistics
Boost your shooting skills with the new Double Alpha EDGE shot timer.
Fundamentally, shot timers work by combining a timer with a microphone that detects gunshots. It logs exactly when each shot was fired relative to the starting point, initiated with an audible buzzer. Whether you’re performing a drill or shooting a course of fire at a match, the data tells you how long it took from the initial buzzer to the last shot—plus everything in between, such as how long it took you to draw your gun and fire the first shot, the time between shots on the same target (split times), time spent transitioning between targets and how quickly you were able to reload.
Shot timers are a necessity in competitive shooting sports like USPSA—you can’t have a huge field of competitors shooting head-to-head against each other in brackets to determine a winner; instead each person shoots the same courses of fire and are scored for accuracy and time to rank their performance.
Even if you aren’t a competitor, shot timers are invaluable for training. They allow you to track your progress over time by shooting the same drills on the clock at practice sessions. You can compare your results with others to see how you stack up and set goals for yourself. You can use different drills to focus on specific skills, and examining the timing data can help you identify areas for improvement. You can quantitatively assess what difference changes in technique and gear make in your shooting.
As technology has advanced, so too have shot timers, with premium units chock full of features that connect with your iOS and Android devices.
Double Alpha Academy is well-known in the practical shooting sports for its holsters and rigs, range gear, reloading machines, timers, chronographs and other products specifically designed for competitive shooters. Their latest is the EDGE Shot Timer, a Bluetooth-enabled smart shot timer.
The timer summarizes shot times, split times, and total times.
At its core, a timer needs to be able to reliably detect gunshots, regardless of the type of weapon system, whether you’re indoors or outside, and with other people shooting nearby. DAA uses shot detection algorithms and echo filtering, with 16 sensitivity levels to match your circumstances. Testing at the range, the EDGE worked flawlessly; you can narrow on the best sensitivity setting to select using its microphone test mode that displays real-time readings. With the sensitivity cranked up at home, the EDGE picked up airsoft guns but had to be very close to detect laser training pistols like the SIRT and MantisX.
Two large buttons light up green and red for start and mute. Top display is visible from your belt.
The start buzzer has three levels, and at a rated 125dB, the high setting is very loud, especially handy for trainers working with large groups. You can also adjust tone and frequency; we were satisfied with the default settings but DJs and audio engineers will enjoy tweaking it.
The EDGE is a chonky boy at 5.1 by 2.6 by 2 inches, though not that heavy at 8 ounces. It has a large main display and a small five-digit one on top for quick reference on your belt. Both are backlit (unevenly on the small one), coming on with a button press and turning off after about 20 seconds. Those who have old shot timers with scratched displays that you can barely read will appreciate that DAA uses Gorilla glass to protect the screen. The housing is fiber-reinforced polymer and rated IP-65 for water and dust resistance. All of this bodes well for long-term durability.
Two CR123A batteries keep the juice flowing. The speaker is on the back.
The timer comes with a large polymer belt clip that can fit over thick belt rigs; an optional thinner metal clip that’s better for pockets is also offered. The clips screw onto the battery door, which has a gasket and opens/closes with a handy latch. Behind the door goes two CR123 batteries, not included. Some will bemoan the lack of a convenient USB-rechargeable battery; others will appreciate the fail-safe of being able to pop in fresh batteries whenever needed.
There are two large primary buttons on top; one is the start button and the other mutes the microphone. The former is lit green and the latter blinks red when activated. You can swap them if desired. The timer’s face features four directional buttons to navigate menus, a center select button, two multi-function buttons, and a lighting button to engage backlighting or a LED flashlight on the back—convenient when indoors or in the shade to check targets. You can also mute the start buzzer and use the LED as a visual indicator.
The EDGE isn’t as intuitive to use as an iPhone, but you pick it up quickly, and the dedicated start and mute buttons are fantastic.
The main screen displays shot strings with times and split times, saving up to 30 in memory for later review. For drills and dry-fire, you can set par times with up to five programmable intervals for more complicated drills. You can designate a start delay, including random delays within a defined range. And you can store five different profiles in the timer to recall commonly used settings for various purposes (e.g., indoor, outdoor, dry-fire).
The EDGE can also control other DAA products, such as their chronograph and target activation pods.
Bluetooth connectivity allows you to connect your timer to your iOS or Android device. There, you can run DAA’s companion app, viewing shot string info, updating firmware, and recording video with shot time overlays. Not only is this cool for the ’gram, it’s handy to review your own performance.
The timer integrates with the PractiScore app.
Interestingly, you can also import pre-recorded videos, and the app will analyze it to detect the start buzzer and gunshots, then add overlays. We found it had difficulty analyzing footage filmed with muffled audio, such as from our GoPro. You can manually add missed shots; we wish DAA would let you add the start buzzer too, which was often missed in our GoPro clips. DAA seems to be periodically adding features to the app, so we look forward to what’s to come, especially as it lags behind Shooters Global on features right now. You can also connect the timer to PractiScore’s app for direct match scoring.
The DAA Edge app analyzes pre-recorded videos to detect shots and display times so you can assess your performance and look for improvements.
DAA also separately offers a carrying case. For the premium price, it’d be nice for it to be included, along with the metal belt clip and a set of batteries, though some users might argue that they wouldn’t want to pay even a dollar extra for accessories that they don’t need.
The DAA app also directly records video and overlays shot times.
Overall, the EDGE Shot Timer is thoughtfully designed and well executed. It works extremely well as a standalone shot timer, with a companion app that’s currently light on features. In particular, the large and lighted activation buttons and the dual displays are real highlights. We couldn’t find dB ratings for all the timers on the market, but the EDGE’s buzzer is probably the loudest. At $250, it’s a good chunk of scratch, but it’s less expensive than the Kestrel or SG Timer 2. If you’re seeking a premium shot timer, it’s definitely worth a look.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
We sat down with Griffin Armament’s Marketing Director, Benjamin Kubek, to talk about the company, the industry and suppressors.
LH: It’s obvious that Griffin Armament is more than just another manufacturer trying to hop on the suppressor and AR bandwagon. How do you differentiate your brand in the marketplace?
BK: Griffin Armament is the manifestation of the American Dream, and we’ve been in business for more than 20 years. Our focus has always been suppressors, but we have been manufacturing our MK1 Rifles in-house for over 10 years, and our full-ambi line of MK2s for around 3 years. In short, we are not new to the AR game.
LH: How and when did the company get it’s start? Who was instrumental in the early days?
BK: Griffin was started in 2005 by two Wisconsin brothers, Austin and Evan Green. Both were active-duty Army snipers who later contracted with the State department, Triple Canopy and SOC, serving multiple deployments during the Global War on Terror. After transitioning to contract work and starting Griffin Armament, the brothers would trade off working in the Griffin machine shop, cutting parts and building products, while the other was overseas—they built the company with little more than blood, sweat, and tears, refusing to take outside investment in an effort to retain full control of the company they were building.
LH: What founding principles define what Griffin brings to the consumer?
BK: Griffin Armament has a strong commitment to making innovative products that solve real-world problems—and products that just plain work. We strive to sell them at as low a price as possible to the freedom-loving gun owner in America. Every product we make is an answer to an issue we see people having, and we do everything we can to get it in the hands of people at a great price.
LH: And how about today? Have things changed since the doors first opened?
BK: We’ve seen a lot of growth in the past 5-10 years. What started with two brothers and a dream has grown into a complete armament company with close to 100 employees and more than 900 unique products. Griffin recently completed a 40,000 sq-ft facility expansion at our Watertown, Wisconsin, manufacturing headquarters to expand our capabilities. For the first 10 years and continuing to this day, the company poured every cent of profit back into the company: purchasing new machines, hiring a talented workforce, and innovating and improving our product offerings.
LH: The Griffin tagline is “Engineered Silence.” What is Griffin doing, technologically, to differentiate its products in the marketplace?
BK: We don’t spend a lot of money on marketing and prefer to re-invest our profits into research and development, new processes and technologies, and ideas that move the firearm and suppressor industry forward. We are a silencer brand first and foremost, and that bleeds into how we make our rifles and our other product lines.
We keep all our processes in-house, allowing us to rapidly prototype and improve products at a pace many other companies can’t achieve, and we are always looking for every ounce of performance we can squeeze out of every single product. During our 20-year history, Griffin has pioneered numerous sound suppressor technologies and innovations that are now ubiquitous in the suppressor space, including tubeless suppressors, modular-length pistol suppressors, integral tri-lug mounts, universal multi-caliber suppressors, and even 3D printed suppressors—something we showed to the public in 2009. We have been at the cutting edge of suppressor design since our inception, and that continues today.
A suppressor company first and foremost, Griffin builds its entire system around shooting suppressed.
LH: Griffin offers a plethora of suppressor-mounting options. What advice do you offer the consumer to choose the best mounting option for them?
BK: Direct-thread mounting is the cheapest and simplest system, but it’s also the most issue-prone. It’s slow to put on and take off the firearm, and it’s prone to loosening during courses of fire—thus losing alignment with the bore and creating a high risk for baffle strikes.
Taper Mount is a step up. This system is extremely simple but does require a taper-mount muzzle device installed to the barrel. Once you have that piece in place, it’s as easy as screwing in a lightbulb. The improved threads make the can go on much faster and retain alignment better, while the taper interface vastly increases retention of the suppressor by fighting the natural urge for the suppressor to loosen up under courses of fire. This is also one of the most accurate, and lightweight systems available offering very low POI shift due to the natural forcing of alignment to the bore by the taper interface. Taper mount is ideal for users looking for a simple, yet secure, system that is highly accurate and not too expensive.
Dual-Lok is built to eliminate unintended loosening of the suppressor. We have never seen a Dual-Lok suppressor come loose when used properly. Dual-Lok has an integral taper and has an active-locking collar that engages with splines on the rear of the muzzle device that locks the suppressor in place when actuated. It has no metal-on-metal ratcheting parts and is wear-free.
Gate-Lok allows the user to attach a suppressor to any mil-spec, colt-pattern A2 birdcage, by locking the suppressor into the BFA groove on those types of muzzle devices. It’s incredibly versatile, extremely fast and can be installed and removed one-handed faster than you can say “Wow, that’s pretty cool!” This system is ideal for anyone looking for the most QD offering, or a system that doesn’t require proprietary muzzle devices.
Our integrated 3-lug mount is also an industry-first and improves on the classic tri-lug system most people know from the MP5 platform. This is an incredibly fast and secure system, ideally segmented for PCC-type applications.
Finally, we have EZ-Lok, which is a mini taper mount designed for handgun and PCC applications. It vastly increases suppressor retention and speed of installation over direct-thread options and creates a universal thread pitch across your host firearms, eliminating the need to swap out pistons or parts.
In summary, if you have a pistol, use EZ-Lok. Taper Mount is ideal for precision shooting, and the general user trying to keep cost down while improving performance. Dual-Lok is intended for the most discerning customers who aren’t willing to compromise on a mounting system. Gate-Lok is ideal for the shooter with ARs all equipped with A2’s and no desire to change that.
LH: Let’s talk a little about materials and manufacturing processes, such as additive manufacturing.
BK: Historically, we manufactured most of our suppressors out of 17-4 stainless-steel. We found this material had plenty of strength for the application while being relatively low cost and easy to machine, resulting in lower prices. You see a lot of materials being used today, like Inconel and Haynes 282, which are stronger materials in many ways but are also more expensive and harder to work with.
There seems to be a misconception that exotic suppressor materials are superior, and many consumers are willing to overpay to get it, when cheaper materials are more than sufficient for 99 percent of users. For instance, we ran a 17-4 stainless-steel can through a 17-mag full-auto dump in less than 6 minutes with zero issues, catastrophic failures or excessive wear.
Titanium is a material we dabbled in years ago and axed due to a list of negative attributes that make it less than ideal for sound suppressor applications. It’s expensive, difficult to machine and requires extreme levels of manufacturing control and inert gas shielding to keep the material from becoming brittle. From our perspective, titanium suppressors, if not made perfectly correctly, can be weak and introduce unnecessary levels of risk to the end user.
That being said, the future waits for no one, and when we brought additive manufacturing in-house, we decided to develop our own proprietary alloy to use for our 3D printed suppressors. This is the first metal alloy designed specifically for sound suppressor use, and we call it Nickel 625X. It’s 68 percent stronger than Inconel 625 at 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, has a 100-degree higher service temperature, higher corrosion resistance, rapid heat treat process, and is lighter. One of the biggest reasons we opted for our own material is heat treatment regimen. Alloys, like Inconel 625, require a lengthy and expensive heat treat process to achieve its stated strength metrics, whereas Nickel 625X can achieve higher strengths at significantly lower heat treatment cost and time.
LH: How does a shooter look at the Griffin product offerings and determine what’s right for them?
BK: We’ll use rifle suppressors as an example. With our additive lineup growing this year, that’s the first decision to make: Do you want an additive suppressor or a conventionally-machined can?
Once you’ve made that decision, choose a mounting system.
Then you need to decide what your priorities are. We have more than 60 unique models, and each one is geared toward a different type of shooter. If you’re a super hard shooter, you’d benefit from a beefed-up, low backpressure can such as the HRT-556 AM. If you’re suppressing a bolt gun or hunting rifle, a lighter suppressor, such as a Sportsman, EXPLORR or PSR, will keep barrel flex to a minimum with minimal point-of-impact change. If you are a competition long-range shooter, the PRC family features a brake in the end cap, allowing you to see bullet trace and splashes downrange. For general carbine usage, it’s hard to beat our managed backpressure Dual-Lok AM cans, whereas the Recce line is ideal for users desiring a more conventional baffle system, or on under-gassed guns where a little extra backpressure is beneficial.
LH: Like any firearms industry company, you must endure and balance external influences and factors. Which ones have impacted your brand the most?
BK: The three biggest for the gun industry are politics, manufacturing skillsets and the economy. Politicians are changing laws at a local and federal level, requiring constant attention to make sure we remain in legal compliance with the ATF. On top of this, things like tariffs and wars can further stretch companies thin by disrupting supply chains of critical components and materials. Lastly, America has sadly undervalued capable machinists and manufacturing. Many of these sectors were shipped overseas decades ago, so it’s sometimes hard to find well-qualified and highly skilled machine operators to produce products to the level of quality our customers demand.
LH: How would you describe the current state of the suppressor industry? Where do you see it going?
BK: As of January 2026, the ATF eliminated the $200 tax stamp fee on suppressors, which was a huge development. Suppressor demand went up overnight, and with that came a lot of new companies jumping on the bandwagon. It’s an exciting time to be in suppressors, but also the most competitive it’s ever been. Established brands, as well as smaller startup brands, are coming out with suppressors now, which has a notable impact on the market. The sector will continue to grow, and I think the long-running suppressor brands will do very well in the future as trusted names in the business. Smaller brands may struggle to compete, but overall competition breeds innovation, and we’ve been seeing that.
Also, it seems that additive manufacturing is the future of the industry. The advancements allowed by that technology are hard to ignore, and brands that don’t adopt it and use it to their benefit will likely struggle. Griffin has invested heavily into our in-house additive lab, which puts us in a good place to compete for the next 20 years and beyond.
LH: Technologically speaking, where does suppressor design go from here? What’s the next big thing?
BK: The big hurdle everyone is trying to figure out right now, and many are achieving (ourselves included), is how to combine low flash, low sound and super-low backpressure. In the past, you could typically pick two but couldn’t get all three. A few companies seem to be figuring it out, but that is the cutting edge of suppressor design right now.
I think our Dual-Lok 5 AM is one of the best examples currently available of a silencer that performs highly in all three of those metrics.
LH: With the optics and optic mount side of your business, has Griffin become a one-stop shop?
BK: We launched the optics line because we noticed an obvious hole in the market. We wanted to offer capable, feature-rich optics at a reasonable price for the average consumer. The reality is that most optics in the affordable range are made overseas, with U.S.-made units typically garnering a hefty price tag. This is out of the realm of possibility for many gun owners, and we felt offering these optics at a great rate would allow them to have more budget-to-buy quality, American-made firearms, parts and silencers.
Griffin strives to produce high-quality optics at reasonable prices. This is the 1-10x28mm offering. The cost? About $550.
LH: As it is with suppressors, most ARs tend to look a lot alike. What sets Griffin apart from others?
BK: Our ARs are designed from the viewpoint of a suppressor company, meaning every part and component is tuned and manufactured to sing when suppressed. Our buffer systems, gas ports, and bolt-carrier groups (BCG) are all enhanced to perform ideally suppressed, but also to be reliable and soft-shooting in the unsuppressed configuration. We offer many upgrades to the components to further enhance the shooter’s experience, such as our Gas Pocket BCGs designed to reduce port pop and gas to the shooter’s face, a two-position adjustable gas block, and two-stage triggers. Every part of the rifle is made in-house at Griffin Armament for a premium fit and finish, and colors can be customized during checkout.
LH: Anything else you want consumers to know about your company, your people and your products?
BK: Griffin might not have the same hype marketing strategy as a lot of brands, and that is partially because we hate it. We choose to let our products speak for themselves, and it’s hard to find people who aren’t impressed with our ARs and silencers once they get their hands on them. We have an incredibly low return/warranty rate, which is a testament to the pride and quality we pour into every product we produce. Our Perpetual Lifetime Warranty is the best in the business, so you can rest assured you will be taken care of—no matter what issue you’re having.
We hope you get the chance to experience our products, because we know you will be impressed.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
We take a look at some of the lesser-known service rifles that helped shape America’s first 250 years.
The history of our country is absolutely awash in firearms, to the point that it’s impossible to fit all of them into a single article. In lieu of a list that would make your eyes glaze over, I look at a selection of rifles that are significant to our country in terms of the small arms theory of the time and the cartridges that they fired in our mutual defense.
Again, while this list is not comprehensive, every one of the rifles in this article is currently supported by modern companies, whether it be complete rifles or parts to get yours up and running again (such as barrels and stocks). Keeping our history alive not only honors our country, but it can be pretty fun as well.
Spanish-American War
The Krag and .30-40 Cartridge
The Spanish-American War was one of those conflicts that exists in the American mind almost as modern mythology. Of course, there has been a lot of tall tales and obvious propaganda in every war, but the flavor of the Spanish-American War was a bit different on our palate. It has a central character of Theodore Roosevelt, one of the most famous Americans of all time. It has the cavalier, almost boyish aesthetic that has permeated most of the media surrounding it—and not just in our day. This war represented American adventurism, sacrifice not just in the name of duty, but through the need for a young nation to display its strength. It was a war that recruited Ivy League students and frontier cowboys alike, a real cross-section of American grit.
During this pivotal phase of American development, the standard service rifle was the Krag-Jorgensen chambered in the .30-40 cartridge. While there were a number of variants of this rifle, the most famous are the later variations, such as the 1898 featured here. The Krag represented an interesting, but somewhat obsolete, way of thinking … even when it was officially adopted.
Most of the world militaries at the time were using clip-loading designs, such as the Mauser and Mosin—firing fast, aerodynamic bullets at what is now considered normal velocities. The American government, however, has seemingly always had a problem being stuck in the past, and the Krag represented what would’ve been an excellent development in the decades prior to its adoption. The .30–40 cartridge fired an obsolete round-nose bullet at around 2,000 fps, and in addition it could only be loaded by single rounds through a side gate, not a stripper clip.
The Springfield loads by single rounds or by five-shot stripper clips. The Krag, however, is loaded by single rounds via a side gate that pops open.
While the rifles themselves could not necessarily be faulted, the Americans went up against the Spanish 7mm Mauser, and this encounter ended with a glaring technology gap. Remarkably, even when the Americans developed their own Mauser rifle, the M1903 Springfield, it was originally made for the .30-03 cartridge (.30-45), another round-nose load that was ballistically inferior to European cartridges.
However, the Krag has gained quite a legacy in the past 130 years. It’s a rifle well-known for reliability and accuracy. My own original example was made in 1901 and still produces 1-inch groups at 100m with Hornady factory 180-grain loads. The rifle is still supported by a number of small companies that make new stocks. Should you need a full replacement, Criterion makes brand-new barrels for both the carbine and full-size service rifle. My CMP-restored Krag has a Criterion barrel and is incredibly accurate, easily sub-MOA at most ranges.
Lastly, there is hardly an action made as smooth. You probably heard it before, but there really is nothing that cycles as smooth as a Krag.
World War I
The M1917 and the .30-06 Government
The M1917 and M1903 rifles are Mauser copies. As they say, if you can’t beat them …
I know what you’re thinking: Don’t worry, we will get to the Springfield in just a moment, but I wanted to address a rifle that did a lot of work for this country and doesn’t get very much recognition. I’m of course talking about the M1917, sometimes called the Eddystone or P17—and they’re all pretty much correct, depending on who you ask. This rifle represents a global pattern of thinking that happens when confronted with the mechanical superiority of the Mauser rifle.
American forces, of course, adopted the M1903, a Mauser, after facing the Spanish, and the British went up against the Mauser during the Boer Wars in Africa. After these experiences, the British designed their own Mauser, called the Pattern 13, in a special .276 cartridge, but this was ultimately scrapped for the standard .303 British in the P14 version, and eventually dumped all together as WWI kicked off, leaving the British with the classic Enfield.
To make a much longer story short, wartime pressure forced the British to have rifles made in America, and when the U.S. was about to enter the war, there were simply not enough M1903 Springfields made to fill demand. So, the P17, chambered for .30-06, was developed and put into mass production.
This rifle was made in large numbers at a variety of factories, with the most notable being Eddystone, a subset of Remington. It’s very common to find these rifles with the name “Eddystone” embossed on the receiver, which has led people to believe that Eddystone is the official model name. American forces in Europe would, in point of fact, be primarily armed with the M1917. Although a rifle that served with distinction, it seems to have become something of a footnote, as its use as a military rifle was overshadowed by virtually every other model out there.
It did earn its stripes on the civilian side, however, where it became one of the most popular hunting rifles of the immediate postwar era thanks to a large number of them being released as surplus.
The rifle would continue to go on to serve in WWII, but again in a capacity that’s largely forgotten. They were part of a lease program with the British and Canadians but phased out of service by the Korean War.
Today, much like the Krag, there are companies that continue to make replica stocks for the rifle, as well as new barrels. Again, Criterion makes a military-spec replacement barrel that has an excellent reputation. The example you see in this article is all original, but I have shot with these new barrels, and they are very good.
The .30 Government, aka .30-06, began coming into its own during this time. It was in its day, and continues to be, a prolific cartridge. It could be argued that it’s the progenitor of most of our small arms theory today. The cartridge is very long serving, and it would play a role in both World Wars, dozens of worldwide conflicts, the Korean War and into the Vietnam era. It’s still considered to be one of the best cartridges ever designed and, in my opinion, is truly one of the great American cartridges.
World War II
The M1 Carbine and M1903A3
The Springfield M1903 A3, here a “brand new” reclaimed rifle from the CMP and a Plainfield reproduction M1 Carbine. Both of these rifles represent American mass manufacturing expertise in World War II.
The Second World War would see some interesting development in American rifles. The M1903 A3 was one of those, and it represented something very interesting in terms of small arms manufacturing. A number of the parts on the rifle were simply just stamped, a departure from the loving machining and perfect fit of years past commonly seen on its predecessor. The A3 was not a crude rifle, but rather a distilled and simplified version of an established design that lost nothing as far as accuracy and ruggedness. It demonstrated a type of thinking that embodied the times, a mass-produced rifle that was still capable of target-grade accuracy, a functional minimalism that was results-driven and offered a high degree of performance at minimal cost and time.
One of the most iconic weapons of the WWII era was the M1 carbine, a handy little rifle that fired its own unique cartridge, the .30 Carbine. There were a number of models of this rifle that saw service, but the common characteristic was their light overall weight and a high magazine capacity for the time. This little rifle would become a darling of Americans everywhere, it had a lively life during and after the war, and it continues to be a very popular gun among collectors and shooters. Eventually, it would be found across the globe, in the hands of everyone from communist revolutionaries to local police forces.
These two rifles are still very popular in the shooting sports, in particular CMP matches. Today, the A3 is widely supported, and complete reclaimed rifles are available through the CMP. Barrels can be had again through Criterion, and stocks are available from a number of sources. There is also a wide number of surplus parts available in like-new condition.
Common modifications of the rifle include different calibers, such as .308/7.62 NATO. The M1 Carbine is also widely available in the form of both original rifles and brand-new replicas. Variations of the gun were manufactured consistently since WWII, with many commercial guns being available for a good price as compared to collectible originals. There is a plethora of accessories available as well, and ammunition is relatively common and fairly inexpensive. Fulton Armory produces a number of these guns, and you can have them built on a custom basis to include threaded barrels, scout, configurations and more.
Korean War
The M1 Garand and Evolution of the 7.62 Nato
The M1 Garand is one of the most recognizable and sought-after American military rifles. The Fulton (above) restoration has accompanied the author to the National Matches for some time, and the brand-new CMP M1 (below) is a modern completely faithful rifle that is extremely accurate out of the box.
You’re probably wondering why I didn’t include the venerable M1 Garand in the WWII section, but I wanted to use it to spotlight the Korean War and the people who served in it. The Korean War is something of a forgotten war. It happened in close proximity to WWII and was very brutal. It was also fought with most of the standard small arms that were used during WWII, making it a little bit less distinctive in terms of the media used to portray it.
The M1 rifle was the primary service arm used by American forces during this conflict, and the conditions it was used in proved to be just as bad, if not worse, than in Europe. The combat in Korea varied greatly from in Europe, with American forces facing down communist enemies over a long distance, as well as during human wave attacks. The M1, already somewhat obsolete in terms of design, still performed very admirably in this conflict where it was also used as a sniper rifle in the form of the M1D. The lessons learned in Korea really began to push the modernization program that eventually led to the 7.62 NATO and M14 rifle.
The development of the 7.62 was a foundational element of combat, hunting and target shooting in the years that followed. Effectively taking the majority of the power of the .30-06, making it smaller and full-auto capable, the cartridge proved to be quite a great performer, even if the M14 struggled during its early development. This would become something of a trend as small arms development continued into the era of proxy warfare against the Soviet Bloc and communist countries, where the diversity of landscapes and terrain resulted in small arms being used at a disadvantage in one biome while being highly advantageous in others.
Effectively, the intersection of cartridges and rifles was changing, and the M1 and .30-06 held on for quite a long time until the M14 and 7.62 NATO took over. While many were sad to see it go, the M1 never really lost relevance in the American public mind, and it has always remained a highly prized possession.
There remains a wide support for the rifle today. Companies like Fulton Armory offer complete rebuild packages, which allow for a number of custom features to your liking. The CMP has introduced a brand-new M1 rifle, and yours truly was privileged to be the first person to fire a complete, finished rifle at the 2025 National Matches. That rifle can be seen here in this article’s photography. The M1 has a number of accessories available, including a variety of types of barrels from Criterion and Faxon. It can be had in various calibers, barrel lengths and has the option to mount modern optics thanks to the efforts of a variety of small companies. The M1 is now and will forever remain one of the most iconic guns ever.
Vietnam War
The M21 Sniper Rifle, M16A1 and the 5.56 Nato
The M14 and M16 have stayed in service in some way since they were introduced. Variants of these two rifles have been brothers-in-arms for generations of Americans. Here we have commercial versions, a Brownells M16A1 clone and a Fulton Armory M14 converted to XM21 with a Hi-Lux optic and Heritage Optics Classic M21 mount. These are incredible rifles and lots of fun to shoot.
To close out our purview of classic American military rifles, we have the dawn of our modern age, which saw the introduction of the AR into our lexicon. Early on in Vietnam hostilities, American forces were using a mixed bag of weapons, including the M14 in 7.62 NATO. At the time, warfare in the jungle was not something the American military had a great deal of experiencing, especially not on a broad scale. The close-quarter fighting did not favor the large battle rifles that would have been a substantial advantage during the Korean War.
The M14 was arguably an ideal weapon for the frozen, long-distance fighting in Korea, but in Vietnam it was ungainly and too powerful to use effectively. Eventually, a novel design from ArmaLite was selected and put into mass production: the M16. This was a revolutionary rifle that represented a lot of space age thinking, and it fired a small war, high-velocity cartridge, the 5.56 NATO.
Like many American misadventures, the rifle ran into some substantial problems in the wet, humid environment of the jungle, and production problems only made that worse. Not only was the ammunition causing corrosion issues, but the rifles themselves were literally rotting in soldier’s hands due to what could only be said was manufacturing neglect. After some very serious teething problems, the M16 A1 remedied a good number of these problems and eventually became well respected as a combat rifle. Its legacy is likely in your safe right now—the AR platform we all know and love today is the direct descendant of the choices made on the M16 A1.
The story of the M14 in Vietnam was far from over. The rifle saw a good amount of use there, especially in rolls that played to its strength, such as a sniper rifle. The XM 21 program resulted in an accurate, lightweight and lethal sniper rifle that saw service throughout the war. The XM 21 became well respected and was famously used a number of times by well-known snipers throughout the war. While not technically designed from the ground up as a sniper rifle, it was easily on par and better than rifles being issued to communist forces, which at the time would have been WWII-era Mosin bolt-action rifles and the new-at-the-time Soviet SVD.
Today, the retro rifle trend has continued to grow, and a variety of companies make brand-new copies of the M16A1 and other early variants. Brownells, Fulton Armory, H&R and more make versions of the classic. The M14 and its commercial variants are also common, with Fulton, Bula, Springfield Armory and more making new models that you can transform into your chosen variation. This article features a replica Vietnam-era M14 Classic M21 mount from Heritage Optics and a new M40 optic from Hi-Lux. This combination is National Match legal for Vintage Sniper matches. A wide range of other accessories are available. Should you want to assemble a different-era M14, classic stocks are available from McMillan, and chassis systems such as the EBR are available from US Tactical Supply.
A Tribute to Those Who Served
Keeping these rifles in action is something that carries with it a lot of pride. I value these rifles far above any of my modern guns. The thing about them isn’t that they are magic swords or carry a perfect design pedigree; they are imperfect, just like this country is, but are always improving. These designs represent windows into the culture of a given era, the artifacts that exist on them speak to things that were considered important at the time. Magazine cutoffs on the early American bolt actions demonstrate a need to conserve ammunition, the military was often cash strapped.
The M1 Carbine represented a new era of mechanized combat; it was a chosen arm for people who had to get in and out of vehicles constantly as opposed to dismounting horseback. Yet it still maintained the sling setup used by cavalry for centuries. The M16 represented space age thinking, right down to the lines it was designed along, echoing the style of automobiles and rockets in the 1950s and the view toward a future in the stars.
These weapons are indicative of our culture. The materials used in them and the cartridges that they fired all represented something unique in their own era. I am very grateful to the people who have kept this alive as long as they have, and the companies that continue to devote valuable resources to keeping these old warhorses running.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The new CANiK Prime Radian combines the best of CANiK with the best from Radian Weapons to bring an upgraded pistol at a budget price!
New from CANiK comes the Prime Radian! A collaborative pistol based on the CANiK METE MC9 PRIME and enhanced with Radian Weapons components. A 9mm EDC pistol, the PRIME RADIAN is micro-compact sized with a 5.47-inch overall height, a 3.83-inch barrel, and 24.70 oz weight, sporting a full 17+1 capacity.
FEATURES
Built on the METE MC9 PRIME micro-compact platform
Radian RAMJET™ barrel and AFTERBURNER™ compensator
Radian BACKSTRAP+MAGWELL for enhanced control
Semi-auto, striker-fired operation
Chambered in 9x19mm Luger
17+1 round CANiK micro-compact magazine capacity
Night Fision Tritium front and rear night sights
Flat-face aluminum trigger
Optics-ready for Shield RMSc, CANiK ONYXc, CANiK PHANTOMc, and compatible footprint models
Compact, carry-ready polymer frame design
Night Fision Tritium front and rear night sights provide excellent day or nighttime iron sights, but also come optic-ready, cut for RMSc footprint. A Flat-Face Aluminum trigger for a clean and crisp trigger pull.
What takes this to the next level is the Radian RAMJET barrel, Radian AFTERBURNER compensator, and Radian BACKSTRAP+MAGWELL. These upgrades direct from Radian Weapons give the Prime Radian a flat, smooth shooting experience with improved grip and faster reloads. The RAMJET+AFTERBURNER is one of the best barrel/comp combos on the market. Having it straight out of the box in the Prime Radian cuts out the middleman and saves money.
The Prime Radian comes with either two 17-round magazines or two 10-round magazines (for ban state users), a CANiK hard case, CANiK holster, and CANiK tool kit. One buy, one box, and you’re ready for the range. MSRP is only $899.99 for the complete Prime Radian package.
Jeff Rose, Director of Marketing at Canik USA, said this about the new pistol:
The Prime Radian represents the next evolution of micro-compact pistols … By combining CANiK’s award-winning METE MC9 PRIME platform with Radian’s advanced recoil-mitigation technology, we’ve created a carry pistol that shoots flatter, tracks faster, and delivers unmatched performance.
The CANiK Prime Radian is available now from dealers.
NEW from Osight comes the XE AMRS and SE 6MOA enclosed red dots! Packed with features, extremely affordable, and available now.
OSIGHT XE AMRS
The Osight XE AMRS has a ton of features to talk about, from the industry-first 2/6+32 MOA Advanced Multi-Reticle System to the innovative collapsible backup rear sight, plus features that you know and love like a large window, side-loading battery, and more. Built to do it all, the XE AMRS is great for CCW, home defense, competition, rifle, pistol, shotgun, and anything else.
The 2/6+32 MOA Advanced Multi-Reticle System gives you the choice between a 2 MOA dot, 6 MOA dot, 32 MOA circle, or either dot size plus the 32 MOA circle. Fine precision shooting or a larger dot for fast acquisition, this reticle handles anything.
Another first for the industry is the Collapsible Backup Rear Sight (CBRS). Exactly what they sound like, this integrated backup rear sight collapses out of the way if you don’t want it in your sight picture, but with a push of a button will pop back up for when you need it. Giving you the choice of having it in use or not, without having to remove or attach anything. There when you need it, out of the way when you don’t.
More features of the Osight XE AMRS include a Motion Sensor Function that automatically powers the dot on with the slightest movement, but turns it off after 3 minutes of inactivity to save battery life. A low power indicator will flash the dot 3 times once per minute when the battery drops under 2.2Volts. 10 brightness settings with 8 daylight and 2 night settings give you a lot of choices in dot brightness. All of these settings are controlled with a memory function that will power on to your last used settings every time.
Osight XE AMRS has a 61,000 to 105,000-hour battery life using a CR1632 battery.
MSRP is $249.99! Osight is running a Prime Day Amazon from June 23rd 03:00:00 EDT to June 27th 02:59:59 for 10% off!
OSIGHT SE
Smaller than the XE AMRS the Osight SE 6MOA is great for CCW and everyday carry. 6 MOA dot, enclosed emitter, side-loading battery, RMSc footprint. Slightly smaller window, but still packed with features.
The same Motion Sensor Function found in the XE AMRS to preserve battery life, lower power indication, and high-quality aspherical lens make this a CCW optic that doesn’t skimp on options and features. The smaller footprint size for smaller guns is great, but the Osight SE 6MOA also has a low-deck height that allows it to co-witness with most factory iron sights. If you don’t have factory iron sights, the Osight SE 6MOA has a backup rear sight as well.
Plus, the same 10-brightness settings and memory function of the XE AMRS!
The Osight SE 6 MOA is ideal for CCW and EDC. RMSc footprint fits on micro-compact and compact pistols, and the 6 MOA dot is great for rapid target acquisition.
Osight SE 6MOA has a 63,000-hour battery life from a CR1620 battery.
MSRP is only $179.99, also on sale at Amazon from June 23rd 03:00:00 EDT to June 27th 02:59:59, but for 20% off!
Snubnose revolvers are prolific in American cultural consciousness, but few people properly understand their practical capabilities.
One of the most quintessential American guns is the “snubnose” revolver, a staple of our heritage since it started to spin. The need for a compact and reliable weapon has never abated, and, sure enough, the little revolver has been there for us for countless generations. Due to the general saturation of this type of gun in the media and as an ingrained staple of our cultural consciousness, it’s both significantly overrepresented and, at the same time, poorly understood.
The Hollywood Effect on Snubnose Carry
In general, our focus here will be on the most commonly used chamberings inherent to the snubnose, the .38 Special and .357 Magnum. These rounds, while related and very closely intertwined, do behave like different animals in a small revolver, and the benefits largely depend on use.
The .38 Special (left two cartridges) next to its slightly bigger but substantially more powerful brother, .357 Magnum.
For our general purposes, we are limiting this discussion to the truly short barrels: the 2-inch class. While it might not seem like much, going longer starts to enter “big handgun” territory pretty fast, and even a 3-inch barrel is enough to start a whole new discussion when it comes to both .38 and .357 performance. However, most people looking at these guns don’t consider the ballistic performance when buying a gun like this. Most people carrying them don’t put a lot of weight on ammo choice or accuracy. The common idea is that it “just works,” a sort of set-it-and-forget-it mindset.
Now, this contrasts heavily with the ongoing debate about 9mm, 10mm and .45 ACP that never seems to end. The .40 S&W might have been ousted in general disgrace, but the discussion hasn’t stopped and, in fact, has even progressed now that suppressors are common and the rumble about subsonic performance has entered the arena. Barrel length, bullet weight and suppressor types are heavily reliant on each other. Now, we’re back at square one with many considerations, such as the superiority of .45 ACP in subsonic form over 9mm and 10mm—which really need that speed.
Ergonomics and handling are often considered a downfall of the short revolver. A full-featured 1911, such as this new Springfield Armory TRP in .45 ACP with a new Vortex enclosed red dot, is obviously easier to shoot and make hits with even at extended range. However, the simplicity and short-range dedication of the J-frame make it formidable at close range.
Yet here we are, looking at snubnose revolvers with no significant changes to the technology in generations, even in terms of ballistic performance. With all the hubbub about semiauto pistols and technology, is it true that revolvers are an afterthought in our modern age, or was it that we got it right so long ago?
To answer that, we need to look back at history and culture. Media, be it dime-store novels or detective TV shows and movies, has cemented the snubnose revolver as an expert’s choice. When that character has it slipped in his pocket, it speaks to the reliability of the character himself, the weapon choice being one that requires them to get into the thick of it, frequenting back alleys and smoke-filled bars in the little hours of the morning, always in just a bit of danger but not seeking out a fight. If that fight does come, it will be close and personal.
Media culture absolutely does impact the way we use and carry weapons. You’re not the only one who feels like a noir detective sticking that .38 in your pocket when you run a late-night errand. Yes, you could take a modern setup with lights and a red-dot, but there’s a special confidence that comes from a snubnose that is hard to define … yet certainly exists.
The author’s two most common carry guns, both Smith & Wesson J-frames. The M&P model in black is a .357 but is most commonly carried with .38 +P loads.
This metaphysical attribute isn’t backed up by ballistic science; there are some pretty serious performance issues with such short barrels. But what is certain is that there’s seldom any doubt that they will work as intended, a rare thing when it comes to the shooting world, where people actually believe that 5.56 will stop in drywall, big-bore rounds won’t get deflected by brush and any number of other bits of lore that people are completely sure makes a given gun or cartridge suck.
People put a great deal of emphasis on snubnose revolvers being the safest and purest choice for a carry gun, especially for women. Many think of it as something of a performance basement or starting point of sorts, but this is somewhat unfair to the good ol’ snubby. These guns have a lot going for them—although there are some myths (many recent) that need to be addressed.
Performance Myths and Gel Tests
While snubnose revolvers have always maintained their status in shooting culture, there has been, especially recently, quite a bit of speculation as to whether they are still relevant. The claim that ballistic science has advanced to the point where the 9mm is the superior firearm—and that there is only wasted energy out of a 1 7/8-inch barrel in .38 and .357—is based on shaky ground. There is a fundamental lack of understanding in terms of what these guns offer for the size, a misinterpretation of barrel length and a proliferation of media that has contributed to myth.
Bullet failure or success largely depends on the bullet’s construction and impact velocity. Not all guns do well with all bullets and vice versa.
It seems like every other day there is an article popping up somewhere with a clickbait title claiming revolvers are dead. “Experts” are out there showing that the wound channels are small, and you need 21 rounds of 10mm +P+ JHP or whatnot to survive on the street. It is true that these short-barreled guns don’t generate the same “impressive” results as others, but it’s smoke and mirrors to a large extent.
In the real world, not our ramblings across online platforms, bullets kill, and it doesn’t take a lot to make that happen. In recent years, people have been trying to reinvent the wheel, so to speak, and develop “better” projectiles for snub revolvers, but all that we ended up with is snake oil.
I’ve written on this before, but ballistic gel testing is virtually all bunk: Gel is a standardized test, nothing more. The protocols that are specifically designed around gel testing are very specific to FBI requirements and are not, in fact, a universal standard for most ammunition types. When you start adding in fake bones, fake organs and all that stuff, it changes the initial test parameters, which was to provide a homogenized material simulating universal tissue and bone density. Living tissue does not behave like ballistic gel. Naturally, the slower velocities out of shorter barrels aren’t going to gather many clicks, except when trying to prove the point of disparaging them.
Bullet construction gets complex, and different designs will produce different results. Not all are winners in short barrels.
In general, the snubnose revolver is a truly lethal weapon. The velocity in these cartridges out of these short barrels can be lacking, and they can be difficult to handle with any degree of accuracy due to light weight and often heavy trigger pulls. The notion here is that they are inferior to more modern options, but the stats in real-world use don’t fully add up to this display of mediocrity. It doesn’t take much to kill a person, and you don’t need high-tech bullets to do it. A 158-grain hardcast Keith 38+Pat under 800 fps is easily able to go straight through a person, and you can create lethal injuries at even slower velocities. Just like with a knife, you don’t need a huge blade to create terrible injuries. This is what I mean when I talk about the infantilized view people have on these things. Many times I’ve heard that “38 Special will just piss them off,” and this is just absolute nonsense.
It is very easy to get more than 1,000 fps from these short barrels, even with .38 Special. With .357, you can very easily exceed 1,200 fps in this tiny space. What we run into is the fact that most projectiles out there are marketed with expansion in mind, and it is, in fact, difficult to achieve reliable bullet expansion from these barrels at modest velocity. We are asking a bullet to do a lot in such a small space, and this demand is our fault due to attempting to shoehorn performance where it doesn’t belong. Simple guns like these should have simple ammunition that won’t cast doubts. Penetration, not expansion, is king in both .38 and .357 snubnose revolvers.
Bullet expansion in gel can be reliably achieved in some cases, but there’s no guarantee.
This is not to say that it’s impossible; focusing on a projectile construction out of a shorter barrel should be looked at differently. What we run into is a direct comparison between popular rounds and various barrel lengths in these calibers that end up muddying the waters significantly. Many “short” 9mm pistols would realistically qualify as midsized revolvers in terms of the space a cartridge occupies in the design. The missing component to a lot of this is that barrels are measured differently between semi-automatic pistols and revolvers. Barrel length on semi-auto pistols is measured to the breach face, meaning that the chamber is also included in that length. Revolver barrels are measured from the front of the cylinder gap to the muzzle. If we measured revolver barrels like we measure semi-auto barrels, it would change a part of our discussion.
If we measured revolver barrels the same as we do semiauto barrels, the conversation does shift a bit. Instead of thinking you’re working with “only” 1 7/8 inches, think if the cylinder as part of the equation when discussing cartridges and their abilities.
Keith’s School Might Still Be in Session
After doing a substantial amount of testing on these calibers over the years out of these short barrels, it is my opinion that bullet construction needs to be solid. I believe that, at these lower velocities, the mechanical action by the bullet to expand in tissue is unreliable, and going with softer material more frequently leads to bullet fragmentation and projectile failure. Hard cast bullets have been around for well over a century and have never lost reliability. Point of fact, popular rounds such as the 10mm Auto gained a lot of their reputation based on this old technology. I would say that the 10mm especially owes its reputation to hard-cast bullets in bear country: Its performance with jacketed hollow-points and other modern ammunition types is not that impressive.
Most of the factory-loaded ammunition out there today is designed with a universal barrel length in mind. This is where we run into problems with projectile performance; not all bullets are designed to expand at lower velocities. Likewise, the burn rate of certain powders, and even the primer being used, don’t often take shorter barrels into account.
This is where you get a lot of the conversation that centers on using .38 or .38+ P in a .357, the idea being that they are more efficient for the smaller guns. I do tend to agree, and I have not found a .357 load that truly does well in a short barrel. The energy being released will, of course, create a great deal more recoil and noise, not to mention muzzle flash, but in all likelihood, you are launching a bullet meant for a much higher impact velocity, and there is some wasted potential. This is again something that is lost in translation. Bullets are designed to expand at certain velocities, not out of certain guns. Muzzle velocity and impact velocity are going to be critical for anything a projectile does.
This alloy .357 bullet is half the length of the barrel itself. Consider this when asking the bullet to expand; it really doesn’t have much of a chance to build up speed. Note that this fired bullet failed to expand at all.
There are plenty of .357 loads clocking upward of 1,500 fps, but they lose significant speed to a snubnose barrel.
Students of Elmer Keith, such as myself, tend to look at constants as the best thing when it comes to handgun bullets. I believe that, when it comes to snubnose revolvers, bullet mass is more important than velocity, and simple bullet construction is more important than mechanical function.
It is, in my opinion, true that we did reach the pinnacle of revolver ammunition more than a century ago. Elmer Keith and his bullet designs have stood the test of time, a solid, high-mass projectile being the center of the discussion. Both .38 and .357 snubnose revolvers benefit substantially from a solid, high sectional density, flat-point bullet moving at around 800 to 1,100 fps. Nothing crazy, but easily the most reliable option for getting through clothing and moderate barriers at close distance. These will not produce crazy wound channels or spectacular results on ballistic gel, but they will be able to get through nearly anything an attacker is wearing and reach a vital spot.
Final Thoughts
Making simple things complicated is something that we are very good at in the gun world. We are constantly finding new things to add to our guns: new barrels, new cartridges and new stock materials. At the end of the day, most of this just ends up making things muddier with more things to go wrong … and more gear choices to question.
When it comes to snubnose revolvers, it is my advice to stop making things complicated. We had things right this whole time—the old detectives, dime-store novels, you name it.
A stout, lead bullet in a snubnose is hard to beat, and it is pretty cool to boot.
Ammo Notes
Buffalo Bore 38 Special +P 158-Grain Outdoorsman
If I had to pick one snubbie cartridge, this one is it. I have tested this load, and it’s one of the most reliable performers in both large and small guns. I personally carry this load in my J-frame revolvers; it’s very hard to beat out of a short barrel. Velocity is excellent, and penetration is deep.
My average velocity for this load ranges from about 950 to 1,025 fps depending on the revolver, but this is right where I want it.
Buffalo Bore .38 Special +P LSWCHP-GC 158-Grain
Right at the top of my list next to the outdoorsman is another Buffalo Bore product, this time a load very similar to the old FBI special. This is a mouthful of letters, but it works out to be a softer projectile with a non-jacketed hollow-point. This bullet hits hard, and it stays right around that 1,000-fps sweet spot that I really like. I do sometimes put a couple of these in my cylinder with three of the outdoorsman loads, just a nice little switch up.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 of the best concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
