Straight Talk

It turns out that Smith & Wesson has claimed the month of July. It has become a bit of a trend in the firearms world for companies to release new products throughout the year (as you’ve probably noticed by the number of new product articles) rather than big releases at SHOT Show or NRAAM. Bigger companies, like Smith and Sig Sauer, have released new products every week for weeks it seems. Unfortunately, it’s come to the point where it is difficult to sift through the marketing blasts, Inst

Compact carry guns—mainly the small .380s—offer a unique niche in the firearms market. To put it plainly, I don’t like these guns. They are diminutive, generally have an unpleasant recoil impulse, use expensive ammo, and seem to be an afterthought to many manufacturers (although I’ll credit the old Sig P238 and Kimber Micro series, they are solid). However, as much as I loathe them, they have a purpose. Sometimes deep concealment is necessary, or somebody would rather walk around with lig

Spotting scopes are a tool that has increased in popularity in shooting sports. These optics are used by hunters for spotting game, and by bench rest shooters to see their tiny targets at far distances. But PRS, NRL, and other precision rifle leagues use spotting scopes to locate targets, spot hits and misses, and aid in holdovers. Unfortunately, good spotters are expensive, and the budget ones out there are lacking. Thankfully, Vortex Optics has rectified that issue with the new Vortex HD

The NRA Annual Meeting took place recently in Dallas, TX. This is a quasi-SHOT Show-like event where industry partners present their products on a showroom floor. While SHOT show is exclusive to those in the industry, NRAAM is open to all NRA members. Like SHOT, NRAAM has always become an event where companies introduce new products. That is precisely what Smith & Wesson did this year with the release of the 1854 Walnut lever gun and 327 WR revolver.Model 1854 WalnutThe 1854 Walnut is

Vortex Optics takes care of its customers, almost annoyingly so. They as a company reset the optic industry with their VIP warranty, customer care, and social media marketing. From branding to partnerships, and sponsorships with the biggest names in competitive shooting, Vortex is a known commodity that offers optics for every situation. However, Vortex doesn’t rest on its success. They strive to be better and continuously look to improve. In the recent past Vortex has refreshed its MRDS o

I recently wrote an article discussing the modern military arms collector. In it, I referenced the popularity of “Clone” or “Retro” style weapons and their relevance to the collector. Well, it appears that fans of this style of rifle are about to have another new rifle to either rave or eviscerate—the Springfield Armory SA-16 A2.Why Clones?No, this isn’t a fan page talking about Star Wars Clone Wars, I’m talking about why clone rifles have become so popular. Originally this was a novelty m