The AR-15 platform has become extremely popular in the past two decades. With it, the .223 Rem rose to one of the most popular rifle cartridges of all time. In the hunting realm, the .223 has been very popular with varmint hunters. However, many people have felt the .223 cartridge is too small for hunting…
In 2008, CZ-USA started importation of the semi-automatic SA Vz 58 rifle. While the gun’s appearance gives it a look similar to the AK-47, the gun is not a clone of the famous Kalashnikov rifle. Let’s take a look at what the VZ 58 is and the CZ-USA variant.
Say hello to the new Glock 30SF pistol. Introduced at the 2008 SHOT Show, the new striker-fired handgun uses a polymer short frame to improve it’s concealability and ease of shooting. Chambered in .45 ACP, this gun is sure to be a hit with big bore fans looking for a no-compromise, lightweight carry gun.
What could have been? The Taurus 590 revolver is an example of what could have been. Leading up to the 2008 SHOT Show, Taurus had a 5mm handgun under development. It seemed like a sure thing…but then…nothing. I’d like to examine the nearly-released Taurus 5mm Magnum revolver and the current state of the 5mm RFM…
At the 2008 SHOT Show, Winchester Repeating Arms announced the return of the Model 1300 as the new Speed Pump Defender shotgun. The 12 gauge scattergun was part of the company returning the Winchester brand to firearms manufacturing.
Barnes Bullets introduced several new bullets at the 2008 SHOT Show. In the company’s very popular Varmint Grenade line, Barnes showed the .204 caliber, 26-grain bullet for the .204 Ruger cartridge and a .224 caliber bullet in 50 grains for .223 Remington/5.56 NATO cartridges. The .204 bullets and the 50-grain .224 were both developed specifically…
Launched in 2008, the Smith & Wesson Model 629 Stealth Hunter is a Performance Center revolver designed for handgun hunting. The .44 Magnum remains in the company’s catalog, and the company expanded the offering to a second SKU. Let’s dive in and take a look at the Stealth Hunter revolvers.
In 2008, Sturm, Ruger & Co. introduced two new M77 Hawkeye “extreme hunting rifles” using cartridges developed by Hornady. These rifles were offered in .300 RCM and .338 RCM. While the guns are no longer built or sold by Ruger, they are an interesting part of the company’s history. If you have one of these…
Springfield Armory introduced a new version of the popular XD 45 Service Pistol. This .45 ACP model adds an ambidextrous thumb safety on the frame that closely mirrors the function of thumb safeties on the 1911 handguns. The thumb safety was placed far back on the frame to make it relatively easy to manipulate.
Just announced is the Taurus 845 pistol chambered in the very popular .45 ACP cartridge. This completes the company’s 800-series of firearms which includes the original Taurus 809 in 9mm and the new 840 in .40 S&W.
Released in 2008, the Barnes Reloading Manual No. 4 hit the market at just the right time. A lot of new shooters were exploring the reloading hobby and the first great ammunition shortage of the 21st century was only months away. While this book is not out of print, it is still available in the…
Introduced at the 2008 SHOT Show, the Night Guard line of revolvers from Smith & Wesson offered a blend of high-quality features in self-defense firearms. Although the guns are no longer manufactured, they represent a high-water mark in 21st century revolvers using conventional technology.
Sturm, Ruger and Company just released a new concealed carry handgun: the Ruger LCP . The new handgun is chambered for the moderately powered .380 ACP cartridge. According to Ruger, the “LCP” initials stand for Lightweight Compact Pistol. It would appear it gets that name for good reason. Weighing only 9.4 oz unloaded, the polymer-framed…
Smith & Wesson has encountered a great deal of success with their M&P line of pistols. These polymer pistols have taken the shooting world by storm, and 2008 looks like another good year for M&P sales. Polymer duty pistols were once the exclusive domain of Glock, but no more. “To date, 276 domestic law enforcement…
