Sam Trisler

Some see the M1 Carbine as a antique, a collectable that’s nostalgic at best. They’ve never seen Fulton Armory’s carbines. The Fulton M3 Scout Carbine builds on the M1’s classic design. But don’t mistake this for some historic homage, or a safe queen–Fulton’s M3 is an ideal choice for home defense. And it shoots one clean r.

Kimber’s take on the perfect concealed carry 1911 is a commander length single action with a bobbed grip and a built in laser. It draws fast, is easy to get on target, and hits hard. If you are looking for a functional 1911 that looks as good as it shoots, check out Kimber.

While there are some 1911s out there that are less expensive, they are coming in from overseas. There’s something very American about the Mil-Spec which is, above all, a nod to a very American pistol. For that, Springfield Armory deserves a special kind of credit. Here’s an affordable American made homage to American history, one that can be both a nostalgic icon and a solid carry gun. Hard to beat that combination.

Most conventional cleaning set-ups require multiple small parts and pieces. They get filthy, and require constant manipulation. You don’t want to touch the crap you flush out of a gun barrel, and wearing gloves can be a hassle. Now you have something that is easy to use, requires no assembly, and is easy to dispose of. And best of all, a bag of RamRodz is selling for less than $9.

The Burris FastFire line of red dot sights is known for quality at a low price point. The same is true for the latest addition to the line—the FastFire III. It is practical and perfectly functional and comes in around $240. The 8 MOA dot version is ideal for a shotgun, and I we’ve beaten the hell out of this one, and I’m here to say that the FastFire can handle the abuse.

It seems like we are rushed more and more, all the time in our “fast food” culture. That even applies to range time, sadly. It is a lot of fun to rapid fire a polymer pistol and rip through a 30 round mag on an AR. But sometimes you just need to take your time and enjoy some slow-motion at the range. The Ruger Bearcat makes you slow down. This scaled-down single-action rimfire is great for practicing the basics and poking holes in tin cans, but it is more than a novelty.

Big companies that make thousands of holsters can afford perfect stamps that crank out flawless basket-weave. The hand stamp process is much more cumbersome and requires a maker to stamp each individual section of the weave. I’ve yet to see a flawless piece of hand-stamped leather, and these human touches are often the sign that it isn’t mass produced. This week we’re looking at the craftsmanship of Leather Creek Holsters, and we like their personal touch.

Pocket pistols are not much fun to shoot. Even in .380, they are jumpy and prone to stinging your hand when fired. It’s hard to improve shooting techniques with these little guns. And most are not known for their accuracy. Yet the Kimber Micro CDP defies all of these preconceptions. It is comfortable to shoot, and the accuracy is exceptional for its diminutive size.

The Traditions Vortek striker- fired in-line muzzleloader shoots more like a GLOCK than it does your average flintlock, yet the high-tech rifle can still be used during those extra days of hunting season when the center-fire rifles and shotguns are forbidden. But once you have the gun loaded and ready, you may not be able to tell the difference.