Rifle & Handgun November-December 2026

Tyler Gun Works offers a variety of gunsmith services, custom work, custom handgun stocks, engraving and retail sales. Most recently, owner Bobby Tyler has teamed up with Ronnie Wells of RW Grip Frames to offer a very unique, limited edition, custom Ruger New Model single action known as the Brasshawk. Production is limited to 250 units, and as these words are written, the very first guns are just beginning to ship. ...Read More >

Perhaps the most remarkable firearm I’ve ever handled came about as the result of a natural disaster of historic proportion that killed thousands, closed roads for weeks (and suffered bandits when they partially reopened), and for five months left our village without electricity. It was a full-on, real-life survival situation. ...Read More >

The parade of modern firearms having some type of plastic stock and composite frame, receiver, or other parts is never-ending. Those who seek out wood-and-steel rifles to play with seldom notice. To us, it’s much more fun taking a squirrel or small varmint with a solid feeling, smooth-working 22 rimfire made before about 1950 than any new ultra super max black brass-slinger. With more new shooters appearing every day, this is becoming harder to do. It’s like the old quip about land: “If you see what you want, you better grab it cause they ain’t makin’ anymore!” ...Read More >

Since consumer-grade thermal-imaging optics have become widely available to civilian shooters, I’ve auditioned a good number of units. This has included various units from a myriad of makers and offered at various price points. In this time, I’ve watched technology quickly evolve and prices slowly decrease relative to the image quality and performance now enjoyed. This has provided a solid feel for what separates viable units from those that are only marginally functional. All of my testing has occurred during Texas wild-hog culling forays while aiding long-time college friends in their continuing war on evasive hogs. ...Read More >

The story is as old as time itself: a father trying to figure out what his boy wants to make his birthday memorable. He’s at the awkward age when he’s no longer a kid, yet not quite a man. Being in that clumsy, transitional stage we have all stumbled through, a few suggestions from his dad left the boy unenthused. ...Read More >

On a subject totally unrelated to rifles, although I will make a connection, a few months ago I ordered a pair of boots online from Allen Edmonds, arguably America’s finest shoemaker. The company has actual stores, of course, but not one very easy for me to get to. So, I gulped, took a chance and ordered from their website. ...Read More >

A project that has been in the works for quite some time has involved sourcing and testing the various actions, barrels and chassis systems on the market. This testing has been ongoing and this article is a direct result of a small portion of the testing conducted. The goal of these tests is to weed out the strengths and weaknesses of each of these systems and see what truly works and where. This article is on just one of the many systems available on the market today. ...Read More >

“Good morning, Art,” the smiling gentleman said with a European accent, noting my name on my SHOT Show badge and waving me over to his shooting lane. “Come shoot our revolver.” Media Day at the Range is likely every writer’s favorite SHOT Show event, where we get to shoot free ammo in other people’s new guns. Let’s call it a job benefit. ...Read More >

Japan’s Howa Machinery has a manufacturing history reaching back to 1907. Toyoda’s Loom Works built textile equipment before expanding into military weapons production in the 1930s, including Arisaka Type 99 rifles used during World War II. Following WWII, Toyoda Loom Works, Ltd. merged with Showa Heavy Industries, Ltd. to become Howa Heavy Industries, Ltd. Howa resumed manufacturing textile machinery, as Japan was restricted from weapons production under the Potsdam Order resulting from WWII. ...Read More >

No other event symbolizes the clash of cultures between Manifest Destiny and Native Americans – specifically the Lakota Sioux, Arapaho and Northern Cheyenne – than the Battle of the Little Bighorn or the Battle of the Greasy Grass, depending on which side you were on. Few other battles have inspired more books, articles, paintings or movies. Few topics can provoke opinions and feelings as deeply and strongly as those of amateur and professional historians who have dedicated their lives to the run-up, battle and aftermath. ...Read More >

Like a rock in my boot, there has been something bothering me for a long time. It seems that the gun industry has been so focused on developing efficient, super-accurate, long-range rifle cartridges with low-drag bullets that it has almost forgotten some practical, highly reliable, proven cartridges designed specifically for hunting big game, many of which are used daily by professional hunters, guides and outfitters by choice. Some will call them “big bores,” but they are actually medium-bore cartridges and are generally considered to be larger than .30 and 8mm calibers. They are not really designed as so-called stopping cartridges for wounded dangerous game, but with the right loads and in the hands of a skilled hunter, they can do that job perfectly. Even the more modest cartridges discussed today perform well on the great bears of the North and large moose that can weigh up to 1,700 pounds, while some of the more potent cartridges discussed are frequently used to take cape buffalo, lion and even elephant and other heavy game. In spite of their power and recoil, with proper stock fit, recoil pad, etc., most medium-bore cartridges are very manageable for average shooters. For today’s purposes, we are going to discuss notable cartridges that range in caliber from .338 to .375. Rather than discuss all cartridges that fall within each caliber category, they will be discussed by power level (1, 2 and 3) along with common rifles for which they are chambered. ...Read More >

Nineteen sixty-two was a notable year in the world of guns and hunting. That was the year Remington introduced its Model 700, rifle for rifle the most accurate mass-production bolt action ever; it also unveiled the 7mm Remington Magnum, the most popular of all the belted short magnums to come along in that era. ...Read More >

Ruger’s 10/22 rotary magazine is perhaps the most ingenious and successful design among all rifles shooting the 22 Long Rifle cartridge. It is so successful that other rifles have subsequently been designed and continue to be designed today specifically to utilize it. Though robust with little to go wrong under a lifetime of hunting use, avid plinkers and competition shooters know that under heavy usage the magazine needs occasional disassembly and cleaning to keep it running smoothly. ...Read More >