Shotguns

A lot of Americans who believe in the right to own guns were very disappointed this weekend. On Friday, the Bush administration's Justice Department entered into the fray over the District of Columbia's 1976 handgun ban by filing a brief to the Supreme Court that effectively supports the ban. The administration pays lip service to the notion that the Second Amendment protects gun ownership as an individual right, but their brief leaves the term essentially meaningless.

There’s nothing we don’t like about this gun. A smart combination of good looks, high functionality, flexibility and a full package of accessories put this gun at the head of the class. A little more expensive than some other sporting clays semi-autos, we think this one is worth the extra money.

The smooth action and quality appearance of this model makes it well worth the extra cash outlay.

At one time, the shotgun that was the must-have tool for many a bird hunter was a finely crafted side-by-side. Fixed chokes, lots of drop in the stock with the resulting hefty recoil from all but the lightest loads, and a wide view down the barrels were what serious wingshooters had to accept.Times have changed, and the "double barrel" has fallen out of favor in most shooting circles. Semiautomatics and over and unders dominate most scattergun venues, with their owners citing less recoil, smoother handling and more availability among the reasons for their selection of more modern shooting tools.However, like the little engine that could, the side-by-sides still chug along in a limited market and are sought out by shooters with a little sense of history in their souls.Two new entries into this select category of shooters are the Smith & Wesson Elite Gold Grade I 20 gauge side-by-side and the L.C. Smith 20 gauge side-by-side now distributed by Marlin. While the S&W version is designed with the more traditional English double styling and the L.C. Smith is a reproduction of the working tool models of American doubles, both offer a taste of the old days.Each shotgun has its pluses and minuses, and the S&W version carries a price tag that is a little more than $400 over the L.C. Smith. Finer wood, better case hardening and a slimmer, trimmer balance add to the price of the S&W.

The legislation requires federal agencies to provide relevant data for use in the NICS system, a database that stores the names of individuals prohibited by federal law from purchasing or possessing firearms.

A new agreement between NSSF's ranges division, the National Association of Shooting Ranges (NASR), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows shooting ranges to submit Environmental Stewardship Plans anonymously.

Forty million Americans today are active in shooting sports and hunting. During their lifetimes, the total retail value of their recreational activities will top $4 trillion, projects the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), a nonprofit trade association for the firearm industry.

The 'Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2007' (HR 4900) legislation represents a major advance in protecting the rights of firearms dealers.

Ron Sieg, Flagstaff Regional Supervisor, will present issues associated with lead from spent ammunition.

The Weatherby swings in a lovely, controllable manner and is responsive enough to address a wide range of targets. We did find the balance forward a bit on this gun, a factor that was different from the Beretta, rather than a positive or negative. Would like a better selection of chokes, but $700 between the Athena and the Beretta prices buys a lot of tubes.

This is such a pretty gun, and we think that backed by the amount of hand-finishing both inside and out, as well as the company's invaluable pit-stop program, that it's worth the higher price tag. Its unique pitch configuration will have most shooters firing above their targets. Needs porting.

This gun has it all—porting, extended choke tubes, fiber-optic sights, the proper balance for sporting clays, and a main-event 12-gauge feel in a 20-gauge package. This fell short of an A rank because it came with three choke tubes and no hard case.