Download the Full June 2019 Issue PDF
During his speech to the 2019 NRA-ILA Leadership Forum in Indianapolis last month, President Trump announced that he would "unsign" the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty. He then signed, in front of all in attendance, a formal letter to the Senate requesting that it halt the ratification process and return the treaty to the Oval Office, where President Trump would "dispose" of it. OMG, I can't wait to see what PDT "fires" next.
Download the Full May 2019 Issue PDF
The ban on possessing an LCM has been unenforceable since June 29, 2017, when this same court issued a preliminary injunction preventing the law from taking effect while the parties litigated the merits of the case. And because CA DOJ is seeking a stay only as to the provisions allowing for acquisition of new LCMs, the injunction against the possession restriction should remain in effect for the time being. That said, people should stay tuned to legal alerts to be updated of any changes. Also, lawfully acquired LCMs can be lawfully used.
Download the Full April 2019 Issue PDF
Sorry it wasn't clear, but on the threaded-barrel 45s, we did shoot the Carter with the suppressor and the gun's open sights, and the results were listed in the table. But the experience showed us the existing sights weren't really usable outside perfect conditions. Because the sight picture in the photo was so thin, that's why we felt compelled to add the Crimson Trace green laser.
Download the Full March 2019 Issue PDF
In January, Democrats who control both houses of the state Legislature passed a big gun-control package that Tom King, executive director of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association and a board member of the National Rifle Association called "very egregious" moves against gun rights or "just plain stupid." He is right on the money.
Download the Full February 2019 Issue PDF
Given the massive U.S. and international media attention Lankford's work has received, and given the considerable impact his research has had on the debate, his unwillingness to provide even the most basic information to other researchers raises real concerns about Lankford's motives, in my estimation.
Download the Full January 2019 Issue PDF
Brownells is offering a unique DIY project that beats putting shelves in the garage. The HK 416 Project is a parts kit offered by the Iowa-based retailer that allows a shooter to build an HK 416 — the type of rifle used by U.S. Navy SEALs in the 2011 raid against Osama Bin Laden. Disassembled from German military machine guns, the parts kits were available to all Brownells customers in November.
Download the Full July 2018 Issue PDF
On March 29, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), who sits on the Senate Banking Committee, issued a stern warning to Citigroup CEO Michael L. Corbat. Sen. Kennedy urged Citigroup to refrain from "penalizing Americans who choose to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights," and instead to focus on the company's many shortcomings. Sen. Kennedy also reminded Corbat that "The very fact that Citi remains operational is due entirely to the generosity of the American taxpayers." That makes this gun owner wonder if all of Citi's bailout funds have been repaid.
Download the Full June 2018 Issue PDF
If you are a longtime subscriber to Gun Tests, then you'll remember when reliability was our main concern, and we often found function problems in various firearms. Now, thanks to modern manufacturing methods, today's firearms are so consistent we rarely have to say anything about how well a particular gun functions. But with these guns, we felt like we were turning back the clock. Reliability and function were once again our main concern as we collected accuracy data from the 100-yard benches at American Shooting Centers in Houston. Did we have three rifles displaying worthwhile innovation, or would the demands of creating a rifle to satisfy the demands of lawmakers spoil the progress of a proven design?
Download the Full May 2018 Issue PDF
We wanted to test three threaded-muzzle bolt actions in a reference chambering well known to hunters and shooters, the 308 Winchester, along with a less-common bolt-action choice, the 300 AAC Blackout, which is more often chambered in AR-15 uppers because it has the same overall length, base diameter, and rim diameter as the 5.56 NATO round, so it will feed from an unmodified magwell in an AR-15 lower. The 300 Blackout can be loaded with lighter bullets, where it compares favorably to the 7.6239mm Soviet round, or loaded with heavier bullets that travel below subsonic speeds for suppressor use. At sea level, the speed of sound is roughly 1125 fps, with the "roughly" changing based on air temperature and other conditions.
Download the Full April 2018 Issue PDF
As knowledgeable gun owners, Gun Tests readers know that paying lip service to restrictions and limitations isn't the answer. Guns aren't going to magically disappear. But gun owners, in particular, do have a responsibility to report erratic and potentially dangerous behavior in their communities. Because we have access to guns, it's up to gun owners to be the front line of responsible gun ownership and report when we see behavior like what Nikolas Cruz exhibited. We can't stand on the sidelines and say, "It's not my business" and move on. The trouble is, will we get law enforcement to follow up effectively? That clearly did not happen in the Parkland event.
Download the Full March 2018 Issue PDF
In Virginia, the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Subcommittee has considered a number of anti-gun measures. Very worrisome is House Bill 597/House Bill 819, which makes it a crime to knowingly possess a device that is designed or functions to accelerate the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm.
Download the Full February 2018 Issue PDF
Where is the reclassification of suppressors out of Class 3, so those of us already hard of hearing can easily buy them before we go completely deaf? Yes, I remember why it stalled — bad optics. Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) was shot on the same day a hearing was scheduled in June to make it easier for Americans to buy suppressors. I'm not sure why those two things became linked, because no suppressors were used in the Congressional baseball park attack or in the Las Vegas shooting. Aaagh! Why are Republicans so scared of the minority whining about "what ifs?"