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In the scheme of things, the defensive shotgun is the problem solver for homeowners, ranchers, ship captains, zookeepers, and anyone in need of decisive stopping power. In personal defense, area defense, and defense against animals, the shotgun reigns supreme. Powerful, effective, and versatile, the 12-gauge shotgun is an awesome defensive tool. The question is often whether the self-loader is the better choice, particularly since most of us use self-loading handguns and rifles. In this test we put two well-known and popular brands, Remington and Mossberg, to the test. We fire a version of Big Green's most popular service-grade pump-action shotgun — the Remington 870 — against the Mossberg 930 self-loading shotgun.

There are important differences and similarities between the shotguns, other than the operating systems, self-loading and manual. Each featured plastic furniture and bead front sights. Each was drilled and tapped for an optical sight.

Both shotguns produced similar patterns with Federal, Remington, and Winchester 2-inch full-power 00 buckshot loads. There was no difference in the patterns worth mentioning when the guns were fired at 7, 10, and 15 yards. Reduced-recoil WinLite loads showed the best pattern at short range, as they often do, while Federal Magnums began to show an advantage at 15 yards. We also fired a limited number of slugs and learned that the Remington fired to the point of aim with Federal slugs at 10 yards.

The Remington was simple and rugged, but the 930 was also a capable and effective choice. In the end, a single feeding bobble separated the pair:

Subcompact 9mm handguns are very popular carry guns, and in the past we have tested various 9mm compacts that are basically scaled-down service pistols, such as the Glock 26 and the Smith & Wesson Military & Police Compact. In contrast, the handguns covered in this report are 9mm subcompacts designed from inception as compact carry guns. Our test guns chambered in 9mm Luger were the Beretta BU9 Nano JMN9S15 9mm Luger, $369; the Ruger LC9s Standard 3235 9mm Luger, $339; and the Springfield Armory XD-S 3.3 XDS9339B, $494.

Our Beretta BU9 Nano JMN9S15 had an MSRP of $445, but we got ours at CheaperThanDirt.com for $369. At that MSRP, our black Nano, a pink version (JMN9S65), and a Flat Dark Earth-colored one (JMN9S55) are the least expensive pistols in the line, which includes state "compliant" models (JMN9S15FC, JMN9S65FC, JMN9S55FC) in the same colors, respectively, for $452. More expensive versions come with Crimson Trace lasers for MSRPs that start at $650.

Ruger's recently announced LC9s Pro (Model Number: 3248) has no external manual safety or magazine disconnect, making the original LC9s tested here the "Standard" model. Both have MSRPs of $449, but the price above reflects what Cheaper Than Dirt! was selling the gun for at the time of our test.

The XD-S pistols are the first single-stack polymer-framed versions from Springfield Armory. Our basic black XD-S 3.3 externally resembles the XD-S 45, which we tested in the December 2012 issue (Grade A). There's also a 9mm Bi-Tone 3.3-inch gun (XDS9339S) as well as 4-inch-barrel XD-S models.

When firing for accuracy at 15 yards, we used two loads from HPR, 115-grain jacketed hollowpoints ($28.13 for 50 rounds at CheaperThanDirt.com) and the HPR 124-grain XTP (also CheaperThanDirt.com, $26.65 for 50 rounds). We also used Black Hills TAC +P, which uses a Barnes 115-grain Tac-XP hollowpoint bullet, available from MidwayUSA.com for $25.20/50. We also handled the guns in more realistic tactical situations to assess their suitability for carry. Here's what we found:

Thanks to advancements in military technology, many innovative products are now available to the civilian buyer. We suspect that such products are a couple of generations behind what is actually in the hands of our elite soldiers, but in the case of the Bushnell Tactical Elite XRS riflescope ET45305ZA, with the Horus Vision TRMR2 H-59 reticle, the civilian may indeed have his hands on the cutting edge. The H-59 reticle offers precision mil-marking clusters interspersed throughout the reticle to enable fast accurate measurements at .1, .2, .5 and 1 mil increments, according to Bushnell literature. This enables the operator to quickly range targets and also correct for windage, elevation, and even movement without necessarily having to adjust the respective turrets manually.

In a recent discussion with high-level contractors, one trainer tasked with producing snipers and designated marksmen for the military said, Ive got squads using this very scope running through mock battles right now.

Gear breaks, parts wear out. It is a fact with anything mechanical, and firearms are not immune. We can all relate to horror stories of trying to deal with a companys customer service to have our firearm repaired. Some companies just do not understand that a happy customer can be a lifelong customer and brand advocate. On the flip side, you have probably heard stories from a customer who had stellar customer service and cannot say enough good things about a company that went the extra mile to make them happy. Heres one of those stories.

We purchased a Smith & Wesson 642 Airweight 38 Special knowing the frame was cracked because we wanted to repair it and experience S&Ws customer service. We had one of our anonymous team members send the pistol so we would not get preferential treatment. Heres what happened. On December 26, our representative went to Smith-Wesson.com, and under the Resources panel, clicked Service for Contact Information. The website apologized in advance and asked for our patience and provided an email address. Not a good sign. We typed up a short note that read:

Shooting the 45 ACP cartridge in a revolver may seem like an oxymoron, but the round has a long history of being matched up in revolvers starting at the turn of the 20th century. The issue in 1917, other than World War I, was a dearth of the new M1911 pistols as the U.S. became involved in the war. Tooling up for 1911 production was not an option since it would cost too much time. Remember, at the turn of the century, revolvers ruled the roost and all manufacturers were building double-action revolvers. With plenty of 45 ACP ammunition in inventory, the U.S. military turned to Colt and Smith & Wesson, which chambered the 45 ACP in their heavy frame revolvers.

S&W is credited with the idea of using moon clips, because there's a trick to firing the rimless 45 ACP cartridge in a wheelgun. Revolvers use rimmed cartridges, which headspace on the rim. Rimless pistol cartridges headspace on the case mouth. Insert a 45 ACP in the cylinder chamber and it will fit and probably fire the round. But the issue now becomes, how does the shooter eject the cartridge? The solution S&W came up with was a moon clip that holds six rounds, or a half-moon clip that holds three rounds. Both Colt and S&W used moon clips in what the U.S. Military named the United States Revolver, Caliber .45, M1917. We tested one of these old warhorses against two other generations of 45 ACP revolvers recently to see if the relic stood the test of time.

A newer generation is the S&W Champion Series Model 625-8 JM, with the JM standing for Jerry Miculek. This is the revolver that Mr. Miculek uses to shoot un-Godly fast; it took him 2.99 seconds to fire six shots, reload and fire six more shots with this model revolver. Testers really liked this revolver, though it seemed the plainest of the three revolvers, looking a lot like a Model 686. This revolver is very popular with IDPA shooters and other competitors. Now we know why — it loved to be run and run hard at the range.

The newest generation is the S&W Performance Center Model 325 Thunder Ranch, which is constructed from lightweight materials and offers a few modern updates on revolver design, which we thought were good intentions. But we learned we did not like having an accessory rail under the barrel. It's a good idea to incorporate a tactical light or laser sight onto a revolver via an accessory rail, but it's a bad idea to have the rail in a place that could potentially injure the shooter. More on that in a minute.

We looked at these N-frame revolvers through two lenses, one being defensive and the second being competitive. As testers pawed over the three revolvers, comments on the 45 ACP 6-shooters ranged from "novelty" and "antique" to "convenient" and "practical." The 1911 shooters leaned toward the positive end of the grading spectrum, while others seemed bothered to shoot a semi-automatic cartridge in a revolver. Nonetheless, we put the wheelguns through their paces, and here's how the generations fared.

Browning over-and-under shotguns have been a staple on the shooting market for longer than many veteran wingshooters would like to remember. In the simplest terms - they work. Naturally as time rolls on, innovations to help make the shotguns more user friendly, handle and perform better, and just make them more appealing to the eye are tossed into the mix. A good example is the transformation of Browning offerings in the Citori Model 25 line, as in 325, 425, 525, 625 and the current 725.

The latest smokepole to find its way into hands of hunters and target breakers is the Model 725 in 20 gauge that hit the market in 2014. The main new features to the subgauge over and under are internal — such as a mechanical trigger system, back-bored barrels with lengthened forcing cones, and the Invector-DS choke tube system introduced with the 12-gauge Model 725 a couple of years ago.

To see just how much the Citori had changed, we were able to obtain a Browning Model 325 20 gauge in very good shape. Last produced in the late 1990s, the Model 325 was the first in the line of X25s and has become quite scarce — their owners don't seem to be too anxious to part with them. The Model 325 we got our hands on had been in the gun safe of an acquaintance for quite some time, but was in excellent shape and provided a good example of how shotguns can change and still stay the same. The veteran 20 gauge featured 30-inch ported barrels and inertia triggers.

While the new Model 725 field version we used in the test carries a suggested retail price of $2470, the veteran used Model 325 in very good shape, if one can be found, is priced at about $1,500. We did not consider the price difference to be a major factor in our evaluation. As Gun Tests readers often point out, we'll talk about the guns, and the reader can decide if his budget can take the hit.

To check out the two 20-gauge shotguns in a variety of shooting situations, we selected the following test ammunition: On the target range and at the patterning board, we used Winchester AA Target 2.75-inch loads packing 7⁄8 ounce of No. 8 shot with an average muzzle velocity of 1200 fps, and Remington Premier STS Target 2.75-inch loads with 7⁄8 ounce of No. 8 shot with an average muzzle velocity of 1200 fps. For tests in the field, we used Federal Game 2.75-inch loads with 7⁄8 ounce of No. 7.5 shot with an average muzzle velocity of 1,210 fps. There were zero malfunctions with any of the loads in both of the test shotguns. Here are our findings:

We were delighted to have this pair of rare and costly 9mm handguns to evaluate, thanks to a collector in Houston who sent them along with a bunch of fine accessories to our Idaho office. They were an Artillery Luger (about $2500) and an 1896 Mauser Broomhandle (about $2000), both with very good bores and in overall nice — though refinished — condition. Accessories for the Luger included a new wood stock, two eight-round magazines, a new 32-round drum magazine with loader and leather pouch, and a reproduction leather holster with a two-magazine pouch. The Broomhandle came in a new wood shoulder-stock/holster with leather, and a bunch of stripper clips.

Regarding the Artillery Luger, one must remember these guns are all very old. They were used a century ago in the First World War, this one having been made in 1915. They saw hard and heavy use and there are not a whole lot of them left. Those with pristine finishes command prices in the realm of $5000 on up, depending on condition and relative rarity of the individual gun. Thus, the price for this one is within reason for a good-looking representative sample with what we thought was an excellent barrel.

The Mauser looked at first to be pristine. However, we soon found out it had been refinished by a master who maintained all the markings and original surfaces very well indeed. There was some pitting here and there, such as under the grip areas and along the sides if you looked carefully, but whoever did the rework really knew his stuff. The subsequent bluing was probably done by hot-dip process, as there were none of the signs that accompany rust bluing. Nevertheless, the gun looked just great. Sadly, that was the only good part of this gun.
We tested them with two types of ammunition, 115-grain Independence FMJs and Black Hills 124-grain +P JHPs. Without further ado, here's what we found.

The subject of lubrication is vast, and opinions vary. In most situations, as one of the instructors has been know to joke, "sunscreen would probably work for a while." Adherents of one or another brand of lubricant will extol its virtues endlessly. Whatever you use, use it. A dry AR is a rifle looking to malfunction. Invariably in the patrol rifle and patrol rifle instructor classes taught in NEMRT, we have rifles whose owners thought they had sufficiently lubed them start to malfunction right after lunch of the first full firing day. You don't want so much lube on it that it splatters you and bystanders on every shot. But if, when you touch the carrier through the ejection port, you don't get oil on your fingertip, the carrier (and thus the bolt) is probably too dry. Some have suggested that the best way to keep an AR-15 or M-16 running reliably is to keep it dry, to prevent it from attracting dirt. They are wrong. You need oil to reduce friction, and carry grit and dirt away from the working parts. Running a rifle while it is dry will simply make it malfunction sooner, not later.

From nationally known 1911 custom gunsmith Ned Christiansen, who is also a stellar AR-15 ‘smith and operator:
"They're almost upon us, grab one of these rifles and get ready": the 30-second prioritized AR15 checklist. Items are prioritized factoring in criticality, ease of checking, sequence and likelihood.
If you have a half a minute, you can confirm that:

If your barrel isn't marked, how can you tell what twist it has? Simple, get a cleaning rod with a swiveling handle. Fit a tight-fitting patch in it, and stuff the rod with patch down the bore. Make sure the patch can go both directions. Push in until it is ore than halfway down. Wrap a piece of masking around the rod, with the ends stuck together, forming a "flag". Attach this flag with the ends straight up, as close to the flash hider as you can. Then slowly pull the rod out, watching the flag rotate. When it comes back up to vertical, stop. Measure the distance from the flash hider to where the flag is now. That's your twist rate.

Toward the end of each year, I survey the work R.K. Campbell, Roger Eckstine, Austin Miller, Ray Ordorica, Robert Sadowski, David Tannahill, Tracey Taylor, Rafael Urista, Ralph Winingham, and Kevin Winkle have done in Gun Tests, with an eye toward selecting guns, accessories, and ammunition the magazines testers have endorsed. From these evaluations I pick the best from a full years worth of tests and distill recommendations for readers, who often use them as shopping guides. These choices are a mixture of our original tests and other information Ive compiled during the year. After we roll high-rated test products into long-term testing, I keep tabs on how those guns do, and if the firearms and accessories continue performing well, then I have confidence including them in this wrap-up.
-Todd Woodard

Those of us who like big rifles have plenty to choose from, both in type of action and caliber. Some of us have found out that rifles bigger than 30 caliber are, for those prepared to learn how to control them, far more fun than those of 30 caliber and under. There are a few tricks to help you avoid being hammered by the big 'uns, and we've published a few of those tricks from time to time on these pages. For the uninitiated, begin with a heavy-enough rifle, one that has appropriate weight for the caliber. In recent tests we looked at rifles chambered for the 416 Rigby, and such a rifle could easily weigh over 10 pounds without being declared too heavy. We have seen several 416 Rigbys and even more powerful rifles that weigh as little as 8 pounds, and some even less than that. Unless you are planning to do a whole lot of carrying of a powerful rifle, it makes very little sense to have it so light.

Another easy trick is to shoot your big rifle standing up, not from the bench. Or you could construct a standing bench, so you can have the steadiness of a bench rest, but keep your body upright so you can give with the kick. Be sure the rifle has a large butt area and a properly set up recoil pad. Pads can be too soft. The rifle does not have to fire the hottest round every time you press the trigger. You can easily make your own lightly loaded rounds, and thereby learn to control the rifle by reducing its recoil, and gradually working up to full-power loads. Cast-bullet loads are ideal for this. Another trick is to put a bag of lead shot between the rifle's butt and your shoulder, a trick we used in this test. Be sure the rifle doesn't slip off the bag just as you squeeze the trigger.

For more advice and recommendations on large and small bolt-action rifles, purchase the ebook Bolt-Action Rifles & Gear, Part 1 from Gun Tests.