Have you ever found yourself contemplating a new pistol or pistol system, only to end up stressing over the minutiae? Questions start piling up quickly: Which optic should I get? Do I need more magazines? What kind of carry or range case makes sense for this setup? If that sounds familiar, y...
I recently had the chance to test the Springfield Armory Mil-Spec pistol in .45 ACP, positioned in the manufacturer’s line as a very reasonably priced basic service pistol — yet one that still features a rugged forged frame and slide. Except for its taller sights, it shares the silhouette of ...
SK Customs is remaking Al Capone’s personal Sweetheart Colt 1911, and they are only building 200 of them. Pre-orders are open now at $2,700 with shipping starting July 2026. That price is the pre-launch rate, so it will go up before they ship. SK Customs on AO: SK Customs “Gold Series,”...
Springfield Armory came out with their Hellcat micro-compact pistol in 2019. The Hellcat helped establish the entirely new genre of micro-compact concealed carry pistols. Where previously you had the option of either a full-sized 9mm service pistol or an underpowered pocket gun, the Hellcat packe...
As adrenaline pumped into my bloodstream, I felt the beginning of tremors in my hands. Cold sweat appeared on my brow, and my breathing became shallow. Then, I heard the voice: 911. What’s your emergency? As a teenager scooping ice cream after school at the local Baskin Robbins, I wasn’t prep...
In October 1962, the C.I.A. and the U.S.A.F. requested that Lockheed study a high-speed, high-altitude drone concept for reconnaissance flights over particularly hostile territories to avoid endangering aircrews. Created during the height of the Cold War and following the shootdown of a U-2 spy p...
I love to tinker. You can give me a completely sound gun that doesn’t need anything else, and I’ll still want to swap out some parts “just to see.” You know the type. Heck, I bet most of you are the same way. I recently swapped a Midwest Industries Combat Rail HD, in the 13.5-inch Read Mo...
The 1911 has now been with us for a century and a decade. Throughout that lifespan, there’s been no point at which it was not beloved by huge numbers of soldiers, law enforcement agents, and civilian shooters. Astonishingly, perhaps implausibly, the 1911 remains a darling of serious pistol...
Another step, and two deer scooted from a foggy clearing. But their dash into the alders suggested they’d not go far. Circling downwind, I drifted onto a deer trail, pausing at each step, glassing not yards ahead but feet. Then: a glint from the shadows. Stay still! Presently, beside ...
The USS Hornet (CV-12) stands as one of the most storied aircraft carriers in United States naval history, playing a decisive role in World War II as part of the Essex-class fleet. From its origins as a replacement for the lost USS Hornet (CV-8) to its participa...