Review: Springfield XD Mod.4 OSP 9mm

Editor’s Note: The author received a Springfield XD Mod.4 pistol on loan from the company for the purposes of writing this review. I’ve always appreciated the Springfield Armory XD series for what it is: a simple, reliable and accurate 9mm pistol. While the original may have more than two dec...

By Richard Johnson

First Look: Echelon COA Pistols

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the new developments in self-defense technology these days. Options that represent cutting-edge features one day quickly become “standard equipment” the next. Take handgun-mounted optics. Not that long ago, having a red dot atop your pistol put you in som...

By Jeremy Tremp

3 Applications of BarrelBlok for Law Enforcement and Military

Learn the three key applications of BarrelBlok for law enforcement and military training: safer academy instruction, safer at-home dry fire for qualification prep, and safer scenario-based training to reduce negligent discharge risk.

By Jacob Paulsen

The Lost Art? How to Read a Map

It was Thanksgiving weekend. James Kim and wife, Kati, with their young daughters Sabine and Penelope, were motoring on their trip home to San Francisco on I-5, then turned toward Gold Beach on Oregon’s southern coast. The road James took began to climb. There was no traffic, and soon no cell s...

By Wayne van Zwoll

Five Must-Have Survival Meds

Editor’s Note: This article is not medical advice. It is presented here as a starting point for a conversation about medical needs in a natural or man-made disaster. You should consult your doctor or another trusted medical professional about your needs for survival medications. Hopefully, ...

By Kit Perez

[SHOT 2026] Kinetic Blossom MAGPIE Handheld Electric Speed Loader

Loading double-stack single-feed pistol magazines by hand can be difficult, tedious, time-consuming and even painful depending on the number and/or capacity of magazines you load. Thankfully, there are multiple different speed loaders available on the market that make the loading process of the a...

By Hrachya H

M65 Atomic Cannon — America’s Atomic Annie

During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union raced to develop weapons that could tip the balance of power. Among the most audacious creations of this era was the M65 Atomic Cannon, an enormous artillery piece capable of firing a nuclear shell. Nicknamed “Atomic Annie,” this wea...

By Eugene Nielsen

Springfield’s 10-8 Performance Master Class 1911

To readers of The Armory Life and many 1911 afficionados, Hilton Yam is going to be a familiar name. In the company of the many great gunsmiths and competitors who have built their professions around the construction or use of 1911 pistols, Yam offers a very unique perspective...

By Joe Kurtenbach
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