Ayoob: Is the 1911 Wrong for CCW?

There are reasons why the full-size 1911 pistol is often described as “iconic,” and the gun’s long and successful history on battlefields, in the streets and at pistol championships isn’t the only reason. It’s slim for its power level, an important dimension for both comfort a...

By Massad Ayoob

Ayoob: Can You Shoot Your 1911 Backwards?

The 1911 is truly a classic gun. It is robust, reliable and easy to shoot well. Well, it’s easy to shoot for right-handers, that is. Historically, the 1911 pistol has been a right-hander’s gun. Now, the history books tell us there was a time in America when a teacher would rap a naturally lef...

By Massad Ayoob

Ayoob: Was the 10mm Destined to Fail?

No other handgun cartridge has experienced quite as many ups, down and reinventions of purpose in so short a time as the 10mm Auto. Generally thought to have been a product of the 1980s, the 10mm’s whole story actually goes back further. A Brief History of the 10mm The mid-twentieth century saw...

By Massad Ayoob

Julie Golob: Springfield Echelon 4.0FC Review

Does the sweet spot between compact speed and full-size confidence actually exist? Pro shooter Julie Golob puts the Springfield Armory 4.0FC pistol through its paces to see how this hybrid Echelon rethinks balance, recoil and real-world performance. Springfield provided the loaner handg...

By Julie Golob