First Look: Echelon Alpha 4.0C

Admittedly, the Echelon had a steep hill to climb. At its launch in mid-2023, the then-new Echelon faced a packed market of duty-style, polymer-framed, striker-fired 9mm pistols. To say there was a plethora of choices would be a remarkable understatement. As a result, the Echelon had to bring som...

By Scott Conditt

Custom 1911 From Auto-Ordnance Celebrates America at 250

With the nation's 250th birthday arriving this July, Auto-Ordnance has released a commemorative 1911 to mark the occasion. The USA 250th Anniversary 1911 (model 1911TCAC19) is chambered in .45 ACP and built on the company's Stainless 1911 platform, dressed up with patriotic engraving an...

By Eric B

What Was the Best Sniper Rifle of WWII?

Editor’s Note: Especially adapted for The Armory Life from The Matchless Enfield .303 No. 4 Mk I (T) Sniper and Britain’s Elite Scout/Snipers Who Dominated WWII Battlefields Book No. 2 Mk II revised and expanded by Jeff John. Available at Amazon.com. I’ve long believed the En...

By Jeff John

Cop-Killer Bullets: Gun Control Lie or Actual Threat?

Cop-killer bullets. That’s a pretty inflammatory phrase that is thrown around a lot. It seems to have been invented by hoplophobes and then used by politicians to attack your Second Amendment rights. As a former law enforcement officer myself, I believe the overly emotional descriptor for what ...

By Richard Johnson

Review: Craft Holsters Lynx for the Hellcat

There’s no time like the present to take a critical look at the Craft Holsters Lynx IWB holster, which I tested with my Springfield Hellcat. But first, a little background info. Craft Holsters was formed in 2009 with a vision of offering holsters that are more than just interchangeable pieces o...

By Clayton Walker

POTD: Mauser Baby Luger Conversion – 1940 Pistol Cut to Pocket Size

Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a 1940 Mauser Luger subsequently converted to “Baby Luger” configuration with 2-inch barrel. This represents a postwar conversion when surplus Lugers were modified for concealed carry. Baby Luger conversions became popular in the ...

By Sam.S

The Colt BOA Returns After 40 Years Through CNC Firearms

The Colt BOA is back. Custom and Collectable Firearms has been working with Colt for three years to bring it back, and the official announcement is coming out of the 2026 NRA Annual Meetings in Houston. The last time a BOA was produced was 1985, and this is not a clone or a tribute piece. [&#8230...

By Sam.S

What Is the Echelon Gear Pac?

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...

By Yamil Sued
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