The M1911 pistol origins go back to the late 1890s, resulting from the need to replace a variety of revolvers in service at the time with a reliable self-loading pistol. This single-action, semi-automatic, magazine-fed, recoil-operated pistol chambered in .45 ACP was subsequently designed by John Browning. It went on to serve as the standard-issue sidearm for the United States Armed Forces from 1911 to 1985 with over 2.7 million built. Widely copied by nearly every firearms manufacturer in the world, this style and operating system became the preeminent handgun type of the 20th century and of nearly all modern centerfire pistols. Used by 28 countries and in every war since World War I, there are now millions more in use by civilians, with many variants, calibers, and modifications in circulation. The M1911 has truly become the defining handgun of the modern age, and has nothing short of a cult following among enthusiasts world-wide.

Read the rest of entry »

With the nationwide ammunition shortage showing no signs of getting better any time soon, some people have turned to reloading as a possible solution. What are the pros and cons, and is it really a viable option?

Read the rest of entry »

Long range rifles are often used for hunting or sport shooting, and there are many options to choose from. Available in bolt-action, auto-loading and even single shot flavors, there are many calibers and accessories to work with.

Read the rest of entry »

So what’s the deal with guns and ammo being so hard to find? In the past, even with administrations that were unfriendly to the 2nd Amendment, there has never been such a pronounced shortage of product in the firearms market as there is today. Why? The answer is two-fold: The pandemic and its collateral effects have stressed supply chain and manufacturing capacity, and demand has risen to unprecedented levels due to heightened social and political tension nationwide. A perfect storm – supply is depressed and demand is through the roof.

Read the rest of entry »

Happy New Year to all! Hopefully 2021 will be a good year for everyone. This last year brought us its share of drama, including a pandemic, lockdowns, civil unrest, economic hardships and consumer product shortages to name a few. Many aspects of normal life simply got “cancelled”. Zoom meetings have replaced traditional gatherings, academics are conducted remotely, stores have more traffic signage than our highways, and now we only get to see people’s eyes out in public. Remember the mad run on toilet paper, or unscrupulous folks price-gouging on hand sanitizer? Still waiting for a second round of stimulus checks, only 8 months after the first payments? And most of us still can’t find ammunition today… It has to get better, right? We don’t know about you, but we’re ready to say goodbye to 2020 and a hopeful hello to 2021!

Read the rest of entry »

Aside from being the only firearm that is legal to carry on your person in Minnesota, handguns are also particularly suitable for close encounters of the hostile kind. FBI statistics indicate that most ‘use of deadly force’ scenarios occur inside of nine feet, with one to three shots being fired. This is well within the optimal operating parameters of most handguns. In order to select the proper handgun if you have a permit to carry, there are many factors that must be considered.

Read the rest of entry »

If you hunt or enjoy shooting sports, rifles are part of your vocabulary, and the term encompasses a vast array of equipment. You can have a .22LR for 30 yard plinking at the range or a .50BMG for destroying virtually anything at up to 1,800 yards. Actually, the record stands at 3,871 yards using a McMillan TAC-50 sniper rifle. And there are hundreds of options between these two.

Read the rest of entry »

The year 2020 has certainly accentuated one fact – normal life can be very suddenly and significantly disrupted. With little warning, we went from ordinary, relatively uneventful daily routines to unprecedented lockdowns in the face of a global pandemic. Everyday activities such as shopping, going to the movies, getting a haircut or taking the family out to eat either ceased entirely or became rather complicated. Social distancing, face masks, curbside pickups, directional arrows on floors and Zoom meetings became a part of our lexicon.

Read the rest of entry »

If you’re considering purchasing a firearm in these troubled times, you are not alone. Gun sales have surged through the roof in recent months, far higher than even industry analysts had predicted. In order to select a firearm that best suits your needs, it is important to understand not only the operation and potential application, but also the laws concerning whatever you may be interested in.

Read the rest of entry »

The negative economic impact resulting from events that have transpired within the last six months has been tremendous. An unprecedented closure of the economy has caused irreparable harm to small businesses across the country, forcing many to shutter their doors for good. Unemployment rose higher in three months of COVID-19 than it did in two years of the Great Recession. Yet despite the pandemic, Amazon doubled its net profit year over year to $5.2 billion, compared to $2.6 billion at this time in 2019. So what’s wrong with this picture?

Read the rest of entry »