Guns and Shooting

Read this definition to discover what inletting is, pertaining to gun stocks or other firearms parts such as locks, lock plates, trigger guards, etc.

The mainspring is one of the most important parts of many guns - but what is it and what does it do? Let's find out...

If your revolver is giving you trouble, check here first to see if you can figure out the problem with some fast and easy inspections. No disassembly of the gun is required for most of these checks.

What exactly does it mean if a gun is loaded? What about loaded ammunition? This answers those questions, and more.

The Glock 36 is a compact single-stack 45 ACP semi-automatic pistol. Want to know more? Click the link to read the article.

Many of us have heard of IWB when it comes to carrying guns, but what does it mean?

Glossary definition of open sights, which represent the most common type of gun sight. What makes them different from other types of sights?

Home defense. It's an important topic, especially as our economy teeters and life becomes more unstable. Guns are a natural choice for this - but what kind will serve you best? Let's take a look at the most popular options and see where we stand.

What exactly does caliber refer to when talking about guns? The ammo it's meant for? The size of the barrel? Let's find out.

What is a gun's chamber? Follow the link to find out.

Much has been said about checkering on guns, but what does it mean, and what is it good for? Let's find out.

When a bullet "keyholes," what does that mean? This brief article should help you understand what bullet keyholing is.

All revolvers have cylinders - but what are they good for? Read the definition to find out.

Pistols are handguns, but not all handguns are pistols. Learn the difference...

Revolvers aren't pistols, but they are usually handguns. Find out the difference...

Every gun owner needs to know how to clean a gun. This article contains helpful hints, photos, and directions on how to properly clean a firearm.

Firearms glossary definition of hammer. Some guns have hammers and some don't...

Glossary definition of barrel. The barrel is the part of a gun through which the projectile(s) travel...

Glossary definition of muzzle. The muzzle is part of the barrel...

Definition of front sight. The front sight is used in conjunction with the rear sight to properly aim a gun.

Definition of rear sight. The rear sight is used together with the front sight to properly aim a gun.

How to aim a gun. Aiming is really pretty easy, and it's one of the basic shooting skills that one must master in order to shoot accurately. Here's how!

Definition of gun stock. The stock is the part of a gun that serves as a handle or shoulder rest rather than serving a mechanical function, although there are exceptions in which the stock doubles as a working portion of the gun.

Definition of firing pin as it pertains to guns or firearms. The firing pin hits the rear of the cartridge in order to fire it.

This is a Review/Profile of an antique H. Pieper 32 rimfire rifle of the Flobert-Warnant action type. This interesting old gun is made on the best action offered in Flobert rifles, and was owned by my father for years.

What, exactly, is a pistol? It's not just any handgun. For example, revolvers are not pistols...

Review of Baby UpLULA mag loader for small pistols in 22, 25, 32, 380 Calibers. This loader works much like the original UpLULA loader, with the added benefit of a "tooth" on the back side of the loader that can be used in unloading magazines.

Kel-Tec PF-9 vs. Taurus PT709 Slim. Side-by-side photos and specifications of two popular compact concealed-carry 9mm pistols. They are both good guns, but which one is better?

Review/Profile of Taurus PT709 Slim compact 9mm semi-automatic pistol. This gun is light, compact, and easy to carry. It also has some features that make it stand out in its class, including a safety, a screw-adjustable rear sight, and second-strike capability in the event of a dud primer.

User reviews of the Taurus PT709 Slim compact 9mm pocket pistol. This is where "regular Joes" can let others know what they think. Read the reviews, and feel free to post your own.

Review/Profile of Kel-Tec PF-9 (PF9) compact 9mm semi-automatic pistol. This little popper is still the lightest and flattest semi-auto 9mm pistol around, and it's not a bad one. It carries well, and mine has gone BANG every time I've asked it to.

User reviews of the Kel-Tec PF-9 compact 9mm pocket pistol. Read what everyday folks have to say about it, and let us know what you think of it, too.

Beretta 3032 Tomcat 32 ACP Semi-Auto Pocket Pistol User Reviews

Review/Profile of Beretta 3032 Tomcat 32 ACP semi-auto pistol. This handy little pocket pistol isn't very powerful and this model has had some problems, but it carries pretty well and could certainly be better than nothing in a pinch.

This article describes and shows my repair of a loose barrel and damaged feed ramp on a Volunteer Enterprises Commando Mark III carbine Tommy gun look-alike. This gun was having feed problems, and while working on the feed ramp, I discovered that the barrel was loose. This article is about repairing those problems.

Review/Profile of the Commando Mark III carbine, or short rifle, made by Volunteer Enterprises and chambered for the 45 ACP cartridge. This is a fairly cheaply built gun whose main claim to fame is that it looks a lot like a Tommy gun (Thompson 1927A-1 submachine gun), at a glance. It's heavy, and it's cool.

Definition of proof mark for firearms. What is a proof mark, and what does it mean?

Definition of proof load, or blue pill, for firearms. What is a firearms proof load?

Definition of proof house for firearms. What is a firearms proof house?

Definition of proof test for firearms. How do you proof a gun?

Definition of barrel crown, for firearms. What is a gun's crown?

Things to know Before You Buy a Used Rifle for hunting or target shooting, by Russ Chastain

These days, it often seems that everyone but gun owners are hostile towards guns and gun owners - especially in places such as airports. But that is certainly not always the case, and guidelines are in place that allow for relatively easy and problem-free transport of your firearms on commercial airline flights.

Reader Reviews of the Colt Frontier Scout 62 22 SA Revolver

This is a profile/review of a nifty little handgun, the Colt Frontier Scout 62 22 Magnum single action revolver. Beginning in the 1950s and ending in 1970, the Scout line of single action Colt revolvers offered high quality and old-west charm.

Reader Reviews of the Ruger Redhawk 44 Magnum Double Action Revolver

This is a profile/review of Sturm, Ruger, and Company's Redhawk, a 44 magnum double action revolver. There are better double action guns in the world, but this one ain't bad, and it may well be the strongest.

Test and review of Shooter's Hearing Protectors Earplugs

Reader Reviews of the Walther P38 9mm Double Action Semi-Automatic Pistol

Reader Reviews of the Smith & Wesson Model 66 357 Magnum Stainless Steel Combat Revolver

Reader Reviews of the Ruger Security Six 357 Magnum Double Action Revolver

Reader Reviews of the Ruger Old Model Blackhawk Single Action Revolver

Reader Reviews of the Colt 1917 Army Revolver

This is a profile/review of the Walther P38, a 9mm Semi-Automatic Pistol. From World War II until the present day, the P38 continues to endure. It also proves that some so-called new innovations in firearms (such as decocking levers) are merely old features revisited.

Definition of Firearms Shooting term "Double Action"

Definition of Firearms Shooting term "Single Action"

Definition of Firearms Shooting term "Dry Fire" or "Dry Firing"

Profile/review of Sturm, Ruger, and Company's Security Six, a 357 magnum double action revolver. Although I believe there are better double action guns in the world, this is a pretty good one. Introduction/overview.

This is a profile/review of an interesting old revolver, the Colt Model 1917 Army. Made to supplement the short supply of 1911 45 caliber pistols in the early stages of World War I, this double-action revolver was produced while Smith & Wesson was building their version of a 45 ACP revolver. Both guns were designated M1917 by the US military.

Home Gun Refinishing - I Refinished a Winchester Model 94 30-30 rifle (carbine) at home, by myself, with a new product from Birchwood-Casey called Perma Fin. The results are impressive, but I hit some speed bumps along the way. It's not a blue... and it's not a paint, although I used an airbrush to spray it on.

Definition of Trigger Guard - the Trigger Guard Protects the Triggers on a Gun or Firearm

Definition of Double Triggers - Guns With Two Triggers have Double Triggers

Definition of Double Barrel Rifle or Shotgun - a Double Barrel Gun has Two Barrels

Definition of Break-Open or Break Action - Break Open Shotgun or Rifle

This is a profile/review of one of Ruger's most popular and durable handguns, the original "old model" Blackhawk. The Ruger Old Model Blackhawk single action helped make the company a success, and many were sold after its introduction in 1955.

The Smith & Wesson Model 66 stainless steel revolver was one of their most popular models, for good reason. This is a profile/review of one of S&W's most popular and durable handguns, the Model 66.

What is your favorite semi-automatic shotgun? Let us know!

What is your favorite pump shotgun? Let us know! The best pump (slide action) shotguns, according to visitors to this site.

What is your favorite bolt action deer & big game rifle? Let us know! The best bolt action deer hunting rifles, according to visitors to this site.

What is your favorite lever action deer & big game rifle? Let us know! The best lever action deer rifles, according to visitors to this site.

What is your favorite semi-automatic deer & big game rifle? Let us know! The best semi-auto deer rifles, according to visitors to this site.

The Obama administration seeks to bring to life a Clinton-era treaty that would criminalize the act of reloading ammunition or performing home gunsmithing without a government-issued license.

How to remove the fixed factory magazine from SKS rifle and replace it with a detachable magazine. This will allow you to use high capacity (or low capacity for hunting) magazines in your SKS. I used a Tapco 5-round magazine for this project.

What is a single shot rifle, shotgun, or pistol - and how does it differ from other types of firearms? The answer lies within the name itself.

Barack Hussein Obama's administration, in one short month, has begun tearing at the fabric of American freedom to a huge extent. What will the next 47 months bring? It surely appears as if it will not be good. The Stimulus Package contains anti-gun, anti-freedom measures, as does a Senate land bill, and on top of all that is the incredibly...

How to clean a Ruger 44 magnum carbine. Disassembly and cleaning instructions, photographs, assembly instructions and tips. Having feed problems? Just want to give your gun a real thorough cleaning? Here's how to take care of that.

A gun owner and Second Amendment advocate's opinion of the choice between Barack Hussein Obama and John McCain. Which one will do the least damage to the Constitution and to our civil rights?

An Illustrated History of Olympic Shooting - Shooting has been part of the modern Olympic Games since they began in 1896.

Learn Olympic Shooting - Tutorials for Air Pistol, Air Rifle, Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun Sports such as Trap and Skeet.

Olympic Rifle Shooting - how to do it!

Olympic Air Rifle Shooting - how to do it!

Olympic Pistol Shooting - how to do it!

Olympic Air Pistol Shooting - how to do it!

Definition of Rimfire. What does rimfire mean for a cartridge or gun?

Should a rifle with a scope be shot with both eyes open, or with one eye closed? There's not really a wrong answer to this one, here's why...

Ron Paul for President! This Texas congressman is pro-freedom, believes in protecting our borders, and has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership. He's as close to a perfect match with my beliefs as I have seen for many a year.

Guns are used safely millions upon millions of times every year, but the potential for injury and death is always there. For this reason, we need to follow basic gun safety rules at all times when handling firearms, including handguns like revolvers and pistols, rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, airguns, etc.

Stealing Your Rights - H.R. 297: More Gun Control That Won't Work

Review of LULA Magazine Loader & Unloader for AK47 (7.62x39). Very interesting product that allows fast and easy loading of AK mags.

Definition of Rifle. Types of rifles and what they are used for.

Test and Review of UpLULA Universal Pistol Magazine Loader. This loader performs very well and is very easy to use.

Why do people choose to own guns? The reasons can be as varied as the people themselves. From soccer moms to deer hunters to serious collectors, gun ownership is widespread and has appeal for many folks. Here is a look at some of those reasons, with discussion of their merits and pitfalls.

Definition of Semi-Automatic

Definition of Bolt Action

Some folks don't know that years ago, Smith & Wesson sold bolt-action centerfire rifles under their name. These guns are pretty much the same basic rifle as some marketed by Mossberg and Weatherby...

Definition of Bore, as it pertains to firearms.

Definition of Rifling, as it pertains to firearms.

Definition of Fiber-Optic Sights

Shooting some of 2007's new guns and ammo, along with some old favorites. New rifles from Sako, Winchester, and Browning; new handguns from Smith & Wesson, Browning, Springfield Armory, Sig, and Rock River Arms, and more. What a day! I even ended up buying a Benelli SuperNova 12 gauge shotgun at an auction to benefit National 4-H Shooting Sports.

Why will a rifle zeroed at 25 yards hit close to point of aim at longer range? It's all about gravity's pull...

Field stripping the AK-47 rifle (including fariants such as the WASR-10, SAR, etc.).

Notching an AK-47 safety selector lever for bolt hold-open. This will allow you to hold your bolt open, more easily satisfying range officers, and adding peace of mind while handling your rifle.

Sightron S1 3x-9x 40mm Rifle Scope Review - This scope is a good one, especially at the price for which it sells.

Definition of Shot

Definition of Primer

Definition of Cartridge

Definition of Bullet

Definition of Powder Charge

Definition of Cartridge Case

Questions about rifle scopes and shotguns have been around for years, especially in the years since the advent of the fully-rifled barrel and very accurate shotgun slugs. Folks with spare rifle scopes, or who choose a rifle scope because there are so many more types available than shotgun scopes, want to put them on their slug guns. Problem is, this really isn't a good idea...

Having trouble getting your Ruger 44 carbine back into its stock? This will definitely help you with assembly of your Sturm, Ruger 44 magnum carbine (old style) Model 44. Some things to consider when reassembling the gun back into the stock.

Red Oxx makes high-quality gun cases that should last for many years, which are guaranteed forever. They are much tougher than run-of-the-mill cases, and these two cases can be used together for extra protection, or used separately.

The Tuffpak gun case is a unique and useful case that doesn't actually look like a gun case. Its wheels and handles make it easy to move around, and the simple design makes for a very flexible rifle, shotgun, and handgun case that be packed with many different combinations of guns and gear.

Answering a question from a reader about information on 22 LR target pistols and where to shoot.

How to Accurize a Rifle - the answer is, one step at a time.

A simple How to on Boresighting a Scope on a Bolt-Action rifle or pistol

A simple How to on Shooting Accurately

A simple How to on Sighting-in a Gun

A simple How to on Removing Rust From Guns

Review of Limb Saver Recoil Pad, used on a Ruger Red Label over/under 12 gauge shotgun. This slip-on pad performed very well and was very easy to install. Other Limb Saver pads I have used work equally well.

These are some tips and advice on gun stock finishing that should come in handy next time you refinish a shotgun or rifle stock.

Choosing a rifle scope is something that most hunters must do. This article will help you decide whether to scope your rifle, whether to choose a variable or fixed scope, how much is a reasonable cost for a good scope, and whether you need a large or adjustable objective for your hunting or target shooting.

The Savage 110 and Me - I have long respected Savage rifles, but it took some time for my admiration to ripen into love. Here's some insight into my history with the Savage Model 110 bolt-action rifle, and some of the reasons why I do love 'em.

Airguns (BB Guns) Often Help Foster Kids' Love for Shooting - By Russ Chastain. I don't remember for certain the first gun ever shot, but I believe it was a 22 rifle - and most likely it was a Winchester Model 69A. But the most unadulterated fun I had shooting as a kid (and they're still fun even now) was with good ol' fashioned air power... BB guns! -RC

Hunting and Shooting - CBS News targets Remington Model 700 rifle as having a defective safety mechanism that can cause it to fire inadvertently

Some tips and advice on buying a gun online, from someone who's been there and done it.

Things to know Before You Buy a Used Rifle for hunting or target shooting, by Russ Chastain

The ill-conceived assault weapons and high-capacity magazine ban of 1994 came to a screeching halt in September of 2004. Will that make a difference to you and me?

The BoreSnake is a fabric ropelike item, with an embedded bore brush and a weighted cord for feeding it through a gun's barrel. Read more...

Home Gun Stock Refinishing - I Refinished a Winchester Model 94 30-30 rifle (carbine) at home, and refinished the stock while I was at it. I used a product called Lin-Speed Oil instead of my old favorite Birchwood-Casey Tru-Oil, so I could give it another chance after an old batch of Lin-Speed had produced less-than-desirable results years...

Profile/review of a variation of the well-respected Colt 1911. The Colt Lightweight Stainless Commander Model is fairly rare - or it has been. It looks like Colt has made some more of this model, with a different serial number prefix, but word has it that only a few hundred of these CLS guns were made.

Reader Reviews of the Colt Commander Semi-Automatic Pistol

Ruger P345 review of semi-auto 45 ACP pistol. This is a profile/review of one of Ruger's newest handguns, the P345 semi-automatic pistol, chambered for 45 ACP. This gun features a tough polymer frame, stainless steel slide, stainless steel magazines, and a much slimmer width than Ruger's previous P-series pistols.

Review of GB Lin-Speed Oil gun stock finish. I tried this stuff many years ago, and gave it another go when I refinished an old pre-64 Winchester Model 94 30-30 rifle. It definitely isn't the same as working with Tru-Oil, but it gives nice results just the same.

This is a profile/review of a very interesting old rifle, the Winchester Model 62A. This rifle evolved from previous models to become a great little shootin' iron. Large enough to fit an adult well, yet light enough for a youth, it's an accurate piece with an interesting history.

Reader reviews of the Winchester Model 62A pump (slide) action 22 rimfire rifle. What do you think about the Winchester Model 62A? This is the place to let us know.

Rebarreling a Savage 110 Rifle from 30-06 to 338-06. This is usually an easy thing to do. In my case, there was a bit more work to do because I cut the barrel down from its original 24-inch length to a more convenient 20 inches. I also had to enlarge the barrel channel in the stock. Follow along with the photos as I walk through this interesting...

Definition of "action" as it pertains to firearms. The way a gun operates is determined by its type of action.

What are gun sights, and how do they work? This answers those questions.

Glossary definition of long gun. What makes it different than other guns?

February 2012 premiere episode sends three shooters home.

February 21, 2012. This episode eliminated one of the best shooters and featured the BAR and grenade launchers!

February 28, 2012. Say bye-bye to eye candy Michelle Viscusi.

March 6, 2012. Crossbows and pistols, fired at moving targets. Also: Silly Greg, bandannas are for girlfriends and BFFs - when you're a pre-teen.

March 13, 2012. How NOT to load a muzzleloading pistol, and how not to fire it.

March 20, 2012. 3.2 inch "Bag Gun" cannon, and the atlatl arrow-throwing device.

March 27, 2012. Exhibition shooting was never so dull before, but at least there was some hope in this week's episode.

April 3, 2012. Old British guns: Webley Mark VI and Lee-Enfield Mark III.

April 10, 2012. Double elimination sends two shooters home, using a modern long-range rifle and a 150-year-old lever action repeater. The final challenge was a nail-biter!

April 17, 2012. SWAT team tactics, including rappelling and shooting the FN Five Seven pistol through windows in a tower, plus breaching doors with the Mossberg 500 Chainsaw pump gun and taking out targets with the FN FS200 bullpup military style carbine.

April 24, 2012. Browning M1919 belt-fed 30 cal machine gun plus halftrack equals fun! Plus playing memory games with FN PS90.

The dovetail notch has been used on guns for many years, and is a good method of attaching sights and other items. But what does it look like, and how does it work?

May 1, 2012. The final four (Augie, Gary, Chris, and Greg) face off with dueling posts, pick your poison, and grand finale challenges.