This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed House Bill 325 and 357 by a party line 6 to 4 vote. 

NRA applauds the Vermont Superior Court for allowing a lawsuit challenging the State's ban on standard capacity magazines to proceed. 

Judge Mary Miles Teachout says attorneys arguing for and against a high-capacity magazine ban in Vermont need to fight it out in court before she decides on the constitutionality of a law passed last year. The state filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that the gun owners and sellers bringing the case did not have legal standing to challenge the constitutionality of the ban. Attorneys representing the gun owners were seeking a summary judgement, arguing that the facts of the case proved beyond debate that the ban is unconstitutional.

New Zealand moved with relative light-speed political urgency to ban semiautomatic weapons in the wake of Friday’s massacre at two Christchurch mosques, sparking a discussion in Washington: If a ban could happen there, could it also happen here? Democrats looking for a similar path will face different obstacles in a country where gun rights enshrined in the Constitution have been impervious to a row of mass killings. New Zealand has a tradition of hunting and shooting as sport similar to the United States, but there is no legal provision to own weapons for self-defense.



I ditched the single stack sub-compact as my carry gun a couple of years ago, opting for a mid-size Glock 19 to serve as my everyday carry pistol. Visitors to my social media pages and even range buddies often gaze in disbelief that my petite frame can cart such a “big gun,” but actually I find the Glock 19 and other mid-size options better concealed carry options for a few reasons.

1. A larger, heavier frame grants greater control

The larger frame on the Glock 19 gives me better control while shooting. (Photo: Jacki Billings/Guns.com)

The idea that a concealed carrier would choose a heavier, larger gun to hide away on-body seems counter to what we’re told about concealed carry, but actually, the larger heavier frame lends itself to better overall shooting should the need arise. While we always hope to escape negative situations without the use of our gun, there might come a time when that’s not an option. In that scenario, producing fast, accurate shots on target is essential. A larger, heavier frame better facilitates that through its construction.

A mid-size gun introduces a larger frame and grip area allowing for more direct, skin contact with the gun. The more skin touching the firearm, the more control the shooter has; thus, improving accuracy and ensuring faster follow-up shots. Mid-size guns also bring added weight which translates to less recoil on follow-ups.

2. Bigger guns offer better concealment

The longer slide helps center the mass of the gun below the beltline. (Photo: Jacki Billings/Guns.com)

Again, it seems counterintuitive that larger guns provide easier concealment. In reality, the longer slide goes a long way to achieve a more concealed firearm. Mid-size guns sport a longer slide which, when holstered in an inside-the-waistband holster, centers the majority of the gun’s mass below the beltline. Ultimately, for the concealer, this equates to a less floppy feel and more stability on the belt. The placement prevents the gun’s grip from rotating away from the body and create sharp points that print.

Partnered with a winged, clawed or wedged holster the mid-size guns elevates concealment, especially for those seeking appendix-inside-the-waistband carry. For micro warriors like myself, the partnership of a clawed AIWB holster, Glock 19 and some minor fashion tweaks result in the perfect concealment day-to-day.

3. Longer slide improves accuracy

The longer sight radius on the Glock 19 models results in better accuracy on target. (Photo: Jacki Billings/Guns.com)

Mid-size guns are known for having longer slides than sub-compacts. This added length up front offers a greater sight radius. Sight radius refers to the distance from the front sight to the rear sight and the longest the sight radius, the more accurate the gun. Again, accuracy is the name of the game when training at the range or should we ever draw and fire our gun in a self-defense context. Having that longer slide radius better equips the shooter delivering better overall accuracy, all things considered.

4. Mid-size guns bring more capacity

A midsize gun offers more versatility by giving concealers the option to leave the spare mag at home. (Photo: Jacki Billings/Guns.com)

Carrying a spare magazine is a technique I always advocate for; however, sometimes it’s just not practical. Equipped with a mid-size Glock 19, though, I feel confident heading out into the world with 15+1 rounds versus a smaller, single stack with only six or seven rounds to give. The Glock 19’s larger round count provides more flexibility which, in turn, opens the door for my clothing options. With a single stack that versatility is gone, and I’m left with fighting for limited space on my belt line for that spare magazine.

Carry a Mid-Size Handgun

A mid-size gun, like the Glock 19, delivers more incentives to shooters than sub-compacts. Offering better accuracy, improved concealment and a larger round count I suggest others step up to a mid-size carry gun and take it for a whirl.

The post Why You Should Ditch Sub-Compact and Carry Mid-Size (VIDEO) appeared first on Guns.com.

On March 20th, Senate Bill 119 was amended by the House Public Policy Committee and passed by a vote of 13-0 to include language that was originally in House Bill 1643.

Savannah Lindquist desperately tried to remember what she’d learned in the women’s self-defense class. She jerked her wrists, fighting to break her attacker’s grasp. She couldn’t.

Democratic Presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said late Wednesday the U.S. must follow New Zealand's lead in banning assault weapons, and it should do so by taking on the National Rifle Association — which swiftly rejected the call. “This is what real action to stop gun violence looks like. We must follow New Zealand's lead, take on the NRA and ban the sale and distribution of assault weapons in the United States"

The Nikon RangeX 4K easily mounts to a tripod for convenience. (Photo: Jeff Wood)

Nikon Sport Optics provides quality optics to the hunting and shooting community, so I was happy to test out one of their newest products, the Black RangeX 4K rangefinder. A good laser rangefinder is an essential tool for any marksman who regularly shoots any significant distance. I learned the value of a good laser many years ago, carrying one ever since. I want to see if another one, the Nikon Black RangeX 4K, joins my collection.

Basic Features

The RangeX features an OLED display, with several brightness settings including an auto adjust for surrounding light conditions. Similar to many of its competitors, the RangeX also gives the user an angle-compensated distance. The response time of the display is fast, not quite as fast as the laser itself, but .3 seconds is close enough for me. It uses a single CR2 lithium battery for approximately 9,000 uses.

Perhaps the most celebrated feature of the Nikon Black RangeX 4K comes in the form of its distance capabilities. For some time, ranging beyond 1,200 yards was relegated to higher priced LRFs; but as the market has grown more great options appeared that go well beyond what folks are used to. The RangeX is one such option. The best rangefinders are the ones that will range not only their advertised distance but even beyond it sometimes. In my experience, the lower the price point the less likely the unit can hit its maximum advertised distance. With a retail price of $449, this LRF is advertised as a 4,000-yard maximum range – a distance I planned on testing.

The RangeX started with basic simple ranging tasks — shooting down the road, across town, etc. Inside a thousand yards, the RangeX was lightning fast with easy targeting. The narrow beam divergence, vertical 1.8MRAD by .25MRAD horizontal, allows the user to shoot through gaps in trees and between closer obstacles. This proves very handy for hunters in wooded forests and mountainous terrain.

In the Field

The author ranges rocks and trees to get a sense of distance. (Photo: Jeff Wood)

The first time I took the RangeX into the mountains, I fought against heavy clouds clinging tightly against the Wasatch Mountains. Snow fell around 6,500-feet, not too far above my shooting spot in a deep and jagged canyon. I tried out the angle correcting feature of the RangeX, first measuring the distance to a target, then again with an angle corrected distance. Despite the distance, the display popped up faster than I expected. Looking back into town from my Rocky Mountain post, I ranged buildings that were 2,240 yards away. From my post, the furthest I ranged in the mountainous terrain was 1,978-yards, pretty impressive considering the amount of precipitation in the air.

The RangeX offers an available Arca Swiss compatible tripod mount, allowing the rangefinder to be quickly mounted and used from the sturdy perch of a tripod. The tripod mount made the RangeX very stable. It also easy made focusing the reticle on targets easy. The tripod mount is easily configured with various mounting solutions.

Final Thoughts

The Nikon RangeX 4K is a solid option for hunters in need of a laser range finder. (Photo: Jeff Wood)

Lightweight, waterproof, compact, the RangeX 4K gives accurate range readings very quickly. I haven’t hit the magic 4,000-yards yet, but I’m not too far off. I reached rocks and trees at 2,000-yards, while good reflective targets like cars, windows and road signs, I hit as far as 3,800-yards.

The Nikon RangeX 4K is a fantastic buy for the committed shooter, with outstanding performance at a reasonable price.

The post Gear Review: Nikon Black RangeX 4K Laser Rangefinder appeared first on Guns.com.

On March 20th, the Washington Superior Court rejected the defendant’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the NRA and Second Amendment Foundation against the City of Edmonds to invalidate the mandatory firearm storage ordinance passed by the City Council.  The lawsuit can now proceed.

Over the past several weeks, soldiers of the Canadian Army have been talking smack and posting videos on just how fast they can field strip their C7 rifles. The gun, a variant of the M16A3 made by Colt Canada, is the country’s primary infantry rifle.

In early February, a soldier of the Canadian Grenadier Guards threw the gauntlet down with a 47-second run, but many pointed out she didn’t do a function check and put the optic on backward at first.

Les membres du CGG peuvent assembler une C7 en 47sec. Si votre régiment ne répond pas à ce défi, vous acceptez qu'ils sont les meilleurs. The Canadian Grenadier Guards is better than your unit at assembling a C7, make us change our mind.

Posted by 2e Division du Canada / 2nd Canadian Division on Friday, February 8, 2019

Then, a corporal of The Brockville Rifles came in at 42 seconds.

Challenge accepted / Défi Accepté

Even though he’s from 4th Canadian Division – 4e Division du Canada, Cpl Zeiman from The Brockville Rifles like any good Canadian Army Corporal can’t pass up a challenge.In his response to Canadian Grenadier Guards in 2e Division du Canada / 2nd Canadian Division, Cpl Zeiman managed to assemble the C7A2 in 44 seconds with his functions test!He is currently taking all challengers and is eager to see the response.Think you can beat him?Good Luck!#Infantry #Joinus #Fast*********************************************************Même s’il est membre de la 4e Division du Canada, le Cpl Zeiman de Brockville Rifles, comme tout bon caporal de l’Armée canadienne, ne peut ignorer une opportunité de prendre part à un défi.En réponse au défi lancé par les Grenadier Guards de la 2e Division du Canada, le Cpl Zeiman a réussi à assembler le C7A2 en 44 secondes avec son test de fonctionnement!Il continue à pousser tous les intéressés à prendre part et est impatient de voir les résultats.Pensez-vous pouvoir le battre?Bonne chance!#Infanterie #Rejoins_nous #Vite

Posted by 33 Canadian Brigade Group | 33e Groupe Brigade du Canada on Thursday, February 21, 2019

This soldier from the 34th Combat Engineers Regiment seems to be pretty fast with a time of just under 34 seconds.

C7 CHALLENGE

Vous pensez que vous pouvez faire mieux? Montrez-nous.CHIMO!#C7CHALLENGE2e Division du Canada / 2nd Canadian Division34 Combat Engineer RegimentCanadian Grenadier Guards

Posted by 34e Régiment du génie de combat détachement Rouyn on Friday, February 22, 2019

However, in the four-way video below, a soldier with the Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent, a reserve unit in Quebec, pulls a time of under 30.

Le gagnant du Challenge C7

Parmi ceux qui ont répondu à notre défi C7, quelle unité sera le plus rapide ? Among those who answered our C7 challenge, which unit will be the fastest?

Posted by 2e Division du Canada / 2nd Canadian Division on Thursday, March 14, 2019

More on the C7A2 below, from a Colt Canada rep who is also a Canadian Forces reservist.

The post Canadian Army Holds Polite Rifle Speed Drill Challenge appeared first on Guns.com.

Second Amendment rights in Oregon are under attack like never before and it is critical that every NRA member and Second Amendment supporter takes an active role to fight back.  Local Oregon businesses Radian Weapons and Noveske Rifleworks hope you will join them in Salem for the Defend the 2nd rally where law-abiding citizens will remind their elected lawmakers who they work for and tell them to end this assault on our Constitutional rights.

The .44 Special is over a century old, first produced by Smith & Wesson in 1907, but how does it stack up to its larger and better known younger brother? To answer that question, Paul Harrell holds class by testing several comparable loads by well-known makers.

The bottom line is that the .44 Magnum, naturally, puts a lot more velocity on downrange. Regardless, there are still several gun manufacturers that produce .44 SPL guns such as Ruger which makes a model of their GP100 in the caliber as well as the entire Charter Arms Bulldog line.

And of course, any revolver chambered for .44 Mag will accept the shorter, although often much harder to find, .44 SPL round.

Regardless, be sure to stick around for the whole video by Harrell, as he breaks out one of his trademarked “meat targets” about at 9:30 mark. You don’t want to miss that.

The post Testing The Difference Between 44 Special, 44 Magnum (VIDEO) appeared first on Guns.com.

Doug Koenig with his first place trophy. (Photo: Ruger)

Team Ruger Captain Doug Koenig took the top prize at the Accuracy International Long Range Classic held in Baker, Florida earlier this month.

The precision rifle competition pushes competitors through a 16-stage course of fire with reactive and moving steel targets ranging from 300 to 850-yards. The match is designed to test competitors’ skills on accuracy, time and gear management.

Koenig took first in the production division which, according to Precision Rifle Series standards, feature rifles in original factory configuration with no added alternations or improvements. The rifle is also required to come priced under $2,000.

The Ruger Precision rifle is priced under $2,000 qualifying it for Production Division competition. (Photo: Guns.com)

Koenig scored 133 points in the production division with a Ruger Precision Rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, earning him first prize. The Ruger Precision Rifle offers a cold hammer-forged, chrome-moly steel barrel with 5R rifling and held in an aluminum free-float handguard. The handguard boasts Magpul M-LOK attachment slots for additional accessories. The rifle also sports a 20 MOA Picatinny rail. The rifle rounds out its features with a Ruger Marksman Adjustable Trigger and price tag of $1,599.

Precision rifle is a newer venture for Koenig with the competition shooter taking it up fairly recently.

“I started shooting PRS a little over a year ago and I really love it,” Koenig said in a news release. “The movement and diverse shooting positions that you encounter in this sport always keep it fresh. There is a steep learning curve whenever you start another shooting discipline, but I’m having a great time shooting my Ruger Precision Rifle.”

The post Doug Koenig Wins Production Division at AI Long Range Classic appeared first on Guns.com.

The increasingly thin line between California’s EMF and Italy’s Pietta has been erased. (Photos: EMF/Pietta)

Italian gun maker Pietta announced this week they have bought their primary U.S. importer, California-based Early & Modern Firearms.

Founded in 1956, EMF has been one of the biggest players in Cowboy Action Shooting over the years with company president Boyd Davis helping to found the Single Action Shooting Society in the 1980s. This led to an increasingly close relationship with European makers of reproduction guns, to include Gussago, Italy’s Pietta Firearms. Now, the Italian company is in the driver’s seat.

The move comes as EMF’s shareholders were reportedly feeling the pressure of “increasing gun regulations” and had “decided it would be best to close their doors.”

With the new partnership, Pietta feels good about the future of both companies in the U.S. with EMF now becoming the domestic repair, warranty, and logistics center for Pietta Firearms customers nationwide. Alessandro Pietta, vice president of Pietta Firearms, explained that “Having our own importing business and service center will allow us to provide better pricing and a higher level of customer service.”

The Italian company, founded 50 years ago by Giuseppe Pietta, produces nearly 100 black powder muzzleloading variants in both brass or steel frames as well as 40 breechloading cartridge models. These include several versions of the 1873 SAA and others.

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1873 SA Alchimista 2 #repost #pietta #piettafireams #blackpowder #westerns #revolvers #gun #oldwest #oldwestern #oldguns #colt #emfcompanyinc

A post shared by Pietta Firearms (@pietta_firearms) on Feb 17, 2019 at 2:04am PST

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Outlaw Model @taylorsfirearms by Piettafirearms #pietta #piettafirearms #guns #oldwestclothingandguns #oldwest #oldwestern #laserengraved #revolver #handguns #cowboy

A post shared by Pietta Firearms (@pietta_firearms) on Feb 26, 2019 at 11:54am PST

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Detail of our 1851 Navy cylinder by Piettafirearms #pietta #piettafirearms #blackpowder #cowboy #oldwestshootingclub #oldwest #oldwestern #historyguns #emfcompanyinc

A post shared by Pietta Firearms (@pietta_firearms) on Feb 21, 2019 at 5:17am PST

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1858 Buffalo Bill commemorative version cl.44 by Piettafirearms #pietta #piettafirearms #emfcompanyinc #historyguns #cowboy #blackpowder #westerns #revolvers #gun #colt #oldwestguns #oldwestclothingandguns #oldwesterns

A post shared by Pietta Firearms (@pietta_firearms) on Feb 19, 2019 at 2:40am PST

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1858 Brass blank by PiettaFirearms #pietta #piettafirearms #cowboy #blackpowder #western #oldwest #oldwestguns #oldwestclothingandguns #revolver #powder #emfcompanyinc

A post shared by Pietta Firearms (@pietta_firearms) on Feb 5, 2019 at 7:44am PST

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Another set of Pietta 1860 Army #pietta #piettafirearms #cowboy #lasvegas #blackpowder #revolvers #guns

A post shared by Pietta Firearms (@pietta_firearms) on Jan 26, 2019 at 2:32pm PST

The post Pietta Firearms Buys EMF With Eye On Continuing U.S. Operations appeared first on Guns.com.

The Copperhead, first announced in January, is available on the commercial market as a standard pistol, with no stamps required. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

An ultra-compact version of the MPX, Sig Sauer’s Copperhead variant is legally a pistol new for 2019 and is now shipping to dealers. Featuring a 3.5-inch barrel with an integrated muzzle brake, the 4.5-pound Copperhead comes from the factory with a two-position pivoting brace that Sig advertises as contouring and adapting to the movement of the shooter’s arm. Finished in FDE Cerakote E190, the pistol runs 14.5-inches overall with a top-mounted M1913 rail. First announced in January, the gun was a hit at SHOT Show.

The MPX Copperhead comes equipped with the company’s new, rapid deploy Pivoting Contour Brace with a patented swivel operation. (Photos: SIG)

“The SIG MPX Copperhead redefines the sub-gun category with a new level of operator safety, in-field adaptability and proven reliability in the harshest environments with an unconventional design, unmatched performance, and familiar AR handling,” noted the New Hampshire-based company on Wednesday.

Sig’s MSRP on the braced pistol is $1,835. By comparison, the Guns.com price on the Copperhead is $1,579.99.

The post SIG MPX Copperhead Braced Pistol Now Available (VIDEO) appeared first on Guns.com.

With an outside diameter that matches CZ’s 455 Varmint line of rifles, their new Rimfire suppressor is 6.9-inches long and, due to its aluminum body construction and screw-in baffle system, only weighs 2.5-ounces. (Photos: CZ-USA)

Kansas-based CZ-USA announced an expansion to their suppressor line with a new Rimfire model that comes standard with a user-tuneable baffle system.

The new CZ Rimfire suppressor, as its name implies, is designed to be used on any rimfire round under .224 in diameter, including .17 HMR, .22 WMR, and .17 WSM. It can also be used with .17 Hornet, .22 Hornet, and 5.7x28mm centerfire cartridges.

The 2.5-ounce can uses a screw-in baffle system which the company says translates into a lighter weight when compared to competing mono-cores or baffle stacks. Some 6.9-inches long overall with an outside diameter of 0.866-inches, the end-user can tune the four internal baffles for performance with different loads and calibers. Notably, the diameter of the new suppressor matches the barrels of CZ’s 455 Varmint series rifles.

Retail on the CZ Rimfire suppressor is $339.

CZ’s suppressor line also includes the Rimfire Integral in both .22LR and .17HMR as well as the $1200 Ti Reflex series of centerfire rifle cans in calibers up to .338 and the S2 Ti Reflex optimized for the Scorpion EVO III S2 Micro.

The post CZ Introduces Lightweight Rimfire Suppressor appeared first on Guns.com.

Smith & Wesson will be consolidating their warehouse operations which include a shift from a center in Massachusetts to one in Second Amendment-friendly Missouri. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

American Outdoor Brands Corp., the parent company of gun maker Smith & Wesson, has announced they are closing their New England warehouse operation.

The publicly-traded company will be moving their distribution center to a new facility in Columbia, Missouri later this year. The news came as AOBC announced their financial results for the third quarter which overall saw sales increase by about 3 percent in the wake of announcing more than 250 new products from across the corporation’s varied divisions.

“The ramp-up of initial operations at our new Logistics & Customer Services facility in Missouri is well underway and on track,” said James Debney, AOBC’s CEO. “This 633,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility will serve as our centralized logistics, warehousing, and distribution operation for all of our products, facilitating our growth, enhancing our efficiencies, and allowing us to better serve customers across our entire organization.”

The Boston Business Journal reports the current Springfield, Massachusetts-based logistics warehouse, as well as one in Jacksonville, Florida, will close, with their operations folded into the Missouri center, which will hire 154 new workers. The Columbia facility has been in the works since 2017 with a combination of offsetting local tax breaks.

Then-Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens welcomed the company with open arms to the Show Me State two years ago, saying, “Missouri has always been a great Second Amendment state, a wonderful state, for people who love firearms and treasure their Second Amendment rights.”

Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, anti-gun protestors joined by at least one state Democratic gubernatorial candidate, have repeatedly picketed Smith & Wesson’s historic factory. The iconic company will continue to make guns in the state. According to data from federal regulators, Smith manufactured 1.4 million pistols, 396,710 rifles, and 294,680 revolvers as well as a smaller number of miscellaneous firearms and shotguns in Springfield in 2016, the most recent year for which figures are available.

The post Smith & Wesson Closing Massachusetts Warehouse, Moving To Missouri appeared first on Guns.com.

On March 20th, the Indiana state Senate Judiciary committee voted 7-3 to pass House Bill 1284 to enhance protections afforded to law-abiding citizens acting in defense of themselves and others.

The Vermont Senate is expected to vote on this year’s biggest gun control bill as early as tomorrow.