Welcome back to another edition of The Rimfire Report! This week we are going to take a look at a 3D printed firearm that was inspired by a real-world toy. Ross Peters is the designer of the PG22 Maverick 22 Short revolver. The PLA printed revolver has an interesting design and today we’ll be taking a look at this home brewed 22 short pepperbox style revolver.

Probably one of the most common questions I get is to explain the difference between a carry and range gun. Now carrying various guns will always be different depending on where you live, and what your situation is. Whether it is going to the gym or going for a hike in the snow-covered trails, certain situations will affect your carry options. I get questions all the time about carrying various handguns with lights, red dots, and magwells and if it’s viable to carry throughout the year. Let’s dive into the differences between range guns vs concealed guns.

VZ Grips has announced that they’ve added the Ruger SP101 to their line up of grips offerings, including three different texture styles.  Each texture style has four color options; black, black cherry, black grey, and hyena brown.  VZ Grips stated that the Ruger SP101 grips will be the first in their Ruger line up, and also teased that the Ruger GP100 was coming soon.

When it comes to wheelguns bigger is better, right? Well, if Dirty Harry was in the conversation I am more than sure he would agree. This is why we love to handle and shoot big-bore revolvers every opportunity we get at TFB. Whether you are looking to do hunting, do some long-range handgun shooting at 100+ yards, or simply love the WOOF and flame they toss every time you shoot them, there is something special about a .44 Magnum. So, in this week’s Wheelgun Wednesday we take a look at the Taurus Raging Hunter .44 Magnum which has been one of their most popular revolvers as of late. It has also been garnering a lot of attention in the firearms industry as a whole since its introduction. Let’s dive in and take a look!

Welcome everyone to the 41st edition of ‘Hot Gat or Fudd Crap?’, one of our many series here on TFB. If you’re new to the series, this is where we look at the most obscure or unusual firearms that are actually for sale and ask the question – is this Gat a sweet deal or does it only have Fudd appeal?  Each week the TFB staff weighs in with their thoughts, but readers get the final say in the poll at the bottom of each article!

See the entire history of the Colt Single Action Army (S.A.A.) pistol in one man’s collection! From the earliest models that were issued to the United States cavalry, to $20,000 pistols with engraving and pearl grips, and S.A.A’s that were owned by celebrities, this is an incredible collection that spans from the 1870s to the 1970s! The Colt Single Action Army is an incredible piece of Americana which revolutionized firearms design near the turn of the 19th century and set a new standard for reliability and effectiveness. If you’re a fan of history, westerns, or beautiful handguns, check out this video!

When thinking about carrying a concealed firearm, it’s easy to focus on one specific item rather than the overall big picture. It’s important to look at different aspects as a bigger picture rather than only worrying about just what knife you carry or what type of gun is best for you any given day. There’s a number of things everyone should at least consider carrying when they leave their house with a firearm. Now everyone may have different opinions on the matter, and that’s totally fine but just keep in mind this can be a flexible list depending on your preferences and needs for daily carry. Let’s dive into some of the most important things you can carry when concealing a firearm.

Welcome to another instalment of TFB’s Wheelgun Wednesday series, where we cover a little bit of everything, from new, used, and historical revolvers. Today’s wheelgun hails from Smith & Wesson in Massachusetts, but was sent to Great Britain in the Lend Lease program during World War II.  After the war, a number of these Lend Lease S&W revolvers made their way to Germany, where they served local police departments for a time. Up to this point, everything seems in order, until you look at the muzzle of this particular wheelgun.

Freshly home from SHOT 2020 and my decidedly disappointing first shots with the “New” Colt Python, I was in need of some nostalgia.  A fresh outing with my 80’s vintage 6″ blued Python was just the ticket, much like taking a ’60’s Mustang out for a spin can drive the memory of the Mustang II from one’s mind.   A fresh trip to the range with this classic helped remind me of its idiosyncrasies and the little details that make shooting experiences with this revolver stand out.

Whether or not 22LR is a suitable self-defense round is a hotly debated subject in the firearms community. Many will immediately discount it as too weak or ineffective to be used as a self-defense caliber. Others will say that it is entirely capable of taking down a target with the right shot placement. Today on The Rimfire Report we’re not going to discuss specifically if 22LR is a good self-defense caliber but instead, we are going to examine which of the available ammunition out there is the best for defensive 22LR carry.

It’s Wednesday so TFB is back again checking out another wheelgun for all of our revolver aficionados and fans. This week we are taking a look at the  Smith & Wesson Model 17 Masterpiece .22 Long Rifle which comes from Smith & Wesson’s “Classic” series of reproduction revolvers of old. The way in which technology continually advances for not only the betterment of society, but firearms as well, I believe we can all agree is fantastic. On the flip side though, I am of the old school train-of-thought where I love nostalgic looking, blued wheelguns. I have been collecting double-action Smith & Wessons my entire short life so although this revolver we are about to look at is brand new, I have a certain fondness for it before I ever opened the box. Let’s dive in and take a look at the Smith & Wesson Model 17 Masterpiece .22 Long Rifle, and see if it is everything my mind has dreamed it up to be!

Front serrations have become overwhelmingly popular over the last few years in the handgun market with more and more companies incorporating some sort of front serrations on their pistols now. Even Glock has jumped on the bandwagon offering front serrations as an option for several models of their carry guns. Front serrations can be a great addition to various concealed carry guns but they can also make shooters develop some bad habits if they aren’t used correctly. Let’s dive into the good bad and ugly about front serrations on your carry gun. 

In this edition of TFB’s Wheelgun Wednesday, we’ll take a look at another of Smith & Wesson’s 9mm revolver inspired by Jerry Miculek, the S&W 929.  Mr. Miculek and Smith & Wesson have covered their bases when it comes to the 9mm versus .45 ACP debate, and recently threw in a 10mm revolver (again) for good measure.  The S&W 929 presents some of the same pros and cons as other revolvers chambered for rimless cartridges, but provides an extra two rounds compared to six-shooters.

The MATEBA Autorevolver, thanks to some media exposure, uniqueness and limited availability, has gained a cult status among firearm enthusiasts. In the anticipation of hopefully seeing newly manufactured models on the market, here we get the chance to have a close look at one “vintage” piece in the most powerful caliber.

Uberti U.S.A announces the Dalton, an 1873 Single Action Army pistol based on a pistol custom ordered for the outlaw Bob Dalton. With intricate engraving, a beautiful blued finish, and simulated pearl grips it’s sure to turn heads. Uberti’s new Courteney stalking rifle is one of the first commercial rifles to be chambered in .303 British since WW2. Built on an 1885 lever action, this is a unique hunting rifle with a refined British style. 

This year Magnum Research is bringing their custom 1911s to the market with a Crusader and a Viking-themed 1911, in addition to their Presidential Donald Trump Desert Eagle. We were told that the Presidental handgun will be sent to the Donal Trump Presidental Library collection. The Crusader and Viking 1911s are modeled after various designs associated with the Vikings and Crusader orders.

Stopping by Kahr’s booth to check out new 6-shot cylinder BFR revolvers from Magnum Research, I instead was sidetracked by a few things – a massive, 17.5 inch barrelled .45-70 revolver from Magnum Research’s custom shop, and multiple Trump-themed firearms.

North American Arms Inc is a producer of concealable mini-revolvers that are both extremely light and convenient to conceal. The guns they produce are designed to be small, light and concealable enough to be carried in almost any situation where printing would normally be an issue especially a mini-revolver over a traditionally sized small frame.

Last year Taurus introduced their Model 856 snub-nosed 6 shot revolver. I was able to get a look this year’s SHOT Show 2020 at their recently revealed Taurus Defender 856. Taking the existing Model 856, Taurus added night sights and a 3″ barrel. With many finishes and styles available, The Defender 856 can be had for a reasonable price as well as in nearly any finish you desire.

From Colt’s press release:
“The Python is back! Building on Colt’s Snake Gun legacy, the legendary double-action revolver returns in stainless steel in 4.25” and 6” barrel lengths. The 2020 Python features modern stainless steel alloys and a re-designed rear sight. Thirty percent more steel beneath the rear adjustable target sight gives you a stronger revolver and more robust shooting experience. A recessed target crown, user-interchangeable front sight, and Walnut grip with the iconic Colt medallion make this a gun you’ll want to shoot AND show off. The Python is chambered in .357 Magnum and also accommodates .38 Special cartridges.”

As we weary TFB staff traveled through the wilds of Industry Day, I wandered towards the sign of the Prancing Pony.  Their one and only ware on display for live fire was the new redesigned Colt Python.  One of Colt’s engineers shed some knowledge on me about the internal workings and manufacturing processes behind this revolver.

Probably, one of my favorite things about the gun community is the amount of experiences and knowledge circling among us. While talking with a friend last week, I started thinking about the cost vs reward of carry guns we have day in and day out. What we don’t think about is what happens after we use a firearm in a self-defense situation. Often times our concealed carry guns will be held in evidence for a number of months or even years, often without any care in a plastic bag. While it’s important to have a carry gun which fits your shooting style, but is it worth carrying a high-end handgun for self-defense when it will be seized for months at a time? Let’s jump into the benefits and negatives of carrying certain firearms.

For those of us on the double-action bandwagon that have been waiting for Colt to produce something in a large-frame like the wheelguns of old, this is it. Colt has been taking their sweet time starting with the smaller, snubby Cobra offerings and have finally built their way to the King Cobra Target. This intermediate size of a 4.25″ barrel gives shooters the potential to carry it as a sidearm, and simultaneously take it to the range for competitions as the “Target” name implies. On a previous Wheelgun Wednesday, we shared a lot of photos of this revolver with you in early December in our “ An Intimate Look at the Colt King Cobra Target.” Hopefully, that primed your appetite for more because today we are going to take a deep dive into the Colt King Cobra Target with a full TFB Review. Let’s dive in!

Yes, it’s true, there was actually a double action revolver in service during the United States’ Civil War, though 600 of only 1000 made were actually purchased by the military.  The particular firearm in question is an Adams & Kerr .36 caliber percussion revolver of 1858, produced by Massachusetts Arms, which has five chambers and a rather unique side plunger for seating the projectiles.

When the topic of dry firing comes up, there will often be a number of debates on how beneficial it is to the shooter. A number of things that can be improved from dry firing but often times people argue against dry firing for a few different reasons. I figured it would be helpful to dive into the good and bad aspects of dry firing and some tips when you get started. Let’s dive down the rabbit hole of dry firing.

With production spanning nearly half a century and ending in 1999, the original Python is a highly sought after piece by collectors. This new revolver boasts modern alloys, a stronger frame and redesigned sights. Still, the new model Python has big shoes to fill – revolver lovers rave over the original’s perfect trigger and awesome accuracy. And while purists will never be able to accept a comparison with the original classic, Colt’s recent track record with new snake guns has been very positive.

Sturm, Ruger & Company has published a press release announcing the second revolver in their newest Super GP100 custom shop revolver line. Earlier, in April of 2019, Ruger released the first model of Super GP100 which was chambered in .357 Magnum. The main difference of the new wheelgun is the caliber it is chambered in – 9mm Luger.

When carrying a concealed firearm in public, there are a ton of small obstacles to overcome when figuring out what’s best for everyday life. It can sometimes be challenging to figure out the best carry style when variables are always changing. Things like lifestyle, clothing, events, and traveling can all create unique challenges for the concealed carrier. Whether it’s carrying in a shoulder holster, on your hip, or appendix style, there are always certain things to work on when traveling in your vehicle. In the past, I’ve talked about carrying truck guns and how your vehicle can be a mobile personal space. Let’s face it, we spend a fairly substantial amount of time in our vehicles either traveling or in our daily commute. It’s important to look at the various aspects when carrying in a vehicle and what’s best for self-defense in the vehicle.

Unfortunately, I have never been to Alaska. But someday, I will go. In preparation for the adventure of a lifetime, like any red blooded American man, I started perusing a list of backcountry sidearms suitable for an encounter with a grizzly. I didn’t look at maps, read travel blogs, pick out activities or even price out plane tickets. Nope, I went right to work researching big-bore handguns and proper ammunition. Priorities and all that. I’ve already discussed one of my most recent backcountry purchases – a 10 millimeter polymer pistol coupled with either Underwood or Buffalo Bore hard cast bullets. But, the lure of a .44 Magnum revolver is nearly as magnetic as the Great White North. Normally preferring semiautomatics, magazine fed rounds and threaded barrels, I jumped out of my comfort zone and embraced the six shot steel life with the Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan revolver.

Welcome back to another edition of TFB’s Wheelgun Wednesday.  In today’s article, we are looking at the Python’s lesser known and more diminutive cousin, the Colt Diamondback. Built on Colt’s D frame, the Diamondback was available in .22LR, .22WMR (rather rare), and .38 Special.  Barrel lengths were 2 1/2″, 4″ and 6″, all with a vent rib and adjustable rear sights.  The Diamondback was available in either blue or nickel finish.  Manufacture began in 1966 and ceased in 1991.