HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Customized Classic or Hopelessly Tragic?

Welcome everyone to the 229th 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 firearms that are actually for sale and ask the question – is this Gat a sweet deal or 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.

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New Calibers from Spohr Revolvers: .44 Mag and .22 LR

In this episode of TFBTV, James Reeves is at IWA 2024 to talk to Tomas Spohr about his high-quality revolvers, in particular the NEW N-frame-sized .44 Magnum and .22 LR revolvers he is producing in 2024. Spohr makes incredibly high-quality revolvers with no MIM parts, and they are coming to the US this year.

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Concealed Carry Corner: Carry Tips That Make A Big Difference

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we took a look at my top 5 favorite summertime carry guns. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I wanted to look at a few small things that make a huge difference when it comes to carrying a handgun daily. Some of you may have other ideas and that’s completely understandable but over the years I have figured out a few tricks to have a more comfortable experience when carrying for 8 or even 12 hours in a given day. Let’s take a closer look at some carry tips that make a big difference.

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Wheelgun Wednesday: Charter Arms Professional .32 H&R Mag 7-Shot

When it comes to wheelguns and revolvers we love to discuss the “big headliners” of the industry in Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Taurus, and even some lesser-known companies that are quite high-end like Korth and Manurhin. For whatever reason it might be (and I only notice this when people discuss revolvers), we skip over the more affordable brands when giving wheelguns press coverage. You don’t hear a lot about Heritage Manufacturing Inc (Heritage Mfg) or a company like, say, Charter Arms. Both of which make cheap yet highly serviceable revolvers. They are never showpieces or considered high-end, but that’s OK. These are wheelguns that continue to go BANG! as cheap as their price tag is, and they still get the job done. So, why does Charter Arms get overlooked?… This is a loaded question with no one precise answer, but I am going to simplify my answer and softly turn the mirror back on them: it’s a bit of Charter Arms’ fault. Recently, I stumbled across the Charter Arms Professional on the Charter Arms website. The Charter Arms Professional is a classy, attractive, and slightly improved version that stands out from the litany of snub-nose revolvers currently in their portfolio. The Charter Arms website, once again, only lists 1 Professional model revolver chambered oddly in .32 H&R Magnum, but did you know that Charter Arms manufactures 6 unique Professional models and that it is a completely built-out series?!?!… Yeah, I had no idea until about 1 week ago, and just like you – the well-informed, distinguished readers that you are – I consider myself pretty “tapped into” the revolver market. So, let’s dig into the Charter Arms Professional revolver and its entire series more thoroughly to see what Charter Arms has got goin’ on!

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Concealed Carry Corner: My Top 5 Summer Carry Guns

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about carrying in your vehicle as well as ways to safely store your firearms in a vehicle. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here.. This week, with the weather becoming warmer in the northern states, I wanted to take a look at some of the firearms I really enjoy carrying during the summer months. Some people who live in areas with seasonal weather like to carry various firearms depending on the year. The summer months are a fine balance of size and capacity. Let’s take a look at my top 5 summer carry guns.

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Wheelgun Wednesday: The Colt Blued Python Returns! Prayers Answered

There were some snakes in the weeds at SHOT Show 2024, but you had to be looking for them to find one. What we’re metaphorically speaking to is the unveiling of NEW Colt Blued Python offerings in .357 Magnum after a 28-year hiatus. While some people adore the sight of a bright, stainless revolver, I am of the contrarian group that loves me a deep, blued revolver. So, I was quite giddy to see that Blued Python models are now a part of Colt’s portfolio of arms again.

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Wheelgun Wednesday: The Rare, Budget-Minded Manurhin MR93

Welcome to TFB’s Wheelgun Wednesday where we explore the wide world of revolvers, past, present, and future. Today we’ll be hopping in the Wayback Machine to the mid-1990s when Manurhin introduced a new, budget-minded revolver, the Manurhin MR93. Thanks to our friend Cédric Armurier, a gunsmith in France, we’re able to bring you a look into this rare specimen. The blokes at the Bloke On The Range YouTube channel also allowed us to share their experiences with the Manurhin MR93. Let’s take a look under the hood.

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The SPACE COWBOY Revolver Carbine! (By Austria Arms & Alfa Proj)

In this episode of TFBTV, James Reeves is in Austria visiting the world-renowned gun store, Austria Arms to have a look at their “Space Cowboy” revolver carbine. Although it doesn’t have an official title yet, everyone has taken to calling this the “Space Cowboy” for obvious reasons. Despite being a traditional revolver (made by Alfa Proj), this carbine adopts a futuristic, tactical style with its appearance and features. It includes a full-length M-LOK handguard with continuous optic rail, a skeletonized buttstock with cheek riser, enlarged controls, a muzzle brake, and more. Essentially, this clever design was created as a workaround for European gun laws – depending on the country, the Space Cowboy may be a relatively easy-to-purchase and license firearm because it is, indeed, a revolver. However, you still get nearly all of the benefits of a powerful semi-auto carbine – other than capacity, of course. James walks you through this interesting design.

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Wheelgun Wednesday: Silencing the Gap - Part 3

Welcome back to  Wheelgun Wednesday, our weekly article series where we cover everything related to revolvers. Today’s topic is the technical challenge of effective sound suppression of revolvers. In Part 2 we looked at “Gap Sealing Cartridges”, now we’ll investigate the most exotic solution: “Silent Cartridges”.

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Concealed Carry Corner: Getting Cover Garments Down

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we took a look at normal problems people will have when it comes to carrying concealed. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I want to take a bit of a deeper dive into the world of cover garments. When it comes to carrying concealed, there are a number of things that can make carrying a better experience or worse depending on your carry gun and clothing choices. Having a good cover garment can make life much easier. Let’s take a closer look at getting cover garments down.

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Wheelgun Wednesday: Booligan's Taurus Ultra Snubby Handgun – TUSH

Welcome to another edition of TFB’s Wheelgun Wednesday, where we explore the vast world of revolvers. This week, we’ll take a look at one of Booligan’s latest builds, the Taurus Ultra Snubby Handgun, or TUSH for short. If you’re not familiar with Booligan, he loves 3D printing and modifying guns; so much so that some of his projects have already shown up here on TFB. This snubby revolver started life as a Taurus 856 Ultra Light, chambered for six rounds of .38 Special, but Booligan wanted an extra short, pocketable revolver, and in the process this Ultra Light wheelgun became extra ultra lighter.

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The Best Revolvers in the World? Spohr FINALLY Coming to the US

Join us as Tomas Spohr introduces James Reeves to the newest Spohr Revolvers, now making their highly anticipated debut in the US. Crafted with the renowned precision and excellence that German gunsmithing is known for, these top-quality revolvers represent a perfect blend of innovation, reliability, and artistry. Don’t miss this exclusive look at the future of shooting excellence, brought to you straight from the heart of Germany to the hands of American enthusiasts.

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Concealed Carry Corner: Normal Problems For Carrying Concealed

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. In the last installment, we talked about carrying with layers when the weather starts to get colder. If you happened to miss that article last week, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I want to take a look at a few different aspects of carrying that people will naturally work through. I recently was teaching a few students in a basic fundamental course and a number of students were asking questions that reminded me of when I first started carrying many years ago. Let’s take a closer look at some normal problems for carrying concealed.

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GunBroker Auctions Ruger "Jade Vaquero" for Cody Firearms Museum

The Cody Firearms Museum, located at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, is an icon. This incredible museum houses what they advertise as “the most comprehensive collection of American firearms in the world.” With the current count of more than 7000 guns and some 30,000 gun-related artifacts, this bold claim is well warranted. The museum is not publicly funded but is supported in part by admission tickets, tours and events, and membership options. Recently, GunBroker.com teamed up with Ruger’s Custom Shop, artist Paul Lantuch and Baron Engraving, and Rangehot photographer Hunter Elliott to further support this important institution. These entities collaborated to offer an auction benefiting the museum, for a gorgeous one-of-a-kind .45LC Ruger revolver, dubbed the “Jade Vaquero”. Check out the Jade Vaquero’s auction page here for details, and to see how much it sold for, and see below for a copy of GunBroker’s announcement for more.

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Wheelgun Wednesday: Silencing the Gap - Part 2

Welcome back to  Wheelgun Wednesday, our weekly article series where we cover everything related to revolvers. Today’s topic is the technical challenge of effective sound suppression of revolvers. In Part 1 we looked at mechanically sealed revolvers, today we’ll focus on “Gap Sealing Cartridges”, an uncommon approach with plenty of potential.

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[SHOT 2024] Zeta6 SafeSnap Dry Fire Training Discs and K-PAK Ambi Speed Strips

Zeta6, a company known for its innovative speed loaders and speed strips for revolvers, expanded its product line with the introduction of the SafeSnap Dry Fire Training Discs. Designed for revolver enthusiasts who engage in dry fire practice, the new SafeSnap discs are engineered to preserve the lifespan of the firearm by preventing firing pin damage during dry fire sessions.

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[SHOT 2024] North American Arms Sentinel Mixes And Matches Their Formula

During SHOT 2024, North American Arms unveiled a new addition to its lineup, the Sentinel mini-revolver. This latest piece retains the familiar small-bore, concealed carry-friendly design that the company is known for, with a significant update that marks its 50th year of operation. The Sentinel closely resembles the popular Pug model but introduces a swing-out cylinder feature. Scheduled for release in the summer of 2024, the Sentinel comes chambered in .22 Magnum with the option for shooters to equip a .22LR conversion cylinder to suit their preferences.

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[SHOT 2024] Diamondback Firearms Tommy Gun-Style AR and SDR Revolver

Diamondback Firearms has unveiled two new products at the SHOT Show 2024, projecting a blend of classic and modern firearm features.

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New Smith & Wesson "Ultimate Carry" Airweight Revolvers

James Reeves is at Lipsey’s booth talking with Jason about new Smith & Wesson Ultimate Carry revolvers in .38 Special and .32 H&R Magnum. These feature upgraded triggers, improved Novak sights, G10 grips, and more, plus the price is incredibly reasonable. Check the video for details.

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[SHOT 2024] Pietta Firearms Debuts The Hand of God Great Western II

The renowned firearm manufacturer Pietta Firearms proudly presented its latest creation, The Hand of God Great Western II, at the SHOT Show 2024. Renowned for its synthesis of historical reverence with modern shooting needs, Pietta has once again hit the mark by imitating the 3:10 to Yuma revolver, which is a great favorite among Western enthusiasts.

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[SHOT 2024] Taurus Channels The West with The All New Taurus Deputy

With an intent to make its mark on the crowded market of western-themed firearms, Taurus, an iconic gun manufacturer celebrated for its affordability, has unveiled the latest addition to its revolver family – the Taurus Deputy. This single-action revolver seems a fitting tribute to the rugged appeal and classic aesthetics of the Old West, reflecting the brand’s commitment to bringing an economically viable choice to firearm enthusiasts.

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The Diamondback SDR – The New Lightest 6-Shot .357 Magnum Revolver

Luke C (@ballisticaviation)​⁠ is at SHOT Show 2024 Industry Day at the Range with Diamondback Firearms to talk about their second-ever revolver, and their first-ever centerfire revolver chambered in .357 Magnum. The New SDR (Self Defense Revolver) is a modern J-frame design revolver featuring a polished stainless steel finish, two types of Hogue rubberized grips, fiber optic sights, and weighs in at only 21 ounces. According to the folks at Diamondback, this makes the SRD the newest and lightest six-shot .357 Magnum revolver on the market.

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Concealed Carry Corner: Carrying A Concealed Gun With Layers

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about different styles of iron sights on carry pistols if you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I want to look at something I often struggle with during really cold temperatures like most of the northeastern part of the country is dealing with currently. When you start to have 3-4 heavy layers on your body, it can be tricky to grab a concealed firearm quickly. Certain carry positions as well as a few different techniques can make it easier to draw. Let’s take a closer look at how it can be tricky carrying a concealed gun with layers.

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Wheelgun Wednesday: Silencing the Gap – Part 1

Welcome back to  Wheelgun Wednesday, our weekly article series where we cover everything related to revolvers. Today’s topic is the technical challenge of effective sound suppression of revolvers. While we all know that the cylinder gap prevents proper suppression, we will look at different workarounds, developed by designers across the world. There’s no universally accepted categorization of solutions to this problem, but for the sake of simplicity we’ll arbitrarily divide the approaches into three groups:

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Concealed Carry Corner: Iron Sights For Carry Guns

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we took a look at various ways to carry while using an ORV. If you happened to miss that article and want to check it out, be sure to click the link here. This week, I wanted to take a look at various iron sight options for people who carry concealed. Depending on the sight choice, it can offer various advantages compared to other options. Let’s take a closer look at iron sights for carry guns.

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Wheelgun Wednesday: Taurus Optics Ready Option Revolvers are now California Approved!

Good news for California-ites who are fans of revolvers and pistol optics, Taurus’ optics ready revolvers are now approved for sale in California. Taurus 856 T.O.R.O. and 605 T.O.R.O. (Taurus Optics Ready Option) have been added to California’s Department of Justice’s roster of Handguns Certified for Sale.

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Concealed Carry Corner: How To Conceal In An ORV

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about how small guns aren’t always the best option when carrying them daily. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here for more information. This week, I wanted to look at another topic that can apply to a lot more people than just the offroad community. Whether it’s riding four-wheelers, side-by-sides or jeeps, the idea of carrying a concealed firearm while you enjoy the great outdoors makes a lot more sense than it initially sounds. Let’s take a closer look at how to conceal in an ORV.

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Wheelgun Wednesday: Throwing It Back With The Ruger Service Six

Thanks for joining us for another installment of Wheelgun Wednesday here on TFB. This is my first time writing one of these posts, so it is fitting that I talk about my first revolver. This 4-inch Ruger Police Service Six has been with me since my teenage years and it continues to serve me well.

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HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Realtree Colt or Revolver Revolt?

Welcome everyone to the 221st 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 firearms that are actually for sale and ask the question – is this Gat a sweet deal or 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.

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Wheelgun Wednesday: Smith & Wesson Texas Rangers Bicentennial Revolver

Welcome back to  Wheelgun Wednesday, our weekly article series where we cover everything related to revolvers. Today we’ll take a look at a new limited edition custom Smith & Wesson revolver which is a tribute to America’s oldest state law enforcement agency,  Texas Rangers, who are celebrating their 200th anniversary. Created in collaboration with Davidson’s, the Smith & Wesson Texas Rangers bicentennial commemorative revolver is an N-Frame six-shooter embellished with engravings and gold inlaid markings and insignia.

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