Daniel Whitaker

A look at affordable firearms that earned a reputation for reliability, accuracy, and real world performance that often rivaled pricier models.

We looked at what concealed carry instructors value most and where Springfield Armory and Smith & Wesson each stand out. The result is a practical, instructor-minded comparison that goes far beyond brand loyalty.

Few rimfire arguments last longer than Ruger 10/22 versus Marlin Model 60. Both rifles earned loyal followings for good reason, and the real winner depends on what you value most: customization, simplicity, accuracy, or nostalgia.

A look at 12 famously hard-kicking firearms and why their recoil has become part of their legend.

A practical gallery on the firearms that often frustrate seasoned hunting and outdoor guides, and the habits behind their bad reputations.

A practical look at well-known firearms that often disappoint buyers with poor reliability, bad ergonomics, weak value, or outdated design.

A look at enduring handgun designs that earned reputations for longevity, reliability, and decades of real-world service.

The AR-15 is not automatically a bad hunting rifle, but it is easy to misuse if hunters treat it like a one-size-fits-all answer. Guides and experienced hunters increasingly agree that the platform works well within clear limits, especially for varmints, hogs, and deer when caliber, bullets, and state laws line up.

A home-defense shotgun can be effective, but it is not the simple, foolproof answer many buyers imagine. Before you buy one, understand the tradeoffs in recoil, capacity, training, storage, and what actually works inside a real home.

The .357 Magnum used to define practical power, but today it gets dismissed as old-fashioned. That misses the point: few handgun cartridges can match its mix of controllability, flexibility, field utility, and cross-platform usefulness.