Graham Baates

Graham Baates “Graham Baates” is a pen name used by a 15-year active Army veteran who spent most of his time in the tactical side of the Intelligence community including tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Post-Army Graham spent some time in the 3-Gun circuit before becoming a full-time NRA Certified defensive handgun instructor. After more than 1,900 hours instructing he now works as an industry writer while curating a YouTube channel on the side.

Raw Dog Tactical Holsters: As if There’s Nothing There

The holster market is a busy one. There are the name-brand giants with imported, Chinese made plastic for cheap, your friend down the road who does kydex in his garage, and ultra-premium options that cost enough to mean you won’t be hitting the range anytime soon. Somewhere out there is a Goldilocks brand. If you’ve […]

Do you carry with a round in the chamber?

Carrying with a round in the chamber or not was previously always a debate for me and in the shop I hear all kinds of reasons why some do and others don’t. Almost any professional tells you that if you are carrying you might as well have a round in the chamber otherwise you’re less […]

Walther PPQ SC Pistol: #GripandTrigger

Walther has long been known for quality handguns. Just take a look at our library of Walther articles and it’s easy to verify. #GripandTrigger has most recently been used as a tag line and for good reason. Ergonomics that feel as if the gun was molded for your hand and an impeccable crisp trigger permit […]

First Look: S&W Performance Center SW1911 Pro Series 9mm

S&W Walks the Line Between Competition and Basic with the Pro Series. The Smith & Wesson Performance Center SW1911 Pro Series 9mm has a long tittle and for good reason. This is not just another 1911. In fact, it’s changed what I expect from a 1911 in terms of fit and finish. We’ll call it […]

Cheetah 12 Cheats the Import Ban!

Gun nuts who love the reliability and simplicity of the AK platform have long cherished the Saiga 12 and VEPR 12 shotguns. The reason is simple. A magazine-fed semi-auto shotgun is possibly the most versatile tool one could have in their arsenal. You don’t need to be a fan of YouTuber TaoFledermaus to appreciate the […]

The Softest-Shooting AR, DPM Systems Recoil Reducing Buffer

DPM Systems has been finding ways to reduce felt recoil in all sorts of handguns. I’ve been using their system in my Walthers for a couple of years and am happy to see they now have a system for the AR-15. The concept is simple: Most perceived recoil comes from the slamming of mechanical parts […]

Make Your 9mm Carbine Run Silky Smooth: Blitzkrieg Component’s AKTIVE Buffer

By now most of us have accepted that pistol-caliber carbines are loads of fun. They cost less to shoot, don’t require a “rifle” range, and the report is much more bearable for on-lookers. Toss a can on it and some subsonic ammunition and it gets even quieter. One drawback however is the blow-back operating system. […]

The Jard J68 is made from a simple formula. Pistol-caliber carbine = fun. Bullpup = handy. Pistol-caliber carbine bullpup that accepts Glock magazines = Jard J68. In other words, I'm really looking forward to some trigger time with the Jard J68.

Ultimate Bullpup, Ultimate Pistol-Caliber Carbine: J68

Earlier we gave you a first look at the new Jard J68 in 9mm. Since then a few things have come to light that you should know before watching the video below. Jard Inc makes nearly everything in house, including their barrels. The exterior design was inspired by the need for a true “truck gun” […]

First Look: 1875 Schofield from Taylor’s & Co.

If the 1873 is the quintessential cowboy gun, the Schofield it the ultimate. Taylor’s & Co. makes it possible for us to enjoy the gun you’ve seen in movies like Unforgiven, Tombstone, and 3:10 to Yuma. The Schofield was invented by a cavalry officer as a solution for tackling the task of reloading while on […]

First Look: Evil Roy 1873 Colt from Cimarron

“Evil Roy” is the stage name of World and National SASS champion Gene Pearcey. Cimarron firearms has produced an 1873 Colt Single Action in his name that is ready for competition. I don’t compete in SASS, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a nice hand gun! For those not familiar with Cimarron Firearms or […]