Semi-Auto
Best Pistol for Concealed Carry
Picking the best concealed carry pistol for yourself can be like finding the right house or vehicle. There are endless choices and features to consider when looking at all the models and manufacturers available today. Choosing to take your personal protection into your own hands is a significant choice. This article aims to find some of the best-rated concealed carry pistols on the market in terms of features, reliability, price, and other factors to consider when purchasing your first firearm.
NEW Springfield Armory 1911 AOS Pistols now offer Agency Optic System
The Agency Optic System (AOS) developed by Agency Arms was initially designed for 2011-style handguns and has slowly migrated to other platforms as well because of its growing popularity. This includes Springfield Armory’s 1911 DS Prodigy, and will now be present on 12 new 1911 AOS pistols through the Operator, Emissary, and Ronin lines as well.
The Magnum Research Desert Eagle 44 Mag Wasn't What I Expected
The Desert Eagle is one of the most widely used firearms in movies; while watching Deadpool & Wolverine, I pointed out to my wife that Deadpool was using Desert Eagles, and this wasn’t the first time I’d done this during a movie. Having never fired one until recently, I wondered why they were so popular in movies but not so much in the home or self-defense realm. I had my suspicions. It’s a giant, intimidating handgun, perfect for use in cinema. However, that doesn’t translate well into concealed carrying or home defense, so I had to test it out.
Ed Brown To Release “Fueled” Springfield Prodigy Comp
Ed Brown will be adding his special touch on another production pistol. The new “Fueled by Ed Brown” Prodigy Comp 4.25” adds a custom edge to this Springfield Armory pistol. Keep reading to see what those features are.
Testing the FN 509 Edge CC & LS | Accuracy and Features Breakdown
Join James Reeves from TFBTV as we dive into the FN 509 Edge series, putting the Edge CC and Edge LS models to the test. In this video, we explore the accuracy, features, and overall performance of these cutting-edge pistols. Whether you're considering the Edge series for your next carry or range day, this comprehensive review has you covered.
POTD: Early Italian Renaissance by SK Customs
If your last try at learning the Italian language and culture failed, there’s some hope in this Photo Of The Day, where we admire the latest creation from SK Customs. This gun is a tribute to the works of Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, generally known as Raphael.
Century Arms' High-Powered Centurion 14
Quick, what’s the best pistol ever designed by John Moses Browning? You’ll get a lot of answers for this, although most Americans will loudly shout for the 1911. But along with the classic GI-issued .45 and a lot of other genre-founding pistols (let’s not forget the 1903 pocket pistol, and the Woodsman plinker), the Browning Hi-Power stands as a timeless classic. And now Century Arms has a very affordable clone for sale.
Is this Tisas PX 5.7 The Best Budget 5.7mm Pistol?
While the 5.7x28mm round may not dethrone the popular 9mm anytime soon, it offers unique benefits like high magazine capacity, effective armor penetration with the right loads, and lighter recoil, but it is becoming more and more popular. In this video, we put the Turkish Tisas PX-5.7 to the ultimate test at the Neutral Ground Gun Company range in New Orleans, alongside Kaya from Classic Firearms. With live fire testing and even challenging it against body armor, we explore whether this budget-friendly 5.7mm pistol truly stands out in a competitive market.
TFB Review: Springfield Armory 1911 DS Prodigy Comp AOS 5” 9mm
In our pursuit as shooters for the flattest, most stable, lowest recoiling, most accurate, and best handgun possible, we try anything and everything to achieve our goal. This can present itself through different metal alloy firearms, extendo magazines, weapon-mounted lights, red dots, and all manner of tweaks so we can get on a podium or simply kick our range buddy’s butt. One of my favorite pistols to shoot in the last couple years as I’ve joined the 2011 cult has been the Springfield Armory 1911 DS Prodigy. The Prodigy (a 1911 double-stack) affords you a lot of good features like all 2011-style handguns. They are beefy (fill your grip completely), heavy (the weight mitigates recoil), and are modern enough for all of your favorite add-ons (red dot, flashlight, extendos, etc). Moreover, being an all metal frame and slide, you can craft these pistols to tighter tolerances than their polymer counterparts for a smoother operation. In sum, there is a reason why someone “spiked the punch” at the gun range with a dash of 2011, and everyone is drinking the Kool-Aid now.
TFB Comparison: Hi-Power Face-Off
With a resurgence in popularity by pop culture and new shooters looking for different options, several companies have brought back the legendary Hi-Power. I have already done a review for the FN High Power and Springfield Armory SA-35 individually but wanted to take a closer look at them next to each other to give a better look at which one may be good for you. Let’s take a closer look at the new Hi Powers in our Hi-Power face-off.
Alchemy Custom Weaponry Fat Man Double Stack .45 ACP 1911
Alchemy Custom Weaponry is a custom handgun maker that a few years ago was acquired by Cabot Guns. While both divisions focus on offering high-quality, very well-detailed firearms, ACW tends to be the more practically minded workshop, with models designed to show off in use, not in a case. The RestoMod product line definitely falls in this category, merging nostalgic style with modern features.
Meet the NEW CZ P-07 and P-09 "Nocturne" Pistols!
Join James Reeves for an exclusive first look at the latest iterations of the CZ P07 and P09 handguns, featuring several exciting new enhancements. James Reeves is on-site at the CZ factory in the Czech Republic to discuss and test these new models with a CZ engineer.
POTD: Beretta 92XI Combat Series - Vietnam Tiger Stripe
Photo Of The Day and it’s time again for a pistol. Quite unexpectedly (at least for me) Beretta USA have released a Viternam Tiger Striped limited edition of their 92XI pistol. It looks great, so it would be a mistake not to share these images and ask what you think about it?
Why Do I See CF98, The Chinese Service Pistol, In My Nightmares?
In the US and Europe, many gun owners feel like a Glock or a SIG are pretty dull and boring pistols available to everyone. But when you venture to the Middle East and Africa, things change dramatically. “Normal” Western pistols become expensive and hard to find and you start seeing more and more Chinese handguns, the most popular being the CF-98.
Carrying the LTT Beretta PX4 Storm: What Happened?
In this follow-up video, JamesReeves shares the journey of carrying the Langdon Tactical Beretta PX4 Storm for the past month and taking it through an advanced pistol class at Thunder Ranch. Initially skeptical of the PX4 due to its bulk and rotating barrel system, he was won over by the upgrades and training received from Ernest Langdon himself. James gets into the performance, comfort, and practicality of this hammer-fired pistol in daily carry. He'll discuss insights from training, the modifications made by Langdon Tactical, and how this pistol stacks up against usual striker-fired favorites like the Glock 19 and SIG P365 series.
TFB Review: Springfield Armory Garrison 9mm 1911
It's hard to come out with something that interests me in the 1911 market these days. The market has been saturated with pistols in almost every price range with a large variety of features. So how does Springfield Armory's Garrison hold up? Springfield has been making 9mm and .45 caliber 1911s for years now, with everything from top-of-the-line railed models like the TRP, Operator, and Emissary lines to more traditional pistols like the Mil Spec. The Garrison sits right in the middle of the pack with much appreciated modern features like the 3 dot Novak sights, skeletonized hammer and the extended beavertail. It does all this while keeping the lines and feel of a mil-spec 1911 versus something like the Emissary. Let's dive into the review.
POTD: Germany’s Special Forces New Handguns - Walther PDP P14 and P14K
We do way too few pistols in our Photo Of The Day, but today’s contribution from Walther in Germany should keep everyone happy for quite a while. Above you see the Walther P14 PDP (Performance Duty Pistol) in 9x19 mm.
GFORCE Arms Chronicle: 1911 Remixed, Again
When is a 1911-pattern pistol not a 1911? According to the naysayers, if it isn’t in .45 ACP (or maybe 38 Super?), it doesn’t count. But if you aren’t torn by such negativity, you might want to take a peek at the new GFORCE Arms Chronicle, an all-forged 1911-pattern pistol that’s just hitting the U.S. market now, chambered in 9x19mm.
Springfield Armory 1911 DS Prodigy Comp 9mm Introduces Porting
The Prodigy from Springfield Armory was their first foray into double-stack (DS) 1911-style pistols when it was announced some years ago. More recently, Springfield Armory has introduced 10-round versions for restrictive locales, Coyote Brown Cerakote colorways, and today, a compensated version was released in the 1911 DS Prodigy Comp 9mm.
HOT GAT or FUDD CRAP? Compensated 1911 or Unexpected Depression?
Welcome everyone to the 243rd 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.
Springfield Armory 1911 DS Prodigy 9mm Gets WILEY with Coyote Brown
The Springfield Armory 1911 DS Prodigy 9mm Gets WILEY with Coyote Brown Cerakotes
Should You Get a SIG P365 X Macro? Here's Our Review
Should you get a SIG P365 X Macro? James Reeves tells you in this review. In this comprehensive review, we're taking an in-depth look at the SIG P365 X Macro, a top contender in the concealed carry market. The P365 X Macro boasts a remarkable 17-round capacity while maintaining the slim profile that has made the P365 series so popular. In this video, we will cover:
The S&W Bodyguard 2.0 Is Smaller Than You Think
In this episode of TFBTV, Luke and Hop visit the new S&W facility in Tennessee to shoot a bunch of new guns. And against all odds, the coolest one is a pocket-sized .380? The new Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 is about the same size as the original, and in all other respects is a totally different gun. Everything about the 2.0 has been overhauled, from capacity to the trigger to the ergonomics. And we like it. A lot.
TFB Review: Springfield Armory SA-35
Welcome back to another TFB review. A few weeks ago I looked at FN’s updated and modernized take on the legendary High Power. If you happened to miss that review, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, we are taking a look at the more classic Hi-Power style pistol we all know from the pages of history. Springfield Armory came out with the SA-35 back in 2021 and this is one of the most faithful reproductions of the Browning Hi-Powers on the market today. After spending a couple of months with the SA-35, I can confidently give you some points on the pistol. Let’s take a closer look at the new Springfield Armory SA-35.
NEW Smith & Wesson M&P Carry Comp Series
Smith & Wesson has just announced a new series within the M&P line of pistols, the M&P Carry Comp series. For anyone not in the know as to what a Carry Comp is, it involves compensating the muzzle rise during recoil by venting gas upward against the impulse through a compensator cut into the pistol’s slide and barrel near the muzzle. Compensators have been rising in popularity with the handgun market for some time and S&W has included them as add-on features for their M&P 2023 Spec series. However, the new S&W M&P Carry Comp series comes with the compensator cut directly from the slide and barrel.
CZ 99 - A Good Pistol Developed in a Bad Time
When you hear “CZ”, the first thing that comes to mind is the Česká Zbrojovka factory in Czechia (Czech Republic), famous for their CZ pistols, Scorpion submachineguns, and Bren rifles that our own James Reese recently tested. But there was one more CZ, the Yugoslavian factory called Crvena Zastava (which means “Red Banner” in Serbian), which also used the “CZ” designation for some of their rifles and pistols, the most famous being CZ99.
Ed Brown Announces Multi-caliber Kobra Carry 1911
Ed Brown is well-known in the world of 1911 handguns, and the Kobra Carry model has long been a staple in their lineup. For the 25th anniversary of the Kobra Carry, Ed Brown is releasing a dual-caliber kit. Let’s take a look at the features.