Ruger

Ruger’s New Rifle in 350 Legend

April 27, 2019 By Josh Leave a Comment

It didn’t take long, and I thought it would have been a bit longer, but a major firearms manufacturer picked up the new to market cartridge, the .350 Legend, and ran with it.

First, let me say that it’s always exciting when a new gun cartridge comes out. Even more exciting is when a major gun manufacturer, like Ruger, shows support for that cartridge early on.

This essentially means that the .350 Legend is here for the long haul.

Earlier this year at SHOT Show 2019, Winchester and CMMG announced the latest in rifle cartridge technology with the .350 Legend and a set of AR-15 platform rifles to match. You can watch the video of the release from CMMG, here:

The result was the invention of the fastest moving straight walled rifle cartridge in existence. And of course, this fills the void of straight walled cartridge hunting restrictions in a few states.

Ruger’s President and CEO Chris Killoy had this to say in the press release we were sent while out at the NRA Annual Meetings, 2019:

We heard our customers loud and clear, and are proud to answer their call … we anticipate the woods of Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and many other states will be full of new Ruger rifles this fall.

Ruger’s newest rifle in their AR-556 line has an MSRP of $1099, which will likely come in a bit lower once it starts to hit gun stores across the nation. Here are the specs for this rifle:

Stock Black Synthetic, Collapsible
Handguard Free-Float With Magpul® M-LOK® Slots
Sights None
Barrel Length 16.38″
Thread Pattern 1/2″-28 x 0.4″
Twist 1:16″ RH
Capacity 5
Finish Type III Hard Coat Anodized
Height 7.30″
Weight 6.6 lb.
Overall Length 33.38″ – 36.63″
Length of Pull 11.10″ – 14.40″
Grooves 5
Suggested Retail $1099.00

And of course, ammunition for the .350 Legend is currently available, and can be found for sale, here, at a decent price considering this ammo is still so new. In addition to the AR-15 rifle, Ruger also announced a bolt action in this cartridge, as well, though I have zero pictures of that one.

You can visit Ruger’s page to learn more about this rifle.

Best AR-15 Manufacturers and Brands [2019]

April 9, 2019 By Josh 6 Comments

I think we can both agree that the AR-15 is an essential firearm for just about any gun enthusiast. I’m a firm believer that every gun owner needs to own at least one of them. They are the perfect weapon for home-defense, regardless of what any snowflake says. And, the AR-15 is also one of the best survival tools you could ever hope to have. After all, everyone has one, they’re easy to fix, and ammo is literally everywhere.

But, there are tons of companies out there making these rifles, and finding out which is the best AR-15 manufacturer isn’t an easy task unless you’ve been around for a bit. What I’ve tried to do in this updated list is add a few manufacturers, and break it down into different categories, like best budget AR-15, and even a category for the best AR-15 lower receiver, if you choose to build your own from the ground up.

Before we get started, let’s take a moment to discuss what “mil-spec” means. You’ll hear that word tossed around a lot, and it’s essential to know what it means before you go out and buy something.

While you may have heard, “just as long as it’s a mil-spec AR-15 you’ll be fine,” that is not always the case. There are some AR-15 makers that are just better than others. Think about it like this …

If your mechanic told you not to worry about your racecar (a 1988 Toyota corolla) because the ONLY modifications it needs to keep up with high-end cars are four tires, would you listen? No? Why not? Because anyone with half a brain can figure out that a 1988 Toyota is not a Lamborghini just because they both require four tires to get around.

As it applies to rifles, just because something is mil-spec, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s high quality. First of all, when a company wins a military contract, it’s usually because the military needs to have the cheapest possible stuff built.

Another thing to remember is that just because a company says something is within spec, doesn’t mean that it actually is. We see this from time to time with some of the lower-grade manufacturers.

Manufacturer or Assembly Line?

Some of the companies on this list are not actually manufacturers, but assembly companies who buy parts from other AR 15 brands. Please note that in most cases, I will not make the distinction here, because there isn’t anything technically wrong with either method, unless you’re using garbage parts–which nobody on this list does.

So, who are the top AR-15 manufacturers of 2018? Here they are broken down in alphabetical order in each category.

Top tier AR-15 manufacturers:

Bravo Company —

I’m a big supporter of just about any veteran owned company out there. When you take a group of veterans who opened up a firearms company, it gets even better because they understand more than anyone the importance of having a rifle that doesn’t fail. That’s BCM’s main goal with their rifles, to the point of using high-quality parts, pressure testing, and magnetic particle testing them. Doesn’t get much better than BCM. They are easily one of the top AR-15 manufacturers right now.

Daniel Defense —

Daniel Defense is one of the best AR-15 manufacturers, and they are one of the few companies who make most of their own parts. Chances are good that you don’t need me to tell you about them, so what I will do is offer up my opinion about the founder, Marty Daniel. He’s actually an inspiration to me because after failing through so many things, he never gave up and is now one of the leading AR-15 manufacturers in the United States.

FN Herstal —

FN is proven in battle, and for plinking. They are also one of those trend setting companies who also tend to make history. While these rifles may not appear on the short list of many “best AR-15 brands” articles out there, they’re on mine, and for good reason. Every time I’ve ever had one, it never malfunctioned on me. That, to me, is most important. Please note that FN also makes some of the best budget AR-15s, as well.

HK —

Heckler & Koch needs no introduction. Coming into play way back in 1949, and most famous for making weapons such as the MP5, MP7, and UMP, many people don’t realize that there are also AR-15s in their product line, as well. They are not cheap, but, then again, they are built like a tank as many of their firearms are.

LaRue —

Texas based LaRue Tactical has a great warranty in place for their high quality firearms and components. It says this: If you ain’t happy, then we ain’t happy. In other words, if your LaRue *anything* breaks, send it back and they’ll take care of it. LaRue isn’t only one of the best AR-15 manufacturers in the country, they are a premier manufacturer who makes most parts in house to make sure the highest quality is achieved. What really sets them apart, is that each rifle has been guaranteed to shoot 1 MOA before it leaves their shop, and you even get the target that shows what the rifle is capable of.

LMT —

Lewis Machine & Tool has been making ARs since I was born, which was 1980. They’ve got more than experience on their side, however, because they are also supplying firearms to military units around the globe. In fact, a couple years back they beat out several other AR-15 brands to win a contract to supply the entire New Zealand Army with rifles. If I remember correctly, that was a history making deal that even President Trump would be proud of.

LWRC —

LWRC is one of the best AR 15 manufacturers, and an award winner at that. They use high-quality components, check them for cracks, cold-hammer forge their own barrels that are not like most of the others on this list. Their barrels are NiCorr treated, making them more durable in the long run, than most of the others available today.

Noveske —

Noveske is one of the premier AR-15 manufacturers in the country. Today, even though some gaps have closed up a bit, they are still one of the top AR15 brands in the game. A couple things that set them apart from most today, is the quality of the barrel and the attention to detail during the assembly process. They spend more time on each rifle, than most other companies. This ensures that, if you can afford one and don’t build a rifle yourself, you rest assured knowing that you get the highest quality possible.

POF —

POF is a recent entrant to the best AR-15 manufacturer list, and was suggested to me by multiple people, including a very good friend of mine. So after handling them a bit more, I’ve decided that I agreed and they deserved to be on this list. They offer a wide range of rifles for you to choose from, including both direct impingement, gas piston, and bolt-action AR-style rifles.

Rock River —

Rarely is a rifle made to such tight and consistent tolerances. Rock River started out originally by making 1911s out of a garage, realized that there was a gap to be filled in the AR-15 market, and the rest is history. Today, they work out of a 50,000 SF facility designed to do one thing: bring you the highest quality AR-15s they possibly can.

Sig Sauer —

Sig Sauer is a top quality firearms manufacturer overall, in many categories, in addition to being one of the AR-15 brands I’ve got here. As you likely know, Sig just won the military contract to replace Beretta as the sidearm of choice for the US military. Sig also makes great rifles, and is one of the top AR 15 manufacturers in the country. Their reputation stands for itself and requires no other introduction.

Best Budget AR-15s

Colt —

If you’re in the market for an affordable (but still expensive) rifle that gets you close to owning an M4, then Colt is the right choice for you. Colt has a long history in developing firearms and, well, making firearms history. The company has numerous firsts under their belt, and while many claim that their quality control isn’t what it once was, they are still one of the top AR 15 manufacturers. As a benefit, if you’re looking to get into shooting for cheaper, an LE 6920 or 6940 is readily available at a price below many of the other rifles on this list.

Ruger —

Sometimes you just want a rifle from a manufacturer you know and trust that’s not going to break the bank. Not that any of the other companies on this best AR15 manufacturer list are not trustworthy. If that were the case, they wouldn’t be here. But, as far as affordable rifles go, I wanted to provide another example, and Ruger is a solid company with a great entry level rifle. The barrel is cold hammer forged, parts are properly attached and staked, and, as a bonus, you get Ruger’s fantastic customer service.

Smith & Wesson M&P15 —

Smith & Wesson offers up a great budget AR-15 for those of us looking for a rifle to get into, just testing the waters. Or, for those of us who are stacking rifles and burying them in the ground “just in case.” Either way, the S&W M&P 15 isn’t something you can go wrong with.

Best Left Handed AR-15:

Stag 15L —

Yes, this is a thing and while we were told in the Marines to just learn how to use the other side, there is an option in the civilian market for lefty AR-15 rifles. Joe recently had the chance to take a Stag 15L Tactical for a test run and he was my SSGT while in the Marines. I therefore trust his opinion and he says he liked this rifle so much he had to buy it. That’s good enough for me. You can buy them direct from their website.

Best AR-15 Lower Receivers:

Aero Precision —

For those times when you just want to build your own AR-15, because screw the man, you really cannot go wrong with Aero Precision. I’m getting ready to start collecting parts to build another one, and I’m going to be using an Aero Precision upper and lower. For the price, this is one of the best companies out there. Aero Precision is usually the lowest I’d go, with lower receivers starting in the $90 range, and often times found cheaper than that with sales.

Seekins Precision —

Stepping it up a bit in price from the previous entrant, is Seekins Precision. There isn’t a whole lot that can be said, other than I’m a firm believer in the mantra: you get what you pay for. Seekins ain’t cheap, but if you believe that paying more for something renders a better finished product (that’s also sexy as hell) then you can’t go wrong here. Then again, one of their lowers retails for over $250, and I’ve built entire rifles for $400 before, so there’s also that.

Spikes Tactical —

I like to think of Spikes Tactical as the in between point of the above two, with lower receivers coming in at $125. Their themed ones in the priceless designs like their “snowflake” lower receiver are fantastic, always good for a laugh, and of course great at starting a conversation. Either way, if you’re building a rifle, Spikes Tactical is a good place to start.

Conclusion —

Who do you think the Top AR-15 manufacturer is? Let me know in the comments below. Want to find out what I think are the best 22 cal pistols?

The Ruger 10/22 Review: An American Classic

June 27, 2018 By Travis Pike Leave a Comment

On my top 7 22 Rifles list, my number one choice was the humble Ruger 10/22. I listed a few reasons there, but let’s reevaluate why this rifle is so fantastic. The Ruger 10/22 is on equal grounds with guns like the AR-15 and the Glock series of handguns.

It’s the definitive gun of it’s of its type. The Ruger 10/22 is infinitely customizable and one could easily even build their own Ruger with barely any Ruger parts. There are even 80% lowers for this gun. Why is it so popular? Because it works! It works extremely well. It’s accurate, easy to shoot, and most of all reliable.

The Break Down on the Ruger 10/22

The Ruger 10/22 is a semi-automatic 22 LR rifle that comes in several different configurations. This rifle uses a rotary magazine, which makes feeding rimmed rounds easy and its one of the most reliable designs on the market. My particular model is the shorter and lighter carbine variant. The Ruger 10/22 carbine has an 18.5-inch barrel and my particular model has the basic wooden stock. It wears open sights and comes drilled and tapped for a Dovetail scope mount.

The Ruger 10/22 comes in over a dozen configurations, including takedown models, distributors exclusives, tactical variants and more I’m probably forgetting. There is a Ruger 10/22 out there for everyone.

The Ruger 10/22 is designed for a variety of tasks. It’s a great small game hunting rifle, it can be built into a precision rifle or just a fun plinking rifle. That’s what’s mine does in most situations.

When I just want to pull triggers and save money I break out the Ruger 10/22. When it comes to new shooters, the Ruger is a perfect rifle, especially for kids. I firmly believe the key to getting new shooters started is to let them have fun first and then teach them the fundamentals of marksmanship. What more fun than a rifle that fires as fast as you pull the trigger with such little recoil?

Ergonomics

Let’s get the bad out of the way first. The magazine release is a real hassle, at least on my model. The new Rugers have a much better magazine release, but mine is the old school awkward push button design. The right side charging handle is so untactical that I love it. The stock is a little short for my gorilla arms, but because the rifle doesn’t recoil much it’s easy for me to manage it.

The sights are simple open irons, but they work for rimfire needs. They aren’t special, and replacing them with something like Tech sights are a drastic improvement. I keep an old and cheap red dot mounted on mine, and it works well. Everything is simple about the Ruger 10/22 and that’s part of the appeal. It’s just as easy for an 8-year-old to use as it is for a 28-year-old.

On the Range

I’ve had this Ruger for over 10 years and it still remains a constant at the range. I’ve never had any serious malfunctions beyond the occasional failure to fire. These are rare enough that I can’t remember the last actual malfunction. The factory magazines are the key to the reliability with this rifle, and Ruger now produces the BX 15 and BX 25 magazines on top of the standard 10 rounders and they work like magic.

The Ruger 10/22 is a straight shooter and its a perfect companion for any new or experienced shooter. The trigger is outstanding for a cheap little 22 LR rifle and the only complaint I have is the trigger reset. It’s a bit lacking in the audible and tactile feedback realm. But let’s face it, this isn’t a big deal on a rifle made to shoot soda cans.

Long-Term Love

This is one of those guns that’ll never leave the collection. It’s such a fun little gun and I’ve used it to train dozens of young and new shooters in the basic art of rifle shooting. It’s still a gun I break out when stress is high and I need to just put lead downrange. The Ruger 10/22 is a fun little gun, and easily one of the best rimfire rifles ever created. The Ruger 10/22 is an amazing rifle, and a must have for any gun collection.

New guns of SHOT Show 2018

February 9, 2018 By Terry Nelson Leave a Comment

Say hello to the Ruger Security 9. Photo by Terry Nelson.

Every year, the National Shooting Sports Foundation hosts the annual Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trades (SHOT) Show. The show allows the gun industry to showcase the newest firearms and related gear. SHOT Show just ended last month in Las Vegas, Nevada, where it’s been held for several years. The following is just a few of the appealing new firearms entering the market in 2018.

Ruger’s PC (pistol caliber) carbine in 9mm, has been around for a number or years. The PC now accepts Glock magazines, in addition to Ruger pistol magazines. What’s so appealing to me about this carbine is its takedown ability. It comes apart just like the Ruger 10/22 takedown.

Another Ruger offering is the “Security 9″ pistol, a low-cost version of the G19. It comes standard with a manual safety lever, which I would recommend leaving in the “off” position anyway. Nice trigger at five pounds with a crisp reset. For a serious carry pistol, it’s not bad, and pricing is very reasonable.

The Glock 19X is essentially a G19 slide on a G17 frame. Some are advocates of this idea, others not so much. Reports are that the trigger has been much improved. Glock will most likely do well with this new offering.

Walther’s well known PPQ pistol now has a smaller version, the “SC.” Short grip and short slide, in 9mm, it’s an 11-shooter. A bit small for some, but many will like it. The PPQ trigger is hard to beat.

Springfield Armory’s hammer-fired XDE is another pistol on its way to gathering a unique following as a hammer fired system. New for 2018 is the 45ACP, but it’s been offered in 9mm last year. It is very flat (single column) and easy to carry. Slide manipulation is reported to be very easy although the double to single action trigger can be challenging.

Springfield Armory’s XD-E9, now in 45 ACP. Terry Nelson photo.

Honor Defense is making a polymer-framed, single-column 9mm (8-shooter) with modular grip components, and comes apart exactly like a SIG 320.

Beretta’s APX pistol is a G17-sized, double-column carry pistol. Reports are that it surpasses all their other models. Many Beretta fans are recommending it.

Also from Beretta is the model 1301 shotgun, at the top of the list of defensive purposes. Folks are saying it has much less recoil than the model 1201. The model 1301 will be a good option for those looking for a 12ga shotgun for serious applications.

Sig Sauer has a new model, P365. It’s a striker-fired, flat, 9mm concealment pistol, designed to compete with the S&W Shield, Kahr PM9, Walther PPS/M2, and G43. The 365 comes from the factory with night-sights, a nice addition. The magazine is basically single stack that makes the 365 an 11 or 12-shooter depending on which magazine you use.

SIG P365 — SIG Sauer’s P365 from their Premier Media Day

Kahr Arms now makes a nice AR selling in the $750.00 range. Kahr pistols are now available in the “C,” “S,” and “P” series, “P” being the nicest-finished and most expensive. All are reported to run well.

DSArms, well known makers of FALs, is making the CTC, a folding stock with magazine-release near the front of the trigger-guard. If you are looking for a serious 308 rifle, take a look at what DSA has to offer.

POF (Patriot Ordinance Factory) is producing the “Revolution” gas-piston AR rifle in 308 caliber. For those who love 308 rifles, this is another great choice in a defensive rifle. It’s about the same weight and size as a typical AR in 5.56×45.

Late breaking … although it did not debut at SHOT Show, Smith and Wesson has come out with the M&P 380 Shield EZ, comparable to their M&P Shield line of pistols. This 380 ACP pistol comes with a grip safety, tactile chamber indicator and adjustable rear sight. The EZ will be available at retailers in February 2018 according to Smith and Wesson.

There is no doubt that the industry is putting much effort into compact and flat pistols of all calibers with the concealed carry market in mind and with good cause … more and more folks are serious about providing for their everyday defense.

For the rest of our SHOT Show 2018 coverage, make sure you check out and subscribe to our YouTube Channel.