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Ideally, most of us would carry a full-size pistol with a standard-capacity (15 rounds or higher) magazine, but such guns are often heavy and bulky. So when it comes to carry guns—guns that are carried every day—there has to be compromise, be it in size, power or capacity. Little guns typically get carried when you need them, big guns may be left at home. This week, American Rifleman’s Mark Keefe talks about carry guns with one of the greatest professional shooters of all time—Rob Leatham. Nicknamed “TGO” for “The Great One,” Leatham has notched more 60 world and national championships. And Leatham has trained some of the most elite military and law enforcement agencies in the world in how to shoot a handgun—and shoot it well. Not only is Leatham a serious and veteran competitor, he’s a guy who carries a self-defense gun every day. What does he think about what makes carry guns different? Watch this week's NRA Gun Gear video and find out.
Most shooters don’t need a "war belt." While enthusiasts like the idea of preparing for every contingency, the vast majority of us need a reliable platform for a range session, a training class or a local club match.
With a 10X magnification range, the Trijicon Credo 1-10x28 mm riflescope is ideal for close-range targets, long-range pursuits and everything in between.
Research conducted by Responsive Management annually for the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports (CAHSS) found that, in 2025, 78 percent of adult residents in the United States believe learning self-defense skills with a firearm is completely acceptable.
Among today's firearm platforms, the shotgun remains one of the most time-tested, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. Today's new crop of shotguns runs the gamut, giving modern shotgunners new options in nearly every conceivable category.
One man, Alex Robinson, took it upon himself to address what he saw as several shortcomings in the AR-15 design. He consulted with special forces operators and asked what they wanted in a rifle platform. The result was the Robinson Armament XCR.