Smith & Wesson opened its Performance Center in 1989 in order to create custom race guns, eventually expanding to a variety of guns ranging from hunting rifles to carry guns. What makes S&W Performance Center firearms unique is that although many of the firearms might contain special features that are typically found only in "one off" custom guns, the manufacturer produces them in large enough quantities to keep them affordable and available to everyone. Many Performance Center guns—like thePorted M&P Shield—originate from standard designs and are then customized and tuned for precision, while others are created from the ground up to include hand cutting and fitting. Overall, Smith & Wesson prides itself not only on its products but also its employees, with some of its workers being the third generation of their family to work for the company. Check out this segmentfrom a recent episode ofAmerican Rifleman TV to learn more about Smith & Wesson's Performance Center.
Along with John Hall, William Jenks was an early pioneer in the realm of the breechloading carbine. However, Jenks' breechloading guns didn't see the widespread acceptance or fame of the Model 1819 Hall Rifle and its later carbine variants.
In just a single day, a record-breaking $168,770 was generated to support youth shooting sports at the fourth annual Day of Clays hosted by the MidwayUSA Foundation in Minnesota.
For each of the past 23 years, the editors of American Rifleman have convened to select our top picks for the past year’s best and most innovative products. Here are the most recent winners.
CVA's mid-point Optima muzzleloader got a refresh in 2025, and this third-generation model offers a number of additional features while still remaining affordable.
Any survey of military firearms isn’t complete without also discussing the development of ammunition across this past quarter-millennium. From a conceptual standpoint, very little has changed.