ARTV Preview: Colt Commanders at Gunsite; Rock River Arms RUK-9; Steyr AUG

by
posted on July 1, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
This week on American Rifleman TV, NRA Digital Operations Manager Joe Kurtenbach goes to Gunsite Academy to test the latest Colt Commander pistols at the prestigious training center. Our Rifleman Review is the Rock River RUK-9 pistol in 9 mm Luger. On "I Have This Old Gun," we provide an overview of one of the first bullpups, the Steyr AUG (Armee Universal Gewehr), in both its military and civilian forms.

The Colt Commander has been around for about 70 years, ever since the U.S. Army thought it might want to adopt a lightweight, 1911-style handgun chambered in 9 mm as a replacement for the M1911A1 in .45 ACP. However, given existing stocks of the .45-cal. sidearm following WWII, it was never adopted.

With advancements in 9 mm bullet technology, the 9 mm Colt Commander is more capable and relevant than ever before. Colt's engineers met with instructors at Gunsite Academy in a collaboration to build the best defensive platform possible in the Commander size.

We traveled to Gunsite to run the gun through its paces, and we got an inside look at the history behind this gun, as well as the features that make it a solid range and self-defense option.

Pistol-caliber platforms based on the AR-style receiver are popular options right now, given their compactness and low recoil. One of the latest platforms on the market is the RUK-9 from Rock River Arms. We highlight the design features of the gun and run it through its paces on the range.

When the Austrian army adopted the AUG, it was on the cutting edge of firearm design, thanks to the futuristic, bullpup-style design of the rifle. Even today, more than 40 years after its introduction, it continues to look futuristic and modern. We cover the background behind this revolutionary platform on "I Have This Old Gun."

To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.

Latest

Whittington Center Adventure Camp 11
Whittington Center Adventure Camp 11

The NRA Whittington Center's Adventure Camp: An Outdoor Education For Kids

If you have kids between the ages of 13 and 17, there is quite simply no better summer experience you can give them than the NRA Whittington Center Adventure Camp.

Army Testing New XM8 Carbine (No, Not That XM8)

Some members of the U.S. Army will begin receiving a new XM8 carbine for testing, a shorter, lighter version of the M7 rifle introduced under the branch’s Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) program.

When Price IS the Object

You get what you pay for, right? Maybe yes, maybe no.

Review: Taurus 66 Combat Revolver

Taurus’ new 66 Combat shows that even revolvers can get with the times.

New For 2026: Silent Steel USA Streamer Series PCC Suppressors

If there are two things that are popular in the firearms world right now, it is suppressors and pistol-caliber carbines (PCC). Silent Steel USA has both bases covered with its new Streamer Series PCC suppressors.

The Armed Citizen® March 30, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.