ARTV Preview: Hornady CX Bullet, Smith & Wesson M&P12 and Cane Air Guns

by
posted on January 25, 2022
** 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. **

Hornady is one of the best-regarded brands on the market, especially when it comes to quality ammunition. The company got its start in 1949 with the manufacture of bullets, and today, Hornady bullets are some of the best in the business. It continuously develops and improves its projectiles, resulting in new lines with better performance values. The same is true when it comes to its highly successful expanding monolithic bullets. 

The new Hornady CX expanding monolithic bullet.

Recently, the company released a successor to its GMX bullet, which was originally released in 2009. The new CX expanding monolithic bullet builds off the success of the GMX, while integrating several improvements developed by Hornady over the past decade. In this week's feature, we travel to Hornady's facility in Grand Island, Neb., to see how these new bullets are made.

The Smith & Wesson M&P12 bullpup shotgun.

For Rifleman Review, we test a new bullpup shotgun design unveiled by Smith & Wesson, the M&P12. With a pump action and dual feeding tubes, the M&P12 offers copious shell capacity despite its compact package. The two magazine tubes hold six shells each, and the M&P12's 12-ga. barrel can chamber up to 3" shells. The barrel can also accept adjustable choke tubes. Its overall aesthetics are styled in a futuristic form, with the inclusion of an AR-style pistol grip and safety selectors, and polymer used in much of the frame and stock construction. 

Firing a cane air gun.

Later, we examine the history of one of the more unusual self-defense arms to have garnered popularity in Victorian-era England, cane air guns. At the time, petty crime and street violence were very common, with certain urban areas effectively becoming "no-go zones" for the well-to-do. As a result, efforts when into designing defensive arms for gentlemen that would be easily hidden on their person.

Thus, air guns were developed in the shape of canes, which were unsuspecting in their form and in common use at the time. These air guns had an activation lever built in, and when needed could be deployed and used to fire off a single projectile, enough to deter a threat

To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/videos/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

Youth Shooting Sports Growth
Youth Shooting Sports Growth

Growth in Youth Shooting Sports Signals Bright Future for the 2nd Amendment

Judging by the record number joining clubs and teams, mass-media’s disinformation and political rhetoric are losing their luster with today’s youth, who are making time to head to the range.

Go-Bag Essentials: 5 Key Products for Your Escape Kit

These five products will help you remain comfortable and safe should you need to bug out in a hurry due to natural or man-made disasters.

10 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About The Smith & Wesson Model 29

Without a doubt, the Smith & Wesson Model 29 is one of the 20th century’s most shootable, collectible "superstar" revolvers. Here are a few little-known facts about the gun.

Packable Punch: Discreet Ways to Carry More Firepower

While folding and takedown firearms chambered for full-power rifle cartridges may be niche defensive tools, the dark situations in which they shine brightest aren’t going away anytime soon.

Southpaw Solution: Ruger Introduces Left-Handed American Gen II Ranch Rifles

Traditionally, Ruger has offered a range of left-handed rifle models for the southpaws among us, and now, the company's Gen II American rifles are available in a left-handed variant, starting with the Ranch models.

Gun of the Week: Kimber 1911 DS Warrior LW

In 2026, Kimber developed its 1911 DS Warrior, an American-made, double-stack design that is intended to be an affordable entry point into Kimber's double-stack handgun line.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.