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

Range Ready Plinkapalooza 1
Range Ready Plinkapalooza 1

Shooting Is Fun: How I Rediscovered the Benefits of Rimfire

A recent event at Range Ready in Robert, La., reminded us how much fun the simple rimfire firearm can be, whether in handgun, carbine or rifle form.

New for 2026: Daniel Defense MUTE30Ti & NULL9Ti Suppressors

Daniel Defense was one of the first manufacturers to employ additive manufacturing techniques in suppressor-making, and now, the company has expanded its line with the MUTE30Ti and NULL9Ti silencers.

The Fight for America’s Rifle

Despite the warning we’ll sue to protect commonly owned AR-type rifles, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed Senate Bill 749, which will make it illegal to sell, purchase, import, manufacture or transfer such firearms starting on July 1. 

Gun of the Week: Henry Repeating Arms SPD Predator

The new SPD Predator, an extension of Henry's magazine-fed Lever Action Supreme Rifle design, looks to extract the greatest possible degree of accuracy and precision from a modern lever gun.

The Armed Citizen® May 15, 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.

The Politically Incorrect Truth About the Armed Citizen

The Second Amendment doesn’t—and should not be treated as if—it ends at state lines. American citizens need the national reciprocity legislation that is now active in Congress.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.