Ugly Guns: Before and After

As part of Colt's continued expansion of its second-generation "snake guns," the Viper revolver offers a compact, carry-ready variant that offers magnum power in a strong steel-frame format.

For the first time, with its M4 EXT, Benelli USA is offering a version of its M4 semi-automatic shotgun that has the same features found on its military and law-enforcement models.

The benefit of a lightweight rifle is lost the moment you top it with a clunky, overweight optic, particularly a lengthy one. To that end, we are starting to see an emphasis on riflescopes that are less cumbersome when mounted, such as Steiner’s Predator 4S.

Already a fan of Ruger’s long-discontinued double-action Security-Six, Police Service-Six and Speed-Six revolvers, I simply couldn’t pass up the opportunity to acquire one of the latter in 9 mm Luger when an unfired, 42-year-old example turned up at a gun show.

Old Glory Bank, which provides banking services to NRA-affiliated clubs and associations, served as the presenting sponsor for the National Youth Shooting Sports Conference in October.