They may be familiar to some, but not every gunsmith knows the ins and outs of drill bits. Here are the basics.

The graceful, light, and distinctive L.C. Smith Hammerless Double sidelock is a favorite of American shotgunners. Here’s how to fix its most common problems. If you own a Smith and want to make it suitable to shoot again, or if you are presented a Smith to repair, here’s what you need to know about the shotgun.

In June 2010, Kahr Arms purchased Minnesota-based firearms manufacturer, Magnum Research, Inc., maker of the Desert Eagle Pistol and BFR Revolvers in .44 Magnum, .45 LC/.410 or .45/70. Kahr Arms offers a selection of other niche-type firearms, such as the “Tommy Gun” and Auto-Ordnance line of M1 .30 caliber carbines. In this video, Gun Tests Contributing Editor Roger Eckstine shows off two of the company’s big-hole BFR wheelguns.

Beretta USA introduced the BU-9 Nano as its entry into the pocket 9mm pistol category last September. Initial shipments of the American-made pistol left the Accokeek, Maryland factory beginning in November 2011, with a suggested retail price of $475. In this video, Gun Tests’ Contributing Editor Roger Eckstine gets a detailed explanation of how easy the Nano is to break down for maintenance. The Nano's modularity provides for simple disassembly and easy cleaning. Safely disassemble the pistol by first engaging the striker deactivator, a patent pending safety mechanism that eliminates the need to pull the trigger prior to disassembly.

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SHOT Show Video: Two Big-Hole Wheelguns from Kahr Arms

In June 2010, Kahr Arms purchased Minnesota-based firearms manufacturer, Magnum Research, Inc., maker of the Desert Eagle Pistol and BFR Revolvers in .44 Magnum, .45 LC/.410 or .45/70. Kahr Arms offers a selection of other niche-type firearms, such as the “Tommy Gun” and Auto-Ordnance line of M1 .30 caliber carbines. In this video, Gun Tests Contributing Editor Roger Eckstine shows off two of the company’s big-hole BFR wheelguns.

SHOT Show Video: Easy Disassembly for the Modular Beretta Nano

Beretta USA introduced the BU-9 Nano as its entry into the pocket 9mm pistol category last September. Initial shipments of the American-made pistol left the Accokeek, Maryland factory beginning in November 2011, with a suggested retail price of $475. In this video, Gun Tests’ Contributing Editor Roger Eckstine gets a detailed explanation of how easy the Nano is to break down for maintenance. The Nano's modularity provides for simple disassembly and easy cleaning. Safely disassemble the pistol by first engaging the striker deactivator, a patent pending safety mechanism that eliminates the need to pull the trigger prior to disassembly.

SHOT Show Video: Maglula Rifle Magazine Loader and Benchloader Demos

At the recent Media Range Day at the 2012 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, video producer J T Woodard goes in front of the camera to set up a video brief on Maglula Ltd. magazine loaders and unloaders.

SHOT Show Video: Springfield Armory’s new XDS 45

Gun Tests’ Contributing Editor Roger Eckstine found Springfield’s brand-new XDS .45 at the Media Range Day at the SHOT Show a couple of weeks ago. The micro-sized XDS was secret, and no one knew that the gun, smaller than a Glock 36, existed until media members showed up and saw the 4-inch-tall .45.

Tough Targets: When Criminals Face Armed Resistance

Tough Targets: When Criminals Face Armed Resistance from Citizens is a new publication from the Cato Institute that uses a collection of news reports of self-defense with guns over an eight-year period to survey the circumstances and outcomes of defensive gun uses in America.

Georgia Senate Approves Suppressors for Hunting

The Georgia Senate has approved legislation that would end the ban on silencers for hunting firearms. Senate Bill 301 was approved by a vote of 48-5.

Virginia's One-Gun-a-Month
Law Almost Repealed

Legislation (HB940, SB323) overturning Virginia's one-gun-a-month law is now on its way to the governor's desk after passing the Virginia Senate this week (21-19).

Winchester Ammo Sales Up 8.7%

Olin Corp. (NYSE:OLN), makers of Winchester ammunition, reported that fourth quarter Winchester division sales were up 8.7 percent compared to the same period last year.

Delusion at WaPo:
Newspaper Says
US Gun Laws Cause
Mexican Gun Problems

A Feb. 4 editorial signed by the Washington Post's Editorial Board is remarkable for its studied ignorance of the causes of violence in Mexico. The lead sentence asks rhetorically, 'Do American's failed gun policies contribute to the terrible violence in Mexico? Alejandro A. Poire Romero makes a compelling case that the answer is yes.'

Glock’s Rogers Kicks Off
2012 Opener with Win

Team Glock’s Randi Rogers opened the season by winning or placing in every division she entered in the Georgia State Steel Challenge Championship, held Feb. 3-4 at the Griffin Gun Club, in Griffin, GA.

Super Bowl Dud: Bloomberg pushes
anti-gun message during Giants win

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Sunday the shooting of former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords should have sparked a national dialogue about gun laws. Bloomberg made his comments on NBC’s “Meet the Press” hours before his gun control ad with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino was scheduled to air during the Super Bowl.

Federal Judge Dismisses Illinois' Carry Case Moore v. Madigan

Federal District Judge Sue E. Meyerscough has dismissed a challenge to Illinois statutes that prohibit the carrying of loaded firearms outside the home for personal protection.

CrossBreed Holsters
Offers SuperSlide for 2012

Holster manufacturer CrossBreed Holsters, LLC has introduced a new OWB product for 2012, the SuperSlide.

Holder: No Coverup by DOJ
on 'Fast and Furious'

Attorney General Eric Holder vigorously denied a 'coverup' by the Justice Department over 'Operation Fast and Furious,' telling a House panel investigating the botched gun-running program on Feb. 2 that he has nothing to hide and suggesting the probe is a 'political' effort to embarrass the administration.

Camo Covers Most Hunter Purchases

More than 90 percent of the sportsmen included in a recent online survey said they bought at least one camouflage item in 2011.

Sandia’s self-guided
bullet prototype can hit
target a mile away

Take two Sandia National Laboratories engineers who are hunters, get them talking about the sport and it shouldn’t be surprising when the conversation leads to a patented design for a self-guided bullet that could help war fighters.

FOX Bans Firearms and Ammunition Advertisements

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) — the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry — has learned that FOX Sports Media Group has banned advertisements featuring firearms and ammunition from its coverage of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events.

What CTD’s Top-Selling Handguns
Say About the Market

Though most shooters know CheaperThanDirt.com as an online ammo and accessories seller, the company also has a sizable brick-and-mortar retail gunstore presence in Texas’s Dallas-Ft. Worth area. CTD recently released a list of its top-five selling handguns for December, and the company's top-sellers for the Christmas season show a decided tilt toward affordability and utility.

‘The Debutante Hunters’ Wins the Yahoo!/Sundance 2012 Shorts Competition

Maria White's 'The Debutante Hunters,' won the audience award and the producer-director walked away from the Sundance 2012 Awards Night Ceremony in Park City with a $5,000 check.

B&C: Trophy Whitetail Entries
Up 400% Over Past 30 Years

Trophy whitetail entries from 2011 hunting seasons are beginning to pour into Boone and Crockett Club headquarters. B&C historical records show that trophy whitetails are up 400 percent over the past 30 years.

Freedom Group Acquires Para USA

A Freedom Group, Inc. subsidiary has purchased Para USA (Para). Para USA will continue day-to-day operations at its Pineville, NC-based facility, an FGI statement said.

AZ Republic:
F&F U.S. Att. Burke's Anti-Gun Past

The Arizona Republic has assembled a superb career recap of one of the main players of Fast and Furious, now-resigned U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke. Highlights from the story by Dennis Wagner:

Arizona police sergeant's Facebook photo
prompts Secret Service probe

A Peoria, Arizona, police sergeant posted a photo of seven local high school students -- four with guns and one holding up a T-shirt with a bullet-riddled image of President Barack Obama.

Merkel Introduces
RX Helix Bolt-Action Rifle

Merkel claims the new linear-bolt-action RX Helix is the fastest-operating centerfire bolt action in the world.

CCRKBA Says Anti-Gun
San Francisco Sheriff
Should Quit Over DV Charges

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms today called on newly-sworn-in San Francisco County Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi to step down as a result of domestic violence charges now filed against him.

Firearms Industry Matches
ATF Reward in Houston Area
Firearms Thefts

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has announced a matching $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for eight burglaries at Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) in the Houston area.

Sig Sauer Launches
Factory Short-Barreled Rifles

To meet the increasing interest in short-barreled rifles, SIG SAUER has introduced a line of factory-built SBRs for the consumer market.

Colt Partners With Crimson Trace
To Offer New Agent With Lasergrips

Colt’s has teamed up with Crimson Trace Corporation to offer its first-ever Lasergrips, grip-integrated laser sights emblazoned with the Colt logo, which are now standard on the Colt New Agent pistol.

Crimson Trace Launches
The Rail Master Laser

Crimson Trace has announced the release of its new Rail Master platform for all rail-equipped firearms. With an MSRP of $149, the new laser sight features a tap on/tap off switch, and four interchangeable inserts which utilize Secure-Lock Technology™ to enable a custom fit to any handgun.

Vegas 'Elk Camp' to Support Nevada Conservation

(GunReports.com) -- Elk Camp, a hunting and conservation rally designed to support conservation in Nevada, is coming to Las Vegas. Sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) and International Sportsmen's Expositions, the event is scheduled for Feb. 2-4, 2012, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.