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.

Gun Reports - News

Courtesy, NSSF

NSSF President Steve Sanetti said sales and revenues in much of the firearms industry are at a decade-long high despite the worst recession in a generation.

SHOT Show 2010 Wrapup

LAS VEGAS--The firearms industry’s annual trade show -- the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show -- returned to Las Vegas last week and saw a rise in attendance over the 2009 show held in Orlando.

Overall attendance was 58,444, several hundred shy of the show’s all-time record set at the 2008 Las Vegas Show and more than 11,000 above last year’s show in Orlando.

The show attracted an all-time high of 31,280 buyers.

The SHOT Show filled the Sands Expo & Convention Center for four days, from January 19-22. The show is owned and sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the firearms industry’s trade association.

At NSSF’s opening-night State of the Industry Dinner, NSSF President Steve Sanetti welcomed more than 1,500 industry professionals, saying, “With sales and revenues in much of our industry at a decade-long high despite the worst recession in a generation, we have thrived. I have to say that the state of the industry in 2010 is about as strong as I've seen it. We have millions of new firearms owners that have joined our ranks since we last met in Orlando -- a testament to the popularity of firearms ownership in America and proof that hunting and target shooting remain popular activities among all ages."

Comedian Dennis Miller provided the evening’s entertainment. Many celebrities were on hand at the show, including actor Seven Seagal, who is launching a new line of tactical gear. "My impression of the SHOT Show is it's amazing,” said Seagal. “It's probably the greatest gathering of special technology for police and military I've ever seen in one place. It's extremely impressive."

Exhibiting companies numbered 1,633 -- about 125 of them international -- covering 700,000 net square feet in the convention center’s halls and the Venetian Hotel’s meeting rooms.

Retailers like Glenn Duncan, owner of Duncan’s Outdoor Shop in Bay City, Mich., said, “It’s good to see the industry offering so many new products -- guns, ammunition, targets and more -- and I really appreciated that the exhibitors were willing to take the time to give me the attention I needed.”

Among the products Duncan found interesting were new models of firearms introduced by Taurus International and Smith & Wesson, and Winchester’s 410 ammo.

Dwight Van Brunt of Kimber said, “We came in with some trepidation, wondering if it was going to be busy the whole time. We were slammed 45 minutes into the show."

Scott Hanes of Remington Arms said, "There was a lot of excitement, and people are very positive."

Mike Slack of optics company Leupold & Stevens said, "This booth was absolutely flooded with people. I can't remember a busier SHOT Show ever."

Next year’s SHOT Show is slated for January 18-21, 2011 at the Sands Expo & Conference Center in Las Vegas.

Reader Comments

Love the bodyguard series by Smith and Wesson. Will the batteries in the sights go dead just sitting in the gun cabinet? It would be nice to grab them from the cabinet and turn on the laser and have it actually work.The 380 requires slide removal to replace the battery.

I'm buying one anyway when they become available.

Comment by: Sharps | January 28, 2010

Let's not kid ourselves. The NSSF are saying the SHOT Show was a HUGE success and it may have been for the vendors writing orders. My comments are different, The Sands Convention Center SUCKS. Two levels, with exibition halls spread out like the tenacles of an octopus across the main corridor and off of adjoining corridors. Most confusing! Booths not sequentially numbered in the main halls. This results in alot of time wasted hunting for the booths you are hunting and never seeking what you are hunting. In addition the traffic and streets in Las Vegas are congested worse than Orlando. With the economy in ruins skeletons of buildings under construction traffic/streets restricted due to the construction sites that have been abandoned travel time in the shuttle buses could be up to 46 minutes to travel 6-8 blocks. I don't intend to return to SHOT Show until NSSF leaves Las Vegas for another venue. How about somwhere in the Mid-west I live on the East Coast?

Comment by: SASfixer | January 28, 2010

I've never been interested in attending "Shot Shows". Manufacturers rush to get their products out to the public and then you end up returning the product for repairs. I think most of the Top Weapon Manufacturers have experienced "Recalls" in the past few years. It's totally unacceptable... There should be no compromise in quality when it comes to firearms.

Comment by: Jeff W | February 15, 2010