Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2026 i Gun Digest

It’s been nearly a decade since I began working on Gun Digest the Magazine, so to scratch my ever-growing nostalgic itch, I took the February issue from each of the past 10 years off my archive shelf and placed them in chronological order across my office floor to examine the covers. I chose the February issue because, historically, this is the perfect time of year to soak up new products and trends dropping at SHOT Show. On my edit calendar, I call this the “new products and innovation” issue. As you’d expect, each of those past 10 issues has been ornamented with some of the most exciting new products: new chamberings, new ammunition … and new guns. And, if you’ve kept most of your issues these past years, I encourage…

I know folks snort and complain every time a new bullet or cartridge is invented and offered for sale. Thank goodness this was not the trend in 1926 with the .270 Winchester, in 1948 when John Nosler created the Nosler Partition … or in the mid-1980s when Walt Berger pioneered the VLD bullet. All the new cartridges and bullets we’ve seen over the years get us one step closer to better cartridges and better bullets, but we must acknowledge that all along we have been taking baby steps in the search for perfection. The modern rifle bullet started with a simple cup-and-core design that used a thin copper jacket over a pure lead core. This worked until velocities climbed to the point these bullets would not withstand impact with an…

Technology is one of those funny things in the shooting industry. For some reason, people have this notion that batteries don’t belong in guns, and the simpler the better when it comes to their chosen SHTF scenario. However, just because something is common does not mean it’s simple, and firearms are fairly high on the list when it comes to their maintenance, requirements and what it takes to make them in the first place. The shooting public has always been a little bit slow to embrace change. I think a lot of this has to do with our culture being fairly traditional—certain things are cherished while others are shunned. Regardless of how you feel when the wings of change come swooping down, it’s impossible to at least admit that Vortex’s…

Earlier this year, Heckler & Koch released the VP9A1, an updated version of the company’s already excellent VP9 9mm pistol. It’s available as either the VP9A1 F full-size with a 17-round frame or as the VP9A1 K with a 15-round frame, but H&K has just announced a new crossover-sized version called the VP9A1 X that features the 4-inch barrel of the K model and the fullsize frame of the F model. Because it’s still an A1 model, it has all the same upgrades as its predecessors like improved ergonomics, an integral magwell, enhanced controls and a nickel-Teflon coated trigger bar. It’s also available as the VP9A1 X Tactical with a threaded barrel. MSRP for the VP9A1 X is $1,050, and MSRP for the Tactical model is $1,150. Both are available…

HISTORICAL NOTES The 6.5x52mm Italian was the official Italian military cartridge adopted in 1891 for the bolt-action Mannlicher-Carcano rifle. This rifle was a Mannlicher-inspired design in every respect except the bolt, which is a Mauser-type with double-locking lugs at the front. It’s also the only military rifle of smokeless powder design to use gain-twist rifling. This Italian 6.5mm cartridge is very similar to the 6.5mm Mannlicher-Schoenauer in size, shape and performance. Both unprimed cases and loaded ammunition have been made by Norma. GENERAL COMMENTS The Italian 6.5mm military cartridge was unfamiliar to American shooters until after World War II. Large quantities of Italian Model 91 rifles and carbines have been sold at very low prices, and because we are a great nation of bargain hunters, this is now a fairly…

Unconventional? Absolutely. Practical? Most definitely. More fun than having to watch your kid’s first baritone recital while the Super Bowl is on? Just a little. The Bounty Hunter Series is designed to deliver consistent stability across a wide range of revolver calibers, from small to large. Its multiple points of contact enhance shooting accuracy, giving every revolver shooter the confidence to center-punch targets every time. The stock and arm brace are properly aligned for seamless integration with iron sights and red-dot mounts, ensuring quick target acquisition and improved performance. I’ve you’ve never before shouldered your revolver, you’re certainly missing out. The heart of the Bounty Hunter Series beats around its robust construction. A big iron, after all, delivers a big payload at both fore and aft. The grip, stock and…

On paper, it’s a clever piece of engineering: a patented, forced-reset mechanism that uses the motion of the bolt and hammer to snap a trigger back into place faster and more consistently. Rare Breed Triggers turned that patent into the FRT family of products—accessories that sparked as much courtroom drama as they did range chatter. From seizure notices to a headline-grabbing settlement with the Department of Justice, the FRT’s journey is part invention, part legal thriller. At CAN-CON Carolinas 2025, Rare Breed brought the whole FRT family for attendees to enjoy—we like to celebrate the ingenuity of firearms design while acknowledging the fierce public debate it can ignite. DO YOU WANT TO GO TO JAIL — OR DO YOU WANT TO GO HOME? Rare Breed Triggers holds the best-known issued…

01 TALO Exclusive Girsan MC1911 Negotiator in .38 Super It’s true that 1911s in .38 Super don’t get enough love these days, but it’s an excellent chambering option. It also pairs very well with gold accents, and that’s exactly what’s being offered with the new .38 Super TALO Exclusive Girsan/EAA Corp MC1911 Negotiator. This 5-inch barrel 1911 has a 9-round capacity, an adjustable rear sight, a fiber-optic front sight, a lightening cut slide and a skeletonized trigger. It features a hand-tuned action and Picatinny rail as well, and the cherry on top is its titanium nitrate “gold” finish on the barrel and accents on its barrel bushing, magazine release, hammer, safety and beavertail. MSRP: $1,060 02 Chiappa Rhino 60DS L-Frame in .44 Magnum Finally, the Chiappa Rhino in .44 Magnum…

Circumnavigating the suppressor world is a tough road to travel. Which is why CANCON has become such an invaluable asset to this niche in the firearms world. The world’s largest fully suppressed range day evolved into an important gateway to the fastest-growing firearms accessory on the market. And in its second year at the Clinton Plantation House in Clinton, South Carolina, it was an absolute quiet riot of hushed-up shooting. More shooters than ever before learned about, perused and—most importantly—shot some of the best suppressors available today. But going hands-on with the latest and greatest quiet pipes was only one of the attractions at the keystone event. Vietnam-era attack helicopter, topend tactical knives, survival classes and shooting competitions against seasoned veterans—CANCON had something for everyone. Here’s a look at the…

Pulling up to the spacious Hudson Farm facility in northern New Jersey to celebrate the Griffn & Howe Centennial, I was immediately impressed with the sheer scope of the operation. In addition to the huge showroom, there were meeting halls, what amounts to a small hotel, a full farming operation and—most intriguing—the Griffn & Howe Gunsmithing Shop. While most rifle historians will be immediately familiar with the Griffin & Howe name—as their famous sidemount and customized rifles have received accolades for decades—many of the younger generation are likely unfamiliar. But what impressed me most while we hobnobbed under the huge tent erected for the 100th anniversary celebration was how a couple of relative youngsters have brought the brand seamlessly into the 21st century. And, catching my eye immediately, was…