Photo courtesy NRA MuseumClick Photo to View Larger Image
With today’s polymer-framed Glocks and Kel-Tecs, aesthetics have been sacrificed on the altar of functionality. Not so in the early 20th century — in that period, the best firearm designers created guns that looked as good as they worked. One example is the classic Colt Woodsman. This design came from the legendary John Moses Browning and was later refined by Colt before the pistol’s introduction in 1915. The Colt Woodsman’s frame design evolved over time in three distinct series: Series One 1915–1947, Series Two 1947–1955, and Series Three 1955–1977. Shown above is a stunning Carbonia-blued and engraved Third Series model with ivory grips.
Engraved Colt Woodsman from NRA Museum
In the NRA Museum’s Robert E. Petersen Gallery are many fine engraved arms. This Colt Woodsman .22 pistol is one of the Third Series guns that were made until 1977. Heavy barrels in either 4.5 or 6 inch lengths were offered in this variation. The Museum’s staff says: “We think the poised golden rattlesnake near the serial number is the [best] embellishment without putting down in any way the ivory grip panels or gold outline inlays.”
You can see this lovely Colt and countless other fine firearms at the NRA Museum in Fairfax, Virginia. The Museum is open every day from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, and admission is free.
The Colt Woodsman was made in many variations, with different barrel lengths and contours and finishes. Here is a Colt Woodsman Third Series Match Target with 6″ Blued frame and slab barrel. Photo from Sam Lisker’s ColtAutos.com.
Here is a Colt Woodsman First Series Match Target with 6.5″ undercut slab match barrel and basic blued finish. Photo from Heritage Auctions.
Here is a Colt Woodsman Bullseye Match Target Pistol (6.5″ barrel) with blued finish and early factory “elephant ear” stocks with Colt medallions. This was owned by Philip Judd, an avid marksman who was 1952 Camp Perry Champion in the 500-yard .30-06 rifle competition. Photo from Sam Lisker’s ColtAutos.com.
We really like rimfire revolvers here at AccurateShooter.com. A good .22 LR wheelgun will be fun, accurate, reliable, and inexpensive to shoot. Rimfire revolvers also offer much less recoil and noise than a centerfire pistol. Your Editor has owned a Smith & Wesson Model 617 for over 20 years. That old S&W has probably fired more rounds than all the other handguns I own, combined — yet it still runs flawlessly and still delivers excellent accuracy.
Ruger offers a big stainless .22 LR wheelgun to compete with the S&W Model 617. This rimfire wheelgun is based on Ruger’s trusted GP100 platform. The Ruger GP100® chambered in .22 LR is a good firearm — strong, versatile, and intelligently engineered. In the video above, the late Jeff Quinn of Gunblast.com tests the Ruger revolver and gives it high marks: “It’s a good hefty gun [42.6 oz.], but not overly large or heavy for a good trail gun. It’s just a really nice, well-made revolver from Sturm Ruger.” The gun Jeff tested had a 3.7-lb Single action trigger pull and a 9.8-lb Double action pull.
The .22 LR GP100 features a windage and elevation adjustable rear sight with a white outline, a light-gathering fiber optic front sight and the original full-size GP100 rubber grips with hardwood inserts. With all stainless-steel construction, the rimfire GP100 is easy to maintain. Just keep the cylinder chambers and barrel clean and this gun should run forever.
This Review of the .22 LR GP100 by Hickok45 has over 6.9 Million Views:
The 10-shot Ruger GP100 in .22 LR is a durable, well-engineered wheelgun. Ruger’s engineers optimized the GP100’s innards to deliver a smooth double-action pull: “The new GP100 has an improved fire-control system that uses a lighter mainspring than previous Ruger double-action .22 LR revolvers … we’ve done a lot of development on the firing pin location and geometries so that we’re able to put a lighter trigger pull in this gun than you would find in other .22 LR [handguns]. We’ve got a half-underlug barrel, and it’s a smaller diameter so the gun balances real well. We’ve added a narrow-spur hammer and a smooth trigger.”
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.
1. Palmetto SA — AR-15 M4 Rifle Starter Bundle, $679.99
⏺️ Complete package for new AR shooters — gun, optic, case and much more
This combo kit includes all you need to get started with an AR carbine (except ammo). This handy $679.99 AR Package includes: PSA PA-15 Classic M4 Carbine (16″ barrel); Vortex Strikefire II 1x30mm 4 MOA Red/Green Dot optic; PSA 36″ Rifle Bag, Magpul PMAG A4/M4 30rd Magazine; Magpul MBUS AR-15 Rear Iron Sight; Real Avid Gun Boss AR Cleaning Kit; Walkers Electronic Muffs and Glasses Combo; and Champion 50-yard notebook target pack. With this package you save $62+ off the individual items total cost. For someone getting started with a Black Rifle, this is a very handy gun/gear collection.
2. Smith & Wesson — FREE Viridian Optic with Pistol Purchase
⏺️ Get Viridian optic worth $290 when you buy new S&W handgun
Now through April 30, 2025, you can get a FREE Viridian RFX15 Green Dot Reflex Sight with the purchase of a qualifying Smith & Wesson pistol. The RFX15 is a 3 MOA optic with 17x24mm viewing window, brightness controls, and auto shut-off/Instant-On® technology. This optic has a $289.00 MSRP and works with various frame and slide sizes. Eligible S&W pistols include select M&P M2.0, Shield Plus, M&P5.7, M&P22 Magnum, Performance Center Competitor/Carry Comp, and S&W Equalizer pistols. Learn more at Smith-wesson.com/rebates. To view/print rebate form, CLICK HERE.
If you are looking for a good, tough 12ga defensive shotgun, here’s a super deal. The Citadel Mariner 12ga pump-action shotgun features a durable nickel finish and barrel heat-shield. It comes complete with front and rear sights, an optics rail, plus a shotshell carrier on the left side of the action. This cool pump shotgun is now just $181.00 on sale — an amazing deal, $98 off the normal price.
4. Amazon — Garmin Xero C1 Chrono with Accessories, $609.95
⏺️ Superb Radar Chrono plus battery and accesssories
The Garmin Xero C1 Pro Chronograph is the most popular radar Chrono on the market now for good reason. It is ultra-reliable, very accurate, easy to set up, and very compact. The price for the unit by itself is $599.99 for all legit sellers, but Amazon is offering a nice deal. For ten bucks more you can get a Garmin Xero C1 Combo Kit which includes external battery, charging accessories, extra cables, car charging socket, and cleaning cloth. If you want for a Garmin C1 Pro, this kit is worth the $10 extra. Plus Amazon Prime members get FREE 2-day shipping. Another option to consider is the nice Xero C1 Pro Carry Case.
5. Palmetto SA — Bulk .22 LR Ammo, 6 to 8 cents per round
⏺️ Great deals on American-made rimfire ammo — Federal, Rem, Winchester
For fun close-range shooting, it’s hard to beat the .22 LR rimfire cartridge. It is inexpensive, has low recoil, and barrels last many thousands of rounds. Right now you can get good, reliable, American-made .22 LR ammo at big savings. Bulk ammo packs of 250 to 1400 rounds are on sale for just 6 to 8 cents per round at Palmetto State Armory. Show above are three bargain packs, but there are many other great deals.
⏺️ Fast, programmable, accurate dispenser at great price
The Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper (#ad) is a high-quality powder scale/dispenser. It’s accurate to +/- one-tenth of a grain, dispenses in seconds, and can be controlled by a handy mobile App that stores charge weights for different cartridges. This unit has a 7000-grain capacity with both auto and manual trickle capability. This $169.98 sale price is great deal — save $60 off the $230 regular retail price.
7. Amazon — KAER Storage Safe, $169.99
⏺️ Decent secondary safe at very low price
Here’s a good secondary safe for a garage, work room, or large RV. This KAER gun cabinet accommodates rifles up to 45″ long. This steel cabinet, now $169.99 on Amazon (#ad) measures 57″ H x 17.7″ W 18″ D and has a handy 18″x9″ inside lockbox. This safe has 3 polymer barrel holders that adjust for height. You can unlock the safe with a touchpad combo or metal key. NOTE: This metal safe comes UNASSEMBLED. You’ll need to put it together with basic tools. This safe is also offered in black for $159.99 on Amazon.
⏺️ Great price on versatile, well-designed gun vise
Here’s an excellent gun vise on sale for just $35.99. The versatile MTM GV-30 CaseGard Gun Vise supports rifles and shotguns for cleaning/maintenance. High and low forks allow level or angled gun placement. The rubber-padded rotating stock clamp provides a firm hold. The base has 14 different compartments for tools/solvents, plus 11 slots for jags, brushes, and screwdrivers. On the side are tabs for two cleaning rods. This GV-20 vise is made from rugged, solvent-resistant polypropylene plastic. If this sells out on GunZoneDeals, Midsouth has the GV-30 Vise for $38.00.
⏺️ Excellent, rugged rifle case at a very good price
When flying or driving it’s vital to protect your rifles. A good hard case option (at a great price) is the APACHE 9800 Weatherproof Protective Rifle Case. On sale for $149.99, this 53″-long case is $190.00 less than an equivalent-size Pelican case. Constructed from durable polypropylene, this quality hard case can protect long guns from from impact, moisture, and dust. The built-in purge valve equalizes pressure so you can open the case after changing elevations. NOTE: Case interior dimensions are 50⅜” by 13⅝”.
10. Amazon — Target Stand Dual Pack, $42.97
⏺️ Good price on pair of adjustable target stand
The Knine Outdoor Shooting Target Stand kit (#ad) allows you to set up your own elevated target in any shooting area. This kit includes 2 metal target stands, 8 ground stakes, 8 butterfly screws, plus paper clips. The base units adjust for width from 13″ to 24″ horizontal spread. This kit includes ten printed 16″x12″ shooting paper targets. NOTE, you must supply your own wood risers and cardboard target backers.
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On February 7, 2025 President Donald Trump signed a new Executive Order intended to protect and restore Second Amendment rights throughout the United States. Here is the text of the Executive Order:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Purpose. The Second Amendment is an indispensable safeguard of security and liberty. It has preserved the right of the American people to protect ourselves, our families, and our freedoms since the founding of our great Nation. Because it is foundational to maintaining all other rights held by Americans, the right to keep and bear arms must not be infringed.
Sec. 2. Plan of Action. (a) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General shall examine all orders, regulations, guidance, plans, international agreements, and other actions of executive departments and agencies (agencies) to assess any ongoing infringements of the Second Amendment rights of our citizens, and present a proposed plan of action to the President, through the Domestic Policy Advisor, to protect the Second Amendment rights of all Americans.
(b) In developing such proposed plan of action, the Attorney General shall review, at a minimum:
(i) All Presidential and agencies’ actions from January 2021 through January 2025 that purport to promote safety but may have impinged on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens;
(ii) Rules promulgated by the Department of Justice, including by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, from January 2021 through January 2025 pertaining to firearms and/or Federal firearms licensees;
(iii) Agencies’ plans, orders, and actions regarding the so-called “enhanced regulatory enforcement policy” pertaining to firearms and/or Federal firearms licensees;
(iv) Reports and related documents issued by the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention;
(v) The positions taken by the United States in any and all ongoing and potential litigation that affects or could affect the ability of Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights;
(vi) Agencies’ classifications of firearms and ammunition; and
(vii) The processing of applications to make, manufacture, transfer, or export firearms.
Sec. 3. Implementation. Upon submission of the proposed plan of action described in section 2 of this order, the Attorney General shall work with the Domestic Policy Advisor to finalize the plan of action and establish a process for implementation.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Gun Owners of America Praises New Executive Order
Washington, D.C. Press Release — Gun Owners of America (GOA) applauds President Trump for taking bold action to fulfill one of his key campaign promises. In signing an Executive Order today, President Trump laid out a plan for dismantling what he previously referred to as “all of the Biden [gun control] disasters”. This historic move sets the stage for a broader restoration of Second Amendment rights… GOA stands ready to work alongside this administration to protect and expand the rights of law-abiding gun owners nationwide.
Aidan Johnston, GOA’s Director of Federal Affairs, issued the following statement: “Gun owners fought hard to elect a president who would take a sledgehammer to Biden’s unconstitutional gun control policies, and today, President Trump proved he’s serious about that fight. We hope that this executive order is just the first of many victories reestablishing our Second Amendment rights during the Trump administration.”
Smith & Wesson is releasing its new CSX E-Series optics-ready CCW pistols. This is an update of the CSX model, a micro-compact aluminum pistol first introduced in 2022. The new CSX E-Series has many notable new features, including two barrel length choices, modular grips, interchangeable backstraps, and various magazine options. The ergonomic upgrades are designed for “instinctive control” and “comfortable fit for any shooter right out of the box”.
The new CSX E-Series pistols boast enhanced triggers, improved grip texture coverage, and modular grip adapters with new 15- and 17-round magazines.
These aluminum-framed micro-compact pistols feature significant design upgrades. Consumers can choose a 3.1-inch or 3.6-inch barrel, with models that include 12, 15, and 17-round magazines. There are also two 10-round compliant variants. CSX E-Series pistols are optics-ready with an RMS-C/507K footprint and Smith & Wesson’s ClearSight™ cut, designed to strategically divert gasses away from the optic lens, leaving an unobstructed view.
The CSX E-Series pistols boast a modular grip adapter that allows the user to size down the frame for concealment or size up for better handling and increased capacity. These pistols also have an enhanced trigger with a clean break, improved reset, and straighter pull. Additional features include interchangeable backstraps, ambidextrous controls, standard white-dot sights, and flat-black frame.
CLICK HERE for more INFO on the new S&W CSX E-Series 9mm carry pistols plus full specifications.
Here is a video every shooter should watch. It reminds us that our sport demands 100% attention. Lose track of individuals down-range and the results could be tragic. This video will give you chills (starting at about the 0:25 mark). We need to remember to follow all the firearms safety rules, and apply them all the time. At the range, all it takes is one brief moment of inattention to create a life-threatening situation. Never assume the downrange area is safe. Use your own eyes and ears.
This video shows a competitor shooting a stage at an action pistol match. He starts when instructed by the Range Safety Officer (RSO). But unbeknownst to both RS0 and competitor, a volunteer is downrange working on targets. Watch carefully. At 0:27 the shooter sweeps left to right, engaging a paper silhouette target to his right. Then, at 0:30, as he begins a mag change, his head turns downrange. A few yards away is a white-shirted range worker! The shooter yells “Hey what’s going on?!”
What’s going on indeed… The RSO should have ensured that nobody was downrange before the shooter even stepped up to the firing line. If other competitors standing to the side had been alert, they might have seen the worker changing targets and called for a halt. And the target-worker himself — even if he was wearing earmuffs, he should have noticed that live fire had commenced just yards away…
We also have to wonder about the stage design. This set-up made it very difficult to see downrange. The white panels (see 0:10-0:20) definitely hid the target worker from view. In hindsight, given the way the stage was laid out, this was truly an “accident waiting to happen”. It’s fortunate that no one got injured in this incident. But this chilling video provides a lesson to all shooters — “Safety First”.
How could this “near-fatality” have been averted? Post your comments below.
Women are arming themselves — millions of females now have carry permits and female gun ownership is up 77% since 2005. What factors should women consider when choosing a handgun for self-defense? What are good choices for a lady’s defensive handgun, suitable for concealed carry? Is a self-loading pistol better than a revolver? In this article we include two videos focusing on handgun options for females. The videos cover six key factors: function, size, weight, ergonomics, reliability, and concealability.
Classic Swiss Precision — the Sig P239
The single-stack Sig P239 is an ultra-reliable, compact pistol with a grip suitable for smaller female hands. Weighing 25 oz. in 9mm, it is slightly heavier than polymer-framed handguns, but that may be a good thing. During my handgun training days, this Editor found most women shot the Sig P239 better than Glocks, with more control over recoil. This is a hammer-fired pistol with decocker but no separate safety. There are many other good handgun options for concealed carry — some smaller, thinner and lighter, but the Sig P239 provides a good benchmark for reliability and accuracy. Shown is the .40 S&W model. We prefer the 9mm Luger version. Photo Creative Commons BY-SA 3.0.
Choosing a Self-Defense Handgun — Ladies Explain the Options
Not Just a Guy Thing — Half of New Gun Buyers Are Women
According to the Wall Street Journal, over the past few years, “Close to half of all new U.S. gun buyers since the beginning of 2019 have been women.” And the percentage of female gun owners overall has increased dramatically. Here’s an interesting statistic — according to an NSSF survey, the percentage of gun owners who are female has increased dramatically. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has documented a 77% rise in female gun ownership since 2005.
And now nearly one-quarter of American gun owners are female. According to statistics from the NRA, around 23% of women in the U.S. own guns presently, when just 13% did in 2005.
The vast majority of first-time female gun buyers acquire a handgun for defensive purposes. However, the statistics also show that many new female gun owners are also getting involved in sport shooting and/or competitive shooting. An interesting TWAW survey shows that 76% of female gun owners are over 45 years of age, and most are married or in a serious relationship.
Here is Ernie Bishop’s pride and joy, a specialty pistol nicknamed “Batman” because the black carbon-fiber stock looks like the Batmobile. This is one sophisticated handgun. Complete with scope, the Batman pistol weighs under 7.5 pounds, thanks to the ultra-light stock. The carbon stock is 6 inches wide at the fore-end, yet weighs just one pound. Ernie tells us: “This gun shoots amazing and is easy to shoot especially with my SEB MAX Rest.” After these photos were taken, Ernie added a “field-usable rear-grip stock so [he could] shoot it prone from a bipod as well.”
The Batman pistol is chambered for the 6mm “Long Dasher”, a 6mm 40°-shouldered variant of the 6.5×47 Lapua. Ernie loads Berger 105gr Hybrid bullets pushed by Hodgdon H4350 powder.
Gun Specifications The gun, crafted by Eric Wallance of Nawaka Firearms, features an XP-100 action, Jewell trigger, and 15″-long, Brux 1:8″-twist barrel with aluminum muzzle brake. Interestingly, this gun does not have a traditional recoil lug. Instead, gunsmith Wallace milled out a lug from the bottom of the XP-100 action to save weight. On top of the action, the rig carries a Sightron Inc S-III 6-24X56mm scope in Kelbly rings on a custom +20 MOA rail.
Long Dasher Wildcat
Shown at right is a “Long Dasher” 40° wildcat created by Forum member Sunbuilder. This is very similar to Ernie Bishop’s chambering, though there may be small variations related to reamer design (such as freebore). Sunbuilder’s 6-6.5×47 Improved (aka “Long Dasher”) reamer was made by Dave Kiff of Pacific, Tool & Gauge. This wildcat cartridge adds about 2.0 grains capacity to the 6.5×47 necked down to 6mm. The case certainly is impressive with that 40° shoulder. We’re just waiting for the tactical guys to starting run this improved cartridge with its original 6.5mm bore.
Here are three FIVE-shot groups at 500 yards, shot by Ernie’s Batman pistol:
GunGoddess.com features a variety of products and shooting accessories especially chosen for lady shooters. You’ll find colorful apparel, carry purses, holsters, and even jewelry crafted from bullet castings.
GunGoddess.com was started by Athena Means, an active IDPA and USPSA pistol shooter. Athena, whose husband Mike served 20 years in the military, was inspired to create the site after searching in vain for shooting apparel and accessories in colors other than black, green, and tan. Athena wanted something with more appeal to the feminine eye: “I set out to find fabulous products that women shooters would love, and bring them all together here. Ladies who love to shoot will find all the traditional gear they need, but in neon pink and leopard print instead of traditional black!”
GunGoddess.com Has Gift Items for All Members of the Family
Though it specializes in products for women, GunGoddess.com also offers gift selections that will work for gun guys as well. If you’re looking for a gift for a guy, you’ll find unisex holsters, range bags (for pistols), compact gun safes, ear muffs, shooting glasses, indoor concealment furniture, and more. There are many unique items on the GunGoddess webstore that will make great holiday gifts.
New CZ Shadow 2 Target Pistol — Great for Gun Games
The new CZ Shadow 2 Target pistol has attracted much attention, with some very positive reviews. The Firearm Blog says the new Shadow 2 Target may be the most accurate CZ pistol ever made. But with a steep $2599.99 MSRP it better be good! If you compete in action pistol matches, the CZ Shadow 2 Target could take you to the next level… but that price could be a deal-breaker for many. Here are two recent video reviews of this impressive new pistol. CLICK HERE for more photos and full specifications.
In the video below GunsAmerica Digest Editor True Pearce reviews the new CZ Shadow 2 Target pistol. This 9mm pistol features an extended slide, 6-inch polished and hand-fitted barrel, full steel frame, and handsome ergonomic grip. This pistol also boasts a very crisp trigger that can adjust to five positions.
The regular Shadow 2 has won many IPSC world championships. And this new Shadow 2 Target model should be even better. The 6″ barrel and long slide offer significantly reduced muzzle lift for faster follow-up shots plus longer sight radius for more precise aiming. NOTE: As this pistol is designed for iron sights competition, the slide does NOT have an “optics cut” to take the larger red dot optics.
Engraved Colt Woodsman from NRA Museum
The gun, crafted by Eric Wallance of Nawaka Firearms, features an XP-100 action, Jewell trigger, and 15″-long, Brux 1:8″-twist barrel with aluminum muzzle brake. Interestingly, this gun does not have a traditional recoil lug. Instead, gunsmith Wallace milled out a lug from the bottom of the XP-100 action to save weight. On top of the action, the rig carries a Sightron Inc S-III 6-24X56mm scope in Kelbly rings on a custom +20 MOA rail.
